Needless to say, this has been a year of major changes at some grocery stores and restaurants in the US—and all around the world. Everyone has had to shift the way they do business, which has produced some pretty unusual results. (Remember the German pool noodle hats?)
Now, Italy is practicing social distancing with buchetta del vino (“wine windows,” to English-speakers) which sounds like something we need in our homes ASAP.
They Were Used During the Black Plague
Seriously! While they were built before the plague hit, these small structures came in handy during the 1600s as a means of serving wine to customers without exposing those who worked there to the sickness. Basically, customers would pay through the window, and the worker would hand them their wine. We like that system!
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#repost @chiara_ch_ 🍷
Now, centuries later, these windows are getting used again—and they’re absolutely adorable. There’s a whole cultural organization dedicated to celebrating them, and we get why. There’s a lot of history to these little holes in the wall, and, obviously, they’re still useful.
They’re SO Cute, Too
What’s even better is that they’re so much prettier than comparable structures in the US, like drive-thrus. There’s an ornateness to these tiny windows that makes them utterly captivating, which is probably why there’s an Instagram account that posts and collects tons of buchetta del vino photos.
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It’s worth noting, too, that they’re not just for wine. You can get all kinds of stuff through a “wine window,” including coffee. Somehow, this seems more sophisticated than pulling up to Starbucks. But until we can safely travel to Italy again, we’ll just stare at these pictures with heart eyes.
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Great-Grandma’s Italian Meatballs
My great-grandmother started this easy meatball recipe with our family. We use ground beef and turkey for these meatballs, and the flavor’s so good, you won’t miss the extra calories. —Audrey Colantino, Winchester, MassachusettsGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Pasta Fagioli Soup
My husband enjoys my version of this dish so much that he doesn’t order it at restaurants anymore. With fresh spinach, pasta and seasoned sausage, this fast-to-fix soup is a meal on its own. —Brenda Thomas, Springfield, Missouri (Sop up this soup with a piece of one of these types of Italian bread.)Go to Recipe
Pasta Fagioli al Forno
The name of this Italian-inspired dish means “baked pasta with beans.” But my busy family translates it as “super satisfying dinner.” —Cindy Preller, Grayslake, IllinoisGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Nana’s Italian Roulade
My great-aunt from Sicily taught my mother how to stuff and bake a steak in a jelly-roll style. It’s unique and really special in our family. —Roseanne McDonald, Days Creek, OregonGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Beefy Eggplant Parmigiana
I developed this recipe one summer when my husband grew eggplant in the garden. I was thrilled when it won high honors at a national beef contest. —Celeste Copper, Baton Rouge, LouisianaGo to Recipe
Chicken Piccata with Lemon Sauce
Once you’ve tried this tangy, yet delicate lemon chicken piccata, you won’t hesitate to make it for company. Seasoned with parmesan and parsley, the chicken cooks up golden brown, then is drizzled with a light lemon sauce. —Susan Pursell, Fountain Valley, CaliforniaGo to Recipe
Chocolate Almond Pizzelles
If you love fun baking gadgets, you’ll enjoy making these crispy, almond-flavored cookies, which get their unique waffle design from a pizzelle maker. They bake up golden brown in only a few minutes. Feel free to double the chocolate drizzle if you’d like to cover the cookies more generously. —Hannah Riley, Norwalk, OhioGo to Recipe
Lemony Shrimp & Mushroom Linguine
My husband made this for me shortly before we married. I made some slight tweaks to the recipe over the years, and he says it’s even better now. The lemons are a refreshing addition. —Ann Baker, Texarkana, TexasGo to Recipe
Best Lasagna
Want to know how to make lasagna for a casual holiday meal? You can’t go wrong with this deliciously rich meat lasagna recipe. My grown sons and daughter-in-law request it for their birthdays, too. —Pam Thompson, Girard, IllinoisGo to Recipe
Italian Shredded Pork Stew
Need a warm meal for a chilly night? Throw together this slow-cooked stew that’s brightened with fresh sweet potatoes, kale and Italian seasoning. The shredded pork is so tender, you’re going to want to make this dish all season long. —Robin Jungers, Campbellsport, WisconsinGo to Recipe
Slow-Cooker Short Rib Ragu over Pappardelle
An irresistible sauce gives this beef another dimension of flavor. Nearly any starchy side, such as potatoes or polenta, will work in place of the pasta.
Short ribs are my crowd-pleaser weekend meal for all occasions. —Missy Raho, Morristown, New JerseyGo to Recipe
Shrimp ‘n’ Spinach Risotto
I enjoy concocting new, healthy recipes and spinach is one of the few vegetables that my husband will eat. My creamy risotto makes a great side dish, but doubles as a meal-in-one as well. —Jennifer Neilsen, Williamston, North CarolinaGo to Recipe
Vegetable & Cheese Focaccia
My family eats this flavorful bread as fast as I can make it. Sometimes I add different herbs, red onion or crumbled bacon. It’s one of my best recipes!
—Mary Cass, Baltimore, MarylandGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Turkey Scallopini with Marsala Sauce
My family requests this entree at least once a month. The slightly sweet Marsala sauce is yummy over the turkey slices and hot cooked noodles. —Briana Knight, Ferndale, WashingtonGo to Recipe
Eggplant Zucchini Bolognese
I roast the veggies while the pasta cooks, making this a quick dish. This meal in one blends rustic comfort with fresh flavors. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, IdahoGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Spaghetti Meatball Supper
It was such a joy to come home and find my mom making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. This recipe has always been dear to my heart. —Debbie Heggie, Laramie, WyomingGo to Recipe
Homemade Ravioli
I love to bake and cook, especially Italian dishes like this homemade ravioli recipe. In fact, my idea of a perfect day consists of cooking my family’s favorite foods then watching them dig in!—Lori Daniels, Hartland, MichiganGo to Recipe
Eggplant Rollatini
Want to learn how to cook eggplant? Here’s where to start. These authentic eggplant roll-ups may take some time to prepare, but the end result is restaurant-quality. Your family will request this recipe time and again. —Nancy Sousley, Lafayette, IndianaGo to Recipe
Chicken Escarole Soup with Meatballs
This is an old recipe from southern Italy. My mother gave it to me when I was first married. It started out as a holidays-only dish…but my children and grandchildren love it so much that we have it every chance we get!—Norma Manna, Hobe Sound, FloridaGo to Recipe
Pepper Ricotta Primavera
Garlic, peppers and herbs top creamy ricotta cheese in this meatless skillet meal you can make in just 20 minutes. —Janet Boulger, Botwood, Newfoundland and LabradorGo to Recipe
Spinach and Tortellini Soup
A simple tomato-enhanced broth is perfect for cheese tortellini and fresh spinach. Increase the garlic and add Italian seasoning to suit your taste. —Debbie Wilson, Burlington, North CarolinaGo to Recipe
Tomato & Artichoke Bruschetta
A healthy and refreshing appetizer, I enjoy bruschetta anytime of year. For serving guests, I like to slice the garlic instead of chopping it for both beauty and flavor infusion. This is also a simple make-ahead dish: You can mix it up, cover and refrigerate for a few hours before serving.—Gina Bergamino, Chanhassen, MinnesotaGo to Recipe
Summer Carbonara
Basil and bacon make best summer buds in this smoky-sweet pasta. I pair it with a simple spring mix salad with balsamic dressing and a glass of good Chardonnay or cold iced tea. —Cathy Dudderar, Lexington, KentuckyGo to Recipe
Traditional Italian Wedding Soup
You don’t have to be Italian to love this easy-to-make soup with tiny round pasta! Add homemade meatballs but use ready-made stock and rotisserie chicken.—Mary Sheetz, Carmel, IndianaGo to Recipe
Ricotta Gnocchi in Tomato Sauce
If you like trying out new dishes and enjoy Italian food, you should give this recipe a try. We
think you’ll agree that homemade pasta just tastes better.—Jenn Martin, Sebago, MaineGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Basil and Parsley Pesto
Toss this parsley pesto with pasta, spread it over sandwiches or try it in one of these creative recipes using pesto. It’s also delicious stirred into an Italian-style soup, like minestrone. —Lorraine Fina Stevenski, Land O’ Lakes, FloridaGo to Recipe
Penne alla Vodka
This easy and impressive pasta is always on the menu when my husband and I have new friends over for dinner. Years later, they’ve asked me to make this Penne alla Vodka recipe again. —Cara Langer, Overland Park, KansasGo to Recipe
Tuscan Fish Packets
My husband does a lot of fishing, so I’m always looking for different ways to serve his catches. A professional chef was kind enough to share this recipe with me, and I played around with some different veggie combinations until I found the one my family liked best. —Kathy Morrow, Hubbard, OhioGo to Recipe
Lemon Parmesan Orzo
A splash of lemon and a shower of chopped parsley make this orzo one of my family’s most-requested sides. It’s fantastic with chicken, pork and fish. —Leslie Palmer, Swampscott, MassachusettsGo to Recipe
Penne with Tomatoes & White Beans
I learned how to make this dish from friends in Genoa, Italy, where they’re known for creating tasty combinations of veggies, pasta and beans. You can sub feta cheese to give this a Greek twist. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, IdahoGo to Recipe
Sea Scallops and Fettuccine
This luscious and lemony pasta dish is so easy, it’s become one of our weekly meal mainstays. But it’s also elegant enough to serve to guests. —Donna Thompson, Laramie, WyomingGo to RecipeTaste of Home
Turkey Portobello Bolognese
This sauce tastes better the longer it simmers, which allows the flavors to fully develop. In fact, it tastes best the second day after a night in the refrigerator. Mangia! —Darrell Kau, Eugene, OregonGo to Recipe
White Seafood Lasagna
We make lasagna with shrimp and scallops as part of the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes. Every bite delivers a tasty “jewel” from the sea. —Joe Colamonico, North Charleston, South CarolinaGo to Recipe
Contest-Winning Easy Minestrone
This minestrone soup recipe is special to me because it’s one of the few dinners my entire family loves. And I can feel good about serving it because it’s full of nutrition and low in fat. —Lauren Brennan, Hood River, OregonGo to Recipe
Shrimp Scampi
This shrimp scampi recipe looks elegant enough to serve to company, but it’s easy to prepare. The bright flavors of lemon and herbs enhance the shrimp. Serve it over pasta and wait for the compliments. —Lori Packer, Omaha, NebraskaGo to Recipe
Make-Ahead Spinach Manicotti
When I invite people to dinner, many have started requesting this pasta bake ahead of time because it’s that good. Plus, the manicotti is stuffed before it’s cooked, making it even more convenient. —Christy Freeman, Central Point, OregonGo to Recipe
Chicken Cacciatore
This easy chicken cacciatore recipe makes a good Sunday dinner, since it’s so simple to prepare. This recipe is the best because it’s loaded with lots of vegetables and is a family favorite. —Barbara Roberts, Courtenay, British ColumbiaGo to Recipe
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