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Happy New Year Amici!
January 4, 2013 - 2:20pm
In our time of reflection, we thank God for all the wonderful relationships He has blessed us with. Our famiglia, friends and clients have been so loyal, faithful and supportive to my husband Jeff and I and our business Isabella's Bella Cucina.
We are so excited about the opportunities that await us in 2013! Let me share a few new things you'll see with Isabella's Bella Cucina. We now have a "Ask Isabella" section on our website, facebook and in our newsletter. So ask away amici. I will post the answers because I'm sure someone else will appreciate the answer too! Check out our new "Video Spotlight" below and our "Recipe and Tip of the Month" that will be just in time for the upcoming holidays. Last but not least stay tuned because our new E-Cookbook "What Can I Bring?" will be out soon!
Look forward to your feedback and blessing you with our Full Service Catering and Personal Chef services including Private Dinning with Chef Isabella, our Private Cooking Classes and the delivery of one-two weeks of food based on our Healthy Lifestyle Program.
VIVERE BENE........LIVE WELL
Famiglia's Christmas Traditions
December 26, 2012 - 11:18am
Many have asked about my own famiglia's Christmas traditions so I thought I'd share some of them with you. As you can guess, I'm the one in charge of the Christmas Eve meal that is always at my parents home. It's one of our most treasured celebrations of the year. As many of you know Christmas Eve dinner for the Italians is mainly seafood but we have something for everyone on our table.
A few 'must haves' are my Arrancini, yes time consuming but it wouldn't be Christmas Eve without them. I make these two days ahead so all I have to do is fry them that day. Thank God for fabulous 'make ahead' recipes! My papa always makes his famous fried shrimp that compares to non other, not to mention Octopus salad and baccala' (salted cod fish). Fruitti di Mare dish is mine to prepare as well. This light lushish seafood pasta dish with a sauce with the right consistency and texture and savory character includes Clams, Mussel, Shrimp, Scallops and Calamari. Note that I don't always make it with Linguine. This year I'm going to make it with Paccheri pasta, a large hollow tube like pasta, similar to rigatoni but larger.Of course Chicken Parmigiana is a must have on our table for those who do not eat fish.
Speaking of table we're about 50 people and in our famiglia and there is 'no such thing' as buffet. Yes it's a sit down dinner, using every plate we have...Madonna Mia! My parents do not like paper or plastic products especially on this day, it's almost sacrilegious! Rich desserts like my cousin Anna's cheesecake, my sister-in-law Leslie's wine cake, my Zeppole, Biscotti, Crostoli, and of course Zabaione, some for the cake and some for the espresso, a tradition that the Vicari famiglia has carried on for many years.
The most important part of any meal is the people who join us at our table, a life long legacy that will go on from generation to generation.
Buon Natale Amici....Merry Christmas.
Butternut Squash Featured on eHow
December 12, 2012 - 1:56pm
The beauty of this fruit called Butternut Squash.
Yes I said a fruit because if its seeds! But I'm partial to it for many reasons, one because it's shaped like ME, hour-glass like! Don't you think?
My famiglia just LOVES Butternut Squash! When you drizzle it with olive oil and Kosher Salt, roast it at 450 for 20 minutes, it tastes like candy. When you saute' it in this soup recipe it brings so much comfort to the soul, not to mention Vitamin B6, K, C, A, potassium, folate and carotenoids! Aren't you so happy right now? What a fabulous recipe for the holiday and Any day. Bring this dish to the table and your famiglia will thank you for it.
Con amore...Buon Appetitto!
My Favorite Season for Many Things in Life
October 15, 2012 - 7:20pm
Fall is my inspiration for many things in my life. It brings me back to coming home as a child to the aromas of stews and soups and freshly baked breads. I can almost smell it now. I remember getting off the bus from school and as we walked up the driveway to the house the aromas found us! We could hardly wait to get inside to see what Nonna made for us that day.
Nonna Isabella would be in the kitchen with her apron on and sitting there in a bowl were here fried polpette (meatballs). She knew we loved eating them just like that, no sauce and at room temperature. Of course if we wanted a meatball sub, there was ALWAYS sauce made in the frig along with fresh mozzarella and her pane (bread) in our house! And there was always enough food to feed all our friends that would come home with us from school.
Imagine, 5 kids and their friends after school equates to many hungry kids! Oh did I mention that at one time or another we had a few cousins living with us too? Our home was the place to be because our friends knew they'd be fed well. Not all our friends were raised like our famiglia but boy did they get a quick lesson from Nonna. When we walked in the very FIRST person we kissed hello was Nonna of course. The friends that always visited our home knew that too. For the new ones that came in and that didn't she show that respect, she'd tell them in Italian "you get the heck out of this house and come in again como Dio commanda (like God commands)!" They learned real quick! We all look back and laugh at those days along with those wonderful friends who are still in our lives who loved and adored Nonna too.