I recently watched a Jim Gaffigan special and he talked about his appendix surgeon, Dr. Muffuletta. Apparently, once he learned the name (being the foodie he is) Jim fondly recalled all those delicious muffuletta sandwiches he enjoyed in New Orleans. . . Then I started thinking about that infamous sandwich of cured meats, cheeses, crusty…
Pasta
Magic of Miso: Miso Chili Crisp Noodles
A bowl of noodles bathed in spicy, sweet, savory sauce could possibly be a remedy to all the world’s ills. It’s that good. If you shy away from noodles in any form, this post may not be for you, unless you combine this sauce with zucchini noodles or roasted veggies (which would also be delicious)….
Marinated Eggplant with Orzo
Eggplant. Love it? Hate it? Feelings about this funny-looking vegetable seem to be all over the board. If you love it, you happily gobble up garlicky Baba Ganoush or Caponata; you savor creamy Moussaka or veggie-filled Ratatouille; and you adore eggplant Parmesan. . . But if you’re not a fan, you may object to its…
Pasta with Cherry Tomato Sauce
Remember January, 2020, when anything was possible, we made resolutions and travel plans, and blissfully steered toward the road to adventure? We now have new routines, and what was mundane back then seems exciting today, like getting out of the house to visit the grocery store 🙂 My daily routine involves diving into work and…
Pasta Salad with Basil & Mint Pesto
I adore pasta. It’s one of my weaknesses. To me, nothing screams comfort food more than a warm bowl of pasta with a big spoon. When paired with a rich/savory sauce or slathered in butter and salt, it just makes me happy. Fortunately I don’t have a diagnosed condition that forces me to stay away from…
A Batch of Red Sauce
I’m not Italian, but I adore Italian food, and my obsession started as a kid. My family’s old farmhouse had a big yard with a field that backed up to our Italian neighbors. I was friends with their granddaughter, who lived there with her brother, mother and grandparents, and it was my first exposure to…
Orzo Risotto with Broccoli & Roasted Salmon
Risotto. . .tender, creamy arborio rice, slow simmered in a flavorful broth, with lots of butter and cheese. It’s so good I could eat just that for dinner and call it a day. My favorite risotto was served to me many years ago at a small, family-run restaurant in Kansas City. I can’t even remember…
Roasted Tomato, Spinach & Bacon Pasta
I recently bought some beautiful cherry tomatoes at the farmer’s market – bright red, sweet and juicy — just the way I like them. Some were for cooking; others, for table decor at my Italian-themed dinner party (a VERY pretty way to bring a pop of color to your table, by the way). When I…
Orzo Salad with Tomatoes, Basil & Balsamic
A caprese salad (Insalata Caprese) is one of my favorite dishes — tomatoes, mozzarella and basil, drizzled with olive oil. It’s good as a starter to a meal, or even as a main course served with fresh greens (arugula makes a nice addition), crusty bread or grilled meat or veggies. It’s a classic flavor combo…
Lemony Pasta, Kale & Crunchy Walnuts
Are you one of those people (like me) who love to toss several types of ingredients (crunchy, chewy, soft, sweet, spicy, salty, etc.) into a dish and see what happens? This recipe does just that. It’s adapted from Curtis Stone’s “Linguine with Kale, Lemon and Walnuts” in Food & Wine. I modified the recipe by using…