South Florida Lifestyle Guide - Holiday Gift Guide Volume I Inaugural Issue | Page 12

In the Kitchen

with Joan Nova

Joan Nova is FOODalogue.com and our all around go-to food person at South Florida Food and Wine. Joan is a ‘culinista’, one who obsesses about food...dreams it, cooks it, photographs it and writes about it. Joan's recipe philosophy is keep it real, simple, tasty, colorful and original. Most of Joan's recipes are without ingredient quantities. They're meant as a guide to be experimented with in your own kitchen, to your own spice and taste levels, to your preferred portion sizes, and to however many people you’re cooking for. A perfect meal has multiple levels of flavor and textures, bright colors and tastes. Joan's culinary contribution to our lifestyle guide, is ideal for quick and easy meal planning and entertaining. If you

need more of a FOODalogue fix in

between South Florida Lifestyle

Guide issues you can visit Joan and

her musings at FOODalogue.com

Whether you call it tapas, appetizers, antipasto or mezze, “grazing” is a popular way to dine. It’s fun to share food, it cuts down on high restaurant costs, you get to taste a variety of dishes — and it conjures up a party ambience. There’s no earth-shaking recipes here, just a few tasty suggestions that are so simple The base for each was sliced and toasted artisanal bread (rustic whole wheat). Each slice is with olive oil, rubbed with raw garlic and sprinkled salt before topping.

Finishing Touch: Drizzle of olive oil and fresh grating of black pepper. Pour the wine if you’re not already sipping it.

Sauteed broccoli rabe in chicken broth, drained. Pureed white beans with a drizzle of olive oil, garlic, salt & pepper.

Fried thin slices of eggplant, layered with fresh mozzarella, topped with grape tomato.

Room temperature Manchego cheese, sliced and topped with roasted mini sweet peppers, anchovies and a fresh green olive

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