Ice Cold Cucumber Soup for Hot Days

Here is a cool recipe you will not be able to get enough of. Most people adore it.
We serve it in summertime to hungry crowds who come back again and again for more.

3 cups plain yogurt
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 hard-cooked egg, minced
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and minced
1/4 cup minced scallions
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
1 teaspoon fresh dill
Beat yogurt and cream together, now you can add other ingredients and blend in a food processor or blender until rich and creamy. Chill it overnight or up to 24 hours. Beat again just before serving, and garnish with additional fresh chopped parsley or dill for a festive look.

Serve with lovely crackers or toasted and buttered thick slices of fluffy bread.

Raspberry Salad... Cool, Luscious

Looks lovely, tastes light and delicious and you will enjoy it .

you will need to have :
1 1/4cup of raspberries
1/4 c. of walnut oil or olive oil
the grated rind of one orange
1 teaspoon of honey
3 Tablespoons of raspberry vinegar(if you cant find kosher, just flavor vinegar with raspberries for a couple days ..works well)
fresh ground pepper
a cup of walnuts that are chopped well and lightly toasted at 350°F for about 5 minutes
Watercress with stems removed ( you can use any green you wish)
lightly cooked asparagus
thin sliced red onion.

You must put the raspberries through a seive and then into a jar to make the dressing.
Now add the oil, the orange rind, the flavored vinegar, honey and pepper and shake up very well.

Place your greens into a serving bowl and toss with the dressing.
Arrange the sliced asparagus in a pleasing manner , and garnish with extra whole raspberries, walnut pieces and sliced red onion.

This is lovely alone, or served with grilled chicken, beef or even a pasta dish.


Raspberry Vinegar:

2 cups white wine vinegar
1 lb. raspberries
2 Tablespoons super fine sugar
Bring the vinegar to a boil.
Crush the raspberries and pour a little of the boiling vinegar on them to thin. Put the crushed raspberries in a wide mouth, sterilized jar.
Add the sugar and the rest of the vinegar.
Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, then seal and place in a cool place for 10 days. Filter the vinegar through a cheesecloth or paper coffee filter into decorative jars.
Slide 2 or 3 whole raspberries into the bottles. Keep stored in a cool, dark place.

Tutti a tavola ! buon appetito!

Buon Appetito!

Lemon Penne.. MMM, Delicious

Get your white wine and fresh lemons ready for a refreshing summer meal that will please the whole crowd.
First put on some nice Italian opera or some Boccelli music... your apron.. have a glass of wine available for your nerves.. and voila.. you are ready to begin!!

Cook a pound or so of your favorite style pasta. Penne looks nice, but you choose whatever you like.
Put a bit of olive oil into the boiling water to keep it from sticking. Drain when al dente. Now drizzle it with a bit more olive oil and toss lightly. Set aside.

Take a sip of your wine.. breathe deeply....

Now , lets make the sauce.
take another sip of the wine to prepare yourself!

You will need a several thin chicken cutlets ( amount depends on how many you will serve).. about 3 fresh lemons, a few capers, a splash of white wine,and some good extra virgin olive oil.
Dredge your chicken in flour til it is well coated.
Place a little of the olive oil in the bottom of a frying fan and add your thin chicken strips or cutlets. If you have thick pieces pound them a bit to flatten them out. Take out your frustrations on them! Sing in Italian as you do this.
Saute them til they are cooked through and no pink remains.
Now, remove the chicken and keep it warm to the side and into your frying pan that still retains the remnants of the chicken and flour add the juice of 2 or 3 lemons,then a good splash.. maybe a 1/4 cup or so of good white wine, a few capers if you wish and some nice Italian parsley.
Cook this down til it thickens up nicely and drizzle in a bit more olive oil.
If it needs help don't be afraid to add a wee bit of flour to help it along, but, it should thicken down on its own. it will never be really thick and its flavorful enough not to need to be.
Taste it to see how it's going. Add more lemon, wine as you see fit. Don't overdo though.

Toss the pasta into the pan with the lemon sauce and toss til its well coated.
Serve the chicken on top garnished with lemon slices and more parsley.

You can serve with Italian bread heated in the oven and a big tossed salad for a delicious summer meal.

Buon Appetito!!!