Happy Summer!

Not only is this Sunday Father's Day, it is also the first day of Summer! As you know, I am very passionate about cooking and entertaining seasonally, so I always get excited for the official start of the new season. From cocktails to dishes to wine (hello, Rosé season!), I am so ready for summer meals and parties! So this Sunday, as you cheers to your dad and all he's done for you, raise a glass to summer and all the fun that is to come in the next few months!

Stay tuned this summer for more events, recipes, and entertaining ideas to come!

Clean Eating for Spring: Kale Salad w. Brie & Grilled Chicken

If you've been reading for a while, you know that I am passionate about creating recipes that are seasonal, delicious, and nutritious. As the warmer months approach, I know we all have clean eating on our minds, so I am excited to share a recipe today that uses fresh, healthy ingredients but still tastes indulgent and amazing! This salad would be perfect for a spring lunch with your friends, or as part of your weekly meal prep. Just don't forget the brie, the best part!

To see the full video of how I prepared this spring dish, check out Cheese of Europe here! Bon appetit!

Ingredients:

(Dressing)

1/4 olive oil

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

8 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast

(Salad)

1 bunch kale, sliced

8 ounces Brie, sliced

1 cup glazed pecans, chopped

1 green apple, cored, sliced into thin wedges

(Chicken)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon paprika

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Whisk the oil with the mustard and slowly add the vinegars. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Remove the stems from the kale and slice. Toss the kale with desired amount of dressing and set aside to marinate.
3. In a small bowl, mix together the minced garlic, kosher salt, lemon zest, pepper, and paprika.
4. Oil the chicken and rub the seasoning onto each piece. Grill on medium-high heat for 7-8 minutes per side. Let rest 4-5 minutes and then slice.
5. Mix pecans and apple slices to the marinated kale, then place the sliced chicken and Brie on top.

Getting ICED on July 4th!

July 4th is almost here! If you happen to celebrate big with friends and family then this is a recipe that will rock their socks off. After a long day of grilling, there's nothing better than cooling off in the heat with a little Italian Granita. Think of it as shaved ice, but BETTER.

You can make granita so easily, without the need of ice cream machines. All you'll need is a freezer, a blender, fruit, sugar and water. Yes, just 3 ingredients! Flavors range from coffee to wine to fruit to herbs. Once you know the basic recipe, you can make pretty much any version of this Italian summer classic.

Personally, I love mixing all the seasonal fruit together to make one super flavorful and fruity granita. Specifically I like the blend of strawberries, peaches, nectarines, plums, pluots or melons combined with the citrus zest of a lemon or orange. Fresh mint is a wonderful compliment as well, but feel free to tweak the recipe to your liking.

Here's what you will need:

1/4 cup Simple Syrup or Agave Syrup

1lb Fresh Fruit

1/4 cup water

Here's how you do it:

1. In a blender, place your fresh fruit of choice along with either a squeeze of citrus juice or a few splashes of water. Add your simple syrup or agave syrup. The liquid is what will help the fruits puree into a smooth consistency.

2. Once pureed, our into a cooled bowl for chilling. Here you can add your fresh herbs, zest, alcohol, vanilla extract or other added flavors.

3. Place in the freezer and scrape well with a fork every 3 to 4 hours until frozen and fluffy in consistency.

When it comes to a granita, it is really about tasting as you go and checking consistency. Don't be shy to add a bit more water if your puree is looking a bit thick, or lessening the simple syrup if the fruits are a little on the sweet side.

I hope you enjoy making some summer granitas!

-Chef K

Grilling a Few Chops

Hello guys!

From my last post I think you guys can see how much I'm into grilling this summer! When summer finally hits New York, there's no reason not to soak up every moment in the sun, so I like to create recipes that can capture summer ingredients and cooking outdoors.

Here's another great grilling recipe that I shared with Veria TV on "The Juice" just a few days ago that will impress your man, friends, family and even just for a solo indulgent meal: Lamb Chops with a Balsamic Grenadine Reduction. Also, don't worry if you grill indoors! This recipe is also great grilled on a cast iron stove-top grill or in your handy cast iron skillet.

Ingredients:

8 lamb chops 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 Tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves, chopped Sea Salt Freshly Ground Pepper 2 ½ Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 cup balsamic vinegar ½ cup grenadine

Directions:

Season both sides of the lamb chops with salt and pepper. Combine garlic, rosemary and olive oil into a paste. Rub the paste on both sides of the lamb chops and let them marinate for at least 45 minutes in the refrigerator. Remove from the refrigerator and let the lamb chops come to room temperature.

Heat the grill on high heat. Add the lamb chops and let sear for 2 minutes. Turn the chops over cook for another 3 ½ – 4 minutes.

On high heat over the stovetop reduce the balsamic and grenadine mixture for 8-10 minutes, until consistency thickens.

Once lamb is cooked, plate and drizzle with the balsamic reduction before serving.

Hope you enjoy this one and look out for my other Veria recipes!

-Chef K

Morning Kick Starter!

Spring is on its way! We've all gotten cozy and bundled behind our coats, but it seems as though now is probably a good time to start planning for that lighter, healthier, body.

Here's a great low-sugar, cold-pressed juice I do every morning to start my day off right. It's energizing, great for your skin and overall total body. What could be better than that? Just a quick, fresh juice in the morning will give you loads of nutrients, fill you up, and give you the energy to start your day off right. Plus, you'll curb all those pastries and sugary delights first thing in the morning! Don't worry, one for dessert later won't hurt ;)

Morning Kick Starter 

1 Green Apple

1 Bunch Kale

2 Handful Spinach

4 Celery Stalks

1/2 Lemon

1 slice Watermelon

Hope this morning juice becomes a part of your routine as it is mine! Don't forget to experiment with other fresh vegetables and fruits that you like. Your local farmer's market is a great place to see what's in season and how you can add a little spin to your favorite morning juice or smoothie. Enjoy!

-Chef K

Summer Salads

When it’s sunny out, sometimes there’s nothing better than having a crisp, fresh, tasty salad. I’m sure we can all agree that we are all also preparing for our bikini summer bodies too! Whether you’re making them at home, or dining out, some of the best salads don’t have any leaves at all! A huge favorite of mine is our Insalate di Stagione. I take warm, sweet beets and other vegetables like carrots, sprouts, and mushrooms, and cook them ever so slightly to keep them still nice and crisp. The vibrant colors are beautiful too! So now you have this base of gorgeous, fresh, healthy vegetables all packed with flavor just waiting to be dressed up. This is the best part…simple reduced balsamic vinaigrette gets drizzled all over them. It’s thick, sweet, and has that pure, deep balsamic taste that we all love. Next I shred some slices of ricotta salata cheese to top it off. This is a hard ricotta cheese, that is slightly salty and gives the salad that nice bite. To jazz it up even more, I plate it in a Parmesan crust bowl. I know…amazing right?! Altogether it’s just fresh, crisp, warm, sweet, salty, crunchy, and perfect in every bite! Best of all, it is so simple to make. So that’s my summer salad tip for the day! Try making your version at home, or come visit us at Bocca di Bacco! Enjoy!

-Kristin