Top sirloin and beautiful gulf shrimp are tossed in a wonderful spice mixture of coriander, cumin, garlic, and other spices to create this flavorful summer showcase. The avocado tzatziki sauce is to die for and is fantastic sauce to go with our grilled beef and shrimp. It can also be used as an excellent appetizer served with pita chips or crudités or added to a sandwich to make it taste super!

Did you know that couscous isn’t a grain? It’s a pasta! It is just the perfect canvas that you can almost add anything to it. In this recipe, we are cooking it by leaving it out in a baking dish and then covering it with boiling water and plastic wrap. This seals in the steam, which cooks the couscous into little soft puffs of goodness. Apricots, golden raisins, and toasted pine nuts add color, crunch, and sweetness, providing a nice contrast to the spiciness of the meat and the tanginess of the sauce. Couscous is so versatile that it can be an elegant side or elevated to a hearty main dish.

Semifredo in Italian means “half frozen” or “half soft.” This is the sublimely delicious dessert is the perfect ode to summer. Once prepared, you pop in your freezer to freeze; then, it’s ready to serve, waiting for you to slice it and top it with some shaved chocolate. It’s elegant and whimsical at the same time. I jokingly think the clouds in heaven must taste like this. Here’s to hoping all your outdoor entertaining is a slice of heaven!

I just got back from a visit to New York with my son and the first thing on our agenda was to get a proper New York bagel with a smear! His was with plain cream cheese mine was lox and cream cheese. This salmon pâté is inspired by that decadent combination of smoked salmon and cream cheese. A little bit more elegant version of that flavor profile. We just slightly puréed the smoked salmon with cream cheese so there are nice pieces though out the cheese. Then, we add the flavor goodies; shallots, dill, lemon juice, capers, everything you put on top a gorgeous bagel. But today we’re going to serve it with crostini, but you could certainly serve it with a bagel, chips, or crackers.

We’re going to marinate a boneless leg of lamb with garlic and fresh herbs which is going to adds tons of flavor and really complement the mild taste of the lamb. Lamb has really gotten a bad rap as being a very gamy tasting meat. It’s not. The meat is very mild tasting, and after being perfectly roasted we will serve it with a mint salsa verde. Today we are are adding mint along with a little lemon, which compliments the lamb so beautifully.

Is there anything better than potatoes with roasted meat? I love Yukon Gold potatoes! They are so versatile because they bake and smash equally well. Top with Parmesano Reggiano and breadcrumbs then cooked until golden brown – the perfect compliment to roasted meat.

Carrot cake is a classic. This is my take on my Mom’s recipe. The carrot cake batter is not light and fluffy, its more dense like a muffin batter. So I’ve added yogurt and I love the traditional addition of crushed pineapple to add flavor and help keep it moist. The cake is studded with roasted pecans and then covered in a decadent cream cheese icing. Just a slice of heaven. A perfect way to end a delicious spring meal.

Roasted beets really need a cape because they truly are a super food! They look so unassuming, kinda like a piece of coal before it is transformed into a sparkling diamond. But once you roast them, you will uncover what a true gem they are. Since we eat with our eyes first, I’ll begin by saying that the beets’ color is absolutely stunning. Then, there is their delicious sweet, earthy taste; to top it off, they are so good for your health, packed with vitamins and rich in nitrates that aids in better circulation and lowering blood pressure. I try to add a beet a day to my diet!

Making polenta is usually a labor of love that requires a lot of time stirring. This method has you stirring for just a few minutes and finishing it in the oven. You still end up with a creamy and delectable cheese dish with not as much work.

Braising is one of the most useful cooking techniques to learn. Once mastered, it turns tougher cuts of meat and vegetables into a hearty meal that warms your stomach and your heart. Also, it makes your casa smell fantastic. Braised dishes are always a crowd pleaser and perfect for entertaining, as they can be made a day in advance. In fact, I try to always cook mine a day ahead because it allows the flavor to enhance and deepen. What could possibly make this dish any better? To serve it on top of creamy, cheesy polenta.

I call this cake a grownup cake. Not because it is not fun and childlike, but because the flavors are a little bit more subtle and mature like a grown up. HA!! No, seriously, this is a knock out cake! It’s dense, with just a hint of sweetness to it. The flavor of orange comes shining through, especially when it’s served with some beautifully sliced oranges that we toss with a little Cointreau, just to make the cake extra orangey. It is the perfect way to end a meal, but is also a way to start your day accompanied with a cup of coffee or as an afternoon pick-me-up with tea. No matter which way you slice it, this is a cake to add to your baking repertoire.

This pasta is a simple recipe, with just a few ingredients, but overflows with flavor. Grape or cherry tomatoes are roasted in the oven until their tomato flavor is intensified into sweet caramelized little jewels. When you bite into them, they just explode with flavor. It takes a little bit of cooking time to achieve this, but it’s so worth it. They can be cooked in advance, and then added to the sauce at serving time. In the summer time, I roast them often and keep them on hand to sprinkle in other dishes to give them a pop of that tangy, intensely sweet tomato goodness! The sauce is so simple: the roasted tomatoes, onions, basil, my favorite cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano and a little of the pasta cooking water coat the pasta and turn it into a sublimely delicious dish that is light, but so packed with flavor.

“Saltimbocca” translates into “jump in the mouth”. This classic dish is traditionally made with meat, such as veal or pork, but I thought it would be fun to try with fish. The fish is topped with sage leaves and wrapped in prosciutto. The whole dish came together in 15 minutes, quick and easy for a weeknight meal, but a great dish for entertaining because the fish-wraps can be prepared in advance and just popped into the oven before serving. 

“Semifreddo” translates into “slightly soft”. Semifreddos can be made with a variety of ingredients that span a wide range of flavor profiles. In this menu, we are making an Orange Pistachio Semifreddo. When you cut into it, there’s a soft, pillowy texture that is just dreamy. The combination of orange and Cointreau adds a sweet tartness. The pistachios add the perfect blend of crunchy saltiness that completely balances the pasta and fish courses, and is the perfect way to end a meal. 

No brunch would be complete without a festive bubbly cocktail! Bellinis were created at Harry’s Bar in Venice. It is a combination of peach purée and Prosecco. But, I honestly prefer to serve it with a dry, brut sparkling wine. Whichever bubbles you choose, either way, this cocktail is delicious.  

Nothing says the arrival of spring like beautiful bunches of asparagus and fresh artichokes at the market. In the past, I have made this dish with fresh baby artichokes that I have to peel and clean. But, there were none at the market, so I’m using frozen artichoke hearts. The frozen artichokes paired very well with the fresh asparagus. They taste quite nice and are absolutely no work at all. We perfectly steam the asparagus and artichoke hearts, than toss them with a tangy vinaigrette and top with some roasted hazelnuts. Serve as a lovely first course or along side the main dish. I’ll be making this recipe all season since it goes so well with so many different meats and fish dishes. 

Torta Pasqualina. “Torta” means cake in Italian, but this is really a savory Italian pie traditionally served for Easter brunch.  It’s so wonderfully satisfying that I bet that you will want to make it so much more often than just one time a year. This savory dish is positively addictive and so easy to cut and serve, making it portable and an ideal lunch, picnic, or snack dish.

In this day and age, coffee cakes are often overlooked as an addition to a brunch menu. Upstaged by bars, muffins and donuts. That is too bad, because to me this is the very best coffee cake. Kinda old school, something you would find at a good diner bakery case. It has a moist cake, a crumbly topping, and isn’t too sweet. When cut into squares, it reveals all the berry goodness in the center. It is perfect for serving with your brunch, with a cup of coffee, or maybe with another Bellini! 

It is difficult to describe the delectable, tasty dining experience of a tender, perfectly roasted rack of lamb. Today’s lamb is not the gamey meat of the 1970’s, but clean and fresh. Don’t believe me? Ask my thirteen year old son, who ate five chops!  (OK, I can’t tell you the real number but it was more).  A rack of lamb with the toasted rub on the outside makes a beautiful presentation.  And the sauce? A twist on the traditional chimichurri sauce, accented with mint. Pleasantly pungent, bright, and delicious with any meat, I know that you will enjoy this preparation of rack of lamb!