Southern Italian

Food is powerful. One whiff of a favorite dish can envelop you instantly in a warm hug and bring comfort. It can transport you to another time, to your childhood, to your grandmother’s house, to a holiday. We need things like that in our lives, don’t we? This baked pasta dish from the south of Italy is one of those dishes that provoke such powerful feelings. Pasta al Forno con le Polpettine, or Oven Baked Pasta with Little Meatballs is a dish that many families serve for their Sunday dinner. It’s satisfying, hearty comfort food at its best. There are …

Let’s take a culinary journey to my Calabrian roots. Today, I’m sharing a little known dish called Spaghetti alla Corte d’Assise. If you enjoy exploring Italian regional cuisine and like spicy food, you’re going to love this recipe. Spaghetti alla Corte d’Assise is a delicious and fiery primo with simple ingredients – extra virgin olive oil, garlic, fresh chilies, tomato, parsley, and of course, spaghetti. It’s easy to make, super yummy, and satisfying. Read on to hear more about this Calabrian pasta dish!

I have been eating these Calabrian Stuffed Eggplants, called Melanzane Ripiene alla Calabrese, my whole life. Frankly, I can think of no other dish that has so much meaning to me. As I was planning my Christmas menus this year, it occurred to me that I should probably write the recipe down once and for all, so that I could pass it on and share it with others. Up until now, I’ve been preparing the dish like an Italian, all by eye. Some people aren’t comfortable with that, so I tested the recipe twice last week to get it just …