Nothing brings back memories of my childhood like gnocchi and designer kitchen accessories, and recently I have created a four-cheese gnocchi (I love my cheese!) that my mama claims as her own. Of course, you never want to call an old Italian lady a liar, so I let her take credit (but you and I know it’s mine!).

One of my favourite memories as a kid was waking up early on a Sunday morning to the cackling sounds of my aunts and mother cooking pasta sauce. The sounds were terrible, but the smells were outstanding! Although they all would punish my cheeks with pinches and slaps, I always tried my best to sneakily steal a few spoonfuls of sauce and snake my way over to the cheese bowls for a handful of Fontina or Provolone, which were always returned with a slap in the back of the head and several Italian expletives that I didn’t understand until much later.

When I was in high school and then later in University, I had my mother teach me how to actually make gnocchi, since buying the store brand is simply unacceptable. After several failed attempts, I eventually gave up and decided that the store versions can be good if you buy them at Italian bakeries, which I now due exclusively. My mother helped me choose which brands are the best and which brands to stay away from.

These are the memories that inspired me to invent my favourite pasta: gnocchi. If you haven’t had gnocchi, you are missing out. Spaghetti and Penne are nothing compared to the beauty of gnocchi. Here is my favourite recipe that I created–sorry, that my mama created:

1/4 cup Ricotta

1/4 cup Gorgonzola

1/4 cup Fontina

1/4 cup Parmesan (do not grate)

2 Tbsp. Cream

2 Tbsp. Butter

1 clove of garlic

Pinch of oregano

Pinch of Basil

Prepare the gnocchi according to the label’s instructions. Once cooked (before boiling), mix the four cheeses in a sauce pan and add the spices. Once they melt, spread over the gnocchi, and you’re in heaven.