Elle Republic

For me, asparagus signals the start of spring! The first signs are the purple and white varieties popping up at the farmers markets everywhere. I absolutely love viola asparagus. Combined with Belgium endive in a tangy lemon-dill dressing, it makes a perfect side dish or salad. Viola asparagus is similar in appearance and flavor to the white and green varieties, though is differentiated by its violet hue, tender, less fibrous...

In winter and early spring, grapefruits are plentiful and can be a refreshing addition to any salad. Sweet-tart pink grapefruit transforms slightly bitter endive into a delicate, well-rounded, and delicious Belgian endive pink grapefruit salad. I love Belgian endive (a.k.a escarole or witloof chicory) raw, for it’s crunchy, faint bitter taste that is at the same time tangy and sophisticated. Really, it varies depending on how it is prepared...

In Peru, they say a great ceviche doesn't need more than five ingredients; fish, lime juice, chili pepper, onion and salt. I like to add a little vibrancy to mine with the addition of tomatoes, avocado and coriander, plus a little coconut milk - if you can manage to get your hands on fresh coconut water, even better, use that. You may be wondering as well, what’s the...

I adore simple, healthy recipes that pack a ton of flavor. And this one, prosciutto wrapped white asparagus with the alluring scent and flavors of bright and zingy lemon has got to be the easiest thing ever to make. You could even skim this one down to the very basics – prosciutto and asparagus – plus a dash of olive oil, salt and pepper and simply bake it or...

I’ve been told a bolognese cannot be called a bolognese at all and that a true and authentic bolognese is actually called tagliatelle al ragù because Italian chefs insist that it should be served with a flat pasta rather than thin spaghetti because the meat clings to it better...AND like all ragùs, it’s characterized by its long, slow cooking, which means it must simmer for at least __ hours...

Asparagus has a wonderfully subtle flavor that works well with almost anything—in summer salads or as a perfect side dish for pretty much any meal. When I see all sorts of asparagus start to appear at the farmers market each spring, I really can't resist buying some and so starts my short stinted asparagus binge. Asparagus plants produce their “spears” for a mere 6 to 8 weeks each spring, so...