Wild Mushroom Ragu over Creamy Fontina Polenta
I have been watching the colors outside my kitchen window slowly turn to the earthy landscape of fall. I so love the rhythm of the …
Toast to the Pomodoro: Fresh Tomato and Tuna Pasta
There it is….my very last tomato from my garden for the season…grown from seeds I bought in Italy in the spring. Look at its simple …
Roasted Eggplant Antipasto
Just arrived back home from a great weekend at brother Joey and Mark’s sunny retreat in LA and was starving but with a mountain of …
Grilled Sardines
This has got to be the the simplest appetizer on the planet. The key is find fresh and cleaned sardines. In Los Angeles, I find …
Pasta with Mushrooms, Radicchio and Ricotta
Ahhh, weekends. Finally the sun has come out here in PA which calls for a relaxing lunch and vino on the patio with friends. The …
Insalata di Ceci, Tonno e Ruchetta: Chickpea and Tuna Salad with Arugula
I recently finished an absolutely wonderful little book called ‘Mediterranean Summer’ – about a chef, David Shalleck, who spends a few summers cruising the coast of Italy …
Gratin di Melanzane e Pomodoro: Eggplant and Tomato Gratin
Due to all the rain earlier in the season, almost all my tomatoes ripened at the same time so I am wonderfully up to my …
Sparkling White Sangria
Sangria always bring back fond memories of my Uncle Nelson serving frosty glasses of his sangria to the adults on Christmas Eve while the little …
Lemon Spaghetti with Roasted Tomato, Artichoke and Chicken
Lemony artichokes, roasted tomatoes, pasta….heaven in a dish. I was craving pasta this past weekend due to a bit of a broken heart (ahhh, life….) and …
Tuscan Crostini with Salsa Verde
I just returned from a very special week in my beloved Montalcino, Tuscany. I was blessed with being able to rent a little casa surrounded …
Summer Torta
When most people hear the word “torta” they think of a summer fruit pie in a rustic crust or the famous Easter pie with loads …
Bruschetta with Caponata
So many people I know don’t like eggplant. I didn’t like it as a kid either. But besides childhood pickiness, most people don’t like eggplant …