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!

Chili Mac & Cheese with Kristina Behr

My incredible co-host from NJ Morning Show, Kristina Behr, joins me in the Cucina this week to share a Behr family favorite! This chili mac and cheese recipe is always a slam dunk with her boys and we're pretty sure your kids will love it too! Kristina also talks about growing up with parents in TV, getting her hair cut next to Susan Lucci, and what inspired her to tackle a career in news!

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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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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White Mac & Cheese

We are going ALL IN on this white mac and cheese recipe! It's been getting pretty chilly at night here in Jersey and I'm ready for Fall flavors and "stick to your ribs" dishes (not that I didn't eat my face off all Summer anyway!). This delicious baked macaroni and cheese is NOT just for the kiddos. Sharp white cheddar, fontina (or gruyere!) mix with Fall flavors like nutmeg and clove; then get topped with a generous helping of breadcrumbs and baked to browned, bubbling perfection!

Ricotta Cavatelli

This classic Italian pasta shape is incredibly easy to make! Homemade ricotta cavatelli use the same dough as ricotta gnocchi, but the shape is even more simple! No special tools required, just your hands and a wooden board! Toss them with a Bolognese, marinara or of course, broccoli rabe!

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Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This pasta dish is the epitome of Summer! Fresh lemon brightens up creamy ricotta to make the perfect pasta sauce! Toss in peas for some green - OR - chopped zucchini or spinach - whatever you like! Best of all? It all comes together in the time it takes the pasta to boil so you're not standing over the stove!

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Mediterranean Orzo Salad

This light and fresh Summer salad is quick and easy to make and can be tailored to any diet! Orzo, which are small pasta, cook up in just 4-5 minutes. Tossed with fresh Summer vegetables, extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice and you have lunch on the table! Top you salad with grilled shrimp or chicken (thanks to the folks at Traeger Grills for helping us out!), or swap in feta cheese for a vegetarian version. Vegan? Toss on some grilled tofu instead, or just add in beans like ceci. Gluten free? Swap the orzo for rice or quinoa! You get the idea.

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Spinach Pesto

Watch how quick and easy it is to make a healthy spinach pesto from scratch! Pestos are a great way to dress pasta, chicken, shrimp, anything really! And the best part is they're ready in minutes; the food processor handles it all for you! I make my spinach pesto with fresh baby spinach, toasted walnuts, garlic and some parmesan cheese! Rounded out with a quality olive oil and you've got a quick and easy sauce that's both healthy and delicious!

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Fresh Gluten Free Pasta

This has been a HUGE request, both on the channel and in cooking classes! So I finally got around to playing with some gluten-free flour and found that a good old fashioned egg pasta dough works best! Along with the VERY rustic, truly hand-cut pasta form! Rolling the dough through my hand-crank machine was a struggle but simply rolling it out on the board and cutting the pasta by hand worked out great! It tastes REALLY good - no difference between this gluten-free version and regular fresh pasta! No change in cooking time either!

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Gnocchi with Asparagus

While reading Lidia Bastianich’s memoir “My American Dream” her perfect description of a simple gnocchi dish that she would make with her grandmother as a child in northern Italy in Springtime got my tastebuds going! I HAD to recreate the dish! This is it! Gnocchi with asparagus, garlic, oil and pecorino cheese! WOW! Five simple ingredients create a flavorful dish that is PERFECT for this time of year!

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Penne Vodka

I love this dish. It always brings back great memories. It's one of those Italian-American classics that we all grew up on and have come to love. At this point, I'd call it comfort food. And since it comes together in 30 minutes with some pantry and fridge staples, it's a weeknight dinner lifesaver! Penne alla vodka was a trendy dish in the late 70's and early 80's. Italy got over it pretty quickly, but it's held its own here in the States! I don't think I've been to a family function, Italian or otherwise, that didn't have a tray of the stuff being served! This is how I make mine.

Mussels in White Wine & Garlic

My family LOVES mussels in white wine sauce! While it's usually a staple appetizer for Friday pizza night; we love making it at home as well! Especially because then we can add all the garlic we want! You'll be amazed at how easy it is to steam mussels in white wine and garlic! Seven simple ingredients creates the perfect meal or appetizer. You could even toss these bad boys over pasta! But my personal favorite? Soaking up that amazing sauce with a good piece of bread! Yum!

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Pasta Al Forno

This easy pasta dinner is perfect for chilly winter nights. Pasta al forno (in the oven, or baked) can easily be tailored to fit your family! I show you a very simple recipe in this video, using marinara sauce that I already had made. While the dish is classically made with a meat sauce (ragu), there's a LOT of options here. Simply layer up the dish, similar to a lasagna with fresh ricotta, parmesan and mozzarella! Bake in the oven and serve with a salad or roasted vegetables!

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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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Ricotta Gnocchi

Ricotta gnocchi are an easy and delicious fresh pasta shape to make! They're perfect to serve during the holidays because they're much lighter than potato gnocchi - making it easier to keep on eating! Both Thanksgiving and Christmas generally involve a pasta course in my family and these are one of our favorites! We serve these gnocchi in a Bolognese style sauce. The shape is perfect for the hearty sauce! They also freeze easily so we can make them in advance! Plus then we have leftovers for another day!

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