September 20, 2012
Guacamole is easy to make from scratch. It’s particularly delicious in the summer months when you can get your hands on ripe local tomatoes. You can make this recipe more complex by adding diced red onions or cilantro. But I like the simple four ingredient guacamole the best.
August 29, 2012
If you are like me living in the NY/NJ area – the tomatoes are in full swing in late August. My mom’s garden, and the Farmers Markets, are overflowing with ripe, sweet, and beautiful tomatoes in all colors and shapes.
June 3, 2013
Asparagus season is in full swing here in the NYC region. I have been buying it and cooking it like crazy. I made this recipe for Baked Asparagus a few nights ago and it was a big success! Chris and I ate the whole batch and I bought more today to make it again. It only requires a few ingredients and it’s pretty low maintenance once you assemble everything in the baking dish.
February 29, 2012
Roasted broccoli with olive oil and lemon is a simple and delicious side dish. It a great recipe to try with kids or people that don’t love broccoli. I made a version of this for my two young nephews and it was a big success. Roasting sweetens the flavor of the broccoli, and the addition of lemon juice helps to caramelize tops of edges of the florets.
August 14, 2013
I love making frittatas for dinner because they are quick, easy, and a great way to use leftovers in a new way. For this frittata with kale, tomatoes, and ricotta, I used leftover sauteed kale, finely chopped, tomatoes from my mom’s garden, plus a little ricotta for a creamy bite, and some chopped parsley for garnish. For dinner, I like to serve it with a side green salad and roasted potatoes.
August 9, 2013
It is mid-August as I write this, which is about the time that gardens and farms start exploding with tomatoes. My mom sent Chris and me back home with a small box of them from her garden. I’m definitely not a canner, so I came up with this recipe for pasta with fresh tomatoes and kale as a way to use them up quickly and all at once.
May 16, 2012
I’ve never been a big zucchini fan. When restaurants add it to pasta dishes, like pasta primavera, I usually find it bland and watery. However, last fall I had it prepared at a restaurant in a way that was so delicious, my mind was changed forever.
August 6, 2013
Sauteed kale with tomatoes is a favorite late summer dish of mine. The ripe, farm grown tomatoes that show up in August at NYC farmer’s markets make this recipe extra special. And I just love how the balsamic vinegar sweetens the kale and compliments the saltiness of the parmesan cheese.
June 12, 2012
While supplies last! The strawberry growing season is so short in the greater NYC area. They arrive in late May and are usually gone by mid June. We stuff ourselves full of them while we can. They are delicious on their own, but my mom shared this recipe with me for Strawberries with Balsamic Brown Sugar Glaze, and it doesn’t get any better. Chris and I eat strawberries this way on top of yogurt, ice cream, and with our fingers straight out of the bowl.
January 31, 2012
I love this dish for Corn and Quinoa Salad. The colors are beautiful and it tastes just as good as it looks. The corn, parsley, and lemon give it a fresh, summery taste. It is great warm (when the quinoa is still hot) or cold (if you bring leftovers into work for lunch).