Scalloped Gorgonzola Potatoes

      Thanksgiving Day is almost here!  I can hardly believe it!  It seems like the kids were just starting back to school and now, here we are, just about to kick off the holiday season!  I'm not complaining, mind you.......this really is my favorite time of year!  

      But, I have to say......."foodies" have it kind of rough. So many recipes and so little time!  There are tons of new recipes I'd love to try out, but honestly, how much food can five people really eat?? That's right.....only 5!  When most of the kids are grown and living all over the country, it's hard to get everyone together.  And that's something I really miss!  

      As for those that will be here......they seem to like to stick with the tried and true, the dishes they've come to expect on such a holiday.  You know....obviously the turkey, the stuffing, the mashed potatoes....etc.  I mean, really??  Mashed potatoes?? 

      Now, don't get me wrong.  A lovely mound of mashed potatoes with a pool of butter flowing down its sides or a rich turkey gravy ladled unashamedly over the top is delicious, but couldn't we be a little more imaginative?  Couldn't we add a little something to make those spuds more interesting....maybe even something with an Italian flair....hmmm??

Fresh Tomato Tart with Basil-Garlic Crust

      Well, we're quickly moving through spring, with summer just around the corner.  I love all of the season's fruits and vegetables showing up in the market now!  Something that we seem to wait for, all year, are those wonderful summer tomatoes.  Red, ripe, and juicy "spheres of deliciousness" !  Beefsteak, heirloom, cherry, plum, pear......so many varieties and so many ways to eat them!!   (All delicious, in my opinion)

Parmigiana Bianca ("White" Parmigiana)

    I think I've shared my love of eggplant before.  Besides being hearty and delicious, you can do so many different things with it!  And....because I love it, it makes a pretty regular appearance on our dinner table in various forms.  Two of my favorites are Eggplant Parmesan Stacks and Caponata.  You definitely will want to give those recipes a try!

    All over southern Italy, the name "parmigiana" refers to a dish of vegetables layered with tomato sauce and cheese and baked in the oven.  Now, for those of you who have an aversion to the "red sauce", typically used in these dishes, this is the recipe for you!  It has no tomatoes, but all the meaty eggplant and gooey cheese you'd expect from an eggplant parmesan! Serve it with a nice salad and a crusty loaf of bread and you've got a great dinner!  Or, it would also make a nice vegetable side dish to serve alongside some grilled meat.

Peas and Prosciutto

    Here's a simple and delicious side dish to add to your recipe box.  AND........you can have it ready in about 15-20 minutes!  The saltiness of the prosciutto adds a nice contrast to the otherwise mellow peas.  This dish is great to add to a mid-week meal, when you might not have a lot of time, but  goes equally well on a holiday table with all of the other "special" foods.

Swiss Chard and Sweet Pea Manicotti

    One of my hubby's favorite meals is a nice plate of manicotti with a delicious tomato sauce and lots of gooey cheese.  So, when I saw this recipe, I just had to try it!  Now, granted, it doesn't include a tomato sauce, but there definitely is no lack of gooey cheese!  And if you're trying to get the kids to eat some more green veggies.......this will work!

Cream of Broccoli and Zucchini Soup w/ Cheesy Garlic Bread

    So, I've said before that I'm not really a big soup person, but the frigid temperatures we've had lately have definitely helped to change my mind!  A delicious soup is just the thing to warm you up when it's freezing outside.  And, speaking of frigid temperatures.... none of us want our children to be outside waiting for the school bus, etc. when it's dangerously cold, but is it my imagination or have my kids  been home on vacation since before Christmas??  It seems that school has become a bit of a distant memory!

    Anyway, today I thought I'd share two really simple recipes with you that might just make you glad it's chilly outside!  A delicious Cream of Broccoli and Zucchini Soup and some yummy Cheesy Garlic Bread!!