If you’ve followed my blog, you probably know about my southern Italian heritage. I love to share traditional, modern, and the best Italian recipes on my blog as a way for me to connect with my heritage. I’ve had the chance to visit Rome, Florence, Naples, Positano, and Milan, so I love to explore the…
Have you heard of La Befana and the feast of the Epiphany? I hadn’t until a few days ago. I’m always looking for more ways to connect to my Italian heritage. My birthday is on Three Kings Day – aka Epiphany, so I researched ideas of traditional Italian desserts and that’s how I learned about…
It’s citrus season in California. Our farmer’s market has been brimming with all different types of oranges. Originally, I tried a different recipe to create a blood orange polenta cake, but it didn’t turn out so well. The texture was off, or at least, I wasn’t a fan. Then I found this orange polenta olive…
I’m half Italian. My grandparents immigrated to the U.S. before my dad was born. Although we are Americans first, my dad always instilled a strong Italian pride in me as a child. As an adult, I’ve consistently seek ways to connect with my Italian heritage. That’s why it’s so surprising it’s taken me nearly a…
Have you ever heard of pasta fagioli? First, it’s Italian so it’s technically called pasta e fagioli, pronounced “pas-ta fa-jo-li” in English, and literally means ‘pasta and beans’. It’s a classic Italian soup, but depending on the variety of bean and type of pasta, it can almost be called a stew. There are different versions you can…
Everyone told me Rome was too touristy, too hot, too dirty. These comments were a good reminder that I should not care what people think or say because they were wrong. Rome was amazing. Sure, there were tourists, there were some dirtier streets and there were days that were hot, but the good far outweighed…
It’s been over 7 months since we got back from Positano and I can’t get that place out of my mind. It is one of those places that just stays with you. The views, the people, the food. It’s hard to capture the magic of this place in words or even pictures, but I’m going…
Family traditions are important to me, especially those that celebrate my Italian heritage. Each holiday, I try to find an Italian recipe I can incorporate into my own little family’s traditions. This year, I tried my hand at a panettone bread recipe. My grandparents are from Italy and my dad speaks nostalgically about my grandmother’s…
We decided to use Airbnb in Italy instead of using hotels. I initially looked at hotels because I travel a lot for work. I thought we’d stay in one of the hotel chains I usually stay at so I could add to my rewards points. However, I quickly found hotel prices were outrageous in the…
Italy is more than just major tourist destination to me. My grandparents are from a small village in southern Italy, so this a story about the search for my southern Italian heritage, and the family roots I have been dying to explore. Summer 2016 was special for me for many reasons. I led my first…
This coffee party ideas post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. This post was sponsored by Starbucks as part of an Influencer Activation. I received compensation and complimentary products to facilitate my review. #StarbucksCaffeLatte #MyStarbucksatHome #CollectiveBias One of the things I miss most about my time…
On my recent trip to Italy, there was one item I knew I had to take with me. These white sneakers were my travel staple. Why are white sneakers so important? Well, because they literally go with everything.Last month, I discussed the three most important items to pack for a trip to Europe. On that…
Mom guilt is a thing. Working mom guilt is also a thing. Take working mom guilt, then add extended travel to very cool domestic and international destinations to the mix. Now we have a special brand of perverse agony from guilt. I feel guilty because I miss key moments with my family, especially during the summer,…