Posts in lunch
Spring Rolls w/ Beth Nydick

Author, branding and media expert, and my dear friend, Beth Nydick joins me in the Cucina this week! Beth is all about eating CLEAN - hence her book, Clean Cocktails! She shares a fun and easy spring rolls recipe with peanut sauce! And she threw in a healthy paloma recipe! Beth also shows us how to get clear on our messaging around ourselves and our brands so we can get that message out into the world!

Read More
Chili Mac & Cheese with Kristina Behr

My incredible co-host from NJ Morning Show, Kristina Behr, joins me in the Cucina this week to share a Behr family favorite! This chili mac and cheese recipe is always a slam dunk with her boys and we're pretty sure your kids will love it too! Kristina also talks about growing up with parents in TV, getting her hair cut next to Susan Lucci, and what inspired her to tackle a career in news!

Read More
Butternut Squash Risotto

Vegetarian main dish? Holiday side dish? Weeknight dinner? This Butternut Squash Risotto recipe covers it all! Risotto is a super simple and versatile dish that can be easily tailored to any diet or tastes! Give this seasonal butternut squash version a try!

Read More
Roast Chicken w/ Apples & Grapes

This incredibly simple recipe is PERFECT for the holidays! You can use it for chicken, turkey - even pork! A handful of ingredients lands you a flavorful roast chicken! Seasonal apples and grapes are balanced with a few strips of bacon to create a really delicious meal - whether for a weeknight or a show-stopper for the holiday table!

Read More
Fall Harvest Salad

This Fall Harvest Salad is my go-to when the weather turns cold but I want to eat healthy! Loaded with Fall flavors and delicious goodies, you'll definitely want to try this one either on its own for lunch or as a side for a larger meal! Don't forget to make that honey cider dijon dressing - it ties the whole thing together PERFECTLY!

Read More
Homemade Pizza w/ Sal Reina (Francesca's Pizza)

We’re making fresh pizza at home with Pizzaiolo Sal Reina of Francesca’s Pizza in Bergen County! He shares his tips and tricks for making the best pizza at home! Including his secret to great sauce - you won’t BELIEVE how easy it is!

Read More
Mother's Day 2021

Mamma D joins me in the Cucina for this special Mother's Day episode! We took an "English tea" (not really) and give it some Italian-American flair! (Because really, what's America if not a mix of the rest of the world!?) Mom & I show you 3 simple, savory "bites." (Caprese, Fig & Prosciutto, and Mortadella Sammies) Plus one sweet one! (Strawberry Ricotta toast!) AND of course we have tea...but we turned it into a cocktail with the help of my friend Beth Nydick, co-author of Clean Cocktails! Finally, Mom sheds a tear as she shares her favorite part of being a Mom! It's all in this episode!

Read More
Pasta Carbonara with Andrew Cotto

My friend & author, Andrew Cotto is BACK in the Cucina with another delicious meal AND Italian adventure! His latest novel, "Cucina Romana" is out NOW (link inside!) and of course, we had to make the classic Roman dish, pasta carbonara! Fatty guanciale, mixed with eggs and cheese (yes Jersey peeps, it's a bacon, egg & cheese as a pasta course!). Fresh cracked black pepper represents the "carbon" for carbonara...coal miners.

Read More
Lemon Arugula Salad

This simple arugula salad recipe is fast, fresh and easy! Toasted pine nuts and saved parmesan perfectly round out this dish with peppery arugula and bright lemon! The perfect side dish for any meal!

Read More
Three Cheese Pesto Pizza

I tossed this pizza together on a Friday night when I had leftover pesto, prosciutto and ricotta in the house! Taking inspiration from some of our amazing local pizzerias I used the pesto as the sauce, dolloped on the last few spoons of fresh ricotta, tore up a bit of fresh mozzarella, sprinkled the whole thing with grated parmesan and topped it all with the last few pieces of prosciutto. The result was spectacular! We've been loving this pizza ALL Summer long and I hope you all enjoy it too! You can use my fresh pizza dough recipe and pesto recipes below, watch the video and give it a try at home!

Read More
Corn & Tomato Risotto

I couldn't let Summer go by without doing a recipe using Jersey tomatoes and our sweet corn! I actually came up with this dish at the end of last Summer but we were already shooting for Fall, so I wrote it all down and tucked it away for this year! On top of the delicious flavors of fresh produce in this risotto, I like using a Summer beer instead of wine as the first splash of liquid. It's just another fun way to incorporate these late Summer flavors into a delicious dinner!

Read More
dairy free, dinner, gluten free, Healthy Lifestyle, Italian, Italian American, lunch, local, recipes, vegan, vegetarianCara Di Falcocorn and tomato risotto, corn risotto, fresh corn risotto with basil tomato, sweet corn and tomato risotto, risotto with tomato and basil, risotto with corn and basil, tomato risotto recipe, main course risotto recipes, risotto with corn tomatoes and basil, risotto with tomatoes and corn, risotto with tomato corn and basil, tomato and corn risotto recipe, cara di falco, cara’s cucina, food, cucina, cooking, cooking show, cooking classes, cooking classes online, how to, cook, how to make, how to cook, cooking videos, italian, italy, italian food, italian cooking, italian food recipe, authentic italian food, italian food traditions, italian food information, italian food is the best, italian food recipes, italian ingredients, traditional italian recipes, authentic italian food recipes, italian recipe blog, authentic italian dinner, italian kitchen recipes, gluten free, gluten free recipes, gluten free diet, gluten free easy recipes, gluten free dinner recipes, gluten free vegan, gluten free dairy free recipes, gluten free dairy free, vegan, vegan recipes, vegan meals, vegan diet, vegan dinner recipes, vegan dinner, vegetarian, vegetarian meals, vegetarian dinner recipes, vegetarian diet, vegetarian dishes, vegetarian dinner, vegetarian dinner ideas, vegetarian delicious recipes, dairy free diet, dairy free recipes, dairy free, dairy free dinner ideas, dairy free dinnerComment
Zucchini & Peppers with Breadcrumbs

This is a quick and easy Summer side dish that I do by combining two other recipes from different parts of life! The zucchini comes from my old college roomie; the peppers from Senza Cucina in Bayville NJ! These go great as an appetizer or alongside some grilled or roasted meat! They're not bad cold or reheated the next day either as a lunch or snack!

Read More
Peach Caprese Salad

It has been SO HOT here in New Jersey, the thought of cooking anything at all is awful. This is the time of year when salads rein supreme in my house! But we don't sad, sorry salads. We do fun, delicious, this is totally a meal on its own salads! Including this delicious peach caprese! While most of the U.S. looks to Georgia for peaches, we grow some really nice ones here in Jersey too! And they've been gorgeous! So what better way to use 'em up than to add them to your favorite Summer side dish! Sliced tomatoes, peaches, fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil are all you need to make this perfect Summer plate.

Read More
Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This pasta dish is the epitome of Summer! Fresh lemon brightens up creamy ricotta to make the perfect pasta sauce! Toss in peas for some green - OR - chopped zucchini or spinach - whatever you like! Best of all? It all comes together in the time it takes the pasta to boil so you're not standing over the stove!

Read More
Mediterranean Orzo Salad

This light and fresh Summer salad is quick and easy to make and can be tailored to any diet! Orzo, which are small pasta, cook up in just 4-5 minutes. Tossed with fresh Summer vegetables, extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice and you have lunch on the table! Top you salad with grilled shrimp or chicken (thanks to the folks at Traeger Grills for helping us out!), or swap in feta cheese for a vegetarian version. Vegan? Toss on some grilled tofu instead, or just add in beans like ceci. Gluten free? Swap the orzo for rice or quinoa! You get the idea.

Read More
Salsa Verde

This quick and easy parsley based sauce is the perfect Summer condiment! Enjoy it with chicken, steak, fish or veggies! I make mine with shallot, red wine vinegar, LOTS of parsley, some fresh chives (cause they grow in the garden!) and some capers - but feel free to switch things up and swap them out to suit your tastes! Try adding in mint for a lamb dish, or some tarragon with fish - whatever is fresh and easy will work here!

Read More
basics, dairy free, dinner, gluten free, grilling, Healthy Lifestyle, Italian, Italian American, keto, lunch, parties, recipes, vegan, vegetarianCara Di FalcoItalian salsa verde recipe, italian salsa verde, salsa verde, parsley sauce recipe, green italian sauce, salsa verde uses, salsa verde vegan, parsley sauce for chicken, bagnetto verde recipe, italian salsa verde chicken, italian salsa verde steak, italian salsa sauce recipe, italian salsa recipe, cara di falco, cara’s cucina, food, cucina, cooking, cooking show, cooking classes, cooking classes online, how to, cook, how to make, how to cook, cooking videos, italian, italy, italian food, italian cooking, italian food recipe, authentic italian food, italian food traditions, italian food information, italian food is the best, italian food recipes, italian ingredients, traditional italian recipes, authentic italian food recipes, italian recipe blog, authentic italian dinner, italian kitchen recipes, gluten free, gluten free recipes, gluten free diet, gluten free easy recipes, gluten free dinner recipes, gluten free vegan, gluten free dairy free recipes, gluten free dairy free, vegan, vegan recipes, vegan meals, vegan diet, vegan dinner recipes, vegan dinner, vegetarian, vegetarian meals, vegetarian dinner recipes, vegetarian diet, vegetarian dishes, vegetarian dinner, vegetarian dinner ideas, vegetarian delicious recipes, dairy free diet, dairy free recipes, dairy free, dairy free dinner ideas, dairy free dinner, keto diet, keto recipes, keto diet recipes, keto dinner recipes, keto dinner ideas, keto dinner mealsComment
Spinach Pesto

Watch how quick and easy it is to make a healthy spinach pesto from scratch! Pestos are a great way to dress pasta, chicken, shrimp, anything really! And the best part is they're ready in minutes; the food processor handles it all for you! I make my spinach pesto with fresh baby spinach, toasted walnuts, garlic and some parmesan cheese! Rounded out with a quality olive oil and you've got a quick and easy sauce that's both healthy and delicious!

Read More
Nonni's Chicken Salad

It's true - there's nothing exceptional about chicken salad...other than, in this case, the memory it brings back for me! My great-grandmother's house in Fort Lee NJ, as a kid, playing on the knee wall in the back of her house, waiting for her and my mother to tell us lunch was ready! And later, after she passed, my mother realizing yet another of her culinary secrets! We could never figure out how she got her chicken salad to have such a great texture...until Mom discovered the meat grinder in her kitchen! She quickly ran through some red onion, celery and poached chicken and discovered that was the trick all along! Mom still has the meat grinder but lucky for the rest of us the food processor works the same way here!

Read More
Spring Vegetable Frittata

Watch how to make this delicious Spring frittata! Using fresh, seasonal ingredients, you can make a simple meal that works anytime of day! Dandelion greens are a great Spring green that are available in stores - or even your own backyard! Yes, THAT dandelion green! Add in some earthy mushrooms and of course, plenty of parmesan cheese! This egg dish can serve for breakfast and brunch - clear through to dinner in a pinch! Plus it makes great leftovers! Serve with a fresh salad, crusty bread, or cooked grains on the side!

Read More
Penne Vodka

I love this dish. It always brings back great memories. It's one of those Italian-American classics that we all grew up on and have come to love. At this point, I'd call it comfort food. And since it comes together in 30 minutes with some pantry and fridge staples, it's a weeknight dinner lifesaver! Penne alla vodka was a trendy dish in the late 70's and early 80's. Italy got over it pretty quickly, but it's held its own here in the States! I don't think I've been to a family function, Italian or otherwise, that didn't have a tray of the stuff being served! This is how I make mine.

Read More