Please Pass the Parsley

Last week we took a walk down summer’s lane and gave you a few terrific summer sauces to stock your fridge with.  This week we want to tell you a bit about a key ingredient in many of these sauces: parsley.  It’s not something we think about much in this country; usually it is found as a garnish on a dish, set to the side, and never eaten.  But parsley has so much more to offer than just decoration.  It’s unique flavor profile, and nutritional properties make it a great addition to many dishes.   And because it is easy to grow in a home garden, it is easy to come by and cheaply!  So get out those parsley seeds and plant them in your window box today.  Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Please Pass the Parsley”

All the Way from Italy

This is a special week for me as my husband Dan and I are headed off to Northern Italy for a belated honeymoon. Yay. We picked Northern Italy for two reasons: first, Dan, who is a winemaker, makes a wine in the style of that region.  The label is called Massican and it’s delicious, so I was game for a honeymoon in the region. But the second reason has to do with my friend and blogging partner Kathrin.  She introduced me to Northern Italy when she invited me to attend her wedding in her home town in Sudtirol. I am forever grateful to her for bringing this part of Italy into my life and heart, so for this week’s post I’ve asked her to share her two or three favorite recipes from the region. She’s cooked them all for me and I can attest first hand they are delicious. Come and cook with us (in Italy)!

Asparagus with Bozner Sauce
Spaghetti alla Carbonara
Hot Love Raspberry Dessert

Let the Mighty Bell Pepper Ring

Did you know that a majority of the green bell peppers you buy in the store are actually unripe red, yellow, or orange bell peppers?  Interesting fact, as it explains why peppers get a bad rap.  In addition to having varieties that can get quite hot, peppers can also be difficult to clean, and for some people, hard to digest.  Fear not! We are here to help you make peppers a part of your regular meal plan.  Come and cook with us! Continue reading “Let the Mighty Bell Pepper Ring”

Pappa al Pomodoro

It’s common sense.  Children learn by imitation. And because of this they eat what we eat (or what they see people around them eating or avoiding).  With that in mind, let me tell you about my oldest son’s most favorite dish: Pappa al Pomodoro. It is a dish he watched his father eat every Saturday at the little Italian restaurant in our neighborhood, and it is one that has become near and dear to his heart.  If it were up to him we’d be eating the Pappa (a.k.a. tomato soup) for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thankfully the rest of the family is happy to go along with his wishes. But it wasn’t always the case… Continue reading “Pappa al Pomodoro”

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.

Continue reading “Dinner Winner 4: You Say Tomato”