Doesn’t this look delicious? Fresh tomatoes, basil, mushrooms, onion, garlic and toasted pine nuts?? What more would you need for a stunningly healthy dinner? Oh yeah, fresh pasta!! Begin by toasting the pine nuts: evenly spread out nuts on baking sheet or glass pyrex dish and cook in a 400 degree oven for 8 minutes (or until...
Bruschetta. Though technically it means “thick slices of bread grilled, rubbed with garlic, drizzled with olive oil” (thanks Webster’s!), to me it conjures up images of summer when there is an abundance of fresh tomatoes and basil. So, as I sit here in mid March with yet another snow storm approaching, I decided to make...
SUMMER’S BOUNTY! I love summer. Between my garden and the farmer’s markets, fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs abound! There is nothing more spectacular then plucking vegetables and herbs right from the garden, eating them within minutes still warm from the sun’s rays. The key to this salad is to always use the freshest and finest...
For many, 2014 started off really cold. Who ever heard of a polar vortex? Chicago being labeled Chiberia? I was fortunate enough to have missed the brutally cold air but the mere thought of it made me retreat to the warmth of my kitchen and make soup — a staple on a normally chilly day...
It’s cold. It’s windy. It’s snowing. It’s Chicago in January. It’s the perfect time to get in the kitchen and whip up my Winter Stew! Whether you are experiencing my kind of winter or are lucky enough to live somewhere warm, Winter Stew is a delightful dish to satisfy any type of winter day (or...
I had the most amazing lunch today! It was so delicious that I knew immediately I had to share it with you guys ASAP! Part of the fun was picking the tomatoes, cucumbers and basil fresh from my vegetable garden (warm from the sun, mind you). But this salad would be just as good if...