Strawberry Sunday

There are few things in life better than waking up on a Sunday with absolutely no obligations and plans.

To have the whole day to do whatever makes you happy... How often does this happen, really!?

I love a culinary challenge and any opportunity to get creative in the kitchen.  I thought, "Well, I have a big carton of strawberries, why not make every meal today involve strawberries somehow!?"

And that's what I did: created, cooked and indulged in 3 meals plus dessert!

Breakfast:

Baked Strawberry Oatmeal Crumble

Lunch:

Melting Cambozola, Strawberry and Thyme Crostini

Dinner:

Seared Ahi Tuna with Strawberry Salsa

Dessert:

Chocolate Lava Cake with Strawberry Coulis

What a delicious Sunday!

I'll write down my recipes before I forget, and post soon.

Packet of Provencal

 My favorite way to cook fish is provencal style:
capers, olives, tomatoes, rosemary in white wine is a heavenly combination!

My Summer Soup has a name and it's "Pistou"!

I love making fresh vegetable soup with a mix of beautiful seasonal veggies.  I had no idea that the product of my mornings trip to the farmer's market is a specialty in Nice, France.  You see, I belong in France!

Eggplant with Cinnamon, Pine Nut and Currant Pilaf

The funny thing about cooking all day for a living is that by the time you get home, the last thing you want to do is cook for yourself.  In an attempt to try and eat more well rounded meals (how long can I live off of Greek yogurt honey and walnuts) I thought a good place to start would be to make something that I can cook in advanced and reheat during the week.

Warm Avocado and Pesto Crostini

I feel so sorry for avocados.  They have such a short life.  Really, only one perfect day to be enjoyed at its best.  And once you cut in, there is no going back.  It's only downhill for the little lady from there.

Like Pesto- But Not Really

I loooooooove pesto, and have so much fun experimenting with the herb and nut combos!

Marinated Feta and Roasted Asparagus on Crostini

Oh my gosh, talk about a party in my mouth! This was inspired by the pound of asparagus lingering in my fridge and my latest obsession with marinated feta.  Well, not to mention, I had an hour to think about what to have for breakfast as I was waiting for my car tire to be patched (I'm always driving over nails!)
Oh I just thought of something great! How delicious would a poached egg be on top? So the order would be: toast, asparagus, egg, crumbled feta.
Ah, I cant wait to try it! can't it be tomorrow morning already!?

Marinated Feta

Spread over warm crostini and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic

Quinoa Tabbouleh

All the times I enjoyed tabbouleh in Greece and Turkey this summer, I thought, "how nice would this be made with quinoa as oppose to bulgur"

Roll into Spring

Turkish Sultains Ate Beans Too

Turks and Beans go hand in hand

Vegetarians and Beans go hand in hand

Me and Turkey go hand in hand

Pick Me Up Rice Pudding

When you're feeling a tad down in the dumps, there's nothing better than a little warm creamy sweetness to get your happy pheromones jumping :o)
Rice pudding does the trick

Slow Cooked Lamb, Mastello

Mindee and I quickly became obsessed with Mastello, a specialty on Sifnos Island.
Mastello is lamb cooked in wine for hours and to the point of melt-in-your-mouth tenderness

Turkey...not the kind on Thanksgiving...

Baklava

Sweet, Sweet Heaven

Greece In June

My cousin Mindee and I spent a wonderful week exploring the island Sifnos in preparation for her wedding that will be held there next summer. 

Chickpea Balls

On mine and Mindee's first night on Sifnos, Greece, we had a wonderful dinner at O Argiris in the port of Kamares.

We started our dinner with chickpea balls and a Greek salad followed by melt-in-your-mouth slow cooked lamb called Mastelo, all Sifian Specialties!