The Italian-American Girl’s Guide to Eating & Cooking

I love food, and I love cooking. These are two true and important facts about who I am behind this computer screen. Something I thank all the higher powers for being partially Italian by blood, but a majority Italian through the culture I grew up in. As a young woman, when you love to cook, love to eat, and have Italian ancestors, you have some monster recipes to pick from. Here are some of my favorite dishes to make as an Italian-American for both hosting and dinner, and by myself that are either classically Italian or loosely inspired.

1. Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan is hearty, saucy, and has the perfect texture. I personally consider this to be the best dish to prepare, as well as my favorite thing to eat. With layers of beefy tomato sauce, breaded fried eggplant, and gooey mozzarella, I truly don’t think there are many dishes that can compete for my love of this recipe. While not considered a bad thing to me, a “con” of eggplant parmesan is usually the time it takes to cook it. You must bread and fry the slices of eggplant, cook the beef and the sauce, and then layer it all in a dish to move to the oven. As someone who enjoys cooking, I enjoy the time it takes to make this dish, and I go into a flow state. My secret bonus is adding ground beef into the layers to add that extra savory taste.

Cooking Difficulty: Hard

What You Need:

1. Eggplant

2. Tomato Sauce

3. Garlic

4. Ground Beef

5. Butter

6. Olive Oil

7. Bread Crumbs

8. Egg(s)

9. Mozzarella Cheese

10. Assorted Spices

2. Mussels/Clams in Butter Sauce Pasta

When I’m home alone, feeling lazy, but wanting a full dinner, I will go straight to this dish. It’s butter, garlic, and pasta; there’s not much more you can ever want. For cheap, there are frozen boxes of mussels found at most grocery stores under $6, which includes the mussels and the garlic butter sauce already ready to go. All I do is place it into a buttered pan on the stove, add garlic, white wine, and some spices, and the pre-made mussels handle the rest. The only tip is never eat the mussels that don’t open, as there is a reason they won’t open up while cooking, and it’s best to avoid potential food sickness. The last thing to do is boil some water and cook your pasta of choice, and enjoy an easy,

quick meal that feels like you’re dining out.

Cooking Difficulty: Medium

What you Need:

1. Frozen Clams/Mussels

2. Butter (lots of it)

3. White Wine

4. Garlic

5. Pasta (usually spaghetti)

3. Caprese Salad

Arguably, the easiest, fastest, and tastiest bang for your buck. Caprese salad is good as a side dish for lunches or dinners, but it even stands to be a light afternoon lunch or quick pick-me-up snack. Consisting of just 3-4 ingredients, layers of sliced mozzarella between sliced tomato seem so simple (and it is) and yet packs a great savory/light flavor. To enhance the caprese salads, I love to layer olive oil, balsamic glaze, salt, pepper, and basil leaves on top. both for a lovely presentation as well as added flavor.

Cooking Difficulty: Easy

What You Need:

1. Mozzarella Cheese

2. Tomato (Heirloom or Beefsteak)

3. Basil leaves

4. Balsamic Vinegar/Glaze

5. Salt & Pepper

6. Olive Oil

4. Bricholle (bra-shole)

A savory, saucy beef dish that will impress any guests you have over. In simple terms, bricholle is thinly sliced beef with mozzarella rolled inside it, breaded, and sauteed. You then serve it in a hearty tomato sauce that covers the whole thing. Add some parmesan, cilantro, and a bit of fresh basil, and you have the main course for your dinner.

Cooking Difficulty: Medium

What You’ll Need:

1. Thinly Sliced Beef

2. Tomato Sauce

3. Garlic

4. Heavy Whipping Cream

5. Cilantro

6. Mozzarella

7. Bread crumb

8. Parmesan Cheese

9. Butter

5. Salad of the Sea (Insalata di Mare)

Now, be warned, one must love seafood to eat this next dish. Italian Seafood Salad, or lovingly known as Insalata di Mare, is an all-seafood-based cold salad, with squid, clam, shrimp, celery, and lemon. It’s perfectly tasty, flavorful with the lemon atop the freshly cold fish, and makes a wonderful appetizer, lunch, or side dish for a very seaside dinner. Most ingredients can be found frozen, sometimes even together as a mixed bag of seafood, which makes preparation easy and fast.

Cooking Difficulty: Easy

What You’ll Need:

1. Calamari

2. Shrimp

3. Lemon

4. Celery

5. Mussels and/or Clams

6. Olive Oil

7. Parlsey

8. Salt & Pepper

9. Capers w/ juice (if you’re feeling frisky)

7. Bruschetta

Sometimes for breakfast, I don’t have bacon and eggs, I don’t wan’t cereal, and I want something that will elevate my morning. This simple dish can be a great quiet morning meal, appetizer for dinner, or even afternoon snack. Pronounced, broo-sket-tah., this meal is not only delicious but can also be altered to your taste preferences. Some of my favorites are bruschetta with tomato, balsamic glaze, salt. pepper, and some cheese OR olive tapenade on a herb bread. Its fast, simple, and yet taste and presentation will make you feel so fancy and put together.

Cooking Difficulty: Super Easy

What You’ll Need:

1. Baguette

2. Tomato

3. Olive

4. Olive Oil

5. Balsamic Gaze

6. Salt & Pepper

7. Basil (if you want some zest)

8. Cheese (pick your poison)