Woohoo, summer is coming to Denver and I am loving it.  This weekend was the first really nice weekend and I spent as much time as possible outside.  This will be my first summer with baby (now a very verbal, energetic 9 month old) and I am trying to do as much as possible to make my job easier in the food department.  

I have planted basil, mint, rosemary and tomatoes hoping that the fresh herbs will add some summer flavor to my quickly prepared dishes. A couple of tips on quick meals:

Bruschetta

This Italian wonder is so easy to make and is my go to for a quick weekend lunch or a last minute get together app.  I always have bread or crackers (yes, you can use crackers too) on hand and basil on my patio so all I need to pick up is tomatoes.  Quickly chop up a few tomatoes, add in some onion (green preferably), and then the basil.  For additional flavor, I add in garlic powder, pepper and finish it with a nice sea salt.  Top toast squares or your favorite sturdy cracker (also great on pizza dough with some pesto sauce and melted cheese).  A great, quick dish to delight your taste buds and easy enough to make and eat in the 30 min that you have between baby feeding and bath time.

Marinade, Marinade, Marinade

I cannot stress this enough.  Marinades are a career mom’s best friend.  I use marinades as much as possible, they add flavor and moisture to tough cuts of meat.  My favorite marinade is actually Italian salad dressing with a few additional spices thrown in.  Chicken, beef (like flank steak) or pork, Italian dressing handles them all with ease.  Add in some additional herbs, a little spice and you have a phenomenal quick dish.  I will take a frozen chicken breast, throw it in a Ziploc bag with some Italian dressing, some spices and leave it for the day in the fridge.  Come home, throw it into the oven and there is a great moist dinner with exceptional flavor.

A few tips from me to you, I hope they spark summer in your taste buds.

Well I now have some time to start my blog back up and am going to resolve to be better at this moving forward.  This year I have had a baby, a little girl, who is the cutest thing and is going to love food as much as her mama.

So between work and baby, my food adventures have been tamed a little.  That being said, I am looking forward to adjusting my cooking and eating to my new schedule and eventually to introducing my new little one to the marvels and experiences of food…

So feel free to share your child friendly recipes, adult friendly recipes or general great food experiences… I will

Hello,

My name is Nora Ligrani and I am a food lover.  I don’t just love eating, as I am sure most people do, but I love the whole experience of food.  I love the colors, the textures, the social aspect and the creativeness that comes from using it for just the right dish.  I also love to eat…

I decided to start a blog for those people that view food as an adventure.  The people out there… like me… that love to eat but also like to cook and experiment with combinations of flavors and textures that create the overall experience.  These experiences can take you out of every day life and create lasting memories.  The crazy busy people out there… again like me….. who may not always have time to cook an elaborate meal but savors even a quick simple meal.

My love of food has lead me to experiment with dishes at home, restaurants in my area and seasonal ingredients that are available locally.   My wish is that this becomes a place to share adventures, misadventures, anecdotes and recipes.  Welcome, Experience, Enjoy….