The olive harvest and pressing is taking place everywhere in Tuscany. If we are lucky we will be able to have our own olive oil this year! Certain villages are really known for their olive oil feasts, as Montisi, and others are famous for the truffle, as San Giovanni d’Asso. If the butcher puts white … More Olive oil and truffle, the current protagonists in the kitchen
Although we knew place and time would be limited, North Sea shrimps were on our Belgian shopping list (thanks again, daddy Michel). Our small freezer was empty enough to take care of the proper conservation, and today we can enjoy filled eggplant. Halve a large eggplant. Make a few incisions. Add a drizzle of olive … More What did we bring from Belgium? 😉
Wind and rain = perfect weather for a chicken stew. We spend a lazy Sunday in a house full of boxes with two anxious cats, a senior sleepy dog in our cozy kitchen. The extra hour of sleep is a nice gift ;-). Prepare the stew in the morning and finish before dinner. Chop and … More Stormy weather
For 2 p, boil 500-600 grams of potatoes (small potatoes would be the best, but hardly to find in Italy) for 10 mins in salted water. Drain. Slice 600 grams of fennel thinly. Mix with the zeste and juice of 1 lemon. Keep cool. Put the potatoes in an oven dish. Add 4 chopped garlic … More Mullet and fennel in perfect harmony
A pomegranate tree is beautiful, in the spring with its awesome flowers, and in automn with its delicious fruit, a real must have in our garden. Slice 1 red onion. Mix with the juice of 1 lemon, some red wine vinegar, 1 table spoon of honey and 5 chopped dates. Put 250 grams of halloumi … More Pomegranate season
Every day I check my post and still, no new delicious magazine. My cookbooks are waiting for me in the new house, packed in boxes. But, no problem, I can still find some good ideas in the few magazines left in our appartment. Chop and fry 4 garlic cloves, 2 spicy peppers, 1 red onion, … More Beautiful shellfish
‘My’ supermarket is having a complete make-over. This week ‘my’ fishmonger is temporarely gone and the fish is prepacked and installed in fridges. It looks less attractive, but still super fresh and really clean. So I buy cod filet for today, vacuum packed shells for tomorrow and deepfrozen sea fruit for Iris’ top recipe (which … More Cod in a crispy coat
Fresh artichokes are superb, but canned artichokes can be a perfect alternative for a lazy day or when baby artichokes are not available. Prebake a ready made puff pastry (make a few holes with a fork) in a cake form covered with firmly pressed baking paper in the oven at 180° for approx 10 mins. … More Canned artichokes ?
Gremolata is a mixture of fresh parsley, lemon zeste and garlic and is a wonderful way to give a fresh flavor to a lot of dishes. Mix 1 finely chopped garlic clove with a handful of finely chopped parsley and the zeste of 1 lemon. Boil a portion of pasta in salted water. Add 450 … More Gremolata
Halve 2 large bell pepper and remove the seeds. Chop and fry 1 shallot, 4 garlic cloves and 1 pepperoncini. Add 400 grams of minced meat ( lam would probably be the best choice but not for Iris, and thus I use my classical chicken mixed with Italian sausage meat) and bake. Add a handful … More Roasted bell pepper on a green bed
Doc V's Healthy Kitchen 