Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Bacon

The cabbagy flavor of these soft-leaved sprouts pair perfectly with chewy, salty bacon.  Easy to make and easy to eat!

Peas, Prosciutto and Mint

After discovering this interesting combination of flavors at Mario Batali’s Otto Restaurant in Manhattan, I promptly tried to recreate it at home.  This cooled pea salad is a perfect side dish for a summer meal.  Fresh peas are highly recommended but frozen will do the trick too.

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Spring Onions

This uber-simple side dish was inspired by the Calçotada Festival, a traditional feast in Northern Spain that celebrates spring’s harvest of calçots which are similar to spring onions.  I had my first Calçotada experience at Back Forty Restaurant in Manhattan where I stuffed myself with the charred green beauties dipped in Romesco sauce followed by juicy lamb chops, botifarra sausage and huge garlic soaked white beans.  We washed it all down with bottomless cold rosé and danced to the live flamenco music provided throughout the night.  Needless to say, I’ll be attending the festival again next year as should you!  Until then, get a little taste of these gorgeous onions at home with this recipe.  Eat it alone or as a side dish to meat, chicken, fish or beans.  Salut!

Zucchini Tomato and Cannelini Bean Salad

White pepper is not only lighter in color, but also milder in flavor than black pepper and is something you should definitely experiment with.  This recipe calls for white pepper and two kinds of vinegar but it will still taste delicious if you have to use regular black pepper and only one kind of vinegar.  This salad is perfect for packing up and eating at the office or on a picnic.  Bring a little Italian feast with you wherever you go.

Crunchy Kicked Up Kale Chips

These baked crunchy pieces of kale taste like spicy popcorn and are a healthy alternative to chips.  

Salmon, Cherry Tomatoes and Fennel in a Pouch

Don’t let city living keep you from growing fresh herbs!  Do it on your fire escape, window sill or rooftop.  All herbs need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight and plenty of water.  Growing your own keeps you well stocked with as little or as much of an herb as you need for a very small price.  Fresh herbs also have a wildly different flavor than their dried counterparts.  Fresh thyme and oregano give this salmon dish a bright, clean, lemony burst!

Spicy Glazed Nuts

My dad recently sent me a huge bunch of walnuts, almonds and cashews in the mail.  I usually snack on them at the office but I got to thinking about other ways I could use them.  Salads, sauces and toppings are a few options, but glazing them with powerful spices makes for a great cocktail party treat!  If you don’t have cocktail parties, just serve these when your friends come over for beers.  If you don’t like spicy things, just leave out the red pepper flakes and the Tabasco.