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Green Beans Marinara

Green Beans Marinara
Green Beans Marinara is a typical Italian contorno or side dish.  Oddly enough, while popular in Italian and Italian-American homes, it’s not often seen on restaurant menus in the United States.  Contrary to its name, Green Beans Marinara is not just green beans thrown into a large pot of marinara sauce.  The marinara sauce is…
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Red Soup

Red Soup
Red Soup is a family recipe; my Mom faithfully made her version of it every Monday for dinner, except when we were on vacation, for over 65 years.  Imagine that!  I’ve enhanced my Mom’s very basic recipe and updated it for today’s home cook.  Red Soup is delicious and nourishing on its own or with…
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Peas and Tomato Sauce with Mint and Parsley

Peas and Tomato Sauce with Mint and Parsley
Peas and Tomato Sauce with Mint and Parsley riffs on Pasta con Piselli, an Italian classic. The peas, mint and parsley in this sauce bring a flash of Spring to your dinner table. After the prep work, the sauce is prepared while the pasta cooks. It works best with a small form pasta, like pennette,…
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Chicken Shiitake Lo Mein

Chicken and Shiitake Mushroom Lo Mein
There’s no need for take-out when you can make a great dish like Chicken Shiitake Lo Mein at home.  You can prepare the chicken and marinate it earlier in the day if that better fits your schedule too.  Chicken Shiitake Lo Mein is easy to prepare, makes an impressive presentation and is so tasty that…
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Ricotta Cheesecake

Ricotta Cheesecake
Ricotta Cheesecake is New York Style Cheesecake’s light and airy Italian sibling.  Substituting ricotta for cream cheese results in a lighter, less dense but still delicious cheesecake.  Making the recipe with stevia instead of sugar will greatly reduce the carbohydrates count, which we estimate to be around 5 or 6 grams per serving without any…
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Grilled Bruschetta Two Ways


Grilled Bruschetta Two Ways updates the popular Italian appetizer with all the flavors of summer.  With one bite, you can taste the summer sun-ripened elements all brought together into a savory symphony. Here we expand on the usual bread base by toasting the bread on the grill and complimenting them with grilled eggplant slices too.…
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Japanese-Style Pork Curry

Japanese-style Pork Curry
This recipe for mild but full-flavored Japanese-Style Pork Curry is recreated from “taste memory”, having consumed it often at “Masa-Ya”, a Japanese restaurant in West Los Angeles, which was owned by a lovely and talented lady named Grace.  Sadly, while “Masa-Ya” is no longer with us today, this wonderful dish is.  Serve Japanese-Style Pork Curry…
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Beef Stew with a French Accent

Beef Stew with a French Accent
Beef Stew with a French Accent is savory and hearty.  Jolie Laide ("Pretty Ugly" in French or "beautiful despite its looks") in appearance, its complex flavors belie its humble, everyday ingredients and its ease of preparation.  The onion and garlic provide a flavor base for the beef and the thyme and bay leaves add subtle herbal…
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