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About me

Hello, anytime! The culinary muse can be so unpredictable! She might stay hidden all day but then suddenly appear at night, filling you with exciting ideas and a strong urge to whip up something delicious.

Welcome to my culinary corner – The Saporito!

Our site guide is your handy tool for quickly and easily finding the recipe you’re looking for.

A brief background

Allow me to introduce myself: I’m Iryna Hudyma, and my primary roles include being a happy mother and wife. In my free time, you’ll often find me in the kitchen, where I love to develop new recipes. I’m truly fortunate that my husband, Roberto, is always eager to taste what I cook.

I am the blogger and photographer behind The Saporito, while Roberto takes care of the technical aspects of the site.

My passion for cooking didn’t happen overnight. I lived a quiet life in my hometown of Ternopil, Western Ukraine. After graduating in foreign languages, I became deeply involved in academia, eventually becoming a university teacher. Cooking wasn’t a serious hobby back then and my culinary skills were limited to simple dishes like mashed potatoes and tea.

However, I’ve always had a deep love for good food, thanks to my wonderful mom and granny. My granny, Maria, worked as a pastry chef at one of Ternopil’s largest hotels. This meant I got to savor all kinds of delicious treats, from cakes and cookies to pastries and savory pies.

And speaking of talents, my mom is an exceptional cook too. She prepares scrumptious soups, salads, appetizers, and meat dishes with great skill and expertise.

So, when it came to cooking, I always used to rely on my mom and grandma. But life, as it often does, presented delightful surprises. One of those surprises was meeting a charming Italian man named Roberto (though I don’t believe it was just a coincidence!).

After our 2009 wedding, I moved to Rome. With plenty of free time, while my husband was at work, I decided to improve my Italian skills by watching TV. The only shows I could understand were cooking programs.

I must admit, Italians are amazing at cooking. It’s fascinating to see that some men here are even better cooks than women. Maybe it’s because of the love of food in Italy (which seems to be in the air here) or my desire to impress my husband with tasty meals, but I suddenly discovered a hidden gourmet within myself and started to cook with enthusiasm.

It’s no wonder our home library is filled with a ton of cookbooks. We have enough to start our very own culinary Noah’s Ark, two by two, but with recipes instead of animals…haha! I also regularly bring home a stack of recipe books from the local libraries.

Later on, our sons Alessio and Giuliano joined my personal team of tasters (they are sooooo picky eaters, but they are also my best helpers in the kitchen).

So, here I am – not a certified chef, but a self and family-taught cook with a deep love for food and a constant drive to improve.

The Saporito was launched in 2021. I’ve always dreamt of creating a virtual kitchen that’s as warm and welcoming as the aroma of homemade cakes, where both friends and strangers can feel at home.

We’re excited to share our culinary adventures, experiments, and recipes with you.

Our food blog doesn’t stick to a specific niche. The Saporito is all about family-friendly homemade dishes for everyday cooking. Here, you’ll find simple, easy, and budget-friendly recipes, so you won’t need a three-day train journey, a week-long plane trip, or a two-hour mountain bike adventure to find exotic ingredients!

Being a mom of two, I completely understand how time flies. Who wants to spend a whole day in the kitchen just for a simple soup, right? Cooking should be enjoyable, not a time-consuming chore! That’s why almost all the recipes on this site are super easy to make.

My culinary philosophy is simple: I want my dishes to be easy, delicious, and healthy for my family. Just as your car runs better with the right fuel, your body performs better with the right food.

Reading the ingredients on store-bought products can feel like a chemistry lesson, making you question their suitability.That’s why I prepare homemade dishes as often as I can, avoiding preservatives, artificial colors, and flavor enhancers.

I’ll show you how to effortlessly make homemade grilled sausages, bake delicious bread and hamburger buns, work with various doughs, and even cultivate your own Brewer’s yeast. It’s all simpler than you might think. And the joy of your family savoring natural homemade dishes made with your love? That’s truly priceless!

“The Saporito”

Readers often wonder about the origin and meaning of the site’s name. While I wish there was a cool story behind it, the truth is quite simple – “saporito” means “delicious” in Italian. Adding “The” gives a sense of certainty to the name. It’s not just any “saporito,” but “The Saporito,” where you’ll find delicious and tried-and-true recipes.

It’s so frustrating when you try out a recipe from the internet or a trendy cookbook, only to end up throwing it in the trash. It’s not just a waste of time but also money.

I promise you, The Saporito offers a completely different experience!

I can confidently say that there are no failed dishes on our website. It’s not about my pride at the moment… haha… It’s just that I prepare each recipe muuuuuuuultiple times (yes, you read that right), often tweaking the ingredients or cooking method until my discerning family gives it the thumbs up. Only then does the recipe make its way onto The Saporito.

My beloved tasters

i miei ragazzi

Our recipes mainly feature Ukrainian and Italian cuisine due to our Ukrainian-Italian family background. However, we love to explore global flavors. Need an American ranch sauce recipe? I’m happy to share it with you. Want to make Georgian khachapuri? We’ve got you covered!

Sometimes, I like to put my own spin on classic recipes (don’t worry, I’ll mention it in the recipe introduction), using ingredients that you can find anywhere in the world.

A few facts about me

  • I’m probably the only Ukrainian who doesn’t like salo (the iconic Ukrainian lard). On the flip side, my husband Roberto is likely the only Italian who doesn’t like coffee. We’re a great fit, aren’t we? Haha.
  • I adore taking food photos, but I don’t like at all taking pictures of myself.
  • I love fancy cakes, all sorts of pastries, and cookies. But if I had to be a dessert, I’d opt for a simple piece of toast with jam. And it would definitely be Peach Jam – I adore it!

I have to confess, I’m far from a perfect cook, and I often stray from the typical recipe guidelines. Let me share a few of my culinary sins:

  • I’ve never followed the step-by-step process for making homemade bechamel sauce. Instead, I simply put all the ingredients in a saucepan at once and cook, stirring constantly. It’s my “lazy” method, and it hasn’t failed me in over 10 years.
  • Every other time, I forget to sift the flour before adding it to the dough. Surprisingly, it’s not a big deal. Yeast pastries turn out just as fluffy, and sponge cakes rise just fine.
  • I don’t usually follow the advice to keep yeast dough away from drafts, especially when making Ukrainian Easter babka. Instead, I often place my dough on the table near an open window, letting it get some fresh air. It may rise a bit slower in the cold, but it still turns out just fine!

Cooking should be an enjoyable experience, not a stressful puzzle. Forget the rulebook – all you need is a dash of love and a spoonful of good vibes. With that recipe, you’re on your way to a delicious, scrumptious treat!

Let’s connect

I’m thrilled you’ve stopped by our virtual kitchen. Come back anytime; we love having you here!

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest to stay updated.

And make sure to subscribe to our Newsletter to never miss out on new recipes.

If you have questions, ask in the comments below the recipe. I’m here to help and will reply to everyone.

English is not my native language, so please excuse any errors in my writing.

Happy cooking!

Yours, Iryna Hudyma

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About me

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Savory recipes

healthy corn fritters Healthy corn fritters recipe (corn cakes with cheese)
pasta salad with tuna Italian cold tuna pasta salad with olives – no mayo
Khachapuri Adjaruli (Georgian cheese-filled bread)
Italian meatloaf Easy Italian meatloaf recipe (Polpettone)
Homemade concentrated vegetable stock paste
bacon wrapped prunes Bacon wrapped prunes (the best 2 ingredient appetizer)

From Grandma’s Cookbook

Sweet recipes

Sweetened condensed milk chocolate fudge with nuts
Christmas spiced cookies
chocolate and vanilla cookies Chocolate and vanilla cookies
edible pine cones Edible pine cones (no-bake Christmas dessert)
Rogaliki (Ukrainian scuffles) – crescent-shaped kefir cookies
Christmas stollen Christmas stollen cake recipe (Quarkstollen)

Categories

  • Appetizers (9)
  • Baking (32)
    • savory (7)
    • sweet (24)
  • Bread and Pizza (9)
  • Breakfast (8)
  • Cakes (3)
  • Canning (3)
  • Christmas (14)
  • Desserts (11)
  • Drinks (3)
  • Easter (4)
  • From Grandama's Cookbook (22)
  • Main Course (15)
  • Pasta recipes (4)
  • Rice (4)
  • Salads (6)
  • Soup (3)

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