Della Diary

EVOO and Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes

EVOO and Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes

Since marrying into an olive grove I've tried to minimize my use of butter and see if I cant just make EVOO work in everything. Truth is, I kind ...

Tomato and Wild Mint Pasta

So, when I got to Rome a few years ago I quickly learned of local celebrity food journalist and cookbook author Katie Parla. She’s kind of a big d...

Lemony Arugula Cacio e Pepe

While we were in Milan a couple weeks ago we popped into this adorable little drogheria ('grocery' in Italian) called Radrizzani. They have tons ...

Roasted Rack of Lamb with Basil Goat Cheese Sauce

The Italian Easter favorite: a roasted rack of lamb. This recipe is adapted from Tieghan at Half Baked Harvest. It's so easy–too easy, really–and t...

Olive Oil & Sea Salt Brownies

Brownies aren’t a thing here in Italy. In my humble opinion, desserts in Italy are kind of a bummer. I miss the brownies, cakes and cookies of Am...

Spaghetti con Vongole

Spaghetti con vongole or spaghetti with clams is one of the most typical dishes for Christmas Eve dinner in Italy and happens to be one of the ulti...

Apple & Rosemary Focaccia

This is one festive focaccia. A bit of honey to the dough, apples, more honey, flaky sea salt and a bit more olive oil for the topping. The apples ...

Fried Polenta Wedges

Polenta, basically the Italian version of grits. It’s the base for a lot foods up here in Northern Italy. Formally considered peasant food or an i...

Amalfi Coast Salad

Italy opened up a whole new world of fruit and vegetables for me. Fennel just wasn’t part of my life before I moved here. Honestly, I probably coul...

Olive Oil and Honey Roasted Carrots

We found ourselves back in Rome this week and as we strolled through the outdoor market in Campo dei Fiori on a stunning fall day I got the itch to...

Tuscan Apple Olive Oil Cake

A simple, rustic olive oil cake with fresh apples. It's a sweet twist per the usual seasonal dish. It’s dairy-free and meant to be dense, moist, an...

Caramelized Onion, Butternut Squash and Crispy Kale Pizza

The chill in the air has us craving heartier flavors. Autumn brings a wealth of new options to inspire, such as butternut squash, sage, and kale–al...

Italian White Bean Soup

While we believe every season is reason for soup, the following recipe truly warms the soul on a cold autumn night. Recipe and photos courtesy of o...