Over the last month mason jar salads have become my go to lunch. I love them! Using mason jar salads, as opposed to plastic containers, keeps the salad ingredients incredibly fresh throughout the week and makes transporting my lunch very convenient.
Be sure to buy good-quality dried porcini mushrooms (with large white cross sections). Cheaper ones are dark and shriveled and have an overly pungent aroma, which will give the stew an off taste.
Use the showiest farmers' market or garden tomatoes in a dish that deliciously combines a favorite sandwich and a classic Italian salad, with a touch of corn and basil thrown in for extra summery flair.
You, too, can be "Peter the Pumpkin Eater" from the classic nursery rhyme when you prepare a batch of these fluffy and tender cheese puffs that look like mini pumpkins. Romano cheese gives them a nice tang and their cream cheese stems complete the Halloween or Thanksgiving seasonal look.
