Wow, has it been soup weather, still is. All I can think about is soup for lunch or dinner. Cream soups are not Italian, but my mom loved to make them from potatoes or cauliflower or even broccoli. Her creamy potato soup is my favorite, which she would make with whole milk. It's not too filling or rich, but plenty creamy and delicious. I add my own touch in the form of a garnish; a contrast of flavor and texture from crumbled pancetta or smoked bacon, caramelized shallots and chives. I should st...

Need a comfort soup you can throw together in a hurry? I just discovered while poaching chicken breasts (for enchiladas), the leftover liquid made a pleasant broth. It was clean, light and user friendly. I stuck it in the fridge overnight, and the next day made a satisfying tasty chicken soup in short order. I heated the broth and tossed in some leftover shredded chicken, chopped veggies from the fridge and frozen corn and peas from the freezer. I even threw in a carb - cooked rice. In just a fe...

On many a Saturday morning when I was a kid, we made a beeline with my mom to Dalvia’s Italian Bakery in Montrose, California. Mr. Dalvia's Italian rolls (and apple turnovers) were to-die-for; getting there late wasn't an option (slim pickings to none). Cold cuts were a must from Monte Carlo’s (Italian Market in Burbank). I'm talking about Genoa salami, capicola, and provolone cheese. Not to mention bread sticks, biscotti, olive oil, olives, pasta, gelato, pastries, fresh mozzarella, canned ...