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…

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…