My mom has always loved the ocean. Lucky for us, as it meant that we spent at least a few weeks a year enjoying time on the beach. We travelled all over the Mediterranean sea, primarily Italy, Greece and Turkey. Growing up in the mountains, this was a special treat. I still remember a dinner we had in Cefalú, a small fishing village along the northern coast of the island of Sicily. Sizzling on the grill were delicious lamb sausages that had a particularly interesting flavor that really spoke to me. It was tangy, aromatic and full of a complexity foreign to the Italian and Tyrolean cuisine I grew up with. I immediately fell in love with that unique taste but only much later realized that it was za’atar. To this day, sweet childhood memories return whenever I eat this spice mixture. Let me introduce you to the lovely flavor that is za’atar. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “From A to Za’atar!”
Category: Featured Fruit and Vegetable
What’s in season and sounds good
Mighty Melanzane
Whenever Doug, my husband, returns from a trip, I like to welcome him back with a dish I know he likes. He usually wants “something with lots of vegetables”, probably to make up for the steaks and burgers he has on the road. One of his absolute favorites is melanzane alla parmigiana, a typical Italian dish featuring eggplant. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Mighty Melanzane”
From Holer to Hugo
When we stop in for a drink at a restaurant or mountain lodge in my valley, chances are that the most popular non-alcoholic drink offered to us is a “Holer”, or elderflower juice. It’s a staple home-made syrup that any of my friends make as soon as the elder flower blossoms are blooming, which is right about now. To this day, my mother, aunt, cousin, friends and friends of friends, spend a day or two this time of year, making elderflower syrup to drink throughout the year. I believe it is one of the most aromatic, delicate and almost perfect flavors in the world! Come and cook with us! Continue reading “From Holer to Hugo”
Have You Made Some Basil Pesto Yet?
Don’t you think that many dishes can be made tastier by adding a dollop of pesto? We certainly do. And with the summer sun high in the sky and basil doing really well in the garden, the large leaves are literally beckoning to be turned into something tasty. What better project, than making a nice batch of basil pesto. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Have You Made Some Basil Pesto Yet?”
Garlic Butter
When I was in college, my sister met a Australian boy traveling through Europe on her train ride to Milan. In a sign of compassion, she invited him to spend a few nights on our couch. After all, he didn’t have a place to stay. Long story short, he ended up making us dinner – he was an aspiring chef and, apart from teaching him a thing or two on how to cook pasta properly, he left me with the gift of garlic butter. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Garlic Butter”
Come and Cook with Us 