I was thinking about making a light summer salad and saw a caprese salad made with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. I decided to combine tomatoes and cheese with spaghetti to make a vegetarian pasta salad.

The juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and fragrant basil made a great accompaniment for the spaghetti in this quick and easy dinner. You can...Read more

It’s a treat to enjoy ripe mangos and they’re at the height of the season now. This light mango salsa dresses delicate veal scallopini. These are very thin cuts of veal that take only a couple of minutes to sauté.

The mango salsa uses fresh mango cubes. Here is a quick way to make it.

Slice off each side of the mango as close to the seed ...Read more

With thoughts of French Bastille Day, July 14, and the Olympics coming to Paris, I thought it would be fun to savor a simple, classic French Bistro dinner, Steak with Shallot Sauce (Steak aux Eschalot).

To go with the steak, I cooked some potato cubes with French green beans. These beans, also called haricot vert, are thinner and sweeter than ...Read more

I was looking for a cool salad for this July 4th and created this spicy North African inspired chickpea salad. It makes a light summer vegetarian salad. I added some hard-boiled eggs to add variety to the texture of the dish and I give a foolproof method for cooking the eggs.

HELPFUL HINTS:

The vegetables can be very coarsely chopped in a food...Read more

My Italian friend, Daniela Musio, loves to cook. So, when she mentioned that her family likes her special easy summer dish, I asked her about it. She said that she cooks chicken with fresh fennel, fragrant rosemary, garlic and wine. It’s all made in one pot.

Fresh, crisp fennel has a mild anise flavor and when cooked it adds a slight crunch ...Read more

This is a super-fast vegetarian dinner that takes less than 10 minutes to put together. It’s perfect for a warm summer evening during a busy weekday or weekend.

I love fresh berries at this time of year and used strawberries and blueberries for this salad. They looked great at the market. You can use raspberries or blackberries or whatever ...Read more

Rich meaty salmon is perfect for cutting into pieces for kebabs. This is a great time of year to enjoy wild salmon. The season starts in May and runs through August. I use a stovetop grill for the kebabs, potatoes and green beans. It saves time and works well. If you prefer, they can be placed on a baking sheet under the broiler instead of a ...Read more

Sesame seeds add a crisp crust to boneless pork chops while a simple sauce made with honey and soy sauce adds extra flavor while keeping the chops moist. The chops are coated with the seeds on both sides.

A secret to easily turning the chops over without disturbing the sesame seed coating is to use a tong to lift the chops and turn them. The ...Read more

Here’s a delicious fusion of Tex-Mex and Italian cuisines. I topped my homemade pizza with steak flavored with fajita spices. For an easy pizza crust, I use a ready-to-bake thin pizza crust such as Pillsbury pizza crust. It easily unrolls to a thin crust which fills the kitchen with a fresh dough aroma.

A tip for a crisp bottom on the pizza ...Read more

Bring a taste of Italy to your table with this quick and easy dinner. Thin chicken cutlets with a light, crisp coating is a winner.

The thin cutlets take less than 5 minutes to cook. They’re finished off with some capers and lemon juice. I serve them with spaghetti and tomato sauce, Spaghetti Pomodoro.

HELPFUL HINTS:

Any type of pasta ...Read more

A sweet and tangy sauce goes perfectly with the fish fillets in this quick stir-fried dinner. I added snow peas and red bell pepper along with microwaveable brown rice to complete this easy meal.

Here’s a tip for best stir-frying. Make sure your wok or skillet is hot and the oil sizzling before adding the ingredients. Once they are added let ...Read more

Do you love mac and cheese? It’s a favorite dish for many of us. Here’s a light version with springtime vegetables: asparagus, yellow squash and zucchini.

Sharp cheddar cheese finishes this colorful and tasty dish. It’s a quick, vegetarian meal. Frozen chopped or diced onion is used for speed. I keep a package on hand to use in quick ...Read more