things i cooked + liked in july

July was a big month in our house. With it being the middle of summer, the schedule was filled with lots of entertaining the kids (and their friends), travel, and of course, cooking.

Reflecting on July, here are some stand out recipes you may have missed, and experiences for you to add to your lists.

Recent Recipes

Tim’s Focaccia - I’ve been making this focaccia recipe for years and its incredible every time. This focaccia is so good, it made me want to book a flight to Italy. And I did…and you can join me! More info below.

Creamy Calabrian Chili Mafaldine with Crispy Prosciutto - Guess I was on an Italian kick in July, but what do you expect with a last name like Laielli? I used DeLallo’s Malfadine (best pasta shape in the world) and their Calabrian chili peppers for this one to give the sauce just a bit of kick.

Easy Lemon Parm Chicken Orzo - This simple one-pot recipe is the result of me attempting to make an entire dinner without chopping anything. I succeeded, with the exception of slicing a lemon, but it takes 2 seconds, so I’m not counting that.

S’mores Brown Butter Cookie Skillet - I’m a dessert every night kinda guy so I whipped up this cookie skillet with chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows. Make it for your family, or if you want to win the PTA potluck.

Check out my recipe archive here!

Things Worth Buying

DeLallo Foods - My recent go to for high-quality Italian ingredients. Their olive oil, sauces, pasta, and charcuterie all pass the Laielli test.

Attaboy - The folks at Attaboy made this pretty cool video with me sharing the backstory of how I became Bare Food Tim. Attaboy combines creatine, electrolytes, and a full cognitive stack into a single daily serving and their tagline is “Built for Men Who Don’t Have Time to Quit,” and I can’t think of a better way to describe myself. Except for when its time for my 2pm nap. Seriously though, Attaboy helps fuel my bike rides. I bring one along for every ride.

Cook With Me in Sicily

I’m hosting a trip to Eastern Sicily with Via Rosa in April of 2027. They’re handling all the planning and logistics, and will use their network of locals to build the most incredible experience for our small group of 12.

This trip isn’t about checking another country off a list or taking photos in front of famous landmarks. It’s about spending a week immersed in the culture that shaped me through food from afar. We’ll shop in local markets, cook alongside those who have spent their lives making these dishes, visit farms and producers, wander towns, and share long meals around a table together.

The schedule is just busy enough, and is loaded with a bunch of free time that you can spend however you’d like. Check the full plan in the link below.

The Culture of Food in Eastern Sicily with Tim Laielli

Selfishly, I couldn’t think of a better way to experience Italy for the first time than with a small group of people who are just as passionate about food, culture, and conversation as I am. Join me in Eastern Sicily in April 2027.

What I’ve Been Into

Maui - I took the girls to Hawaii for our summer vacation and we really enjoyed ourselves. I was tipped off that all of the resorts are jam-packed with tourists right now, so we went the Airbnb route and are glad we did. I love having access to a kitchen, although half of our meals are spent exploring local spots. It’s just nice to have the option to throw together a few easy breakfasts and lunches.

We hiked, took surf lessons, snorkeled, boogie boarded, caught the sunrise at the top of Haleakala, and of course drove the Road to Hana. Some of our standout food spots were as follows:

Uncle Russell’s Huli Huli Chicken - great roadside spot on the Road to Hana for lunch.

Nalu’s South Shore Grill - probably my favorite spot that I took the fam. Something for everyone and very well done.

Paia Fish Market - always a long wait (like out the door every time we drove by) but worth it for fresh fish sandwiches.

Al’s BBQ Pit - stumbled upon this spot at a farmer’s market that was 99% locals. I’m a sucker for food trucks.

Surfing Monkey Shaved Ice - hit this on several occasions for dessert.

We hit some other spots as well, and I just found them to be a bit touristy. Overhyped maybe? Even those meals were okay, just not particularly mind blowing.

Overall, Maui was a great trip. We spent so much time outside because the weather was perfect. We’re used to summer in Austin where the weather has been unbearable lately. I almost forgot that not everyone spends 90% of the summer indoors.