first
When I first met my friend Dano, he didn’t eat vegetables. He just didn’t like them. Dano and I had many dinners at my kitchen table which usually included racks of lamb or short ribs or beef fillet with potatoes. I always snuck in some roasted vegetables and put them on my plate. I never […]
When I was a kid, one of the restaurants we went to was an Italian pizzeria. There was a chef in the front, throwing and stretching pizza dough for all to see. We always ordered a huge family size pizza and I always burned my tongue on the hot melted cheese, too impatient to wait […]
I always keep jars of artichoke hearts packed in water in my pantry. I can incorporate them into a vegetable puree, a green soup, an artichoke pesto or in this case as part of my antipasto platter. I prefer artichoke hearts packed in water over those packed in oil. I don’t like the type of […]
I always include these as part of any antipasto platter. They are bite size portions and compliment the other antipasto selections. Sometimes these are called bocconcini and are sold packed in watery whey; sometimes they are sold packed in olive oil. However you buy them, they will work in this recipe. You can make any […]
Sautéed Spinach is quick, easy and delicious. This takes on a depth of flavor because I sauté the spinach with oven roasted garlic. I roast several dozen cloves of garlic at once and keep them on hand for vegetable sauté, homemade pizzas, or for garlic lovers, spread it directly on a toasted baguette. OVEN ROASTED […]
For the Sit-in-the-Kitchen Dinner with my friend Maria, I knew I would assemble an Antipasto Platter, but I wanted to make it extra special. I am fortunate to be able to buy gorgeous raw colossal wild shrimp at my neighborhood market. These shrimp are delicate with a slight sweetness. I could have just broiled them […]
I always keep homemade cookies in my freezer for friends who drop by for a cup of tea or spur of the moment dinner guests. These are not your typical oatmeal raisin cookies. They are loaded with shredded coconut, crystallized ginger and golden raisins. They are dense, chewy and perfect with fresh fruit or dish […]
In Italy, dessert is frequently fresh fruit with a bit of mascarpone cheese, some nuts and a few cookies on the side. This is my take on that tradition. This dessert is super easy and it comes together in less than 10 minutes. (You don’t even peel the pears.) Sliced pears are topped with blueberries […]
