super flavorful chicken, broccoli, bacon pie
Savory pies are popular in the UK but not so much in the US. What I love about this recipe is the interior is made...
salmon with fresh pesto
Fresh pesto can be delicious on a variety of different fishes but works especially well with a luscious piece of salmon fillet. The spicy, bright flavor of pesto complements the...
Lemon parmesan baked chicken
What can make a chicken breast more interesting? This recipe takes chicken to a new level with the sharp flavor of parmesan cheese offset by the freshness of lemon. I...
Lemon risotto with a dab of pesto
Incredibly delicate with the perfume of lemons. A beautifully balanced dish that brings forth the essence of each ingredient work in harmony. This recipe is...
amazing pasta with pesto & mascapone
Since some people find pesto rich or overpowering, I created this recipe to smooth the flavor of pesto in order to make it easier and sweeter on the palate. I...
Lamb with cilantro, mint and honey
This is my go-to, and I never liked lamb until I had a version of this recipe at a dinner party. Wow! It surprised me because the balance of herbs...
swordfish with tomatoes & olives
Fish. Many people are afraid of cooking any type of fish because there is a tendency to overcook it. To this I say do not...
Orecchiette pasta with broccoli rabe & romanesco
Orecchiette pasta translates to pasta with “little ears” due to its round, squidgy shape. The pasta is one of my favorites and not often seen on restaurant menus – not...
Easy Cacio & Pepe Pasta
I have been making this pasta forever and am never disappointed. With just a few ingredients – pasta, cheese, butter, olive oil, salt and ground pepper – you have a...
Chinese Hot Pot (Da Bin Low)
Any type of fondue, savory or sweet, is such a fun dish to serve. Over 10 years ago, I received two beautiful copper fondue pots...
bright and striking centerpieces with lemons
Love, love lemons! And in California when the Meyer lemons come out in markets, I cannot resist buying lots of them. The bright, yellow and fragrant fruit brings color to...
one pan chicken with chorizo and potatoes
Anything I am able to put in the oven for a few hours and have a delicious meal without fuss is a winner. This recipe in one of my favorites...
thinly sliced beef with arugula, tomatoes and pine nuts
I have a friend, Alexandra, from the Tyrolean area of Italy – a wonderful part of the world that blends the best of Italy and...
flavorful and fabulous brisket with lentils
Brisket is a cut of beef that requires long and slow cooking for its true wonders to be revealed. You can make this a day in advance, without adding the...
heart-y grilled cheese
A combination of hot creamy tomato soup and heart-shaped grilled cheese is not only good for Valentine’s Day but anytime you want to have some whimsical fun. When we moved...
simple is beautiful, rose centerpiece
Creating a striking centerpiece does not have to be time-consuming or expensive. Every once in a while, I love the beauty and simplicity (and tradition)...
veal with prosciutto and sage (saltimbocca alla romana)
Literally the name of this Roman recipe means “jump in the mouth” referring to how delicious the meal tastes. Some people feel uncomfortable serving veal, and a good substitute for...
my favorite rigatoni pasta with eggplant & ricotta sauce
In a perfect world, I would eat pasta at every meal…along with a crunchy, crispy salad…just pure happiness. And rigatoni pasta is one of the best shapes of pasta! Rigatoni...
vietnamese chicken salad
Now this is a really good salad with its crunchy, salty, sweet and tart melange of flavors. The first time I made it was in...
deliciously good flank steak with cocoa rub
An easy seasoning made of cocoa, coffee and a bit of cayenne pepper for flank steak or any type of beef. Delicious!
spiced up lamb Koofteh
I have made a lot of meatballs with beef, turkey, pork, and veal but Persian cuisine introduced me to the lamb meatball. Each region has a different name for its...
super moist and juicy turkey meatballs
Turkey is not meat that is often thought about outside of a holiday or on the occasional sandwich. And when not cooked properly, it tends...
slow cooked lamb with garlic and rosemary
Donna Hay’s recipe for slow cooked lamb contains just a few ingredients and could not be easier. I began making lamb just a few years ago because it was never...
the classic grilled filet steak
Grilling steak may take a few tries to master but the key is not to overcook, if anything, undercook because you can always cook it more. A good meat thermometer...
roasted chicken with herbs, potatoes and fennel
Roast chicken always perplexes me because I find the cooking temperature of a juicy, well done interior compared to the crispy, golden skin on the...
fabulous fish cakes
Fish cakes are delicious for a light and flavorful lunch or a starter course. Slightly unexpected and always appreciated, it is hard to go wrong with this recipe. The only...
perfect balance of flavors
making it slowly – cooked carnitas
Mexican food is ideal meal for casual, fun get-togethers, especially if any kids are involved. Fresh Mexican food is a crowd pleaser and carnitas are...
It’s pesto
Fresh basil has such a strong, wonderful fragrance. It fills a room with its aroma and just begs to be put into some amazing dish. Liguria is a region in...
rich and warm french onion soup
Having returned from a cooking class called ‘French Cooking at Home” at Sur La Table in San Francisco, I was reminded how delicious a hot, steamy dripping-with-cheese French onion soup...
crispy pork in lettuce cups with lime chili dressing
A recipe with lots of flavor and one that can be made well in advance- the flavors of the pork actually get better if made...
a perfect pasta Bolognese
There are hundreds of different Bolognese sauces but this one is my favorite. The use of two different type meats, using pork or veal along with the beef, makes the...
fresh and easy tomato sauce
This sauce is quite simple and is made with fresh cherry or baby tomatoes – I like to mini San Marzano Plum tomatoes but buy what is the freshest or...
honey soy roasted salmon
I don’t remember when I first started making this dish and it has been changed and adapted over the years. Salmon is such a hearty,...
