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Ramp Pesto

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!

Mother's Day 2021

Mother's Day 2021

Mamma D joins me in the Cucina for this special Mother's Day episode! We took an "English tea" (not really) and give it some Italian-American flair! (Because really, what's America if not a mix of the rest of the world!?) Mom & I show you 3 simple, savory "bites." (Caprese, Fig & Prosciutto, and Mortadella Sammies) Plus one sweet one! (Strawberry Ricotta toast!) AND of course we have tea...but we turned it into a cocktail with the help of my friend Beth Nydick, co-author of Clean Cocktails! Finally, Mom sheds a tear as she shares her favorite part of being a Mom! It's all in this episode!

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Lemon Arugula Salad

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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Zucchini & Peppers with Breadcrumbs

This is a quick and easy Summer side dish that I do by combining two other recipes from different parts of life! The zucchini comes from my old college roomie; the peppers from Senza Cucina in Bayville NJ! These go great as an appetizer or alongside some grilled or roasted meat! They're not bad cold or reheated the next day either as a lunch or snack!

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Salsa Verde

Salsa Verde

This quick and easy parsley based sauce is the perfect Summer condiment! Enjoy it with chicken, steak, fish or veggies! I make mine with shallot, red wine vinegar, LOTS of parsley, some fresh chives (cause they grow in the garden!) and some capers - but feel free to switch things up and swap them out to suit your tastes! Try adding in mint for a lamb dish, or some tarragon with fish - whatever is fresh and easy will work here!

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Nonni's Chicken Salad

Nonni's Chicken Salad

It's true - there's nothing exceptional about chicken salad...other than, in this case, the memory it brings back for me! My great-grandmother's house in Fort Lee NJ, as a kid, playing on the knee wall in the back of her house, waiting for her and my mother to tell us lunch was ready! And later, after she passed, my mother realizing yet another of her culinary secrets! We could never figure out how she got her chicken salad to have such a great texture...until Mom discovered the meat grinder in her kitchen! She quickly ran through some red onion, celery and poached chicken and discovered that was the trick all along! Mom still has the meat grinder but lucky for the rest of us the food processor works the same way here!

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Garlicky Greens

Garlicky Greens

Dark, leafy greens are the #1 thing Americans are missing in their diet! And I get it, not everyone likes their naturally bitter flavor. But this preparation helps soften and sweeten them, making a perfect side dish for rich, roasted meats (Hello Easter!). Sautéed garlic in oil helps reduce the bitter flavor and makes the tough leaves easier to chew and digest! Don't get me wrong, you can absolutely eat them raw, but it's not for everyone! Want more ways to layer in flavor? Try adding dried fruits like raisins or craisins, splash a little balsamic vinegar in with them, use a microplane to add in some lemon zest, and of course, a little grated parmesan doesn't hurt either!

My 5 Favorite Smoothie Recipes

My 5 Favorite Smoothie Recipes

With everyone clamoring over Corona virus - not to mention the time of year in general - I thought I'd bring back Health Coach Hacks and start you off with my 5 Favorite Smoothie Recipes! These easy meals help boost immunity and weight loss! NONE of them have added sugar - all sweetened with fruit by Mother Nature! They all contain healthy, whole foods that will serve your body and allow it to do what it does best - keep you WELL! And as always - feel free to start here and play with the recipes! Try different types of milk (I use almond milk in the video and at home) or even yogurt! Swap in different greens like spinach, kale, or beet greens. Try an apple or pear in place of a banana. And add in different nuts, seeds and nut butters like walnuts, almonds, pecans, sunflowers seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds! The options are endless! Enjoy all of these in good health my friends!

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Pasta Aglio e Olio

Pasta Aglio e Olio

This simple Italian dish is one the best dinner you'll make all week! Four simple ingredients create an amazingly flavorful dish! Pasta aglio e olio - pasta with garlic and oil - will take all of 15 minutes to get on the table - and 10 of those are waiting for the water to boil! Chopped garlic is lightly sauteéd in extra virgin olive oil, along with some peperoncino (red pepper flakes) and then tossed with spaghetti. Done and done!

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Fig Jam

Fig Jam

It was an ancient Italian tradition to give jars of figs in honey to friends and family at the start of the year to encourage sweetness in their lives - so I decided to start the year with this fig and honey jam! Easy to make, perfect as a hostess gift (or, you know, for that person who got you something that you didn't get for - oops!), and delicious all around! Watch how easy it is to make this sugar-free jam at home! I use dried figs which are easier to come by this time of year. Swap the sugar for honey to keep with tradition. And infuse the jam with vanilla! Enjoy!

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How to Cook Perfect Brown Rice & Whole Grains

How to Cook Perfect Brown Rice & Whole Grains

See how to cook perfect brown rice, step by step. Along with some of my other favorite whole grains! There's a lot of confusion out there around what is a whole grain, do all carbs have gluten, and how the hell do I cook them? This week's Health Coach Hack is here to answer these questions! Whole grains are just that, a whole grain. They include things like rice, corn, quinoa, millet, farro, kasha, oats and more! Some of them DO have gluten, but not all of them! And they're each loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber, key to human health! Watch the video to see how easy it is to make the perfect pot of brown rice on the stove top. No special equipment needed! Then head to my website to learn more, check out my grains chart AND grab one of my favorite quick and easy rice based recipes!

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Caprese Salad

Caprese Salad

Fast, fresh and easy - this is how we make Caprese Salad in the Di Falco house! To start, we always do a chopped caprese salad - a bit different from the traditional slices you'll see served in Italy. We also make it a cucumber caprese salad - mostly because, that's how we like it! Finally, I use some balsamic to dress the salad because, let's be honest, I could drink the stuff!

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Roasted Red Peppers

Roasted Red Peppers

Simple and healthy, it's SO easy to make roasted red peppers at home! And more delicious! Here I show you how to roast them on the stove and explain what to do if you have an electric stove. There's nothing quite like the flavor of roasted red peppers in olive oil!

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Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

Check out how fun and EASY it is to make fresh ricotta cheese at home! A few simple ingredients yields the most delicious, fresh ricotta! This is my go-to ricotta cheese recipe!

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Basil Balsamic Strawberries

Basil Balsamic Strawberries

This easy, no bake dessert is perfect for Spring time! Strawberries are some of the first berries to come into season and they are LOADED with antioxidants and Vitamin C to help fight late season colds and allergies! And when topped with some fresh basil and a drizzle of homemade balsamic reduction - wow! You can't go wrong! Serve them alone, over ice cream, pound cake or angel food cake!

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Baked Brie

Baked Brie

With Super Bowl weekend upon us - it's time to up the appetizer game! This is a quick and easy app that anyone can handle! More of a "semi-homemade" dish, quality ingredients are the key here! Funky French brie, topped with sweet fig jam, and wrapped in buttery puff pastry is an awesome appetizer for your Super Bowl party - or any gathering! Give it a shot this weekend!

Roast Chicken

Roast Chicken

This is a kitchen staple! Everyone should know how to roast a chicken. And not to impress anyone or make a display. I mean, how to roast a chicken on a Sunday so that you've got meals for the week! How to get dinner on the table without ordering out or buying prepared foods. Knowing how to do this simple thing will go MILES in your kitchen!

Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie Board

Check out how I build the perfect charcuterie board! This is an easy way to entertain guests over the holidays and makes a great dish to bring to a party as well! You can use my exact idea or tailor what you serve to fit any home, party and budget!

Mashed Turnips

Mashed Turnips

As always I'm sharing some of my favorite (and friends and family favorites) recipes for Thanksgiving dinner! This dish is a GREAT alternate to mashed potatoes! Low calorie and low carb, mashed turnips make a great substitute. Adding in a few carrots helps sweeten the dish and of course, a few pats of butter never hurt! Want to make them vegan? Use olive or coconut oil instead. And of course you can add in whatever kind of milk you normally use in your house!

Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

With cold weather settling in and the holidays coming up - someone is BOUND to catch a cold. And there's nothing more naturally healing than a bowl of homemade chicken soup! This easy soup is loaded with good for you nutrients AND it can be stored in the fridge or freezer for runny nose emergencies! If you prefer, you can add pasta or cooked rice at the end!