Monthly Archives: January 2014

Judy’s Special Exotic Green Salad and Reflections on Inspiration

Jan

An Insalata Tre Colori is an Italian salad composed of ingredients that bring three colors to your plate. There are limitless varieties of such salads on restaurant menus, but my favorite version is probably the one most commonly made with radicchio, endive, and arugula. The flavors are spicy and a little bitter while being complimented by their crunchy texture. It is a delicious salad to enjoy at either the beginning or ending of a meal as it is refreshing and palate cleansing. Insalata Tre Colori made with these bitter greens is particularly delicious topped with shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. The version of this salad that I am sharing with you today was created by my mother and brings back oodles of memories of growing up in a home filled with good food and culinary curiosity. I would like to share a story which is more of a rambling about how parmesan cheese influenced and inspired my interest in cooking.

Pomegranate and Citrus Salad with Brussels Sprouts

Jan

Fresh, clean, and crunchy, this salad is not only pleasing to the palate but is also a powerhouse of vitamins and antioxidants. Pomegranates have reigned the hit list of antioxidant rich foods for a long time now, but have continuously gotten ignored in my kitchen for being such a messy nuisance to tackle. I recently discovered a new gadget that brought the amazing power of pomegranates back into my recipes. Like many of the best things it is a rather simple and ingenious product that makes you wonder why you did not think of it yourself. The best thing about The Pomegranate Tool is that it is fast, easy to use, and takes the mess out of the formerly daunting task.

Banana Almond Ice Cream

Jan

We all do our best to start the new year off with better and healthier eating habits. One of the best things you can do for yourself to insure a healthier you is to consider giving up processed sugar. It is a tough habit to break, but once you get yourself on the straight and narrow you will be able to go for months without it. But beware, just a little taste of a piece of candy can send you right back down the rabbit hole of sweet cravings in an instant.

The good news is that if you are ready to cleanse your body of sugar along with the unnecessary calories and inflammation it causes, it only takes a few days to get the taste for it out of your thoughts. If you are a real sugar junkie who is consuming much more than you are actually thought you were, those first couple days can be brutal. This is a great dessert to make for anyone who suffers from a sweet addiction and trying to kick the habit. The natural sweetness will satisfy your cravings and curb your appetite all at the same time.

Minestrone with Fregola

Jan

There are times when no recipe will do other than the one you grew up enjoying. This is exactly the feeling I have about recipes for Thanksgiving and and dishes like Minestrone soup. My grandmother, Thelma, made this thick and hearty soup almost as frequently as she made her delicious Mandel Bread. Let’s face it, they were really the only two recipes I remember her preparing. But quantity doesn’t really matter when those that you are left with are really that good.