The Feisty Italian

 Gnocchi: Round two:  This time, with Bolognese Yesterday afternoon, my lovely little one came running into the kitchen yelling, "Mommy, I'm so hungry! My tummy wants gnocchi!" "Ok," I replied. My daughter sometimes mistakes me for a short-order cook. I didn't sweat it because I kept some gnocchi dough in the freezer.   As it defrosts on the counter, I look through the freezer for a protein. Running short on time, I defrosted some ground beef. Not in the mood for meatballs, I quickly whipped up my version of bolognese. Here's how: Ingredients: Ground beef, Onion, Garlic, 1-2 cans of tomato paste, about a 1/2 cup of milk, about a 1/2 cup of chicken stock, about a 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon of butter, basil and parsley Step 1: I diced some onions and added them to a pan with olive oil. Sprinkle some salt and saute until the onions are translucent.  Step 2: Then add in your ground beef. As it is cooking, break it up into small bi...

Turn Leftover Mashed Potatoes into Delicious Homemade Gnocchi: By: The Feisty Italian A Step-by-Step Guide Ever found yourself staring into the fridge, unsure of what to make for dinner? You find a container of leftover mashed potatoes! Hooray! Upon further inspection, you realize it isn’t quite enough to make it a “round two” meal. Instead of tossing it back into the fridge to be inevitably thrown into the trash, transform it! Homemade gnocchi is the solution to the “leftover blues.” Yes, you read that correctly friend! Mashed potatoes can be transformed into delicious gnocchi. It is a total game-changer. Follow my step-by-step process to create your own delicious pillowy pockets of goodness! Okay, let’s get started. First things first, gather all your ingredients and your trusty stand mixer. Into the mixing bowl, combine the leftover spuds, 2 cups of flour, and 2-3 eggs (you may need an extra egg depending on how much leftov...

Mastering the Art of Homemade Pasta:  A Beginner's Guide to Perfecting Your Pasta Skills Living down South for the last several years,  I have been consistently honing in on my culinary skills. I have transformed my kitchen into my favorite Italian restaurant. I taught myself how to make classic staples such as chicken cutlet parmesan, braciole, ravioli, ragu (yes, it’s a dish not just a jarred sauce), and most importantly, pasta.  Learning to make homemade fresh pasta can seem like a daunting task. I assure you, it’s not. I must have watched countless hours of Food Network to learn and improve this skill. I also watch the “Pasta Grannies” on YouTube. This has helped me focus more on hand-crafted specialty pasta dishes that may not be as well known in the United States. To get started, I researched some different ways of making pasta. Did I want to use an attachment for my stand mixer or did I want to use an old-school rolling pin? I found it easier to use the Kitc...

  Slice of Heaven: Exploring Sal's Neighborhood Pizza  St. Simons Island, GA Sals Back when I lived in Georgia, there wasn’t much in the way of Italian cuisine. I searched high and low for some semblance of tasty pasta or pizza, only to be constantly disappointed. I was just done with “pizza” that was overcooked/undercooked, used jarred sauces or low-quality mozzarella cheese. I was ready to just give up completely until I discovered Sal’s Neighborhood Pizza on St Simons Island, GA. Finally, I found my treasure after months of searching.   My husband and I had traveled out to Sal’s in the summertime for a date night or two. It was about a forty-five-minute drive from our apartment, however, I tell you it was well worth it. It is tucked away in a remote area of St Simons Island. I love that it was mostly an outdoor restaurant as the weather in the evening would lend itself to plenty of outdoor seating. This place also had the added advantage of not being placed wi...

Lost in Translation: Navigating Cultural and Language Barriers at the Supermarket Deli in Brunswick, GA Living in the South, football is a HUGE deal. It is so important, that people have parties and plan their weekends around the entire season. This would include college and minor league football as well.  That year, we were invited to our first ever SuperBowl party. I was pretty excited. One of my husband’s good friends and co-workers was hosting this extravaganza. I offered to contribute to the party and bring over an appetizer. Being that I am an Italian American from New York, the request was of course, for “something Italian.” This was a daunting task for me as I was unable to get many of the ingredients I needed to stock my Italian pantry. I thought long and hard about this. “What the hell am I going to make?” I thought to myself.  I grabbed my tablet and searched for “Italian Appetizers.” After scrolling for a good 15 minutes, I found it; the answer to what I had been l...

Unveiling the Ultimate Ravioli Maker: A Comprehensive Review to Elevate Your Pasta Game Living in the South, I have missed many of my favorite dishes from home, namely the ravioli. This classic dish can be accomplished by even the most novice home chef. Before I began learning the “old school” way of making ravioli by hand, I started by using the Ravioi Maker by Bellemain.  It takes all the “fuss” out of creating this delicious meal at home. Also, this handy tool is easy to clean; a little soap and water will do the trick! If you’re interested in beginning your culinary journey into Italian classics, this tool set is for you! You’ll be a ravioli master in no time.  I have enclosed a photo of some of the ravioli I achieved from using this set. It can be done. is just a few steps. Essentially you roll your sheets of dough out first. Second, you lay it across the medal ravioli mold. Third, you fill your ravioli with the filling of your choice. Fourth, lay your second sheet o...

  Italian Helper GIADA DE LAURENTIIS https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/italian-helper-4720566 Back in the day, there were affordable out-of-the-box meals like Hamburger Helper. This is a unique Italian twist to a true nostalgic classic. This modern version will be a family hit for sure. You will definitely want to give it a try. I threw it together last night and my family was asking for more before I even sat down with my bowl! Not only does this dish hit the spot, but it yields a large batch. I had to pull out my large stock pot to fit it all. This is perfect for stretching those groceries and saving you some money without sacrificing taste or quality. Okay, let’s talk about the main ingredient: Mascarpone. It is not a common pantry staple. It adds the right amount of creaminess to this dish that rounds out this flavor-packed meal. With some internet hunting, you can snag some on sale at most local grocers. It is a worthwhile investment to add to your panty....