I adore Italy and it’s beautiful cuisine but after several days of eating Italian, I’m ready for a change of cuisine. That’s the American in me, spoiled by the abundance of foreign foods available. But we Americans aren’t alone, our Australian cousins and British parents also love ethnic foods. We all tend to agree that Mexican, Thai, Chinese and Indian are among our favorites.
Grilled artichokes is a family favorite, even the pickiest of my nieces and nephews love the prickly thistle when it’s steamed, marinated and grilled. I can never take the drive to our coastline in Monterey without stopping in Castro Valley for some artichokes. They even have Italy beat in their pricing. Most of the year you can find 10 artichokes for a dollar at the Castro Valley roadside stands. I love the bargain as much as I love eating them!
(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!
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.
Seasons are changing and here in Italy fall is in the air. The mornings have that cool crisp feeling and we are starting our day a little later as even the sun wants to stay in bed longer. This slight change is bridging that gap between two seasons: the waning of Summer and the start of Autumn.
Oh, the Classic American Hamburger, so good in all of its simplicity. Or delicious in its complication when an egg is added or aioli or brie and cranberries, my goodness, how we have grown from our simple roots.
I have had a love affair with Gyoza for many years. I first tasted them in Modesto, California. I loved the perfect little Chinese dumpling spiked with ginger and steamed, then fried crispy on one side. In the Chinese restaurant they served them with red chili oil and vinegar along with soy sauce.
(Roasted Eggplant Dip)
The garden is in full swing and everyday I am harvesting crisp green cucumbers, shiny purple eggplants, juicy red tomatoes, green beans, okra and peppers. I have had to become innovative on how to incorporate all these healthy veggies into our normal meal plans. I scoured the internet and came to see that a Mediterranean diet was the solution.
