Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce

Posted on January 30, 2007 - Filed Under ARF, pasta, sauce | Leave a Comment

My tomato basil marinara sauce begins with the above. What are they? Broiled tomatoes. Mmmm. Broiling them makes them soft, perfect for crushing, and it ripens their flavor.
This sauce is great for baking (lasagna, manicotti, etc) or good with pasta. You could use it over chicken parm or dip fried mozzarella in it. Or, you [...]

I’m In The Bloglight!

Posted on January 29, 2007 - Filed Under Awards | Leave a Comment

In The Bloglight is a new website dedicated to highlighting blogs from all over the blogosphere . . . It’s all blogs, not just food ones. And there have been some really interesting ones highlighted so far.
But guess what? Cucina Bella is featured there! Check it out here.
P.S. Looking for the marinara recipe? It’s coming [...]

Cheese-a-holic

Posted on January 27, 2007 - Filed Under Mama's baby, cheese, dinner, leftovers, pasta | 2 Comments

Will is a cheese-a-holic. He asks for it all the time in that cute little voice (”chhhheeeeesssssse”) and it’s always followed with a bit of gratitude (”dank you”) for his favorite food item . . . next to chocolate, of course. Fresh mozzarella is his favorite, but he’s not picky . . . he will [...]

Cheese-a-holic

Posted on January 27, 2007 - Filed Under Mama's baby, cheese, dinner, leftovers, pasta | 2 Comments

Welcome to Cucina Bella

Posted on January 25, 2007 - Filed Under A Little Help | Leave a Comment

Welcome new readers! If you are dropping by from David Lebovitz’s Chocolate by Brand edition of Sugar High Friday, be sure to check out part one (making dark chocolate mousse) and part two (making adults-only mudslide mousse).
And click around, you will find a wealth of yummy (and usually good for you) recipes from my cucina [...]

Eating my way through Miami

Posted on January 23, 2007 - Filed Under On the web | Leave a Comment

Where would you eat if you were heading to Miami? What are your can’t miss hotspots? Where would you steer clear of?
Answer any of these questions and I might just be writing about your suggestion on Well Fed On The Townnext week during our Eating Miami Week. Haven’t checked out Well Fed On The Town? [...]

Stuffed Mini Sweet Peppers . . . mmmm!

Posted on January 23, 2007 - Filed Under ARF, appetizers, vegetables, vegetarian | Leave a Comment

My poor family. They are always my guinea pigs when I experiment with recipes. Some, like this one, turn out great and end up on the blog. Others, like a tragic butternut squash casserole I made for Thanksgiving nearly four years ago plague me. They won’t let me forget the poorly conceived, over sweet [...]

SHF #27: Chocolate by Brand (Part 2 of 2)

Posted on January 23, 2007 - Filed Under SHF27, dessert | Leave a Comment

When I heard that Sugar High Friday was being hosted by David Lebovitz and the theme was “Chocolate by Brand” I just knew I had to join in. But what to make? What delicious confection should I craft and with what chocolate?
I started with a thick and rich dark chocolate mousse (see Part 1 of [...]

What’s in Your Basket?

Posted on January 22, 2007 - Filed Under On the web | Leave a Comment

When Rachel from Food Maven (and Coconut & Lime) shot me an email about her one time event, What’s in Your Basket?, I was thrilled to join in. After all, it’s so much fun checking out what other people purchase.
Okay, okay, so that probably makes me a shopping cart voyeur, or something of the like. [...]

WDB: Yea, he’s got an identity crisis.

Posted on January 21, 2007 - Filed Under WDB, doggies | 1 Comment

After Snoopy tried unsuccessfully to jump into Will’s highchair this morning, I figured I’d see what he did if . . . I fed him breakfast on the high chair. Yea, he settled right in and started eating.

The dog has an identity crisis. He’s sits up on our kitchen chairs, drinks out of glasses and [...]

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