Mascarpone Cream Dessert

Who does not like a super simple, fast and delicate dessert that will make you and your guests wanting more?

I am sure many of you had the Italian dessert known as Tiramisu'.

Well, this dessert is mascarpone cream without the coffee taste and the carbs (from the ladyfingers).

Given that Tiramisu' is my favorite dessert ever,

and given that I literally run on coffee and carbs,

I have to say that this mascarpone cream is pretty good too.

When I was in high school,

I worked for a little bit in the kitchen of a restaurant called 

L'Antico Giardino,

just outside Ferrara's city limits,

in Italy.

Every time I go back to Italy to see my family, 

I make sure I stop by to hug the owner

Signora Maurizia.

Such a sweet lady.

...end of rabbit trail...

At this restaurant they have this dessert,

and it was there where I had it the first time.

So, let's make it

Pesto the Easy Way

When I start harvesting our basil,

it's a sign that Summer is here

(almost...the last few days we had much cooler temperatures)

I love basil.

 and yes...you can grow basil in pots.

Caprese salad.

Pesto requires few ingredients,

but make sure 

Homemade Pasta

I love moments like these.

When life slows down and connections are built.

It can be challenging to slow down in a world that demands us 

to always move at high speed,

but I like to savor moments like this.

Teaching our children skills that will stay with them the rest of their lives.

I love to sit down and work and talk to our children.

We end up talking, laughing and really building "team work".

Nothing more precious.

Now, as we leave a year behind and embrace the new one,

I like to have some goals.

I know,

some people don't like "new year resolutions",

but I do.

I see goals as opportunities.

No goals, no target to hit.

Speaking of goals,

In a couple of weeks 

I will start training for my 3rd full marathon.

26.2 miles.

I have a plan, 

but it will be harder than the ones I had in the past 2 years.

And since I will be running lots of miles,

I see pasta making being definitely a weekly activity.

Win, win.

Stay Frugal,

Daniela

Almond Harvest (and a recipe)

One thing about going home (to Italy) 

late Summer/early Fall,

is that you get the best of both seasons.

Late Summer means almond harvest...

early Fall means figs...fresh figs...lots of them.

Among the majority of olive trees, 

our very own Olive Garden, 

we happen to have a dozen of almond trees 

and close to two dozens of fig trees.

fresh figs and local cheese

One day we spent harvesting the almonds.

All done by hand,

because 

Easy 3 Ingredients Jam

Making your own jam is very easy.

I only use 3 ingredients...

4 if you count the water. 

This jam does not require a water bath, and it only needs to be refrigerated once you open up the jar.

But not until then. 

Read on.

The best part about making your own jam is that you know exactly what's in it, and you can customize it just as you like it.

This is a basic family recipe.

My grandfather was a farmer in southern Italy.

Eggplant Parmesan Bites

Eggplant Parmesan bites are great to eat as an appetizer or as a side dish.

What I love about them is that they are super easy to make.

I usually even grill the eggplants a day 

(or few days ahead).

This makes the 

"putting together on the day of" 

even faster.

Very simple.

Grill the eggplants.

***HERE is how I prepare and grill mine on an indoor griddle***

Use a can of 

Easy to make food: Eggs and Potatoes combo

What a healthy meal looks like?

It depends on who you ask to.

My definition of a healthy meal is: a fresh, homemade, full of flavor kind of meal.

So I keep away from the cans and the premade boxed/frozen food.

Also I stay away from restaurants as much as possible.

That said, I truthfully eat a wide variety of foods.

I get bored with the same breakfast, lunch or dinner.

This past Saturday I ran and finished my second marathon with a PR of 4:24.

this is the proof picture, as I have not received the hard copy yet 

 Needless to say, 

Chickpeas Pizza - Pizza di Ceci

When I think of comfort food,

chickpeas pizza comes to mind.

Although this is not a pizza as most people know.

This recipe is actually a traditional Italian recipe,

not a recent gluten free experiment...although it's definitely gluten free,

and could be used to replace the traditional pizza crust.

The great thing about this, is that you really only need 
chickpeas flour +

water, salt and olive oil.

There are no strange ingredients, 

no rising, 

no kneading.

Too good to be true?

Not so.

We eat chickpeas pizza as appetizer, 

with cold cuts and sometime cheese,

but the possibilities are endless.

So here is how to make it.

3 Cheeses Cannelloni

Cannelloni is a large tube of pasta that is meant to be filled.

Most times we (Italians) stuff it with cooked ground beef and layer it with both marinara sauce and besciamella sauce.

This time I tried something different.

This has a caprese flavor to it.

This is such a great tasting meal, and so simple to make.

I used 

Grandma Apple Cake

Grandma apple cake, aka Torta di mele della Nonna.

It seems that back then, recipes were simple, easier and better tasting.

This is my favorite apple cake recipe.

***NOTE***

The best way to make this cake is to take 3 coffee mugs, add

Easy gluten free chocolate cookies

This is my very first gluten free recipe.

I must admit, our family does not have a gluten intolerance, but given that we have guests over on a weekly basis, I started to experiment with gluten free desserts, to make when we do have people over that are on a gluten free diet.

That said, these are so good, and with ingredients like coconut oil and brown rice flour, I feel good about feeding them to my family.

INGREDIENTS:

Homemade Puff pastry in under 5 minutes

Puff pastry can be quite labor intensive.

All the folding and resting time in between.

This puff pastry is the EASIEST puff pastry that you will ever find.
I make this plenty of times around the Holidays.

No folding.

Make it in under 5 minutes,

and refrigerate overnight.

That's all.

 I know this recipe by heart.

Ingredients

Italian Dessert

The moment you realize that you have fresh eggs and...

that one shot of espresso is just not enough.

This Italian dessert is such a simple, yet delicious and "fancy" dessert.

It's my husband and children's favorite 

(and they don't even like coffee per se).

But this is different.

This is...

Chocolate Sauce in 1 minute

When I make this chocolate sauce, it's always a hit.

But let me tell you how easy is to make this.

You will need 

Baked Vegetables

This week we are having cooler temperatures but the veggie garden is still producing.
This dish was delicious and looked really pretty...
almost too pretty to eat.

Ingredients

Organic Homegrown Sundried Italian Seasoning Mix

Organic Homegrown Sundried Italian Seasoning Mix.

It's a mouthful, right?

Well, just wait until you put this in your mouth.

Between my parents and I, 

we grow the majority of the ingredients listed below.

You could use already dried herbs that you find at the store.

If this is your option, 

make sure you use dried herbs that are still "fresh".

You would not believe how amazing this mix smells.

The herbs and red peppers are hang to dry in the sun. 

The length of the drying time

Mashed Potato (the Italian way)

Mashed potato is one of the easiest food to prepare.

That said, the ingredients you use are very important.

First, you have to start out using the right potato.

This time I used 

Classic Sangria

Summer time = backyard grilling and parties

Here is the perfect drink for a bbq party.

This Classic Sangria is a fun and refreshing drink.

In a pitcher, jar or large bowl, 

(I used 2 half gallon size jars)

combine 1 orange, 1 lime,1 lemon and 

How to prepare strawberries

This is the most delicious way to prepare strawberries.

This is how my mom 

(and lots of other Italians) 

prepare strawberries.

I have had many, many people asking me what's the key ingredient(s) to make them taste so good.

Start with 

Southwestern-taco salad dressing

This is a really simple salad dressing that goes well with a taco/Southwestern dinner.

Last night I made a Southwestern rice, with chicken sausages, beans and corn.

I wanted to add a side salad to the meal, and came up with this quick salad dressing.

3 ingredients: