Shared Kitchen

Real food from scratch

Category: Summer

The good rub

It doesn’t take much to take flavours up a notch and to bring variety to the summer grill. With a nod to the clean and uncluttered cooking style the Tuscans favour when it comes to grilling, barbecued meats and fish can taste pretty good with little other than salt, pepper and olive oil, though even […]

Rainy Day Pasta

Ilaria’s got it sorted: Soften tomatoes in garlicky oil, squish down, and there’s your sauce!

Pomegranates

It could be that pomegranates were the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. They’re nothing much to look at on the outside but the clusters of ruby-red jewel-like seeds inside could have seduced even the staunchest of hearts.

Fresh Tuna Salad

This is loosely modelled on a typical salad you might find around Nice … but there’s a bit of a leap of faith here.

How to char-grill eggplant

Cut eggplants (aubergines) lengthways into long thin slices. Heat a ridged grill pan or sturdy frying pan over medium-high heat. Brush eggplant slices with olive oil (you will probably need to do this in batches, so just brush as many as will fit in the pan without overlapping). Cook on both sides until a good […]

Ilaria’s back

It’s hard to believe that February is already upon us. Seriously, how did that happen? Mum’s delicious Christmas dinner, the escape up north to the top of Mount Manaia, a house move … all seem like they happened yesterday. Well they didn’t. Time ticking is as simple as that (it ticks!) so for us ‘Southern […]

Summer Salad

Brightly coloured jellied seeds of tomatoes twinkling like jewels, wafts of basil as if you have just crushed a meadow of carnations underfoot … and the bright fresh note of lemon rising to fill the nostrils … Add some gorgeous avocado to the mix and you have the essence of summer. You can make a […]

Eggs ‘n Avo

Eggs and avocados, an unlikely combination, and for breakfast? Whaaa? (That’s hands in the air screaming whaaaaattt?) It really didn’t ring my bell until I tried it, but now I am hooked. I’ve made a few adjustments, as you do. I can’t eat it for breakfast, as it is too rich, too filling, just too […]

Chicken Thighs with Thyme

You can water the garden while this is cooking or fix a nice drink and do a crossword puzzle. It’s easy living, mid-week munching, not a cooking competition.