Seated App

Roasted Red Pepper Soup

Creamy, healthy, and delicious – this is my husband’s favorite soup. Made with sweet, charred peppers, olive oil, and herbs, it is easy to make, tasty and beautiful. The charred peppers add a depth of flavor that is irresistible, and while most red pepper soups are made with heavy cream, loads of butter, and jarred peppers, our family prefers this more healthful version.

This soup pairs well with savory salads, and warm, crusty sandwiches. Adding rice to the soup transforms it into a hearty porridge. Use vegetable broth and substitute warm cashew milk for the heavy cream and the vegans in your life will love it!

Left over soup will naturally thicken in the refrigerator and warming it with a squeeze of lemon creates a delightful, colorful sauce to layer beneath or alongside a simply pan-seared cod, haddock or halibut—elevating your fish dish to guest-worthy status.  

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Yield: Serves 4 (about 8 cups)

Sweet N’ Spicy Nut Mix

During a vigorous, four-hour hike in the beautiful mountains of Tuscany, I dug into my backpack for a small bag of nuts in hopes of reviving my energy. As I devoured the first handful of this mixture,I was met with a burst of flavor, a little heat, and tastes of one of my favorite superfoods—goji berries. I wasn’t sure if my hunger was influencing my palate, but when I caught up with my husband, he was as happy with his snack as I was with mine—a good sign that it really was as delicious as I had thought.

Determined to create my own version of the Ranch at Palazzo Fiuggi’s nut mix, I dictated flavor notes into my phone as I marched on and was thrilled that the Ranch shared their recipe—which I tweaked slightly for my palate and personal health goals. Snacking on nuts is something I do every day, to keep from reaching for the chips—so it needs to be both healthful and satisfying to ensure I stick with this nourishing habit.

The Ranch at Palazzo Fiuggi is a sister program to The Ranch at Malibu, a luxury wellness and fitness retreat, and it is set in the town of Fiuggi, renowned for its healing waters. While we were not relishing the idea of a vegan, gluten free, alcohol free week in Italy, we were pleasantly surprised by the plant-based, organic, and locally sourced foods presented to us, and grateful for inspiration for this recipe.

nut mix

Yields: 2 1/2 Cups

Amaro Spritz

This refreshing and bitter-sweet cocktail made with amaro, a type of Italian herbal liqueur, is typically served as an aperitif. It’s a variation of the classic spritz cocktail that originated in northeastern Italy, and it is the welcome drink we offer guests on Sunday nights to kick off our Neapolitan Pizza Dinner Parties.

Our liqueur of choice is Amaro Nonino, produced by the Nonino family, a well-known distilling family based in Friuli, Italy. It is smooth and less intensely bitter compared to some other amaros. The Nonino family has been producing grappa (a type of Italian brandy) and other spirits since the late 19th century, and their amaro is famous for its unique flavor profile–made from a blend of macerated herbs, roots, and spices, which are infused into a grape distillate. Their amaro is so beautifully balanced some drink it on the rocks with a twist of lemon and a sprig of rosemary as a digestif.

It’s a delightful and sophisticated cocktail choice, and this recipe veers away from the classic spritz recipe slightly to give this cocktail extra brightness.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Yield: Makes 1

Mango-Yogurt “Nice Cream”

Indulge in a taste of tropical paradise with this incredibly easy and refreshing Mango-Yogurt “Nice Cream.” With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep time, it is perfect for beating the heat and satisfying your sweet cravings in a healthful way.

Although this recipe came about to preserve very ripe mangos, before they are too ripe, frozen packaged mangos work beautifully, too.

This delightful treat has become a family favorite, capturing the essence of summer in every spoonful.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Chill Time: 3 hours (best overnight)

Yield: Serves 2