Caprese Salad

Marcella's most beautiful book is Marcella Cucina. I find it her most personal as well. This salad is one mentioned, although as she points out, it is so simple it requires only a brief description of how to assemble rather than a recipe. 

As usual, it depends heavily on the quality of the ingredients on offer. Thankfully I am in a place I can get beautiful buffalo mozzarella and ripe tomatoes (along with everything else). 

What a delight. 

Shredded carrot salad

 

This little beauty would go with most things. Be sure to follow the instructions and peel them. 

Giuliano Hazan Dinner

We had a lovely dinner tonight drawing from Giuliano Hazan's various books. First course was basil and fresh tomato pasta, which was delicious, and second was a beautiful rack of lamb with rosemary and parmesan and bread crumb crust, served with a roast beet salad.

With a mango to follow for desert.

The only thing I would do differently is cook the lamb a little shorter as it was quite well done.

It was all superb though. Really really good. And simple.

Thanks Giuliano.

Dinner from the garden

Someone at work brought in some tomatoes and herbs from his garden. He had cherry tomatoes, roma tomatos, mint, parsley and basil. I thought I would cook dinner with it, and ended up with basil and tomato pasta (based on the 30 Minute Pasta recipe) and a simple cherry tomato, basil and mint salad (dressed with olive oil, salt and red wine vinegar in the usual fashion).

Very fresh. Very simple. Delicious.

Warm cauliflower salad

I was a little nervous about the vinegar but this was a cracker. A great way to enjoy cauliflower. Next time I'll be putting the vinegar in more liberally. I ate it with the now famous Alice Waters potato gratin (with thyme as something different) and some pan fried chicken.