A meal ready to serve within 25 minutes! Pancetta (sometimes referred to as Italian bacon) is a type of dry cured meat. It is pork belly that has been salt cured and spiced (nutmeg, pepper, fennel, dried ground hot peppers and garlic are often featured), and dried for about three months (but usually not smoked).…

What a lovely appetizer to show off to your family and friends! Radicchio is a garden plant from the north of Italy and is also known as red Treviso or red chicory. It offers a spicy bitterness that can add a bite to dishes when used raw, or that can be tamed through grilling or…

A beautiful way to enjoy fennel and fish. Fennel is a highly aromatic and flavorful herb with culinary and medicinal uses. Fennel is crunchy and slightly sweet, adding a refreshing contribution to the ever popular Mediterranean cuisine. It’s also a good source of fiber, folate, and potassium. Hiramasa kingfish has a delicate texture that is…

Frittatas are one of my favorite meals to make and are easy to whip up for a speedy mid-week dinner. A frittata is a type of Italian omelette with additional ingredients such as meats, cheeses, and vegetables. They make a great antipasto and are just as delicious the next day for breakfast or brunch. What…

What a perfect dish to salute summer! A simple, no-fuss salad that is sure to satisfy the most demanding foodie. Traditional fresh mozzarella is usually sold in containers of brine, shaped into delicate balls. Fresh mozzarella can be purchased in Italian specialty shops, cheese markets, and some natural foods and grocery stores. Originally made from…

What I like most about this dish is that it’s easy to prepare and quick to cook. You can have all the ingredients prepared in the time it takes to cook the linguine. Linguine is flat like fettuccine but narrow like spaghetti and is often served with seafood or pesto. Serves 4recipe by Jo Pratt…

Tumbet is a traditional recipe from Mallorca (Majorca). It’s a rustic vegetable dish that’s like a Provencal ratatouille and is presented in a way that it resembles a pie without a crust. So colorful and full of vitamins and minerals. How could anyone not want to eat this! Serves 4 (as a starter or side…

I know there are concerns about eating fish that might have mercury contamination but I also feel that moderation is key especially when you weigh the health benefits of including fish in your diet. Omega-3 fatty acids have been known as essential to normal growth and health since the 1930s, awareness of their health benefits…

I had recently purchased a book called, Working the Plate and saw how lovely this salad was presented. It inspired me to want to make it. The Cobb salad is a garden salad created by Robert Cobb and was a signature menu item of the legendary Brown Derby, a landmark restaurant in Hollywood, Los Angeles,…

This dish puts a new spin on macaroni and cheese. I grew up with macaroni and cheese (like most Canadians and Americans did) eating homemade versions as well as Kraft dinner (the Kraft Company put it in a box in 1937). My Mom’s recipe for macaroni and cheese came from two of her prized cookbooks;…

I never tire of salads especially those that have interesting ingredients. Eating Peking duck and duck curry are a couple of my favorites but I have to say I have always had these in a restaurant. I did cook a whole duck many, many years ago but really haven’t made any attempt since then to…