Purple Cauliflower and Edamame Rice // Riso con cavolfiore viola ed edamame

I know, I know, a while back I told you I don't like cauliflower, but there was this beautiful purple cauliflower at the store and I couldn't help but buy it. I mean, it's purple, how does it get any better than that?

Green Smoothie

One of the reasons - maybe the only reason - I like summer is that I can enjoy a cold smoothie without freezing. And I love them because you can put whatever you want in them and they turn out delicious most of the time.

Roasted Sweet Potato Rounds // Rondelle di patata dolce al forno

Even though orange is more of an autumn colour, it should always be on our tables, especially during summer, because those foods are rich in carotenoid - no, it's not just a carrot thing - and will help promote tanning.

Brown Rice with Zucchini, Tomato and Avocado Sauce // Riso integrale con zucchine, pomodoro e sala di avocado

Big news everybody, I've finally figured out how to cook brown rice. Well, if I have to be honest, I quite mastered the art of cooking brown rice. Now it's perfect every single time.

Cold Lentil Soup with Sauerkraut // Zuppa fredda di lenticchie con crauti

Even though I love them no matter what, steaming bowls of soup can be a huge turn-off during summer time. So here I am with my cold lentil soup with sauerkraut.

Egg White Omelette with Mushrooms, Spinach and Cherry Tomatoes // Omelette di albumi con funghi, spinaci e pomodorini

Something my mother makes quite often because my brother loves them is cremini. Basically it's fried cream, it is another recipe from Marche, the region of Italy I am from, and it requires egg yolks only.

Coconut and Pea Venere Rice // Riso venere al cocco e piselli

I am not going to lie and pretend this was my idea, because it wasn't. I saw the recipe on the July/August issue of the Yoga Journal and I had to try it because it features coconut, peas and Venere rice, which is probably my favourite rice. I mean, that smell? If you have cooked it before, you do know what I am talking about.

Buckwheat and "Blue Cheese" Pancakes with Fig Sauce // Pancakes di grano saraceno e "gorgonzola" con salsa di fichi

I'm used to having sweet breakfasts, but sometimes I do have a hard time deciding whether I want a sweet or savory dish. These pancakes saved me the worry as they combine both sweet and salty beautifully.

Cumin Pan-Fried Zucchini // Zucchine saltate al cumino

Just in case you didn't know I love zucchini. I used to hate them, but now I'm deeply in love with them. They also happen to be quite popular in vegetables gardens at the moment, and not using such a vegetable would be a shame.

Peach Kamut Breakfast Bowl // Breakfast bowl con pesca e kamut

One thing I like doing early in the morning in summer time is yoga. It's a great way to wake up the body and to store energy for the day. Also, it's not too hot so I'm more likely to do an hour long practice instead of a fifteen, twenty minutes one.

Whole Wheat Mini Calzoni // Mini calzoni integrali

Calzoni are basically just pizzas folded in half with the toppings contained inside. They are delicious and easy to make, even though they do require some time, especially if you are making the dough at home.

Cucumber Avocado Gazpacho // Gazpacho al cetriolo e avocado

I can't believe it's August already. Yes, I just realized it, probably it's because of the heat. I guess it has done some pretty serious damage to me. Anyway, to cool down there's nothing better than something cold, am I right? So here I am with my first gazpacho.

Mushroom Brown Rice Risotto // Risotto integrale con funghi

There has to be something wrong with me because apparently I am not able to cook brown rice. No matter how hard I try, it never cooks properly.