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…
Tuscan Chicken with Olives and Bacon … and Wine
I cannot take credit for this recipe or the brilliant flavour profile that was created; however, I’m happy to share. All credit goes to Joanne, author of her own blog, NYC Fit Food and Fashion! Her own recipe of Chicken with Olives, Rosemary and Pancetta can be found here. Those that know me, though, know…
Fettuccine Carbonara with Sweet Peas
The sweet peas that arrived in my CSA share this past week have been screaming “do something different with us.” And really, who’s to argue with talking veggies? For some reason pasta came into my head and when I added the bacon and then the lemon zest in my brain, I had arrived at the…
Penne with Fava Bean and Fennel Purée (Pasta)
When this week’s CSA bin arrived, the thing I was most looking forward to was the fresh fava beans. This is an example of an idea that got into my head and has stuck 10 or 15 years. Over the years, I had read a number of recipes in my plethora of Italian cookbooks that…
Salmon Carbonara with Asparagus (Pasta)
The weather in Ottawa the past few months — indeed, dating back to last fall — has been akin to some kid flicking the weather “light switch” on and off repeatedly. On Monday, many people here still needed their furnaces — and a few days later summer suddenly has arrived and we are under a…