I’m not Italian, but I adore Italian food, and my obsession started as a kid. My family’s old farmhouse had a big yard with a field that backed up to our Italian neighbors. I was friends with their granddaughter, who lived there with her brother, mother and grandparents, and it was my first exposure to…
basil
Halibut with Warm Chourico & Corn Relish
My friend Glenn recently took a trip to Homer Alaska and nabbed huge fish, including Lingcod and Halibut. Here are just some of the big Halibut those anglers caught (they all look pretty happy, especially Glenn on the far left): Luckily for me, he shared some when he got home, and I graciously accepted. This…
Moringa & Basil Pesto
Moringa is a hearty tree that produces branches with small, dark, pretty leaves. In some areas, it’s even referred to as drumstick tree or horseradish tree because of its long, narrow, triangular seed pods. It originated in Himalaya but it’s also grown readily in the Philippines, Malaysia, India, and Central and South America. It grows…
Heirloom Tomato Galette
As a kid in Massachusetts, my family had a beautiful garden filled with string beans, zucchini, yellow squash, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes, and every summer we got our fill of tomatoes, when they all seemed to ripen at the same time! When a tomato is ripe, sun-warmed and fresh-picked, there’s nothing better. Am I right?!?…
Fresh Tomato Soup
When I was a kid, I was definitely not a fan of tomato soup. My mom usually served it on days when I had been playing in the snow for hours and basically would have eaten anything because I was starving (and frozen). But it was definitely a tough go — the only saving grace…
Mahi Mahi with Strawberry, Mango & Mint Salsa
This time of year, strawberries are in peak season in Florida, and I’ve been busy coming up with recipes incorporating the beautiful berries I recently picked at a U-Pick farm. Getting them off the vine is a real treat – there’s nothing like chomping into a fresh, pristine berry that’s been warmed by the sun….
Quinoa, Date & Tangerine Salad
In our house, we LOVE quinoa (pronounced keen-wa). My husband especially loves to find a batch in the fridge because it offers a healthy, protein-packed snack before he heads to the gym. As for me, I love the fact that it’s so easy to prepare, it’s delicious, and you can pull a salad together quickly…
Grilled Wahoo & Stuffed Portobello
Wahoo. A cool name for an awesome fish! How it got its name, I don’t know, but what I do know is that when fishermen hook one, the first thing they say is “Wahoo!!!” This fish is related to mackerel but it tastes even better. It’s a fierce pelagic predator, and I’ve even heard it…
Summer Corn Chowder
With all the rain we’ve been having in southwest Florida lately, I’ve been making lots of soup and this corn chowder was definitely a crowd pleaser (well, as much as you can call two people a crowd, because our two cats don’t count). The same day I made it, a re-run of The Devil Wears Prada was…
Citrus Infused Whole Roasted Snapper
We’re doing something a little different today. . .cooking a whole fish! Don’t be intimated — it’s actually a little easier than cooking a single fillet and you can even make stock with the leftover bones and pieces! If you’re fortunate enough to catch a fish yourself, that’s great, but you can also find one…
Refreshing Watermelon Gazpacho
Summer in Florida can be intensely hot, so I take any opportunity to prepare meals that don’t require a stove or a grill (not as easy as you might think!). Gazpacho is a perfect dish because it’s easy to make and you can be creative and flexible with the ingredients, depending on what you have…
Zoodles with Tomato, Corn & Basil
Zucchini noodles (“zoodles” as they’re now called) offer a nice alternative to pasta, so they’re particularly great for folks on gluten free or paleo diets. I finally got on the bandwagon last year and have to say I enjoy them AND it’s fun using my spiralizer tool! I don’t know about you, but I love…
