Potato and green beans salad with black olives

Green beans are one of the delights of summer. As a child I used to pick whole buckets of them from the field. My mum would cook them and then freeze them for the winter.. we just had so many of them! Green beans or “fagiolini” were one of the delights of summer…after ice cream…

Super green risotto with crunchy prosciutto

This risotto has so much green goodness in it that I have called it “super green risotto”. To me, the more veggies there are, the better. Made with fresh green beans, peas, zucchini, a handful of arugola leaves and a few of crunchy prosciutto bits on top, this is a good healthy midweek meal and…

New potato salad with colourful roasted vegetables

Summertime is the perfect time to be healthier with our food choices and this does not translate into boring or tasteless meals. For the greatest tasting dishes make the most of what’s in season now and why not, let’s be creative with salads. They can be just as filling as a bowl of pasta; just…

Stuffed meat roll recipe and lunch “Al Ritratto”

My post today is about a special restaurant I visited which is very near lake Garda. This is a refined and classy place with the most impeccable service, I had not eaten so well for a long time. I am going to give it 5 stars as the prices are also very reasonable considering the…

Pasta e fagioli recipe

Summer is slipping away! I don’t mean to be negative but summer is always so short whereas winter lasts for ages! I love sitting in the garden under the shade of the trees listening to the symphony of  the cicadas. They get ridiculously louder as the weather gets hotter. At night they are replaced by…

Broad Fava bean, asparagus, mozzarella bruschetta

Sometimes when I run out of time or when I feel lazy I make bruschetta with whatever it is left in the fridge then off you go.. lunch is sorted! I love using wholemeal bread but rustic white bread is very good too. All you need is good bread, good olive oil and a clove…

Light Vegetable Pasta with toasted almonds

With spring well on its way I feel like having fresher and lighter dishes more and more. This simple and light vegetarian pasta with lots of crunchy vegetables and toasted almond flakes is just perfect for spring. The almonds will give that extra crunchy bite making a real difference to the final taste of the…

Broad beans spaghetti with ricotta, a thrifty and healthy recipe

I love creating dishes, especially pasta dishes and throwing vegetables into the mix as much as possible. And during summer time we certainly have plenty of choice! I bought some organic broad beans at my local farmers market and I made a pasta dish adding ricotta, prosciutto and fennel seeds for a delicate and interesting…

Minestrone and a beans party!

It is easy to feel nostalgic at this time of the year when seeing the summer slipping away to be replaced by autumnal air. Most people, by now, have already forgotten their summer holidays and are back to their busy everyday life. But is there any way we can ever feel the spirit of our…

Six yummy meals for the September Organic Campaign

As part of the September’s Naturally Different Organic Campaign I have received a second hamper full of fresh organic ingredients. Again these were essential ingredients to cook with, the basics you always need to have in the kitchen. With so many ingredients the basket also had organic lamb mince, passata, peppers and kidney beans. The…