A Lemon Tree after the Rain (and a Super Simple Lemon Pasta)
A family trip to Tuscany and a lemon tree after the rain. A seed is planted. For years, whenever the family gathered, talk inevitably turned …
Massaged Kale “Caprese-ish” Salad
Kale. The “super food”. It’s everywhere: kale salads, kale chips, kale and rice bowls, kale extracts, kale and spinach green tea hyaluronic acid age prevention …
A Few Easy Recipes to Make You Fall in Love with Zucchini Again
I have such a complicated relationship with zucchini. Each year, I say I will buy only one plant for the garden but then invariably, I …
The Trouble with Tribbles (or in this case, tomatoes)
You know that old Star Trek episode where Captain Kirk is buried up his neck in Tribbles? That’s what I feel like right now because …
Summer Clam Guazzetto
During my boyhood in New Jersey, summer meant trips to the Jersey shore, and the Jersey shore meant clams! From then till now, to me …
Beat the Heat Italian Style: Easy Pistachio Semifreddo
Buona estate a tutti!! Happy summer! The summer heat is upon us and if you are like me, you are always searching for that easy …
Buona Primavera! A Spring Vegetable Risotto
I tend to get emotional at the farmer’s market in spring. The colors at the market turn from the winter beiges to the vibrant glorious …
Warm Farro, Fava Bean and Pancetta Salad
Spring is in full swing. Last spring, when we were in Marche, Italy, fava beans were coming into the local farm stands right about this …
Childhood Memories and a Few Sauces from Sicily
I was reorganizing a few cabinets the other day and came across some old photo albums – those old photo albums that many of us …
Fava bean and mint “torta rustica”
It’s springtime in Los Angeles. The rain seems to be over; the days are getting warmer and longer; plants are growing and flowers blooming all …
“Wild” Mushroom Risotto
A few years ago I finally got around to reading Michael Pollan’s decade-old book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. I loved the entire book, but as I …
A modern Coniglio in Porchetta
The first and only time I served a whole, intact rabbit was several years ago for Easter dinner (insert humorous comment about serving a bunny …