Whenever I am lucky enough to be back home in Italy, I visit my 97-year-old Grandmother and watch her cook. She still prepares three meals a day for her son and grandson, who live together in the same house minding the family hardware store. At each meal you will almost always find either meat or fish on the table, and her absolute favorite “Dinner Winner” recipe is a roast. Continue reading “Dinner Winner 5: A Post on Roast”
Tag: Dinner Winners
Dinner Winner 4: You Say Tomato
Tomatoes came in late this year. The Northern California tomato harvest usually begins in the mid to late summer and while the first fruits did arrive in August, it seemed as though we didn’t have our abundance of heirloom, early girl, roma and cherry tomatoes until early October. That simply means we are reaping the rewards of this late harvest right now, and our CSA boxes are filled to overflowing with these beautiful fruits weekly. I am, therefore, dedicating this week’s “Dinner Winner” to another dish I learned from Kathrin, one that showcases this abundant fall fruit, and takes only 15 minutes from prep to table. I call it Kathrin’s Quick Sugo.
Dinner Winner 3: A Pot of Rice
Over the past few weeks, in our very own version of “he said, she said”, Jessica and I have debated what constitutes a “Dinner Winner” . For me, a “Dinner Winner” is something that can be made and used across many meals such as a boiled chicken, a pot of rice, or a roast. For Jessica, a “Dinner Winner” is a good tasting, fresh dish that can be made (and served) in 15 minutes from pot to plate. And while each has it merits, it’s hard to say which is the true “Dinner Winner”. So, we’ll keep up this debate, send you a different “Dinner Winner” each week, and let you decide. This week it’s my turn to convince you that cooking across many meals is the winning way to go. To do this I am going to feature one of my favorite “Dinner Winners”: a versatile pot of rice. Continue reading “Dinner Winner 3: A Pot of Rice”
Dinner Winner 2: Marinated Chicken, Avocado and Spinach Salad
Several years ago – when I was living in NYC, and eating out for most of my meals – Kathrin invited me to her apartment for dinner. The idea of a casual dinner being prepared midweek, at home, by someone with a demanding job on Wall Street was foreign to me. I’d spent my time on weekend dinner parties, but who had time to make a quick healthy meal after work? Was I wrong! The “Dinner Winner” dish Kathrin served – a vegetable salad, warmed and brought together by marinated and sautéed pieces of meat – was simple and delicious. It is that meal that marked the moment I began my adventure of cooking at home. I’d like to share it with you today in hopes that it will inspire you too. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Dinner Winner 2: Marinated Chicken, Avocado and Spinach Salad”
Dinner Winner 1: Poached Chicken
Whenever we ask the kitchen dwellers reading this blog what gets in the way of preparing a daily cooked meal, the answer is nearly always time. Whether rushing home from work, shuttling the kids between activities, or trying to fit a mountain of errands into one day, time is of the essence. Therefore, tempting our audience with quick and easy meal ideas is one of the best ways to inspire our readers to get back into the kitchen. Once a week for the next few weeks we are going to feature our “Dinner Winners”, easy to prepare, (mostly) one-pot meals that don’t require much thought (or action) from you. Dinner Winners can be made in minutes and last for one meal, or might take a little longer to prepare and can be used in many different preparations over the course of a week; either way, they are there to simplify your life. Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Dinner Winner 1: Poached Chicken”
Come and Cook with Us 