Salad (Insalata)

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…
Mediterranean Lentil and Bulgur Salad

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

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…
Burrata & Tomatoes

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

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

Fresh Peach Caprese

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  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

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  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

Insalata Caprese

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    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

Giardiniera

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  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

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

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  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…

Fresh Herbs & Citrus Chicken

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  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…

Lemony Chickpea & Asparagus Salad

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  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

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  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…