We are coming home tomorrow and I will be so glad to get back in the kitchen! I have picked up a few ideas while away that I will be hoping to incorporate into my cooking.

One idea is generally to follow a more Mediterranean diet. We were regaled with health statistics by our Spanish guide who credited the Med diet for a great increase in longevity in Spain.  He said the keys are eating fish and shellfish, lots of vegetables, cooking and dressing with olive oil, and keeping meats to chicken and rabbit. Sounds good to me!

I had a carpaccio (really more like salted, cured meat)with arugula and shaved Parmesan that also had finely sliced pear in it. While the meat was a little overwhelming, I can imagine this salad as arugula, Parmesan, and pear. The juicy, sweet pear really added another dimension to my dish.

Carpaccio with arugula, Parmesan, and pear