Cheese Tortellini and Pesto Soup

This very tasty soup is a huge time saver and great for those busy nights! No chopping or extra prep required to make this yummy Cheese  Tortellini and Pesto Soup.

It was just one of those nights when I needed to make dinner but I didn't have enough time. Our fridge had a lot of food in it but it seemed that everything I thought of making required too much effort, lots of ingredients involved and quite a long cooking time, Making Filipino or Asian food was out of the question as that usually required a lot of prep time usually in the form of chopping vegetables. What was a mommy to do?

Italian Sausage, Kale and White Bean Soup

In 30 minutes you have a delicious, nutritious and hearty soup for the whole family -  Italian Sausage, Kale and White Bean Soup. Easy recipe, too.

Winter season is soup season indeed! Since winter is also the season when you most likely will get sick or catch a bug, I want to make sure that I feed  my family healthy and wholesome food, too. As we all know green and leafy vegetables are one of the best sources of nutrients and Kale is certainly often considered the queen (or was it king?) of greens! Naturally, since it's not exactly candy material and the bright tint of green doesn't excite my kids either - I need to devise some ways to make them eat this healthy veggie!

Italian Sausage Casserole

This Italian Sausage Casserole is delicious and loaded with flavors from meat, herbs and vegetables! A healthy and yummy option for those in a gluten-free and low-carb diet, too!

Last November we went to England because of a family emergency. While we were there we met up with some of our friends. We only get to see them when we come to the UK for a visit so when we are over we make sure we meet at least once. One of the Sundays we were in London we attended worship service at St. Helen's, part of the Church of England denomination. Our friend attends this church regularly and we all decided to have dinner together after the evening service. After our souls were fed, we wondered where to get some physical nourishment. Thankfully, we didn't have to go too far to find a restaurant as St. Helen's, on Sunday nights, offers a dining service in one of its buildings for a very reasonable price. And the food was really good!!!

Cherry and Panettone Trifle

Freshly whipped cream, yummy custard, fruits plus Italian Panettone or any sponge cake make this a delicious and party-perfect Trifle! 

My kids and I love Italian Panettone! When the chilly fall season finally arrives, you can be certain that we look for and buy at least a loaf or two of this special holiday bread (or cake as others readily point out but I won't argue with anyone over this! I love it either way!). I compare it to a brioche loaf - deliciously sweet, buttery and tender! During the Christmas season it comes in many varieties - plain, with chocolate chips or loaded with fruits so it's like a fruitcake and taste a little bit like it, too! I guess because it was Christmas I gravitated to the more festive looking Panettone loaf that I saw.

Italian Bread Dipping (Oil) Sauce

Restaurant-style sauce with olive oil, Italian herbs and balsamic vinegar perfect for dipping your favorite crusty bread. Mix it up with your favorite herbs and add a spicy kick, if you like, to create your own flavor blend.

When I was still living in the Philippines, there was one Italian restaurant that I frequently visited with my family and friends. It's called Italianni's and they now have several branches all over Metro Manila as through the years they have become so popular. Can you guess what made them so well-loved?

Balsamic Strawberries with Mascarpone

Hello Spring! You know Springtime has arrived when strawberries are already on sale at the grocery. Over a week ago, we bought about 6 pints worth of strawberries because my kids love strawberries and I usually give them fruits for snack in their school. However, we never got the chance to eat all of them because we were away for a few days. This was the time I met my sister who pleasantly surprised me with her presence on my birthday celebration all the way from the Philippines.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Mozarella Sticks

No fuss appetizer that requires only 2 ingredients. Prosciutto-Wrapped Mozarella Sticks - you can't get any easier than this! It's also great as a low-carb, protein-rich snack!

Once a month, we have the newly-married couples in our church over for some fun and fellowship. To make it less formal and a relaxed atmosphere we usually have a potluck where everyone who is able may bring either appetizers or side dish to share. So it doesn't get boring, I try to come up with different varieties of dishes to offer. However, there are times when elaborate preparations are impractical as there are always things that come up unexpectedly and so I have to make sure that at the last minute, I have a fall back dish I can easily make when time is running out.

Italian Sausage and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta

This post is is sponsored by Prego^® Sauces.  All opinions are mine alone. 

Ready in 30 minutes or less, this delicious Italian Sausage and Broccoli Alfredo Pasta meal makes dinner a breeze for Mom. Just five ingredients is all you need!

30 Minute Beef and Franks Spaghetti Meal

This post is is sponsored by Prego® Sauces. All opinions are mine alone. 

Ready in 30 minutes, this Beef and Franks Spaghetti Meal with only 5 main ingredients is the perfect dinner solution for busy moms. With ground beef, hot dogs, vegetables and a rich Italian sauce served over pasta, a delicious weeknight family meal has never been easier.

Italian Sausage and Tortellini Soup

Several years ago when we were still living in Michigan, one of the ladies from our church prepared this soup for our ladies fellowship. All of us who attended that meeting enjoyed this very tasty soup and naturally we all asked for the recipe. She kindly gave us a copy and I have never forgotten this yummy soup ever since.

One Pot Beef Risotto with Arugula

Of late I have been using a lot of Arugula (also known as Rocket) in my dishes from salad to sandwiches. I have totally fallen in love with this salad leaf. I love the flavor that it brings to the dish. On its own it has quite a strong pungent and peppery taste but mix it with other ingredients and this vibrant green vegetable provides an extra flavor dimension that not only contrast or complement with other flavors but truly enhances the taste over all. Because of this I never hesitate to experiment with it.

Pasta with Chicken and Mushrooms in Blue Cheese Sauce

When it comes to comfort food a pasta dish would have to be one of the top favorites. Eating pasta especially with a delicious creamy sauce not only satisfies the taste buds but makes one feels so good inside. Good food can make one smile and instantly make anyone feel better. Well, at least that's how I feel when I eat a delicious pasta dish.

Creamy Pasta with Pancetta and Mushrooms

You can never go wrong with bacon and mushrooms! This creamy and delicious pasta with pancetta is our comfort food for sure.  

I am so happy to be living in New Haven, CT! Two yummy reasons are - Whole Foods and Trader Joe's! When we were in  Michigan the nearest Trader Joe's was 3 hours away - to the west in a Chicago suburb and to the east in a suburb of Detroit. That means when we visit either store, we tend to hoard as we don't know when we will return. My hubby is such a huge fan of their salsas so we haul loads of them back home.

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

Before I converted my hubby to become a pork and beef lover (particularly ribs), he pretty much ate only chicken. Let me correct that, he ate pork but only in the form of breakfast sausages and particularly the British variety as he believes they make the best sausages in the world - I must say, I do agree. At any rate, he still prefers to have chicken over red meat as he is quite health conscious (I am obviously not as good as him as I love pork too much!).

Grilled Swordfish with Olives and Sun-dried Tomatoes

Now, if you love to eat fish, you'll love this recipe. It is so truly wonderful and the proof - I almost never got the chance to photograph this dish as the only one left of it was the smallest piece of swordfish steak after hubby and I happily ate the bigger meatier pieces. Hence, what you are seeing is the last remaining piece. In fact, I had second thoughts about posting this recipe because I wasn't very happy with the photo as the swordfish steak was quite small but then when I recalled how delish it is - I said, I'll post it anyway as I didn't want any of you to miss this recipe nor let it be buried in my pile and then completely forgotten.

Spinach and Cream Cheese Crostini

Crostinis consist of small pieces of toasted or grilled bread served with toppings. They are essentially Italian appetizers which are great for entertaining. I thought since the holidays would soon be with us, it would be great to share a recipe that's easy to make, elegant  enough to serve with company and most of all - delightfully delicious! This recipe for Spinach and Cream Cheese Crostini is all that! Make it this holiday season for your family and friends or as a quick and delectable lunch option! We love these these yummy toasted bread for lunch with our favorite salad! Enjoy! 

Penne with Beef and Roasted Pepper Sauce

I had some ground beef, red wine and roasted peppers at hand. What should I do? The obvious answer was to make a delicious pasta sauce. I wanted a quick recipe that doesn't require many hours of simmering yet still deliver robust flavor. So, inspired by my Bolognese recipe, I used the red wine to add flavor to the Beef. I boiled it and let it evaporate so that the beef retains that subtle wine taste that truly adds depth of flavor but without too much alcohol. I then stirred in  the roasted sweet peppers and fresh chopped/diced tomatoes plus some dried herbs and, wow, the result is a very delicious sauce that tastes like it was slow-cooked for hours but actually is not. Enjoy this easy and yummy pasta sauce over your favorite pasta!

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

With just a few ingredients, this classic version of Spaghetti alla Carbonara is so quick and easy to make and totally delicious, too! A big family favorite!

One of the earliest pasta dishes I have ever attempted is Spaghetti alla Carbonara. This was when I was still in law school many years ago...don't wish to reveal my age too much! :-) Back then I used some cream to make the sauce and though it's not the most authentic Italian dish I have made, my family was quite happy with it. With bacon and cream,  how can you say no? :-)

Sweet Red Pepper and Cheese Frittata

Growing up, we always had hot breakfast. It was just the norm. We would wake up to the aroma of rice cooking in the pot and some eggs being fried or scrambled and often with some meat or fish (for my Dad) on the side.

Piquant Spaghetti (Spaghetti Piccanti)

In the Philippines, I grew up eating food flavored with Anchovies and Shrimp paste so my taste buds love dishes that have bold flavors or piquant as they describe it - having a pleasantly sharp taste or appetizing flavor! Whether it is green Mango, Pinakbet or Fried Pork Belly when it is flavored with Bagoong (our local name for Anchovy and/or Shrimp paste), ordinary food becomes extraordinary!