Mediterranean

celebrity homes

Megan Fox Transforms Her Address

Tattooed Transformers starlet Megan Fox has swooped up a 5,200-square-foot, four-bedroom, five-bath home in LA's Los Feliz for the measly sum of $2.9 million.

Tattooed Transformers starlet Megan Fox has swooped up a 5,200-square-foot, four-bedroom, five-bath home in LA's Los Feliz for the measly sum of $2.9 million.

Built in 1936, the Mediterranean-style house boasts restored original details, panoramic ocean and city views, custom hardwood floors, state-of-the-art security, and a pool with several terraces and lawn areas. The view alone would be enough to sell me, but it also has gorgeous features, including beautiful bones, white flat-fronted cabinetry, a Viking range, Carrara marble countertops in the bath and kitchen, and a free-standing tub. The pool area seems like an ideal place to entertain, too. Good work, Megan. Want to take the full tour?

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Feta-Stuffed Pita Burgers

Who says a burger has to be served between two buns?

Who says a burger has to be served between two buns? This recipe takes the traditional notion of the cheeseburger and turns it on its head. Instead of crumbling cheese over the patties, the feta is stuffed into the middle of a ground meat mixture. A soft pita replaces the classic bun and spicy arugula stands in for the usual slice of lettuce. The resulting dish, which is full of Mediterranean flavors, would be great for impromptu weeknight entertaining. To create a meal, serve with store-bought hummus, pita chips, and kalamata olives. Want to see the recipe? Keep reading.

salads

Fast & Easy Dinner: Mediterranean Shrimp Salad

When making quick and simple dinners, it's important to look to the grocery store for help.

When making quick and simple dinners, it's important to look to the grocery store for help. While everyone is familiar with using rotisserie chicken, cooked, peeled, and deveined shrimp should also become a staple of your weeknight pantry. If you think about it, shrimp is practically as versatile as chicken!

Serve it with pasta or sandwich with cheese in between two tortillas for quesadillas. Or as is the case with this recipe, toss with a lemony marinade and plate with veggies to make a Mediterranean-style salad. Sound delish? Try it tonight and get the recipe now.

salads

Name That Dish!

If you're a fan of our Summer salads, odds are, you'd favor this Levantine specialty, which I ordered topped with shrimp.
If you're a fan of our Summer salads, odds are, you'd favor this Levantine specialty, which I ordered topped with shrimp. Do you know what it's called?

Guess The Dish 2009-08-27 16:15:47

recipes

Homemade Hummus Two Ways — Beginner and Expert

Watching Party plan out her Summer cocktail soirée has left me in the mood for party bites and nibbles myself.

Watching Party plan out her Summer cocktail soirée has left me in the mood for party bites and nibbles myself. When I show up to another friend's bash, my go-to appetizer (especially during the hotter months) is a container of freshly blended, cool, nutty hummus. It's better than store-bought, takes relatively little time to make, and puts a smile on everyone's face — even the hard-to-please health nuts. My favorite formula calls for sautéing the garlic first to eliminate any sharpness, but if I'm in a rush, I'll simply throw the essentials together in a processor and give it a whirl. See both options.

definition

Definition: Bottarga

If you enjoy caviar but can't dole out big bucks, consider trying what's known as the "poor man's caviar."

If you enjoy caviar but can't dole out big bucks, consider trying what's known as the "poor man's caviar."

Bottarga (sometimes referred to as botargo), is the roe pouch of tuna, grey mullet, or swordfish that has been sun-dried, cured in sea salt, and coated in beeswax. A key component in Sardinian, Sicilian, and other Mediterranean cuisines, bottarga is usually shaved or grated onto pasta dishes or served with lemon as an appetizer.

salads

Summer of Salads: Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Mediterranean-style pasta salad has quickly become one of my picnic staples.

Mediterranean-style pasta salad has quickly become one of my picnic staples. It's super easy to make a huge batch and tastes better after the flavors have mixed for a few hours. When making pasta salad, I prefer to employ orzo. There's something about the small, rice-like shape that makes the salad seem modern and more glamorous. This recipe is my own invention: it uses two types of tomatoes, olives, green onions, and feta cheese. The dressing is a simple red wine vinaigrette. Feel free to look at the recipe as inspiration for your own pasta salad. Whatever you do, be sure to make a large batch because this salad is an ideal portable lunch! To check out the recipe, read more

recipes

Fast & Easy Dinner: Grilled Tofu With Chopped Salad

Steaks aren't the only thing that can be cooked on the grill — extra-firm tofu is exceptional when imparted with a smoky flavor.

Steaks aren't the only thing that can be cooked on the grill — extra-firm tofu is exceptional when imparted with a smoky flavor. This recipe flash-marinates the tofu in a mixture of garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and oregano. The tofu is topped with a produce-filled, Mediterranean-inspired salad consisting of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions, olives, and parsley. However, feel free to substitute your favorite in-season vegetables. For the effortless, flavorful recipe, read more

fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Provençal Pizza

Homemade pizza is as easy as one, two, three in this Mediterranean-inspired recipe.

Homemade pizza is as easy as one, two, three in this Mediterranean-inspired recipe. All you have to do is roll out the convenient puff pastry dough, top it with an assortment of classic Provençal flavors (like tomatoes and black olives), and bake until crisp and delicious.

Anchovies are listed among the ingredients, but if you can't stomach the salty fish, simply don't use them. For the rapid yet scrumptious recipe, read more

Wedding

Come Party With Me: Bachelorette — The Look

For Ronda's belly dancing themed bachelorette party, the decorations will be opulent and rich with lots of gold accents.

For Ronda's belly dancing themed bachelorette party, the decorations will be opulent and rich with lots of gold accents. Here's how you can achieve a similar look.

Cover the appetizer table with a raw silk brocade fabric. Peacock feather placemats add texture to the tablescape. Serve the pita rounds, Turkish cigars, lamb flatbread, and skewered shrimp on luxe teal platters. Set the fudge brownie tartlets on a golden elephant cake stand. Fill an elegant drink dispenser with lavender peach bellini and let the girls fill up the champagne coupes.

Hang festive colored lanterns from trees or the ceiling and arrange an exotic bouquet of flowers. Belly dancing jewelry is a fabulous and unexpected party favor.

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