Butternut Squash Soup {Crema di Zucca}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Gluten Free, Soups, Vegetarian | 19 comments

Crema di Zucca {Cream of Pumpkin Soup} is a simple, wonderful oh so creamy and velvety fall/winter soup. So much so, you won’t believe how incredibly easy it is to pull together. A little peeling, a little chopping a little simmering, a whirl in the blender and Voila!  You’ll be  dunking your spoon at warp speed into this bowl of bliss. So next time you see those gorgeous gourds in the market be sure to pick them up so you can make this!

Crema di Pomodoro {Cream of Tomato Soup}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Giveaway, Soups, Vegetarian | 500 comments

It’s almost SOUP season. Are you ready? I am! I’ve decided to kick start the season with this rich and thick Cream of Tomato Soup. It’s made with the last of my fresh tomatoes from my garden {I used a combination of yellow and red tomatoes producing this gorgeous orange soup} and the secret ingredient – potatoes! That’s right potatoes. It thickens the soup and gives it an extra complexity. It will have your family wondering what it is about this soup that’s so rich and delicious ; )

Pappa al Pomodoro {Tomato and Bread Soup}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Soups, Vegetarian | 20 comments

Next to making PANZANELLA for me, the next best thing to make with stale bread is this hearty Tuscan tomato and bread soup, Pappa al Pomodoro. It will warm you from head to toe and fill you completely. The ingredient list is short and simple and if you have a garden most of them are probably growing uncontrollably in them right now.

Crema di Gamberi {Shrimp Bisque}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Seafood, Soups | 57 comments

Soup has a way of warming your hands, toes and heart. My heart is always a little warmer when that soup happens to be a bisque. A creamy dreamy bowl of goodness.

Tortellini in Brodo {Tortellini in Broth}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Pasta, Soups, Vegetarian | 22 comments

Soup’s on! & this bowl I’m sending to my sweet friend Rachael {aka the oh so fabulous La Fuji Mama} all the way over on the West coast. If she lived closer I would most certainly deliver it myself. If you follow me on Twitter, you may have heard through the twitter vine that she’s recovering from having her tonsils removed so I’m helping out with a little guest post so she has time to focus on recovering {although I know she’d much prefer to be in the kitchen cooking up some fuji fabulousness}.

What do I want when I’m not feeling so hot. Soup, of course. Tortellini in Brodo {Tortellin in Broth} came to mind immediately. It’s just bliss in a bowl! You have a rich flavorful broth peppered with veggies which would be quite scrumptious on its own, but oh no, then you have little pillows of perfectly plump pasta bursting with cheese floating about just waiting on your spoon….perfection! And my little secret for making this dish great…come a little closer so I can whisper in your ear *Parmigiano Reggiano Rind* Yep, you won’t believe how much depth it will bring to your broth ; ) You know how much I love my Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, it’s like gold in my house so I try to find uses for the rind too, waste not want not ; )

Now that the temperatures are cooling off  just a bit, it’s the perfect time to start enjoying bowls and ladels full of soup. And if it’s still hot where you are, just turn your air condition way down ; )

Go ahead over to La Fuji Mama’s for the RECIPE and be sure to send her some well wishes while you’re there!

Baci!

Gazpacho

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Appetizer, Soups, Vegetarian | 29 comments

Hello you tall, dark, COOL drink of…veggies! I know right, but yes VEGGIES! I wish I could tell you that I love vegetables more than I love carbs but hey it’s just not so {you’ve seen all the pasta recipes here LOL}. BUT this is changing my mind and it’s perfect for summertime! It’s cool, refreshing and ridiculously tantalizing on the tongue.

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.

Zuppa di Funghi {Mushroom Soup}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Soups | 18 comments

Before we get started this is NOT your canned cream of mushroom soup. Oh no! It’s a hearty flavorful bowl of homemade goodness. Nothing wrong with the canned version, but if that’s what you’re looking for, you won’t find it in this recipe. Zuppa di Funghi pronounced Zoo-pa d Foon-gee is semplicemente delizioso. If you love mushrooms (And, hello, we all know I do. Have you seen the sheer amount of recipes here that feature mushrooms? Just sayin.) you will ADORE this.

Zuppa all’Aglio {Garlic Soup}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Bread, Soups, Vegetarian | 42 comments

You probably have realized by now that I cook with A LOT of GARLIC! Yes, I do & I’m not ashamed of it! Have you seen my garlic bowl? It’s always on my counter and normally when someone comes to my house for the first time they truly think it’s artificial & there for decoration. NOPE, it’s real & I use it!

Pasta e Fagioli {Pasta & Beans}

Posted by Paula in All Recipes, Pasta, Soups, Vegetarian | 44 comments

With fall on our heels, well okay with the idea of fall on our heels here on the East Coast, I have comfort foods on my mind. I’m excited to be able to get back into the kitchen, cook up a storm, and not suffocate from the heat! I can’t think of a better way to start off the season than with Pasta e Fagioli (fa-gee-o-lee). Simply meaning Pasta & Beans. Hello, you don’t get more budget friendly than pasta & beans, no? And talk about hearty – just add a loaf of bread & you’re set.