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…

Chinese food is a very welcomed addition to the many cuisines eaten in our kitchen. One of my favorite Chinese chefs is Kylie Kwong whom I had the good fortune to meet in May ’08 in her Sydney restaurant. Her style of cooking is always fresh, her recipes are easy to follow and her diversity…

Zucchini, also know as courgette, is a small summer squash and the flowers that grow from the zucchini are also edible. Like zucchini, these flowers can be stuffed, deep fried, sautéed or baked. Zucchini is an excellent source of manganese and vitamin C and a very good source of magnesium, vitamin A, fiber, potassium, folate,…

This is a traditional recipe from Venice. Venice cuisine isn’t solely associated with fish dishes. The Veneto hills are perfect for growing vineyards, orchards and vegetables which are all important ingredients in simple country recipes. Serves 4recipe from Vecio Fritolin restaurantpublished in TasteItalia magazine 4 zucchini, washed and trimmed280g arborio rice30g unsalted butter40g Pecorino, grated2…

Spanakopita gone very green! I love all the herbs and greens used in this dish. Spinach is high in vitamin K (bone health), vitamin A, managnese, folate, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B2 and the list goes on. Chicory is also the common name in the US and in France for curly endive. Radicchio or Belgian…

Cheesecake is a dessert that I make perhaps once or twice a year (if that). As much as I love the taste of a good cheesecake, I find this dessert very heavy especially after a big meal. These cupcake style cheesecakes make all the difference in the world. Cheesecake dates back to the first Olympic…

Up until 7 years ago, blue cheese never used to be on my list of favorites. I was on a cruise in Alaska with my husband. After dinner blue cheese was served and I was converted. My parents loved blue cheese and the more veins the cheese had (hence more smell), the more they enjoyed…

I’ll be the first to admit that creamed corn isn’t a staple you’ll find in my pantry. I much prefer corn on the cob but I do like corn fritters. Corn is a good source of vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin C, folate and a good source for dietary fiber. Corn is thought to have originated…