Welcome to my Cucina (kitchen) where I create recipes for you!
“I grew up sharing big family and friend meals at tables all around the world. My dream is to share delicious achievable wholesome Italian (mostly) recipes that you will share around the table with all your loved ones. The memories surrounded by food are the heart and soul of Cucina By Elena.” – Elena. Meet my dear family- my taste testers and helpers in our cucina!
Contact
Please feel free to contact me about anything whether you need help with a recipe, want to take a cooking class, or have a business inquiry. Email: cucinabyelena@gmail.com
Table of Contents
My Story
Where it all started…
I was born in Sardegna, Italy- home of my mother’s family. My parents met in Paris, France and that is where I spent the first six years of my life. My biological father, from Reunion, Island, France, and my mother separated when I was four years old.
About a year later my mamma met my Danish dad. My parents, both genetic research scientists, then moved from Paris to Salt Lake City, Utah where they fell in love with the mountains and stayed ever since!
I moved to the United States without knowing any English, or anything about the culture. It was a complete shock, but I adapted quickly. I attribute parts of my resilient personality to learning to adapt to different situations as a child.
My parents had demanding careers, yet they always managed to make delicious home-cooked meals on weeknights. This was an integral part of my childhood.
As I grew older and moved out of their home I carried this part of me wherever I went. I cooked and baked and made many memories and new friends by bringing people together with our family recipes.
My roots in Sardegna, Italia
Always keeping a deep-rooted connection to my Italian family I spent every summer of my childhood and young adult life on the beaches of Sardegna with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives.
These are “my people,” the tribe who helped raise and shape me into the woman I am today. Read more about these experiences here: Sunday Story: Sardegna a Place to Call “Home”.
From teaching to blogging
Prior to working full-time on my food blog- I taught in public education for 13 years and acquired a master’s degree in reading education. I left my teaching career to serve people by sharing my knowledge of cooking and baking.
I started my food blog in the summer of 2020 when we could not visit Italy or see our family. I poured my heart and longing for my Italian home into creating achievable Italian recipes that every person could recreate!
I enjoy teaching in-person cooking classes, hiking, and traveling- including yearly trips to Sardegna to visit family. I currently live in Bountiful, Utah with my three beautiful children and loving husband.
Photo of my mama and I teaching a cooking class. I am still a teacher at heart!
P.S be sure to Follow me on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes of our life, cooking tips, and recipe videos!
Italian Food Culture and Stories
In Itay, food and culture are the thread of life.
Food is tradition, family, laughter, joy, memories, and most of all a love language that binds generations.
As I fondly remember- a place where groups of grandmothers gathered plotting their next meals, and comparing recipes and methods.
This is where I developed my passion for cooking, baking, and most of all, sharing food around tables of new acquaintances, old friends, and family.
Photo of our family table in our Sardinian beach home.
Learning from my Nonna Laura
I stood over the shoulders of family members cooking in the kitchen… and watched, smelled, tasted, felt, and listened- but, rarely, if ever, did I see a recipe. When asking about a recipe my nonna often said, “non lo so? un po di questo e un pizzico di quelo. Ti devo fare vedere.” -I don’t know.
A little bit of that and a pinch of this. I’ll just show you. Then she demonstrated with her hands. It’s all in the feeling of the ingredients. That phrase always stuck with me.
I share more stories about my Italian food culture and life in ELENA’S STORIES SECTION of the blog. These stories provide meaning “beyond the recipe”. Check out this one: Sunday Story: What’s in the Recipe?
About Cucina By Elena Recipes
Cucina by Elena is a recipe website dedicated to providing achievable and delicious Italian (and more) recipes for busy foodies. Italian cooking is naturally rustic and made with simple quality ingredients.
Most recipes are quick, easy, and incredibly delicious, so you can still cook from scratch, in little time without compromising the flavor or integrity of classic Italian cooking!
On busy nights I love to make Authentic Italian Pasta Carbonara (no cream); this quick meal is full of flavor and loved by all! On weekends I whip up a batch of Classic Italian Ragu Recipe (Meat Sauce) and freeze it in portions for the following weeks.
I love making a Simple Italian Apple Cake (one bowl) midweek and enjoying it for breakfast or as an after-school snack.
You will also find a few more American-style recipes from my husband’s side of the family such as Frozen Lemon Dessert (Creamy Lemony Treat) and Swedish Pancakes.
Many recipes are made while helping a child with homework and holding a toddler in my arms. This is life for me. Everything I make is “made with amore”! Join me as we cook, bake, and create together.
Cucina by Elena recipes are created to bring people together for easy weeknight meals, fun weekend gatherings, and homemade pizza or pasta-making parties.
I love to connect with all of you! If you ever have a recipe question: leave a comment on the post or send me an email. You can also find me on Instagram and message me there: @cucinabyelena.
