frankieolives

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• Photo: frankieolives and her "Feast Your Eyes"-winning shot of Fregola with Clams and Mussels.
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Ah, frankieolives -- we wish we could give up white sugar and alcohol, like you! Alas, 'tis just not the year. In the meantime, we're feasting on your wonderfully healthy and creative recipes. This ex-professional chef just can't shirk her post by the stove, so a brighter and more delicious food52 community thanks her. While we're not shocked that this Angeleno brings us simple summer hits like Whole Oat Groats with Cherries, Plums, Pistachios & Homemade Almond Milk and Summer Corn and Squash Sauté, a blog on pork too? Really? And it's definitely no afterthought: see Mangia tutta di maiale (Eat the whole pig!). Sure, she's all for a little nose-to-tail action, but requests we please hold the pig ears. No problem.

A Saturday lunch of frankieolives's green and grain salad followed by a slice (or two ... or three) of her citrusy pistachio tart have us jonesing for the weekend (it is Monday, you realize). And, fear not -- there are drinks to match: Lavender Rhuberry Refresher, Dandelion Clementine Cooler or Floral Fizz should do the trick. Some of us (perhaps not those responsible for the 6 sticks of butter we are ordering for tomorrow's photo shoot) would die and go to heaven with a big bowl of her Bright & Crunchy Salad. Frankieolives has got summer written all over her. 

Read frankieolives's profile Q&A below and check out her blogs, Mangia tutta di maiale and Tartine Bread Experiment.

• What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
  Pig ears. Shudder. I am all for nose to tail, but I'll leave the nose and tail to someone more adventurous. I'm happy with that which is situated in between.
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• What do you cook when home alone?
  Anything I would cook for anyone else. I believe that cooking for and celebrating oneself every day is essential.
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• Your most treasured kitchen possession:
  My giant mortar and pestle, my cast iron skillet. And I love them more with age.
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• Your ideal meal:
  Salad. I don't think I have ever eaten the same salad twice. There are just too many lovely things at the farmers market to have a repeat performance.
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• Something you'd like a chance to eat or cook:
  A whole pig. A whole salmon. A whole something.
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• The number of bottles of wine you own:
  None. I don't drink anymore. But when I did, I always had a revolving case on hand. It was just a health choice I made this year, no alcohol and no white sugar.
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• The ideal number of guests for a dinner party is:
  4
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• Kitchen pet peeve:
  Cheap knives. Plastic kitchen implements. Bad wine glasses. Champagne flutes. A dearth of kitchen linens. Stupid gadgets like garlic presses, microwaves and hot dog cookers.
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• Your favorite cookbook:
  Oh, geez....