SO, WHAT'S NEW WITH YOU? RAPINI & "CALAMARATA" (DE CECCO PASTA THAT LOOKS LIKE CALAMARI) - - - OH MY, THIS PASTA IS SMOTHERED IN A MELTINGLY DELICIOUS NATURAL SAUCE OF SPICY ITALIAN SAUSAGE, ADDICTIVE RAPINI, FRESHLY GRATED PARMESAN AND PECORINO ROMANO. I THINK I GAINED 5 LBS THE NIGHT WE FEASTED ON THIS. OH WELL. REMEMBER THE GIRL FROM THE MOVIE, PULP FICTION? SHE THOUGHT POTS WERE SEXY.
TRY THIS FOR YOUR NEXT QUICK, HEALTHY SALAD. THINLY SLICE A NICE BIG PORTABELLA MUSHROOM AND SOME SWEET ONION. COMBINE WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF FRESH BABY SPINACH (MORE MUSHROOMS THAN SPINACH) . . . ADD A LITTLE CRUMBLED BLUE CHEESE OR GORGONZOLA, A DRIZZLE OF OLIVE OIL, A SPLASH OF WHITE BALSAMIC VINEGAR AND SOME SALT & PEPPER. DELICIOUS AND NUTRITIOUS. MAYBE WE'LL CALL THAT "DAN". I LOVE ACRONYMS. 
THESE PRETTY LITTLE DEVILED EGGS WERE SPIKED WITH FINELY MINCED CHIPOTLE CHILES AND A DAB OF ADOBO SAUCE. A SPRINKLING OF SMOKY SPANISH PAPRIKA AND CAYENNE PEPPER ADORNED THE TOPS AND THEN FINALLY, A LITTLE MORE FOOD JEWELRY, FRESHLY PICKED CHIVES AND CHIVE BLOSSOMS. OH SO CUTE FOR A MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SNACK. I KNOW. I KNOW. WHAT CAN I SAY? THOSE CHIVE BLOSSOMS WERE CALLING MY NAME.
DO YOU HAVE AN ICE CREAM MAKER? IF YOU DO, TRY THIS. IT'S THE WORLD'S EASIEST LEMON SORBET. CREAMY AND TART. REFRESHING AND FAT FREE. OK, WHATEVER, IT HAS TONS OF SUGAR, YOU'RE THINKING, RIGHT? QUIT BEING A BUZZ-KILL. MAKE SOME TODAY. ASK HANNAH. IT'S A CINCH. 1 CUP OF SUGAR. 1 CUP OF WATER. 1 CUP OF FRESHLY SQUEEZED LEMON JUICE. 1 TABLESPOON OF LEMON ZEST. GOT IT? BRING THE SUGAR AND WATER JUST TO A BOIL, WHILE STIRRING TO DISSOLVE THE SUGAR. REMOVE FROM THE HEAT TO COOL. IN THE MEANTIME, ZEST A LEMON OR TWO UNTIL YOU HAVE ABOUT A TABLESPOON OF ZEST. JUICE ENOUGH LEMONS UNTIL YOU HAVE 1 CUP OF JUICE. ONCE THE SIMPLE SYRUP HAS COOLED (TOSS THE POT IN THE FRIDGE TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS). IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE COLD. JUST NOT HOT, OK? ADD THE JUICE AND ZEST TO THE SYRUP. POUR INTO YOUR ICE CREAM MAKER AND CHURN AWAY FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR SO UNTIL YOU HAVE A CREAMY AND MOUTHWATERING SORBET. CLEANSE YOUR PALATE TODAY.
Wishing you a summer filled with everything you savor.
With love from Katie, under the June moon.
