Bucatini with Vodka Cream Sauce Makes 4 servings 1 pound bucatini pasta 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil ½ medium onion, chopped 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 cup vodka 1 (28-ounces) can crushed tomatoes 1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon […]
This soup is a hearty spin on classic chicken noodle soup. The recipe comes together quickly using rotisserie chicken and fresh tortellini. It’s the perfect soup for a cold winter evening. Not that I would know anything about a cold […]
Pasta salad was one of the best ways I got vegetables into my kids when they were little. Throw any type of vegetable–except brussel sprouts–in a bowl with some noodles covered in a dressing, and they were golden. Now that […]
Live television is not for the faint of heart. Everything happens once. No retakes allowed. It’s imperative that you have your stuff together before the cameras start rolling, so you don’t embarrass yourself across the airwaves. I love the adrenaline […]
I don’t really plan a menu for Thanksgiving dinner because my family expects the same meal every year. Thanksgiving is not the time for me to experiment with some exotic recipe I saw on a cooking show or discovered in […]
This past week, I’ve been listening to Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes, and my desire to visit Italy has been reignited. (SPOILER ALERT: The memoir is nothing like the movie, so there’s no sexy Italian guy whisking anyone off to […]
When I decided to sell baked goods at the Matthews Community Farmers Market, I had no idea the impact being a vendor at my town market would have on my life. Not only has Queen City Kitchen been well received […]
For New Years Eve, we had a few friends and their kids over for dinner and Spades. It had been a while since we were all together, and I thought good food and spirited competition would be fun. When I […]
I was born and raised in South Jersey. And whenever I feel nostalgic for my home state, I crave Italian food. Cheesy, saucy, Nona-inspired Italian food. No chain restaurants, please. I’m talking a mom and pop corner trattoria, where the […]
Recipe re-post from April 4, 2013. Macaroni and cheese is the ultimate in comfort food. Homemade macaroni and cheese has this way of making me feel all warm and gooey on the inside, which is basically how I want my […]
Whenever I get the opportunity to cook on Charlotte Today, a local lifestyle and entertainment morning show in Charlotte, North Carolina, I have a blast. It’s the one time in my life when I can dirty a bunch of dishes and […]
I made baked spaghetti the other night, and it was so good that I just had to share. I typically make baked spaghetti when we have leftover spaghetti. I love leftovers, and my motto is cook once and eat twice. […]
This week really got away from me. I am currently in the process of writing my second novel and my first cookbook. On top of that I do cooking demonstrations on a few local news and entertainment programs in Charlotte. […]
When I think about a romantic dinner for two, my mind immediately drifts to that famous Bella Notte scene in Lady and the Tramp. I just love how those two infatuated pooches interact with each other. She flutters her eyes at […]
Fra diavolo translates to “brother devil.” It’s an old-school Italian sauce that didn’t originate in Italy. It was actually created at a restaurant in Little Italy, New York in the early 20th century. Lobster was the seafood of choice for […]
Three months ago, Big Mony Merchandice turned thirteen. Ever since his birthday, I find myself getting misty eyed whenever I look at him. He’s growing up too fast, and I’m not prepared. Five years ago, he was this little boy giggling […]
