Wondering what to do with that hearty bread that's getting stale on the counter? One of the best options is to make this refreshing, summery, and brightly colorful panzanella salad! Homemade croutons will blow your mind.

Classic Panzanella is a rustic salad that was originally created by the farmers of the central Italian countryside who made it as a way to use up day-old bread and their abundance of fresh homegrown vegetables.

It comes together quickly and it's the perfect side dish to various grilled meats. It's also such a versatile salad with options to swap in other vegetables, use various cheeses, try it with a protein, or add beans.

This is a great base and guide to get you started from there you can adjust it to your heart's content!

It's delicious filling for sandwiches or doubles as a topping over potatoes, rice or pasta.

Homestyle Sausage with Peppers and Onions

Sausage and peppers is a simple Italian style dish that's packed with bright fresh ingredients an abundance of comforting, satisfying flavor. It's an enjoyable lunch or dinner entree that is easy to make and it's fun to serve a variety of ways.

It begins with rich sausages that are beautifully browned, then they simmer briefly nestled with the sautéed peppers and onions, while the sauce simmers down and lightly thickens for a nice base. To finish the sausages are sliced into bite size coins and it's all coated with a fair sprinkle of parmesan, because why not? It adds that last touch of perfectly enhancing flavor.

There's so much crave-able goodness in every bite. Truly you'll want to use bakery fresh hoagies only (no stale hoagies buns from the shelf) for something this delicious!

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A Vibrant Grilled Breast Chicken Recipe

Here you get lightly charred chicken breasts with gorgeous grill marks blanketed with melty mozzarella, vibrantly green basil pesto, and it's highlighted with glistening crowning finish of fresh tomatoes atop. This Italian style recipe is the ultimate upgrade to plain chicken!

Inspired by margherita pizza, chicken margherita is made including those same flavors while being more heavy with the fresh basil (thanks to the plentitude of homemade pesto).

This is a summery chicken dish with gourmet flavor that will undoubtedly impress, yet it doesn't require a whole lot of effort. And if you don't own a grill or if it's too chilly out you can also pan sear the chicken (see note below).

It's fair to say this is most definitely a chicken recipe you don't want to pass by, especially with grilling season upon us. What better way to welcome the warm weather than celebrating it with this flawless chicken margherita?

Flavorful Chicken Bruschetta

Who doesn't love the classic bruschetta with vibrant Roma tomatoes, rich olive oil, bold garlic, and plenty of fresh basil? Convert that quartet of ingredients into a smothered chicken dish and you'll have a dinner people won't forget!

It's a full flavored, well rounded, Italian style dish that has layer after layer of fresh goodness.

You won't see the bread included in this recipe elsewhere but I'd say it's a must (unless you are on a special diet and need to reduce carbs of course). It brings that authenticity and texture to this dish, you'll love the toasty golden brown flavor and crunch of the crust.

You can use store-bought or homemade balsamic glaze in this recipe. Did you know it only requires one ingredient to make it? Which you probably already have, just balsamic vinegar and that's it!

It's the ultimate finishing touch to this recipe.

Add this chicken bruschetta to the menu this week, you don't want to pass on this one!

Flavor Concentrated Balsamic Reduction

The great thing about making this Italian staple at home is that you can make it sweeter as preferred and you can opt to make it thinner or thicker (depending on how long it's reduced).

This balsamic reduction tastes fresher and it begins with an ingredient that is likely already in your pantry.

It's so good you'll want to eat it by the spoonful! It's one of my favorite sauces and it compliments an endless list of dishes. Below are some ideas to get you started.

Ways to Use Balsamic Glaze

• Upgrade a caprese salad with it or another simple green salad, pair it with a good extra virgin olive oil.
• Spoon over toast (caprese or strawberry ricotta which are both pictured here, or bruscetta).
• Drizzle over a finished  pizza.
• Serve over ice cream (my favorite is over ricotta ice cream, vanilla or strawberry is great too).
• Pair with fruit (strawberries, peaches, mangoes, cherries, blackberries, apricots or plums) and sweetened whipped cream.
• Serve over chicken, beef or salmon.
• Top over a pasta salad.
• Upgrade vegetables with it. Steamed, roasted, sauteed, grilled or even raw vegetables.

Easy Balsamic Dressing

This classic balsamic vinaigrette is a must in your recipe collection.

It takes just a few minutes to make, only needs a handful of ingredients, and it's one of the most flavorful dressing recipes. Plus it's a hundred times better than anything you'll buy in a bottle on the shelf.

For a slightly thicker, refreshingly cold dressing just prepare an hour or two ahead to allow some time for it to chill in the fridge.

Serve it over a classic crisp green salad with tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, or over a spinach salad with strawberries and feta. You can't go wrong with either one!

Dutch Oven Beef Stew

An incredibly delicious traditional beef stew that's likely even better than you remember your family making growing up!

It's made with tender bite size pieces of beef, creamy potatoes, nutritious carrots, and a rich and savory red wine infused broth.

This easy beef stew follows a straightforward prep and finishes with that classic old fashioned flavor.

Beef and onions are browned on the stovetop (tip: nicely browned beef is key to the complex depth of flavor here). Then the liquids and herbs are added and the stew and it's cooked in the oven. Partway through the remaining vegetables are added so they don't end up mushy, and then it's baked once more until everything is tender.

You'll appreciate this mostly hands off version that doesn't need constant tending to on the stovetop, and how the even encircling heat surrounding the pot from the oven ensures a more consistent end result.

Truly it's a recipe to enjoy year round but one that's especially fitting for cool crisp autumn days and blustery breezy winter days. It's a homestyle, soul warming dish that is certain to be a highlight of a long day!

Made with an Easy Balsamic Chicken Marinade

I think the best way to make balsamic chicken is to soak it in a flavorful marinade, then finish it on the grill for a light char and caramelization.

The chicken ends with a nice tang, a very faint and mellow sweetness, and distinctive tantalizing flavor. When balsamic vinegar is involved you know it's going to be good, right?

Here you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts. I've tried each and I think each one has their benefit.

Thighs of course are more tender and juicy, breasts seem to soak up a bit more of that marinade flavor. So use whichever you prefer.

Either way you'll have a win with this one!

Serve with a side of my favorite parmesan roasted potatoes, or steamed or roasted broccoli. Another option is as I've done here (shown below) paired with roasted asparagus, tomatoes and a finish of feta.

Talk about tempting!

Fresh Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze

The traditional Italian caprese salad (pronounced "cah-preh-zseh") is typically made with just tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and olive oil but I love the addition of a balsamic reduction. It adds so much flavor!

Once you try it this way you'll never look back.

It's unbelievably easy to make and only requires a handful of basic ingredients. And you can serve it as an appetizer or side dish.

Sometimes it's the simple, most humble ingredients and methods that create the most delicious dishes, and this caprese salad is proof of that.

Who could resist these layers of flavor paired with a pattern of impressive, eye catching colors?

I think we could eat this every week for the rest of our lives and never get tired of it!

Love this recipe? Also try my delicious cheesy Bruschetta Chicken too!

Classic Easy Bruschetta Recipe

There's nothing quite like a good fresh and flavorful bruschetta appetizer to get your meal started. It's one of the classic things to order at an Italian restaurant, and now you’ll love that you can make it at home, any time you want!

With good quality tomatoes everywhere this time of year, there is no excuse to say no to this easy fresh bruschetta made with fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, and spread on a warm slice of perfectly crisp toasted bread.

It's seriously a swoon-worthy recipe you need to try this season!