The most common way I have eaten artichokes in Italy is the “Roman Style”. This is reasonable since I am living in the general area of Rome and all cuisine in my area is influenced in the Roman Kitchen . Roman Artichokes are trimmed of all tough parts, with most of the Artichoke discarded. Each leaf is snapped off in such a way that the tough fiberous parts are removed.
In the Central Valley of California we love Indian food and we often go out to eat at lunch time and get served a silver tray full of Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice, Tandoori Chicken, Saag Paneer (homemade cheese with Spinach) and a pile of Naan (flat bread). I also love the spicy, tangy pickles and chutneys.
(with Keto, Vegetarian & Gluten free Versions)
Nothing warms the body like a steaming bowl of soup! We have been enjoying this French Onion Soup for years! Onion soups date back to ancient times and have always been a staple because onions are cheap and plentiful and you can always find one around even if you have nothing else! The French made this awesome by making it “gratinéed” this means with crusty bread and bubbling melted cheese on top!
During a recent dinner party I felt bad serving Tiramasu to our guests and leaving out my Keto crazy husband. So in an act of solidarity I got busy looking for a dessert he could have on the Keto diet. He had already bought a sugar substitute in the form of Erythritol so I was ready to create something delicious for him.
It’s Wednesday night and you’re asking yourself what your going to make for dinner tonight. This is something many of my friends dread, they hate the monotony of cooking night after night. They tell me they like to cook when they have time and are making something special but to think of something every night is daunting.
Persimmons are a fruit you either love or hate. In the Central Valley of California where I grew up, Persimmon Trees were plentiful, yet mostly unloved by most people. But how can you not admire a fruit that dares to sport a bright orange color during a time when all other fruit trees are shedding their leaves barren of fruit? In fact, I have memories of the bold, plump, orange persimmon fruit dangling on bare branches in the cold months of winter. I remember looking at this strange tree in a field of fog, barren of all leaves but the orange fruit still clings tight to its branch.
I am always so impressed when I see a large Paella pan filled with red rice, succulent pink shrimp, black mussels opened up, sausage and chicken, topped with parsley and lemon wedges. There is something so romantic and festive about cooking this large dish over an open fire in a special pan with a large group of friends.
How comforting it is to have a steaming bowl of soup on a cold November day. One of our favorite soups in my house is Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s like a party in a bowl and is a real crowd pleaser. I can’t even count how many countries I have made this soup in: America, Italy, Mexico, Nicaragua, Japan…I have been making this Tortilla Soup for years now and it never disappoints.
The Autumn air is crisp, the leaves are falling and the apples are ready for harvest. Its time to pack the family up and take a drive to the apple orchards and partake of the yearly tradition of picking apples.
Now that you have made a big beautiful batch of Creamy Polenta with Ragu, you may be fortunate enough to have some leftovers! You may have been surprised when you placed that smooth polenta into a bowl to have seen in completely congealed into a solid mass when you opened the container the next day!
