Chai Tahini Smoothie
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup coconut milk (or another kind of milk)
2 T. Tahini
3 T. concentrated chai tea
4-5 ice cubes
1 T. chia seeds (optional)
Dash of cinnamon and vanilla extract
Whir in blender until smooth.
Spiced Rhubarb-Cherry Chutney
Most home cooks consider rhubarb a fruit, which is why it has earned the nickname “the pie plant.†But rhubarb is actually a vegetable and thus perfectly suited for savory uses as well as desserts. When I spot the first crimson stalks at the farmers’ market, I shuttle them home to make this gently spiced rhubarb-cherry chutney. Try it spooned atop slices of roasted pork tenderloin.
¾ C. packed dark brown sugar
1â„3 C. red wine vinegar
1 ½ lb. rhubarb, cut into ½-inch pieces (4 C.)
½ C. dried cherries
Zest of 1 orange
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground cloves
½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Bring the sugar and vinegar to a boil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan. Stir in the rhubarb, cherries, orange zest, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper with a wooden spoon, and bring the mixture back to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rhubarb is tender and the mixture thickens slightly, about 6 minutes. Let the chutney cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it will keep for about 1 week. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Marinated Olives with Basil and Orange Peel
1 small orange
1 C. extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, peeled and smashed
1 heaping C. (about 1/2 pound) mixed olives
1/2 C. loosely packed basil leaves, julienned
Peel the orange zest using a vegetable peeler, removing as little of the white pith as possible. Slice the peel into thin strips. (Alternately, use a zester or stripper.) Pour the olive oil into a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in the orange zest and smashed garlic clove. Once the oil is warm, 2 to 5 minutes, turn off the heat and let sit until it comes to room temperature. Remove the garlic and stir in the basil. Add the olives to a pint-sized jar. Cover with the olive oil (leave the basil and orange in the oil). Refrigerate at least 24 hours. Bring to room temperature an hour before straining the oil and serving
Carrot, Jicama, and Red Cabbage Slaw
2 tsp. whole anise seeds
2 C. julienned red cabbage
1 C. julienned carrots
1 C. julienned jicama
1 large jalapeno, thinly sliced crosswise
3 T. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 scant tsp. coarse salt
1 tsp. sugar
1/3 C. chopped cilantro
1 T. chopped fresh mint
Heat a small, heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat. Add anise seeds and toast, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove anise seeds from pan and let cool to room temperature. In a large bowl, mix together cabbage, carrots, jicama, and jalapeno. Add lime juice, salt, sugar, cilantro, mint, and cooled anise seeds; toss to combine; let stand at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally, before serving. Slaw is best when made up to 3 days in advance and can be stored in an airtight container, refrigerated.
Pizza Sandwiches
1 1/2 C. warm water (115 degrees)
4 1/2 tsp. (two 1/4-ounce envelopes) active dry yeast
1/4 C. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for bowl and baking sheet
1 T. sugar
Coarse salt
4 1/3 C. all-purpose flour, plus more for surface
6 vine-ripened tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/2 C. plus 1 T. extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 C. crumbled soft goat cheese (5 ounces)
32 thin slices soppressata (8 ounces)
1 pound fresh mozzarella, sliced 1/4 inch thick
8 ounces baby arugula (about 10 C.)
2 C. fresh basil
2 T. fresh lemon juice
Make the dough: Pour warm water into a large bowl; sprinkle with yeast, and let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Whisk oil, sugar, and 2 tsp. salt into yeast mixture. Add flour, and stir until a sticky dough forms. Turn out dough onto a floured surface, and knead until smooth, about 8 minutes. Transfer to an oiled bowl, and turn to coat. Let stand, covered, in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, make the filling: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spread tomatoes on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with 3 T. oil, and season with salt. Roast, flipping after 30 minutes, until shrunken and slightly dehydrated, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool. Raise oven temperature to 500 degrees (with convection on if possible). Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface, and divide into 8 pieces. Form each into a ball. Let rest, draped with plastic wrap, for 15 minutes. Place 1 dough ball on a lightly oiled baking sheet, and shape into a 7 1/2-inch round. Arrange a layer of tomatoes on half of the dough, and dot with 2 T. goat cheese. Top with 4 slices soppressata. Tear off pieces of mozzarella, and place over top. Fold dough over to enclose filling, but do not seal. Repeat with remaining dough, tomatoes, goat cheese, soppressata, and mozzarella (arranging 4 sandwiches per baking sheet). Bake until golden and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Let cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Meanwhile, toss arugula and basil with lemon juice and remaining 1/4 C. plus 2 T. oil. Season with salt and pepper. Open each sandwich, and fill with arugula-basil mixture. Cut each in half.
Ricotta Berry Breakfast Crostini
12 baguette slices (cut on diagonal for more surface area)
½ C. ricotta cheese (if you can get fresh, it’s a beautiful thing)
2 tsp. honey
1 C. sliced strawberries or whole raspberries
In a toaster or a preheated 350°F oven, toast the baguette slices until they are very lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the ricotta and honey. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the toasted bread slices, and evenly distribute the berries over the tops.
Strawberry Balsamic Refrigerator Jam
1 tsp. lemon juice
zest of 1 lemon
1 lb. strawberries, stems removed and roughly chopped (good use for overripe berries)
1/3 C. sugar to 1/2 C., depends on sweetness of your strawberries
1 tsp. aged balsamic vinegar
Combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, strawberries, and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. It will look really watery at first, but it will start to thicken up as it reduces. Once you have the thickness you want, reduce the heat to medium and add the balsamic vinegar. Cook for 3 more minutes, then place your jam in a clean glass container. Refrigerate, and spread on biscuits, toast, or whatever you’d like. Enjoy!
Korean Beef Bites
1/2 pound flank or sirloin steak
1 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce or gluten-free tamari
1 tsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/2 tsp. freshly grated ginger
24 rice crackers
1/2 C. prepared kimchi
1 green onion, very thinly sliced on the diagonal
Slice the steak as thin as you can into at least 24 pieces. If you are using flank steak, make sure to slice across the grain. In a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Add the steak and mix to coat. Marinate for at least 10 minutes at room temperature or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Heat a grill pan over high heat. You’ll cook the steak in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. When the pan is hot, add the steak, and grill 1 to 2 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of your slices. To serve, on each rice cracker layer a slice of steak, the kimchi, and garnish with green onion.
Rick Bayless Thin-Sliced Strips Of Beef / Cecina De Res Y Carne Seca
1 1/2 lb. piece of eye of round
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 T. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
Using a very sharp knife (such as a boning, filleting or slicing knife), trim the ends, top and bottom of the meat to make them flat, giving you a roughly loaf-shaped chunk (weighing about 1 1/4 lbs). Reserve the scraps for another use. Lay the meat so that its length (and the grain) runs crosswise in front of you. Place one hand firmly on top of the meat, then begin slicing at one end, parallel to the work surface and 1/8″ below the top (and, as you guessed, 1/8″ below the level of your hand). Work your way across the meat, but stop 1/8″ short of the other end, DO NOT CUT THROUGH. Remove your knife, turn the meat 180^ and start a second cut across, 1/4″ below the top. When you’ve cut across about 1 inch, open out the top slice, bending it on the 1/8″ “hinge” that you left at the end. Lay your hand firmly on the newly exposed top and continue cutting across, again 1/8″ below the surface, below your hand. Stop 1/8″ from the end, turn the meat around and begin a third slice 1/4″ below what is now the top. Cut across 1 inch, unfold the second slice, then continue your cut, 1/8″ below your firmly held hand. Work your way back and forth across the meat, leaving 1/8″ hinges at the end of each slice, until the entire piece has been stretched out to a long, 1/8″-thick piece of meat.
Notes on Accordion-Cutting Meat: There is really nothing tricky about this technique, but it does require a little practice. Work slowly, slicing with firm, back-and-forth, sawing motions. The firmly held hand compacts the meat and holds it in place, making it much more manageable. If you work carefully, there is little risk of cutting yourself.
Salting & Aging: Mix together the salt, lime juice and oregano, stirring until the salt has mostly dissolved. Spread out the meat, smear the mixture on both sides, then refold into its original shape. Let stand 1/2 hour. Unfold the meat and hang it to dry in a dry place with good air circulation.
For Cecina (fresh or half-dried strips of beef): For dishes that call for cecina, let the meat dry a few hours or overnight. Cut into manageable-size pieces, cover and refrigerate; to ensure that the meat doesn’t dry any further, you may lightly rub both sides with oil.
For Carne Seca (jerky): For dishes that require jerky, let the meat hang for at least 48 hours. If you plan to keep it for an extended period, let it hang several days longer, then loosely wrap and store in a cool, dry place.
Drying the Beef: Some recipes direct you to hang it in the sun during the day, then bring it in at night; a cool, dry kitchen window works well, also. High humidity keeps the meat from drying and can cause it to spoil.
Variation: Chile-Dried Beef: Mix 2 tsp. pulverized, toasted chile guajillo or New Mexico chile with the salt-lime-oregano flavoring; add a little cayenne, if you wish. Prepare the meat as directed in Steps 1 and 2, coating it with the chile seasoning, then hanging it to dry.
Red Snapper with Lemon and Parsley
1 T. plus 1 tsp. olive oil
4 6-oz. skinless red snapper fillets
¼ C. lemon juice
¼ C. parsley, chopped
Heat oil in a heavy nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Season snapper with salt and pepper to taste. Sauté snapper 3 to 4 minutes per side or until fish flakes easily. Carefully transfer fillets to a serving platter. Drain excess drippings from skillet. Stir in lemon juice. Remove from heat and stir in parsley. Serve lemon sauce over red snapper.
Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 215
Fat: 6.8g
Fiber: .2g
Gazpacho
1 1/2 C. of vegetable juice
6 plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/2 medium cucumber, seeded, and chopped
1/2 red pepper, chopped
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1 small red onion chopped
3 cloves garlic finely chopped
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 T. olive oil
1 T. fresh herbs, such as parsley and/or basil (optional)
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the fresh herbs. Refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours. Serve chilled, topped with chopped fresh herbs and salt and pepper to taste.
Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 91
Fat: 4g
Fiber: 3g
Mango Lime Jam
3 C. mango pulp, coarsely chopped into raisin-sized pieces
3¼ C. granulated sugar
¼ C. fresh lime juice
Zest of 2 limes
Half of 3-oz. pouch of liquid pectin
In a nonreactive pan, mix together mango, sugar, and lime juice, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. When the mixture comes to a boil, add the lime zest, turn up the heat to medium and let the mango mixture boil for 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the liquid pectin and let the mixture boil for one more minute. Take the pot off the heat and let the jam rest for 5 minutes before putting it into the jars. This allows the jam to thicken up a bit which promotes better suspension of mango pulp; otherwise the mango pieces will rise to the top instead of being interspersed throughout the entire jar. Process with the water bath canning method. Alternatively, the jam can be stored in airtight containers and kept refrigerated.
North Indian Carrot Pickles
1 pound carrots, scrubbed and patted dry
1½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp. mustard seeds, coarsely crushed
1 tsp. pure kosher salt
½ tsp. turmeric
½ C. vegetable oil
¼ tsp. asafetida
1/3 C. strained fresh lemon juice
Wash 2 pint jars well, then dry them thoroughly inside and out. Wash and dry the lids. Cut the carrots into ¼- to ½-inch-thick sticks 4 inches long (to fit in pint jars). Pat dry and put in a dry medium-sized bowl. Add the red pepper flakes, mustard seeds, salt, and turmeric; toss to combine. Set aside. In a medium sauté pan, heat the oil over high heat for 30 seconds, then sprinkle in the asafetida, if using. Add the carrots and spices. Cook, stirring constantly but carefully with a clean, dry spoon, for 1 minute. Add the lemon juice and cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Remove from the heat. Using dry tongs, transfer the carrots to the jars, then divide the liquid and spices between the jars. Let cool to room temperature, then put the lids on and refrigerate for 4 days before serving. The pickle will keep for at least 6 weeks; be sure to use only dry utensils to scoop out the pickle as you use it, as it will spoil if any water comes in contact with it.
Pepperoni Pull Bread (Pizza Monkey Bread)
2 balls of pizza dough
2 C. shredded Asiago, Parmesan or any other hard cheese
1 pound mozzarella, cut into 1″ cubes
1 package of sliced pepperoni
1/4 C. olive oil
4 cloves fresh pressed garlic
1 tsp. dried oregano
Preheat oven to 375. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, and oregano. Coat a Bundt pan with one T. this mixture. Cut dough into golf ball sized dough balls. Flatten with hands. Place two pepperoni slices on top and one mozzarella cube. Pinch dough around filling to form a ball. Scatter a handful of Asiago on bottom of Bundt pan. Place one layer of balls on bottom of pan. Brush balls with garlic mixture. Scatter more Asiago on top. Place second tier of balls on top of first. Brush more of the garlic mixture on top and finish off with another handful of Asiago. Shake some more oregano on top to make yourself feel good about adding something green. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly.
Soft and Chewy Granola Bars Recipe
2 1/2 C. (230 grams) old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 C. (80 grams) whole almonds, coarsely chopped
1/3 C. (113 grams) honey
1/4 C. (56 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/4 C. (50 grams) packed light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 C. (60 grams) dried cranberries, coarsely chopped
1/4 C. plus 2 tsp. (67 grams) mini chocolate chips
Heat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line bottom and sides of a 8-inch or 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil. Then lightly oil or spray with cooking spray. Add oats and almonds to a small baking sheet then bake 5 minutes, stir and bake another 3 to 5 minutes until lightly toasted. Transfer to a large bowl. Combine butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla extract and the salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until butter melts and the sugar completely dissolves. Pour butter mixture in to bowl with toasted oats and almonds. Mix well. Let cool about 5 minutes then add cranberries and a 1/4 C. the mini chocolate chips. Stir to combine. (The chocolate chips will most likely melt a little. This is fine, they turn into glue and help to hold the bars together). Transfer oat mixture to lined pan then use a rubber spatula or damp finger tips to firmly press the mixture into the pan. (Press hard here, this way the bars will stay together once cooled and cut — We press for about one minute to be extra safe). Scatter remaining 2 tsp. chocolate chips over pressed granola mixture then use a rubber spatula to gently press them into the top. Cover then refrigerate at least 2 hours. Remove block of granola mixture from pan then peel away aluminum foil. Cut into 12 bars. Store bars in an airtight container for up to one week. For the softest bars, keep at room temperature. For slightly harder bars, store in the fridge.
Fruit crisp for any season
If you have seasonal fruit and a few staples in your pantry, you can always make my favorite rustic dessert: a crisp. When I need a last-minute dessert, fruit crisp is always my go-to. It’s so easy and so delicious. You don’t really need a recipe to make a great fruit crisp. You just need great fruit, a little sweetener, some spice, and plenty of crumbly oatmeal cookie-type topping. I like to use cornstarch or arrowroot powder to slightly thicken up juicy fruits, but if you don’t have these starches on hand, all-purpose flour works fine too. Consider this a blueprint, with ideas for fruit crisps throughout the season, and combine fruits, play with spices, and experiment to find your own perfect crisp.
For the topping:
¾ C. rolled oats
1/2 C. lightly packed light brown sugar
1/2 C. chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds
1/2 C. all-purpose flour
1/2 C. (1 stick) unsalted butter, at soft room temperature
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Pinch of kosher salt
Filling ingredients (See graphic)
Lightly sweetened whipped cream or vanilla
ice cream, for serving (optional)
Move an oven rack to the center position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9-inch-square pan. In a small bowl, combine all the topping ingredients and mix together until it looks uniformly clumpy. Set aside. ^ Choose a filling combination. In a medium bowl, toss the fruit, sweetener, thickener, and extras together, then pour the fruit mixture into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the crisp topping all over the filling, then bake until the fruit juices are thickened and bubbly and the topping is golden brown and crunchy, 40 minutes or up to 1 hour, depending on the fruit. Serve the crisp with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream, if desired. Note: If you use frozen fruit, increase the amount of thickener you use a bit.
Uses for Orange Juice
For a deliciously healthy breakfast treat, slice a banana into a bowl and top it with fresh orange juice. The juice adds sweetness, tang, and moisture to the banana—it’s a perfect flavor and texture combination.
For instant “picklesâ€, mix orange juice with Asian-style ingredients. In a small bowl, combine:
4 parts fresh orange juice
2 parts soy sauce
2 parts vegetable oil
1 part sesame oil
2 parts rice vinegar
Mix well and pour over sliced cucumbers to cover. Serve immediately, or let the cucumber slices soak in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours to absorb more flavor.
To stir up a fast and fabulous vinaigrette, whisk together 1/4 C. fresh orange juice, 1 tsp. grated orange zest, 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice, 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Gradually whisk in 1/2 C. fruity olive oil. Excellent on spinach salads.
For an herb-scented Bundt cake, add chopped fresh rosemary, fresh orange juice, and grated orange zest to the batter. Replacing half of the recipe’s butter with olive oil also adds to the fruity flavor.
For an easy mango sorbet, mix 1/2 C. orange juice, 1/2 C. sugar, 1 package (about 5 oz.) frozen mango chunks, and 1 tsp. vanilla extract in a food processor. Process until smooth and thick, using 4- to 5-second pulses. Scrape into a shallow metal pan and freeze for up to 2 hours. Scrape out servings with a spoon. If you freeze longer, return the mixture to the food processor and pulse to revive its creamy texture.
For an aromatic marinade for pork tenderloin, mix together:
1 can (6 oz.) thawed orange juice concentrate
2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. rum
1/4 C. chicken broth
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
Marinate 2 pounds pork tenderloin in the mixture for 4 to 8 hours. Grill or broil the pork, then boil the marinade for 5 minutes. Dissolve 1 tsp. cornstarch in 1/4 C. cold chicken broth, then stir into the marinade to thicken. Serve with the pork.
When you can’t think of what to do with chicken yet again, mix up this quick and surprising marinade. Grate the zest and squeeze the juice from 1 lime and 1 lemon into a large zip-close bag. Stir in 1 can (6 oz.) thawed orange juice concentrate, 1/2 C. tomato sauce, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning, and 1/2 tsp. hot-pepper sauce. Drop in 2 pounds boneless chicken parts and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 8 hours. Grill or broil the chicken and serve with prepared salsa.
To make a refreshing brine for fish, combine 2 C. fresh orange juice, 2 tsp. fennel seeds, 2 tsp. sugar, 3 tsp. kosher salt, and 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper. Add thick fish steaks or fillets and refrigerate for up to 2 hours. Remove from the brine and grill, broil, or pan-fry the fish.
To breathe new life into creamy squash or red-pepper soups, stir in 1/4 C. fresh orange juice.
For a new twist on tapioca pudding, combine 2 C. fresh orange juice, 1/3 C. sugar, 3 tsp. quick-cooking tapioca, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Let stand for 5 minutes. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and cool for 20 minutes. The pudding will thicken as it cools. Stir until smooth and serve warm or chilled.
To freshen up spaghetti sauce, squeeze in the juice from 1 to 2 oranges.
For a lively teriyaki marinade, mix together:
1/2 C. fresh orange juice
1/4 C. soy sauce
2 tsp. honey
1 tsp. grated fresh ginger
1 tsp. grated orange zest
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
Use to marinate beef, pork, or chicken.
For a quick creamy orange smoothie, combine orange-tangerine juice, vanilla ice cream, vanilla extract, and orange sherbet in blender. Process until smooth.
To give steamed rice an uplifting aroma, add 1/4 C. fresh orange juice to the cooking water.
Peach Slices with Bourbon
The trick to canning peaches is to look for the freestone varieties. They typically arrive in markets towards the middle point of peach season and they will make your workload far lighter. You can’t tell by looking what kind you have, so ask your grower or the produce person at your local market. Tell them you want them for canning, they’ll understand.
6 pounds yellow peaches
6 tsp. bottled lemon juice divided
3 C. water
3/4 C. pure maple syrup
1/2 C. bourbon
Prepare a boiling water bath and 4 regular-mouth pint-size jars. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While it heats, cut all your peaches in half and remove the pits. Fill a large bowl two-thirds the way up with cold water and add 2 tsp. the lemon juice. The cold water stops the cooking, and the lemon helps prevent the fruit from browning.
Working in batches, proceed to blanch all your peach halves for 60 seconds, placing them in the bowl of lemon water to cool as they come out of the pot. Make sure to give the water a chance to come back up to boiling between batches. If the water isn’t hot enough, you will have a hard time removing the skin during peeling.
Once all the peaches have been balanced and they are cooling down, make the syrup. Combine the remaining 4 tsp. lemon juice, the water, and the maple syrup in a nonreactive saucepan large enough to eventually hold all the peaches. Place the pan over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer.
While the syrup heats, slide the peels off the peaches and cut the peach flesh into wedges, dropping the wedges into the heating syrup as you work. Once all the peaches are in the syrup, increase the heat to high and bring to pot to a boil. Once it boils, remove the pot from the heat.
Using a slotted spoon, funnel the peaches into the prepared jars and top with the syrup, leaving 1 1/2 inches of headspace. Add 2 tsp. bourbon to each jar. Tap the jars gently on the countertop to settle the peaches and use a wood chopstick to dislodge any trapped air bubbles. Add more liquid to return the headspace to 1 1/2 inches if necessary.
Wipe the rims, apply the lids and rings, and process in a boiling water bath for 25 minutes. Note: Most the time I’ll tell you that you can use whatever jar you want, but for these peaches, I actually do recommend opting for regular mouth jars. Their shoulders will help keep the peach slices submerged in the syrup and that will ensure they keep their quality longer
Strawberry Vanilla Jam
This recipe is a classic Strawberry Jam. But we’ve brought it to modern taste standards by using Pomona’s Pectin which requires little or no sweetener. Pomona’s Pectin relies on Calcium Water (included in the box of pectin) to make the jam set. It can be found in stores like Whole Foods that sell natural or organic products. When using any pectin product, always follow the package directions exactly. Otherwise your set may be comprised.
Makes about 6 -7 half-pints
½ to 1 ½ C. honey or other sweetener (sugar, agave nectar, maple, etc.) (Sweetener can be added to taste)
4 tsp. Pomona’s Pectin powder
3 pounds rinsed and hulled strawberries, crushed, about 8 C. (you could dice or puree, but this could affect the consistency of the final product)
3 tsp. fresh lemon juice, strained
3 tsp. vanilla extract
4 tsp. calcium powder liquid (made up by following directions in box of pectin)
Prepare canning pot with jars (no lids or bands) by covering jars with water and bringing to a boil. When boiling, turn heat down to medium and hold until ready to use. Stir sugar and pectin power together. Put strawberries, lemon juice, vanilla and calcium solution in a wide 6-8 quart stockpot or deep stainless steel skillet. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring in the sugar-pectin mixture. Stir until sugar is dissolved, about 1-2 minutes. Return to a boil, then remove from heat. Ladle into hot jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace at the top. Wipe rims of the jars with a damp cloth, bubble with a table knife or jar bubbler, place lid and band on each jar. Return jars to boiling water canning pot, with water covering jars by 1 inch. Bring water back to a boil and boil for 5 minutes to process. Remove jars to a folded towel on heatproof surface. Do not disturb for 12 hours. Remove bands and test lids for seal. If any jar hasn’t sealed, immediately refrigerate. Label and date jars and store.
Ginger Green Apple Smoothie
1 Cucumber
1 Cup Spinach
1 Green Apple
1 handful of Parsley
1 thumb of Ginger (about 1 inch)
1-2 Cups of Coconut Water or Water
Core your apple, blend all ingredients together in a high-powered blender and enjoy.
Gin Spiked Mint-Fennel Sorbet
This dessert is reminiscent of a cocktail and is the epitome of refreshing on a hot summer night. Basil can be substituted for the mint.
2 bulbs fennel
1 1/2 C. sugar
3 bunches mint, leaves plucked from stems
4 limes, juiced
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 C. gin
1 egg white
Chop fennel. Place in a nonreactive pot and add 4 C. water. Cover and simmer until very tender, approximately 30 minutes. Cool completely. Combine 1 1/2 C. water with sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Cool simple syrup completely.. Purée the fennel with the water it was cooking in, 2 C. simple syrup, mint, lime juice, salt, gin, and egg white in a blender for 1 minute. Strain through a cheesecloth. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Process in an ice-cream maker according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Hazelnut Crusted Halibut with Marionberry Margarita Sauce
4 6oz. Halibut Filets
1 C. Oregon hazelnuts
1/2 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
1/2 tsp. fresh oregano, chopped
1/2 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
1/3 C. cornmeal
2 tsp. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Purée all ingredients in a food processor until it has a crumb texture.
2 tsp. salad oil
2 C. yellow onion, small dices
1 tsp. garlic, minced
1/2 C. tequila
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. lime juice
3 tsp. honey
1/4 C. sugar
2 tsp. rice vinegar
1 C. water
4 C. fresh marionberries or blackberries
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
Caramelize onions in oil in a medium saucepan until browned. Add garlic and tequila and reduce until dry. Add juices, honey, sugar, vinegar and water and bring to a boil. Add half of the berries and return to a boil. Remove from heat and purée mixture until smooth in a blender. Add remaining berries and salt and pepper.
Coat 4 6-oz. halibut filets in the hazelnut crust. Place on greased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Top with the berry sauce and garnish with favorite starch and vegetables.
Buckwheat Crêpes with Roasted Root Vegetables
In Brittany, crêpes ”galettes”are usually folded into a rough square around your filling of choice. Gruyere and ham are definitely crowd pleasers, especially when an egg is cooked in the center of the dish. I prefer roasted root vegetables, with garlic and caramelized shallots on a bed of wilted kale and Gruyère cheese. Finished with a sunny-side up egg, it’s a cold weather meal that’s hard to beat in terms of color, flavor, and satisfaction.
3/4 C. buckwheat flour
1/4 C. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 C. milk, split
4 tsp. melted unsalted butter, divided
One recipe roasted root vegetables (below)
In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, combine eggs, 1 1/2 C. milk, and 2 tsp. melted butter. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until the mixture is uniform. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour and up to overnight. Before making the crêpes, whisk in the remaining 1/4 C. milk and have 2 tsp. melted butter standing by. If the batter seems too thick—doesn’t seem “pourableâ€â€”add a little bit of water. Heat an 8-inch non-stick sauté pan and brush with the remaining melted butter. When the butter is hot enough to sizzle, add a scant 1/4 C. crêpe batter. Tilt the pan around quickly to spread the batter. When the edges are slightly browned and the center of the crêpe is bubbling (about 3 minutes over high heat), flip the crêpe using your fingertips, tongs, or spatula. Cook for another 10-15 seconds, then slide onto a plate. Repeat until all the batter is used. Note: you can omit the all-purpose flour to make the dish entirely gluten-free. Just mix the batter a little bit longer to stretch the starches within the buckwheat.
Roasted Root Vegetables
4 medium-sized beets, trimmed and rinsed (save the greens)
8 cloves of garlic, unpeeled
2 large garnet sweet potatoes, rinsed and cubed
1/2 C. olive oil, divided
Salt and pepper to taste
2 large shallots, sliced into rings
1 bunch purple kale, stripped from stems and chopped
1/2 C. white wine
1 C. shredded Gruyère cheese
1 tsp. butter
6 eggs
1/2 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
Preheat oven to 375°F. Rub the beets with oil and season them with salt and pepper. Wrap them, along with the garlic cloves, in foil, and roast for an hour. Toss the sweet potatoes in olive oil and salt and pepper. Spread evenly on a cookie sheet and roast in the same oven for 35 minutes, turning with a spatula halfway through. Remove the beets from the oven and carefully open the foil. After they’ve cooled to handling temperature, rub them with a cloth to remove their skins (or you can leave on). Chop them into 3/4 inch cubes and set aside. Peel the garlic and set the cloves with the beets. Remove the sweet potatoes from the oven, stir once with a spatula and set aside. When the crepes are ready, heat a large sauté pan with 2 tsp. olive oil over high heat. When the oil begins to shimmer on the surface, add the shallots and immediately lower the heat. When the shallots begin to caramelize, after about seven minutes, raise the heat again. Carefully add the kale and the reserved beet greens to the oil. It will want to spatter. Stir once or twice, and deglaze with white wine. Cover the pan, lower the heat once again, and let the greens wilt and the wine cook down, about three minutes. Remove the lid and add the roots and roasted garlic. Toss all together and taste. Add more salt and pepper if you like. Set aside.
On a cookie sheet or in a baking dish, assemble the crêpes: Sprinkle 1/4 C. Gruyère cheese over the bottom of the crêpe. Pile 1/4 C. the vegetable mixture on top of the cheese. Fold in the edges to form a packet. Hold in a 275°F oven until you are ready to plate. In a large sauté pan over medium flame, heat 1 tsp. butter. Crack six eggs into the pan and cook them until the whites are firm but the yolks are still runny, about seven minutes (this step can occur while you are assembling the crêpes). Place a filled crêpe on a plate. Top with an egg. Garnish with freshly ground black pepper, coarse sea salt, and a sprinkle of chopped thyme.
Uses for Sour Cream
For a sweet and surprising maple sauce, combine 1/2 C. low-fat cottage cheese, 1/4 C. sour cream, 1/4 C. maple syrup, and 1 tsp. honey in a mini food processor or blender (you could also use a hand blender and combine the mixture in a tall glass). Puree until smooth. Chill the sauce for at least 30 minutes before using. Can be used on desserts, as a vegetable dip, or however you wish.
To whip up a super-fast chocolate frosting for cakes and cupcakes, melt 1 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips in a microwavable bowl. Stir in 1/2 C. sour cream until smooth. Spread over your favorite cakes and cupcakes and refrigerate until ready to serve.
To give chocolate cookies and cakes a luscious texture, replace half of the butter in your favorite recipe with sour cream. The acidity of the sour cream helps to tenderize the cookie dough or cake batter.
To make a homemade, low-fat version of creme fraiche, mix together 1/2 C. reduced-fat sour cream, 1/2 C. 1% milk, and 1/4 tsp. sugar. Cover and let stand in a warm place overnight to thicken. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before using. Keeps refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
To enrich deviled eggs, mix a little sour cream into the filling.
For extra-creamy guacamole, add a few tsp. sour cream into the mixture.
To enrich bottled spaghetti sauce or prepared pesto sauce, stir in 1/4 C. sour cream per 2 C. sauce. Cook over low heat until the sour cream just blends into the sauce. Keep the sauce warm over low heat, but don’t allow it to boil or the sour cream may curdle.
To give black bean dip a super-creamy texture, add sour cream. Drain 1 can (16 oz.) black beans and place them in a food processor or blender. Add:
1/4 C. sour cream
1/4 C. chicken broth
1 scallion, sliced
1 small garlic clove, minced
2 tsp. dry sherry
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. hot-pepper sauce
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
Puree until the texture is smooth. Remove from the processor or blender and store in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving. This recipe doubles easily and tastes great with corn chips.
For sweetened creamy polenta, make polenta with yellow cornmeal, milk, honey, and butter. Finish the polenta by stirring in sour cream. Top with fresh berries or strawberry, cherry, or raspberry jam.
Small Batch Strawberry Vanilla Jam
1 quart strawberries (a little over 1 1/2 pounds, should be approximately 4 C. chopped berries)
2 C. sugar, divided
2 vanilla beans, split and scraped
1 lemon, zested and juiced
Wash and chop berries. Toss them with 1 C. sugar and the vanilla beans/seeds and place in a large jar or bowl. Allow the berries to macerate for at least 2-3 hours and up to 72 hours. When you’re ready to make the jam, prepare three half pint jars. Pour macerated strawberries into a large pot and add the remaining C. sugar. Bring to a boil and cook until the jam reaches 220 degrees, stirring very regularly.
6.Add the lemon zest and juice in the final 5 minutes of cooking. Once the jam has reached 220 degrees, remove the pan from the heat. Pour jam into your prepared jars. Wipe rims, apply lids and rings and process in your canner for 10 minutes (normally I’d admonish you not to start your timer until the water has returned to a boil. However, as long as your water is quite hot when the jars go into the canner, the time it will take to return to boiling should be minimal). When time is up, remove jars from canner and let them cool on a towel-lined counter top. When jars are cool enough to handle, remove rings and check seals. If any jars are not sealed, store them in the fridge and use them first. Store sealed jars in a cool, dark place.
Roasted Corn & Tomato Salsa
5 ears fresh corn, shucked
3 C. tomatoes, chopped
½ C. jalapeno peppers, chopped
½ C. onion, chopped
½ C. apple cider vinegar
½ C. bottled lime juice
¼ C. sugar
½ tsp. red pepper flakes
½ tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. sea salt
Prepare water bath canner by filling with jars and water to cover. Bring to a boil and then turn to simmer until ready to use. Roast corn ears under broiler or on grill, turning until all sides are a deep golden brown. When cool, cut kernels from cob. Combine all the rest of the ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is reduced to about half. Ladle into jars leaving ½ inch of headspace, bubble to remove air pockets, and wipe rims. Apply caps and process in the canner for 15 minutes after water returns to a boil. Add water, if necessary, to bring level to at least 1 inch over the tops of the jars. When time is up, turn off heat and let jars rest for 5 minutes. Remove from canner to a heat-proof counter and let cool for 12 hours. Then remove bands, test seals. Unsealed jars should be immediately refrigerated and used within 3-4 days. Label and date and store in a cool, dark area.
Tropical Energy Smoothie
2 T. tahini
1 medium size ripe banana
1 C. low fat plain yogurt
1 – 1 1/2 C. pineapple juice
1 medium papaya
Scoop out meat from papaya with spoon and place in blender with rest of ingredients. Blend until smooth.
Roasted Kale with Preserved Lemons
1 1/4 lb. dinosaur or curly green kale (about 2 bunches), rinsed
2 T. olive oil
Salt and pepper
3 T. chopped preserved lemons (see notes) or 1 T. slivered lemon peel
Tear kale leaves away from tough center stems; discard stems. Cut kale into 2-inch pieces and place in a large bowl. Add oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper; mix well to coat. Spoon into a 9- by 13-inch baking dish (kale will fill dish). Bake in a 450° regular or convection oven, stirring occasionally, until top pieces of kale are crisp and remaining are tender to bite, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in preserved lemons or lemon peel and spoon into a bowl. Serve hot or at room temperature.
Tomato and Sweet Onion Crumble
1 T. olive oil
2 sweet onions (about 1 lb. total), such as Walla Walla or Oso, peeled and thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 lb. ripe tomatoes, rinsed, cored, and sliced (1/4 in. thick)
1/3 C. chopped fresh basil
3 T. chopped fresh oregano leaves
Salt and pepper
4 slices crusty artisan-style bread (each about 1 in. thick and 3 by 5 in.), cut into chunks
1/4 C. (1/8 lb.) butter
1/2 C. grated parmesan cheese
Heat oil in a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add onions and garlic. Stir frequently until onions are limp and beginning to brown, about 6 minutes. Pour into a 2- to 3-quart baking dish with sides at least 2 inches high, and spread onions level. Top evenly with tomato slices, basil, and oregano. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. In a food processor, whirl bread with butter and cheese until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over tomatoes. Bake in a 350° oven until topping is golden brown and juices are bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes and serve warm.
Hood Canal Manila Clams with Spicy Orange Cilantro Butter
4 pounds small manila clams (6-8 dozen), kept cold in the frig, with air to breath
2 tablespoons cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, skinned and chopped (2 cups chopped)
2 cups dry white wine (such as a Northwest Pinot Grigio)
Spicy Orange Cilantro Butter
½ cup (1 cube) unsalted butter, cool room temperature
finely grated zest of 1 large orange
handful cilantro leaves (stems discarded)
4 large cloves garlic, peeled
½ teaspoon hot, smoked Spanish paprika
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
chopped cilantro
thin shreds of orange peel
hot, crusty French bread
No less than ½ hour and no more than 1 hour before cooking, remove the clams from the frig, scrub them under cold running water, put them in a large bowl or clean sink, and cover with cold water. Clams need at least ½ hour in the water to release any sand trapped in their shells. NOTE If you suspect that your clams may be sandy, after soaking, steam a couple of them separately to check this before proceeding with the recipe. Once in a blue moon, I run into a sandy batch of clams that require separate steaming. If this happens to you, simply rinse the steamed clams to remove the sand and then proceed with the recipe. You will of course lose the clam juice, but that is preferred to a sauce full of sand. In the meanwhile, over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan or stovetop casserole. Add the chopped onion, and cook slowly until the onions are softened and translucent, but not browned, about 15 minutes. Add the wine and reduce by half. Remove from the heat and reserve. While the onions are cooking, make the Spicy Orange Cilantro Butter. In a processor, combine the butter, orange zest, cilantro, garlic, paprika, red pepper flakes, and salt. Pulse to finely chop and combine the ingredients. Reserve. To prepare the clams, put the pan with the sautéed onions back on the stove over medium-high heat, add the scrubbed clams, and cover. After the liquid comes to a boil, it will take about 5-7 minutes for the clams to open. As soon as most of the clam shells are open, remove from the heat. Remove any clams that did not open. NOTE Clams become tough when overcooked. Be sure to remove them from the heat as soon as most of them are open. You can also remove those clams that are open and give the remaining clams a few more minutes to see if they will open too. Quickly combine the clams with the Spicy Orange Cilantro Butter, garnish with chopped cilantro and orange peel, and serve with plenty of hot, crusty bread.
Nectarine and Peach Jam with Lemon Verbena
This is refrigerator jam, allowing you to skip the fuss and time of canning.
1 lemon
3 pounds ripe nectarines or peaches, or a mix, pitted and sliced
730 grams sugar (3 and 1/4 C.)
Pinch salt
10 sprigs fresh lemon verbena
Grate zest from half the lemon and place zest in a large saucepan. Juice lemon and add the juice to the zest. Toss in fruit, sugar, salt and lemon verbena and bring to a simmer. Turn mixture into a large bowl and refrigerate overnight. The next day, if you plan to can the jam, prepare the jars according to the instructions here. Strain the liquid from the mixture into a wide, shallow pot or large skillet, reserving the fruit. Bring liquid to a simmer and cook until it thickens enough to wrinkle on the surface when you push it with a spoon (a candy thermometer should read 220 degrees). Remove lemon verbena from fruit and add fruit to the pot with the syrup. Simmer fruit gently until mixture looks very thick and jamlike. You can test the jam to see if it’s ready by freezing a small plate. Drop a bit of the jam on the plate, let it cool for a minute and then push it with your finger. The top should wrinkle. If syrup is thin and runny, keep cooking and test again in a few minutes (return plate to freezer in the meantime). If canning, spoon into hot sterilized jars and process as directed. Otherwise, let jam cool, then store in refrigerator or freezer.
Strawberries in Minted Honey Syrup
1 C. water
1 C. honey
2 pints strawberries
1 small bunch fresh mint (about 6 sprigs)
Bring the water to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Pour in the honey and whisk it into the water until it dissolves fully. Continue simmering over medium heat for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature. Hull the strawberries, cut them in half, and set them in a bowl. Pluck the leaves off the stems of mint, tear them with your hands, and drop them into the bowl with the strawberries. Pour the cooled honey syrup over the strawberries and mint, then cover the bowl and transfer it to the fridge. Allow the berries to marinate for a day, and then serve them with their syrup.
Pickled Ramps
Clean your ramps well. They get muddy and sandy so make sure to peel the outer layer and give them a good rinse/soak. Just use the bulbs here but don’t throw out the leaves! The greens are amazing in pesto or risotto, in any kind of pasta, mixed with butter to top fish. Use any combination of spices you like (allspice and juniper are nice additions).
1 C. white wine vinegar
1 C. sugar
1 C. water
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. mustard seeds
1 tsp. coriander seeds
1 tsp. fennel seeds
2 tsp. pink peppercorns
1 tsp. black peppercorns
â…› tsp. hot chili flakes
2 bay leaves
1 pound ramp bulbs, cleaned and trimmed
Kosher salt for blanching
Trim the root ends off of the ramps and cut off the leaves, saving the green ends for another purpose (like pesto or risotto). Rinse the ramps well under cool, running water. Bring a 2-3 quart pot of water up to boil and add 2 tsp. salt. Drop in the ramps and cook for 2-4 minutes, depending on size) They should be tender but not mushy. Remove and shock them in ice water until cool. Drain the ramps well and place them in the jar you’re going to pickle them in. In a saucepan, combine the vinegar, salt, sugar, and water and bring to a boil. Add the bay leaf and all the spices. Turn off the heat. Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the ramps in the mason jar and let cool on the counter (30 minutes or so). Then seal tightly and transfer to the refrigerator. They’ll be ready to eat in a day or two. The refrigerated pickled ramps will last a few weeks to a couple of months.
Canned Apricots in Honey Syrup
3 lb. apricots, firm, but not hard
1 C. honey
2 1/2 C. water
Fill canning pot half-way full with water and bring to a boil. Place flat lids in a small pot, cover with hot water and bring to a simmer. Combine honey and water in a medium pot and bring to a simmer. Wash apricots and dry on a towel. Using a paring knife, cut apricots in half and remove pit. Pack jars with apricots, cut side down. TIP: packing apricots cavity side down makes it easier to fit more into the jar. Ladle hot honey syrup into the jars until apricots are covered. Leave 1/2 inch of headspace at the top of the jars. Top jars with hot lids and screw rings. When all the jars have been filled and topped with lids, lower them into the hot water bath. Cover pot, bring water to a boil and process for ten minutes. Turn off the heat, remove lid, and carefully remove preserved apricots.
Moghul Braised Chicken
1 T. finely chopped garlic
2 T. ground coriander
1 C. plain yogurt
1/2 C. heavy cream
24 whole cloves
1-1/2 lbs skinned boneless chicken breast meat
3 C. finely chopped onions
4 bay leaves
1-1/2 T. finely chopped fresh ginger root
3/4 C. light veg oil
2 T. kosher salt
1/4-1/2 T. red pepper
12 green cardamom pods, slightly crushed
Place the chicken on a cutting board, and using a sharp knife, slice them thinly into 1/4-inch thick medallions, as for scallopine. Cut the medallions into 2/5 inch pieces and set aside. Heat the oil in a wide heavy-bottomed pan, preferably one with a non-stick surface, and add onions, garlic, and ginger. Over medium-high heat, cook them until they turn pale and begin to brown, about 10 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Add cardamom, cloves, bay, and cook, stirring rapidly, until cardamom pods and cloves are fried and puffed and the bay leaves turn brown, about 5 minutes. The onions should by now be light golden brown. Add coriander and red pepper, stir for 10-15 seconds, and add 2 T. the yogurt. Continue frying the mixture until the moisture from the yogurt evaporates. Then add two more T. yogurt and fry. Keep adding yogurt and frying until the whole C. yogurt is used up, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken pieces and sauté, turning and tossing until the meat loses its pink color, 3-5 minutes. Add 1/2 C. boiling water with the salt, and mix. Reduce heat to med-low and simmer, covered, until the fillets are cooked and fork-tender, about 25 minutes. The oil will begin to separate from the gravy, which should be fairly thick by now, and to coat the chicken pieces. stir in the cream and turn off the heat. Let the korma rest, covered, for an hour before serving, when ready to serve, heat thoroughly, check for salt, and serve.
Quick and Easy Shoyu Chicken with Tailgate Teriyaki Sauce
Tailgate Teri Sauce
1 tsp. minced fresh cilantro
½ tsp. Chinese five-spice powder
2 lb. chicken thighs, skinned and boned
1 tsp. cornstarch
2 tsp. water
Green onions, chopped (optional garnish)
Bean sprouts (optional garnish)
Combine teri sauce, cilantro, and five-spice powder in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil, add the chicken, and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender. Remove chicken from sauce and set aside, tenting with foil to keep warm. Measure the sauce and return 1 C. to the pan. Blend the cornstarch and water. Bring the 1 C. sauce to a boil and stir in the cornstarch mixture to thicken into a glaze. Return the chicken to the pan and stir to coat well. Garnish with green onions and bean sprouts, if desired.
Tailgate Teri Sauce:
1 C. soy sauce
Juice of 1 medium orange
½ C. mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine)
½ C. water
¼ C. packed brown sugar
1½ tsp. minced fresh garlic
1½ tsp. peeled and minced fresh ginger
Combine all ingredients and blend well.
Cedar Planked Salmon with Lemon Garlic Sauce and Roasted Carrots
4 cedar planks
4 salmon steaks
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 C. Raley’s Chefs’ Menu Lemon Garlic Sauce (in our Meat Dept.)
2 T. chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp. red chili flakes
1½ lbs. medium carrots, peeled and cut lengthwise
3 T. olive oil
2 T. lemon juice
1 T. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. cumin seeds, toasted
1 clove garlic, minced
2 T. chopped fresh mint
Soak cedar planks in water for at least 4 hours; drain well. Preheat oven to 400ËšF. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside. Heat sauce in a medium saucepan, then stir in parsley and chili flakes. Reserve a portion of the sauce for serving. Place salmon on planks and season with salt and pepper. Grill over medium heat for 15 minutes or until salmon reaches 150ËšF on a meat thermometer, brushing salmon with sauce while cooking. Toss carrots, oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, cumin, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Place on prepared sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with mint. Serve salmon with reserved sauce and carrots.
Salad Dressing Infographic
Potato Skordalia (σκοÏδαλιά)
1 1/2 pounds of potatoes for boiling
6-12 cloves of garlic, minced or grated (to taste) – firm, fresh, crisp garlic
1 C. extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 2 lemons
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
Add the salt to a large pot of water. Peel the potatoes and boil in salted water until well done (easily pierced with a fork). While they are cooking, crush garlic cloves with salt using a mortar and pestle. Drain potatoes and pass through a ricer. Add pureed garlic and pour in lemon juice and olive oil. Beat briskly with wooden spoon until well mixed and smooth. Season well with salt and pepper. Stir in 3 tsp. or so of the cooking water (or hot fish broth if you have it). Serve with fried salt cod.
Apple Rose Tarts with cream cheese
1-2 sheets puff pastry
1/4 cup cream cheese
3 T. sugar
cinnamon
1 apple
1 T. lemon juice
3 T. water
Take out the core and thinly slice the apple. Combine the apple slices with lemon juice and water in a bowl and microwave 3 minutes. Cool the bowl in some ice water. Pat dry the apple slices of excess moisture and set aside. Roll out the puff pastry and cut into 4 even strips. Spread cream cheese and sprinkle on sugar onto the puff pastry strips.
Arrange the apple slices and sprinkle cinnamon on top. Fold the pastry puff in half lengthwise and roll them up. Place in greased muffin tins. Bake for 40 minutes at 375 degrees F.