Italian-American recipes, & more.
Welcome to A Simple Palate!
Here you’ll find some of my favorite Italian and Italian-American recipes, plus a little bit of everything else I love to cook. My hope is that these meals bring your family together the way they’ve always done for mine.
About Bethany
Hey, I’m Bethany 😊 I’m so glad you’re here.
A little bit about me personally…I am the youngest of four kids, born in Bergen County, New Jersey, before my family later moved to Pennsylvania. While most of my years were spent putting down new roots in PA, I was always drawn back to our original roots in Jersey and New York, especially through the food we cooked.
Food played a huge role in my life growing up. My mom and many of my aunts were incredible cooks, and they always brought our family together through the food they made. At a young age I often found myself sitting with the women in my family, watching cooking shows such as Ina Garten, Martha Stewart, and Giada (to name a few).
I started helping my mom in the kitchen around eight years old, reading her recipes written on envelopes or pieces of old mail, while Frank Sinatra played in the background. Even though I was the baby of the family, I was my mom’s helper, whether that meant helping her in the kitchen or preparing meals for my family when she couldn’t. That’s really where it all began for me.
Italian food was the first cuisine I learned to cook, and you’ll see plenty of that influence here on my blog, along with other favorites I’ve picked up along the way.
I realized early on that food isn’t just about eating-it’s about bringing people together. Some of my favorite memories are from being gathered around the table with my family, sharing these very recipes that were at the center of our time together.
My hope is that these recipes help spark those same kinds of moments with your own family and friends.
From my family, to yours. xo
About the Youtube Channel
After 10 years of blogging and sharing recipes, I finally stepped out from behind the camera and started our YouTube channel in April of 2024. What started as a leap of faith has turned into one of the greatest joys for Drew and me. We’ve been able to connect with so many wonderful people from all over the world through it.
Even though Drew works full-time, he still gives up his days off to help me film. It’s just the two of us, so we wear a lot of hats to make this all come together, but we truly love doing it.
From the beginning, it was important to me that our cooking videos felt approachable. Like something you could actually cook along with. Growing up, I loved watching the classic cooking shows with my mom and aunts, and the heart of that has been a big inspiration for how I wanted our videos to feel. In a fast-paced world, my hope is that these recipes give you a chance to slow down, enjoy the process, and share a meal with the people you love.
We’re always learning and trying to get better, but above all, I genuinely love making these videos. I look forward to each one, and I’m so thankful for your support along the way. 🙂
Fun Facts
I run A Simple Palate with my husband Drew. 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
Get my top 10 tried and true Italian recipes right to your inbox! From my family to yours.
My Italian Cooking Playlists
I grew up listening to oldies while cooking with my family, and that music still fills my kitchen today. Here are some favorites!
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?
Who does your photography and videos for YouTube?
I handle all the photography and food styling for A Simple Palate, while Drew handles the filming for our YouTube videos. 🙂 Although the editing of our videos is my job!
Can I share your recipes on my own website or social media?
I am always happy when anyone wants to spread the word! However, I kindly request that you refrain from sharing my recipes on websites or other platforms. You are welcome to share my photography with a link credited to the original post! Please do not copy or paste my recipes to your blog, site, or any other platform.
Who designed your website?
My husband, Drew! To find more details, head to our Resources for Food Bloggers page.
Hello!
We’ve been making chicken parm every week for Sunday dinner but we tried your recipe tonight and it blew us away. The flavors of the Italian seasoning and garlic powder made a huge difference and laying down the mozzarella before the sauce was a game changer. Keep up the great work!
Steve, that means so much!! I’m so glad you enjoyed that recipe even more 🙂 it really means a lot. I’m also glad to hear you enjoyed the mozz under the sauce as I think it’s a nice little touch to preserve the crust. Appreciate you sharing!!
Hi Bethany,
I enjoy your videos. You’re a good cook. I’m educated as a chef myself, and love watching people making food.
All the best to you and your family.
Best regards from Norway.
I appreciate it so much, Helge! Thank you so much for the support 🙂
Bethany,
I love cooking Italian foods and I have made many of your recipes. I recently came across your Eggplant Parm recipe and made it for dinner last night. My wife and daughter absolutely loved the dish. The house smelled wonderful and the flavors were fantastic. Thank you and your husband for all your effort as I can imagine that running a YouTube channel isn’t easy… I owned two restaurants and recently sold our Italian Pizzeria that my wife and I operated for twenty years. I have made several versions of many different foods, eggplant parm, chicken parm, baked ziti, meatballs (you get the point), your recipes are simple, tasty and easy to prepare for home dinners. Keep up the great work and count on me to try the recipes and comment on your channel. JP
JP, thank you so much for the kind words. I am so glad you’ve enjoyed the recipes! Especially as a restaurant owner, it means a lot. I’ll take any pizza tips as that is something I’ve been working on for awhile lol! And it definitely takes effort to make these recipe videos, but we love doing it! And comments like these help keep us going 🙂 Appreciate you sharing all of this and for your support!
Hi Bethany,
My wife and I enjoy watching you cook your recipes on YouTube.
I would like to use my Dutch oven more but we have a glass cooktop. Some of my Dutch ovens are heavy and large and they also have legs. Can you please tell me what is the burner that you use when cooking your recipes and if you recommend it for Dutch ovens?
Best wishes,
José
I’m so glad to hear you enjoy the channel, Jose! Right now I am use a butain burner. I would actually use a induction burner in my videos but they tend to have a fan and we don’t use them for noise sake. That being said I think induction would be a great option!
Bethany Kramer: We have the same taste in good food.
AND
You’re a knockout 🔥.
Lots of love and respect
ZW
Thank you so much, Zach!! That’s very kind.
I have over the years followed more than 1000 food website worldwide and I found yours on Fri 6 Mar 2026 – and I can tell you that you have one of the best worldwide. The style of Bethany’s presentation is so close to perfect and gives me such a happy feeling of being right there in your kitchen working on the same recipe. And that feeling brings back a smile on my face and feel good about making food. I had to go directly to my own kitchen and making your Beef and Broccoli recipe and I served for my next door neighbour and we had a wonderful evening.
Your text is spot on and your tech regarding the website works perfectly. Not all website can live up to that.
I am 86 years and live in Denmark. Worked for years in US and love Italian-American food and have a number of friends in NY/NJ area. Nothing wrong with the original Italian food ,but Italian-American food is a completely different story. Love it.
I will be back when I have tried some of your other recipes. – most likely all of them.
Comments like this genuienly mean so much to us. Thank you so much, Jorgen! Truly. I am so touched! and I love that you shared the beef and broccoli with your neighbor – that’s so kind. Thank you so much again! I hope you enjoy the other recipes you try of mine☺️
Hi there! My husband and I just watched your Beef & Broccoli video! YUMMO! We are so gonna make it! You are so fun to watch — and easy to listen to! It’s like we are old friends cooking together!
Question— from where did you get the bowl in which you served the Beef & Broccoli?
Thank you!!
Angelia thats so sweet! This means so much. Thank you!!! Comments like this warm my heart. And the bowl – I had to dig into my etsy history to find who I got that bowl from – it was from this etsy shop 🙂 I believe it was the Ramen bowl! https://www.etsy.com/shop/BirdmansHome?ref=yr_purchases&page=1#items
Dear Bethany,
I am so thrilled to have come across your site!! I was just looking for recipes for meatless meals for Lent and yours popped up.. I have not been able to turn it off. The photo graphics of your cooking just grabbed my attention and started creating instant family memories. I just had to tell you!! My Parents were born in Italy, and I am the first born in the USA and the oldest of 7. I was born in 1942. in WVa…. WWII came between me and # 2 child after that they are 13mo to 2 yrs apart. I am 12 yrs older than # 7. I was the built in Babysitter, ,Sinkarella, kitchen helper amd everything else. My early childhood sounded like yours.. Sitting around listening to the women talk. while the kids played. I love to cook!! and am anxious to try some of your beautiful recipes!!
Thank You for what you do!! Your Photos are FANTASTIC!! …….and just reading your recipes makes my mouth water!
I am so glad I found you!!
GOD BLESS YOU<
JOSEPHINE
Josephine you are so sweet! Thank you so much for sharing all of this with me. That is so wonderful to hear and I love “sinkarella” haha!! I can totally relate to that. Thank you for sharing a little snippet of your childhood with me. I’m so glad you are enjoying the photos and reading the recipes❤️
Just watched your ragu bianco video on YouTube. Here’s a link to spice bags on Amazon
Spice Bags for Cooking, 30PCS… https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSKCXST9?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Really enjoy your site and your efforts.
Patrick, thank you so much!! I didn’t know these existed. Much easier to use than the teabags I have! I’ll order these. Thank you 🙂
Bethany
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thank You Michael