Stuffed Cubanelle Peppers and Radicchio Salad

         Tonight's dinner uses some typical Italian ingredients that can be found pretty easily in your local grocery store.  It can be put together within an hour and is very tasty.  I started with a stuffed pepper recipe in Ciao Italia Pronto by Mary Ann Esposito and then made changes and additions according to what I like.  Here's my version of the recipe. Actually, I make different substitutions each time I make this, according to what I have on hand and what my taste buds are wanting.  So try this out and then change things up if you want to. 

Polpettone ( Italian American Meatloaf )

         Today  there wouldn't be time to make a run to the grocery store but, since I couldn't cancel dinner,  I had to figure out what I could make with ingredients I had on hand.  I found a package of beef, pork, and veal combination in the freezer and thought of meatloaf .  I began looking through a few Italian cookbooks for a recipe and came upon one in Lidia's Italy in America by Lidia Bastianich.  It looked like I had all the ingredients. . .so. . . meatloaf it would be.  I made some cheesy, garlic, spinach mashed potatoes and a salad to go alongside.  Got a thumbs up from everyone.  Success !!

A New Adventure

         Well, I've waited long enough. Time to plunge in and get my feet wet.  Although I follow several other blogs (my "favorites" list is expansive), being an actual blogger myself is totally new to me, as is navigating all the intricacies of the computer.  You see, I am a creative person, not a technical one. So please bear with me as I muddle through learning how to do this.  I'm sure there will be additions, changes, etc. to this site as I figure out how to exist in the blogging world. Consider yourselves warned.  
           But. . . . . my inexperience has not dampened my desire to share with you my love for Italian food, for my Italian heritage, and, really, for all things Italian.  I also just love to cook and bake in general (ok, so I love food and chocolate is my friend) Now that we've established that. . . .I hope you will  join me on this new adventure of mine. I look forward to sharing great recipes with you ( see "About Me" ) as well as family stories and experiences. I hope to post again before too long with my first recipe.  I just have to figure out which one. . . . not an easy task.  Until then. . . . . .  

                                                       A presto !  ( see you soon ! )