To be 100% honest with you, I love lasagna but I hate making it. The process always takes way too long (even if you’re not making it completely from scratch) and in the end, I feel like it’s never worth it. This is why I end up NEVER making lasagna at home. I can’t even remember the last time that happened. And I know that now with the no-boil noodles, it’s slightly easier, but for me, it’s not easier enough for me to go on and whip up an entire lasagna for dinner, especially during the week. It’s just not going to happen. I’m always looking for new ways to create lasagna, like this soup for instance, because I still crave it. That’s when these Lasagna Tarts come into the picture. They have all of the flavor and layers of a lasagna, without the noodles or any of the hard work. But before you go and feel sorry for the noodles for being left out of the party, the puff pastry takes the place of the noodles, and honestly I think it’s a great substitute. They’re perfect for a holiday party or gathering, and make for a quick weeknight lunch or dinner, just serve with a salad and you’ll be good to go!
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For those of you not familiar, Spumone (or Spumoni for plural) is a molded Italian gelato that is usually made with three different flavors, colors and mixed dried fruit and nuts. Typically the flavors are chocolate, cherry and pistachio. It’s sort of a spin-off of Neapolitan ice cream which is strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. Spumone happens to be my all-time favorite Italian dessert. I can’t get enough of it. It’s one of the main reasons why I go to Italian restaurants and if it’s on the menu, then you better believe I’ll be ordering it. These Spumoni Cookies are an ode to that gelato dessert and I can’t stress enough just how much I love them. Give them a try!
I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m currently learning Italian at the local community college right by my house. The class is a couple days a week. I get to ride my bike there and it’s the perfect break from all the work I do in the kitchen and on the computer on a daily basis. Not only am I enjoying learning the language, but I’ve become fascinated with the Italian culture itself and it’s people. There’s just something so warm and inviting about both. Having been to Italy twice now, I’ve had the chance to eat some really amazing food there. One of my favorite things is not fancy at all and can be found in tiny corner sandwich shops. Piadina (or Piadine when it’s plural) is an Italian flatbread prepared in the Emilia-Romagna region. The flatbread is filled with a variety of cheeses, cold cuts and/or vegetables. It’s traditionally made with lard, but I’ve made this one with vegetable shortening instead, to make it attainable for us all. It’s a fun weekend project to get in the kitchen and try out!
I still haven’t given up on this Italian kick I’ve been on lately, and I’m definitely not complaining about it because I’ve been stepping out of my comfort zone and cooking new things. I’m hispanic and so I’m no stranger to rice. I could literally eat rice every single day and never get tired of it. So it’s no surprise that I’ll take any excuse to eat it in any way I can. With that being said, arancini have got to be my favorite Italian appetizer. Whenever I see it on any menu, I automatically get excited because there is nothing better than balls made of rice, stuffed with cheese, dredged and then fried until crispy. Am I right, or am I right? It’s completely out of this world. It’s like a euphoric experience. Surprisingly light, yet filling with just the right amount of decadence. I’m trying hard to sell this dish to you, but really, we all know that I don’t have to try that hard at all because look at them! They basically sell themselves. 
So I’m still on this Italian kick, and I can’t seem to shake it off. Last week I shared a recipe for a classic and simple 
I think I’ve mention on here already that I’m taking an Italian class at the local community college down the street from my house, just for fun. I ride my bike down there twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and it’s so much fun. I really needed something to do that wasn’t related to food, cooking, shooting, editing images, or writing posts or recipes on a daily basis. I wanted something to take myself away from looking at my phone or my camera or a computer day in and day out. I’ve always wanted to learn Italian so I thought it would be a great break from my work routine, and so far it’s been amazing. We have a test after each chapter and within each chapter we learn about different regions in Italy because learning about the culture is just as important as learning the language. On top of learning Italian in the classroom, I’ve also been challenging myself to learn some classic Italian dishes in the kitchen. Of course, I always have to bring it back to cooking whenever possible. Whatever region we’re learning in school, I research traditional dishes within that region and pick one dish to try and make myself. I’m really enjoying the challenge and the class benefits from it because I bring in whatever I make. So I’ve decided to start posting some more classic Italian recipes on the blog. The first one is a classic and simple Tiramisu. It’s one of my favorite Italian treats, and so I figured it would be a great start. Let’s go on this journey together. 
