Italian-American recipes, & more.
Welcome to A Simple Palate!
Here, you’ll find a variety of my favorite Italian and Italian-American recipes, with a little bit of everything else in between.
Every recipe on A Simple Palate is seasonal, flavorful, and best shared with the most important people in your life. We keep things simple around here. That means accessible ingredients, easy-to-follow instructions, and recipes tested to perfection.
I firmly believe that you can succeed in the kitchen no matter your cooking experience, and I’m here to help you do just that.
About Bethany
Nice to meet you. I’m Bethany Kramer, the recipe creator, food stylist, and photographer behind A Simple Palate. I started this blog in 2014 with a vision to share my love of good food with others. Fast-forward 10 years, 200+ recipes, and a cooking show on YouTube that my husband Drew and I created together— I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had on this journey.
How it started
My love for food and cooking stems from my family roots in North Jersey and Long Island, NY. Good food was a pivotal part of my life growing up, as my mom and many of my aunts were incredible cooks and big foodies! Rather than tuning into cartoons, I would watch cooking shows with the women in my family instead. I vividly remember starting to cook alongside my mom when I was eight, reading her handwritten recipes on envelopes and playing Frank Sinatra in the background. Italian cuisine was the first I learned to cook, and you’ll see that reflected here on my blog, with plenty of Italian recipes and then some. As I began to cook more and more, I realized at a young age that food was the central piece in bringing the people I loved most together in one room. Some of my most cherished memories with my family have been around a table with heartwarming recipes at the center. My hope is for these recipes to inspire similar moments for you and your family and friends!
My recipes have been featured in Buzzfeed, Shape, Country Living, Oprah Magazine, CNBC, Reader’s Digest, MSN, and other sites and publications.
Fun Facts
Drew is my husband and best friend. When he's not working as a full time Web Designer, he is A Simple Palate's official taste tester, web developer/designer, film crew for our youtube channel, and tech support. He wears many hats and I couldn't do any of this without him!
Drew and I have an English Springer Spaniel, Hudson (also known as "Huddy") whom we completely adore. If he’s not chasing birds outside, you can find his little snoot sniffing behind each recipe or YouTube video hoping a delicious ingredient falls to the floor (preferably cheese).
I've been cooking for as long as I can remember. From being my mom's helper in the kitchen, to cooking full meals for my family by the time I was 12.
I am a former competitive figure skater so cold ice rinks were where I spent most of my childhood. My dad played ice hockey when he was younger, so he was the one who first taught me how to skate. I skated competitively for most of my childhood then continued skating lessons in my 20's. You can still find me lacing up my skates and hitting the ice a few times a week to skate for fun or coach at my local ice rink. :)
My Most Popular Italian Recipes
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are you Italian?
No 🙂 A lot of people may assume I am, but I’m not. My mom was taught by Italian relatives how to cook, and she taught me those recipes while I was growing up. We also love Italian-American food because it’s a common cuisine in the NY/NJ area, where we are initially from. I never knew any different. Italian-American dishes were what I grew up knowing and loving.
Where can I find you on social media?
Do you take your own photos? What camera do you use?
Yes, that’s me behind the camera. I love photography and food styling, and I have learned so much over the years. You can find all of the info about my current camera setup on our Resources for Food Bloggers and Shop page.
Can I share your recipes on my own website or social media?
All of A Simple Palate content is exclusively mine – all pictures, recipes, texts, unless stated otherwise. You are welcome to share my photography with a link credited to the original post. Kindly, please do not copy or paste my recipes to your blog/site or any other platform. I reserve the right to ask you to remove anything of mine from your site/platform. If you have any questions on sharing my recipes, please ask. Thanks for spreading the word!
Who designed your website?
My husband, Drew – web developer/designer, and official taste tester for A Simple Palate! To find more details, head to our Resources for Food Bloggers page.
Hey Bethany😊
I have been following your channel for a few months and all your recipes are perfect. I love the way how you explain and make things look easier. I have tried a lot of your recipes and they have turned out pretty good. You’ve an amazing personality. Thank you for your cooking inspirations!
And, your kitchen looks amazing😊
I visited my daughter Arial in Denver Colorado. I taught her how to make your Lasagna Bolognese with Ricotta while on vacation. We had so much fun making this easy to follow receipe. The Lasagna Bolognese with Ricotta turned out so deliicious! My son in law, Angel, loved it! Thank you for sharing Bethany❤️
I love that you taught her out to make it, Sally! That’s so wonderful. Means a lot that you all enjoyed it too! Thank you so much for sharing🥰
Hi there!!
Your recipes are so inspiring and I love your beautiful kitchen 🥰 we have a very similar layout and taste for style haha. Would you mind telling me your backsplash? I know it’s a random question haha we built two years ago and everytime I cook and an ingredient splashes back I cringe lol. We been waiting to install one we loved and I fell in love with yours. Just completes the kitchen ❤️
Hi Chantel! That’s so sweet. Of course! It’s pure white zellige tile by Zia Tile 🙂 Looking back I would’ve maybe considered their color Casablanca but love the tile! You will have to let me know if you use it!
Hi bethaney!
It’s Billie from Illinois.
I made the Tuscan chicken today. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna like the flavor profile, with the rosemary. But it was really good. I planted an herb garden this year, and I got to use my rosemary. I was so excited. I also planted basil, parsley and cilantro. You are so right. Fresh herbs are sooooo much better! I’m definitely going to make this chicken again. Your rosemary bread would be a great little side with the Tuscan chicken. I love the show and can’t wait to see the new episodes. Thank you bethaney!
Billie, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! And so glad the fresh herbs made a difference, I always think they do 🙂 I really appreciate the support for the channel it means so much!
Great Chili!! I love how simple and short your videos are. Short and sweet and to the point. Keep then coming!!
Thanks!
That means so much, Rusty! So glad you’re enjoying the videos 🙂
Bethany:
Really enjoy your practical to-the-point video recopies. Sending a quick note requesting a video on how to cook Polenta.
Thanks,
John
I really appreciate it, John! 🙂 so glad you’re enjoying the videos. I will make note of the polenta!
Hello Bethany, I just discovered your website today. It is exactly what I was looking for and more! Your pictures, recipes and presentations are excellent. You can tell by the pictures that your dishes are going to be delicious. Can’t wait to try them I’ll let you know when I do.
Robert
Robert, that means so much! I truly appreciate the kind words. I hope the taste of the dishes lives up to how they look in the photos when you do try them☺️
Hi Bethany, I made your artichoke dip yesterday for a party. It was a big hit. I’ve tried some of your other recipes and they are amazing. Thanks for sharing them . I look forward to trying the rest of them.
So happy to hear the dip was a hit, Tony!! That really means a lot. I appreciate you trying that out! If you try any other dishes, I hope you enjoy them just as much😊
Bethany,
I really enjoy your youtube channel! Your san marzano tomato sauce is the best. After I made it the first time I threw out or gave away all the store bought pasta sauces I had on the shelf.
Thanks for sharing your recipes.
Alex
Alex, I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying the channel! 🙂 And so happy to hear you enjoyed the sauce. I’m very honored it was good enough to replace the store-bought sauce! Thank you so much for sharing!
I LOL when you mentioned putting on Sinatra and pouring a glass of wine before starting cooking. It is how I’ve always done it for years.
I, too, am a LI refugee. I split time between AZ, CA and Sweden (wife’s family). I am often disappointed in what’s offered as “Italian” food in these places and tend to make my own out of self-defense.
My HS GF, was 100% Italian. She taught me to add ground Fennel to my red sauce. It has a wonderful aromatic effect. Give it a try?
R/S,
“Doc”
So great to hear! I love the addition of fennel to the red sauce. My mom always mentions it but we never actually did it unless sausage is in the sauce, then you have that fennel flavor. But I love it and will try it for my red sauce next time I make it:) Thanks so much!