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Dinner Ideas for Two – Broccoli, Brie, and Walnut Rotini

I’m always on the lookout for great dinner ideas for two. It’s just Keith and I and so many recipes are geared for at least four, which is great for next day lunches and near zero effort dinners, but sometimes I want to cook just enough for a single meal.

broccoli brie and walnut rotini

For a special occasion dinner, like an anniversary or birthday, I’m happy to spend a lot of time planning and preparing a meal even when it’s just for two. But for weeknights and lazy weekend days, I want delicious dishes that come together quickly. It’s funny, as I looked back over past posts, I realized that I’ve been unintentionally building a repertoire of recipes for two. So I’ve added a Dinner Ideas For Two category. Of course the recipes are easily scaled up, but they’re my little nod to the two-person family. Continue Reading →

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Authentic Italian Ragù & Meet Giovanna

 Less than a year ago, in a tiny Tuscan hill town, I wrote this sentence, ”I am skeptical about the recipes; they are so simple. But they mock me by being delicious!” We had just finished a cooking class and Giovanna was our teacher.

Italian Ragu Continue Reading →

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Fusilli with Deconstructed Pesto

Fusilliwdpesto.jpg

Whenever I make pesto in a food processor, I reach the point just before drizzling in the olive oil and ALWAYS think, “This looks amazing.” Inside the bowl is a coarse textured, alluringly flecked mixture: brilliant green basil studded with bits of gold – walnuts or pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. Each time, I ignore my instinct to stop there, and, obediently, drizzle in olive oil until a delicious, smooth paste forms.

But not today.  Continue Reading →

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