There are few dishes in the world that I love as much as osso buco which, purely translated, is “hole in the bone.” I love it for the marriage of all its flavours into a comforting, richness. I love the philosophy of this dish. It is “slow food” done to perfection. While this classic Italian…
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Who doesn’t love Lady and Tramp? What kid doesn’t enjoy slurping spaghetti? Who doesn’t love a meatball (spicy or not)? With all due love to vegetarians in my life, I gave you my my almost vegan tourtière — now, this is my chance to indulge the carnivore in me … and the Italian in me which I’m…
Rum-Kabocha (Pumpkin) Risotto
Risotto is comfort food. Yes, you can make “healthy” versions of it as I did when I developed my Tuscan Kale Risotto earlier this summer. However, risotto is best prepared when it can just be, let its warm, sensuous, snuggling personality reach out, when it can comfort the soul and light a warm fire in…
Marinara Sauce … from harvest to scratch
There is making things from scratch … and then there is making them from harvest to jar or, in my case, from seed to jar. And as satisfying as all my preserves have been, there was nothing more satisfying than making my own marinara sauce with the tomatoes I grew myself. While the recipe that…
Minestrone with Chard and Prosciutto
My CSA shares have given me three challenges related to the regularity and volume of certain bounties: zucchini, kale, and chard. The first of these veggies I’ve managed very well; the kale is getting used as well, but with less imagination; the chard, however, has been a harder test. Zucchini is ‘easy’ by comparison because…
Prosciutto e Melone (Prosciutto wrapped Melon)
Insalata Caprese with Balsamic
Ahh… the flavours of the Mediterranean. There is an elemental purity to Mediterranean food which is hard to describe and which can really only be experienced. So elemental is it, that it is a challenge in my experience to fully participate outside of the region itself. You can taste the fire of the sun, the…
Penne Arrabiata (Penne with Italian Sausage and Shishito Peppers)
Mmm, sausage. There are few things in life that make being a meat-eater more satisfying than sausage … and, by that, I mean good sausage. After a day of exploring Montreal and a Dale Chihuly exhibit (see previous post for pictures), we returned home late and hungry. Anne attended to the needs of the dogs and…
Caprese Frittata with Mozzafina, Fresh Tomato and Zucchini
Ah! Sunday morning breakfast. There are few thing in life as noble in their ability to slow time down and create a pace of existence to which we can breathe the day full. The zucchini in my CSA share continue to challenge me and I continue to mount the hill but I’m now starting to…
Lemon Risotto with Tuscan Kale
Sex on a plate. Really, I challenge anyone to find a better way to describe risotto. It’s not a dessert, yet it is one of the most sensuous dishes ever devised. When I seriously started down the path of Italian cooking, there were a few dishes on my bucket list to discover, but risotto wasn’t…