We enjoy the long Italian summer. Weekends are so much more relaxed if you can spend time outside, especially when you have a pool A ‘bloody mary- shrimp salad is more than welcome to finish a peaceful Sunday. Mix 1 large table spoon of concentrated tomato puree with 2 teaspoons of Worcester sauce, 2 teaspoons … More Still summer
Mindfulness is a general attitude. It can be sitting still and reflecting or being busy and focusing. I’m so fortunate to have lots of hobbies in which I can practice this ‘mind’ exercise. As you already found out, cooking is one of those mindful activities. There is the everyday cooking, and there is the ‘special’ … More Mindfulness
For an afternoon tea in the summer you can quickly prepare a perfect sweet delight with ready made puff pastry and summer fruit. Chop 250 grams of rhubarb in cubes. Add 300 grams of mixed forest fruit ( frozen is a perfect alternative), the zest of 1 untreated orange, 1 large table spoon of corn … More Sunny Sunday afternoons
All-in-one dishes are the new hype, but are already since decades my favorites. Donna Hay’s book, One Pan Perfect, is an incredible source of inspiration. The crispy potato cake with smoked salmon is an amazing dish for a hot summer evening. Home made smoked salmon was on my to-do list for a while. So I … More All-in-one dishes
It’s really hot in Tuscany. A perfect time for a colorful salad with halloumi. Slice 1 fresh red onion thinly. Put in a small bowl and add a few table spoons of red wine vinegar. Store aside. Roast 2 teaspoons of cumin seeds, 1/4 teaspoon of coriander seeds, 2 teaspoons of black mustard seeds and … More What to eat on hot summer evenings
Our weekly consumption of fruit and vegetables is impressive. I rarely will have breakfast without starting with 1 kiwi. Iris eats at least 3 pieces of fruit in combination with low fat Greek yogurt or oatmeal. An in between snack is most likely fruit. I really enjoy filling the fridge with all those beautiful colors. … More Extra flavor and color
Polpo, tomatoes and potatoes are a perfect combination. The only important preparation is to cook the polpo already tender. This time the cooking is a bit more elaborated than usual. Put 1 roughly chopped onion, 2 chopped carrots, 1 chili, 2 garlic cloves and a few stems of fresh thyme in a large pan. Add … More Marriage can be simple😉
Filled courgettes is always a topper. You can prepare the whole recipe in advance. Cut 800 grams of medium sized courgettes lengthwise. Use a small spoon to remove the meat. Leave a long solid cup of almost 1cm. Drain the meat. Put in a blender. Add 40 grams of breadcrumb, 40 grams of grated parmesan, … More Another dish for an Ottolenghi summer buffet
Wash 350 grams of dark seedless grapes. Put them in a bowl. Add 2 table spoons of old apple vinegar ( I can’t find sherry vinegar here which, I think, is even better), 2 table spoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, a pinch of salt, lots if black pepper, 1 finely chopped … More Roasted grapes and fennel seeds
What a diversity of local fruit we’re having now. It’s really awesome. As I probably have written before, desserts are not really my favorite course, but for a dinner with guests I always try to find an appropriate closure. Sabrina Ghayour gives me a few super simple and delicious ideas. Count 2 apricots per person. … More Summer fruits
Doc V's Healthy Kitchen 