Italian Stromboli

Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Italian Stromboli is a stuffed pizza roll with various fillings from meats to vegetables and loaded with melted cheese.


Many folks mix stromboli up with calzones which are totally different.


Stromboli is an Italian-American pizza roll that originated in Philadelphia we only use our own pizza dough recipe but you can use store-bought.


Calzones originated in Naples and are 100% Italian.


Calzones use ricotta cheese and cheeses, and stromboli does not have ricotta cheese in it and has meats and other cheeses in it.


There are two reasons they are not the same, the way they're stuffed and what they are stuffed with!


Stromboli is rolled pizza dough and stuffed, the calzone is a pizza dough with a crimped edge but they are both a pizza stuffed and cousins!


This is a stromboli roll that is absolutely delicious and a complete meal sealed into a homemade or store-bought pizza dough.


You can really put whatever you like in your fillings, below you will find many options and make it exactly with what you love!


Adapt away, there really isn't a wrong way to make these, just get creative and enjoy your stuffed pizza dough and also try a favorite Panzerotti which is stuffed fried pizza dough!


By the way, both are great dipped in homemade marinara sauce for dipping and any kind of dipping sauce you prefer even Alfredo!


Scroll down and a glimpse of what your next stromboli can be stuffed within the printable recipe card below.



broccoli rabe, ham, sausage, cheese, hot peppers, and pepperoni stromboli


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Tuna and Peas Skillet

Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Dressed up a little, this classic dish is nowhere near what you would expect in a tuna casserole it's better than ever Italian style.


The flavors are rich and delicious almost Alfredo style but even creamier.


I love the Italian twist we put int this one and the addition of the tuna, peas add an abundance of flavors.


Quick and easy to make in a matter of minutes!


There is a printable recipe card you can just pass on all the talking about how great this is and just print it off!


Just scroll to the end.


Psst!!! Just one more thing! Don't leave if you hate peas, this dish tastes great with broccoli, mushrooms or any kind of vegetable you like!






all in one pan like hamburger helper but Tuna helper homemade tuna peas with pasta skillet.




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Grandma's Easter Bread

Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Easter bread is a must-make tradition for everyone in our family thanks to my Grandmother.

We all love the taste of this egg style of delicious sweet bread with the addition of lemon or anisette.

Of course, you can just use vanilla in the yeast-risen batter, however, anisette remains the favorite for all of use here.

We start making it the day before Palm Sunday and several loaves some with boiled eggs, some frosted, and some left plain so we can toast it in the morning.

The kids love this bread made into bunny shapes, braids, or just loaves, whatever you decide to make the dough is so versatile to mold into festive shapes.

Grandma whips up this dough, let it rise overnight, and makes it fresh to eat warm the next morning, the memories are priceless.

The food is in abundance with of course the sugo (sauce) lamb, favorite pasta like lasagna, all kinds of vegetables, appetizers, and a ton of desserts like cassata, cream puffs, cannoli, cookies, and of course Grandma's Easter Bread

Easter was always one of our favorite holidays for baking and cooking along with Christmas in our Italian American family and the traditions live on in all of us.



Grandma's egg bread for Easter in an Easter basket with jelly beans and chicks in the photo near the pool outside


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Baked Eggs Souffle

Monday, March 20, 2017
Baked eggs souffle are out of this world delicious and only 3 ingredients, yes they're a little work but so worth it.

These are usually made on special occasions and the melted cheese with these fluffy baked creamy eggs is a showstopper breakfast or brunch.

The results are always impressive and with a gourmet look and taste everyone you make these for will love them.

The eggs cook up with a warm yolk, that's perfect to dip your toast in.

Although not a filling breakfast some buttermilk homemade pancakeshomemade breakfast sausage, ham, or crispy bacon will be great side dishes to serve these up with!

A special breakfast with also a healthy alternative when you make these eggs baked as an alternative to fried.

We just love making elegant breakfast treats and another family favorite is cannoli french toast, cookie-cutter or character pancakes for the kids.

If you would like a printable copy of this recipe scroll down and hit print to avoid any ads!



these are baked eggs but light like souffle in a ramekin dish


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Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

Sunday, March 19, 2017
Natural coloring is always the best way to make healthier Easter Eggs colorful and the results of vibrant and naturally beautiful.

Pretty Crackled Easter eggs are the hit of any party, not just for Easter. Try making these for a Baby reveal party, birthday, and Wedding showers!

Growing up I remember mom always using some kind of juice from berries or vegetables.

Now I have a fabulous list of tried and true ways to color those Easter eggs even with strong colorful tea and natural deep colors of certain spices.

Healthier and safe to eat and even some of the ingredients give the eggs a much nicer holiday themed color for Easter when making deviled eggs or mixing up chopped eggs for egg salad tea sandwich appetizers.

Scroll down to the printable recipe card for dye suggestions.




Easter eggs crackled with natural dyes. Dying Easter eggs with plant colors and natural foods are much healthier for the hard boiled eggs . Eating them are healthy and pretty to look at.



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Parsley Pistachio Pea Pesto Over Pasta

Friday, March 17, 2017
The "five P's" Parsley, Pistachio, Pea, Pesto, Pasta, wow try and say that fast, it's such a fabulous pasta dish!

When I want a quick meal and it's on the table fast, this is my go too recipe.


You can have fresh pesto on hand, store-bought and pantry boxed pasta.


An excellent meal anytime and there's a bonus recipe at the end with chicken!





pasta with pesto sauce made with pistachio, peas, and parsley


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St. Patrick's Day Favorite Recipes

Tuesday, March 14, 2017
St. Patrick's Day can is a celebrated day for the Irish, however, it's a day for many Americans to party and enjoy the festivities whether you're Irish or not!


Here is a delicious roundup we enjoy every year and celebrate for the day!


We love corned beef, colcannon potatoes, and many other delicious traditional foods served on this special holiday.


Take a look at these wonderful treats and enjoy being Irish for a day!






Corned Beef







Quick Rye Bread  







Reuben Dogs  






Colcannon Mashed Potatoes






Thousand Island Dressing






Guinness Chili  





Old Fashioned Simple Reuben








Vanilla Irish Cream or Chocolate Stout Cupcakes












Don't Miss Some Of My Other Favorite Recipes!




Easter Recipes


Game Day Recipes


Best Holiday Side Dishes


Red White and Blue Recipes


St Patricks Day


Halloween Roundup


Thanksgiving Recipes


Christmas Recipes

Italian Easter Cassata

Sunday, March 12, 2017
Cassata is an Easter Italian Cheesecake.


This is my mom's recipe the late Margaret Ann Fanelli Colenzo.


You're in for a real traditional Italian creamy ricotta-filled cheesecake that is bursting with cherries and chocolate!


Cassata siciliana is a traditional sweet from Sicily, Italy. Mom was from Bari, Italy and this is her version.


There are over 10 different varieties of cassata in Italy.


The cake is believed to have originated in or around Palermo, where sheep’s milk ricotta, pistachios, and citrus were prevalent.


The Italian cheesecake is moistened with ricotta cheese baked into a delicious crust that has fruits and chocolate in it.


It's a tradition in our family to make this cheesecake every Easter, everyone looks forward to it.


You may also like to try our Italian Easter Dessert Roundup of recipes we make traditionally every year, or our Best Easter Italian Recipes there's something for everyone.


Over the years, we preferred it without some of the traditional candied fruits in it called citron, which is an ingredient used in many bakery versions.



This is an Italian cheesecake made with cherries, shaved chocolate, ricotta cheese in a pastry crust



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Coconut Lime Pie Bars

Coconut Lime Pie Bars are one of those desserts that makes you go back for more.


Refreshing, delicious summer flavor with lime and coconut.


A real tropical treat that's a nice change from the all-time favorite lemon squares.


If you're a lime enthusiast you will love these!


You'll find lemon bars all over the net, try the lime, it will bring you to a tropical Island taste for a delightful change!


Scroll down to the recipe card to print this off.




these are a lime pudding bar made with lime juice and coconut a tropical fruit bar. When making a lemon bar cookie these have the same ingredients except using lime for bars instead.



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Ice Cream Cone Easter Basket Cupcakes

Monday, March 6, 2017
When I think of Easter I think of baking, cooking, festive treats, and of course Easter Baskets.

I love seeing the kid's and adult's faces when they see food art like these little adorable and yummy cupcakes!

These are fun projects for the kids and will put a smile on anyone's face that's eating them.

They are pretty easy to make, just a little time-consuming.

These cupcake cone cupcakes are just a joy to make and so delicious too!

Once you make them a few times, it gets easier and no two look alike, these are perfect for individual personalized sharing!

Enjoy this fun Easter project with your family and get creative, use any kind of edible decorations you like.

Buona Pasqua! Which is (Happy Easter in Italian) from our family to yours.




Little Easter Baskets made from Ice Cream cones with cake batter



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Black Bean Chicken Enchiladas

Sunday, March 5, 2017
Black Bean Chicken Enchiladas are a delicious easy all one Mexican American meal.


You can add whatever you like to these, chicken, beef, pork and with my homemade enchiladas sauce.


I also have the easiest recipe for flour tortilla shells for you to try.


Every time I make these the whole family raves about them.


These are so simple to do and you can even make them ahead of time, plus leftovers are great is you have some leftover rotisserie chicken on hand!


Black beans, jasmine rice, spiced up boneless chicken breasts all rolled up into this heavenly enchilada with melted cheese.


This recipe along with my roundup of Cinco De Mayo Recipes are perfect for a Mexican American Celebration!


This is the perfect potluck style casserole and an awesome meal for busy weeknights.


Just scroll down to this easily printable recipe card!






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Pistachio Tea Cakes for St. Patrick's Day

Little mini pistachio cakes. Perfect for any event and party.

We typically make these mini cakes around St. Patrick's Day because of the green festive color besides being delicious.

These teacakes are perfect for holidays, baby showers, birthdays and so much more.

They also are made with a doctored cake mix so the recipe is super easy to make.

If you're a pistachio lover and want an easy cake recipe these can be made in just about any shape of pan.

Just scroll down to the printable recipe card to get the recipe below at the end.






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Carrot Cake Tastes Like A Scratch Cake

Here is an Oldie but extremely good! This semi-homemade Carrot cake is a recipe everyone is fooled by.


It tastes 100% homemade and baked to perfection starting with a mix.


The ingredients keep it moist and rich and taste so fresh!


Shredded carrots, pineapple, and everything in this cake mix tastes so authentic it's just over-the-top delicious.


Of course, it's my go-to recipe at Easter time is a carrot cake, but I do make this year-round, it's so good!


Moist, tender, and the additions make it addicting. You will serve this cake over and over again and fool the best of bakers!


Don't miss trying this doctored cake mix it's such a delicious cake and time saver.


Scroll down to the printable recipe card and enjoy the compliments!



this is a carrot cake that taste like a scratch cake using a mix with fresh carrots grated in the batter


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Low Carb No Bake Cheesecake Pie

A delight to make and eat this deliciously easy recipe.

Lower in fat and virtually low carb and lower in sugar.

The perfect diabetic dessert in moderation with the right fruit and low-carb ingredients.

Recently my son and husband were diagnosed with diabetes.

I am developing recipes that are healthier and keep him from craving all the foods with sugar so he won't be feeling he is missing out. This one's a keeper.

The smooth filling and topping were a huge success on my first try.

Of course, strawberries are one of his favorite fruits, but with any fruits, they still have natural sugars so limit them.

Berries are the best bet when it comes to diabetes, but check with your doctor first to make sure what he recommends for amounts.

You certainly can choose any number of fruits that are lower in sugar and not use any fruits at all.

Scroll down to the recipe card to print this easy sugar-free no-bake cheese pie, it really is a light delight!


no bake sugar free strawberry cheesecake pie


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Baked Vegetable Topped Flounder

Friday, March 3, 2017
Baked Vegetable Topped Flounder is a quick, easy, go-to meal you can make midweek or anytime.

This baked white fish topped with a medley of peppers, and tomato vegetable-style salsa is superb in flavors.

Lucky for us we live in Florida and often this is the fresh catch of the day when my husband goes to the beach surf fishing.

I used flounder in this recipe since he caught this fresh however any white fish you have on hand will do just fine I have suggestions below for you.

I love easy fish recipes like this topped with buttery crispy breadcrumbs, it's just really off-the-charts gourmet tasting.

The hardest part is chopping the vegetables or the prep work, then it's done in less than 25 minutes!

Haddock is a wonderful substitution as well as grouper, halibut, and sole to name a few.

So no worries if you can't find flounder!

Scroll down and print the recipe, if you love seafood, this one is bursting with delicious buttery wine and lemon flavors



baked vegetable flounder


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Old World Style Chili

Thursday, March 2, 2017
The first hint of fall I love is to start a big pot of chili on the stove to simmer.


Chili is one of those comfort foods that really is very good all year round but I really enjoy it in the cooler month.


The great thing about chili, it's economical, feeds a large crowd, and is always welcomed at parties, game days, and even barbecues in the summertime.


Chili makes great leftovers for a filling in Mexican Lasagna, tortilla bowls, and even the filling for air fryer hot pockets.


I love chili over baked potatoes, chili cheese fries, and even a topping for chili burgers and hotdogs.


A one-pan meal that's so versatile and you won't get tired of all these yummy ideas!


Scroll down to the recipe card and print off this super simple recipe.



this is a big bowl of chili loaded with melted cheese



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