Hello My Happy People, I had the chance to chat with the incredible chef, Michele Di Pietro. Not only is she just a fantastic person in general, she is a cookbook author, food writer, menu and recipe developer, professional chef, culinary consultant, and a budding food photographer. Somehow she managed to find time in her busy career to talk with me about her cookbook, SOUPified: Soups Inspired by Your Favorite Dishes.
Michele began her professional career in a much different career field. After graduating college, Michele didn't head to the kitchen but instead started working in finance as a Certified Public Accountant with a top firm in NYC. However, her life was meant to take a different path. According to Michele, some of her favorite things are to feed people, create recipes, and cook for others. Through her Italian and Italian-American-inspired recipes and stories, Michele strives to provide innovation, inspiration and nostalgia from her kitchen to yours. So it only seemed natural that after leaving the financial world behind, Michele graduated from culinary school and created a new career path for herself in what would turn out to be a deeply satisfying move.
Michele spent years working for others in the food industry as a cook, recipe and menu developer and eventually becoming a culinary director for one of the world’s largest natural foods retailers. It wasn't long before Michele decided to take the next natural step and start her own business, It’s All About The Food, LLC. Michele consults on menu development, culinary strategies, and more for a variety of food businesses. As her professional success continued, Michele expanded with the creation of Mangia With Michele in 2017. This new venture was the culmination of her lifelong passion for Italian ingredients, foods, recipes, culture, and traditions. Through recipes, stories and her love of cooking, she works to inspire others to enjoy cooking with the flavors of the Italian and Italian-American cuisine. Michele is a firm believer that the best way to get to know others is through shared food, preferably around the kitchen table. Be sure to check out Michele in the November issue of Book Banter Magazine where she shares her recipe for Twice-Baked, Loaded Potato Soup With Bacon from her cookbook, SOUPified: Soups Inspired by Your Favorite Dishes. The perfect comfort soup to warm you up on a chilly fall evening!
On a personal note: My husband and I tried Michele's Lasagna Soup not long after this interview. It was beyond amazing and so easy to make. It was so good we had to try another. We made the Twice Baked, Loaded Potato Soup with Bacon the next night. Potato soup has always been my favorite and Michele's recipe is now my absolute favorite way to make it. This will more than likely be made in our home at least once a month from now on. I cannot recommend her and her recipes enough.
If you love to cook simple recipes that deliver incredible flavor, get her cookbook! Share this blog with your friends who like to cook and are looking for delicious, easy to follow recipes. Listen to her podcast and follow her on her social media for more fantastic recipes. She does so much more than just soup and she shares loads of recipes for free with her followers. You cannot go wrong Michele Di Pietro ... unless you don't follow her. Then you will be missing out! Don't do that to yourself, treat yourself instead. You deserve it!
Enjoy!
Dianne
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Manic Monday Vlog
Halloween's coming, time for more monstrously bad Dad jokes ...
Q: Where do werewolves buy all of their Halloween candy?
A. From a were-house store.
Q: Where do ghosts buy all of their Halloween candy?
A: From the ghost-ery store.
Q: What do ghosts like give out to trick or treaters?
A: Booooberry candy!
Q: Who did Dr. Frankenstein go trick or treating with?
A: His ghoul friend.
Q: Why don't people like to go trick or treating with twin witches?
A: It's too hard to tell which witch is which!
Q: Why do witches ride broomsticks on Halloween?
A: They like make clean getaways when they take your candy.
Q: What football (soccer) position did the ghost dress as for Halloween?
A: He was a Ghoul-keeper.
Q: Why don't vampires host Halloween barbecues?
A: Because they are afraid of stakes.
And last but not least ...
Q: Why don't demons trick or treat at gyms?
A. Because the always get exorcise there.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Book Banter Magazine's November Issue is Coming!
This Fall issue is all about cozy comforts. We have amazing authors, warm, cozy author swag, recipes, a puzzle, and more. Our featured author is Bruce Leonard, author of the Quilt City: Hadley Carroll Mysteries and the companion Quilt City Cookbook. Our featured cookbook author is Michele Di Pietro and her cookbook, SOUPified: Soups Inspired by Your Favorite Dishes. Check it all out November 1st on our Book Banter Magazine page. You can find it by clicking HERE. Bookmark it so you never miss and issue.
The Into the West Saga Serial is Complete!
Check out the award-winning, historical fiction, family saga, Into the West Saga Serial. All the books, one through seven, are available now on Amazon. Click here to order your copy of each of the seven novellas in this serial today or you can read them all for free with Kindle
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Support Our Book Banter Buddies (2023 Guest Interviews):
Michele Di Pietro, SOUPified Cookbook Author (EP 89: Oct. 25th)
Debbie Weiss, Memoir Author & Entrepreneur (EP 90: Nov. 1st)
Lynne Golodner, Author, Coach, Marketing Entrepreneur & Podcaster (EP 91: Nov. 8th)
Mary Carroll Moore, Women's Fiction Author (EP 92: Nov. 15th)
Mary Carroll Moore's Website
Leah Ann Brown, Middle Grade Fantasy Author (EP 93: Nov. 22nd)
Faith Kramer, Jewish Global Kitchen Cookbook Author (EP 94: Nov. 29th)
Brian Kaufman, Textbook and Fiction Author (EP 95: Dec. 6th)
Michelle Glogovac, THE Podcast Matchmaker™ & Publicist (EP 96: Dec. 13th)
Michelle Glogovac's Website
Season Two Ender - Gail Papp, PUBLIC/ PRIVATE: My Life with Joe Papp at The Public Theater (EP 97: Dec. 20th)
Gail Merrifield Papp Website
Season 2 Past Guest Interviews (2023):
LM Wilson, author of The Last of the Spirit Drakes (EP 51: Feb. 1)
LeRoy A Peters, author of The Edge of the World Series (EP 52: Feb. 8)
C. D'Angelo, Author of The Difference and The Visitor (EP 53: Feb. 15th)
Val Collins, author of the Aoife Walsh Books (EP 54: Feb. 22)
Val Collins Books website
Kirstie Page, Visual Storyteller/Artist (EP 55: March 1st)
Lance Steen Anthony Nielsen, Author of Diamonds in the Sky Series
(EPs 56/57: March 8th/15th)
David Gibson, PhD FRSB, Author of Planting Clues: How Plants Solve Crimes.
(EP 58: March 22nd)
Linaya DiNoto, Science Fiction Author of Lithaflora: The Chrysalis: The Forever After Series (EP 59: March 29)
Kelly Florence, Screenwriter/Podcaster and Co-Author of 5 books in The Science of Series
(EP 60: April 5)
Steph LaVigne, Cozy Mystery Author of Headlines, Deadlines, and Lies
(EPs 61/62: April 12/19)
Nzondi (Ace Antonio Hall), horror author/actor/musician (EP 66 & 67: May 17 & 24)
Benecia Ponder, author coach and bestselling author (EP 68: May 31)
Benecia Ponder website
Diann Floyd Boehm, Children's Book Author/Educator/Podcaster (EP 69: June 7th)
Angela R. Hughes, Historical Epic Fantasy Author (EP 70: June 14)
Angela R. Hughes Link Tree
Donna Edman, Photographer/Visual Storyteller/Author (EP 71: June 21)
Donna Edman website
Wendy Jo Cerna, Inspirational Author (EP 72: June 28)
Wendy Jo Cerna website
Sabrina Hammonds, Kingdom Connections Podcast and Media Agency (EP 73: July 5)
Ann Charles, Mixed Genre Mystery Author (EP 74: July 12)
Natacha Deen, YA, Adult, and Non-Fiction Author (EP 75: June 21)
Kammy Wood, The Modern Wordist, Creative Writing Consultant (EP 76: June 26)
Francesca Maria, Horror and Comic Book Author (EP 77: August 2nd)
Reenita M. Hora, Author, Creative, Entrepreneur (EP 78 & 79: August 9th & 16th)
Christopher (Chris) Denmead, Comic Book Author/Podcaster (EP 80: August 23rd)
Carole T. Beers, Contemporary Western Mystery Author (EP 81: August 6th)
J.C. Fuller, Mystery Author and TikTok Queen (EP 82: September 6th)
Meliza Farndell, Author, Coach, Speaker (EP 83: September 13th)
Meliza Farndell's Website
Dianne Burckhardt, Historical Fiction, Crime Thrillers, & more (EP 84: Sept. 20th)
Mikel Melwasul, Epic Military Fantasy Author (EP 85: Sept. 27th)
Liz Shipton, Part-Time Author, Full-Time Pirate (EP 86: Oct. 4th)
Sagit Schwartz, Suspense Thriller Author (EP 87: Oct. 11th)
Otto Schafer, Award-Winning YA and Adult Fiction Author (EP 88: Oct. 18th)