Insalata mista
The ingredients in most parts of Italy are so delicious and fresh that most of the salad and vegetable dishes are very simply prepared. You...
Zucchini with garlic & basil sauce
Caramelizing the zucchini in this recipe creates a different flavor which is deeper and richer. For a more summer version, you could lightly soften the zucchini and add a squirt...
Lemon meringue pot de creme
Lemon is pure happiness. It’s bright, colorful, and with a bit of sugar makes the ideal dessert. When I saw this recipe, both from Nigella Lawson and New York Times...
Lebanese chicken meatball & halloumi salad with pomegranate dressing
You can make this is a salad or leave the greens out and have it alone.
Cauliflower fried rice
This recipe is ideal to whip up in a hurry, and also to use left over vegetable. I recommend carrots and peas as the base but you can add red,...
Pan Roasted Salmon with Broccolini
This one is with a refreshing lime flavor which bring a freshness, and some sunshine to the dish.
Mexico: Chicken Pozole soup
There are many variations of Pozole with different meats and ingredients that create red, white or green broths. It's the Mexican culture, and flag, in...
southeast asia: Laska soup
I’ve heard about this soup from friends of mine from India and living in Singapore. Both said it was the most amazing soup, ever!
Thailand: Thai Coconut Soup, Thai Kha Gai
Anything with coconut and some spice sounds delicious. Thai has to be one of my favorite cuisines. It's fresh but spicy, feels clean but satisfying.
korea: Kimchi Noodle Soup with Shrimp
Korean is know for its many soup options. One of the more popular ingredients, of late, is kimchi. A somewhat sour, almost funny concoction of...
Persia: Ash Reshteh (Persian Greens, Bean and Noodle Soup)
This is a popular Iranian soup that is rich, satisfying and easily creates an entire meal. Full of herbs, greens and chickpeas the flavors are delicious and quite different.
Cilantro lime chicken
Delicious, delicious, delicious! This is recipe is great on so many levels because it is really easy and the flavor is fantastic.
Liza’s pumpkin cheesecake with almond graham cracker crust (gluten free!)
Just the sound of this makes your mouth water! Perfect for October and November when you want to find new and different ways to use pumpkin. The recipe is directly...
Liza’s pico de gallo
Liza's recipe takes a bit of a twist on this classic, fresh salsa by using cherry tomatoes which add more sweetness and color.
Liza’s guacamole
There are many different recipes for guacamole, and ingredients vary depending on the region of Mexico. This version by food blogger and cookbook author, Liza...
Liza’s fajita salad bowl with pico de gallo & guacamole
Food blogger and cook book author, Liza Cannata's recipe for us to enjoy. It's the perfect meal for a large group and can always included other sides should you want...
crunchy&crispy mustard chicken with potatoes
Who doesn’t love a meal cooked in one pan? This recipe has a wonderful flavor combination of mustard and white wine, yum! After many months, I pulled out a cookbook...
heirloom tomatoes with herb ricotta
Don’t get turn off with the idea of making fresh ricotta. It’s easy and sooooo delicious. If you can’t get yourself around the idea, buy...
oaty peach cobbler
The oatmeal in this cobbler turns it into a less traditional version of a classic. I recommend adding a bit of basil to the peaches to create a different flavor...
Crispy, crispy kale
Kale is great anytime of the year, and eating crispy kale makes it feel like an indulgent treat. I like to serve on the side of many different grilled meats...
Torta Caprese Limone (Lemon Almond Cake)
Just the idea of lemon, almonds and white chocolate makes the heart race. It's one of those cakes that just makes you happy....and when you...
grilled zucchini ribbons
The simplicity of cooking seasonal, fresh zucchini is hard to beat. In the summer, you can grate or thinly slice for salad and they need nothing more. It’s pure perfection. ...
Plum and frangipane tart
Oh my goodness, this tart is full of good flavors, you just may want to eat the whole thing in one sitting. Frangipane sounds fancy but is so easy to...
Summer salad of peaches, arugula, prosciutto and mozzarella
The bitterness of the greens with the sweetness of a perfectly ripe summer peach combines well with the salty flavor of a thinly sliced piece...
Pasta with summer zucchini, lemon and basil
I first made this pasta at a cooking class. We learned to make the pasta using a hand cranked pasta machine which was quite relaxing, and less time consuming than...
Chicken skewers with peanut sauce
These are great way to add a different style to a summer grill. The peanut sauce is a pleaser for kids and adults alike.
What’s in season Spoon Cake
t's super simple to whip up and goes well with any type of ice cream, though vanilla is a classic. I renamed the recipe because...
Spicy Thai Pork Tenderloin Salad
How delicious does this look? Salads are such a great option for dinner when the weather feels like it is opening up to warmer weather.
orange bundt cake
The cake is baked and then soaked with orange juice, and then gets another punch of flavor with an orange glaze.
Fish en Papillote
The fish is wrapped in parchment paper, in a cooking method known as “en papillote” which gently steams the fish.
Crunchy spring salad with peas & asparagus
What's not to love about this salad that features two of the early harvest vegetables that mark the start of spring.
An Apple Galette
There's almost no dessert more classic than a galette. You can make this with berries, peaches, pears or apples, or even try a combination of different fruits.
One Pot Roast Chicken with vinaigrette
An easy and super versatile recipe that that is great as is or can be adapted to your own tastes.
torta della nonna
How can you not love a tart named after a grandmother, “torta della nonna” or Grandmother’s tart?
ricotta cheese & spinach filling
A very easy ricotta cheese based filling that can be used to for eggplant rollatini or pasta shells. It’s super easy to make, and adds great flavor to Italian style...
rolled eggplant with filling
This dish has a few moving parts but can be made in stages, prepared a few hours ahead, and you will be ready for any...
Pork and chive dumplings
Yum! Biting into a juicy dumpling with the pop of savory pork flavor scented with chives is so satisfying. Dumplings are a great thing to make together, with friends or...
Chinese longevity noodles with chicken, ginger & mushrooms
These noodles are part of a Chinese New Year celebration menu but also good anytime. Super fast to make and always delicious, you will no longer need to have any...
Classic Onion Soup
Nothing like a super satisfying bowl of this savory soup oozing with cheese on a cold winter’s night. Julia Child perfected the recipe in her...
easy winter dessert of oranges and persimmons
For an easy dessert in the winter it’s tough to find anything easier than this one. There are few good options for fruit in the winter but taking advantage of...
shredded Brussels sprouts salad
Brussel sprouts are a vegetable that can take some time to acquire the taste to enjoy, and usually are not a favorite of kids. I never liked them growing up...
roasted cauliflower with pistachio pesto
Oh my, oh my is this good! Not only is it quite different than other ways to cook cauliflower but it's just delicious.
Pork Wellington stuffed with apples & onions
Yum and yum! What is not to like about perfectly cooked pork wrapped in a delicious puffed pastry that gives you sweet and savory in each mouthful.
roasted butternut squash soup
Nothing says winter like a warm bowl of butternut squash soup. Serve this to start to a winter meal, or as a full on meal maybe with a large hunk...
Carrots with carrot top pesto
Carrots are often not a common vegetable to serve alone. You usually find them snuggled next to a roasted potato or alongside a cucumber on...
Lentils with pancetta, spinach & garlic olive oil
In Italy, lentils are served on New Year’s Eve in the belief that they will bring good luck and prosperity in the coming year. In Roman times, each little round...
Pumpkin, chickpea and coconut curry
A delicious vegetarian and seasonal version of curry that is ideal for when butternut squash and pumpkins are loaded into the markets
Thai green curry
Jamie Oliver is one of my favorite foodie personalities, or should I say celebrity chefs. His approach to food is not fussy or complicated, and...
Shrimp with orzo and spinach
This is a take on the classic recipe of shrimp scampi. I have never loved shrimp scampi and this recipe cuts through the richness of shrimp and butter with lots...
roasted sumac cauliflower
A very simple side dish from Naz Deravian in the cookbook, Bottom of the Pot. With just five ingredients you have a delicious side dish in 35 minutes. photo: from...
skillet chicken with couscous, halloumi & cucumber
A little bit of inspiration and flavors from Persian cuisine but with a twist. The cool flavors of the salsa add just the right sweetness...
pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
October is all about pumpkins, and this recipe is great to take advantage of the seasonal harvest. There is something about a warm cookie that just warms the heart.
cumin and lime cucumber salad
Cucumber salad is refreshing anytime of year, and especially goes well with spicy foods.
Steak with orange peel and coriander spice
The combinations of orange flavor with steak is not something we would normally consider together. But Nik Sharma of A Brown Table calls this his...
rainbow root riata
A simple different take on the more traditional riata that adds beets and carrots to the yogurt and cucumber mix.
Eggplant Pilaf
This recipe is really a meal in itself. The spices make it flavorful and satisfying. It can be served alone, with any type of protein or a fresh green salad. ...
Everything spice salmon (or chicken) over tahini kale salad
Salads are often the choice for lunch but overlooked as an option for dinner. Or a salad becomes the “side dish” sitting next to the...
grilled rosemary peaches with vanilla ice cream
There is nothing like delicious, in season peaches. But as the summer wanes, and peach season begins to end, grilling a peach brings out its natural sugars while creating a...
delicious Italian spaghetti & meatballs
There is almost nothing as comforting as a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. Nothing sophisticated or too complicated but a plate of warm, satisfying pleasure that is almost a hug...
strawberry shortcake with lemon-almond syrup
What is summer without some type of dessert with whipped cream and strawberries?
grilled summer harvest with tahini dressing
The bounty of summer vegetables are delicious served grilled or roasted when all their natural seasonal flavors are at their peak.
sweet potato fries
A healthier alternative to regular potato fries, sweet potato fries contain Vitamin A, C and E. Oven roasting at a high temperature allows them to crisp up but the interiors...
Summer salmon burgers
Anything on the grill for summer is always a great idea. You can feed a crowd and still be social while grilling away meats and...
Grilled shrimp tacos
You can stuff many things into a taco to make it delicious, and spicy grilled prawns are not an exception. I love them because the different flavor and texture they...
Tomato rice with Mexican flavors
A little bit of rice with a little bit of spice and there you have it! Not only is this nice to look at but a fantastic side dish to...
Black bean & corn salad with fresh lime
A simple recipe that is packed with lots of fresh flavor from the corn, peppers, onions and cilantro.
Chipotle sauce for fish or shrimp tacos
Good fresh fish or shrimp in a taco gets even better with a little of this sauce. Scoop your protein in the taco shell, a little Mexican citrus ‘slaw and...
Lime & orange red cabbage salad
This "salad" or coleslaw is delicious as a side to any grilled meal, Mexican or otherwise, but goes especially well in fish or shrimp tacos.
grilled haricot verts (green beans) with avocado & feta
If your at the grill already these are a great, and different addition to the menu. Haricot verts are the thinner French version to the...
braised artichokes Florentine style
Artichokes are one of the more "fiddly" vegetables. What I mean by that is you don't just cut off a few stems and boil or roast. They need to be...
An Italian vegetable Farro salad (insalata di Farro)
The perfect warm weather salad with Farro at its heart and any type of roasted vegetable as the complement.
grilled rib eye steak with chive butter
Rib eye steak is one of the more tasty cuts of beef with either bone-in or out. For this recipe you can use either. The...
Herb scented Hassleback sweet potatoes
Something a bit fun to try that I’ve done before with white potatoes. But sweet potatoes are better for you nutritionally, and are often overlooked- at least in my saunter...
Panna cotta with fresh oranges & pistachios
Panna cotta, or "cooked cream" is an Italian style dessert that is super versatile.
sautéed swiss chard & kale
Swiss chard is a popular vegetable in the Mediterranean, and actually a cousin to the beet.
Lamb with herby breadcrumbs and mustard
A boneless leg of lamb has a milder flavor than that with the bone. The recipe here uses a mustard sauce that coats the meat inside and outside before the...
Orzo with olive oil and fresh basil
Is orzo rice or pasta? It is a small pasta that actually can be mistaken for rice because of its shape.
a Greek salad
The classic Greek salad has only fresh vegetables and no lettuces. Here is a version that I like to make though often I remove the...
Chicken, spinach & herbs in phyllo bundles
A dish with flavors of Greece and the classic Spanakopita. Here I have added the addition of chicken to the pungent flavors of herbs- chervil, parsley, and dill. Each piece...
cinnamon & citrus almond cigars
A delicious dessert that is easier to make than it looks, and definitely a different type of flavors.
charred broccoli with olive oil & lemon
You can keep this simple with lemon and olive oil, or add some red chili flakes, grated parmesan (or other type), pine nuts or sun...
Black pepper chocolate cake
It is almost like a blank canvas because though the recipe here is with black pepper, you can also substitute many different ingredients and spices.
Stuffed Branzino Persian style
Making fish takes a bit of confidence. I say that for no other reason than because many people feel intimidated by it.
basmati rice with dill
This super easy rice recipe with dill is just a nice change to plain. There are many good recipes for dill rice that have more...
arugula, asparagus, pinenuts and fresh basil salad
Anything with basil just tastes better, not to mention its bright, spicy flavor just makes you feel better.
bulgur wheat with tomatoes, eggplant & pomegranate molasses
Bulgur wheat is a wonderful grain that is common in parts of the Levant and Persia.
Mini arancini rice balls
If you have any leftover risotto, which tends to be more glutinous when cold, arancini balls are the ideal way to use up extra.
Risotto with mushrooms
Another flavor of risotto made with mushrooms. Select a variety of mushrooms that are fresh and will give the risotto a nice flavor. I think the best is a mixture...
chocolate almond and amaretti custards
I’ve never been big on pudding but for these little custard pots, I’ll make an exception.
A basic risotto with parmesan
Making risotto requires time. Time to allow the starch in the rice grains to slowly release creating the creamy consistency but firm bite of each grain.
homemade ricotta with lemon & pepper
My nephew brought over some fresh ricotta one day when we were making ravioli. I was beyond impressed and told him it was too much for me to ever consider. ...
garlic bread
Who doesn’t love garlic bread? Somehow it works just as well with a plate of spaghetti or a big bowl of soup.
US: potato leek & Jerusalem artichoke soup
A soup that is a creamy and a bit decadent but works perfectly for either lunch and dinner. You can use either Yukon or Russet potatoes but it works better...
molten chocolate cake
A molten cake feels intimidating but you'll be surprised how easy it is to make this "sophisticated" dessert. Y
shaved fennel, orange and almond salad
This salad is fantastic, especially if you are looking for another way to eat your greens.
roasted Jerusalem artichokes and baby potatoes
Jerusalem artichokes or sunchokes look like fat, little knobs of something strange, and could easily be mistaken for a piece of ginger. But don’t let their looks fool you. The...
pan cooked butter garlic lamb with mint sauce
There is nothing like a well cooked and seasoned piece of lamb for a weekend lunch or dinner. Lamb works well with so many different herbs but butter and garlic...
Fish fillets with green beans & potatoes in pesto broth
This recipe creates a delicate broth that is then boldly flavored with pesto.
