Karen is a Virtual Moderator and Class Assistant at The Chopping Block. Her mother was first-generation Italian and her grandparents lived nearby, so eating meals together was always a focus and holidays meant lots of people, courses, and “old country” traditions. This love of good food grew into a passion for cooking, and no matter where in the world she has traveled or lived, Karen has always found that food is what brings people together. She finds the best way to unwind and relax is to spend time cooking or baking, whether it’s trying something new or preparing a “tried and true” meal – her husband says she literally sings in the kitchen! At The Chopping Block, Karen enjoys sharing that joy with guests, hoping to spark that same love of cooking in their lives.
Recent Posts
Competition Mac and Cheese
I don’t think there is anyone I know who doesn’t love mac & cheese. My husband & I are certainly no exception, and I think my sister would tell you that I popped out of the womb asking for ...
Growing up, St. Patrick’s Day in our house meant a corned beef and cabbage dinner with plenty of potatoes and carrots tossed in. I remember my father being the one to take over the kitchen on this ...
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with Whole Steamed Fish
As you know from my last post, Chinese (Lunar) New Year is a big deal at our house: it’s the one holiday we brought back with us from China to celebrate with family and friends, ringing it in with ...
Having lived in Beijing a number of years ago, an annual tradition we took home with us was a big, loud celebration dinner for Chinese New Year. With that coming up just over a month away, my mind is ...
Sometimes you just never know what you’re going to find in those less-frequently accessed corners of your kitchen drawers. In our case, it was the discovery of knives made by a family whose ...
Thanksgiving is coming, and I so love cooking for this holiday. I also love hearing about other people’s traditions, what they serve, what they enjoy cooking. In the midst of all this, though, one ...
One thing I believe is that so many of us could not do the work we enjoy doing so much without the support of our loved ones. I know for certain that is true for me. Without my husband’s support of ...
I love autumn. While spring is all green and fresh and lovely, the colors of autumn are incredible. I love all that it brings: the beautiful changing colors on the trees, pumpkins, the slight nip in ...
Mama Mia! Learn How to Make Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms
My Italian immigrant grandfather had the most amazing vegetable garden – there was even a fig tree and concord grape vine! My sister and I were just talking about how there are so many “taste ...
When we were in Italy last fall, I fell in love with these wonderful little rolled zucchini bites that Rosella, our Agriturismo host, whipped up. I remember asking her what kind of cheese was in the ...
