Strawberry and Fennel Salad
Quartered strawberries with fennel cured in white balsamic, burrata, arugula, toasted pistachios and peach balsamic pearls.
Six Color Fiocchetti with a Basil and Mint Pesto, Asparagus, and Peas
Six color fiocchetti with a bright basil and mint pesto, asparagus, peas and cherry tomatoes. As good at room temperature as it is hot.
Balsamic Blueberry Sauce
Blueberries cooked down with cinnamon, vanilla and lemon zest, then finished off the heat with Gold Label balsamic. Good on everything from gelato to French toast.
Panzanella Salad
The Tuscan answer to stale bread. Torn ciabatta soaked in tomato juices with cherry tomatoes, artichokes, mozzarella and basil.
Tomato Pasta with Sun-dried Tomato Pesto
Tagliolini Pomodoro in a pesto of sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and basil, emulsified with pasta water.
Classic Italian Tomato Sauce (Sugo di Pomodoro)
Roma tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, oregano and basil simmered into the sauce everything else is built on. Worth making in batches.
Pesto
Basil, pine nuts, garlic and Parmigiano brought together with good olive oil. The Ligurian original, with Pecorino if you want more bite.
Tomato Jam
Six pounds of heirloom tomatoes cooked down with sugar, balsamic and lemon zest. Yields five jars and belongs on every cheeseboard.
Italian Gazpacho
Jim's cold soup of heirloom tomatoes, cucumber, onion and garlic blended with olive oil and balsamic. Nothing to cook, everything to chill.
Trapani Pesto
The Sicilian pesto: tomatoes, almonds, basil and garlic. Made for busiate, since both come from Trapani.
Pickled Shallots
Shallots sliced thin on a mandoline and quick-pickled in red wine vinegar with peppercorns. Five minutes for acidity you will use all week.
Spring Salad
Boiled beet, shaved radish and carrot served with their picked leaves. A first course that leans on good produce rather than technique.