From Cavatelli to Carbonara: Welcome to Pasta Girl Summer
During one endless summer, I first decided to learn the art of homemade pasta.
With long, golden days stretching ahead of me, summer always gives me the space to slow down and dive deep into the things I’ve put off during the year's chaos. It’s the season where I let myself create in all aspects. I write, wander, get my hands messy in the kitchen, and let inspiration take over.
This one summer, pasta became my obsession. I wasn’t in a hilltop village or a seaside trattoria (though I dreamed of both), but in own my little kitchen, where I began learning to make fresh pasta dough from scratch. Inspired by the Nonnas of southern Italy — the women who make pasta-making look effortless and poetic — I rolled, shaped, and kneaded my way through countless batches.
And let me tell you, not all my batches were successes!
I still remember one of the first doughs I ever made. It looked dry, cracked when I tried to roll it, and I threw the whole thing out in a moment of dramatic frustration (a true Pasta Girl in crisis). What I didn’t know at the time? I could’ve saved it with just a splash of more water or olive oil… and, of course, more patience. That experience, like many others along the way, became a lesson. Now, I’m turning all those lessons into something for you.
I’m so excited to introduce the Story Behind the Pasta Guides, your new favorite kitchen companion, this summer of 2025.
These guides are designed to make pasta-making approachable, joyful, and—yes—a little bit magical. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or someone who's just started flirting with flour, these guides will walk you through everything you need to know to make pasta like a true Italian Nonna.
Here’s what you’ll find inside:
Step-by-step pasta dough recipes — classic, gluten-free, eggless, and more
Stuffed pasta tutorials, from dreamy ravioli to delicate tortellini
Sauce pairings to match your mood, your pasta shape, or whatever’s in your fridge. This is where we spice things up!
Troubleshooting tips — so you don’t make the same mistakes I did (no dough left behind!)
Stories Behind the Process — I love combining my two loves, writing & pasta.
And little pasta secrets that will make your kitchen feel like a trattoria tucked away on a cobblestone street in Bari
Whether cooking for one (which is still sexy!) or hosting your entire friend group for a slow Sunday dinner, the Story Behind the Pasta Guides are here to help you feel confident, connected, and creatively full.
Because this summer, it’s not about chasing trends — it’s about twirling into something timeless.
After all, the Tomato Girl trend walked so Pasta Girl Summer could twirl. 🍝
Here’s your Pasta Girl-approved playlist to get you in the mood for those perfect sunny Sunday afternoons — windows open, red wine breathing on the counter, and flour in the air.
✨ Listen to the Pasta Girl Summer Playlist on Spotify ✨
From Dean Martin to Domenico Modugno, every track is curated for twirling pasta, dancing barefoot in your kitchen, and romanticizing your life — one orecchietta at a time.
🎶 Pasta Girl Playlist – For Your Sauce-Stirring, Dough-Kneading Days
That’s Amore – Dean Martin
Volare – Domenico Modugno
Mambo Italiano – Rosemary Clooney
Sway – Dean Martin
Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu – Il Volo
L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole
Nessuno – Mina
The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
Bella Ciao – Traditional (Ciao Bella version, playful!)
On an Evening in Roma – Dean Martin
Come Fly With Me – Frank Sinatra
Tu Vuo’ Fa’ L’Americano – Renato Carosone
Tintarella di Luna – Mina
Cheek to Cheek – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Guarda Che Luna – Fred Buscaglione
🍝 Sneak Peek Recipe Straight from my Guide: Semolina Pasta Dough
One of the simplest, most traditional pasta doughs — no eggs needed. Perfect for hand-rolled shapes like orecchiette, trofie, or cavatelli.
More recipes (and plenty of saucy extras) are coming soon in the complete guides.
So get your flour ready, cue up that playlist, and remember — every Pasta Girl starts somewhere.
This summer, we twirl. 💋
Love & Pasta,
JS