Why does she always say, BE BRAVE?
Many of you have been asking about where my commonly used phrase “BE BRAVE” originated from. Here are excerpts from a letter my Mom wrote to me when I asked her for an explanation on why I was named –
Asian Flavors — Mediterranean Diet Style
Thai food is one of my favorite cuisine’s, and I loved a sesame noodle dish I ate when I visited Bangkok. This veggie version substitutes the noodles with spiralized veggies – delicious and healthy!
Perfect Balance of Fried & Fresh!
A crisp salad paired with a crunchy breaded chicken cutlet drizzled with a fresh and herby dressing. A perfect balance of fried and fresh.
Traditional Comfort Food with a Twist!
This classic Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese combo is perfect sweater weather food. Ultimate comfort flavors with a gourmet twist!
Classic Italian Dish made Vegan & Awesome!
Rich, bold, savory and meaty this mushroom based sauce is the ultimate vegan Bolognese!
An Easy but Decadent Dessert
Decadent and creamy – these chocolate crepes are a wonderful special occasion indulgence.
Roasting Winter Vegetables
Roasting vegetables caramelizes the natural sugars in them creating amazing depth of flavor, plus it is a super easy way to make delicious plant-based side dishes and entrees.
Sheet Pan Dinner
A supremely tasty, healthy and nutritious dinner with minimal prep, easy clean up and ready in just about 30 minutes! Sign me up!
Mulligatawny Soup — What’s That??
Mulligatawny is the Anglicized version of a South Indian word for “pepper water” or a flavorful lentil-based dish that is usually served with rice and perhaps a vegetable side dish.
Seasonal Oranges are Soooo Pretty!
I love to eat with my eyes first – so I always want to pick fruits and vegetables that taste good together, but also look pretty on a plate.
Cheers to the New Year with these Unique Drinks!
A shrub (no not that beautiful bush in your yard) is a cocktail (or soft drink) made popular in the American Colonial Era that combines a fruit, vinegar and sugar, to which carbonated water is added, and to which you can also add alcohol if you choose.
Season’s Eatings!
No matter your traditional holiday celebrations, I encourage you to fill the last few days of this year with tasty, delicious food, that is reminiscent of the best memories of your life.
The Best Snacky Meal!
I love appetizers for dinner – and there is nothing better than the variety that a cheese and charcuterie board provides. No cooking needed, but oh so many flavors and textures to enjoy.
Let Your Sweet Tooth Enjoy!
The holiday season is heavenly for those of us with a sweet tooth!
Dip into My Favorite Italian Flavors
I love appetizers, and you can’t beat this one for eye catching layered appeal, filled with everyone’s favorite Italian flavors!
Thanksgiving — My Favorite Holiday
Over thirty years ago, in September I arrived in Rhode Island as a graduate international student.
The French Really Know Their Veggies!!
This rustic, hearty, make-ahead combination of vegetables is a perfect fall and winter side dish or entrée.
Burmese Noodle Dish — A Memorable Meal
Growing up in India, this meal was one Mom made when we were having lots of people over. You basically make noodles, a coconutty Burmese gravy or sauce, and an array of contrasting toppings and accompaniments. Serve it family style and everyone customizes their bowl to their own liking
The Perfect Holiday Salad!
Usually, at a holiday meal, the salad is the last thing to be eaten – we’re going to change that with this amazing slaw!
Need an Impressive Vegetarian Entrée?
This whole roasted cauliflower with an herby Peruvian inspired sauce is an easy and impressive, entrée or side dish.
This Cake Tastes Like Fall
For those of you who know me, you know that summer is my favorite season. But, as soon as fall hits, I can’t wait to make this orange, cinnamon and all spice cake. Not only will you love the flavor, but you will also love how divine it makes the whole house smell.
It’s like a Pizza with a Mushroom Crust. Whaaat?
Portobello mushrooms make the best “vessel” for this pizza inspired filling, creating a juicy, grilled toothsome bite that is pretty healthy too.
Cabbage Steaks — Really? BE BRAVE with me!
Not a fan of boiled or steamed cabbage? Me neither! But these caramelized, grilled cabbage steaks make THE BEST side or plant-based main course.
Easy Trio of Hummus Appetizers
When it comes to Hummus, fresh and home-made is as good as it gets – and so easy to make!
Healthy Meatballs
I love meatballs, and in my quest to make them healthy, I have started making them with ground chicken or turkey. But the lack of fat in the meat means, that they need an additional punch of flavor.
Chilled Spanish Smoky Tomato Soup (Vegan options included)
A Spanish chilled soup that is gazpacho’s lesser known, but thicker, creamier cousin! A fabulous no-cook option for a week night.
Quick Zucchini Noodle Dinner
Zucchini noodles -- zoodles, are a great way to mimic a traditional pasta dish but one that is low carb with a nutritional punch.
Classic Italian Bread Salad
Summer tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and basil tossed with toasted baguette cubes and then allowed to soak in a flavorful vinaigrette. I love it!
Lemony Pasta with Sweet Fresh Corn Sauce (plus a Vegan Option)
Summer trifecta – zesty lemon, sweet corn, herby basil, plus al dente pasta all tossed in a luscious sauce of puréed corn. A perfect weeknight meal.
Dessert Panzanella!!
A new look at a classic Italian bread salad, kicked up another notch with lemon pound cake!!
Why does she always say, “BE BRAVE”?
Many of you have been asking about where my commonly used phrase “BE BRAVE” originated from. Here are excerpts from a letter my Mom wrote to me when I asked her for an explanation on why I was named -
Three Potato Salads — European Style!
Let your taste buds take a tour of three European potato salads – a warm version from Germany, a zesty one from France, and a creamy and garlicky option from Greece.
One of my favorite appetizers — Bruschetta
Grilled bread slathered with creamy, lemony ricotta and piled with sweet, garlicky, and juicy oven roasted tomatoes. A little drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar and I am in heaven!!
Grilling Your Dessert
Have you ever grilled pineapple? It is amazing. The high heat caramelizes the sugars and makes the pineapple just melt in your mouth.
Being Brave with Pizza Flavors
This recipe brings together the American concept of pizza with my love for Indian naan bread and mango chutney.
The Art of Searing Scallops
The buttery textured lettuce, crisp apples, crunchy cucumber, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, and seared scallops pair perfectly with the bright citrusy flavor of this unique dressing
Chicken Salad (No Mayo and Vegan Options!)
Take chicken salad to a new level, eliminating the typical dressing of mayonnaise and using creamy avocado instead. If you’re like me, you’ll find yourself craving this all the time!
Let’s Paloma!!
When I first tasted this Citrus Grapefruit vinegar with its sweet and tangy notes and slight grapefruit bitter finish, all I could think of was – it will make an amazing summer cocktail!
Granita Anyone?
This easy, healthier alternative to ice cream has its roots in Sicily. Paired with an unusual and delicious sweet basil sauce converts this shaved ice treat into an elegant and sophisticated dessert for a hot summer day.
Making the Perfect Grilled Chicken!
Grilled chicken is one of my favorite healthy, and flavorful options for an easy dinner throughout the year. But there are some secrets to a perfect piece of grilled chicken.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
This easy, flavorful, make-ahead salad will keep you full for hours thanks to protein packed chickpeas, plus all my favorite fresh vegetables, in one tasty bite!
Easy Breakfast Strata
This make-ahead strata is perfect for when you have overnight guests or are feeding a crowd for breakfast or brunch.
Shrimp & Napa Cabbage Bowl
This dish makes a great, easy, delicious dinner – the rice adds some whole grains, the cabbage is nice and light, the edamame and peanuts provide crunch, but the shrimp and sauce, well, they are the stars!
Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Crisp and lemony with a delicious sweetness from the Fig Crème vinegar and a little bit of a kick from crushed red peppers -- That’s how I love my brussels sprouts!
Yogurt & Strawberry Parfait
Parfaits are a dessert worthy, yet breakfast appropriate dish that consist of Greek Yogurt, fruit, and healthy add ins such as granola, toasted nuts, or dried fruit.
Orange Rosemary Salmon
Salmon is a nutritional powerhouse and fits perfectly into the Mediterranean Diet providing specific advantages that you won’t get from all fish.
Spring Open-Faced Breakfast Sandwich
Avocado toast is the trendy new item on restaurant menus, but it is so easy to make this “fancy” toast at home.
Sweet & Hot Carrot Slaw
Carrots are a versatile, wonderful vegetable -- crunchy, tasty, highly nutritious --- high in beta-carotene, fiber, Vitamin K.
Harissa Shrimp with Coconut Rice
Coconut rice -- it was love at first taste!
Apple Olive Oil Crumb Cake
Olive oil makes exceptionally good cakes particularly when you use a light, fruity oil such as Arbequina that adds flavor without too much pepperiness. If you’ve never made an olive oil cake, BE BRAVE and give this one a try – I think you will fall in love with how tender, light and moist it is.
MMM Spring Soup
Soup has always been something I enjoy making (and eating!). I love the fact that you can make a batch and have it for dinner, some lunches and it is so easy to make a double batch for a crowd or to freeze for later.
Fish in Parchment — A Healthy Technique
This fancy French culinary term translates to “in parchment” and sounds complicated and fussy, but is really easy, super-fast, healthy and oh so very tasty!
Savory Cheesecake —-Really!
When I lived in Rhode Island, I knew a wonderful young chef Mark Garofalo who was a good friend of my sister.
Sunday Stuffed Chicken Breast
In the cooler weather, this recipe is a staple in our home. It is one of my favorite Sunday dinners to make – warm, tasty, and relatively easy to make.
Bold & Zippy Romesco
Romesco is a sauce originating in the Catalonian region of Spain and has a flavor profile of peppers and nuts. It is a nice bold, zippy sauce.
A Sweet & Healthy Treat
I love Navel oranges as a healthy snack, packed with Vitamin C and fiber, easy to peel and eat, seedless and juicy, but not too sweet. On a recent shopping trip, I planned to pick some up.
Easy Peasy — a template for Pasta dishes
I was walking through the Farmers Market and saw some great looking bell peppers – yes, there were the traditional green, red, orange and yellow, but also these beautiful purple peppers.