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Inspired Recipes / Main Courses

Apparently today is National Italian Food Day, but being part Sicilian, I tend to lean toward the camp that everyday should be Italian Food Day. When I think of Italian food, one name immediately comes to mind: Chef Lidia Bastianich.

Confession time…we are addicted to Lidia’s cookbooks. We own all of them, use them regularly, have given them as gifts throughout the years and haven’t been disappointed in a single recipe we’ve tried. We’re long time fans of her various cooking shows on PBS and love how she still keeps things fresh with her current production, Lidia’s Kitchen. Over the years, her educational cookbooks and television broadcasts have changed how we cook. Simple tips such as toasting tomato paste and peperoncino in olive oil before incorporating it into the sauce makes such a difference!

We had the pleasure of meeting Lidia when we attended a cooking class & tasting she held at Eataly Chicago. The class was a birthday gift for my husband and we were lucky to sit front-row, center. I’ll fill you in on the wonderfulness that is Eataly in another post but wanted to share a few photos here, too:

Lidia prepared a few different courses (including dessert!) during class and they were all awesome!
Lidia prepared a few different courses (including dessert!) during class and they were all awesome!

 

While dessert was served, Lidia held a Q&A - she was informative & charming as always.
While dessert was served, Lidia held a Q&A – she was informative & charming as always.

 

Lidia spent one-on-one time visiting with the class participants, signing books & taking photos. I'm usually the one behind the camera, so I was happy that my husband took a pic of me with Lidia that evening.
After class, she spent one-on-one time visiting with everyone, signing books & taking photos. Usually the one behind the camera, I was happy that my husband took a pic of me with Lidia that evening.

On to the Ziti, Sausage, Onions & Fennel details…

One of our all-time favorite recipes of Lidia’s is quite the tasty one. I can’t even begin to count how many times we’ve made this over the last 10+ years and it is perfect for National Italian Food Day! The recipe was memorized moons ago & when our daughter is an adult she’ll look back at it, fondly, as being one of her favorite recipes since childhood.

We originally found the recipe in her book, Lidia’s Family Table.

 

Our well-worn, well-loved, used-more-times-than-we-can-count copy that we've had since 2004.
Our well-worn, well-loved, used-more-times-than-we-can-count copy that we’ve had since 2004.

The recipe is simple, but don’t cut corners as you caramelize the individual ingredients when adding them to the pan – a simple matter of timing, but oh so important to enhance the flavors. While we highly recommend getting your own copy of Lidia’s Family Table (tons of wonderful recipes), you can also view the recipe for her Ziti with Sausage, Onions & Fennel online at: Lidia’s Italy. It makes a lot, so you’ll need a large skillet – and if you have any leftovers, they heat up beautifully for lunch or dinner later in the week.

Happy National Italian Food Day!

 

32 Comments

  3. I love Italian food! This is something similar to what my parents made for the family in my childhood… When my mother tells me they’re making it a certain day, I pack the kids up and we head over there quick! I will have to check out this recipe!
    thanks

    Avatar Eloise
    Reply

    1. We made it two nights ago (for the gazillionth time). Still one of my absolute favorite meals. Hope you get to meet Lidia sometime – she does other events, too, so you may find something that will work out for you! 🙂

      admin admin
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  17. I love Lidia but don’t actually have any of her books (in my huge collection…cookbooks are my weakness!) I’ll have to get some and I want to try this recipe for sure! I love anything with fennel!!!

    Avatar Stacy
    Reply

    1. Oh, Stacy, Lidia’s books are fantastic!! They are definitely “teaching” cookbooks, not just recipes…and totally try the recipe – it is truly one of our all-time favorite recipes from ANY of our cookbooks (Lidia’s or otherwise)!! 🙂

      Kelly Kelly
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