STEWED BABY OCTOPUS

Fish entree - lactose intolerant and celiac safe (see below)

1 1/2 lb baby octopus

1/2 lb eggplant, peeled and diced

2 red onions, cut in 8

4 anchovy fillets

2 clove garlic, minced

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup white wine

1/4 tsp hot pepper flakes

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Salt

4 slices of toasted bread

In a deep non-stick skillet on medium-high heat, warm the olive oil and sautee garlic, anchovies and baby octopus; stir occasionally.

After about 5 minutes add wine and, once evaporated, lower to simmer, cover with lid and cook for about 10 minutes.

At this time, add onions and eggplants, stir and cook until onions are soft (about 8-10 minutes), then add hot pepper flakes and cook for 5 more minutes.

Season with salt, divide evenly into 4 individual bowls, drizzle with parsley and serve with toasted bread.

This recipe serves 4.

- If you like, you can add 4 peeled tomatoes together with the eggplants.

- You can rub toasted bread with garlic.

- You can use 2 tsp of anchovy paste instead of anchovy fillets.

- Celiacs: serve it without bread (or with a gluten free one)

BELL PEPPER SIDE DISH

Side dish - Vegetarian - lactose intolerants and celiacs safe

1 Red bell pepper

1 yellow bell pepper

1/2 cup Italian green olives, pitted (rougly chopped if you like it better)

2 cloves garlic, sliced

2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp chopped parsley

1 tsp oregano

Salt and Pepper

Over the open flame, sear the bell pepper; remove stem, seeds, skin and inner white ribbing, slice (lengthwise) and set aside.

In a skillet over medium heat warm the olive oil, then add olives, garlic and peppers and mix; stir in oregano, parsley and salt (pepper if you like it) and cook until peppers are tender, or until desired doneness.

Add a few tbsp of warm water, chicken or vegetable broth if needed.

Serve immediately with white meats, fish, eggs or by themselves.

Serves 4.

- You can add 3 peeled San Marzano (whole or chopped) if you like them.

- You can use it also as a pasta sauce

- You can add capers and anchovies which go well with peppers.

- I wouldn't use green bell peppers: the other colors (yellow, orange and red) are sweeter.

RISOTTO WITH TOMATOES

Rice entree - vegetarian - celiac and lactose intolerant safe (see notes below)

1 1/4 cup Carnaroli rice

1 28 oz can of Italian peeled San Marzano

6 cups chicken broth (or vegetable, for vegetarians)

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1 cup Parmigiano Reggiano, grated

1/2 cup white wine (or red f you like a bolder flavor)

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

3 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp basil leaves, chopped

Roughly chop the peeled San Marzano and put them, along with their sauce in a bowl.

Bring broth to a boil.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, warm the extra virgin olive oil and sautee onion and garlic until onion is translucent.

Stir in rice, cook for about 2 minutes, stirring, then add wine; when it's evaporated, add tomatoes with their sauce and cook for 2 more minutes.

Now start adding boiling broth little by little, stirring frequently, adding a new batch of broth only when the previous has been absorbed. Cook it for about 17-20 minutes (depepnding on your taste).

Remove from heat, stir in parmigiano and butter and serve immediately, sprinkled with basil!!

This recipe serves 4.

- You can use low fat (or fat free) cream cheese instead of butter.

- You can use fresh ripe tomatoes, as soon as the season will allow you to have good ones, about 3 cups, diced.

- Carnaroli is the best rice for risotto, less starchy than arborio but easier to cook: it doesn't overcook too easily.

- Lactose intolerants avoid butter and cheese (to thicken the risotto, if needed, you can use come corn starch)

STUFFED PEACHES

Dessert - Lactose intolerant safe (read bottom note)

5 ripe peaches

1/4 cup + 1 tbsp sugar

4 oz mixed berries

3 oz almonds, chopped

4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

5 tbsp powdered sugar

2 tbsp aromatic liqueur (Amaretto is the best)

4 ladyfingers, chopped

4 amaretti (cookies) crumbled

Butter, salt

Wash and dry the peaches, divide 4 of them in half and remove the pits, scoop out a little bit of pulp in order to "make room" for the stuffing; peel and chop the 5th peach along with the pulp removed from the other ones.

Sprinkle with 1 tbsp of sugar the bottom of a non-stick skillet, place it over medium heat and when it turns into golden brown, add the halved peaches cutside down. After 1 minute flip them and caramelize the other side for one more minute. Remove them from the skillet and sautee, in it, the chopped pulp for 2 minutes.

In another skillet melt a dollop of butter with the remaining sugar (not the powdered one), add the berries, 3 tbsp water and cook for 3 minutes; crush with a fork and set aside.

In a bowl, mix the chopped peach with almonds, cocoa powder, ladyfingers, amaretti, powdered sugar, liqueur and a pinch of salt.

Distribute the stuffing over half peach and top with another half. Garnish with the mixed berries sauce.

This recipe serves 4.

- You can also serve these peaches halved (not topped by the other half) and grilled for 5 minutes in the oven.

- If there are kids, use milk instead of liqueur.

- Lactose intolerants can use one extra tbsp of water instead of butter and fruit syrup instead of milk, in the stuffing, if there are any kids.

WE HAVE BOTH LADYFINGERS AND AMARETTI THAT DON'T CONTAIN MILK!

WHITE BEANS DIPPING SAUCE

Condiment - dipping sauce

- Similar to hummus, it gets a boost of flavor from parsley and scallions

1 can Italian cannellini beans, drained and rinse (always rinse canned beans to remove excess salt)

1 tbsp+1 tsp lemon juice

1 clove garlic

3 tbsp parsley, finely chopped

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 scallion, white part only, finely chopped

3 tbsp almonds, finely chopped

Puree beans with lemon juice and garlic, until you obtain a smooth cream.

Transfer puree in a bowl and stir in all other ingredients.

Season dip to taste with salt and pepper; refrigerate until serving time.

- This is a very simple recipe; the better the ingredients you use, the better the final result will be. Use fresh lemon, really good olive oil, fresh parsley and so on....

- It's vegetarian, celiac and lactose intolerant safe.

POTATO AND GREEN BEANS CREAM

Soup - vegetarian - celiac and lactose intolerant safe (see end of recipe)

1/2 lb green beans, cut into 2" pieces

1 1/4 lb potatoes, peeled and diced

1/2 cup onions, finely chopped

4 cups water (or chicken or vegetable broth, for tastier flavor)

salt

4 tsp Pesto alla Genovese

In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, warm 2 tbsp of water (or broth) and "sautee" onions for a couple minutes.

Add potatoes, green brans and water (or broth) and bring to a boil; when it boils add salt, then reduce heat to minimum and simmer until vegetables are soft, about 15/20 minutes. Remove from heat and blend (with an immersion blender is easier).

Serve in individual bowls with 1 tsp of Pesto each. Add garlic crostini, if desired.

This recipe serves 4.

- It is better to perpare this soup ahead of time and serve it just warm, in order to obtain its best flavor.

- Vegetarians, don't use chicken broth.

- Lactose intolerants, use a pesto without cheese.

- It's also celiacs safe.

ORECCHIETTE WITH ASPARAGUS AND PROSCIUTTO

Pasta entree

1 lb orecchiette

8 slices of Prosciutto crudo (Parma or San Daniele), julienne cut

8 - 12 asparagus, depending on the size, cut the bottom, harder part

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup cream cheese

1/3 cup milk

1/4 cup white wine

Bring a pot of water to boil, add salt and asparagus and cook them for about 5 minutes.

Remove asparagus with a slotted spoon and slice in thin rounds, leaving tips intact. Add pasta to the boiling water.

Warm olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and sautee onion until translucent, stir in all asparagus (rounds and tips) and cook for about 2 minutes; add wine and let alcohol evaporate. Remove from heat.

Arrange half of the asparagus slices in a blender along with cream cheese and milk and blend untli you obtain a smooth cream; put it back in the skillet together with prosciutto and cook for a couple more minutes, stirring well to combine all ingredients.

Drain orecchiette and toss them in the skillet with the sauce; if it's too thick add some pasta water to thin it.

This recipe serves 4-6

- You can use cooked ham (4 slices, being thicker, are enough)

- You can use cream (1/2 cup) instead of cream cheese and milk

- Orecchiette stick a lot: add oil to water and stir constantly for the first couple minutes, they will stick anyway, but a little less.