Salmon & spinach wrapped in pastry – Quick and easy

I was very pleased with this speedy little recipe. This is a good last minute meal, ideal as an appetizer or as an easy lunch when you have little time on your hands. This is when shop bought pastry comes really handy. You can use fresh or frozen fish and spinach or other vegetables you…

Pasta with mussels in tomato sauce – Simple recipe

I just love the flavour of the sea. Pasta with mussels is usually a dish I make at weekends simply because the mussels need to be really fresh and therefore bought on the same day but, as this is an easy dish and of quick preparation, you could certainly make it during the week if…

Black ink spaghetti with crab – “The long and the short of pasta”

Pasta is a feeling as well as fuel” Most people love pasta and I certainly do so, that’s why I was pleased to review “The Long and Short of Pasta”, a book which has a collection of over 70 Italian pasta dishes. The authors, Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi cover the basics of fresh pasta and…

Prawn & mango appetizers

This year for new year’s eve, I will be having friends around so I have been testing a few appetizer ideas. Appetizers can take a while to prepare and when you are faced with making dinner as well all you want is quick easy and tasty nibbles to go with a glass of bubbly. As…

Simple roasted whole fish with herbs and garlic

Who says that cooking a decent meal must take ages? Many Mediterranean recipes are of very easy preparation and with a few quality ingredients you can make wonders in the kitchen. So, quality not quantity is the key. Fish is one of the healthiest and lightest foods very popular in the Mediterranean cuisine. You can buy…

How to make octopus carpaccio

Homemade octopus carpaccio? It’s easier than you think! All you need is an octopus and a plastic empty bottle. You can buy a frozen octopus which actually works better than a fresh one. One of the best ways of ensuring that your octopus will be tender and delicious is to use one that was previously…

Devon in the English Riviera, where fresh fish is plentiful

I have just come back from a little holiday with my family in the south western English coast in Devon. We stayed in the town of Torquay and had a week of beautiful walks around the coast, several fish feasts in local restaurants, visits to animal parks and trips to several little towns around the…

The Rialto market in Venice.. a must-see if you love food

If you visit Venice and you love food then you must pay a visit to the Rialto market. As you walk from the station towards St. Marks square, where most tourists head to, I would recommend a visit to this extensive and vibrant food market. Recently I was in Venice with my family and when…

How to cook low-fat delicious food by chargrilling

Food does not always have to be loaded in calories to be tasty. I have said many times how chargrilling can bring out the best flavour in food. I can say with confidence that my griddle pan is my best friend. In Northern Italy many people own a cast iron griddle pan to chargrill their…

Seafood risotto to die for!

Whenever I go back to Italy there is one single thing that’s compulsory: have at least one shellfish dinner. There is a little local restaurant we know which is not too pricey and does the fish beautifully. This is where we always go to satisfy our cravings.I love those gigantic prawns, the ones you have…