Once upon a time, I was a typical Italian-Irish chick who thought I would have the American dream: kids, career, happy marriage, house in the burbs… and then I turned 48 and realized my life was a bit different from my original “dream.” Now I’m not saying I’m dissatisfied with where I am in life, it’s just funny how things don’t always work out the way you think it’s going to, and that’s okay.
Hi all, I’m Chris, mom of 2 girls who lives in the suburbs of Chicago. I had a relatively normal and happy childhood; it’s just when I reached adulthood that things got a bit more interesting.
The goal of this site is to share my recipes, life experiences and a funny anecdote or two.
I am a self-taught cook/chef, with deep roots in Italian cooking. When I was growing up, you had the choice to either watch football or help in the kitchen during the holidays. Hence my love of the Chicago Bears (although I REALLY don’t want to talk about this year’s team), Notre Dame and REAL marinara sauce. I think i always knew, even at a young age, that I loved to cook and wanted to learn as much as possible. That love of cooking has nurtured my desire to learn about all types of cuisines, and the ability to recreate recipes I’ve had through the year.
I hope to offer you some traditional Italian recipes as well as some new takes on old favorites and maybe some things you never thought you’d like. I also hope to share some healthier options of all-time favorites so perhaps they will become part of your recipe repertoire.
Rocco's Kitchen 