I often reflect on a paragraph in Frances Mayes’ wonderful book, ‘A Year in the World’:  ‘The need to travel is a mysterious force. A desire to go runs through me equally with an intense desire to stay at home.’  Oh how this thought resonates with me. I love the magic of travel – new cultures, new smells, new food, new friends. But when I find myself at home for stretches, I relish being surrounded by the magic of home and friends that I so relish and miss when traveling.  This is such a time.

Continue reading Rigatoni with Sausage, Shitakes, Sun-dried Tomatoes and Artichoke Hearts at Our Italian Table.

Ahhh, Saturday night dinner after a long business trip. I so prefer to stay in and spend time preparing a delicious dinner over a great bottle of vino and great conversation.  The shrimp looked wonderfully fresh at the fish market today and I was craving something Italian after a week of food abroad….so risotto it was!  Even though a bit time consuming to stir the rice, risotto is so easy to make. Just open a bottle of vino, convince some good friends or family to keep you company, put on some good Italian music and stir away!

Continue reading Shrimp, Spinach and Sun-dried Tomato Risotto at Our Italian Table.

 Oh my – how I have missed you guys!  I haven’t posted in a month!!! Work has left me circling the globe and little time for my food loving friends.  But I was lucky enough to return from my travels abroad to find the last wonderful days of warmth before winter sets in. An unexpectedly mild day here in the eastern US gave me an opportunity to serve one last meal under my cozy pergola.   What started as a quiet night in with my sweetie evolved into a group of friends enjoying the waning warmth of the season outside near the firepit.

Continue reading Sundried Tomato Topped Roasted Salmon with Lentils at Our Italian Table.

Hmmmm, what to make for dinner?!?!? After shuffling around the fridge, I came up with some asparagus, pancetta, onion and sun-dried tomatoes.  Feeling like a contestant on Top Chef (‘Chefs, open your baskets!’),  I smiled as I realized that all I needed was the addition of a few eggs and – wallah – frittata for dinner!  If you haven’t made this treat for a quick dinner, you must add it to your repertoire! 

Continue reading Asparagus, Pancetta and Sun-dried Tomato Frittata at Our Italian Table.

I have mentioned this before – but I do love carbohydrates. Bread and pasta are a major part of my diet and I cringe when I hear friends talk about their low-carb lifestyles.  How I would miss sitting down with a hunk of freshly baked bread or a steaming plate of pasta.  I do admit that my pastas and breads are whole grain whenever humanly possible but to omit this wonderful food group would most likely send me to the edge.

Continue reading Sun-dried Tomato Focaccia with Balsamic Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese at Our Italian Table.