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Vegetarian Moussaka
When my fiancé and I visited the magical island of Santorini about this time last summer, one of our most memorable meals on the island was at Nectar & Ambrosia Restaurant, where we enjoyed a rich Greek Moussaka. A traditional Greek Moussaka is made by layering eggplant with a spiced meat filling and topping it with a creamy, baked béchamel sauce. It is a rich and satisfying dish usually reserved for special Sunday night meals or celebration dinners. Our meal and experience at Nectar & Ambrosia, an exclusive spot with only 14 tables on the terrace and 8 tables inside,was an experience we will not soon forget.
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Chili Lime Sweet Potato Salad
A little healthier than traditional potato salad and a lot more flavorful, Chili Lime Sweet Potato Salad is an easy and fun side. You start out by roasting sweet potatoes in the oven until crisp and then toss them with a homemade dressing made of garlic, onion, fresh lime juice, cumin, chili powder and cilantro. When the warm sweet potatoes are tossed with the dressing, they become beautifully coated and all of the flavor absorbs into the potatoes. It’s a colorful and fresh dish (with a kick!) that I highly recommend adding to your summer cooking repertoire.
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Summer Tomato Cucumber Salad
For a great side or light lunch, try my healthy and refreshing Summer Tomato Cucumber Salad. This fresh and cool salad is made with sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber and thinly sliced red onions and topped with crumbled feta, basil and a light red wine vinaigrette. Serve alone with crusty bread or alongside your favorite meal. Enjoy!
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Zucchini Chive Fritters
In the summer, there is always plenty of zucchini around, so what better way to make the most of it then cook up some Zucchini Chive Fritters. These sautéed veggie cakes are made with freshly grated zucchini, herbs, Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, and flour, and then finished with lemon slices, chopped fresh chives and more Greek yogurt for a tangy topping. The fritters make for a wonderful side dish or a light dinner accompanied by a Greek salad (recipe coming soon…). A perfect excuse to head on over to your farmer’s market this weekend…
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Pan-Latin Picadillo
It’s time to spice up your dinner routine and I’ve got the perfect recipe to turn up the heat. It’s a traditional Latin American dish called, “Picadillo.” Although there are many variations of Picadillo depending on the country the recipe is coming from, in general it is comprised of ground meat and a mix of local vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and onions. To accompany the Picadillo, I wanted to prepare tostones – fried plantains – but in order to make them a little more healthy, I decided to bake them instead of fry. Once baked, they came out crispy and full of flavor. I highly recommended this method. Once everything was prepared and smells of fresh and fiery Latin American flavors filled the kitchen, I served the delicious blend of ground pork and veal over crispy baked plantains, or tostones, and a homemade smooth salsa, bursting with fragrant cilantro, tomatoes, onions and jalapeño.
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Mediterranean Bow-Tie Pasta Salad
For a great summer side to accompany anything from a cookout to a gourmet meal, try my Mediterranean Bow-Tie Pasta Salad. Made with only oil and vinegar and no mayonaise, this salad has a lightness to it that tastes fresh and really allows the flavors to come through. It is prepared Mediterranean style with feta and kalamata olives, along with red bell pepper, chickpeas and green peas for extra texture and flavor. Enjoy!
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Baked Stuffed Lobster
Looking for the perfect summer cookout feast this weekend? My recipe for succulent Baked Stuffed Lobster with homemade crabmeat stuffing is sure to impress. The recipe for the stuffing is from a very popular shoreline restaurant called, Lenny & Joe’s Fishtale in Connecticut. Known for its delicious, fresh seafood and fun, casual atmosphere, I was lucky enough to find the exact recipe chefs use at the restaurant to make their famous crabmeat stuffing and then used this stuffing to create Baked Stuffed Lobster. Preparing this dish is truly half the fun.
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Cumin Roasted Carrot & Avocado Salad
My favorite dish at popular NYC eatery ABC Kitchen is without a doubt their Cumin Roasted Carrot & Avocado Salad. This light yet satisfying starter is a diverse combination of bright colors, contrasting textures and bold flavors. The carrots are roasted in the oven with a spicy blend of cumin, garlic and fresh herbs and then plated with slices of fresh, ripe avocado. All of it is pulled together by a tangy drizzle of fresh orange and lemon juice. The finishing touch is a refreshing dollop of sour cream (I used plain Greek yogurt in my recipe) and a sprinkling of toasted sunflower seeds. I decided to recreate this masterpiece at home and am proud to share this memorable recipe. I made a few changes from the original to keep it healthy and use the ingredients I had on hand in my kitchen. Enjoy this little taste of NYC’s ABC Kitchen in your own kitchen!
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Lemon Dijon Herb-Crusted Grilled Pork Tenderloin
This is my second post this season on grilling (yes, summer hasn’t even started!) and I’m thrilled to share this recipe for marinated grilled pork tenderloin. With a hearty dose of fresh thyme and rosemary, this recipe takes on many flavors that all blend together perfectly. If you like mustard and tangy sauces, this one is for you. In order to fully flavor the pork, you have to prepare this marinade the night before and let the meat marinate in the refrigerator overnight. The marinade is somewhat thick and is loaded with fine herbs, creating a sort of “crust” on the pork. Tonight my boyfriend grilled the pork tenderloin we had marinated overnight and it came out tender and juicy, with a definite kick of dijon contrasting beautifully with the freshness of the herbs. Bon Appétit!
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Whiskey Barbecued Chicken & Lemon Kale Salad
It’s starting to feel like summer, so that means it’s time to bring out the grill. My boyfriend and I wanted to try out our brand new roofdeck, so I prepared a simple barbecue to get us in the summer spirit. I decided to make my own barbecue sauce for the first time, and it turned out so good I do not think I will ever buy pre-made barbecue sauce again. My Whiskey Barbecue Sauce is made with, yes, whiskey along with garlic, ketchup, tomato paste, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce and vinegar. The combination is tangy and sweet, with a definiate kick of whiskey. Combined with a spicy BBQ dry rub, the chicken grills up to perfection to create a full-bodied, smoky and sweet barbecue flavor.