Florentine grilled steak (bistecca all fiorentina)
The simplicity of this recipe makes it ideal for any meal. The addition of a rub of fresh garlic after grilling adds such depth of...
Portuguese pork with clams
A classic Portuguese dish most often found on menus in the central area of Portugal called the Alentejo.
Cauliflower and Black Beans Enchiladas
A different, vegetarian take on traditional meat enchiladas that is delicious. When I first thought about this combination it seemed quite strange but the flavors, crunch, textures work really well...
Best Beef Enchildadas
A friend of mine is a wonderful cook despite her protests to the contrary. I took this Enchilada recipe directly from her after enjoying the dish many times at her...
Grilled chicken with fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes
Grilled chicken tastes great and is super fast and easy to prepare. I prefer it in the summer months but that being said, anytime really works
Curried mango and ginger chicken salad
I first made this recipe for a bridal shower with an English tea party theme. I wanted to keep the menu somewhat traditional with a...
Roast crispy chicken with fennel and onions
What I like about this recipe is the essence of the fennel and onion steam through the chicken while roasting, adding a deeper flavor.
Pasta Amatriciana
If you have ever been to Rome, Italy, you surely have seen Amatriciana pasta on the menu. It is a staple in Roman cuisine but has many different versions- adding...
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.
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. This recipe is delicious and creates...
pasta with peas & fresh ricotta
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.
pasta with pesto & mascarpone
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.
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!
swordfish with tomatoes & olives
The key is to check the fish while in the oven, grill or pan, and remove just before you think it is done – looking for the fish to be...
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...
Spaghetti with creamy lemon sauce
Ahhh lemons, how I love them in almost anything. This is a very simple sauce that truly is all about the lemon flavor.
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)
After looking through a few Asian cookbooks, I created my own version of the “Da Bin Low” or the Chinese hot pot tradition of cooking meat and vegetables in a...
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...
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 Austria. She claims not to...
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...
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) of red roses. In a...
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,...
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 a class with a cookbook...
deliciously good flank steak with cocoa-coffee rub
An easy seasoning made of cocoa, coffee and a bit of cayenne pepper for flank steak or any type of beef. Delicious!
minted lamb meatballs with fresh peas & asparagus
These lamb meatballs are light and delicious because of the blend of fresh mint and parsley. It is best made in spring when fresh peas and asparagus are in full...
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...
turkey meatballs with pesto
I usually but spinach in meatballs but one day, I had no spinach and thought that pesto would be a good flavor to add to...
herby chicken & spinach meatballs
Meatball, meatball, what's not to like about these mouthfuls of chicken, spinach and a few spices. The recipe has been taken from many different sources, and my original version is...
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 to be dry and tasteless....
slow cooked lamb with garlic and rosemary
Slow roasting lamb allows all the garlic and rosemary to work magic, plus the acidity of the malt vinegar and the sweetness of the brown...
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 exterior a bit difficult to...
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...
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 delicious and super easy. The...
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....
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 the day before. Served as...
An easy Lasagne
Why is this lasagne easier? Because Bechamel sauce is eliminated and only a meat sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheese is layered. I prefer no Bechamel...
Marcella Hazan’s classic Bolognese sauce
Marcella Hazan is the author of the most popular Italian cookbook in the US, called Essentials of Italian cooking. Her bolognes sauce, or ragù, is from northern Italy and contains...
the perfect meat sauce (for filling)
There are hundreds of different Bolognese sauces, also known as ragù. This one is my own recipe that has been adapted over the years. The use of two different type...
Pasta Bolognese sauce (Ragù)
There are hundreds of different Bolognese sauces, also known as ragù. This one is my own recipe that has been adapted over the years. 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 easiest.
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, flavorful fish making it ideal...
