Lavinia at Home

Tomato & Cucumber Salad (Shepard Salad)
4 medium Tomatoes diced small
2 cucumber peeled and diced small
large bunch parsley (leaves only) chopped fine
1/2 medium onion (chopped fine)
1 clove crushed garlic or 1 tsp garlic salt
juice of 2 lemon
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. wine vinegar
salt

Combine tomatoes, cucumbers and fine chopped parsley and onions in salad bowl, add crushed garlic, oil, lemon, vinegar, toss salad, chill add salt to taste when servings. The salad derives it flavour from the parsley, onions and lemon juice. Serves four. ENJOY

If you’re feeling a little chill and plan to make soup or stew, you can eliminate fat from the pot by dropping in two ice cubes; the fat will cling to the ice cube. Remember, you should remove the ice cubes quickly before they melt.

A small amount of baking soda added to gravy will eliminate excess grease.

Of course if you have the time, the best method is to refrigerate the soup or stew until the fat hardens and can be easily removed. A piece of wax paper placed over the dish can also help. You would then peel the wax paper off with the hardened fat attached.

You will have lumpless gravy if you add a pinch of salt to the flour before mixing it with water.

A teaspoon of cider vinegar and sugar added to salty soup will remedy the situation.

Pita Bread Salad (Fattoush salad)
3 medium Tomatoes diced small
1 cucumber peeled and diced small
large bunch parsley chopped fine
1 loaf pita bread (lightly toasted)
1 clove crushed garlic or 1 tsp. garlic salt
2 scallions or small onions chopped
1 head romaine lettuce chopped fine
6-8 black or alfonso olives
4 tbsp. olive oil
juice of a lemon
2 tsp. of dried mint (chopped fresh mint in season)
Open pita bread into 2 flat pieces, sprinkle garlic salt and toast lightly break into pieces and put into salad bowl, add tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, parsley, add oil, lemon, mint, mix & add salt and pepper to taste and garnish with olives. ENJOY

Enjoy the salads and don’t forget to check out our new line of lingerie at LaviniaLingerie.com. It’s time for a new you, out with the old in with the new.

Until next time, Bon appetite!

It’s March and it feels like Spring. Since it came in like a lion, let’s hope it goes out like a lamb.

Whether you’re fasting this month or dieting, we have some wonderful recipes for you. Pick up any magazine today and you will notice that they mention Mediterranean foods as a healthy diet. So this month, I have three wonderful recipes for you from my kitchen. They are delicious and remember, you can just adjust them to your own taste.

Here are Mediterranean Salads

Parsley & Cracked Wheat Salad (Tabooley Salad)
2 medium Tomatoes diced small
1/4 c cracked wheat (fine burghul)
large bunch parsley (leaves only) chopped fine
3 scallions or small onions chopped
1 head romaine lettuce (chopped fine) (save 6 large leaf for serving)
4 tbsp. olive oil
juice of 3 lemons
2 tsp. of dried mint (chopped fresh mint in season)

Rinse cracked wheat, squeeze excess water out, place in salad bowl, add tomatoes, parsley, onions, romaine lettuce, oil, lemon juice, mint. Chill, add salt and pepper to taste and serve on romaine leafs. ENJOY