Citrus Vinaigrette
When you add lemon juice or zest to a dish, whether it’s sweet or savory, magic happens. Suddenly, roasted vegetables, such as asparagus or broccolini, aren’t just simple side dishes,…
Recipes
Zuppa di Colazione (Breakfast Soup)
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Soup for breakfast might sound a bit strange to you, but this is really very good. In the Lombardy region of Italy, there is a very old city called…
Cocktail Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Lavender Sauce
Lavender originated in the Mediterranean and is a staple of French cooking (Italian cooking, not so much). Lavender is in the Lamiaceae or mint family, but that doesn’t mean that…
Palline all’Arancia
In Sicily, even before the making of pastries and confections became a source of income for the convents, the tasty treats as gifts were an acceptable currency by which…
Ricotta Quiche with Balsamic Burst Tomatoes
Once a month after First Friday Mass, our women’s club meets, and we share a meal prior to the start of our meeting. I volunteered to prepare our lunch for…
Mediterranean Grain Bowl
After I was married, the first house my husband and I bought was only a couple of miles away from my mother. Quite often I would stop by for a…
Creamy Lavender Ranch Dressing (or Dip)
My new adventure in cooking with lavender has been successful thus far. I’ve enjoyed rave reviews for my lavender scones, lavender limonata and my lavender biscotti. This creamy- tangy ranch…
Roasted Red Pepper & Asparagus Mini Frittate
If you have eggs in the frig and just about any vegetable, you can make a frittata. This recipe is easy to prepare and makes the perfect small bite. Baked…
Mediterranean Lemon Chicken
In this delicious dish, chicken thighs marinate in olive oil, white wine, lemon, and Herbs de Provence. The chicken is then transferred to a skillet and as the chicken cooks…
Herbs de Provence
Herbes de Provence is a multi-purpose spice blend that is made with dried herbs that are commonly grown and used in France’s Provence region. As French cuisine gained popularity in the…
Lavender Biscotti
From vanilla pecan to triple chocolate pistachio, the majority of biscotti I make include some type of nut. This biscotti is different. It still has the crisp crunch of the…
Lavender Lemonade
Nothing says summer like a refreshing glass of ice-cold lemonade. I make Lavender lemonade basically the same way I prepare Italian limonata (lemonade). It begins with making a simple syrup…
Lavender Scones
After visiting Capay Lavender Farm, I knew the first thing I was going to make with lavender was going to be scones. It was a bit of a no-brainer as…
Cooking with Lavender
From the field to the kitchen – Can you really cook with Lavender? Yes, however, many have never tasted it and only know that it looks pretty and smells nice.…
Lavender Sugar
During the months of May and June, I have had the opportunity to visit lavender farms in northern California, meet with the owners and learn all about this fragrant herb.…
Roasted Parmesan Asparagus
Fresh asparagus, whether it is roasted and tossed with ravioli, made into a tart, a salad or served with eggs, is something we look forward to every spring in California.…
Strawberry Crostata
To me, Spring just screams strawberries! I serve them fresh with a splash of balsamic vinegar, toss them into salads, add them to my fruit pizza, and strawberry bruschette. And…
Blackberry Breakfast Bruschetta
Bruschette are the perfect small bites (merenda) and are great anytime of the day. These nourishing small meals are defined by the season and what’s in my pantry. They…
Cannoli Cake & Ice Cream
A special cake for a special occasion, inspired by the quintessential Sicilian dolce, cannoli. This elegant cake was the perfect ending to a lovely ladies’ luncheon. The accompanying ice…
Castelvetrano & Ricotta Salata Antipasti
Castelvetrano is a town in the province of Trapani, Sicily, and it is here where I first tasted the olives of the same name. Castelvetrano olives are firm, a…