Show Notes
In this heartwarming conversation, Kathie Lapcevic welcomes Marcella Cantatore of Marcellina in Cucina to share the story behind her family’s treasured saffron risotto recipe. Passed down from her grandmother in Milan to her father in tropical North Queensland, this dish carries decades of tradition, adaptation, and love.
Marcella shares how she learned to cook not from measuring cups, but by standing next to her dad—absorbing tips like “don’t let the onions go past ginger,” saving parmesan rinds for extra flavor, and adding a good knob of butter at the end. You’ll hear the history of adapting recipes when ingredients weren’t available, the secret to achieving risotto’s perfect wave-like texture, and creative ways to transform leftovers into a frittata.
Whether you’re here for authentic Italian cooking inspiration, slow food stories, or simply the reminder that food can connect us deeply to our roots, this episode will leave you feeling both inspired and hungry. Get full show notes, recipe links & more: https://handmedownrecipes.com/podcast-episode-11/
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More from The Hand-Me-Down Recipes Podcast
In today’s episode of Hand Me Down Recipes, I’m joined by John Browning, a kindred spirit I met at a local pie auction here in Montana. John shares the tender story of his family’s pie crust recipe — a tradition shaped by the hands of his mother and grandmother, perfected through summer berry picking, and lovingly upgraded with local ingredients and personal touches.
Amy Casey joins me to share the story of her family's treasured pound cake recipe — a cake that's always on the pedestal, always ready to welcome guests.
In this solo episode of Hand Me Down Recipes, I’m doing something a little different. Instead of sharing someone else’s family recipe, I’m sharing a rhythm I’ve been leaning into this winter—what I’m calling my season of soup.
I’m joined by Dana Shrager of Dana’s Table to revisit a beloved dish from her childhood: salmon mousse. Known in her family as “the salmon ball,” this recipe was a staple at her mother’s dinner parties and comes from a well-loved, spiral-bound community cookbook—complete with handwritten notes and timeworn stains. We talk about the memories tied to that dish, the joy of discovering old recipes just as they were left, and how Dana has brought new life to it—turning it into a modern-day brunch favorite and crowd-pleasing appetizer. This isn’t just about ingredients; it’s about connection, creativity, and preserving family stories one bite at a time. Whether you're here for vintage recipes, holiday inspiration, or just love hearing about the deep ties between food and memory, you’ll feel right at home. For full episode notes & links: https://handmedownrecipes.com/podcast-episode-20/