Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino {Spaghetti w/Garlic, Oil & Chili Peppers}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Pasta, Vegetarian | 34 comments

This might possibly be one of the quickest & most simplest dishes you will ever make. It has only 4 ingredients but those four ingredients come together to make an incredible display of fireworks in your mouth! It’s an explosion of flavors that you won’t soon forget. The first time I ever had Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino was at a little place in Montereale Italy called the Spaghetti House! They had EVERY kind of spaghetti you could have ever wanted & then some! You would NOT leave hungry. Mamma & her boys made sure of that. They even had mezzo plates so you could indulge yourself with two types of spaghetti! Boy I miss that place! I don’t think I ever got through all of the types of Spaghetti they had, I’d get hung up on a few favorites, but mannaggia they were just so good I couldn’t help myself ; )

Wine Rack GIVEAWAY + a book to help you stock it!

Posted by Paula in All Recipes | 99 comments

Sadly the close to our blogaversary month is coming to and end…*sigh*You knew it would happen. But not before one last GIVEAWAY! Yes, I hope you’ve been enjoying this (because I can’t keep it up forever tee hee) So to end the month on a high note, I thought you might like this…

So what goes perfectly with pasta you ask? VINO! Yes, wine! & that’s what this giveaway is all about.

Gnocchi al Burro e Salvia {Gnocchi w/Butter & Sage Sauce}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Pasta | 42 comments

Gnocchi… let me count the ways I love you ; ) tee hee, You make me SO happy! I could seriously eat you every day ; ) Yes every day, I would not tire of you. So chamelonlike. You adapt to almost anything I mix you with. So amicable. Lurve that about you. You play well with others. A quality I wish my bambini had *sigh*

Today I decided to do a basic potato gnocchi! And oh what I love with basic gnocchi is a nice simple sage buddah sauce…*swoon*

And the winner is…

Posted by Paula in All Recipes | 6 comments

Well I think I’ve decided to keep these afterall ; ) LOL JUST KIDDING… They are totally *swoon* worthy aren’t they! And obviously you all thought so too! You came out in record numbers! *wild applause* I’m so proud of y’all! So I know you don’t want to hear me babble, you just wanna know if you’re the one, so without further ado…Are you sure you want to know (tee hee) sorry couldn’t resist… Okay for real now…

And the winner is… *drumroll please*

Macaron 101 with Tartelette

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Cookies, Desserts | 49 comments

Last weekend I attended a Macaron class. Not just any Macaron class mind you. A Macaron class taught by Helen of Tartelette. She’s ah-mazing! Have you seen her site? It’s ridiculously beautiful! & well Helen is THE queen of Macarons. So much so I drove all the way to ATLANTA for this class. Yes, I know somewhat crazy but hey, that’s how I roll.

Frappe’ alla Nutella {Nutella Milkshake}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Drinks, Nutella | 60 comments

Have you been having Nutella withdrawals? I know I have! So I thought it was time for another Nutella recipe before someone got hurt (yes it’s that serious in my house LOL) I was lucky enough to get a 750ml jar of the luscious Nutella for Christmas and it was time to crack that bad boy open (I know such restraint right, don’t get too excited I have gone through 2 other smaller jars since Christmas tee hee)!

Le Creuset GIVEAWAY !

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Giveaway | 369 comments

So are you loving all these FAB Giveaways this month? Well if you have been on vacation (because that’s the only logical reason why you wouldn’t have been reading regularly, RIGHT ; ) LOL then you might have missed that it’s our BLOG-AVERSARY this month! So we’ve been celebrating with some pretty fantastic guest posts, recipes & of course giveaways! This one is no exception, It’s a SET of the evah so oooh la la LE CREUSET baking dishes! *and the crowd goes WILD* Not just any! Oh no, it’s the uber popular color of the moment Caribbean! *swoon* So for those who like specific details here we go (in my best announcer voice tee hee) Le Creuset 9″ Square Baking Dish with Bonus 5″ Baking Dish in Caribbean!

And the winner is…

Posted by Paula in All Recipes | 5 comments

I think you all might really be enjoying this month of giveaways! Why not, after all who doesn’t love a freebie ; ) & well this one is a pretty spectacular Apron isn’t it! Did you visit The Hip Hostess’ site? I LURVE their stuff. I actually just ordered the black & white Apron (full sheath) well because hello messy and it’s  oh so Fab! Everything from the quality of the Apron (which btw is extremely generously cut. I’m loving that I can wrap the ties all the way around me makes me feel skinny and well every little bit helps LOL! To the packaging. Oh it was so purty I “almost” didn’t want to open it. But you know I did ; )

Oh, yeah you’re probably wondering who the winner was..silly me, well there were a record number of entries and although I wish you all could win, sadly no can do! So, according to the ever so scientific process of the magic random.org the winner is…

Brown Sugar Tea Cake

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Desserts | 15 comments

I’m so happy to introduce another fabulous foodie friend of mine to you all. (Well, that is if you don’t already know of her, and if you don’t, you should. She’s ah-some!)  I truly believe we could have been separated at birth we have so much in common. I just lurve her I know you will too! Rachael from the evah so terrific La Fuji Mama is our guest this week. *clapping wildly* So, please make her feel welcome (she loves dark chocolate if you’re thinking of getting her a gift – just sayin). She brought us cake for goodness sakes! Mwah thanks Rachael!

Petti al Mascarpone {Chicken Breasts Stuffed w/Mascarpone}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Main Course, Poultry | 35 comments

Did you LURVE those Chocolate Truffle Brownies that Susan of Doughmesstic did for us earlier this week? Of course you did, what’s NOT to love, They’re ooey gooey chocolately truffly squares of deliciousness! Okay I’m trying to focus, but it’s so hard thinking about Chocolate (you know I’m weak)…

The Hip Hostess Apron GIVEAWAY !

Posted by Paula in All Recipes | 199 comments

Have I mentioned that it’s bell’alimento’s anniversary this month? Well it is! *horns blowing* *crowd roaring* We made it an entire year! EVVIVA! Happy Blog-aversary to us & YOU! Yep, we’re celebrating not JUST one day but an entire month with fabulous posts and GIVEAWAYS!

This weeks giveaway comes to us from the ever so fabulous girls over at The Hip Hostess. They have graciously donated one of their aprons. Nope, not just any apron, a super cute snappy little Merri Mixer Apron! & The lucky winner gets to choose EITHER the sheath (full) or demi (half) version of this cute little number!

Chocolate Truffle Brownies

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Desserts | 27 comments

I was recently thinking that I have way too many talented friends to be keeping them all to myself, because well that’s stingy! SO because I love you so, I’m going to start sharing (I know you’re going to thank me for it!) So *drumroll please* I would like to introduce you to my VERY talented friend (wait til you see her cakes, cookies, & brownies & well u get the picture), Mrs. DOUGHMESSTIC herself, aka Susan…She never ceases to amaze me or keep me in stitches – yes she’s also hilarious! Be sure to show her some comment love & let her know how much we appreciate her stopping by! Now I’ll stop talking and let you read about this incredible Chocolate Truffle Brownie recipe she came up with just for us…(Do you see that pic? YUM…wiping drool from screen)

Ten in 2010

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Pasta | 9 comments

This is going to be harder than I thought… *sigh* but then again, anything worth it usually is…

One of my goals was to be more active, and well sadly I don’t have the luxury of being able to go to a gym. So that’s out (but if anyone out there would like to gift me a gym membership – which would have to include daycare – yes I come with strings (LOL) that’d be awesome – just sayin) I’d be happy to go outside to walk or bike but HELLO IT’S FREEZING people & I’m just not meant for the cold…So I needed to find another solution…. Voila…the wii fit… I know, crazy as it sounds I’ve managed to squeak out 30 mins each day for some me — I mean wii –  time & well I can say that I have noticed a slight difference…

And the winner is…

Posted by Paula in All Recipes | 2 comments

WOW you guys really liked this one! I’m SO HAPPY you came out in force for this one! Divina Cucina’s cookbook is FABULOUS! & I’m not just saying that.  As always, I really wish we could give one to all of you, BUT alas, that’s not gonna happen, sorry really I am…BUT you can order a copy for yourself. It’s worth every penny.

So without further ad0, after the grueling scientific process (tee hee) & thanks to random.org the winner is…

Spinach Salad w/Walnuts & Craisins

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Poultry, Salads | 30 comments

Anybody who knows me knows how I feel about salads. I just don’t like them. NOPE, sure don’t! Every one of them will tell you that I say, “Salad is rabbit food.” Yep, well I might have to change my stance on that now, well at least for this salad anyway. Perhaps it’s the spinach instead of the traditional lettuce that I like, or maybe it’s all of the sweet & sour flavors going on. I’m not sure but there’s just something about this salad that I LOVED!

Carabaccia {Tuscan Onion Soup} & a COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY !

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Soups | 176 comments

I was so excited when my friend Judy (Mrs. Divina Cucina herself) sent me a complimentary copy of her cookbook, “Secrets from my Tuscan Kitchen by Judy Witts Francini” to review.

Pollo alla Cacciatora {Chicken Cacciatore}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Main Course, Poultry | 27 comments

It’s COLD today in my part of the world. Bone chilling COLD (well, okay, maybe not THAT cold, but cold to me) and what better way to warm up (besides downing Grappa LOL) than some Pollo alla Cacciatora {Chicken Cacciatore} It’s a perfect ONE DISH (happy dance, yeah, I HATE doing dishes so one dish meals make me happy) hearty satisfying meal.

10 in 2010

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Poultry | 14 comments

Well, it’s here…2010! A whole brand new decade! & with each new year comes reflection and the dreaded resolutions! Of course one of mine was to get healthier. What does that mean? That means I want to eat better, feel better & well lets just be honest here, look better in my clothes. Yes, I said it & I feel better for saying it.

Top 9 of 2009

Posted by Paula in All Recipes | 8 comments

Happy New Year! Buon 2010 a TUTTI! I must confess that I’m quite excited to have 2009 behind me. I’m so looking forward to what 2010 has to bring. I thought it would be interesting to take one last look back to see which posts from 2009 were the most popular on bell’alimento…

And well here is the TOP 9 for 2009 (nice ring to that eh?) as chosen by you, the ever so fabulous bellalimenters (mwah)… *drum roll please*