Born and raised in New York, Chef Michael Ledwith began his culinary training in some of the best restaurants of the Big Apple. His next career adventure took him to the Caribbean where he learned to respect and beautifully cook seafood. Upon returning to the States, he created a name for himself in Central Florida, but longed for island life full of fresh fish.
ARTICHOKES SPAGHETTI with garlic and Pecorino cheese
Artichokes spaghetti is a simple and tasty Italian dish. Pasta is tossed along with a smooth and healthy artichokes dip. Fresh mint and Pecorino cheese will give at this recipe a particular flavor!
FARRO SALAD with roasted vegetables and feta
A farro salad is a great way to say hallo at the warm season! This healthy recipe is perfect to be prepared a little in advance. Bell peppers and zucchini squash pair greatly with the taste of farro, but if you prefer, it’s possible utilize other vegetables.
OVEN ROASTED OCTOPUS with potatoes and oregano
Oven roasted octopus is the the baked version of a classic summer Italian dish. Seafood is reduced into pieces, then baked with potatoes and capers. Potatoes are roasted until golden. Octopus has to be crispy and dark violet. The sour taste of wine will balance the sweet of octopus and potatoes. A suggestion: salt lightly just a couple of minutes before finishing the oven roasted octopus, an only if necessary.
STIR FRIED DANDELIONS AND POTATOES with cheese
Stir fried dandelions and potatoes is a quick and tasty Italian classic. Commonly, it is served as a hot salad for appetizer, or aside meats, eggs, or salty fish, like anchovies or sardines. I really love stir fried dandelions, they are very healthy greens! Their bitter taste pairs perfectly with the sweet of golden potatoes and the salty flavor of Pecorino Romano cheese. When the weather permits to grill outside my house, the stir fried dandelions are a must-to-eat aside steaks and sausages!
ROASTED POTATOES with butter, garlic and herbs
Roasted potatoes with butter and herbs is an easy and tasty side. Its pair perfectly with seared tuna or salmon, meats or eggs. The secret to obtain perfect roasted potatoes is poach them into boiling water a couple of mins before baking to eliminate the starch on the surface of the potatoes. The result will be a crispy crust!
ARTICHOKES SALAD with green olives and sweet garlic
Artichokes salad is one of my favorite quick and healthy recipes. I love artichokes, both raw and cooked! Sweet garlic is the secret ingredient of this easy recipe. I suggest don’t use normal garlic, because its flavor is too strong and it will kill the delicate taste of this recipe.
VEGETARIAN BAKED PASTA with cauliflower sauce and broccoli
This vegetarian baked pasta is a tasty and healthy dish, great for friends and relatives gatherings! Commonly, the Italian baked pasta is seasoned with meat and béchamel sauce. In this case, I preferred use my personal cauliflower sauce instead béchamel. This sauce the pasta it’s perfect to season, it’s light and rich in flavor! Tasty roasted broccoli tufts and Havarti cheese complete the dish giving color and more flavor!
SAUTEED DANDELION GREENS ROMAN STYLE (cicoria alla romana)
Sauteed dandelion greens is a very important ingredient of Roman cuisine. For centuries the most poor Roman familys, use to harvest wild dandelion greens aside the suburbs streets of the Italian capital, and cook them with simple ingredients. The farmers use to bring sauteed dandelion greens with them eating this vegetables as lunch along with simple homemade bread. This vegetable is both tasty and healthy! I love cook dandelion greens in many ways, but today I propose the most traditional way to cook the dandelion. The chili pepper pairs perfectly with the amazing bitter taste of these greens! Serve the dandelion as a tasty salad, or aside cheeses, eggs or roasted meats.
RAINBOW CHARD CREAM SOUP
The rainbow chard cream soup a recipe that give me a lot of satisfaction. It is simple, tasty and healthy. A colorful and kid friendly way to eat the vegetables! To save time, I prepare the rainbow chard cream in advance, baking the stem dices just before serving. Pecorino Romano pair perfectly with this soup, but ricotta salata is great as well.