[Suzanne 3FC]

Sister Jennifer is coming for lunch a few times next week and I want to prepare Mediterranean meals to try to convert her, lol, so they need to be impressive. She's a vegetarian, and I'm mostly meatless. We both love a really good salad and/or soup and/or sandwich. We also love to try new things. Obstacles: Jen can't eat ginger, and I can't eat cauliflower.(really!)

I'm considering making a small grilled veggie and goat cheese pizza with a nice salad one day.

What would you serve for lunch to convince someone that Mediterranean was the only way to go?

[Jordan1975]

Putanesca is a good all around tomato sauce. Sounds impressive, just a few ingredients, and very fresh tasting.

2 fresh tomatoes coarsley chopped
1.5 tsp capers, rinsed
2 minced garlic cloves
2 oz coarsley chopped black olives
1/3 C finely chopped parsley
5 anchovy filets (you can leave these out if you think they're "icky")

Saute the garlic in extra virgin olive oil until golden. add the rest of the ingredients plus 2 T water and let simmer just until flavors meld.

You can serve this on pizza crust, with pasta, as a dip for bread, as a topping for grilled chicken... etc. Use your imagination.

Plus, might i mention that "putanesca" means "ladies of the night"? So, it's got a bit of a 'saucy' past. (corny pun totally intended)

[Jayde]

Jordon, that sauce sounds absolutely scrumptious. I'm going to try it this weekend.

A clean pasta sauce with semolina pasta is always a safe way to go. How about what I had for lunch yesterday:

pasta and red sauce (I make my own... but it usually does have meat in it if my honey is going to eat it.. (sausage and anchovies... I prefer it without the sausage)... I think Jordan's sounds so yummy.

Have it with your salad or grilled mixed veggies. It only takes me a few minutes to cut and wrap the following in foil and grill.

Summer squash, onions, garlic, mushrooms, or whatever else I have on hand.. drizzled with olive oil, a turn or two of sea salt and pepper.

ah... but grilled portabello are heaven.

I mix soy sauce, sesame salt (crushed sesame with sea salt), sesame oil or olive oil, chopped garlic in a bowl.. let sit for a little bit then brush onto portabello mushroom caps. I can never seem to cook enough of this to go around.

Suzanne, are eggs or fish ok? If they were and you eat a lot of fish, I was going to suggest salmon salad made from leftover grilled salmon. Once you try this you'll never go back to tuna again.

[Suzanne 3FC]

Grilled veggies are yummy. Maybe I'll make a small grilled veggie and goat cheese pizza with a fancy schmancy salad on the side!

Jayde, your mushrooms sound delicious! I usually just marinate mine in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, but an Asian twist would be good. I don't think I've ever seen sesame salt, I'll look for it.

[Jayde]

Originally Posted by Suzanne 3FC

Grilled veggies are yummy. Maybe I'll make a small grilled veggie and goat cheese pizza with a fancy schmancy salad on the side!

Can I come for lunch too?!!!!!! YUMMM! Are you doing the pizza dough yourself?

Originally Posted by Suzanne 3FC

I don't think I've ever seen sesame salt, I'll look for it.

Sesame salt needs to be fresh so most people make it at home. Just grind roasted sesame seeds in a mortar and add a little sea salt. The salt adds flavor but also helps with the grinding. I usually leave it out.. maybe cause I'm lazy. With or without the salt.. ground sesame seeds are called "sesame salt".

[Suzanne 3FC]

I always make my own pizza dough Though I don't talk about it much on the forum because I prefer the texture of a white pizza crust, which can be a bad word around here I want to try the new white whole wheat flour which is supposed to be softer and yield a better texture than regular whole wheat. I like to make individual size crusts and par-bake them, then freeze them for whenever I get a craving.

Anyway, I love to make pizza, but I don't like standard pizza toppings. I never add mozz cheese or pizza sauce. I love roasted garlic, various mushrooms, fresh sliced tomatoes, any kind of veggie, and I love goat cheese or a few fresh shavings of parmesan. If I do make a pizza that needs a tomato sauce, then I use good quality crushed tomatoes and fresh herbs.

Thanks for the tip on sesame salt! I'm so curious about it now, and am putting sesame seeds on my shopping list

[Leenie]

Brushetta mmmmmmmmmmmmm !

[Sapphire]

Great suggestions so far...I'm copying recipes as we speak. Pizza sounds good. But don't forget the wine! That's the best part of a med diet. Eat outside if you can and emphasise that its the lifestyle the goes with the food that makes it so good!

Casey