Spring Crown Royal

Another sure sign of spring is asparagus. Asparagus is available year round in the supermarket but in New England you will find the locally grown variety from late May to early June. Green asparagus is a great source of folic acid, with just ¼ cup providing one-third of the recommended daily intake.

When shopping for asparagus, whether in the supermarket or the farmer’s market, look for spears that snap, don't bend, and have nice, tight heads that are brightly colored. You may notice that some spears are plump, while others are skinny. The thicker stalks tend to be more tender while the thinner ones tend to be more flavorful. Obviously, the thicker the asparagus, the longer it will take to cook, so adjust any recipes accordingly. One isn't better than the other; it just depends which you prefer.

Once you bring the asparagus home, keep it fresh in the fridge for up to a week. Simply stand the stalks up in a glass with an inch or two of water in the bottom. To prepare asparagus, grasp each spear and bend it until it snaps. The spear will break at the natural point where it becomes tender. Asparagus is wonderful roasted or grilled (thicker variety works best for this) or lightly steamed and made into a soup. Try it with stir-fries or have it raw as a crudité.

The recipe below combines asparagus with spring onions. Spring onions are, as the name highlights, largely available in the spring. They are simply young regular onions that farmers pull from the field to thin the rows. You can differentiate them from scallions by their slight bulge near the root. They have a milder flavor than mature regular onions and are sweeter than scallions. They can be cooked and used as standard onions or leeks; better yet, maximize their tender, sweet flavor by using them raw in salads, salsas, and as a garnish. For this recipe I have caramelized them making their flavor even sweeter.

Asparagus and Caramelized Spring Onion Quiche

1 pie shell (home-made or store-bought)

½ tablespoon butter

1 cup spring onions, sliced (white part only – you can reserve the green part to use for stock)

1 ½ cups asparagus, chopped

6 eggs

¼ cup light cream

1 tablespoon chopped mint

Salt and pepper to taste

½ cup shredded sharp Vermont cheddar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Press the prepared pie dough into 9 inch pie dish. Set aside in the refrigerator as you prepare the quiche.

In a small sauté pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add sliced onion and sauté, stirring occasionally until onions begin to soften and turn brown – about 10 -15 minutes. Add chopped asparagus to pan and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and allow mixture to cool before adding to prepared pie shell.

In a medium bowl whisk together eggs and light cream. Add in the chopped mint and season with salt and pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the onion and asparagus mixture in the pie shell. Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top.

Put the pie dish on a sheet pan and place in the oven. Bake until golden brown, and the egg mixture has set, 35 to 40 minutes. Be sure to rotate the quiche after 15 to 20 minutes to ensure even browning.

Jump n' Chive

Fresh herbs are vital to cooking. One of the main reasons people over-salt their food is because it is lacking in flavor. Fresh herbs help to bring the flavor without all the added sodium, and I use them religiously. As Deborah Madison describes in her book Local Flavors, “Herbs can take a vegetable on the most amazing journeys, changing a food from savory to sweet and back again, and they can make one vegetable seem like five.” Try tossing fresh herbs into a salad or top a dish with chopped herbs to bring a final burst of freshness.

Many herbs are very hardy and will grow almost anywhere. Living in Boston, I was able to have a little container herb garden on my front stoop and they were very happy. Since moving to Vermont, I have the luxury of a little bit of land, so I planted a perennial herb garden last year. It is a great feeling to watch in the spring as these perennials come back to life. The first to show signs were the chives, which are now in full bloom

Chives are part of the allium family which includes garlic, onions, ramps, scallions, and leeks. Chives are best used fresh so having a patch in your yard or in a pot on your windowsill can make it easy to snip some herbs into your dish. If you’re not growing your own, fresh chives are readily available in the supermarket or at the farmer’s market in the spring. Cut chives can be stored in the refrigerator unwashed in a sealed plastic bag. Do not wash them before storing as the clinging water from washing can promote decay.

Many people just think of chives as a topping for baked potatoes which can make them sadly underused, but they impart a subtle onion flavor to many dishes. Use chives with cooked eggs; add them to soups or use as a topping for fish. The clover-like purple flowers are also edible and can be a wonderful addition to a salad or as a garnish.

I adapted this recipe from Deborah Madison’s Local Flavors.

Crostini with Chive Scented Ricotta

Makes 2 cups, enough for 20 crostini

This recipe is especially over the top if you use fresh home-made ricotta. The ricotta can also be used as a sauce for pasta or folded into an omelet or scrambled eggs.

2 cups cow’s milk or sheep’s milk ricotta

2 tablespoons olive oil

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

¼ cup finely snipped chives

Chive blossoms cut at the base

20 slices Red Hen Baguette

Mix the ricotta, oil, salt, pepper, and chives together. Toast the bread until golden, then spread the cheese on top. Add a tiny bit of additional pepper and a few chive blossoms to each slice.

Stradivarius of Spring

Fiddlehead season is coming to a close and if you have never experienced these curled little wonders, you don't know what you are missing. These delicacies of spring are the young furled fronds of the ostrich fern and have a very short season for picking in April and May.

Fiddleheads are versatile and easy to use. They have a mild taste reminiscent of Asparagus with a bit of a nutty bite that makes them unique. Fiddleheads can be used in similar ways to any firm green vegetable such as Asparagus or Broccoli florets, but to bring out their best flavor I think they are best simply sauteed with some olive oil and garlic or fried (see recipe below).

Fiddlehead ferns are a good source of vitamins A, C, and fiber. They should not be eaten raw as they have a slight bitterness until cooked and may cause stomach upset if eaten raw in large quantity.

If more than 2 inches of stem remains attached beyond the coiled part of the fiddlehead snap or cut it off. Make sure you wash your fiddleheads thoroughly and remove the brown papery chaff which may still remain. To cook fiddleheads simply bring a small amount of lightly salted water to a boil, add washed fiddleheads, and cook them at a steady boil for 8-10 minutes. Fiddleheads can also be washed clean and steamed for 20 minutes. The sooner they are eaten, the more delicate their flavor.

I rarely deep fry food, but I find that frying locks in the fiddlehead's unique flavor. They only come around once a year - so I say, "Why not treat yourself to some deep-fried goodness?"

Beer Battered Fried Fiddleheads with a Garlic and Chive Mayo Dipping Sauce

For Garlic and Chive Mayo Dipping Sauce

1 cup mayonnaise

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 tablespoon chives, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 tablespoon lemon juice

In a small bowl, mix together all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors blend. Serve alongside fried fiddleheads as a dipping sauce.

For Fiddleheads

1 cup flour
6 ounces beer (I used Magic Hat's Spring Vinyl)
2 teaspoons baking powder
salt and pepper to taste

Canola oil for frying

1/2 lb fiddleheads, washed and trimmed

1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt pepper in a bowl.
2. Slowly whisk in beer until batter is just barely thick.
3. Heat 2 inches of oil in a large sauteed pan over medium heat.
4. Dip fiddleheads into the batter, removing any excess and place in hot oil.
5. Cook both sides until golden brown (about 3-4 minutes per side).
6. Remove cooked fiddleheads with a slotted spoon and drain on plate covered with a paper towel.
7. Serve with chilled dipping sauce.


Recipe Copyright In Season Personal Chef and Nutrition Services, LLC

I'm Baaack!

A couple part-time jobs and a puppy, who was quite an adorable handful, have side-tracked me over the past year. Things are finally settling down and the urge to document my recipes and photos has returned. A fantastic new book has also helped to get me back on track. The book is called Plate to Pixel: Digital Food Photography & Styling by Helene Dujardin, which takes you through the art and techniques of food photography. The photography is rather inspiring so you can expect to hear from me again very soon.

What's up Doc? Carrot Heaven

I received some of the sweetest carrots I have ever had this year from our winter CSA. Due to the cold weather, winter storage carrots develop a wonderful sweetness that sets them apart from the flavorless store-bought carrots. Carrots come in a variety of colors such as the Purple Haze and Yellow Stone Varieties or the Bolero variety which is perfect for winter storage. Because these carrots are organic, I leave that flavorsome thin skin on. If you are buying store-bought, non-organic carrots I highly recommend peeling them due to the large amount of pesticides used to grow them.

To highlight the carrots' sweetness, I adapted a recipe for Curried Carrot Almond Soup from the now defunct Gourmet Magazine. I used homemade chicken stock and added some different spices than the Gourmet Magazine recipe. This is a velvety pureed soup which is low fat but certainly doesn't taste like it. The addition of unsweetened almond milk gives it a delectable creaminess. You can easily make this soup vegan by switching the chicken stock to vegetable stock or water. As everything is going to be pureed you don't need to spend too much time on finely chopping the ingredients which makes this a quick and easy soup that tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen. I substituted pine nuts for the almonds. Garnishing with cilantro and toasted nuts really added to the balance of this soup so try not to skip this step.


Curried Carrot Almond Soup

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2 pounds carrots, washed and sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground fennel seed
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
4 cups chicken stock
2 cups plain unsweetened almond milk
1-2 teaspoons lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup toasted almonds for garnish
1/4 cup chopped cilantro for garnish

1. Heat olive oil in a heavy 4-quart stock pot over medium heat. Add onion and saute, stirring occasionally until onions are soft, about 5-7 minutes.
   
2. Add sliced carrots and saute for about 5 minutes to help release some of their sweetness.
3. Add chopped garlic, curry powder, ground coriander, ground fennel, ground ginger, salt and pepper and saute for an additional 1-2 minutes.
4. Add in chicken stock and almond milk and simmer partially covered, stirring occasionally , until carrots are tender, about 15-20 minutes.
5. Let the soup cool slightly then blend soup in batches in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Adjust seasoning with salt and 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice.
6. Serve sprinkled with cilantro leaves and toasted almonds.
   

Spanish Tortilla

I received some beautiful red skinned, red flesh potatoes from my CSA along with some kale and red onions. I had the cheddar cheese and eggs on hand so decided to whip together a Spanish Tortilla. When most people hear "tortilla" they think of the flat bread used to wrap burritos or tacos, but the Spanish tortilla couldn't be more different. It is actually an egg omelet made with potatoes and other vegetables may be added (similar to the Italian Fritatta). When making egg dishes such as omelets, tortillas, frittatas or quiche, any filling should be cooked before being added to the eggs. This will prevent you from having a watery egg dish and it also allows you a chance to add some more flavors to your dish such as herbs and spices.

Spanish tortillas are a great economical choice for any time of the day. It can be served hot or cold. I have taken a classic Spanish tortilla recipe and given it a Vermont twist. In this recipe I added some sauteed kale for some extra fiber, folate, and iron and some cheddar cheese instead of Manchego.

I've found one of the most important pieces of equipment when making a Spanish tortilla is the pan you use. It MUST be non-stick or else you will end up with a scrambled mess on your hands.




2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cups chopped fresh kale, stems removed
1 clove garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoons water
1 pound red potatoes, thinly sliced
1/2 medium onion, sliced
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
6 large eggs
1/4 cup shredded cheddar
Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a medium sized non-stick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and chopped kale to heated oil and saute for 5-10 minutes or until the kale becomes tender. Add 1-2 tablespoons of water if the kale begins to stick to the pan. Season with salt and pepper, remove from pan and let cool.
2. Wipe out the pan and then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Heat over medium heat and add sliced potatoes. Cook potatoes until they begin to soften, about 10-15 minutes.
3. Add in sliced onions and paprika and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes or until onions are translucent. Season with salt and pepper. Remove cooked potatoes and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
4. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs. Mix in grated cheese and season with salt and pepper. Add in cooked potatoes and kale mixture. Mix together and let sir for about 5 minutes to allow the potatoes to absorb some of the egg.
5. Heat cleaned non-stick skillet over medium-low heat and add remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Once oil is hot, pour in egg and potato mixture. As the edges set, lift them away from the side of the pan and tilt the pan to let uncooked egg flow underneath. When the tortilla is mostly set, place an inverted plate a little larger in size than the pan, hold them firmly together, and turn the pan upside down on top of the plate. (Protect the hand holding the plate with a towel or pot holder.) Slide the tortilla back in the pan and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes and then slide onto a plate.
6. Another way to cook the tortilla is to finish it in the oven as long as the pan you are using is oven-proof. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Start the tortilla on top of the stove, as above. After a couple of minutes, put the pan in the oven and cook until the tortilla is set on top, about 7 to 10 minutes.
   
7. Slice into wedges and serve.
   

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Party Dip

I recently taped a segment for UVM Extension's "talk show", Across the Fence. During this segment I highlighted a white bean dip which is a sure crowd pleaser. It is a versatile dip which can be used along with crudites (cut up vegetables), spread on crostini, or used as a replacement for mayonnaise on a sandwich. It's high in fiber and protein, low in fat, and rich in flavor. Play around with the garlic and lemon levels to adapt to your tastes. Along with the dip I have included a quick recipe for homemade whole wheat pita chips - a great alternative to high fat chips. The pita chips work great with this white bean dip as well.

White Bean Dip with Rosemary and Lemon

Yields ~2 cups


1, 15-ounce cans of white beans such as cannellini or great northern beans
1-2 cloves garlic, peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2-3 tablespoon lemon
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary minced
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Thoroughly rinse the beans in a colander to remove excess sodium.

2. Place garlic cloves in food processor and pulse until finely minced.

3. Add rinsed beans, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper to the food processor. Puree until smooth.

4. Add fresh minced rosemary and lemon zest and pulse the food processor a couple of times until seasonings are well incorporated.

5. Cover and place in the refrigerator for about an hour to let the flavors blend. Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a 1 week.



Pita Chips

Makes about 6 Servings

3 Pita Round
Olive Oil Cooking Spray
Salt and Chili Powder to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Split pita rounds in half and make 6 rounds. Stack the rounds one on top of the other and cut into 6 wedges.
3. Spread wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet, lightly spray with cooking spray and bake until golden, about 10 minutes.
4. As soon as pita chips are removed from oven, season with salt and chili powder, let cool and enjoy!
   

Flavors of Fall Tacos

Nick and I are partaking in Full Moon Farm's Winter CSA. After a rough summer with cold temperatures and wet weather, the farm was still able to provide us with tons of delicious winter vegetables. In our last pick up we were happily bombarded with kale, Brussels sprouts, winter squash, onions, carrots and potatoes.

Kale is a leafy green vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family, a group of vegetables including cabbage, collards and Brussels sprouts that have gained recent attention due to their health promoting phytonutrients. Kale grows well in colder temperature and is typically sweeter in flavor after the first frost. The variety of kale I used in this recipe is Lacinato or dinosaur kale. It has a sweeter, lighter flavor than traditional curly leaf kale and I find it doesn't need to be cooked as long as the curly leaf variety seen in most grocery stores.

So enough about the history of kale. What the heck do you do with it? I was visiting my friend and fellow Cambridge School of Culinary Arts Alumni, Barlow Adamson, a few months back. During my visit he cooked me up some yummy chorizo and butternut squash tacos. I took his idea (thanks Barlow!) and gave my own nutritious twist to it - not to mention that I had a bunch of kale and winter squash that I needed to use up.


Roasted Winter Squash, Kale, and Black Bean Tacos



2 cups of diced winter squash
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small red onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/8 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
2 cups of chopped kale
1/4 cup of water
juice of 1 lime
1 15-ounce can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup corn
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
Flour or corn tortillas

Optional: sour cream, grated cheddar

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Lightly oil a baking sheet and spread out diced squash. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until squash begins to soften up. Remove from oven and set aside.
3. In a medium size saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and saute for 5-6 minutes or until onions have softened. Add in spices and saute for an additional minute.
4. Add chopped kale and saute for 5 more minutes (may need to add 1-2 tablespoons of water if begins to dry out). Next stir in lime juice, rest of water, rinsed beans, roasted squash, and corn. Season with salt and pepper and cook until heated through. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro.
   
5. Serve in warmed tortillas with desired toppings (sour cream, shredded cheese, etc.)
   

Just Beet It

I recently entered a recipe contest for Sutter Home's "Build a Better Burger". When I heard about this recipe contest my first inclination was to put beets on my burger and name it in honor of the late great Michael Jackson. Viola! The Just Beet It Burger was born. You will probably notice some similarities between this burger and a beet salad - that is where my inspiration for this burger came from. While this recipe was not chosen as a final recipe, I think it still rocks.

The rules for the competition require that you cook all ingredients on the grill, but feel free to throw the beets in the oven and save your propane or charcoal. Also during the fall and winter months your beets will probably already have their beet greens cut off, so you can leave these out of the recipe or try substituting the beet greens with chopped kale or spinach (Yes, I am still grilling in the middle of winter). Also you can prepare the burger patties, blue cheese sauce, beets, and vinaigrette ahead of time and cook the burgers off and assemble them once your guests arrive.

Just Beet It Burger


1 medium sized red beet
1 medium sized golden beet

Maple Vinaigrette
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

Sauce
1 cup crumbled blue cheese
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1/2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 fresh ground pepper

Burger Patties
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cups beet greens, washed and dried and finely chopped
2 tablespoons Zinfandel wine
1/4 cup minced shallot
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 pounds ground chuck
2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil for brushing on the grill rack
6 fresh Bulkie Rolls
6 red onion slices
2 cups baby spinach (or lettuce), washed and dried

1. Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill with a cover, or preheat a gas grill to medium-high heat.
2. Individually wrap each beet in aluminum foil. Place the beets on the grill grate and cover. Cook, turning the beets occasionally, until just tender, 35-45 minutes. Let beets cook, then peel and slice the beets into 1/4 inch thick rounds.
3. While beets are roasting make the maple vinaigrette. In a small bowl whisk together the Dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, and maple syrup. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss beets and maple vinaigrette together, cover and place in the refrigerator to let marinate 20-30 minutes.
4. To make the blue cheese sauce, combine blue cheese, mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, garlic, fresh mint and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate to let the flavors blend together.
5. To make the patties, heat a medium sized fire-proof skillet on the grill. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and saute beet greens with Zinfandel wine until beet greens become tender and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5-10 minutes.
6. Let cool slightly before forming the patties. Combine the sauteed beet greens, minced shallots, garlic, mint, ground chick and salt and pepper, handling as little as possible but making sure the ingredients are evenly distributed. Shape into 6 patties to fir the bun size. Loosely cover with plastic and set aside until ready to use.
7. When the grill is ready, brush the grill rack with vegetable oil. Place the patties on the grill rack, cover, and cook over medium high heat, turning once, just until done, about 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. During the last few minutes of cooking, toast the buns by placing the cut sides down on the outer edges of the grill rack.
8. To assemble the burgers, spread the 1-2 tablespoon blue cheese sauce evenly on the bottom of each Bulkie roll. Place cooked patties on top of the sauce, followed by the marinated beets, sliced red onions and equal portions of the baby spinach. Add the bun tops and serve.

Makes 6 Burgers

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Roasting Beets

If you have never had a roasted beet, you don't know what you are missing. This coming from a person who used to despise beets with a passion. The roasting really concentrates their flavor, enhances their sweetness, and gives them a toasty flavor. There really is nothing easier than roasting a beet. Beets are one of the most vitamin packed vegetables. They are a good source of vitamins A, B, and C, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium, and the tops are even more nutritious than the roots. Try different varieties - Red, Chiogga, golden or white.


Roasting Beets

To roast the beets:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Thoroughly wash each beet and wrap the beets in foil, about 2-3 per package. If you are roasting beets of different colors - roast them separately so the colors don't bleed.
• Place foil packages on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 35-45 minutes depending on the size of the beet. You will know the beets are done roasting when they can easily be pierced with a fork and the skin starts to pull away from the beet.
• Once the beets are done roasting , remove them from the aluminum foil, place them in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let them steam to help release the skin further from the beet. Allow them to cool down to the touch, about 5-10 minutes.
• Once cooled enough to touch, the skins can easily be peeled away. I find rubber gloves help here to prevent your hands from turning red.

Turn your roasted beets into a great marinated beet salad. This salad is great served warm, or make it ahead and refrigerate it. Add the crumbled feta right before ready to serve to prevent it from turning pink from the beets. For varied color use a mixture of yellow and red beets. For an added crunch try adding some chopped walnuts or pecans.

Roasted Beet and Feta Salad

Makes 4 servings

1 lb beets, washed and scrubbed
1 small yellow onion, peeled and ends trimmed
4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

Vinaigrette
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh mint, finely chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Remove leaves and stems from the beets, wrap beets and onion separately in foil to make 2 packages. Place foil packages on a baking sheet. Bake beets and onion in oven for about 45 minutes to 1 hour or until beets are fork tender and onion is browned and caramelized.
2. Remove beets and onion from foil and let stand for 15-20 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
3. While vegetables are cooling make the vinaigrette: In a medium size bowl, whisk together the mustard and vinegar. Slowly pour in the olive oil to form an emulsion. Mix in chopped mint and season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
4. Once beets have cooled to touch, remove their skins and cut them into 1 inch dices. Slice onion into strips.
5. Toss roasted beets and onions with the vinaigrette and sprinkle crumbled feta on top and some chopped mint as garnish.
   

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Move Over Basil

If you are sick of the same old tomato sandwich, the following recipe is a great way to spice it up a bit. Don't get me wrong, tomato sandwiches of white bread and mayo certainly have there place, but there is nothing I love more than the combination of pesto, tomatoes and mozzarella between a couple slices of crusty artisan bread.

Instead of the traditional basil pesto, I used cilantro, but this sandwich works well with basil if you prefer. Leftover cilantro pesto is great with quesadillas or toss it with some pasta.


Heirloom Tomato, Mozzarella, and Cilantro Pesto Sandwich


2 thick slices of crusty artisanal bread (I prefer Red Hen's Pain au Levain)
1-2 tablespoons cilantro pesto (see below)
2 slices of fresh buffalo mozzarella
2-3 slices of tomato (I used our own Striped German heirloom tomatoes)
Salt and pepper to taste

To assemble the sandwich:
1. Spread 1-2 tablespoons of the cilantro pesto on slice of bread.
2. Place 2 slices of the mozzarella on top, followed by desired number of tomato slices.
3. Season tomato slices with salt and pepper, place remaining slice of bread on top and enjoy!


Cilantro Pesto

1-2 cloves garlic
2 cups fresh cilantro, washed and dried (substitute basil here if you prefer)
1/8 cup toasted pine nuts
1 tablespoon grated Parmigiano Reggiano
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

1. In a food processor, add the garlic and pulse until minced.
2. Next add in cilantro, toasted pine nuts, and grated Parmigiano Reggiano and pulse a couple times.
3. While the processor is on, add the olive oil in a stream and process until blended.
4. Season with salt and pepper.

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Panza...what?

Nick and I have tomatoes coming out of our ears right now and I couldn't be happier! Our heirloom tomatoes are finally ripening and we are in tomato heaven. There is truly nothing like fresh, in season tomatoes. You would never guess that while growing up, I HATED tomatoes. Now I can't get enough. I think part of my hate came from trying to consume those mealy cardboard imitations sold in the grocery store, not grown for taste but for their ability to last thousands of miles on the back of a truck.

A couple of days ago a friend asked me what he could do with some ciabatta rolls he had that were going stale. Panzanella of course! Panzanella is an Italian dish originating in the Tuscany and Umbria regions of Italy. The dish is a bread salad popular in the summer months and is a great way to use up day-week old bread and other leftovers you may have hanging out in the refrigerator. My aunt used to make a fantastic version of a Panzanella salad, which I have had difficulty replicating. Here is my own version, which isn't my aunt's but I think it's just as good!

Grilled Panzanella Salad

If you don't have a grill, you can always use a broiler to give the bread and zucchini a little bit of color. This is a rustic salad so you don't need to go crazy with the measurements or the chopping. Adjust the ingredients to your tastes or what you have hanging out in the fridge (try adding capers, red peppers, eggplant, red onion).

Dressing

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons chopped shallots
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Salad
1 1/2 pounds tomatoes, roughly chopped
2 medium sized zucchini
1 cucumber, diced
1/2 loaf of Red Hen Ciabatta bread, or your favorite crusty bread
Extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, cut in half
2 cups, cubed mozzarella cheese
Parmigiano Reggiano for garnish


For Dressing:
Whisk together the vinegar and mustard. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Add in chopped shallots and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.


For Salad:

1. Heat up your grill or broiler.
2. Slice the bread into 1 inch slices and lightly brush each slice with some olive oil.
3. Slice the zucchini the long way into 1 inch thick slices. Lightly brush each slice with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. Once grill is hot, place zucchini and bread slices on the grill. Grill the bread until brown and crisp, turning occasionally, about 4 minutes. Do the same for the zucchini and remove from grill.
   
5. When the bread has cooled slightly, rub each slice with the cut garlic. Then roughly cut into 1 inch cubes and place in a large bowl. Cut up the zucchini into 1 inch dice and add to the bread in bowl.
6. Add chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, mozzarella and basil to bowl.
7. Toss with dressing and let sit for about 15-20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, garnish with some grated Parmigiano Reggiano and serve.

Makes 6 servings


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The Blueberries Taste Like Blueberries

So you've listened to my advice and have gone blueberry picking. What do you do now with 4 quarts of blueberries?

Freeze them!

Frozen blueberries are great in fruit smoothies, blueberry pies and other desserts. Researchers at Tufts University and the USDA Center for Aging put blueberries at the top of their list of 40 fruits that deliver antioxidant activity.


To freeze blueberries simply wash and dry the berries - removing any stems or debris. Spread out the berries in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the freezer for 2-3 hours until the berries are frozen. Berries can then be transferred to a Ziploc freezer bag and put back in the freezer until future use.


Check out this recipe I have adapted using local fresh or frozen blueberries and raspberries.



Berrymisu

Makes 4 Servings

Mascarpone cheese, a velvety rich Italian cream cheese, has been made famous by chefs in America for it's use in tiramisu. I prefer to either make my own or purchase Vermont Butter and Cheese Company's mascarpone. For this recipe I have adapted traditional Tiramisu using fresh local berries readily available this time of year.

While summer raspberries are no longer available - try this recipe with some frozen raspberries or wait for the fall raspberries to ripen (soon!). For some fall raspberries go to the Isham Family Farm or the Charlotte Berry Farm.


1 pint fresh blueberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Juice of one lemon
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 cup fresh raspberries

1 pint heavy cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces mascarpone cheese

10-12 Savoiardi biscuits (Lady Fingers)
1/2 cup Chambord or other raspberry liqueur

Fresh mint sprigs and 10-15 blueberries for garnish
4 martini glasses

1. In a medium saucepan combine blueberries, granulated sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, until the berries give off their juices, about 5 minutes. Add the raspberries and cook until they are heated through but still hold their shape, about 2 minutes. Remove the berry mixture from the heat and let cool.

2. Dip both sides of each lady finger in the Chambord and place on a plate and set aside to let the liqueur soak in. In the meantime make the mascarpone cream.

3. In a medium bowl, combine confectioner's sugar and heavy cream. Using an electric mixer on low speed, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Add in the mascarpone cheese and continue to beat until a smooth cream is formed, about 1 minute.

4. To assemble the Berrymisu, spoon about one tablespoon of mascapone cream into the bottom of each martini glass. Next add a layer of the soaked lady fingers, enough to cover the cream. On top of the lady fingers, spoon 2-3 tablespoons of the berry mixture. Repeat layers one more time - you should be ending with the mascarpone cream on top (3-4 tablespoons for top layer of mascarpone cream). Smooth out the cream and garnish with mint and fresh berries.

5. Cover each martini glass and chill for 2 hours or overnight.

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