Tuscan food, by tradition, is light, appetizing and extremely colorful. Feel free to experiment with any foods that fit into the latter category. Not a fan of olives? Use roasted eggplant! Want more veggies? Add roasted asparagus, chopped cherry tomatoes, zucchini–the list is endless! Create, Create! Here’s my version of a lighter, but very satisfying…
Category: Vegetarian
Pasta Alla Puttanesca Una Pentola-One Pot!
Una Pentola One Pot! The featured photo with Brio displayed on the plate of the cascading Puttanesca is not my own, but it is my namesake so I simply had to share 🙂 The history of pasta Puttanesca carries many colorful Italian folk tales. This slightly salty, piquant pasta sauce is full of flavors that…
Replace Bottled Sauce with 20 Minute Magnificent Marinara
While there are hundreds of amazing brands of pasta sauces on the market, I don’t buy bottled sauce anymore…period. Here’s why. This rich, thick, bubbly brew costs about $3.50-$4 a batch, possesses all of the freshness under the Tuscan sun and puts a smile on the face of everyone who consumes it. The Mmmms are infinite! Reasons…
Salade Nicoise
Nicoise Salad, or Salade Nicoise is a delectable, customary, bright, summer salad originating from Nice in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in France. Typically, utilizing produce from the open markets and balanced with distinctive Provencal seasonings. Commonly known as Salade Nicoise, this classic salad is in harmony with the cooking style of the invigorating, sunny…
Tuscan Panzanella-Italian Bread Salad
This week we will be exploring the wonders of salad–standalone, sandwich fillers, ethnic-based, potato packed and even an unusual, colorful veggie cornucopia! Today, I’m starting out with an old world, Italian, family favorite-Panzanella. This fresh, colorful spring and summertime salad offers an incredible and flavorful marriage of tastes–savory, salty, tangy, pungent and sweet. You may…
7 Lucky Foods For Friday the 13th: Combat the Bad & Make It Good!
Superstitions abound on this day; the dreaded Friday the 13th. Visions of black cats crossing your path, walking under open ladders, seeing the triple digits 666; all seemingly never good to encounter. Some people live in fear of Friday the 13th. They’ll have to get through May 13 the best they can this year, but…
Not to Be Denied Sides: Restaurant Style Refried Beans & Yellow Rice
So far this week we’ve spent the week gathering some scrumptious Mexican dishes, but where are the recipes for the “not to be denied sides?” Today we dedicate the day to just that, or those 🙂 Most all of us have opened up a can of refried beans to find a pasty, cylinder shaped, tasteless,…
Pico de Gallo aka Salsa Fresca
In Mexican cuisine, pico de gallo literally means beak of rooster. Legend has it that fighting cocks are calmed by their handlers by placing the rooster’s head in their mouth. Yum! 😉 It is said that darkness causes birds to immediately begin the sleep cycle. Often as soon as the handler puts the bird’s head…
Ana’s Earth Day Brown Rice & Vegetable Harvest Bake
On this day, April 22nd we demonstrate our support and protection of our beloved Mother Nature. Earth Day is an annual event celebrated worldwide and global actions are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more…
Crunchy Thai Cashew Salad
The undeniable simplicity of this salad is astounding! The crunchy astringent taste of cucumbers, the sweet crisp edge of carrots, cashews and red peppers, the pungent, licorice notes of cilantro and basil and the spicy, salty, sweet and sourness of lime, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and chili produces a memorable flavor explosion that you…
Once Upon a Spice 