Bread Sticks with Fabrizio

About 40 minutes outside of Milan lives my friend Fabrizio.  Apparently, he is a famous chef in the region - how exciting.  We met last summer in San Francisco through a mutual friend, Daniella.

Anyway, I promised him I would stop by his restaurant the next time I was in Milan... donna della sua parola...

Daniella's and my intentions were to help him in the kitchen and learn a few tricks... but to our pleasent surprise he insisted that we sit and enjoy a 3 course lunch - all ingredients locally sourced from within 20 miles!!!!

It was just Fabrizio, Daniella and me in his restaurant, enjoying lunch and broken conversation (Fabrizio does not speak a work of English!) while his sister and momma cooked and served for us!

After 3 hours, 2 bottles of wine, more gluten and pork than I've eaten in the past 5 years (seriously!) we slowly wobbled into the kitchen to learn how to make these amazing bread sticks.

Ingredients:
1 kilo flour
200 grams extra virgin olive oil

25 grams of salt
25 grams of lievito
500 grams of water

kneed
let rise
roll out into cornmeal
bake at 300 for 20 minutes and then at 200 for 10
(I think! This was about 2 weeks ago - I should have written it down)

A Summer Soiree

I catered a lunch yesterday with a menu that I am so excited about!  It was such a beautiful representation of what you'd find at a Farmers Market in July - so fresh and delicious - I have to share. If you are not a big meat eater - I think salmon would substitute nicely for the skirt steak.

Provence Party

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love an excuse to host a party.  So when my married friends and I started a monthly dinner group, you can imagine how excited I was when it was my turn to host!

I want to share this dinner party as an example of how simple it can be to host a fabulous supper in style and stilettos ah!
The key is to plan ahead and decide on a menu that can be prepped days before and requires little hands on time during your party... for example a cheese, fruit and nut platter for an appetizer and slow cooked meat for your main...

Savory Pie Bites

Blue Cheese, Skillet Red Potatoes, Pancetta, Caramelized Onion and Rosemary 

Herbed Goat Cheese, Zucchini, Parmesan and Thyme

Shrimp Sushi on a Sunny Sunday!

Anyone who has lived in San Francisco knows that September is the most beautiful month of the year.  It's actually common for the fog to disappear for a few consecutive days!  Everyone's mood changes and  positive vibes fill the streets, shops and cafes.

Squeeze In One More Summer Lunch

Photo courtesy of Downtown Romantic

Woke up Crabby...

At what point do you go from being able to have a few margaritas and still feel like 100 bucks the next morning OR have a few margaritas and wake up absolutely crabby!?
Does this aging happen over night, literally?!

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.

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

Roll into Spring

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!

Apricot Chutney

Spread on a baguette with chevre for breakfast, a flatbread with gorgonzola for lunch or dollop on vanilla ice cream for dessert

Lamb Meatballs with Yogurt Mint Dip

These are great little guys for an appetizer and can be made ahead of time

I love the freshness of the mint with yogurt.  

It adds a really nice refreshing contrast to the spicy lamb meatballs

Buckwheat Blini

so light and airy, these little guys are perfect paired with

smoked salmon or trout

Baked Dates filled with Chevre and Wrapped in Bacon

Ok, I don't eat bacon, buuuuuut, these I had to try.

These bad boys are a crowd pleaser for sure. They are so rich so you wont need to make more than about 2 per person.

Going Nuts for Rosemary Cashews

My aunt has been making these nuts every year during the Holidays for as long as I can remember. I seriously need to brush my teeth and chew on gum just to get myself to stop eating them!

They can be served warm out of the oven or at room temp.

Vanessa's Focaccia Pizzas

Vanessa and Jaime eating- because that's what we do best!

"Sausage" Focaccia Pizza

Spinach, Garlic and Pine Nut Focaccia Pizza

Baked Dates filled with Creamy Goat Brie Cheese

This is what heaven would taste like!

There is something so incredible about the Savory, Salty and Sweet 

flavors all coming together in one orgasmic bite!

Girls Dinner Party

My dear friend Alex came home for the weekend from law school in Boston, so what better excuse than this to have an All Ladies Dinner Party!?  The girls and I set the date and arrange who brings what- the best part is that all my friends eat super healthy and mostly vegan!

Erin, Kathryn, Alex, Jacquie, Kaity and Vanessa