Green Bean Salad

Eating seasonally is an essential part of living a healthy, mindful lifestyle. Whenever I go to the grocery store, or, better yet, the farmer's market, I draw inspiration to create new recipes from whatever produce is currently in season. Last week as I wandered through the produce aisle, I saw a bunch of beautiful green beans and decided, right then and there, to make a green bean salad. Here's another easy, fresh, and seasonal recipe for the collection:

1. Set a small saucepan of water to boil with one teaspoon of salt

2. Cut off the ends of the green beans and cut them in half.

3. When the water boils, add the green beans and cook until tender, 5-10 minutes.

4. Drain the beans and run cold water over them. Dry thoroughly

5. Pour into a large serving bowl. I use our Farmers’ Market or Pasta Italiana serving bowl.

6. Add tomatoes, green onions, garlic, and mozzarella to beans.

7. Drizzle olive oil over salad, dust with remaining tsp. of sea salt and toss.

8. Serve immediately or chilled. (But I like it at room temperature.)

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Simple Text version:
Ingredients (serves 4)

1 lb fresh green beans, stems removed and chopped in half

1 pint fresh, ripe cherry tomatoes, stemmed and halved (This is peak tomato season! Take advantage!)

1 bunch green onions, chopped coarsely, whites only

2 garlic cloves, minced finely

1 cup fresh baby mozzarella balls (roughly the same size as the cherry tomatoes)

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp freshly ground sea salt

Directions

1. Set a small saucepan of water to boil with one teaspoon of salt

2. Cut off the ends of the green beans and cut them in half.

3. When the water boils, add the green beans and cook until tender, 5-10 minutes.

4. Drain the beans and run cold water over them. Dry thoroughly

5. Pour into a large serving bowl. I use our Farmers’ Market or Pasta Italiana serving bowl.

6. Add tomatoes, green onions, garlic, and mozzarella to beans.

7. Drizzle olive oil over salad, dust with remaining tsp. of sea salt and toss.

8. Serve immediately or chilled. (But I like it at room temperature.) 

Celebrate The Tomatoes

This is it! Act now! It’s harvest time! Prime time for…

TOMATOES.

Sam Sifton’s marvelous ode to tomatoes and “valedictory meals” in the New York Times Sunday magazine inspired me to write my own ode to tomatoes.

My homemade late-summer tomato sauce rarely fails to fill hungry stomachs, and always pleases discerning palettes. The best part is that it is very simple to make. I am telling the truth.

Especially at this time of year, it is so important to make the most of the fresh food available. I can’t stress enough that cooking “from scratch” with fresh ingredients does not have to be difficult.  To prove it, here is a photographic step-by-step instruction guide to make…

Rosanna’s Late Summer Tomato Sauce

Ingredients

1 lb fresh, ripe, and juicy summer tomatoes

1 cup olive oil

1 bunch coarsely chopped green onions

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

4 tbs salt (preferably sea salt)

1 lb penne pasta

Steps

1. Wash tomatoes in a strainer
2. Set pot of water to boil, for the tomatoes

3.   Prep a bowl of ice water in the sink

4.   When water boils, plop one or two tomatoes in the pot. Leave for 3-5 min, until the skin begins to crack. Then remove tomatoes with a slotted spoon and place in the bowl of ice water.

5.   Put another pot of water to boil, for the pasta

6.   Peel the skin off the tomatoes. They should come off easily.

7.   Liquefy the peeled tomatoes in a food processor or blender.

8.  Chop green onions coarsely and garlic finely. Set aside.

9.    Pour olive oil into a large saucepan. Put on med heat and allow oil to warm.

10  Add green onions to saucepan, garlic a little after, and stir until translucent, about 5 minutes.

11  Add pureed tomatoes to oil and onions. If the sauce starts to boil, reduce heat to low and let simmer for 15 min.

12  Add 2 tbs. salt to sauce and stir

13  Let sauce simmer for at least 20 more minutes, but the more time the better. Add more salt to taste.

14  Add 2 tbs. salt to boiling pasta water. Then add penne pasta. Let pasta cook until firm but not crunchy, 12-15 min.

15  While the pasta is cooking, set the table. We used Cin Cin! glassware, Farmer’s Market bowls, and Napoleon pearlized copper flatware.

16   Drain pasta and ladle a portion of sauce into the empty pasta pot.

17  Pour pasta back into pot, ladle more sauce over the top of the pasta, and mix. Add more salt to taste.

18  Ladle pasta into bowls, and finish with salt, Parmesean cheese, or chopped fresh basil.

See? I told you it was easy.

Buon Appetitio!

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Quick Mediterranean Fish

Now that the seasons have solidly changed, I've been playing in the kitchen a bit to figure out some new summer recipes. My rule of thumb is to cook meals that are fresh, delicious and healthy. This may sound like a tall order, but meeting all of these goals at once doesn't have to be difficult. I wanted to share a wonderful dish I have no problem whipping up, even after a long day at work. This fish recipe only takes 30 minutes to prepare. It's nutritious and flavorful, and my family loves it. As long as you have good quality, fresh ingredients, this is a recipe you can't mess up. If you make it part of your weekly repertoire, it can also save a significant amount of time you'd otherwise spend on menu planning.

Quick Mediterranean Fish

Ingredients
olive oil
sea salt
1 large cut of the fish of your choice
1 large package fresh spinach
garlic
1 bulb of fennel
1 shallot
1 bunch or package of cherry tomatoes (the riper the better)
1 bunch asparagus (if in season)

Instructions
Heat the oven to 350 on the bake or convection bake setting
Coat bottom of porcelain or glass baking dish with 1/3 cup olive oil
Wash the spinach, place it in the dish, and lightly salt
Chop:
3 garlic cloves (minced)
Fennel (finely)
shallot (finely)
cherry tomatoes (in half)
asparagus (2 inch lengths, discarding the first two inches at the bottom of each stalk)
Sprinkle the vegetables over the spinach with olive oil
Put vegetables in oven for approximately 20 minutes or until spinach is wilted and the other vegetables are softened
Take the dish out and gather vegetables together into a small mound
Place the fish on top of the mound of vegetables and spoon some of vegetable mixture on top of the fish
Lightly drizzle the vegetables and fish with more olive oil and dust with salt
Put dish back in the oven
Continuously baste the fish with the olive oil and vegetable mixture to keep it moist while cooking

I usually cook 2 lbs of fish for my family, and that takes 35 minutes. Obviously, the cook time will vary depending on the amount and type of fish you have. To check for doneness, insert a knife to see if the fish is flaking. Also use the knife to see if the center is cooked.
Once cooked, the fish should be very moist and aromatic from the infusion of vegetables and olive oil.

My favorite fish to use is halibut, but you can change fish out each season depending on what's available. Red Snapper and wild Pacific salmon would also taste divine. Even though wild fish is more expensive, I never buy farm raised fish. I believe the health benefits outweigh the cost. I also stay away from high mercury fish like tuna and swordfish. Cook with different types of vegetables as they come into season, and use your favorite FRESH herbs (never dried!) to infuse the fish with diverse flavors.

I was so excited when I discovered this recipe. It's a healthy, one dish dinner with all the nutrients you need for a balanced and wonderful summertime meal.

-Find a recipe that's easy to do and your family likes. Then repeat it with variations.
-Try to incorporate healthy ingredidents when feeding your family. It's essential to good health.
-Once you have the basics of cooking down, don't be afraid to experiment with your recipes!
-Buy local. Buy fresh. Buy what's in season.





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So long, Summertime

I hate to say it, and I don't want to admit it but here it is:

There are only 11 days left before September 1st.

Summertime is winding down, and we are on the precipice of a new school year and the long, cold months of winter. As the inevitable change of seasons draws nearer, I've been trying to think of ways to hold on to the glorious langour and ease that's associated with summer for the year ahead.

The answer came to me in a jar of fruit preserves.

I imagined how nice it would be to open up a jar of summer peaches in the middle of the cold, drizzly, and- let's be honest- depressing month of January. The fruit would serve as a reminder of the warmth of vibrance that had graced the earth just five months earlier, although all evidence of that time would be long gone. It was then that I realized that not only can we store up on summer foods to get us through those difficult winter months, but that saving up our summer memories can be just as rewarding. When the weather is nasty and life seems like it's become a bit of a slog, drawing on a reserve of special memories is an instantaneous way to lift the spirits and infuse life with a small surge of vibrancy.

An impromptu summer dinner in the backyard, an afternoon spent making a berry pie with the kids, taking a walk as the sun begins to set, s'mores at a bonfire, sleeping outside in the backyard, nights without bedtimes spent gazing at the stars, an afternoon at the lake or the ocean.

Start storing up now. Remembering experiences like these or any others that are special to your family are like balm for the soul, capable of conjuring warm breezes and mellow sunshine in even the bleakest of winter months.





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Summer Reads

The lazy days of summer. Even for those of us who work, there is something about the warmer weather and the promise of a respite from the usual drudgery that makes us feel a little more free. Tomorrow, August will arrive. However, there is still enough summer left to make good use of that feeling of freedom to dive into a good book. Even if you don't get around to them this summer, here is my short list of favorite reads. Some are a little lighter than others, but I do believe that there's enough variety here to please an array of literary tastes.

Summer At Tiffany by Marjorie Hart
A light memoir in which Ms. Hart relates her experiences during the summer of 1945, which she spent working in Manhattan as one of the two first female sales pages at Tiffany's. Ms. Hart vividly describes glamor of WWII era old New York as seen through the eyes of a small towngirl from Iowa. A light and fun summer read written by a member of, as Tom Brokaw christened them, "The Greatest Generation."

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover
This newly released book by novelist Barbara Kingsolver chronicles a year in the life of her family after a collective pledge to eat only foods grown within their county lines. Well written and highly informative, "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" is a pleasure to read, as well as a wealth of information regarding the food we eat, where it comes from, and the enormous amount of effort that goes into growing it. I also love the fact that the book is co-written by Ms. Kingsolver's husband Steven and her 19 year-old daughter Camille. With the bountiful produce that graces this season, summer is the perfect time to read this illuminating book.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
I'm a sucker for anything to do with the Tudor family. My daughter teases me, claiming that I keep reading the same story over and over again, just in slightly different wording! That may be true, but of all the books I've read about the usual Tudor history, "The Other Boleyn Girl" is my top pick. It's juicy- filled with intrigue and narrated by Anne Boleyn's sister Mary Boleyn, who was Henry VIII's mistress before her ill-fated sister. The story is so good in fact, that it is actually being made into a motion picture with Scarlett Johansson as Mary and Natalie Portman as Anne. I'm sure it will be highly entertaining. In the meantime, pick up the book to to see what I mean!

Under The Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
This book by an American writer who buys a villa in Tuscany has already been made into a largely successful film starring Diane Lane. However, the similarities between the book and the movie stop there. Well written and easy to read, Frances Mayes' observations on living in Italy and refurnishing her old home in the hills of Cortona will make you want to jump on a plane and do the same.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
David Sedaris is actually my daughter Alessandra's contribution to this list. He is one of her favorite authors. They share the same dry wit as well as a knack for zoning in on absurd aspects of a situation and then retelling the events in such a way that has you laughing out loud. "Me Talk Pretty One Day" is a collection of personal essays in which David Sedaris reflects on his struggle with the French language and the dynamics of his offbeat family among other amusing topics.

Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis
"Auntie Mame" is another book containng colorful characters, namely the author's extravagant and dramatic aunt, Mame Dennis. The Plot: As a little boy, Patrick Dennis goes to live with his Auntie Mame in Manhattan during the roaring 20's. Chaos, adventures, misunderstandings, and hilarious circumstances ensue.

French Women Don't Get Fat by Mirele Guiliano
This book is a great guide on how to live a balanced life. It is written by a French woman whose husband is Italian. With this background, it goes without saying that she is a connisseur in la belle vie, or la bella vita. Whichever you prefer.

Tender At The Bone by Ruth Reichl
Another memoir, gorgeously written by the editor of Gourmet magazine. Ms. Reichl gives us the whole story from the beginning of her love affair with food. The book includes some of Ms. Reichl's favorite recipes, and I guarantee she will have your mouth watering within the first 10 pages.

The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
Although this novel was written in 1925, it is still as evocative today as it was 82 years ago. Kitty Fane is unhappyily living in Hong Kong with her doctor husband when she begins an affair with a wealthy business man. When Kitty's husband finds out, he forces Kitty to accompany him on a medical mission into the heart China, which is being ravaged by a cholera epidemic. After estrangement as a result of Kitty's affair and confrontation of the brutal realities of cholera, Kitty embarks on a journey of self-awakening, a reassesment of her values, finding love and what is truly important in life.

Lady Chatterly's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
The original account of forbidden love between a society lady and her gamekeeper, banned in england until 1960. The novel is infamous for its detailed passages of the pair's sexual encounters, but the story is about so much more than their physical relationship. It is about growth, self-realization, and the stunning transformations we undergo when we fall in love.

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
This last read is another fluffy one, set in Renaissance Florence during the reign of the Medici family. The city is in tumult as a result the fundamentalist monk Savonarola, who decires the luxury, learning, and art that is Florence's trademark. The main character Alessandra Cecchi, the precicous daughter of a wealthy merchant. She has a talent for drawing and a curiosity about the timid young artist her father has comissioned to paint the frescoes in the family chapel. I won't give anymore anway- you'll have to read the book yourself!

I hope you found something to your liking among my favorites. For me, reading is both a pleasure and an escape, a way to see the world without going anywhere at all.






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The Fourth of July

Although we're never in America for the holiday, my family never misses the opportunity to celebrate the Fourth of July. For the past four years, I've thrown 4th of July parties while we're on holiday in Italy, inviting our Italian friends to join us for the festivities.

This year we had the biggest celebration yet. I set an elegant table for 15 with Rosanna dinnerware I sent over from America:
Red Dots salad plates, Ice Blue Chargers from our Dinner Party collection, and our Dauphine candlesticks with red, white, and blue tapers.

The dinner itself was a delicious mix of Italian and American culture. Good old fashioned hamburgers with all the fixings, including French's bright yellow mustard, penne pasta with spicy tomato vodka sauce, and scottaditto d'agnello (baby lamb chops on the grill dressed with salt, pepper, rosemary, and olive oil.) The meal was served with gorgeous Italian red wine from a small hill town in Umbria: a good time was had by all.

For dessert, as per tradition, our friend Vito had a cake specially made at a local bakery. It was beautifully decorated with an American flag and dainty red wafer roses. Underneath the white icing was a flakey, creamy mille feuille pastry (French for 1000 Layers) that was devoured by everyone in reverent silence after a rousing round of "Happy Birthday America," sang, of course, in Italian.

Our guest list included a mix of Italians curious about American history and ready to celebrate, and two friends from home, one from the quintessentially American state of Texas.

Our Fourth of July party was a perfect way for our Italian friends to learn about what it is to be American. Although many of the guests didn't speak each others' native tongue, they managed to connect across cultural boundaries all the same. Thanks to the Fourth of July, our family had the unique opportunity to show our Italian friends the best of America, and to debunk the stereotype of the McDonald's eating, Coke Cola guzzling, obnoxiously loud and ignorant American tourist.

It is my belief that the best ambassadors for America are not the politicians and appointed officials, but regular Americans who treat their foreign hosts well and are a good guests- open minded, respectful, positive, and curious- when traveling abroad. It is through person-to-person connections that America will find a way to rehabilitate itself in the eyes of the global community. This is the best kind of diplomacy we can hope for.





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Something to Celebrate

On August 17th, 2007, Seattle's famed Pike Place Market will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Pike Place Market is a Seattle landmark for fresh produce of all kinds, unusual arts and crafts, lively street performers, delicious food, and restaurants with breathtaking views of the Puget Sound. Of course, it is also one of Seattle's most popular visitor destinations. However, despite the Market's reputation as a tourist attraction, I adore spending time there. It is truly a special place. Alas, it's such a wonderful way to eat healthily, buy locally, and support small business owners.

Pike Place Market is a defining and integral part of the Seattle community. However, with the increasing awareness of the importance of eating and buying locally, it shouldn't be difficult to find a fresh foods farmer's market near you, wherever you live. Summer is the high season for fresh fruits and vegetables. It's a shame to buy produce that's grown 1000's of miles away then imported to the US when we are surrounded by such bounty. Furthermore, not only do locally grown foods taste better, but they're infinitely for your body. You're also supporting the backbone of your community in an impactful way.

If you live in Seattle, or will be visiting the city this summer, visit the Market's website to find out about the Centennial Celebration that will be going on all summer; to know more click on the link in the upper right hand corner of the site that says "Centennial Celebration."

Buying locally grown food is just another small way to enhance your quality of life, celebrate small pleasures, and please the senses.

Enjoy,





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