Red, White and Blue-Berry Parfait

This is a simple dessert featuring bright patriotic colors and just in time for Memorial Day weekend!  Red, White and Blue-Berry Parfait made with fresh strawberries in citrus sauce, fresh blueberries and whip cream!  A fun and easy dessert your family and friends will love.

Yesterday, I posted our recipe for fresh strawberries in citrus sauce and thought I should post another dessert that is equally pretty, elegant and delicious!  

 

Since everyone is planning family gatherings this Memorial Day weekend,  I wanted to offer  something that is fun and literally- an effortless dessert to make.  You can pack this one in a container and take it with you.  Just keep it in your cooler until you are ready to serve.  Serve in paper cups to go, it provides for an easy clean up too! 

 

Tell us what your plans are for this Memorial Day weekend?  Have a fun and an enjoyable weekend everyone!

 

Fresh Strawberries with Citrus Sauce

We enjoy this time of year finding fresh strawberries at our local farmers market. A simple and elegant dessert to make!  Fresh Strawberries marinated in fresh lemon and orange citrus sauce is sweet and refreshing!  A delightful treat, and so simple... it just screams summer!  Sweetened with a little sugar,  makes this a light, low-calorie dessert perfect for any summer night!

Simply marinate the strawberries in the sauce just before serving. Then enjoy them in an elegant glass, here we used our martini glasses.  Add some whip cream or vanilla ice cream and you have a magnificent dessert!  Mmm so delicious!

Our mother believes that simplicity in food is sometimes the best taste in life!   She is so right! ... and adorable!  Enjoy!  Just in time for this holiday weekend!

Easy Italian Shrimp Salad

Easy Italian Shrimp Salad is a classic seafood dish you can enjoy eating anytime of the year!  Mamma's shrimp salad is so light, deliciously made with fresh shrimp,  lemon juice, celery, carrots, red onion, and a touch of mayo.  It's a classic dish you can serve for lunch or dinner. 

Sometimes I just want something different other than a yogurt as my meal, and this is a nice change from eating pizza, meat, or tuna sandwiches for lunch or dinner.

I can honestly tell you that everyone loves this shrimp salad,  hands down!  It's healthy, low calorie and low fat .... what could be better!   And, if you take the time to chop up the shrimp even smaller, its terrific to turn this into shrimp salad sandwiches.  Best of all,  its even great to serve as an appetizer with some crusty bread when entertaining with family and friends. Delish!  Remember to serve this shrimp salad chilled. Enjoy!

 

Spaghetti with Basil Pesto Sauce

 

Spaghetti with fresh basil pesto sauce is a simple and delicious pasta dish you can easily whip up while cooking the pasta!  Fresh Basil with garlic, some walnuts and grated parmigiana cheese pureed with extra virgin olive oil and added to spaghetti makes a hit in our home every time!  And the best part is making this under 10 minutes!

A few days ago we posted the recipe for our Fresh Basil Pesto Sauce.   It's a satisfying dish with spaghetti and one that we make often for our families. You can try any kind of pasta with this sauce and guarantee its delicious every time!   For a healthier twist, try using multi-grain spaghetti!  Buon Appetito!

Fresh Basil Pesto Sauce

Fresh basil pesto sauce is an easy and delicious sauce for any quick dish during summertime!  Fresh basil with a little garlic, some walnuts and grated parmigiano reggiano cheese blended with extra virgin olive oil can easily be whipped up in less than 10 minutes!

Our mom usually makes her pesto sauce with pignoli, which are pine nuts.  I really don't care for the taste of pine nuts,  I have been using walnuts instead of the pine nuts in the sauce.  No one seems to mind, they love it the same!  But you can eliminate the nuts all together and still get a great tasting pesto sauce.

Keep in mind,  fresh basil pesto sauce is very versatile!  You can drizzle on salads, on fresh garden tomatoes, or add to soups for extra flavoring!   Its great to use even as a dipping sauce for grilled meats at barbecue's.  Fresh basil pesto is a wonderful sauce to keep in your refrigerator all summer long!

London Broil Steak Grilled to Perfection!

Making dinner alfresco can be very enjoyable!  We love to cook, but when it comes to grilling steaks, only my husband does it best!  He has it down to a science (so he thinks).  When he grills, he gets it right - no matter the size of the steak.  He can grill a London Broil Beef Steak to perfection!  Here are some of his tips on how!

It's important that you allow the meat to warm up to room temperature, at least one hour before you cook it.  It is equally important to heat your grill until it's extremely hot.  The thickness the steak should be a good cut, about two inches thick.  The outside will be charred, but the inside will be very tender and juicy.

 

Serve a great steak with a simple tomato salad and some bread and its DIVINE! Pair with a deep red velvety Chianti Riserva, Monte Maria  for an exquisite dinner with family and friends. Enjoy!

 

Croissants with Fresh Fruit and Panna

 

This weekend is Mother's Day, and there is nothing better then to celebrate with a simple breakfast served with delicious buttery croissants, filled with fresh fruit and panna. Panna  means "whipped cream" in Italian.  Warm, crispy and flaky croissants with light whipped cream and fresh strawberries is mouthwatering with every bite!

To add more sweetness to the strawberries, we added a touch of honey and strawberry preserves.   Serve these with your favorite coffee and you'll have a delightful treat for breakfast or even dessert anytime!  Watch how everyone will be "wowed"  when you serve these croissants!

An Italian breakfast or afternoon snack  is commonly served at a Cafe`or Bar in Italy,  "un caffe` e` un cornetto" please!  Served always with a cup of espresso or cappuccino,  making your mornings a little sweeter!   Indulge yourself by making these with your favorite fruits and creams.  Have a wonderful Mother's Day and enjoy your weekend!