You prepare some highly interesting dishes gopher.
Thanx Captain. Being a former NY'er, you get to appreciate every body else's cultures. Because of this, we learn to mix foods and to come up with
very creative foods. The key to all that good food NY is famous for is its variation and the fact that
you do NOT measure ingredients or seasonings. You add or subtract seasonings or ingredients to taste. In all my years of watching my mother cook, I can honestly tell you that she only measured ONCE and that's because she tried a recipe from the newspaper. Other than that she NEVER measured.
On another website (a sports one) we often chat about food and exchange recipes. Recently, I learned that one of the chatters has become my disciple in that he said he has learned a lot about cooking from me. We have exchanged a number of PMs and he has given me much kudos for my food ideas. He is 36 years of age and said his grandfather was a New Yorker who told him if you take up cooking, learn to do so
without ever measuring.
Thus, when you say "lots of" without specifying how much ingredients of each, I say, YES, that's the way to cook. Be sure to add some chopped zucchini and cherry tomatos on the side for added flavor and always include lots of oregano. The biggest difference for me being that I prefer Spanish rather than Italian olive oil but to each his own.
Mmmmm, mmmmm!