What’s for Dinner, Week of 8/22

Dinner is an important part of every day, but I know busy schedules make it hard for families to find time to sit together at the table. Even if you can only manage one family dinner each week, dedicate an hour or two in the evening to chat in the kitchen and over a healthy, home-cooked meal.

Try cooking and eating What’s for Dinner with your family; every Monday I will suggest a simple menu of balanced, family-friendly recipes that are easy and quick to prepare. Whether you decide to follow the menu, use it as a rough guide, or let it inspire you to design your own dinner, I hope you will make some time to enjoy family over a good meal  .

- Lidia

Try these fun summer recipes this week:

Spiedini alla Romana (Fried Mozzarella Sandwich Skewers)

We made this dish at Ristorante Buonavia in the early 1970′s with white bread. Now I find I like the flavor and texture of wheat bread, and I like it even more if the bread is lightly toasted before you put the sandwiches together. Fun, easy, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Roasted Eggplant and Tomato Salad

Tomatoes and eggplant are in season this month. Serve this colorful and delicious salad as a first course by itself, with other antipasti, or with grilled foods. You can use this low-fat method of preparing eggplant in other dishes too.