Tomato, Pepper, Mozzarella, & Caper Salad

A recipe by my friend Amy, from the site "Monkeysee"

I served this already delicious recipe over a bed of Baby Butter Lettuce.

Link to Amy's simple video directions for this amazing dish.

Amy Riolo

Author, Cooking Instructor, Food Writer, Culinary Consultant

http://www.amyriolo.com/  

amy@amyriolo.com

Amy Riolo is an internationally recognized culinary expert specializing in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean culture and cuisine. As a cookbook author, lecturer, food historian, food writer, culinary consultant, and cooking instructor, Amy promotes her philosophy of cooking and living with both pleasure and health. Her first book, Arabian Delights; Recipes & Princely Entertaining Ideas from the Arabian Peninsula has received rave reviews (Capital Books). Her second book Nile Style; Egyptian Cuisine and Culture (Hippocrene Books) will be released in spring 2009. She is also completing The Mediterranean Diabetes Cookbook, (American Diabetes Association) which will be released in spring 2010.

Amy’s popular lectures range in topics and include everything from Middle Eastern business etiquette to the history of various cuisines. She has been an invited guest speaker for the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Welcome to Washington International, Montgomery College, Les Dames D’Escoffier, The Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister City Committee and the Mycological Association of Washington, DC. Amy also makes frequent appearances on numerous television and radio programs both in the United States and Egypt including Fox TV, Montgomery and Fairfax County TV, Nile TV and WHYY.           

Amy currently writes the “Culture and Cuisine” feature for the Baltimore- Luxor-Alexandria Sister City Committee. She has also written articles for Cooking Light Magazine, Azizah Magazine, and the Kulanu newsletter. A graduate of Cornell University, Amy has experience in vocational, recreational, and children’s instruction, as well as corporate team building and cultural/culinary events. Her knowledge of the Italian, French, Spanish, and Arabic languages has enabled her to interpret many cultures and cuisines with intimacy and ease. She regularly teaches cooking classes at Sur la Table in Arlington, Virginia, and for private organizations.

A successful culinary consultant, Amy enjoys developing menus, recipes, training seminars, and themes for corporations, restaurants, and hotels. Amy is often asked to work as a consultant for museums where she creates menus and décor which represent the theme of new collections. In addition, she works with curators to incorporate sensory components like scent, touch, and taste into the schedule of events, allowing museum patrons to fully experience each exhibit.

Amy is a member of The International Association of Culinary Professionals, Culinary Historians of Washington, Les Dames d’Escoffier, Slow Food DC, Welcome to Washington International (where she co-chairs the Gourmet Committee), Cornell Club of Washington, the Women’s National Book Association, and the Baltimore – Luxor – Alexandria Sister City Committee (Where she is the chairperson of the Baltimore Friends of the Alexandria Library). Amy is based in the Washington DC, area and maintains a home in Egypt. She is currently organizing culinary tours to both the Mediterranean and Middle East.

Product Test - The Really Great Food Company

The Really Great Food Company is based out of St. James, NY which is close to home, here on Long Island. Since 1991, The Really Great Food Company has produced the highest quality baking mixes for people with special dietary needs,including gluten free, wheat free, soy free, dairy free and casein free baking mixes.

We recently got to try two of their products which came with a catalog of all they carry for future orders. They are also available online and you can click their banner at the bottom of this post to view their site. 

The first product we tried was The Really Great Food Company Classic Pancake Mix. 

The directions were easy to follow, and there is even the option of using soy or rice milk in the mixture to keep it gluten free. We have tried other brands of Gluten Free Pancake mixes, but the was the best so far. The pancakes were fluffy and golden brown, and absolutely delicious. In the "sneak" test on the children, they had no Idea it was Gluten Free. 

The next product we tried was The Really Great Food Company Brownie Mix. Like the pancakes, the finished product did not disappoint at all! The brownies were perfectly moist and and were gone in a flash as soon as everybody got a taste. 

We would definitely recommend  The Really Great Food Company for all of your Gluten Free needs, and their online ordering makes it easy to enjoy many  different gluten free products that may not be found in your neighborhood grocery store. 

The Really Great Food Company