Summer Vegetables and Hummus Pizza

Hummus pizza breaks the traditional rules by using a garbanzo bean spread instead of the standard tomato sauce. I added some Mediterranean ingredients to keep the flavor fresh, such as asparagus, garlic, roasted red bell peppers and artichoke hearts.

It's the perfect recipe for a light summer meal; the few shavings of parmesan cheese is the only sinful ingredient in an otherwise very healthy pizza.

Full Recipe...

Grilled Pineapple with Coconut Syrup and Mascarpone Cream Dessert

We hosted a dinner party at home this evening. I wanted to make a "summery" tiramisu parfait, as opposed to the "wintry" coffee tiramisu I made in the past. I found some beautiful sweet Maui Gold pineapple and decided to add a refreshing twist to the classic Italian dessert. I added some fresh mint from the garden, some coconut, mascarpone and crème fraîche.

I served a wide variety of sweet petit fours and other desserts along with the pineapple mascarpone desserts. I know it was a hit because there wasn't a bit left. When everyone went home, I gathered 14 empty parfait glasses. It looked like the guests washed the dishes themselves. I'm definitely going to make this again!

Full Recipe...

How to make an Italian Insalata Caprese

It is officially tomato season at our house. Lulu planted 5 varieties of cherry tomatoes in February and I was finally able to gather a large bowl of them today. They are perfectly ripe, so sweet and definitely organic. While picking the fruits, it was obvious what I was going to make: a Caprese Salad. There is really no specific recipe. Just gather some sweet basil, mozzarella and tomato. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and a good quality olive oil.
Full Recipe...

Asparagus Risotto Recipe

I recently made a rather unconventional risotto with bamboo. I chose bamboo because it has a very similar texture to asparagus, which is a very traditional element in risotto. You need to know the classics in order to come up with your own twist.

Lulu had a craving for the starchy arborio rice dish. Asparagus are in season so I thought it was the perfect opportunity to please my hubby and to share this recipe with you. Enjoy!

Full Recipe...

Savory Goat Cheese Panna Cotta with Beluga Lentil Relish (Panna Cotta au Chevre et sa Macedoine de Legumes)

Panna cotta de chèvre frais et sa macédoine de légumes is a summery dish. It was such a sunny day today in the Bay Area, so I decided to make something refreshing and light.

In case you don't know, panna cotta is a firm jelly. It can be either be savory or sweet. Instead of using gelatin, I used agar for the vegetarians in the house. I paired the panna cottas with mixed vegetables and lentils to get a balanced meal with proteins, dairy and veggies.  

I served them in little verrines. Verrine is just a fancy word for glasses but they are the latest trend in French cooking. If you host a buffet-style dinner, it's the ideal way to run a stress free party as this dish can be prepared in advance.

Full Recipe...