I don’t know a kid of any age that doesn’t like Pizza Senza Crosta, a bit of a cross between fondue, mozzarella sticks, and pizza. First, you heat rich tomato sauce in a large pot and add big wedges of mozzarella. When the mozzarella starts to melt, it’s time to serve.
Italian
Shaved Fennel, Porcini, and Pecorino
The success of this salad recipe relies heavily on cutting (sawing) the ingredients into equal-size pieces as well as using equal amounts of each. The ingredients should be sliced to the same thickness.
Super-Fresh Pasta with No-Cook Tomatoes, Cheese and Basil
When the first good tomatoes appear, I buy fresh basil and a good sized chunk of Parmigiano-Reggiano, and whip up a no-cook pasta. It’s not the heat. It’s the deliciousness. I like it even better than the red sauce of winter.
Giada De Laurentiis’ Cacio e Pepe with Pancetta and Arugula
What makes this dish great is its simplicity. Traditional cacio e pepe doesn’t include greens, but I find some arugula lightens up the dish. Feel free to swap the arugula for peas or asparagus spears or even artichoke hearts. It’s an all-in-one meal, no salad needed!
Giada De Laurentiis’ Grilled Scallops with Prosciutto and Basil
Pink peppercorns make these grilled scallop skewers beautiful and summery—as if you’re eating a spicy rose petal. You could serve this with (or atop) an arugula salad. Add a squeeze of juice from a grilled lemon half if you like.
Giada De Laurentiis’ Grilled Chicken Involtini
The crunchy and cheesy bites that ooze out of the sides of this “rolled” chicken are irresistible. Most kids go crazy for this, but it has sophisticated flavors adults will enjoy, too.
