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Bread Winner: Easy, Addictive Breadsticks

Camilla Salem — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 11:35:32 PDT

Breadsticks aren't something that I think about very often. What I mean by that is often I overlook them for other, more exciting snacks or appetizers. But I've recently come to realize that a fresh batch of breadsticks is simple, uncomplicated, and completely addictive.

As far as bread goes, this definitely can be considered a fast and easy recipe. It takes just minutes to come together, followed by one hour of resting, then about 30 minutes of baking.

There are a few things that I think could really enhance this recipe: a sprinkling of sesame seeds or good kosher salt. I also upped the temperature a bit to 375° F (or you could roll your breadsticks thinner) because I found that they weren't crunching up as much as I would have liked.

Find this incredibly straightforward recipe when you read on.

Prepare Portable Antipasti For a Crowd

Susannah Chen — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:17:05 PDT

We've long known that just about anything tastes better on a stick, and Italian antipasti are no exception. If you're hosting for a crowd, skip the Italian appetizer platters and go straight for these light yet flavorful finger-friendly kebabs of Italian sausage, roasted peppers, basil, artichokes, and sun-dried tomatoes. Serve them on colorful toothpicks with a drizzle of balsamic reduction. Watch the video to see how it's done.

Homemade Pasta Is Fast and Easy With Fabio Viviani

Camilla Salem — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:45:25 PST

While in Miami, we had the chance to nurse our hangovers, Italian style. Chef Fabio Viviani's Bertolli demo was filled with laughs, mispronunciations, and homemade, fresh fettuccine. All in all, it was great fun, and we were surprised to learn that making pasta at home doesn't have to be the headache that it's made out to be. With a food processor, a pasta press, and a few staple ingredients, you can have fresh pasta in a matter of minutes.

A few helpful tips that Fabio made sure to stress: an "Italian tablespoon" is not the same thing as an American tablespoon (see above photo), quality products and ingredients shouldn't be messed with, and that extra-virgin olive oil shouldn't be used in high-heat situations.

If you're up for a pasta challenge, find the recipe when you keep reading.

Meet Your New Favorite Everyday Pasta

Susannah Chen — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:54:06 PST

There are some commonplace Italian pasta recipes that are so simple yet stunning that I'll find myself on a streak of making them two, three, six times a month.
Spaghetti cacio e pepe falls under this category. So do pasta carbonara and spaghetti aglio e olio. But after years of making these dishes, I didn't think there were many more minimalist pasta combinations to discover.

Then I stumbled upon my latest obsession while out on a dinner date at the Campania-centric Italian restaurant A 16, where I enjoyed a plate of linguine tossed with torn cavolo nero and dressed in a pungent elixir of Italian anchovy sauce, barely-cooked garlic, and spicy red pepper flakes. By the end of that weekend, I'd already come up with a version myself, using some of my latest pantry fixations.

Keep reading for a new favorite rustic pasta recipe.

Italian Dishes For Cozy Winter Meals

YumSugar — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:20:30 PST

If cooler temperatures leave you craving cozy comfort food, try cooking one of these delicious Italian dishes. We've got you covered with everything from fast and easy appetizers to entrées worthy of a dinner party.

Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, e Peperoncino

Camilla Salem — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:45:17 PST

Translated: spaghetti with garlic, oil, and chili pepper flakes.

This is the kind of meal that makes you stop and think that the simplest foods are often the most wonderful. With only a few ingredients that are staples in most pantries, you can create a beautiful, flavorful, heartwarming meal from scratch.

Spaghetti aglio, olio, e peperoncino is a traditional Italian pasta dish. It's well loved by many because it's so easy and inexpensive to make. This is a perfect solution whenever you're in a bind. For example, if guests come over and you've got nothing to serve, they are certain to be wowed when you present them with this meal.

It packs quite a kick from the minced garlic and chili pepper flakes, and I highly suggest enjoying this dish with fellow garlic lovers. Keep on going for more.

Know Your Ingredients: Porchetta

Susannah Chen — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:15:17 PST

If there's one ingredient that may be able to oust bacon as the prized protein of the moment, it's porchetta. It's been appearing everywhere in farmers markets, Italian restaurants, and sandwich shops around San Francisco.

Pronounced "por-ketta," porchetta is an Italian specialty of slow-roasted suckling pig. A young, milk-fed piglet is gutted, deboned, stuffed with a mixture of garlic, herbs, and seasonings, then roasted whole in a wood-burning oven.

Porchetta originated in Lazio, a region of west central Italy, where it was probably a mountain food eaten during wintertime feasts. The specialty has since become entrenched in much of the country's culinary tradition. In Umbria, porchetta is flavored with fennel in garlic; in Rome, rosemary and garlic; in the Marches, wild herbs; and in Sardinia, myrtle leaves.

Sometimes referred to as "Italian pulled pork," porchetta is succulent, extremely fatty, and savory. In Rome, it's popular for street vendors to serve it sliced and sandwiched between a roll. Have you ever tried porchetta?

Source: Flickr User Pedro Angelini

Black and Orange Halloween Pasta's Both Trick and Treat

Susannah Chen — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:30:00 PDT

If you're looking for a more low-key way to ring in Halloween, then enjoy a festive, color-coordinated pasta dish at home. If you loved electric-pink rigatoni this time last year, then you'll find black-and-orange pasta just as fun. Squid ink provides the midnight color while roasted butternut squash lights the dish up with an incandescent glow. Make it even creamier by adding a generous pat of butter and a shower of freshly-shaved pecorino romano. For the spirited and spooky recipe, read on.

Beyond Spaghetti: 8 Things to Do With Pesto

Katie Sweeney — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:16:53 PDT

During the Summer, I love to use the bounty of in-season basil to make fresh pesto. The combination of basil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and olive oil is always delicious. If you don't have time to blitz your own pesto but want to cook with the sauce, simply pick up some from the local market. Although pesto is wonderful tossed with al dente pasta, there are plenty of other ways to make use of the Italian condiment. To see my suggestions, read on.

Fast & Easy Dinner: Pepperoni and Broccoli Rabe Pizza

Katie Sweeney — Thu, 26 May 2011 11:56:24 PDT

Lately, I've been obsessed with homemade pizza. It's my favorite food and now that I've discovered how easy it is to use Whole Foods dough (you don't need a rolling pin; it can be stretched simply with your hands!), I make it all the time. It's a great way to get rid of veggies, meat, and cheese that are in the fridge and comes together in 30 minutes. Inspired by a pie I saw in Everyday Food, I made this pizza with broccoli rabe, pepperoni, shallots, and fontina cheese. There's something about the bitterness of the greens that pairs wonderfully with the spicy pepperoni and salty cheese. It was absolutely scrumptious and hard not to eat the whole thing myself! Ready for the recipe? Read on.