While summer fresh tomatoes make for a great pappa al pomodoro in the warmer months, here’s my version of the Tuscan classic you can enjoy year-round. If you have tomato sauce on hand this dinner, or first course, can be on your table in under 10 minutes. This soup is the perfect use for a…
WEEKNIGHT VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER
Valentine’s Day, which also happens to be my birthday, falls on a Wednesday this year – right in the middle of the week. If you’re trying to pinch some pennies or want to avoid the general craziness of reservations for overpriced meals, make dinner at home! Hold the expensive steaks, live lobsters, shaved truffles and tiny lamb…
SPAGHETTI AND SAUSAGE MEATBALLS
These “meatballs” are the perfect weeknight dinner. Armed with a big batch of Simple Tomato Sauce in your refrigerator or freezer, this pasta dinner requires minimal prep thanks to sausage. Rather than make meatballs from scratch, roll your favorite sausage into balls for a quick meal. Now, it may not be the most authentic version of the…
ESCAROLE WITH LEMON VINAIGRETTE
A good salad doesn’t have to be anything more than some fresh greens with a flavorful vinaigrette. I love serving hearty escarole, my favorite winter green, because it can stand up to a powerful dressing, like this lemon vinaigrette, and doesn’t quickly wilt. This cold weather salad pairs with just about anything from seafood to a pizza…
STEAMED LITTLENECK CLAMS AND TOMATOES
I’ve been hesitant to post a shellfish recipe (but here we are, I clearly got over it). I like to avoid fussy, expensive or hard-to-find ingredients and instead focus on recipes you can easily replicate whether you live on the Atlantic coast or a in mountain town. Good quality fish and shellfish can be a…