Italian Roasted Chickpeas

Italian Roasted Chickpeas were a childhood favorite and every time I make these they bring back a flood of memories.


Growing up in a Catholic home, the churches had feasts in the summertime.


We would walk several blocks to get there but before we reach our destinations we could smell those roasted chickpeas from several blocks away.


The roasted smell was similar to chestnuts to me, that smell was just mouth-watering and I couldn't wait to taste those salty hard crunchy beans that tasted like nuts after roasting.


One of the things different in this recipe, there was never seasoning on them and honestly, they didn't need any, they tasted fine but these enhanced with a little more flavor makes them really over the top.

If you prefer to make the original style just added kosher or sea salt on them and that's it, simple and easy.


Truly Roasted chickpeas are the healthiest or at least one of the healthiest snacks on the planet.

Christmas in July Cookies and More

Midnight mass on Christmas Eve, wrapping gifts and frosting cookies, we make great memories in our family year after year.

Over the years we have lost lots of our loved ones but continue to instill the traditions with the new generations, hoping they fall into our footsteps of great memories someday in their futures.

Making those special moments with Mom and Dad, our Grandparents, and years of gatherings with cousins, Aunts, and Uncles have distant memories now but they molded our lives with the best holidays.

We have a basic cookie dough that makes over 85 cookies to try just by adding mix-ins perfect for Wedding, Christmas in July and of course the regular Christmas holiday called Variety Cookies (don't miss trying this basic recipe shown below in the first photo!).

Here are just a few of our favorite things we make to celebrate the season and foods we love.

Mexican Meatloaf Cups

Easy to make individual cheese and beef Mexican Meatloaf cups are so much fun to eat.

Filled beef cups filled with melted cheese, and refried beans, with a delicious fork full of yumminess in every bite you take!

These are perfect for an appetizer for a fun Mexican buffet gathering with friends.

The recipe is super easy and the kids just love these flavors as you can make them spicy or mild in flavor just by the kind of salsa added.

Our super easy-to-make meatloaf cups are just perfect for Cinco De Mayo celebrations.

Setting up a garnish bar is fun plus you can add all your family and friends' favorite toppings with a little of all our suggestions below to build their own meal and perfect when hosting a party.

We will give you all those suggestions below in the recipe card as you scroll through the step-by-step recipe.

Chocolate Candy Clusters

One of the last things I do before Christmas is making chocolate candy clusters and they are so easy whether done in a slow cooker, microwave, or double boiler, if I don't wait until the last minute they would be gone in a New York minute.

We love all the favorite kinds, barks, toffee, caramel, peanut brittle and so many holiday candy treats this is the easiest made in a slow cooker with melted chocolate and anything you can dip into it to make a cluster of delicious candies.

I was in the market today, and the memories of mixed nuts still in the shell were looking at me which were a pain when making candy but less money and that's what mom would use.

My mom would buy all the nuts roast them in their shells in the oven then crack each one to get the meat out of them after cooling to make candy.

We just didn't have nut clusters, she used, coconut, dried figs dates, and even pretzel sticks.

I am sure you all have those Christmas traditions in your home this slow cooker easy chocolate treat was always my favorite as a child and still is

Now instead of using a double boiler, I make this in a slow cooker and it's so much easier and you can also melt this in the microwave.

Mom would put them on a cookie sheet to dry but I like to add the candy to paper liners for gift-giving, they make great gifts for candy lovers.

Scroll through all our tips, substitutions, and filling ideas, these are fun to make and everyone will rave about them!

Mom's Italian Homemade Sausage

Mom's Italian Sausage Links Homemade Recipe In Bulk is always made for most holidays.

A festive Italian Breakfast with the family every year on Christmas morning.

The reason for the season is remembered sharing the morning Christ was born with your family and loved ones.


A glorious birthday celebration is enjoyed by many families and friends.

My very favorite day of all.


The meaning sometimes is truly forgotten of how this wonderous day came about and celebrated by Catholic families around the world.

Feast of 7 Fishes

Feast of 7 Fishes is a  Traditional Italian Christmas Eve serving 7 Fishes and as long as I could remember as a child I helped clean the octopus and learned how to make baccala along with more than even 6 more.

This is a long story of my childhood and memories made celebrating the birth of Christ and the meaning behind all Italian traditions.

As the years went by, Grandma, Grandpa, my mom, and dad continued to instill their traditions from their Regions in Italy brought to America with their teachings.

Now as an adult and they have long passed on, I continue to do the feast of 7 fishes to celebrate the birthday of the lord, midnight mass, and food traditions.

The memories that were made are priceless, and although the food continues to evolve from generation to generation in taste, quality, and presentation, we still always stick to those yearly Christmas Eve special foods.

Our Italian family will always remember the reason for the season first and are very thankful no matter what our table has on it year after year we are grateful we have each other.

Although born in America and raised in Utica, New York, (also referred to as "Little Italy") our values were instilled by our parents and grandparents and several of us still carry on traditions from one generation to another.

Fudge Marble Chocolate Chip Cake with Triple Chocolate Icing

The end result to make this delicious cake is worth the trouble. A rich cake that will satisfy both the yellow and chocolate cake lovers of the world. The thick rich chocolate frosting with chocolate chips is truly perfect to finish it off...

Italian Cabbage Roll Casserole

All in one pan easy meal, easier than stuffing cabbage and less messy. This casserole is full of all those flavors and topped with cheesy goodness!.

Sliced cabbage, sausage, ground beef, and tomato sauce are just a few of these delicious blends of ingredients in this super easy cabbage roll casserole.

You can even make it all vegetarian and omit the meat if you prefer, or use a healthy choice like ground chicken or turkey.

We have several substitution suggestions below and tips but if you prefer to scroll to the recipe, it's printed at the bottom of the page.

Coconut Loaf

This coconut loaf cake is one we love to make around the Easter holiday.

An easy homemade all made from scratch loaf cake that's decadently delicious.

The cake is rich with butter and has a wonderful coconut-thin glaze on top.

The kids often help make this loaf because it's so easy and can be adapted with mix-ins and also decorated to match a party theme or holiday.

Around Easter time, this loaf can have tinted frosting and coconut with the addition of colorful candies on top.

You may also like to try our Coconut Cream Pie recipe or our Coconut Chocolate Chip Banana Cake.

If you love coconut don't miss trying this delicious cake, everyone compliments the texture and delicious crumb this has.

Scroll down to the printable recipe and give it a try it's so simple.

Hot Flavored Coffee Obsessions

18 different flavored gourmet coffee recipes with or without alchohol these are perfect for National Coffee Day on September 29th and perfect for entertaining guests when hosting a dinner party.


Every recipe can be adapted to more or less of what you prefer in quanity of the ingredients.


Feel free to use sugar-free flavored syrups in place of alcohol or a small amount of extracts.


All coffee are just basic recipes and guidelines to our personal preference.


Scroll down to the printable recipe card for all the gourmet coffee recipes listed below.

Happy Halloween Recipes and Party Fun Idea's 2009

It's Halloween and party time, here is a quick list of party foods, that will make your table perfect for your guests to get them in the spirit of Halloween. These are just some ideas and guidelines. I am sure you can think of many spooky foods to create! Everything here is super easy and I am sure you'll do just fine with the ideas just looking at the photo to create your own fun-filled Halloween party!

Death By Chocolate Cookies

You've probably heard about Death by Chocolate cakes before but have you ever tried Death by Chocolate Cookies? Well here is my favorite recipe for chocolate lovers out there.

If you want a loaded chocolate cookie that is bursting with creamy chunks of pure delight, this cookie will be your ultimate addiction.

These are so full of amazing chocolate flavor they sure don't last long even how decadently rich they are.

The name Death by Chocolate stays true to its name without hesitation, as they are over-the-top chuck full of chocolaty goodness from start to finish in every morsel.

Easy to make and the quickest off the cookie tray first, especially during a holiday.

Scroll down to the recipe card and bake a double batch, these won't last long!

Pink Italian Lemon Ricotta Cookies For Cancer Benefits

Cancer has hit many people in life and taken many of our loved ones.

Through the years I have donated and made cookies for benefits to raise awareness and money for this cause.

I lost my brother to cancer to throat cancer.

My brother was a very talented singer and did a benefit for two of our nieces that also had it and thankfully have stayed in remission.

Cancer is one of the most challenging diseases to live with day after day not knowing when it will creep back into your life and no one can tell you to forget about it once you've had it.

I will always continue to support research and my prayers to all who know someone or who has gone through this personally and lost a loved one.

The fight must continue to find a cure, god bless those afflicted.

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 stick margarine, softened ( any kind that's recommended by the American Heart Society) if using butter use unsalted and 1 teaspoon of salt instead of 1/4 teaspoon.

2 cups sugar

2 eggs 1 (15-ounce) container Whole Milk or Light Ricotta Cheese

1 teaspoon of lemon extract

1/4 teaspoon lemon zest

a few drops of red food coloring Beat margarine and sugar together till light. Put all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Stir Ricotta into the margarine and cheese, then add one egg at a time and blend together. Gently mix the dry ingredients in till blended adding drops of red food coloring for pink coloring.

Drop by teaspoons full on a greased cookie sheet. Bake till the edges are slightly brown, and cookies are set for about 10 to 15 minutes.


1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

2 tablespoons of shortening

1/2 teaspoon of lemon extract

3 tablespoons milk keep adding by drops until it makes a smooth stream, if too thick. Beat till spreadable.



R.I.P. to my dear brother John Colenzo in 2019 (cancer took him just 4 years after the above video he made for our nieces)

Fried Florida Redfish Italian Style

Here is what we consider the perfect catch, our favorite Fried Florida Redfish.

My husband Nemo and I got up at 5am and headed over to the beach to surf fish in the ocean, around 85+ degrees, a perfect Florida day.

Using mullet as bait, my husband using a cast net, couldn't believe how plentiful they were.

He said this is the mullet run when the mullet head for South Florida for warmer water.

We both love to fish, and this is one of our favorite fish to eat, Red Fish.

I asked my husband, Nemo, to help me post on how to filet a fish, and with a name like Nemo, yes like the fish, he is definitely the expert.

Believe me, he has had many people comment on his real Italian name, and reference to the movie Finding Nemo.

He was a real partner on this meal with me, as he will give you great instructions on how to filet Red Fish, and he makes it look so easy!

Fileting the Red Fish (these are my husband's instructions below for cleaning) he cleans it, I cook it.

I have a hard time reeling these bad boys in so he is holding up mine and the one he caught.

Melbourne Beach, Florida October 8th, 2009 The Red (Drum) Fish Story

Raspberry Cream Pie

No Bake Pies are so easy and this Raspberry Cream Pie is light fluffy and bursting with the fresh taste of raspberries in the filling.

This decadent dessert is super easy to make with softened cream cheese, fresh raspberry pureed and whipped topping, or whipped heavy cream, each fork full is a heavenly delight.

The filling is poured into a regular baked pie crust or graham cracker crust either store-bought or homemade.

This pie is so pretty to serve guests and has a real refreshing light taste for a summer pie for dessert at any bbq.

Scroll down to the recipe card to print off this easy recipe and to avoid any ads hit print.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Cupcakes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Cupcakes (or cake) are a match made in heaven and one of the most asked-for cakes in our family.

What makes them so special is the whipped peanut butter filling and the all-made-from-scratch chocolate batter for the cake or cupcakes.

These chocolate peanut butter-filled cupcakes are soft, moist chocolate cupcakes filled with peanut butter so delicious you'll want to eat the filling with a spoon!

These cupcakes are perfect for making for birthdays, potlucks, or for peanut butter and chocolate lovers.

Get fancy and fill an icing bag with your favorite chocolate frosting or just slather it on top, add a few chocolate-covered peanut butter cups crumbled and viola a masterpiece!

Scroll down to the bottom to get this delicious recipe for our Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Cake or Chocolate Cupcakes filled recipe.

Baked Baby Shell Pasta with Pork Ragu

Baked Baby Shell Pasta with Pork Ragu is a layered baked pasta casserole with sauteed minced vegetables, seasoned pork with fennel in a rich tomato sauce simmered then layered with cheese and baked.

The tomato sauce is rich with meat and simmered slowly for a little over an hour and can be used with any pasta dish without a casserole layering.

Over the years it's been recreated several times and adapted to individual taste and added to baked lasagna, baked ziti, or other baked pasta recipes.

This sauce freezes well and can be used in so many other ways soups, stews, casseroles, and making large batches come in really handy in a pinch.

Our rich tomato sauce will bring a new love to tomato sauce with all it's robust flavors and is a hearty dish when baked together with the ricotta just like a lasagna but easier with loose pasta instead of long noodles.

Of course, if your love Italian tomato sauce you may also like to try our Traditional Sunday Sauce, it's another vintage family recipe.

Scroll down to the easy recipe card to print off and don't forget to read all our tips and suggestions.

Shrimp and Scallop Margarita Pizza

If you're a seafood lover this shrimp and scallop margarita pizza is fabulous!

                

 Reminds me of a garlic pizza with seafood on it in flavor. The tomatoes accent the flavors with richness. Then with garlic shrimp and scallop and basil perfection!  

                                       

Shrimp with tails on for presentation or off if you don't care!
1 pizza shell store bought  or homemade
Bay or sea scallops small
Plum tomato slices
fresh bay leaf
dried oregano to taste
fresh garlic chopped fine.
fresh parsley
grating cheese
mozzarella cheese sliced thick
olive oil

Rise dough to around 1/2 thick, prebake... bake for 10 minutes 430 degree hot oven.
Grill, broil or pan fry the shrimp and scallops Add around 1 tablespoon each in a small bowl: melted butter, white wine, 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cook for 2 minutes on each side set aside to drain or until the shrimp turns pink in color. 


On top of the pizza dough, place slices of mozzarella,  then add  thinly sliced tomatoes, top with fresh garlic, spices, adding salt, pepper to taste and grating cheese. Drizzle olive oil all over the top. Bake on 430 until tomatoes are soft, around 10 to 15 minutes.. Take out add the seafood, top with basil, and fresh parsley.

World's Best Chocolate Cake

This is one of the best chocolate cake recipes and frosting we make and because of that, the family called this World's Best Chocolate Cake.

A delicious cake that really is so simple to make with easy pantry ingredients.

If you're a chocolate cake lover, you're going to love this perfect homemade scratch cake.

Grandma's Italian Style Green Bean Recipe

Grandma made everything simple back when I was growing up the foods were prepared with whatever we had in the house and she used to pick green beans in the fields, this is her recipe for the 1950s.

Olive oil, garlic, and herbs were staples to use so if you're looking for a simple side dish this would be the easiest green bean recipe you'll ever make.

Easy steamed fresh from the farmers market, homegrown, the beans are always delicious.

These do not have vinegar, just olive oil, and garlic, that's how she made them and we love these old Italian vintage recipes.

No Bake Godmother Cappuccino Cups

No Baked Godmother Cappuccino Cups are an easy throw-together dessert when the family has a get-together plus we even had the Godmother Coffee Recipe to go with this dessert below.


Our dessert cups are made with whipped topping (or of course, you can use a homemade whipped cream), instant pudding, and poured into a graham cracker style crust.


I am a big fan of easy icebox-style pies and no-bake is a win-win when I am always busy making a big dinner, especially on our Sunday Traditional Italian Sauce dinners.


This crazy name for this dessert came from watching the movie The "Godfather" When they invented that famous alcoholic Godfather drink we decided to make a hot coffee beverage (shown in the recipe card below and this dessert filling) for all the women in the family.


The men enjoyed both so much it became a family favorite dessert all year long along with of course our Baked Cannoli Pie.


This dessert topped with a drizzle of our favorite Kahlua hot fudge sauce makes this over-the-top yummy.


This is one of those desserts everyone thinks it's gourmet because it's so rich and decadent but oh so easy peasy.


If you love no-bake easy pies, you may also like to try our No-Bake Pineapple Fluff Pie which is very versatile you can use any fruit you like!.


Scroll down to the recipe card to print off this easy recipe and don't forget to try our version of "The Godmother Hot Cappucino" recipe also below.

Grandma's Two Egg Cake

This is a basic two-egg cake recipe just like Grandma used to make.

Growing up Grandma made this cake with simple always stocked in the pantry ingredients.

Although the cake is more dense than any cake mix would be, the flavor of homemade goodness was the best you could ask for.

We usually had a slice of this cake plain without anything on it and it reminded me a thick fluffy cookie inside.

Grandma was my Dad's mother and she would make two 8 inch cake one plain and the other one was his favorite garnished and slathered with red raspberry jam sprinkled with coconut.

Milk, eggs, flour, sugar, and a citrus taste like lemon or orange peel went into it.

The first onset of cold, snow, and winter, this was a popular dessert food on our tables after dinner.

Served plain, with fresh fruit, whipped cream, pudding, dusted with powdered sugar or a drizzle of icing.

Grandma's Italian Orange Peel Custard

This is a stovetop custard made with the flavors of orange zest and the peel. Very delicious, smooth, and delicious.

In the years that passed, I needed to recreate her recipe, and with trial and error, I finally nailed the flavors.

This is a rich egg yolk stovetop creamy delight with a fresh orange infusion of flavors.

I am very proud to be able to recreate her recipe, which turned out perfect and was really easy to make.

Give this orange custard on the stovetop a try it's delicious!

Italian Style Beer Batter Fish

This is the best recipe you'll have to make for a crispy delicious beer batter coating for fish!

With just a few ingredients this easy-to-make batter will be a delicious addition to your recipe collection when you have a fresh catch of the day!

Serve these tasty filets with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, or even top this beer-battered fish with melted cheese lettuce, and tomato for a restaurant-style sandwich!

Scroll down to our printable recipe card for complete instructions and check out our tips below to get started!

Easy Chocolate Whiskey Cake

Easy Chocolate Whiskey Cake is a favorite chocolate moist cake with a jolt of Irish Whiskey and perfect when partaking in celebrating the St. Patrick's Day holiday.

Although this is a favorite whiskey cake during any holiday, it gets better with sitting for a few days for a potent kick.

This is one of the first cakes to fly off the dessert tables with an adult party.

This recipe is super easy to make, just throw all the ingredients in with the cake mix and bake it, the cake is foolproof every time.

If you're a frosting lover, then frost the cake with your favorite icing instead of using the syrup.

Black Pepper Cookies ( White Wine Cookies)

Black Pepper cookies are a recipe that my mom made that her mother taught her and a recipe from her Region in Bari Italy.

The cookie has wine, oil, flour, anise seeds and black pepper with a little salt.

The recipe is simple over the years watching mom just pouring everything in a bowl, I learned to get the recipe right and measured the ingredients to finally write it down.

Scroll to the bottom of the page hit print for no ad interference and enjoy a taste of Bari with a glass of white vino.

Almond Cake

This is an all-made-from-scratch Almond Cake my Italian grandmother made for us back in the 1960s.

The cake recipe came from her Italian mother she learned to make this in Rome, Italy.

Although the cake is revised with a little drizzle of icing just for decoration, nothing was on her original cake, and was baked on a  very plain simple pie plate pan.

Through the years we adapted her recipe just a bit for presentation, you can make the simplicity of this by just leaving it topped with sugar and sliced almonds.

This can is rich in almond flavor and the perfect snack cake any time of the day!

Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake

This Crockpot Lava Cake is super rich and magical how it transforms the ingredients.

This decadent chocolate pudding makes a flowing lava and the flavors are addicting.

Serve this warm topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or REAL whipped cream.

We have two LAVA CAKE versions below one is from scratch and one is made with a cake mix for those who dislike making desserts that can be a little challenging!

The topping is ooey and gooey and the recipe is step by step foolproof.