Tuscan food, by tradition, is light, appetizing and extremely colorful. Feel free to experiment with any foods that fit into the latter category. Not a fan of olives? Use roasted eggplant! Want more veggies? Add roasted asparagus, chopped cherry tomatoes, zucchini–the list is endless! Create, Create! Here’s my version of a lighter, but very satisfying…
Chili & Pasta? Cincinnati Skyline Chili One of Ohio’s Finest! And a little history
A much-deserved repeat for pasta week! Skyline Chili! Growing up in our conventional Italian household, serving this type of sauce over pasta was unheard of–bordering blasphemous! Yet, I can still remember the first time I experienced this incredible, piquant potion poured over pasta—brimming with beans and golden cheeses and spiked with red onions. Heaven! I knew…
Pasta Alla Puttanesca Una Pentola-One Pot!
Una Pentola One Pot! The featured photo with Brio displayed on the plate of the cascading Puttanesca is not my own, but it is my namesake so I simply had to share 🙂 The history of pasta Puttanesca carries many colorful Italian folk tales. This slightly salty, piquant pasta sauce is full of flavors that…
Pasta Alla Carbonara Una Pentola One Pot!
We all know what pasta embodies, but have you ever wondered what “carbonara” means? Carbonaro means charcoal in Italian, but to this day, the connection to this savory, flavorsome dish remains uncertain. Some food historians believe this pasta may have been popular among charcoal makers working in the Apennine Mountains; or perhaps it is…
Replace Bottled Sauce with 20 Minute Magnificent Marinara
While there are hundreds of amazing brands of pasta sauces on the market, I don’t buy bottled sauce anymore…period. Here’s why. This rich, thick, bubbly brew costs about $3.50-$4 a batch, possesses all of the freshness under the Tuscan sun and puts a smile on the face of everyone who consumes it. The Mmmms are infinite! Reasons…
Italian Pride: Portions of Pasta’s Past
Since most all of my recipes will be centered around Italy this week, today, I would like to share a bit about pasta; its origin, uses and soon some of my fondest childhood memories surrounding them. “Nothing says Italy like its food, and nothing says Italian food like pasta. Wherever Italians immigrated they brought their…
Tavern Burgers
Originally posted on Fabulous Fare Sisters:
Sometimes you want to go out and get that burger at your local pub? You know the one…the big beef burger, juicy and flavorful…topped with caramelized onions and applewood smoked bacon? Yeah, that one. Look no further. This is that burger… Tavern Burgers 1 1/2 lbs ground sirloin 1…
Naked Bourbon Brew Burger: Bare Beef at Its Best!
Coffee in my burger you say? You bet! This caffeine infused burger (trace amounts) with all of the other elements (spices) included in this recipe expose flavors unknown—talk about fusion! I call this one “naked” because it’s served bare and unscathed: Topped only with the mild tastes of caramelized onions and peppers–leave the veggies…
The Sicilian Burger
It’s Burger Week here at Once Upon a Spice and I simply had to include this amazingly juicy gem inspired by my Italian roots. Every time I develop something Sicilian inspired “The Godfather” theme rings incessantly in my mind and memories of my Sicilian father weigh heavily into the equation as well Grazia, Daddy! Obviously, this…
Grilled Chicken Berry Salad with Glazed Pecans
I’ve been making these salads for years and have tried many variations. Yet, to me, this is the ultimate combination of sweet and savory with just a kiss of salty notes. This is a superb, summertime fruit salad which satisfies all of your cravings. I use berries, predominantly, but the list of fruits are endless…
Once Upon a Spice 