MILANO-MADE

I know I know, I am really good at taking healthy dishes and making them... well not so healthy. But this one is worth it, I promise! I love shaved brussels sprouts as an alternative to cooking them whole... it makes the flavor slightly milder and I just like the texture so much better. I actually buy these from Trader Joe's and they come already shredded! If you're looking for a great recipe for Thanksgiving then give this a try. It's only 5 ingredients and you can make it i

Aaahh Bruschetta. There are so many different recipes out there but the classic and authentic one is as simple as it get's. This is the perfect example of a recipe where the quality of the ingredients is so important. The tomatoes have to be fresh and ripe and you can't settle for regular store bought bread. An easy trick on how to spot a "Fitalian" (fake Italian) restaurant? If they have bruschetta on the menu and they add cheese to it!! Or if they add balsamic vinegar to it

Mini Stuffed Mushrooms are the cutest things ever and will always be a great hors d'oeuvre or appetizer if you are trying to impress guests. They are also a great lunch time weekend option, just make them full size! There are a few more ingredients that got left off the above picture so make sure you have everything on the list before you start making these! 25 hors d'oeuvre size | 25 minutes INGREDIENTS: 25 mini white mushrooms, de-stemmed 2 Italian sausages 1/2 cup panko cr

PICKLED VEGETABLES These are so fun to make and are so visually appealing! I love the different colors and the variety of vegetables you can actually pickle. I usually make a few jars at once and then use them when I need a last minute gift. They are especially great for housewarming gifts. Just remember - if you don't sterilize the jars then they only last in the refrigerator for about 6 weeks. If you sterilize them, they are good for at least a year! Pickled Onions (I use t

This is THE ultimate comfort food and a great appetizer or side. I could literally eat it with every meal. It's very easy but time consuming - you'll want to wait for a Sunday or a day that you have a lot of time because there are several "rest" periods. Also, you may want to save it for an occasion that involves a few people or you may end up eating it all on your own... just sayin. INGREDIENTS: 1 3/4 cups of warm water 1 package of yeast (use quick rise if you want to cut d

WHOLE ARTICHOKES Okay so the restaurant i grew up working at, The Meeting House, used to have these bad boys on the menu and they were one of the most popular apps. This isn't the exact recipe but they're so easy and so good. They're also the perfect appetizer because they take so long to eat and don't fill you up - AND you get the added bonus of eating your portion of vegetables before the actual meal! INGREDIENTS: 3 artichokes 1 pot of water (about a quart) 1/2 cup of white