European

Columbus’s Pork Chops

When I worked at Macy’s Marketplace in New York City years ago, we had a huge Italian import sale in honor of Columbus Day weekend. As part of the promotion, we handed out cookbooks entitled Columbus’s Menu, given to us by the Italian Trade Commission. The book listed adaptations of recipes as old as Columbus sailing the ocean blue. One of my favorites was a roast pork loin with balsamic- and basil-macerated strawberries. Here’s how you can make it in less than 30. Serve with salad and crusty bread.

Warm and Cold Bordeaux Salad, Lamb Loins with Red Wine, and Sweet Carrots and White Beans

This simple feast brings together all my favorite flavors from a short, sweet stay in Bordeaux.

Veal Saltimbocca with Spinach Polenta

Italian Open-Face Sandwiches

Croque Monsieur with Greens

Ah, April in Paris! Word of advice: pack a parka! I have been in France twice in April, once to Paris, once to Bordeaux. Twice I froze. Oh, well. The hot ham and cheese tastes better then.

Ham and Asparagus Tartines

Tartines are open-face sandwiches that are especially popular in Belgium. This one is great for B or D: Brunch or Dinner.

French Fish in a Sack

Spanish Fish in a Sack

Tomato-Basil Pasta Nests

A pretty basic version to get you started.

White Pita Pizzas with Red and Green Prosciutto Salad

Spanish-Style Pork Chops with Chorizo and Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and Green Beans

White Beans, Pancetta, and Pasta

This is a mix-up of pasta e fagioli and minestra. Again, my indecisiveness is at play.

Ricotta Pasta with Tomatoes al Forno

Ricotta Pasta with Grape Tomatoes, Peas, and Basil

This dish can be made 100 ways. It’s one of the first dishes you eat as an Italian kid: macaroni with butter and ricotta cheese. Once you grow up, you add stuff in, but the base remains the same. I’ll try to limit myself and just give you my top five versions.

Veal Scallopine with Dijon Sauce, Asparagus, and Avocados

This dish is one buttery, delicious, edible ode to spring. (Also, the flavor is so sexy, it could bring on some serious birds-and-bees action!)

Involtini all’Enotec’Antica with Gnocchi

I had these mini versions of stuffed cabbage, meatballs in radicchio, in Rome, near the Spanish Steps at Enotec’Antica (Ancient Wine Bar), which is a real haunt of mine when in the city. This is a total guess at their recipe, but it’s really tasty—try it, soon! It’s closer to you tonight than Rome is, I bet!