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A delicious meal ready in 30 minutes! Fontina is a rich, semisoft cheese with a nutty flavor and there’s a faint hint of sweetness. Gorgonzola is a blue veined cheese that’s great for melting in sauces. Gorgonzola (dolce) is softer and sweeter whereas Gorgonzola (naturale) is sharper and drier. Emmentaler (aka Emmental) is a medium…

This aromatic Egyptian dish lets everyone know something delicious is coming out of the kitchen! Modern Egyptian cuisine shares many dishes with neighboring counties such as Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories. So don’t be surprised to find hummus, kebabs, tahini, babaganoush and koftas on the menu! Check out inmamaskitchen for more information on Egypt,…

This recipe hails from my all time favorite celebrity chef, Jamie Oliver. I started watching his cooking shows 8 years ago and while some don’t like him, I think he’s great! He has inspired so many people to get back to the basics of cooking and start eating healthy, wholesome foods without slaving away in…

Being able to prepare a meal with the least amount of fuss is key for me especially when I’m in a hurry. Frittatas (Italian omelette) have to be one of the easiest dish to make. A meal that incorporates meat, cheeses and vegetables all in one dish. What’s the difference between an omelette and a…

The meatball is a recipe that originated in the new country…..meaning Italian’s who immigrated to America in the early 1900’s. They took advantage of bountiful meat (something that was either scarce or too expensive back in Italy at the time) and the meatball was the beginning of the Italian-American food culture that flourishes today. Meatballs…

This is a popular salad throughout Italy and the ingredients will differ slightly from each region. Italian salads (insalata) are simple and ingredients are harvested at the peak of seasons which guarantees freshness and loads of flavor. Olives are fruits of the tree known as Olea europaea. “Olea” is the Latin word for “oil,” reflecting…

This was a traditional Victorian era recipe (and a party favorite of the 1970’s) which used marinated prunes stuffed with spicy chutney, wrapped in bacon, smeared with hot mustard and baked, broiled or grilled until crisp. Dates are a great source of dietary fiber and are one of the best natural sources of potassium (helps…

I’m always looking for new appetizers and when I saw this I knew it would be one for the collection! Crostini is an Italian word for little toasts. Cannellini (kidney) beans are a very good source of cholesterol-lowering fiber, as are most other beans. In addition to lowering cholesterol, kidney beans’ high fiber content prevents…

Another dish from Kylie Kwong’s, Recipes and Stories cookbook. In the Chinese culture a banquet can be a social or commercial event to celebrate anything from a graduation to a successful business deal. Dishes are chosen carefully as different foods symbolize recognizable meanings to the guests. A Chinese meal will consist of a number of…