I’ve been working on this recipe for over a year. When we had the idea for the live show, I knew this dish had to be in it. Check out how to make this really beautiful pasta dish!

Spaghetti with Clams w/ Mike Ham

“Greetings From The Garden State” host Mike Ham is my guest this week as we gear up for Summer with a quintessential Jersey shore dish, spaghetti with clams! Mike's show is growing FAST as he talks all things Jersey with some of the incredible folks who live in the Garden State! And what's more Jersey than seafood down the shore!? I share my version of an easy, at-home spaghetti with clams so we can all have a taste of Summer at the Shore whenever we want! Mike tells us how he got started in podcasting and why Jersey just seemed like an obvious niche!

Orecchiette w/ Sausage & Broccoli Rabe

Italian trained Chef AJ Sankofa is my special guest in the Cucina today and he is dropping KNOWLEDGE! Check out all his tips and tricks for taking this super easy pasta recipe (and your cooking in general) up a level (or ten!). He also shares the special flour they use, what inspired him to start cooking and why he decided to study in Italy!

Air Fryer Chicken Milanese w/ Marisa Brahney

Don't get me wrong, Marisa Brahney makes EVERYTHING look easy, but these air fryer cutlets are a delicious family dinner in 20 minutes FLAT! Check out her tips for layering in flavors, getting the kids to help, and why she swears by her air fryer! Not to mention the sweet story of where her love of food came from - spoiler alert, like me, Marisa is a "daddy's girl!" It's all in this episode!

Bugie w/ Mamma D

Everyone's favorite Cucina guest joins me this week - Mamma D! Mom and I try our hand at a famous Italian carnevale dessert recipe that Nanny used to make for us at Easter time! Bottom line? You can't mess up friend dough!

Winter Fruit Crostata

This Winter Fruit Crostata is the perfect holiday dessert for people who don't think they're good at baking! It's super easy, and the whole idea is that it has a rustic, imperfect appearance to it. Also, store brought pie crust is perfectly OK!

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Vin Santo Gelato

This simple homemade ice cream recipe uses a sweet Italian dessert wine, vin santo! Don't worry if you can't find it though, you can swap in your favorite dessert wine! This recipe does require an ice cream machine.

Ossobuco

This winter classic is also a holiday show stopper! It's a "stick to your ribs" kind of dish, that's very simple to make. In this video I use beef shanks, but you could use pork or veal as well! Some simple veggies, red wine and tomato create an incredible sauce that when served over pasta or polenta is how I want to celebrate any and EVERYTHING!

Butternut Squash Risotto

Vegetarian main dish? Holiday side dish? Weeknight dinner? This Butternut Squash Risotto recipe covers it all! Risotto is a super simple and versatile dish that can be easily tailored to any diet or tastes! Give this seasonal butternut squash version a try!

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Roast Chicken w/ Apples & Grapes

This incredibly simple recipe is PERFECT for the holidays! You can use it for chicken, turkey - even pork! A handful of ingredients lands you a flavorful roast chicken! Seasonal apples and grapes are balanced with a few strips of bacon to create a really delicious meal - whether for a weeknight or a show-stopper for the holiday table!

Ramp Pesto

There's a few weeks left in ramp season - and they're definitely worth getting and playing with! This easy pesto is a great way to introduce them into your kitchen! Ramps are wild garlic/leek, they're most often available at farmer's markets and in some grocery stores (I JUST saw them at Whole Foods this week!). They have a delicious garlic/oniony flavor and a beautiful bright green color that makes this pesto so, so pretty! I toss mine with toasted pine nuts and parmesan cheese - but you can always use a different nut (I'd say walnuts as my second choice) or omit them altogether if you have an allergy! Spin with olive oil and serve over pasta! YUM!

Pasta Carbonara with Andrew Cotto

My friend & author, Andrew Cotto is BACK in the Cucina with another delicious meal AND Italian adventure! His latest novel, "Cucina Romana" is out NOW (link inside!) and of course, we had to make the classic Roman dish, pasta carbonara! Fatty guanciale, mixed with eggs and cheese (yes Jersey peeps, it's a bacon, egg & cheese as a pasta course!). Fresh cracked black pepper represents the "carbon" for carbonara...coal miners.

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Spinach Gnocchi with Parmesan Cream Sauce

I've always loved looking through old photos, old notes and papers, and above all, old cook books! When my Nanny passed we pulled what has become our kitchen Bible from her home. ALL of her best stuff was in there, including notes, substitute ingredients and other recipes she had collected over the years. This one was one of those recipes that's jotted onto scrap paper and tossed in the front cover - which means you know it's gonna be good! We actually never made this as a family, I'm not sure why because it's DELICIOUS! These spinach and potato gnocchi are the fluffiest little pillows of yum ever! They some how have the texture of ricotta gnocchi, and the color of Spring! It was always tradition in my family to start using spinach as the first of the Spring ingredients. And these gnocchi incorporate it perfectly (also, good way to sneak greens into picky eaters!) Best part? This recipe had it's own special sauce included! I changed the sauce a little because of my body's aversion to dairy but feel free to make whatever changes work best for YOU!

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Lemon Arugula Salad

This simple arugula salad recipe is fast, fresh and easy! Toasted pine nuts and saved parmesan perfectly round out this dish with peppery arugula and bright lemon! The perfect side dish for any meal!

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Porcini Mushroom Risotto

Nonni's porcini mushroom risotto is a family favorite for us! While it's a hearty dish, best served when the weather is cold; we eat it all year round! Laganica sausage and ground beef create the base for this earthy meal. Then we add dried porcini mushrooms to the recipe. If you can't find them at the grocery store or market, I've included a link to buy them online. Finally I show you how to make one of my favorite, simple salads. It's the perfect side for this meal; creating balance with peppery arugula and bright lemon! Plus I'll show you how to build any salad so you can get it done in advance!

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Berry Tiramisu

This colorful take on the classic is perfect for Valentine's Day! Fresh or frozen berries, along with berry juice create the layers between the classic custard filling. Served in individual bowls (or for sharing!) it's a gorgeous finish to your Valentine's Day dinner!

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Heart Shaped Ravioli

Love is love - and pasta is life! It doesn't matter what kind of love you have in your life - you have love worth celebrating! And this is the perfect combination to do it with! Pink pasta dough creates heart shaped ravioli, filled with seasoned, fresh ricotta. Tossed in the easiest sauce ever! Butter and cheese! But don't worry, I added a mature little twist to finish it off with.

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Bagna Cauda

This classic Piemontese dish is a family tradition for me! Mamma D joins me in the Cucina this week to walk us through, not just how to make bagna cauda, but what to serve with it and a few delightful little memories around this meal! And, watch for a cameo from my grandfather as he tells the story of the origins of bagna cauda!

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Lidia Bastianich's Breakfast Risotto

We are starting the year off with a bang! None other than the Queen of Italian home cooking herself - Lidia Bastianich! Lidia is my extra special guest this week as we talk about her upcoming PBS special "Lidia Celebrates America: A Salute to First Responders". Along with all things food, the power of cooking, and why Lidia thinks a little patch of dirt just MIGHT be the cure for the quarantine blues. After the interview, I head to the Cucina to guide you step by step through Lidia's breakfast risotto recipe! If you've never had rice and eggs for breakfast, you've been missing out! This recipe is (of course!) a knock out! The perfect way to start the day!

Zeppole

What better way to end the Feast of Seven Fishes than with some zeppole! This is my neighbor's family recipe and they turn out perfect every time! Crisp on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside! This recipe uses a small potato, but I know there's a lot of other versions out there! Like so many Italian Christmas Eve dishes, they're each as unique as the family that makes them!