Nothing reminds me more of growing up than Italian Wedding Soup. Those baby meatballs, even smaller pasta bites of Acini de Pepe. Wedding soup comes from the Italian phrase “minestera maritata” or married soup. It’s the marriage of greens and meat. My kids love this Italian Wedding Soup recipe, including packed up for school lunch! Tips for the perfect soup Fresh ingredients – veggies, herbs Don’t skip the two meats for the meatballs The egg and parmesan drizzle is a must Ingredients: 1 tablespoon EVOO Fresh parsley and fresh grated parmesan, to garnish Meatballs 1/2 l ..read more

This Chicken Cacciatore recipe will remind you of your favorite Italian restaurant, or in my case home. The scent from the fresh herbs intermingled with the veggies and chicken is heavenly, and always gets the family ready for dinner. Ingredients: 4-5 pound whole roasting chicken, cut into quarters or 6 pieces of your favorite bone in chicken cuts (I typically use 4 breasts and 2 legs) 1 yellow inion, cut crosswise 2 tablespoons of EVOO 8oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced 2 red peppers, sliced 2 green peppers, sliced 4-6 garlic cloves, halved 4 sprigs fresh oregano 3 sprigs fresh rosemary 4 spri ..read more

Try a new twist on lasagna or ravioli with this easy family-friendly Baked Ravioli with Beef dish. Be sure you use quality ingredients when choosing the ravioli and sauce. I typically pull out a prior frozen container of my homemade sauce. By picking those ingredients right this dish becomes super simple and absolutely delicious. Ingredients 1 pound 85-90% lean ground beef  1 tablespoon EVOO 1 (14oz) can of diced tomatoes 1 jar or 14oz tomato sauce 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 (20-oz.) pkg. fresh-made refrigerated cheese ravioli (smalle ..read more

3 day outdoor vacation itinerary in Savannah, Georgia Savannah, Georgia is one of my favorite US vacation destinations. This year, I was thrilled to finally experience Savannah with my family. Savannah, Georgia and the surrounding areas, including the irresistible cottage beach town of Tybee Island, is accessible by all modes of transportation. You’ll find multiple daily non-stop flights arriving into Savannah/Hilton Head International, along with quick access off I-95 if traveling by vehicle. Complete mix n’ match itinerary for Savannah In this post, explore a complete itinerary for a 3 day f ..read more

Quinoa Salad with Cranberries and Goat Cheese is an impressive salad recipe you can quickly whip up with what you have on hand. It’s perfect for a last minute side, unexpected guests, or for a holiday dish. Every time I make this salad someone always asks for the recipe. It’s that good. Ingredients: Quinoa, pre cooked or prepared according to the instructions. I often make a batch on Sunday to add to our meals throughout the week for extra protein. 1 package of baby kale 1 or 2 handfuls of arugula 1/2 cut of chopped walnuts 1 shallot, thinly sliced 1/4 dried cranberries 3 oz goat cheese, crum ..read more

Lemon honey saffron grilled chicken is a simple recipe that tastes like a gourmet dinner. The only prep work is thinking one day ahead to marinate the chicken. Other than that, it’s grill and serve. I typically prep the marinade for overnight on a Sunday, making Monday (the toughest day in our home) an easy meal night. Ingredients: 4 bone in chicken breasts, skins on, or 6 bone in chicken thighs, skins on 2 tablespoons of good olive oil 2 garlic cloves, grated 1 pinch of saffron threads 2 tablespoons of local honey 1 lemon, juiced 1 pinch of Kosher salt and 1 pinch of pepper 1 cup of baby aru ..read more

Being Italian means you use basil, fresh mozzarella, and tomato wherever you can – Including on burgers. I first make the aioli and place in the refrigerator (this takes about 2 minutes). Next, I prep the roasted red peppers and burgers (about 10 minutes prep). While they are grilling I set up the toppings and do my cleanup, that way everything is seamless and ready to serve! Ingredients: The burgers: 2 pounds of ground beef (your choice on fat %) Salt and pepper 2 garlic cloves, grated 1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese The aioli: 2 tablespoons of mayo 1/2 lemon, juiced 1 clove of garlic, dic ..read more

If you haven’t figured out yet, I love salad. It’s not about the calories for me. It’s all about a craving for crunch and flavor. I’m in love with fresh veggies and olive oil. To make my salad’s ultra filling I add various meats, cheeses, and proteins. Here’s a twist on a traditional Greek Salad. By adding quinoa and arugula we’re turning this side salad into a full meal! Ingredients: 10 -15 cherry tomatoes, halved 2 cucumbers, peeled and quartered 1 green pepper, sliced in strips 1/3 of a red onion, sliced in strips 1 cup pitted Kalamata olives 1 8oz block of feta cheese, cubed 3 cups or aru ..read more

Creamy chicken soup is an easy way to get a healthy dinner on the table with minimal work! This recipe combines earthy flavors, fresh vegetables, and never turns out mushy! If you prefer a traditional chicken soup, skip the cream – that’s it! Our kids take this soup for school lunches the day after saving me even more time the morning after. Anything additional I freeze for even quicker meal nights or sick days. Ingredients 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cleaned and trimmed 8 cups chicken broth  1 sprig of fresh rosemary 1 sprig of fresh thyme 1 bay leaf Salt an ..read more

Italian pasta salad, packed with fresh ingredients and a light homemade dressing, works for dinner and kid lunch sides for days! Recently my friend Jennifer made us a pasta salad with her homemade dressing (which we devoured) and it inspired me to whip up my own. This Italian Pasta Salad recipe is the result. Manga! Ingredients: 2 boxes of rotolini pasta 1 large cucumber, peeled, cut into coins and halved 1 bag of San Marzano tomatoes, sliced (you can use cherry) Fresh kalamata olives, pitted and halved (I buy the pre-pitted) Fresh mozzarella bocconcini, drained and halved 1 handful of fresh ..read more