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Italian Protein Bars (That Actually Taste Like Food)
We’ve all seen them. The social media videos. The influencers telling us we need more protein. Then come the protein shakes, protein cookies, protein chips, protein cereal, and of course, the protein bars. Personally, I’ve never tasted any that didn’t remind me of sweetened drywall with a hint of cocoa. I do agree that eating…
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It’s Basil Pesto Making Season
There’s something so satisfying about growing basil from seed, watering it, and over just a few weeks seeing tiny sprouts turn into lush, fragrant plants; every handful feels like a little reward for your patience. Every summer, one of the things I look forward to is harvesting fresh basil from my garden and turning it…
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Eight Years Later: Grief, Gratitude, and a Love That Remains
Eight years ago, I said goodbye to my husband, my best friend, and the calm to my chaos. It still feels impossible that eight years have passed since I last held his hand. Some days, it feels like eight years. Other days, eight months. And sometimes, eight days. That’s the strange thing about grief. Time…
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Every delicious Sunday Sauce has a secret ingredient.
Canadian Italian Heritage Month To celebrate Canadian Italian Heritage Month, I’m sharing Ryan Abigail Maria Benetti O’Flanagan’s secret Sunday Sauce recipe. Yes, I know, her name is quite a mouthful, but there is a good reason for that, and it’s explained in her book, Decoy In Stilettos. The hero, Gabe Marchetti, commits the ultimate good…
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Pasta e Patate: Italian Comfort in a Bowl
This blog post is dedicated to my son, who keeps insisting I write down Nonna’s traditional recipes. Apparently, he believes our family recipes deserve their own historical preservation society. Some recipes aren’t meant to impress dinner guests; they’re meant to remind you where you came from. Every Friday night, my mom made a dish we…
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Biscotti Math

I went to Farmers Pick for my usual monthly haul of imported Italian staples because, as a full-blooded Italian, I’m deeply passionate about olive oil quality and pasta brands. I stood in the bakery aisle holding a package of Almond Biscotti, turned it over a few times, as we do when we are contemplating such…