There is something to be said about growing up in a traditional Italian home, knowing that cooking is one of the many love languages. Maria Verzino grew up just like that—with an Italian mom who loved to cook. There was always something on the stove simmering and Verzino was fascinated by it. She loved reading cookbooks and creating her own dishes. Verzino became a full-time banker, but also opened a little Italian food stand at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers’ Market. It was there that she met Tim Mease, who was running a butcher stand that had been in the family for generations. The pair fell in love, married and decided to combine their two businesses in 2007 to open Saylors and Co on Main Street in Hellertown. Their cooking from the heart, the fresh gourmet food and the fact that everyone who comes in becomes part of the family has made Saylors a neighborhood staple.
Here, Verzino shares her recipe for sausage (with broccoli rabe and provolone!) and blistered cherry tomatoes over creamy orzo. It is a go-to favorite in her home and can be altered to fit whatever seasonal ingredients are available at the time.
On Sundays, Verzino says she always has something braising in the oven. She loves to cook for her family and, even though their work lives revolve around food, it still remains her hobby. “What else would I do with my free time?” she says with a wink and a shrug.
1105 Main St., Hellertown | 610.838.6363
325 Northampton St., Easton 484.544.4810 | saylorsandco.com
Ingredients
- 3 of Saylors’ broccoli rabe and provolone sausages
- 2 pints of cherry tomatoes
- 3 cloves of garlic, sliced thin
- 1 tsp. oregano
- ¼ cup white wine
- 1 bag of orzo
- 1 container of Saylors’ Alfredo sauce
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350. Sauté sausages in olive oil. Top with cherry tomatoes, garlic, oregano and white wine. Bake for one hour.
In the meantime, boil the orzo pasta until done and drain (reserve ½ cup of pasta water). Add half of the container of Alfredo sauce to your pasta and add pasta water as needed.
Plate the pasta and top with sausage and the cherry tomato sauce. Enjoy!
Tag @lvstylemag and #livelvstyle when you make it at home!
