My Grandmother's Ravioli: Best Recipes

Tie on an apron and try out the best homestyle recipes from Mo Rocca's adventures visiting grandparents' kitchens across the country.

Photo By: Alice Gao ©Alice Gao Photography

Vincent Esposito's Fresh Pappardelle

Having grown up in his father's Bronx, N.Y., deli, Vincent knows plenty about Italian cooking. The key to this classic dish is fresh, thinly cut noodles, because "the better you make the pasta, the better the gravies and sauces stick to it," he said.

Get the Recipe: Vincent Esposito's Fresh Pappardelle with Tomato Sauce and Italian Sausage

Vincent's Paella

Vincent Pesiri's paella takes only an hour to put together, but this Spanish seafood, chicken and rice feast tastes like it cooked all day.

Get the Recipe: Vincent's Paella

Bananas Foster with Spiced Rum

It's not a party until bananas are set ablaze. Caramel-soaked, flambeed fruit gets even more decadent with pound cake and vanilla ice cream.

Get the Recipe: Bananas Foster with Spiced Rum

Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and White Gravy

When you want a good Southern meal, crisp-skinned fried chicken and mashed potatoes made with a stick of butter will do the trick.

Get the Recipe: Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and White Gravy

Jambalaya

The base of Alder Bush's flavorful jambalaya comes from homemade chicken stock, and it takes less than half an hour for the rest of the ingredients to cook up into a hearty meal.

Get the Recipe: Jambalaya

Lemon Meringue Pie

You can't beat a classic, and Pat Isley's pie is super-simple. Just beat meringue into a frenzy, pile it high onto a homemade crust and tart lemon custard and give it a quick bake.

Get the Recipe: Lemon Meringue Pie

Cornbread Salad with Sour Cream Dressing

Carb lovers, rejoice — this "salad" is made mostly of crumbled cornbread, ranch dressing, cheese and bacon. There are some vegetables in there, too, just to balance it out.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread Salad with Sour Cream Dressing

Apple Pie

A combination of tart Granny Smith and sweet Golden Delicious apples makes this pie even more addictive than your grandmother's.

Get the Recipe: Apple Pie

Spit-Roasted Pig with Nona's Rub and Basting Sauce

If a grandma can roast a 40-pound pig, so can you. Nona Flye's slow-roasted pig spends almost eight hours on the spit, resulting in shatteringly crisp skin, succulent meat and enough food to feed a small army. Challenge accepted.

Get the Recipe: Spit-Roasted Pig with Nona's Rub and Basting Sauce

Blue Ribbon Chocolate Cake

When both a cake and its chocolate frosting are both loaded with heavy cream and sugar, you know it's going to be good. Guelda Barker's recipe will earn you a first-place ribbon, but may put you in a sugar coma.

Get the Recipe: Blue Ribbon Chocolate Cake

Hot Beef Sandwich

Guelda Barker cooks her roast beef as you would make jam: in canning jars. With this genius method, you now have canned and preserved roast beef to take out whenever you get the hankering for a sandwich.

Get the Recipe: Hot Beef Sandwich

Tofu and Pork Stir-Fry

Kam Wah Chui flavors a simple ground pork and tofu dish with a slew of sauces. Stock fermented black bean sauce, hoisin, sweet soy sauce and sesame oil in your cabinet so you can throw this dish in the wok whenever you get a craving for takeout.

Get the Recipe: Tofu and Pork Stir Fry

Smoked Brisket, Ribs and Pork Sausage with Texas Mop Sauce and BBQ Sauce

No matter where you live, you can have a barbecue smorgasbord for dinner with a little time and effort.

Get the Recipe: Smoked Brisket, Ribs and Pork Sausage with Texas Mop Sauce and BBQ Sauce

Bacon and Water Chestnut Stuffed Fish with Ginger Sauce

Whole fish stuffed with bacon and mushrooms sounds delectable enough on its own, but it's even better when swimming in Kam Wah's pepper-infused ginger sauce.

Get the Recipe: Bacon and Water Chestnut Stuffed Fish with Ginger Sauce

Kam's Baby Bok Choy

Grandma Kam Wah serves this simple bok choy alongside her stuffed fish and her pork and tofu stir-fry. Four ingredients — ginger, sugar, chicken powder and salt — are all it takes to get this side dish on the table.

Get the Recipe: Kam's Baby Bok Choy

Cherry Dump Cake Cobbler

Get past the weird name — we know that "dump cake" isn't the most appetizing-sounding dish — and focus on how easy Louis' recipe is to make. Combine cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple, sprinkle on boxed cake mix, pecans and butter, and bam — dessert is served!

Get the Recipe: Cherry Dump Cake Cobbler

Zucchini and Pineapple Bread

The trick to jazzing up classic zucchini bread? Pineapple. Kathleen Kleber adds a little sweetness with the tropical fruit and some crunch with walnuts — you just need to top a slice with butter for a finishing touch.

Get the Recipe: Zucchini and Pineapple Bread

Hesta's Brisket

Ruth Taube's family brisket recipe has been passed down through generations, and it's worth the wait for tender, succulent meat.

Get the Recipe: Hesta's Brisket

Joseph Garay's Chicken Paprikas with Nokedli (Flat Noodles)

This traditional Hungarian chicken dish will keep you warm and full for hours, so save Joseph's recipe for those cold winter nights. Once you've made nokedli, boxed pasta may never cut it again.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Paprikas with Nokedli (Flat Noodles)

Meena Giri's Momo (Nepalese Dumplings) with Coriander Chutney

Meena's dumplings pack a triple punch of delicious meaty flavor, thanks to pork, chicken and turkey. Watch out — they get a fiery kick from Szechuan pepper, too.

Get the Recipe: Momo (Nepalese Dumplings) with Coriander Chutney

Julia Garay's Cold Sour Cherry Soup

When it's too hot outside to eat a steaming bowl of soup or you're craving a slice of cherry pie, try making Julia's cold soup. The former actress loves the "refreshing" flavor.

Get the Recipe: Cold Sour Cherry Soup

Meena Giri's Gulab Jamun

Meena uses store-bought pancake mix to make the doughnuts, and then gussies them up with homemade cardamom-spiced syrup.

Get the Recipe: Gulab Jamun

Bill Nuzum's Sourdough Biscuits

Just like cowboy Bill takes care of his grandkids, he babysits a sourdough starter for two to five days to make these biscuits extra delicious.

Get the Recipe: Sourdough Biscuits

Ruth Teig's Coffee Cake

Ruth calls this her "miracle" coffee cake because of its magical effect in everyday situations. Studded with chocolate chunks and walnuts, this tender-crumbed treat is so addictive that DMV employees will let Ruth skip the line whenever she has the cake in tow.

Get the Recipe: Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Sandy Cove Clam Chowder

With a beach right in her backyard, Massachusetts grandmother Genevra Higginson sends Mo off to dig up clams for this creamy New England-style chowder loaded with onions, potatoes and sweet corn.

Get the Recipe: Sandy Cove Clam Chowder

Manee Soohoo's Chicken Pad See Ew

Thai grandmother Manee Soohoo enlisted Mo Rocca to help babysit her grandkids while she whipped up a batch of this kid-friendly rice noodle dish that's stir-fried with sweet soy sauce. Manee's grandson gave the dish "five thumbs up."

Get the Recipe: Chicken Pad See Ew

Braised Oxtail Stew

In true Jamaican fashion, Venetta Lurine Williams transforms this tough cut of meat into a mouthwatering delicacy. To make her soulful stew, simmer chunks of oxtail over a low flame with Scotch bonnet peppers, thyme, oregano and allspice berries. The results are fall-off-the-bone tender.

Get the Recipe: Braised Oxtail Stew

Miyoko McPherson's Miso Soup

Miyoko uses a combination of umami-rich ingredients like dark miso paste, bonito flakes and dried wakame seaweed to give her soup its robust flavor. In Japanese culture, slurping shows your appreciation for the cook, so don't be afraid to take a loud spoonful.

Get the Recipe: Miyoko McPherson's Miso Soup

Plum Cake

Juicy prune plums are the stars of this German specialty by Hildegarde "Cookie Ohma" Mahncke, a New Jersey grandma who was born and raised in a region that's known for another confection: the Black Forest cake.

Get the Recipe: Plum Cake

Sal Yonta's Shrimp Scampi Pizza

To form this Italian-American mash-up, Sal tops pizza dough with a dish that is usually found entwined with pasta: garlic-studded shrimp scampi.

Get the Recipe: Sal Yonta's Shrimp Scampi Pizza

Arroz Amarillo

Like most Latin dishes, refrito — a fragrant combination of bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and cilantro — serves as the base of Maria Lopez's flavorful yellow rice. Turmeric gives the grains their brilliant, sunny color, while achiote spice lends them a subtle earthy flavor. As Mo, who is half-Colombian, explains, "it is a crime in Latin America to not serve rice with a meal."

Get the Recipe: Arroz Amarillo

Millie Martin's Sweet Potato Pie

The secret to this Southern grandma's creamy sweet potato pie? A masher passed down from mom, plus ample doses of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Get the Recipe: Millie Martin's Sweet Potato Pie

Chicken, Broccoli and Cheese Garbage Bread

Firefighter Chris Massie repurposes leftovers by stuffing them inside pizza dough. Dubbed "garbage bread," this meaty snack is filled with chicken cutlets, broccoli florets and a creamy, cayenne-spiced bechamel sauce.

Get the Recipe: Chicken, Broccoli and Cheese Garbage Bread

Peggy Guiliano's Chocolate Chip Walnut Scones

Irish grandmother Peggy prefers to use her hands in place of measuring cups, but her tender sour cream-spiked scones always turn out just right anyway.

Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Walnut Scones

Clara Corrado's Italian Wedding Soup

Clara's care package to her great-grandsons wouldn't be complete without this family favorite, a classic soup named for its happy marriage of meat (shredded chicken and beef meatballs) and veggies (celery, carrots and onions).

Get the Recipe: Clara Corrado's Italian Wedding Soup

George and Kathy's Spanakopita

This Greek pastry is often formed in individual triangles, but Freeport, Long Island, granny Kathy Boulukos layers the phyllo dough and spinach-feta filling into a Bundt pan –– a more traditional take –– to mold a flaky spanakopita that feeds the entire family.

Get the Recipe: George and Kathy's Spanakopita

Doris Spacer's Portuguese Pork Roast

Like the feisty chef behind this dish, Doris's traditional Portuguese recipe gets better with age, thanks to a rich two-week brine and a slow oven braise. The final dish is one her grown kids still fight over.

Get the Recipe: Doris Spacer's Portuguese Pork Roast

Cucumber Tomato Yogurt Raita

Raita, a cooling yogurt-based side dish, is used to balance the spicy heat of Indian entrees. Mumbai natives Meena Deshpande and Mona Vasudev flavor this cucumber-and-tomato rendition with cumin and fresh cilantro, then add crushed peanuts and pomegranate seeds for crunch.

Get the Recipe: Cucumber Tomato Yogurt Raita

Lita Oliver's Plantains A La Gloria

No Costa Rican meal would be complete without a side of sweet plantains. Lita — that's short for "abuelita," or little grandmother — fries these starchy chunks with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and a splash of lemon juice.

Get the Recipe: Lita Oliver's Plantains A La Gloria

Dave Whitney's Mango, Blueberry and Coconut Cobbler

When Mo surprises Dave with a basket of mystery ingredients, the adventurous grandfather steps up to the challenge, fashioning a delightful, fruity cobbler from coconut macaroons, mangoes, blueberries and cream cheese. The result is a cross between a sponge cake and a bar cookie, but we're not complaining.

Get the Recipe: Dave Whitney's Mango, Blueberry and Coconut Cobbler

Ilene and Freddie's Grilled Short Ribs and Pineapple

Ilene and Freddie Tsuhara met at a party during their college days and continue to throw fabulous bashes at their North Carolina home more than five decades later. Freddie serves soy sauce-marinated short ribs with slices of caramelized pineapple –– a perennial crowd-pleaser.

Get the Recipe: Ilene and Freddie's Grilled Short Ribs and Pineapple

Ilene and Freddie's Shrimp Cocktail Shooters

Like true party pros, the Tsuharas turn this classic cocktail appetizer into a portable shooter, so guests can easily enjoy it with drink in hand.

Get the Recipe: Ilene and Freddie's Shrimp Cocktail Shooters

Jamaican Black Cake

This moist Jamaican dessert is traditionally served on Christmas. According to Venetta Lurine Williams, the prep work starts days in advance so the dried fruits and nuts absorb the Port wine and rum.

Get the Recipe: Jamaican Black Cake

Riaz Gilani's Spiced Beef and Rice

Spices are the essence of this dish, says Riaz, a Pakistani grandfather who uses food to show off his Punjabi roots. Nearly a dozen aromatics go into the beef and rice, including garam masala, coriander seeds and turmeric.

Get the Recipe: Riaz Gilani's Spiced Beef and Rice

Sonny Young's Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Sonny is this energetic grandfather's name — and "sunny" describes his upbeat personality. On Sundays, he rises early in the morning to whip up these much-loved maple syrup-doused pancakes for more than 20 kids and grandkids.

Get the Recipe: Sonny Young's Chocolate Chip Pancakes

The Napolitanos' Manicotti

Tom and Mary Napolitano have been a team in the kitchen for years. Tom shops for groceries and Mary does the cooking, including her famous three-cheese-stuffed manicotti, made with paper-thin crepes and covered in a homemade mushroom meat sauce.

Get the Recipe: Manicotti

Sherryl Betesh's Meat Sambousak

A young bubbe who loves to entertain, Sherryl hosts Shabbat dinner at her New Jersey home every week. She kicks things off with a mezze (or appetizer) spread that includes these savory Syrian hand pies stuffed with ground beef and studded with sesame.

Get the Recipe: Sherryl Betesh's Meat Sambousak (Meat-Filled Sesame Pastries)

Ruth Teig's Kreplach

Ruth's kreplach –– a Jewish ravioli-like dish –– are a true labor of love. She roasts boneless brisket with red wine and vegetables, then grinds the meat down for the kreplach filling, which is stuffed into pockets of homemade dough and boiled or fried.

Get the Recipe: Kreplach

Genevra Higginson's Fresh Peach Ice Cream

Genevra picks summer-ripe fruit from her own backyard for this family recipe, which is made simply with light cream, lemon juice and sugar to let the peachy flavor shine through.

Get the Recipe: Grandpa Waite's Fresh Peach Ice Cream

Gaetano Varbero's Pickled and Fried Green Tomatoes

Gaetano pickles his homegrown green tomatoes in a 100-year-old family crock and allows them to brine for an entire three weeks before cooking. Once they're properly pickled, he coats them in homemade breadcrumbs and Pecorino, then fries them to a crispy golden brown.

Get the Recipe: Pickled and Fried Green Tomatoes

Genevra Higginson's Lobster Boil and Lettuce Sandwiches

Genevra lives in a coastal Massachusetts village where the lobsters are always fresh from the ocean. She boils hers in seawater with fresh seaweed and serves them with lemon butter and iceberg lettuce sandwiches.

Get the Recipe: Lobster Boil with Lemon Butter and Lettuce Sandwiches

Maria Lopez's Shrimp Ceviche

Deep in the heart of Queens, Mo learned how to make Maria's easy Ecuadorian appetizer by "cooking" raw shrimp in a zesty marinade of citrus juice, red onion and cilantro.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp Ceviche

Chris Massie's Veggie Garbage Bread

"Garbage bread" is just another name for stromboli, or pizza dough stuffed with a hearty mix of sauteed vegetables. Chris serves his fellow firefighters multiple versions of this hand-held dish, whose filling can be easily customized to your taste.

Get the Recipe: Veggie Garbage Bread

Gaetano Varbero's Venison Stew

Gaetano Varbero, 91, is the ultimate outdoorsman — a hunter with plenty of experience cooking moose, bear and other frighteningly large game in the wilderness. His meaty stew features fresh venison shank and salt pork in a rich rustic broth.

Get the Recipe: Venison Stew

Tom Napolitano's Prosciutto-Wrapped Figs

Tom plucks green figs from his own tree for this fresh Italian appetizer that takes only 15 minutes to make. The prosciutto-wrapped figs are drizzled with olive oil and rosemary, then baked until juicy and tender.

Get the Recipe: Prosciutto-Wrapped Figs

Pop's Focaccia

Frank DiGregorio (affectionately referred to as "Pop") built his own proofing box to prepare his homemade dough for this Italian specialty. He tops his fresh focaccia with tomato sauce, sauteed eggplant and zucchini, and creamy rounds of mozzarella.

Get the Recipe: Pop's Focaccia

Chris Massie's Ham Glaze

This holiday ham is always a hit at Chris' firehouse, where he serves hearty portions of the boneless ham with a sticky glaze of brown sugar and pineapple juice. Stud the skin with whole cloves and pineapple slices for a classic presentation.

Get the Recipe: Ham Glaze

Ruth Teig's Gefilte Fish

Ruth's modern version of this Passover classic gives gefilte fish a good name again. She makes every element from scratch, including the fish stock and fresh horseradish. Her recipe secret: She whips the fish mixture in a food processor for a light and fluffy texture.

Get the Recipe: Gefilte Fish