This summer has been busy with weddings, family visits and working on our new business. With all of these events going on, I still strive to cook at home everyday. Creating a quick meal in under 30 minutes is easy if you have these two staples: pasta and tomato sauce.
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Basil Watermelon Salad with Feta and Red Onion
With the limited amount of outdoor space in NYC, we have to be creative when growing plants. I grow fresh herbs on our balcony and to conserve space, they’re all squished next to each other in my flowerbeds. The basil plants have outgrown the other herbs, so I’ve been coming up with new recipes incorporating basil in my cooking. This particular salad was inspired by a recent trip to a new beer garden in our neighborhood that served this on their menu and I think my version tastes just as good!
Lemon and Basil Potato Salad
Summer…the time of picnics, barbecues, corn on the cob and potato salad. I love a good potato salad and one of my favorite recipes is a simple mix of homemade mayonnaise, celery and herbs. To cut down on the fat and make it healthier, I left out the mayonnaise in this recipe and added fresh lemon juice and basil.
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Orange, Fennel and Onion Salad
I’m a big fan of adding fruit to my salads, especially oranges. I just love the vibrant color and flavor they bring. This particular salad is the perfect blend of Mediterranean flavors, with sliced oranges, fennel, onion and olives.
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Raw Asparagus Salad with Pecorino and Red Onion
I love asparagus in all forms, grilled, roasted, steamed, baked or pureed. But rarely do we eat raw asparagus. If you haven’t tried making a salad with raw asparagus, you’re definitely missing out! When sliced thin and marinated in olive oil and vinegar, the asparagus turns into something quite refreshing and light. When my husband first tried it, he had no clue what it was but seemed to really enjoy it. In the end I told him what he was eating and he was pleasantly surprised.
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Marinated Olives in Garlic and Olive Oil
When friends come over for an impromptu dinner, I never know what to cook. But then I remember my go-to quick dinner involves no cooking at all! Wine, cheese and charcuterie meals are my saving grace for dinners like this and one of my favorites because there’s a nice variety to choose from. One dish you can prepare ahead of time is marinated olives. It’s super easy and takes no time to prepare!
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Cannellini Bean Salad with Red Onions and Parsley
Summer is finally here so I’ve made a delicious and easy bean salad, perfect for your outdoor party or picnic. Simply toss some beans with whatever vegetables or herbs you have on hand and you’ve got a healthy dish to serve. Cannellini beans are usually my bean of choice for hearty soup or salad recipes. They’re delicate, creamy and taste great with whatever you add to it. Serve chilled or at room temperature as a mid-day snack or side dish. This would also go great with crispy salmon or grilled shrimp.
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