Ciao Italia

Mary Ann teams up with PBS celebrity chef Jacques Pepin to prepare some of the quickest, easiest fish dishes you've ever seen. Jacques' Slow-cooked Tuna Steaks with Tomato Relish takes only minutes to make. Mary Ann's Stuffed Fish with Nuts and Spinach is just as easy, but Jacques' Scallope Seviche is the hands-down winner.

Mary Ann teams up with PBS celebrity chef Jacques Pepin to prepare some of the quickest, easiest fish dishes you've ever seen. Jacques' Slow-cooked Tuna Steaks with Tomato Relish takes only minutes to make. Mary Ann's Stuffed Fish with Nuts and Spinach is just as easy, but Jacques' Scallope Seviche is the hands-down winner.

Mary Ann travels north of Cortona, Italy to visit American cookbook author and food columnist Nancy Harmon Jenkins. Working in Nancy's cozy kitchen in her restored country farmhouse, Mary Ann and she create Pane Toscano (Tuscan Bread) then fry up some crunchy crostini, for three terrific toppings: Tomato/Basil/Garlic, Chicken Liver and Sage, and Tuna Fish and Caper treat. Buon appetito!

Mary Ann travels north of Cortona, Italy to visit American cookbook author and food columnist Nancy Harmon Jenkins. Working in Nancy's cozy kitchen in her restored country farmhouse, Mary Ann and she create Pane Toscano (Tuscan Bread) then fry up some crunchy crostini, for three terrific toppings: Tomato/Basil/Garlic, Chicken Liver and Sage, and Tuna Fish and Caper treat. Buon appetito!

World-renowned pastry chef Nick Malgieri rolls up his sleeves nella cucina as he and Mary Ann exchange stories, tease each other, and have an entertaining time creating two masterpieces; Torta al Taglierini a pie-shaped, pastry noodle-topped chocolate cake and Torta Neri con le Noci (Chocolate Cake with Nuts) a classic Bolognese treat that's rich as Midas but light as a cloud.

World-renowned pastry chef Nick Malgieri rolls up his sleeves nella cucina as he and Mary Ann exchange stories, tease each other, and have an entertaining time creating two masterpieces; Torta al Taglierini a pie-shaped, pastry noodle-topped chocolate cake and Torta Neri con le Noci (Chocolate Cake with Nuts) a classic Bolognese treat that's rich as Midas but light as a cloud.

Mary Ann visits good friend Lorenza Iori at her home in Reggio Emilia for Sunday dinner. But they have to make it first, including a hearty Risotto and Maiale al Latte (Pork in Milk). What to have for dessert is solved by a surprise visit from Cristiana Magnani who creates her signature Torta al Cioccolato, Chocolate Cake.

Mary Ann visits good friend Lorenza Iori at her home in Reggio Emilia for Sunday dinner. But they have to make it first, including a hearty Risotto and Maiale al Latte (Pork in Milk). What to have for dessert is solved by a surprise visit from Cristiana Magnani who creates her signature Torta al Cioccolato, Chocolate Cake.

Mary Ann travels to the Robert Pepi Winery in Napa, California to visit vintner, Marco Di Giulio who shows her how they make San Giovese wine just like they do in Italy. Mary Ann goes nella cucina to a braised beef dish in red wine called Brasato, from Lombardy, and the other a delicate chicken stuffed with spinach and Fontina cheese, cooked - in what else? White wine, of course.

Mary Ann travels to the Robert Pepi Winery in Napa, California to visit vintner, Marco Di Giulio who shows her how they make San Giovese wine just like they do in Italy. Mary Ann goes nella cucina to a braised beef dish in red wine called Brasato, from Lombardy, and the other a delicate chicken stuffed with spinach and Fontina cheese, cooked - in what else? White wine, of course.

Peter Scognamillo is one great baker and he's just a kid! When Mary Ann invites him to stop by nella cucina to make cookies, Peter brings his recipe for Maddalena Raspberry Cookies; two buttery, crisp wafers filled with raspberry jam. Then it's Mary Ann's turn, and she shows Peter how to make Almond Crisps. Open up that cookie jar!

Peter Scognamillo is one great baker and he's just a kid! When Mary Ann invites him to stop by nella cucina to make cookies, Peter brings his recipe for Maddalena Raspberry Cookies; two buttery, crisp wafers filled with raspberry jam. Then it's Mary Ann's turn, and she shows Peter how to make Almond Crisps. Open up that cookie jar!

Father Jonathan DeFelice is a college president who loves to cook. Mary Ann joins him in the St. Anselm College's monastery kitchen to prepare two childhood favorites. First it's Struffoli, deep-fried, honey-coated sweet dough balls, dusted with hundreds-of-thousands. Then Mary Ann prepares crispy, deep-fried, sugar dusted Cenci. Let us give thanks.

Father Jonathan DeFelice is a college president who loves to cook. Mary Ann joins him in the St. Anselm College's monastery kitchen to prepare two childhood favorites. First it's Struffoli, deep-fried, honey-coated sweet dough balls, dusted with hundreds-of-thousands. Then Mary Ann prepares crispy, deep-fried, sugar dusted Cenci. Let us give thanks.

Chef, cookbook author and radio talk show personality Arthur Schwartz, leaves his New York City microphone to travel to Mary Ann's kitchen where they prepare a bountiful Neapolitan meal together starting with Zucchini "Pyramids", then a Cod Fish and Potato Casserole to warm your soul and a finally a dessert called Babá to soothe your sweet tooth.

Chef, cookbook author and radio talk show personality Arthur Schwartz, leaves his New York City microphone to travel to Mary Ann's kitchen where they prepare a bountiful Neapolitan meal together starting with Zucchini "Pyramids", then a Cod Fish and Potato Casserole to warm your soul and a finally a dessert called Babá to soothe your sweet tooth.

The crowned king of cheese is featured when food educator Nancy Radke joins Mary Ann nella cucina to create a table filled with delicious antipasti featuring Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma ham, starting with Prosciutto di Parma Wrapped Fruit with Parmigiano Reggiano, Parmesan Cheese and Almond Wafers, and Spicy Fava Bean Spread.

The crowned king of cheese is featured when food educator Nancy Radke joins Mary Ann nella cucina to create a table filled with delicious antipasti featuring Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma ham, starting with Prosciutto di Parma Wrapped Fruit with Parmigiano Reggiano, Parmesan Cheese and Almond Wafers, and Spicy Fava Bean Spread.

Mary Ann's in a meatball mood and creates Polpette Toscane (Tuscan Meatballs) that calls for meat, mushrooms, parsley and - surprise - deep-frying. Then good friend, Lulu San Angelone, stops by to create Polpettine Della Nonna (Grandmother's meatballs) which are baked, not fried. See old familiar friends in a brand new way when two these two great cooks get together.

Mary Ann's in a meatball mood and creates Polpette Toscane (Tuscan Meatballs) that calls for meat, mushrooms, parsley and - surprise - deep-frying. Then good friend, Lulu San Angelone, stops by to create Polpettine Della Nonna (Grandmother's meatballs) which are baked, not fried. See old familiar friends in a brand new way when two these two great cooks get together.

Mary Ann visits good friend and great cook, Maria Pia in the land of the leaning tower - Pisa, Italy. Once in her kitchen, red mullet are sent swimming into a spicy tomato sauce. Hooked on seafood, Mary Ann goes nella cucina to create Caccuccio alla Livornese a fish stew filled with so much swordfish, shrimp, scallops, monkish and squid, there's hardly room for the herb-filled, tomato sauce.

Mary Ann visits good friend and great cook, Maria Pia in the land of the leaning tower - Pisa, Italy. Once in her kitchen, red mullet are sent swimming into a spicy tomato sauce. Hooked on seafood, Mary Ann goes nella cucina to create Caccuccio alla Livornese a fish stew filled with so much swordfish, shrimp, scallops, monkish and squid, there's hardly room for the herb-filled, tomato sauce.

There are cakes and there are CAKES. Paul and Anna Ciramitaro of Caffe Sicilia in Gloucester, Massachusetts, prepare an eye-popping Cassata guaranteed to satisfy the sweetest of sweet teeth. But just in case it doesn't, Mary Ann creates a pistachio pudding-filled Amarena Cake just to be sure you'll shout "basta!" (enough!)

There are cakes and there are CAKES. Paul and Anna Ciramitaro of Caffe Sicilia in Gloucester, Massachusetts, prepare an eye-popping Cassata guaranteed to satisfy the sweetest of sweet teeth. But just in case it doesn't, Mary Ann creates a pistachio pudding-filled Amarena Cake just to be sure you'll shout "basta!" (enough!)

Mary Ann invites good friend, Dr. Kenneth Ciongoli nella cucina and together they prepare favorite foods they serve when having friends over for dinner. For Ken it's a hands down favorite; Bucatini all' Amatriciana. For Mary Ann, it's Quick Chicken Cacciatore. They agree on the perfect dessert, Mascarpone Cheesecake, to finish an impressive but simple meal.