Posts in Main Dish
Baked Ricotta + Basil Stuffed Shells
Baked Ricotta + Basil Stuffed Shells

Alright everyone, turn down the lights, put on one of your favorite spooky podcasts, and prepare for one of my favorite October dishes: Baked Ricotta + Basil Stuffed Shells! Now, I won’t say that there is anything particularly fancy or unique about this dish. It is one of those no frills, delicious household staples that is a joy to make. The kind of dish that I can make in my sleep, or while enjoying a glowing October evening. Ooey gooey cheese on top of giant pasta shells, stuffed with a creamy ricotta, parmesan and fresh basil filling, all blanketed in rich tomato and pancetta sauce. I hope you love this dish as much as I do; it truly is a treat for me to make!

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Main DishIsabellaitalian food, pasta, baked stuffed shells, fall recipes, comfort food, yumComment
Creamy Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Creamy Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

It's hard to get into the season in LA, I'm not gonna lie. Most years September is one of the hottest months of the year, dragging the summer heat far past it's prime. All of the grocery stores, especially Trader Joe's, always seem to get into the spirit long before the weather turns. Which means a couple weeks ago, I came home with mini pumpkins, acorn squash, pie pumpkins, and a massive butternut squash. Not to mention an assortment of dried fruits, nuts, and seeds for another autumn treat.

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Main DishIsabellaautumn, autumn recipes, Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese, comfort food, hello fall, mac n cheese, pastaComment
Chile Verde Pulled Pork + Mango Avocado Salsa
Chile Verde Pulled Pork + Mango Avocado Salsa

Happy Saturday! If you’re looking for a yummy, slow-cooked meal for your long weekend, I got you. This Chile Verde Pulled Pork + Mango Avocado Salsa makes for delicious sweet and savory Cali-style tacos. Cooked low and slow, with roasted tomatillos and Anaheim chiles, this pulled pork will keep ya satisfied all weekend long. Serve with warm tortillas, crumbled queso fresco, and fresh cilantro for a range of taco fixings!

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Main DishIsabellachile verde, mango avocado salsa, pork, slow cooked, tacosComment
Cherry Tomato and Baby Mozzarella Linguini
Cherry Tomato and Baby Mozzarella Linguini

Mid-July means that the tomato plants are producing lots of little cherry tomatoes. Most nights, when I go out to harvest, handfuls get eaten before they get into the house. Some of them make it into a salad or are dressed with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cherry tomatoes off the vine are super sweet and bursting with flavor. So, when they go into this Cherry Tomato and Baby Mozzarella Linguini, I like to leave them just barely cooked, so they are slightly soft and still have their sweetness. Super juicy and fresh!

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Main DishIsabellaitalian, pasta, summerComment
Fusilli Pasta with Pesto
Fusilli Pasta with Pesto

Growing up, our refrigerator was usually stocked with salami and cheese from the Italian market, small packages wrapped in white paper containing all of my favorite treats. I would unwrap each parcel, unidentified white butcher paper with just a price scribbled down, not knowing what I would find inside. Some sliced mortadella, Salami Toscano, prosciutto, a few balls of fresh mozzarella, a thick swirl of peppery pancetta, and a large piece of Pecorino Romano were most likely uncovered. When the large packages of basil start to appear in grocery store produce sections, and our basil plant produced enough bright green leaves, it's time to make pesto. Fusilli pasta with pesto was one of my favorite meals, which made making it at home especially exciting.

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Main DishIsabellaeasy recipes, italian, pasta, pesto, quick meals, vegetarianComment
Summer Vegetable Soup
Summer Vegetable Soup

Since I was three years old, my dad and I have made it a tradition to plant tomatoes in the spring. We go to an annual tomato seedling pop-up called Tomatomania!, which has hundreds of varieties of tomatoes, and fill up our garden. Vibrant colors, offbeat names, and funky shapes - the three pillars of heirlooms!

These tomatoes bring sweetness and acidity, alongside the tomato paste, which gives a little extra color and flavor to the broth.

I ended up picking out yellow crookneck squash and some cute little baby zucchini. Just look at those little disks of green! This soup is all about summer vegetables, so paddy pan squash, green summer squash, and zucchini make great substitutions. Check out your local farmers' market, or your garden, and see what you can find!

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Main Dish, Side DishIsabellasoups, vegetables, vegetarianComment