Leslie's Kitchen: Grass fed beef with shiitake mushrooms
This dinner recipe is simple, delicious, and nutritious. Sear the meat and slow cook in your Dutch oven while you’re out running errands. Serve over pasta and top with a spoonful of shiitake mushrooms.
Leslie's Kitchen: Roasted Veggie Chicken Chili
Cold winter nights call for a warm bowl of stew and a slice of crusty sourdough bread. Try this roasted Veggie Chicken Chili and I promise it will become one of your favorites!
Packed with carrots, sweet potato, and cauliflower, this chili is rich in fiber and immune-boosting nutrients. Use your leftover roasted chicken or pick up a roasted chicken at your local natural foods market.
The Cinque Terre
Easily reachable by train from all major Italian cities, the Cinque Terre makes the perfect getaway all year round, from long summer months spent at sea to chillier, blue-skied winter days. If you're planning a trip or simply curious, let's look at what each sleepy village has to offer.
Leslie's Kitchen: Chicken Soup from Scratch
They say chicken soup for the soul and I promise, this recipe does just that. If you feel a cold coming on, feeling blue, or if you are craving a warm, cozy soup, try this recipe!Italy's very own Blue Zone
Ah, Blue Zones! There are these remarkable regions around the world where people tend to live much longer than average. And I am talking at 85 or even 90, but more like 100 and 105! Have you ever heard of them?
Che bello il caffe – the history and influence of the Moka pot
Is there any better aroma wafting through your house than that of a freshly brewed pot of coffee? Most of us cannot start our day without it. It is our morning ritual, our reason to get out of bed, our “secret sauce”. In Italy however, it is much more than that...Leslie's Kitchen: Hearty Minestrone Soup
I like to prepare this over the weekend and then reheat it during the week when life gets crazy. The beans, potato, and Parmesan make this a hearty meatless meal. If you still feel like you need a little extra, serve with turkey or chicken sausage. Don’t forget the warm, crusty bread!
From Tuscany to Corfu: Traveling Through Books
Like music and film, reading books can transport us to beautiful destinations, whether real or imaginary, nostalgic moments or future desires. From memories and romance novels to historical fiction, reading is my favorite past-time to immerse myself in the richness of Mediterranean culture, landscape, and history whenever I long for a mental escape.How to make an Italian Aperitivo
The aperitivo is without a doubt, the happiest hour for Italians, it is the anticipation of an adventure, "La dolce vita" at its best.
The aperitivo is a ritual, a moment dedicated to friends, to lightheartedness, to chatting, it is undoubtedly the most iconic Italian moment.
New Year's Eve Mediterranean Style
As you prep for your New Year's parties and look forward to any traditions which you uphold on the final day of the year, why not have a look at how southern Europe celebrates theirs. Whatever your merriments may be perhaps, you’ll find be inspired to add a few more to your list!Leslie's Kitchen: Stuffed Acorn Squash
Leslie's Stuffed Acorn Squash is a winter winner: filled with a tasty combination of sausage, apple, and onion, all baked in a squash and finished with Parmesan. It's a straightforward, delicious meal for chilly nights.Lazio Uncovered: Five Must-See Spots Beyond Rome
Overlooked by neighboring regions like Tuscany and Umbria, Lazio is full of rich history, beautiful landscapes, ancient Roman ruins, stunning coastlines, and local cuisine, making it one of my favorite regions in Italy and one most certainly worth visiting. Although most visitors end up in Lazio while touring the capital...
Mediterranean Inspired Gift Guide
In the Mediterranean lands, many of the presents which are gifted to loved ones, are steeped in age-old tradition which values the gesture more than the object itself.Panettone vs. Pandoro
So why the debate between the two unique cakes? Can't we like them both? Of course, nothing is straightforward in Italy, and Italians love an opportunity for a little innocent debate! Those with a simpler palette tend to gravitate towards Pandoro, while nearly 50% of the Italian population selects Panettone as the ultimate holiday dessert hero. Contrary to popular tastes and preferences, I choose both!
Leslie's Kitchen: Traditional Split Pea Soup
"So what was her secret to delicious split pea soup? The hock! A meaty ham hock is key for delicious split pea soup.Serve it as a side dish or make it in to a full meal with a side salad and crusty sourdough bread with little bit of creamy butter."