Zucchini Fritters

It’s hard to believe but just one month after planting the garden, it is already spewing zucchini! How do they grow so fast?!? It must be all of those hours of daylight, the sun rises here at 5:30 and sets at 8:30 pm. Perfect for aiding and abetting zucchini! So what do I do with all of these zucchini? Of course I have made the sautéd zucchini and zucchini bread but I’m already looking for other ways to prepare it. I remembered these delicious little fritters from a cookbook a friend gave to me years ago so I gave them a whirl and they came out delicious. A nice change from the norm. You can also zest them up with a little curry powder and minced jalopino if you like it exotic!

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Bagna Cauda (Bagna Caoda)

Bagna Cauda

Northern Italian Fondue from Piedmont (Keto Friendly!)

Bagna Cauda is one of our treasured Italian family traditions. It means “Hot Dip” and is from the Piedmont Region of Italy. My family are Northern Italians from Asti, Italy and Asti is smack in the middle of the Piedmont Region. Sitting on the border of France and Switzerland you can see how this unique Italian specialty came to be influenced by its fondue loving neighbors. The northern Italian gave their own spin to the beloved fondue by making it with butter, garlic and anchovies.

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California Style Grilled Artichokes

California Grilled Artichokes

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!

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Oven Roasted Herb Chicken and Potatoes (Arrostito Pollo al Forno con Patate) with “Keto” version

Roasted Chicken (Pollo al Forno)

What could be more homey than a chicken roasting in the oven with the smell of rosemary and thyme wafting through the air? The promise of a hearty meal soon to be set at the table. In our modern era of convenience foods the smells of a slow cooked meal are almost extinct. But this smell conveys the feeling of family and love and contributes to the families feeling of well being.

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