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A Perfectly Paired Summer Meal

The first time I saw a peach and tomato salad on one of the food blogs, I literally drooled. Oh, yes, I did. I knew there would be one in my immediate future.

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Braised White Asparagus and Leek Salad

gen·e·sis/ˈjenəsis/Noun: The origin or mode of formation of something.

People are always interested in recipe development…the how and why of how a dish came to be. I find it fascinating.

I have to give credit for the origin of  ”braised asparagus and leek salad” to Buccán, an upscale bistro in Palm Beach, which is where I first tasted the combination. And the thought of it lingered with me.

When I was planning a menu for a tapas-style dinner party, I decided this salad would be a unique and perfect base for the first course…and it was. (Note the usage of the word ‘base’.)  Continue Reading

Truffle-icious

In the 2+ years I’ve been blogging, I’ve been aware of an event called Weekend Herb Blogging. I’ve admired the posts I’ve seen because, by edict, they include any herb,  fruit, plant, flower, or vegetable. “I can do that”, I often thought. And then the moment passed.

This week, the WHB host is Cinzia of Cindystar who is also one of my constant companions on our Culinary Tour Around the World. How could I not support her? Plus I made a delicious lunch for myself this week that fit the criteria perfectly. Continue Reading

Asian Mushrooms + Your Health

I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but I don’t have a degree in nutrition nor am I even remotely an authority* so please enjoy this recipe and take the seemingly scientific info presented as a suggestion for your own further exploration.

I’ve seen a lot lately about the issue of chronic internal inflammation, an often symptomless condition with negative consequences. It’s said that “wellness is the absence of inflammation“, and that’s enough to pique my interest and perhaps influence some of my future food choices. Continue Reading

When Cantaloupe Marries Tomatoes

I recently discovered a winning combination. It’s cantaloupe and tomatoes. They were perfect together with just a little dressing the first time I tried it. So good, in fact, that I had to do it again almost immediately.

This time I really celebrated the bounty of summer and added some other seasonal items and some salt via the olives and feta. It’s obviously simple and it’s very tasty. Try it before Summer turns to Autumn. Continue Reading

Cod Fish Salad (Italy Meets Puerto Rico)

While I don’t eat cod fish salad often, I always enjoy it when I do…and this week I had a hankering. I like the Italian version with oil-cured olives and tomatoes — and I equally like the Puerto Rican version with avocado and lime juice.

It didn’t take a brainstorm to come up with the idea to combine my favorite elements of each. They certainly are complementary. Two traditional ingredients to the Puerto Rican version that I forgot are hard-boiled eggs and pimentos so we’ll call them optional. :)

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