My Favorite Italian Cheeses

I love cheese and although Reggiano Parmigiano is one of my favorite Italian cheeses, there are others that rank equally as high. With so many to choose from, I have highlighted the ones that my family and friends enjoy when we get together. GorgonzolaNamed for a town outside Milan where it was originally made, Gorgonzola…

Read More

Sauce alla Norma

When I think of Italian food my mind automatically thinks of pasta, fish and slow simmered meats. However, none of these would be as good if it weren’t for the sauce. Each region reflects the flavors and textures that make up each sauce – some are salty and sweet, chunky, spicy, velvety smooth etc. These…

Read More

Warm Fennel Dip

I’ve been on a bit of a fennel kick of late and am very happy to have found this recipe! The flavors here are awesome and while fennel has a distinctive licorice taste, roasting the fennel in the oven mellows the flavors. Fennel is a good source of fibre, vitamin C, folate and potassium. In…

Read More

Seafood Stew with Smoked Chili Aioli

This aromatic Mediterranean style stew is so simple to prepare and yet when presented at the dinner table, your family or friends will think you have spent the entire day in the kitchen! The added flavors of chilies and smoked paprika to the aioli gives this stew a bit of a kick. Ailoi (pronounced ahy-oh-lee)…

Read More

Artichoke and Tomato Pie

This crustless pie is perfect for a casual dinner or lunch. Panko breadcrumbs are found in Japanese and French cuisines and are used to create a crunchy coating for fried foods. Panko is made from bread without crusts which has a crisper, airier texture than most types of breading found in Western cuisines. If you…

Read More

Chinese Sweet and Sour Fish

I have to admit that I’ve never been a huge fan of fish (too many bones!). That being said, since coming to Asia I have learned to prepare and enjoy fish in different ways and that’s due to the many Chinese restaurants we’ve eaten in over the years. This dish is a bit like homemade…

Read More

Dukkah

Dukkah (pronounced ‘do -kah’) is an Egyptian blend of coarsely ground nuts and spices. Use it by dipping bread in extra virgin olive oil then into the Dukkah. I remember the first time I encountered this curious looking mixture when I was still living in Singapore. My husband and I went out for dinner at…

Read More

Creamy Beef and Vegetable Stroganoff

Although I like a simple stroganoff at times of just beef, mushrooms, onions and sour cream I do like the idea of adding vegetables to a meal. Beef Stroganoff is an authentic Russian dish which hails from Saint Petersburg. The story goes that a chef was employed by the wealthy Stroganoff family (back in the…

Read More

Oven Baked Pumpkin, Leek and Chicken Risotto

How wonderful it would be to wind down after a long, hard day with a wholesome, home-cooked meal! This one pot meal does the trick and can be easily made when you get home from work without having to be in the kitchen for a long period of time! Yes, I know what you’re thinking,…

Read More