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…
Salad (Insalata)
Mediterranean Lentil and Bulgur Salad
Lentils are one of the world’s oldest health foods. This little lens-shaped legume came to the Americas in the early 16th century. During World War II, people began to…
Pear, Pecan & Gorgonzola Salad
This past New Year’s Day, I made this sensational salad with caramelized pears. It’s really good! Today, I only have one pear and am in a bit of a…
Caramelized Pear & Pecan Salad w/Gorgonzola
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One of my favorite ways to enjoy pears is the simplest, fresh off the tree with a handful of walnuts. Now, add crumbles of Gorgonzola and a drizzle of…
Burrata & Tomatoes
Burrata is a cream filled mozzarella sack. Invented in Puglia, Italy, as a way to use the scraps of curds left over after twisting balls of mozzarella. The scraps…
Shaved Zucchini Salad
This is a fresh and flavorful raw zucchini dish featuring tangy capers and ricotta salata. The words ‘Ricotta’ means re-cooked and ‘Salata’ means salted. Ricotta Salata is a Sicilian…
Fresh Peach Caprese
There is only one authentic Insalata Caprese and it originated in Capri, Italy. Traditionally, tomatoes are used in the infamous dish. Since it is peach season and I have…
Pantelleria Potato Salad
Potato salad with olives, tomatoes and capers is a popular salad on the island of Pantelleria (Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea). Capers are a small but distinctive…
Insalata Caprese
The Isle of Capri, Italy, situated in the Bay of Napoli, is probably most noted for the Grotta Azzurra, (Blue Grotto) a sea cave that is filled with a…
Giardiniera
The Italian giardiniera, pronounced jar-dih-NAIR-ah, means from the garden and is a classic combination of vegetables. Cauliflower, red bell peppers, carrots, celery and serrano chili peppers are mixed and…
Lasagna Summer Salad
This salad has the taste of summer written all over it! Vine-ripened, sweet, juicy tomatoes, fresh ricotta and a simple light basil pesto transform the traditional hearty lasagna. Okay,…
Panzanella Salad
Italians waste nothing … not even stale bread! Bread salad is a perfect example of la cucina povera, peasant food. Only a few humble ingredients are needed to turn…
Fennel Salad with Creamy Dressing
Called finocchio in Italian, fennel has a mild, sweet aroma and a taste reminiscent of black licorice. Quite often it is simply eaten raw, thinly sliced with a bit…
Arugula Salad with Warm Balsamic Dressing
Whether you call it arugula, rucola or rocket, this wild peppery plant has grown in the Mediterranean since Roman times. Rucola, the Italian name, is an edible herb and…
Fresh Herbs & Citrus Chicken
Fresh herbs and citrus infuse the chicken with their bright and robust flavors. This recipe utilizes both the zest and the juice of oranges and lemons. By first, marinating…
Tortellini Salad with Red Pepper Hummus Vinaigrette
This boldly flavored warm pasta salad is a crowd-pleaser and a great dish to bring to a potluck. The Kalamata olives compliment the red pepper hummus and for more…
Lemony Chickpea & Asparagus Salad
This fresh tasting, with a burst-of-lemon, salad is picnic-perfect. The star of this dish is the Mediterranean staple known as ceci in Italian or you may know it as…
Orzo Chicken & Fruit Salad
Whether it’s a simple meal for game night, a light lunch with the girls or the solution to what to bring to a potluck pool-party, this orzo salad works…
Sardine & Fennel Salad
Sardines, these oily-rich, small, silvery, saltwater fish, are named after the Italian island, Sardinia. The soft-bone fish is considered to be at the bottom of the aquatic food chain,…
Cranberry Vinaigrette
Fresh cranberries are in season from late October until early winter. They can be stored in the refrigerator for a month or so but, do not wash until you…