Maria Cella

Let's eat!

Maria Cella is an Italian-American food blogger. Find authentic Italian recipes, food reviews, and stories of family and traditions.

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Happy Halloween

October 29, 2017 by Maria Cella in Family

Happy hauntings everyone! Every year I seem to have quite the line-up of things I want to do in October and usually get to about half of them. That said, I always enjoy my little adventures and festivities against the backdrop one of my favorite months of the year.

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October 29, 2017 /Maria Cella
Family
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Prosciutto, Brie, and Fig Sandwiches

October 14, 2017 by Maria Cella in Recipes

When thinking up this recipe, I wanted to bring together sweet and salty. Prosciutto and fig were an obvious start because it’s one of my favorite pairings. Next, I thought about how well brie and fig go together, so that was my choice for cheese. I added arugula as a peppery and fresh balance to the saltiness of the prosciutto. For the bread, I wanted a crunchy artisan type bread that could stand up to the journey of flavors you experience as you eat this sandwich, so I looked for French bread with a crunchy crust.

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October 14, 2017 /Maria Cella
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Ham and Butter Sandwiches

October 14, 2017 by Maria Cella in Recipes

Alongside pain au chocolate, one of the most memorable things I had in Paris was the simple jambon-beurre sandwich. As is a common theme for my travels with my cousin, we fall in love with something and tend to stick to it while also trying as many things as possible. We had this sandwich almost every day in Paris. I will say, at first it sounded a little weird (butter on ham?), but I learned very quickly not to doubt the French when it comes to food!

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October 14, 2017 /Maria Cella
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Time for Tea!

October 14, 2017 by Maria Cella in Family

A few years ago, on a weekend away with two friends, we came across an old library which had been converted into a small restaurant. It looked so cute and unique, we decided to check it out. Once we were seated, we saw that they were serving afternoon tea. What a fun idea! It ended up being such an amazing and memorable afternoon, we were reminiscing and laughing about it earlier this year. This trip down memory lane got me thinking, "How fun would it be to host an afternoon tea!"

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October 14, 2017 /Maria Cella
Family
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My French Love Affair

October 02, 2017 by Maria Cella in Family

On a trip to Paris a few years ago with my cousin, I was overwhelmed by its elegance, sophistication, and atmosphere of whimsical romance. A magical city; even more so, a seduction of richness and indulgence. I'm talking about meticulously perfect pastries and exquisitely decorated desserts beyond anything I could have imagined at every turn! 

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October 02, 2017 /Maria Cella
Family
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Rosanna's Insalata di Riso

August 14, 2017 by Maria Cella in Recipes

I'm going to be right up front you, as you read this recipe you'll likely have the same reaction I did when it was first served to me, "Well, that's going to be weird!" I need you to trust me on this one. You're going to love it!

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August 14, 2017 /Maria Cella
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The Spaghettata Gang

August 04, 2017 by Maria Cella in Family

Last weekend, we assembled a high-quality team of like-minded, food-crazed Italians to venture to Cape Cod. The team members: my parents, their best friends who we'll call li compari, and me. The mission: procure clams in order to make the perfect spaghettata. Could we have gone to the beach for some summer fun in the sun? Sure. But that would have been, well, normal.  There is nothing, no distance too far and no effort too great, that this gang wouldn't do for good meal.  Anyone who knows us will confirm it.

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August 04, 2017 /Maria Cella
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Spaghetti with Clams and Fresh Tomatoes

August 04, 2017 by Maria Cella in Recipes

In Italian, this dish is called spaghetti con vongole e pomodori. In my family, it's called na'spaghettata con clamese. What language is that, you ask? Well, that's my parent's Neapolitan dialect sprinkled with English words that have been morphed into something that sounds like Italian by adding vowels and emphasizing certain syllables. Whatever you want to call it, this dish is light, fresh, and a great replacement for our usual heavier Sunday meat sauce. To make it, we usually embark on quite the adventure (you can read about it here) because no effort is too great for the perfect spaghettata. 

 

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August 04, 2017 /Maria Cella
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Welcome Lorenzo the Lion

July 24, 2017 by Maria Cella in Family

At my parent's annual family Fourth of July cookout, my two nieces noticed I had a scratch about 7 inches long in the middle of my right shin - the byproduct of hazardous yard work. When they asked where it came from, I said matter-of-factly, "From the lion in my backyard." They looked at me a little puzzled and I could see they were thinking it over, but ultimately they accepted my answer.

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July 24, 2017 /Maria Cella
Family
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Shredded Cabbage Salad

July 15, 2017 by Maria Cella in Recipes

This cabbage salad is inspired by a side my Zia Rosa made for lunch during my last visit to Italy. It's simple, tasty and works well when you're pressed for time or want to eat a little on the lighter side. Zia Rosa used green cabbage and served it raw. I use savoy cabbage (because it's easier on the stomach) and cook it slightly to bring out the sweetness.

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July 15, 2017 /Maria Cella
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Rabe with Shrimp

July 03, 2017 by Maria Cella in Recipes

Rabe with shrimp is a great meal during the week, course for a dinner party, or side anytime. This dish also makes an appearance during our Christmas Eve extravaganza (teaser!). I used the rabe my dad sneak-attack planted in my backyard; however, store-bought rabe works just as well. 

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July 03, 2017 /Maria Cella
Recipes

Sneak-attack garden

July 03, 2017 by Maria Cella in Family

I'm going to start this story by setting the scene of my backyard. I bought a house about a year and a half ago and, to say it nicely, the backyard needs some help. I'm approaching "Project Backyard Overhaul" as a series of mini projects (cut trees, pull dead/ugly bushes, keep grass trim, etc.) all feeding into my bigger master plan. At the time this took place there was (and still is) a patch of dirt to left of the house that's, well, just dirt.

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July 03, 2017 /Maria Cella
Family
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Frittata with Fresh Garlic

June 09, 2017 by Maria Cella in Recipes

The first vegetable from my garden this year, fresh garlic! I planted them in early-mid May and they are ready to go. Garlic is as basic as it gets in the How to Develop a Green Thumb 101 handbook. Buy garlic at the grocery store, don't refrigerate it, separate the cloves carefully so the peels stay intact, and plant them root side down.  Within a few weeks you have fresh garlic and can make this yummy, quick frittata!

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June 09, 2017 /Maria Cella
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Moana viewing party

May 31, 2017 by Maria Cella in Family

This past weekend I hosted a Moana viewing party for all my nieces and nephews. One of the things I appreciate and love most about kids is their wonder and amazement. All you have to do is build excitement and be engaging in order for kids to have a magical time. Well, that might not be all you have to do, but it's a big part of it!

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May 31, 2017 /Maria Cella
Family
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Now give me a quarter

May 29, 2017 by Maria Cella in Family

This past Easter, I arrived at my parent's house early in order to help my mother cook before my brother's and sister's families arrived with all the kids. My youngest brother Angelo, Ang as we call him, was also there. We were in the kitchen, which opens up to a small sitting area with a sofa and my dad's cozy chair, buzzing around taking my mother's orders. As we worked, we chatted. Italians are not about to work in silence after all. Somehow the conversation came around to how horrible it is to try to cut or carve meat with a dull knife. Both my brother and I said we needed to invest in a good knife as we're both active cooks.

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May 29, 2017 /Maria Cella
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Carne alla Pizzaiola

May 29, 2017 by Maria Cella in Recipes

Carne alla Pizzaiola is a recipe my mother used to make for us all the time when we were young. "Alla Pizzaiola” translates to “in the pizza style”. The description “alla pizzaiola” is used because the dish contains tomato sauce with oregano, used on pizza, instead of basil, typically used for a classic tomato sauce. This dish is easy enough to make during the week or when you don’t have a ton of time. The meat slices are thin so they tenderize pretty quickly.

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May 29, 2017 /Maria Cella
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Bresaola e Arugula

May 29, 2017 by Maria Cella in Recipes

I have a lot of family in Italy and have been blessed with visiting about every two to three years. My last trip was in September 2016 when I got to go with both my parents. I had only been to Italy with my dad when I was three years old and going back with him was something I had been wanting to do. When I heard my parents were going, I saw it as my opportunity and quickly hopped on board. While there, one of my cousins, an amazing cook, put together this super simple dish which completely blew us away.

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May 29, 2017 /Maria Cella
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