The famous Genoese-style minestrone is a very dense and satisfying meal. It utilizes both seasonal vegetables and the famous pesto alla Genovese, made of garlic, basil, pine nuts, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. But, as the Italian gastronome Massimo Alberini has said, as good as minestrone is, it is not a gastronomic specialty but rather an elemental […]
Luscious Winter Braise from Provence
March 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Winter isn’t over yet and if your culinary sensibilities are like mine you’re still in the “fire-up-the-oven” mode. There’s nothing cozier than a winter braise wafting through the house when the chill of the end of winter still lingers. Many people think warmth when they think of the Mediterranean, but the Mediterranean can be surprisingly […]
Pizza at Home is not as Crazy as it Sounds
March 2, 2016 by 2 Comments
I’ve gone pizza crazy lately. And I mean pizza at home. In fact, I simply can’t find a pizza as good as what I make at home. The key to already have the dough ready to go. This I do buy making a batch, dividing it up and just keep it frozen until the morning […]
Fabulous Fava for a Spring Pasta Dish
May 18, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Pappardelle with Rock Shrimp, Porcini Mushrooms, and Fava Beans This extraordinary preparation is a special spring dish. In this case, if you can manage it, everything should be homemade and fresh, the pasta, the shrimp, the porcini, and the fava beans. That means you should be thinking of making this recipe in May. Now, if […]
Take A Four-Course Meal Outdoors With A Grill Party
August 5, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Grilling takes effort. Lots of coal goes into building the fire; you wait for the coals to get hot; and the food cooks in about 15 minutes, if you’re having steaks, burgers, vegetables or hot dogs. And that’s it. The fire continues burning, wasting away, while you eat. How about getting full use out of […]
Asparagus Spears for Dinner
April 14, 2014 by Leave a Comment
This is the season for asparagus and if you’re lucky enough to have your own bed pick them when they are showing about four inches above the soil (three inches will remain below soil). If you’re buying them in a store make sure they sit very cold or refrigerated or at least standing in a […]
Wok Cookery is Just Plain Easy
September 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Wok cookery is so inviting partly because it’s so easy. Typically it’s Asian food that you’ll cook and what I love in particular is how it’s all cooked quickly in one vessel and clean-up is easy. So when I wrote my latest book ONE-POT WONDERS the wok got heavy use. For the ultimate fun guide […]
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