Showing posts with label Mint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mint. Show all posts

Friday, December 1, 2017

San Pellegrino drink for summer


The garden is full of produce and flowers, and also limes and mint, so cheers to summer in New Zealand with a glass of San Pellegrino sparkling water (just add fresh mint leaves and lime (or lemon). 

What else I have now? Silverbeet and rainbow chards, calendula and radishes (recipes coming soon)



 Photos and Recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Watermelon juice with lemongrass and mint

  I used the flesh of a small watermelon (blend with ice and a bit of water - to get the blender moving) and then passed the juice through a sieve (not too fine, just enough to keep the seed pieces out) and then stirred it with a stick of lemongrass (best if you can leave it in the fridge with the lemongrass for 30 minutes). My mint is quite 'strong' so I added it only at the end, for decoration and a hint of fragrance. Serve with ice. I am sure that there will be readers that will think of vodka too!






Photos and recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Pineapple and mint flavoured water




Just an idea for a healthy drink. Instead of juices or sweet stuff I like to put fruit in water, and then store it in the fridge. Refreshing and no calories!! Pineapple and mint is a good combo, although I leave the mint in only for a couple of hours (I think that my garden mint is particularly strong...). And it looks good too!

Photos and Recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Papaya, Lime and Mint Salad



4th day of posting for Vegan MoFo







I prefer mango, but papaya is also an amazing fruit, especially if paired with lime. Try to slice a papaya and eat a piece of it. Then try squeezing a few drops of limes on the fruit and taste it again: you'll see what I mean!  Sometimes I can find ripe papaya really really cheap in the Chinese veggie stores: in supermarkets they often are too expensive, and sometimes they are not ripe. I like ripe papaya, I make smoothies, or a papaya salad for dessert. 







This is my lime squeezer, my husband got it for me in NY, in the shop of the Museum of Modern Art. It looks like a little boy popping up from a basin, I don't think that it is particularly effective for squeezing, but it is cute and original, and sort of... artistic.

Squeeze one lime and place into a bowl. Add sugar (from one tsp to one tbsp, depending on your taste), mix. Cut the papaya and place into the lime mixture, stir. Add a few mint leaves and refrigerate for a few hours. This is a great dessert after a spicy or tropical themed dinner, or even for breakfast.




Photos and Recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©



With this recipe I take part in the event Sweet New Zealand, this month hosted by Sue of Couscous and Consciousness.



Friday, September 2, 2011

Ginger, lemon and mint tea




One of my favourite hot drinks: lemon (from my friend's garden), fresh ginger (peel it first) and a few mint leaves (from my garden). All into the teapot, add boiling water and let it rest for 5 minutes. Good for colds too!




Photos and Recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Torta di Verdure in Scapece: my Favourite Summer recipe!!!








Yes, this is my favourite creation, it takes time to make but it can last a week, and the flavour gets better and better. For the ingredients...no measures really, just be aware that you will need a lot of olive oil and lots of eggplants (I use both Italian eggplants and the long Asian eggplants), plenty of zucchini, and red, green and yellow capsicums. Cut all the vegetables in long and large strips, sweat the eggplants with salt for 30 minutes, then rinse and pat dry. Then, using plenty of olive oil, start frying. This is going to take a looooong time. First fry the zucchini, then set aside. Fry the eggplants, set aside; finally fry the capsicums (which have the strongest flavour, so they would alter the flavour of the oil). You will need to add oil from time to time, and be very careful to cook well the vegetables without burning them. When the capsicum are cold remove and discard the skins.

Finely chop plenty of garlic with tons of parsley. Add few more herbs if you wish, either a little mint of a little basil are good. Add salt to taste. You should make about a cup of this. Line a container with grease-proof paper and make a layer of vegetables (this will be the top, so make it pretty!), add some chopped herbs, then a few drops of white wine vinegar and sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Repeat, making as many layers as you can. Top with some more grease-proof paper and press down gently. Refrigerate for one day. Before serving you can tip the 'torta' on a platter, and then cut into small slices. You will get many portions out of it, as it is so compact and full of flavour!

For a Gluten free version omit the breadcrumbs.



Photos and Recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Yellow and Green Zucchini Antipasto








I have two zucchini plants, one yellow and one green. It is incredible how many flowers and zucchini two plants can provide, certainly more than enough for a family of 4! The green zucchini plant is huge and very prolific, the yellow one less so (don't know why...), but still, I get enough. In the garden I also have herbs and lemons, and a friends who grows garlic gave me some; for this dish I only had to buy salt and olive oil!




Zucchini Antipasto




Cut the zucchini in long strips and fry on both sides with extra virgin olive oil. Finely chop some Italian parsley, mint, and Genovese basil with two cloves of garlic and a generous pinch of salt.
Place this 'pesto' on the zucchini (keep a little aside for decoration) and add the juice from half a lemon. Stir and let the zucchini marinate for two hours. Arrange on a platter and add the remaining 'pesto'. Serve.


Photos and Recipes by Alessandra Zecchini ©