The first time I had battered, fried olives was about 20 years ago in Tivoli, Italy in a little restaurant off a twisty, windy street. I’ve since seen them pop up on a few restaurant appetizer menus.
Sometimes all you need to be deeply satisfied is home baked bread with added butter and jam given by a friend.
Decades ago, one of my go-to, fit-for-company dinners was baked chicken breasts stuffed with grated zucchini and carrot stuffing. An entrée and side dish in one, and a bit of a show piece, too.
Sangria is one of those nearly infinitely variable drinks. Mix and match wines, fruit, and the amount of sweetness to your liking.
I was walking down the grocery aisle and a bag of rigatoni caught my eye. What if this weren’t a giant-sized American main dish, but rather a more elegant first course?
A handwritten note from my grandmother on an early 1960’s newspaper recipe, “Danish” Cucumber Salad said, “Good!” So it must be. And so it is. Now, it’s even better.
Big bold flavors, and super-fast. Isn’t that want you want sometimes? Thick sliced, roasted tomatoes with a dollop of pesto and melted cheese.
When a friend (or farmers’ market) gives you freshly picked fava beans, smile, say thank you, and get shelling!
This post has nothing to do with the nuptials of a soon to be former EU prince this weekend. Rather, Marie Antoinette would be proud.
With warmer weather it’s time to get outside. Linzer bars, a shortbread crust with jelly filling, are a simple and portable snack to take on the go. Why I decided to make them now is another story…
Greg Nelson Cooks 