I was born in New Jersey to first generation Italian parents. Both sets of my grandparents were born in Italy and emigrated to the United States. They brought with them a love of the Italian culture and Italian traditional cooking. My parents instilled those same values in their children and we all enjoy cooking and learning about our heritage. I learned many of my cooking skills from my parents and grandparents, but I also studied Italian cooking and made many of the recipes for my children as they were growing up. They also enjoy cooking for their families.
Now that I am retired from the teaching profession, I have the time to write a blog and share my information about Italian cooking. Through the years, many people have asked me how to prepare certain dishes and because I am a teacher by trade, I feel that I have the skills to share with you the reader, the techniques for preparing authentic and healthy meals for your family.
If you enjoy Italian food and want to learn the techniques for doing so, then follow this blog. The recipes are simple. everyday meals that you can prepare for your family. Italian cooking does not have to be expensive or fattening. Home cooks are usually frugal and use leftovers creatively in new dishes. I will also share with you how to make such recipes healthy, while at the same time, creating delicious food.
Terry Alvare
After 9 days in Paris, so looking forward to Italian food again. Now I can find all these wonderful recipes in one place : – )
jovinacooksitalian
Have a wonderful time cooking – one of life’s pleasures.
Susan DAgostino
Just found your blog today! My husband’s Mother (from Sortino) taught me how to clean a bitter green (I think it was Arugula) and cook it with butter, can you tell me the Italian name of that dish? Might have been Stenaba or something similar. It was my most favorite green dish she made. Thank you for keeping these techniques alive!
Jovina Coughlin
Hi, Susan Thank you for your comment. We never cooked arugula – just used it for salads. However, Italians do cook chicory greens or dandelion greens often called CICORIA ALLA ROMANA.
INGREDIENTS
2 Large Bunches Cultivated Cicoria or Dandelions
6 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Dash Of Red Pepper Flakes
2 Large Cloves of Garlic, Finely Chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
Rinse the greens well, and remove any brown ends, and coarsely chop.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, then drop in the prepared greens.
Boil for 10 to 15 minutes or until very tender.
Remove the greens from the water and allow to cool in a colander.
Squeeze dry to remove excess water.
In a large, heavy saucepan or frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
Add the garlic clove, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
When the garlic is fragrant but hasn’t yet begun to brown, add the greens.
Saute for 5 minutes, tossing the greens in the flavored oil as they cook.
Taste, and adjust seasonings as needed.
Place on a platter, and serve warm or at room temperature.
themidlifesecondwife
Thanks very much for visiting my blog, and for sharing my godmother’s recipe for Italian Wedding Soup with your readers. I look forward to trying some of your recipes! Ciao, Marci
jovinacooksitalian
Thanks for your comments and I will enjoy reading your posts. Don’t you love those old family recipes.
dixiesdiary
I really like your blog.I am new to blogging and love sharing with other bloggers.I love you article about peaches.You must be an amazing cook.
International Eats
This is so lovely, and so familiar sounding 🙂 Really enjoyed my browse
jovinacooksitalian
Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
Joan Sullivan Reisen
Hey, Jovina, my sister, Margaret, called me yesterday to tell me about your site. Eerily, I had been thinking about you only last week, along with Magie Ave and School #12! Believe it or not!!!! Must be some sort of cosmic confluence.
My Irish soul ( and appetite) are Italiophiles; I have made 7 trips to Italy, only limited by lack of euros! Look forward to trying some of your recipes.
Joan Sullivan Reisen
nickgarrett
Like yr work here…
Can you email me at info@foodnwalktours.com
jovinacooksitalian
Thank you for reading and commenting.
heididmedina
Hi there, just wanted to let you know I nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award and the Very Inspiring blog award. If you are interested go to this link. http://simplysophisticatedcooking.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/one-lovely-blog-award-and-the-very-inspiring-blogger-award/
jovinacooksitalian
Thank you very much.
mcsgal
I have nominated you for the Liebster Blog Award. To receive your reward, check out this link http://cookingforthechemicallysensitive.wordpress.com/2013/02/27/liebster-blog-award.
jovinacooksitalian
Thank you very much for thinking about me.
soulofspice
Hi Jovina, I love your blog and have nominated it for the Inspiring Blogger Award. Check details here, http://soulofspice.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/appreciation-5-awards/ cheers, charu
jovinacooksitalian
thank you very much for thinking of me.
Ankit
Hey,
Congratulations, I have nominated you for the ‘Sunshine Award’
Claim it here-> http://gypsyfoods.wordpress.com/2013/03/23/happy-birthday-celebrating-with-awards/
Keep up the blogging,
Good Luck
🙂
jovinacooksitalian
Thank you very much. I appreciate your support.
tinywhitecottage
Hi Jovina. I can tell I am going to really enjoy your blog! Very…very good post on grilling burgers!
jovinacooksitalian
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
Mary Frances
Hi Jovina, from reading this, I thought you were still in New Jersey, not Alabama!
jovinacooksitalian
Moved here a few years ago to be on the Gulf Coast after living in a number of different states since I moved from NJ. Where I grew up is elevant to how I learned to cook but the rest of my life’s experiences have contributed to the information I share in the blog.
ambradambra
Great blog. I was looking for an Italian rice cake recipe and yours is pretty good. I also post about Italian food as well as folklore, filmic moments and family. I blog at The Good the Bad and the Italian. cheers
jovinacooksitalian
Thank you for reading my blog and I will be sure to go to your site. thanks for letting me know about ir.
ambradambra
Pleasure – hope you enjoy it.
ninoalmendra
Looks like a really informative and interesting blog, count me in as one of your student.
jovinacooksitalian
I am so glad that you find my blog interesting. I look forward to your comments and feedback on the recipes you make.
Our Growing Paynes
I have nominated you for the I’m Part of the WordPress Family Award. If you are interested here is the information http://ourgrowingpaynes.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/im-part-of-the-wordpress-family-award/
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you Virginia.
Tuscan olive grove girl
A really lovely blog – I like the background and regional information your give about the ingredients and recipes.
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so very much. I really appreciate your gracious comments.
Our Growing Paynes
Hello. I have nominated you for the Blogger of the Year 2013 3 stars award. If you are interested in passing it along please go to this post for the information. http://ourgrowingpaynes.wordpress.com/2013/11/26/blogger-of-the-year-award-2013-3-stars/
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you Virginia
Erin Hedrick
Congratulations! I’ve nominated you for the Shine On Award – read more about it here: http://eatingmyfeelings.com/2014/01/21/eating-my-feelings-receives-shine-on-award/
Thanks for sharing your delicious food!! I absolute adore your blog.
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so much Erin. I really appreciate the honor and your gracious comments.
Erin Hedrick
I love your blog! We already knew this though… And as a thank you for being such a wonderful read, I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Award! You can read the details on my blog here: http://eatingmyfeelings.com/2014/02/20/eating-my-feelings-receives-sunshine-award/
Congrats, and please keep writing!!
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you very much, Erin. I so appreciate your reading and commenting on my blog. I also enjoy reading yours.
Donna Davis
Where can I buy Flotta tomato paste. I can no longer purchase it in CT.
Jovina Coughlin
Donna it is a product made in California. I am not familiar with this brand. There are online sites that sell it, like this one http://www.foodler.com/gourmet-grocery-store/pasta-and-sauces/3820
Donna Davis
Thank you so much for the tip. I may have to drive to MA. for the product, but it will be well worth the trip…. 🙂
Jovina Coughlin
Go in the summer when New England is beautiful. What makes Flotta tomato paste better than say Cento?
Susan Murphy
I just join your blog! I just love what I see! thank you!!!
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so much Susan. I really appreciate your following this blog and taking time to make a comment. Look forward to hearing from you and how you like the recipes you try.
Angie Mc
Hi, Jovina, glad to meet you via a Zemanta recommendation that popped up while writing at my blog http://familyanswersfast.wordpress.com/ today. I grew up in Scranton PA where we LOVE pizza! I’m off Irish decent but my tastebuds are Italian 🙂 My step-grandfather was 1st generation Italian and oh could he cook, YUM! I look forward to reading more from you…and have a great weekend! #NF
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you Angie. I really appreciate the follow and the comments.
Angie Mc
Your welcome and YAY!
apsara
Yes! I want to learn to cook healthy, creative Italian dishes. I’m glad I found your blog, looking forward to your posts…
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so much, Apsara for following my blog and for your gracious comments. I look forward to reading yours.
Angie Mc
Hi, Jovina 🙂 I nominate you for a fab four award … http://familyanswersfast.wordpress.com/awards-%E2%9D%A4-thank-you/ Thanks for sharing your yumminess with me ❤
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so much and I appreciate your following my blog. I enjoy reading yours.
Angie Mc
My privilege! Happy weekend to your and yours ❤
Jovina Coughlin
and to yours
Micaela Cremonesi
Hi – I would like to invite you to share your favorite Italian recipe on my blog as Hosted Chef – Please have a look here http://easyitaliancuisine.com/2014/06/17/weekly-hosted-chef-featured-recipe-join-the-adventure/ and let me know if you wish to join this adventure! I love your recipes that I feel as truly Italian, so I really hope you may participate!
Maya Bria
Just discovered your blog! Love 🙂
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so much Maya. I am happy you found me also. Look forward to your comments.
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Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so very much. I truly appreciate your gracious comment and that you enjoyed making one of my recipes.
Ivanka Di Felice
Dear Jovina,
Thanks so much for those wonderful recipes. I live in Italy (in the countryside near Florence) thus I will have to try them out for my Italian friends. I was surprised when I first arrived and made what I considered to be Italian food – penne a la vodka, chicken parmigiana, caesar salad etc. meanwhile, no one here had ever heard of this food – regardless they enjoyed it though I believe they ate it with suspicion! I have written a book about our life here entitled A Zany Slice of Italy – I mention this because in the back of the book are some wonderful recipes – a few of them are my mother in laws, who is from Abruzzo and are truly wonderful. Grazie mille for all your great recipes!
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so much for your account of cooking and living in Italy. Sounds like you are enjoying this time. Italian American cuisine is not usually the cuisine of Italy, as you have found out. When the Italian immigrants came to America, they found different products than what they were used to and created new dishes. Thank you also for sharing information about your book.
Freda @ Aromatic essence
Hi Jovina! you have a lovely blog:) I definitely hope to learn authentic Italian cuisine from you 🙂
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so very much Freda. I hope you enjoy making these recipes.
Linda Anselmi
Hey Jovina, Wonderful blog. I’ve made several of your recipes and keep finding more to try. I didn’t see a contact form, so I thought to try here. I’m editor and publisher of Below The Salt News (www.belowthesaltnews.com) and one of the things I am try to do is promote healthy eating – with a strong emphasis on fresh produce (vs processed foods). I would love to feature an occasional recipe or discussion of food by you. Either as an on-going (frequency up to you) contributor basis or in the occasional featured guest post. You can reach me at lindaanselmi at gmail dot com.
ohiocook
Thank you for following my blog! Love your site, the recipes and pictures are fantastic.
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so much. I just realized today that I was not following you. I don’t know how that happened. Looking forward to your posts.
thatssojacob
Hey there Jovina! Just browsing around the blogosphere, finding some fun and interesting blogs to follow to make some new friends in 2016. If you like, hop on over to my world at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com, and if you see anything you like, comment or follow! Have a great day and happy new year! PS: I just posted a fun bookish game, check it out!
Jovina Coughlin
Will do. Thank you.
carmen mazzola
hi dear i’m a chef and cooking instructor in sorrento so let me know if you need any idea or help
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you
Nancy McGarry
Hi Jovina! Love all your ideas and recipes! Where in New Jersey did you grow up in? My husband was from New Jersey, we lived in Ridgewood, Bergen County. My love for Italian food began there with my neighbors the D’Ambrosio family.
Jovina Coughlin
I grew up in Elizabeth and we lived in Closter for about 15 years. My brother-in- law lives in Ridgewood. Thank you for the message.
Gloria
Hello Jovina,
I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award as a token of my appreciation.
Here is the link https://plateituprecipes.com/2016/05/20/one-lovely-blog-award/. Congratulations!
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so very much Gloria. I enjoy reading your blog.
Gloria
It’s so nice hearing that Jovina. Have a pleasant time!!! xx
Khadija "dishdessert"
I liked your blog, I invite you to my blog:
http://dishdessert.wordpress.com
Anuj
Hi Jovina,
My name is Anuj Agarwal. I’m Founder of Feedspot.
I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog jovina cooks | Healthy Mediterranean Cooking at Home has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 50 Italian Food Blogs on the web.
http://blog.feedspot.com/italian_food_blogs/
I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world. This is the most comprehensive list of Top 50 Italian Food Blogs on the internet and I’m honored to have you as part of this!
Also, you have the honor of displaying the badge on your blog.
Best,
Anuj
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you very much.
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Sharon Siettas
I was adopted, recently through Ancestry DNA test, I discovered I was Italian (Scilian). I decided it was time for me to learn how to make a great sauce. Delighted to find your site with all the great pictures and references to “good old days”. Thank You
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so much for taking time to read and comment on my blog. I hope you enjoy making these recipes. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Chris
Hello! I found your site and very excited! I noticed that you had cooked with the Gailla Nostrale Zucchini. I would love to cook with it, or buy it, but can’t find it anywhere. Please help! My Dad wanted seeds for his garden. Thank you.
Jovina Coughlin
The seeds are an heirloom variety, so you have to purchase them from a company that sells heirloom seeds. Try this link https://www.seedsavers.org/
June Maselli
Dear Jovina, Hello. My great grand father was Ralph Amendola, of Amendola Brother’s music store in New Haven, CT. Some time ago, I saw a blip that you wrote related to events at the music store. I would like to know how you learned about the store being open to singing, etc. I am trying to learn more about my family’s history. I very much look forward to hearing from you.
Jovina Coughlin
I wrote that so long ago during the time I was writing about where Italian Americans settled in the US. My research was usually through state and city records, oral histories, Italian magazines and OSIA lodges in the state I was researching. I also used the archives in the local newspapers, so that would have been one of the New Haven papers.
June Maselli
Is OSIA related to Knights of Columbus?
June Maselli
Thank you for the info! Your response is helpful, as it tells me of the tools you use to do your research.
My Uncle Frank Ame (Amendola) is 102 years old and he is Ralph’s son (my grandmother’s brother). He is in a nursing home now. I am going to get a voice recorder and begin asking him questions. Frank Ame used to have his own shampoo buisiness (Natrol I believe it was); it was number 1 in the country. He had it at 157 Olive Street in New Haven and then moved to State Street in New Haven.
Dr John W Rossini Jr
You recently posted a recipe for Cauliflower Risotto. In the directions it says to “pour in the broth” however, there is nothing in the ingredients list that includes a broth. Is there something missing here? Thank you.
Jovina Coughlin
There sure is. Sorry I didn’t proofread that better. Thanks for letting me know. The recipe is corrected. Here is the link https://jovinacooksitalian.com/2019/01/11/scallops-in-garlic-sauce/
Italian Food Boss
Hello Jovina! I just found your blog and I’m absolutely impressed by the quality of the recipes you have here! Well done! I’m an Italian dad who has been living outside of Italy for almost 15 years now and I’ve recently decided to share all I know around Italian cuisine – especially from the South of Italy – on my website italianfoodboss.com and my YouTube channel youtube.com/italianfoodboss .
I’d be grateful if you’d wish to have a look!
Ciao ciao and congratulations again on what you have managed to build in a few short years!
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you for your comment and I look forward to viewing your site.
Loris Montagnoli
Hello Jovina,
I’m so happy to see how many people from America love Italian food.
I’m Italian and I live in Italy.
I like your blog.
Bye Bye!
Loris Montagnoli
(this is my blog https://idierredavinci.blogspot.com , it’s a blog of Religion, I’m teacher of Religion in a School near Verona – North of Italy)
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you for your comment. I look forward to reading your blog.
stephen roach
Hi Jovina – I am collecting recipes from the regions that ancestors from my family tree came from. One set of my great-grandparents (who I never met) were born in the Potenza region of Italy. I was thrilled to find your recipes from that region. I just found them today and I will be making them tomorrow! Thank you so much!
Jovina Coughlin
Thank you so much for reading my blog and for letting me know about your family.
Tessa Floreano
Hello Jovina–I’m writing a book about Italians in the Pacific Northwest that will be published in October 2023, and I’m interested in using a couple of the photos in your Pacific Northwest article. Would you mind getting in touch to discuss? Thanks in advance! ~Tessa
Jovina Coughlin
Tessa the photos are free on Google search.