If Los Angeles-based food & lifestyle influencer Maria Provenzano, the eminently delightful personalty behind "From Scratch with Maria" had a family crest, we’re pretty sure that's what it would read: 

"La famiglia, il cibo, ... e più cibo."

"Family, food… and more food." 

That’s because this proud Italian-American product of Saginaw, Michigan grew up in one of those irresistibly delicious smelling homes where fresh, bountiful, homemade delicacies were always on the menu.

Her mother? A prolific, detail-oriented German/Irish baking wizard, putting out from scratch cookies, pies, and jam by the loving dozen. Maria's paternal "nonno", Frank? Proud, 100% full-blooded Sicilian.

With an antipasto/primo/secondo/contorno/dolce approach to dining to match. 

For fifty years, along with his parents and brothers, Frank ran one of Saginaw's most beloved, longest family-owned businesses, Provenzano's grocery store.

Known as the place to get the freshest produce, prime meats, and fresh-baked sweets around, it attracted legions of loyal customers from all over the region. Frank even bottled and sold his own deliciously authentic spaghetti sauce long before bland, mass-produced brands like Ragu and Prego started hitting the shelves.

And just how good was it?

According to the "Pure Saginaw" website:

You know you’re from Saginaw when... you went to Provenzano’s for spaghetti sauce and got fresh donuts from the doughnut machine.

How's that for respect?

So given her blue-ribbon family pedigree, and armed with a tasty stream of useful recipes, DIY craft ideas and entertaining strategies, is it any wonder that Maria has blazed her own path in recent years as one of the most charming, down to earth SoCal bloggers and Hallmark Channel personalities around?

We think not.

A conversation with Maria Provenzano...

First of all, even though it's 80 degrees here in California in November, are you getting into the holiday spirit yet? Or do you find yourself missing that brisk Midwestern weather more than usual?

Well, I have to say, to me it doesn't always feel like the holidays when you're in warm weather. It'll be Christmas Day here and sunny, and my husband will ask if I'd like to go to the pool. Noooooo! I want to be in boots!

Do you have any go-to recipes that help you recreate that Michigan-like feeling for the holidays?

Well, I'm a dessert girl. And one thing I really love and takes me back home are scones. I made up a thanksgiving recipe for Pumpkin Spice Scones with Maple Spiced Glaze a couple of years ago and it has oatmeal, of course, and pumpkin pie spice, all those holiday flavors. You can even make them ahead of time, put them in the freezer, then go straight from there to the oven. (Note: See recipe below.)

Does Mom the Baker approve?

Well, she was here recently helping my family move, and she's picky. And I mean, very picky, quite set in her ways in terms of what she likes... and doesn't, especially when it comes to baking. So I made some of those scones I had in the freezer, and she loved them. That was my answer; I must be doing something right!

What's your favorite "Mom-made" treat?

Her German pancakes, they're amazing. And every summer, she and my grandma would always make the most delicious jelly with fresh Michigan berries and currants. I had that homemade jelly all the way up until I went to college, and then suddenly realized, "Wait a second. Now I have to actually BUY jelly?"

Okay, you've just been shipwrecked on a desert island, and your life raft contains only three ingredients. They are...?

Pasta, butter + salt. If you want to live, you gotta have the basics.

It's so funny when that whole low-carb craze thing happened a few years back. I kept thinking: how can you NOT eat pasta?! It was very strange.

Surprise! The raft also includes a never-ending supply of your favorite all-time food.

Oh, please let it be cookies. If I had to live off one thing the rest of my life, that would be it.

We like your style. What kind?

A classic chocolate chip, for sure. I grew up in a house full of pasta and cookies, and baked all the time, so that's what I love most. Friends would always ask 'Given what you eat everyday, how are you not, uh, very large?' And I would say 'That's because I eat real food. It's all real.'

Just like your grandfather used to make.

Definitely. It's in my blood.

Lucky you, which comes from both sides of your family tree.

It's the best of both worlds, really. I always love to be free-spirited and experiment when I cook, which I get from my Italian side, but my mom's German side really comes through when I'm baking. So I have that balance.

Food-wise, what's your favorite holiday?

My mom and I always used to make those crazy huge boxes of cookies, so I love love love christmas and making christmas cookies. On the other hand, nothing beats her thanksgiving dinner. I think that would be my deathbed meal. It's either that or my grandpa's spaghetti and meatballs.

What's your most important advice about holiday cooking + entertaining?

Planning ahead of time. I get that from my grandpa and mom, always planning ahead of time and writing everything out. People cooking anything at home often struggle with the timeline. Especially if you're dealing with one oven, like most of us are. But that is the thing, planning ahead of time. There are so many things you can make the day before; for instance, we would always do our stuffing the day before. Like spaghetti sauce , it's always better the next day. I think writing it all out, having that visual structure... and ASK FOR HELP! Don't try to do everything on your own. My mom used to try that, especially around Thanksgiving, and I used to have the same problem myself. Sometimes I have a very hard time asking for help.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, what's your go-to table design strategy?

I like to use as much freshness as possible because that's the way I grew up. My aunt was a florist, so I learned a lot from her too. So having the fresh pumpkins, beautiful flowers; that's my first step.

In terms of food + entertaining creatives, whose work do you admire most?

I know a lot of kids watched cartoons at a young age, but I grew up watching Martha Stewart with my mom. And we really loved watching Martha with her mom. We always got the biggest kick out of that; what a great dynamic. I also have a bunch of old recipe and design books from way back in the day. I love going through them, looking at recipes and entertaining ideas. All that old-school stuff is still so good. 

There are also some really great people on Instagram`creating beautiful things. There's one site where some city people built a faux-fireplace for their apartment. And I'm thinking, how brilliant is that?! I think there's so many creative people out there on social media sharing some many great ideas. It's incredible.

If you had to name one of your favorite restaurants...

French Laundry. Thomas Keller is god. I love Napa, so we went there for my birthday not long ago and they let me sneak into the kitchen. One thing I really respect is that he uses everything; makes fresh stock from the bones and all those good things.

If I had to live off one thing for the rest of my life, it would be chocolate chip cookies. Because they smell most like home to me; growing up... and now.

And closer to home?

I love Manhattan Beach's Fishing with Dynamite from Chef David LeFevre. He's amazing. His respect for food, his touch, the way he mixes things. A little further north, I really like Farm Shop and Pizzeria Mozza.

Ah, Mozza. It's one of our Hollywood favorites too.

True story: about three years ago, right before I had my baby, my husband and I had dinner reservations there for my birthday... but I ended up going into labor that afternoon. So we headed over to the hospital, and I was rushed into a room and hooked up to all the monitors. I kept looking up at the clock, and at around six I said to the nurse 'Um, we have reservations at Mozza for 7 PM. Anyway we can go and come back?' And she looked at me like I was crazy and said 'No. Have some clear broth instead.' I was very sad. 

But what a strong message to send to your baby. Like, hey, Mama can multi-task.

Absolutely!

Do you have a signature dish?

I guess if I had to choose -- besides sweets -- I make great stuffed meatballs with smoked mozzarella. A little bit smaller than my grandpa's, and a little spicier too. Before I got pregnant the first time, I was never really into spicy food. But after I had my son, I was like "Oh my god! I want spiiiiicy everything!"

Last question: how did "From Scratch with Maria" get its start? Besides your original recipes, how do you dream up such great DIY craft and entertaining ideas?

My mom always used to throw big parties for kids when I was growing up, and she'd have all these crafts for us to do. So I don't know how not to do it. So I was home with my son after he was born, and I needed a creative outlet. So it just evolved from that. And I love this. People always ask "What would you really like to do, even if you didn't get paid for it?" And this is what I would do. I just live for it. I can't imagine not doing it.

Pumpkin Spice Scones with Maple Spiced Glaze

Courtesy of Maria Provenzano, From Scratch with Maria

• SCONES
• 1½ cup whole wheat flour (regular all-purpose works too)
• 1 cup uncooked oatmeal; old fashioned or quick cooking (*see note below)
• ⅓ cup Turbinado sugar (or brown sugar)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• ½ cup COLD unsalted butter; cut into cubes
• ¼ cup fresh or canned pumpkin puree (not canned pumpkin pie)
• ¼ cup cold half + half (whole milk works, too)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ICING
• 1¼ cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon real maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1-2 tablespoons half and half or milk

NOTE: This recipe can be made with a pastry cutter or stand mixer, instead of a food processor. If so, simply make sure to either process the old-fashioned oats or chop them into smaller pieces. This makes for a fluffier, taller scone. If using "quick cooking" oats, they shouldn't need as much chopping.

 

Instructions

• Place the flour, oatmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice in bowl of a food processor; this can also be done with a pastry cutter or stand mixer (see note above)
• Pulse to combine, until the mixture looks a bit like the consistency of sand. Add butter, and pulse again until the butter resembles pea-sized pieces. Do not overmix!
• In a separate bowl, combine half + half, vanilla, and pumpkin puree
• With the processor running, add the wet ingredients to the dry. Combine until just mixed in
• Remove dough from processor and place on a lightly floured surface. Use your hands to form a large flat disk with the dough about a half inch to an inch thick
• Using a knife, cut the dough in half one way. Then, cut again the opposite way. This will make four large pieces
• Cut each of the pieces in half (by this point, it should resemble a pizza!)
• Place individual scones on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
• Place entire baking sheet in the fridge for about 15 minutes. (To freeze for baking later, place baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes. Remove, store individual scones in a freezer friendly bag, label, and return to freeze.)
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Place individual scones on a room temperature baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes. (Straight out of the freezer? Add 5-7 minutes)
• Remove from oven; allow to cool on a cooling rack
• To make the icing: add powdered sugar and pumpkin pie spice to an empty bowl
• While whisking, pour in vanilla, maple syrup, and milk. Combine + mix thoroughly
• Using a small spoon, drizzle mixture over cooled scones. For more precise lines, pour icing into the bottom corner of a small ziplock bag. Make a tiny snip on the end, and drizzle away

Best fresh out of the oven, but will stay delicious for a few days when stored in a sealed container.

Apple Crumble Pie

Courtesy of Maria Provenzano, From Scratch with Maria

• FILLING INGREDIENTS
• 6 cups Granny Smith Apples, peeled and thinly sliced
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, loosely packed
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• TOPPING INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup 100% bran cereal (the buds, not the flakes)
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small cubes (organic is best)
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (you can use almonds too)

 

Instructions

• In a bowl, toss apples together with the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt
• Prepare the topping: using a food processor, combine flour, brown sugar, and bran (Note: if you do not have a food processor… get one... but in the meantime, put the bran into a ziplock bag and crush by using a rolling pin or bottom of a heavy saucepan.) Combine bran, flour, and brown sugar
• Add the cold cubes of butter and process until crumbly. (You can also do this with a pastry cutter or your hands. If you are using your hands, work quickly so that the butter doesn't melt)
• Place mixture into empty bowl; stir in oats and sunflower seeds
• Refrigerate topping mixture for 10-12 minutes; make sure it’s cold
• Pour the apple mixture into a pre-baked pie crust. Sprinkle the cold topping mixture over the apples (see photo)
• Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes
• Reduce temperature to 375 degrees and bake for another 30-35 minutes or until apples are tender and the crust is golden
• Keep your eye on it! If the topping and/or crust begins to brown too much, cover  the pie with aluminum foil

Let cool for at least an hour before serving... (if you can wait that long. :)