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INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup sugar 2 Tbsp. cornstarch 1/4 tsp. salt 2 cups half-and-half or light cream 1/2 a vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 4 beaten egg yolksContinue reading »
This is a twist on Insalata Caprese, the ubiquitous tomato, mozzarella, and basil “salad” that often features as a starter when tomatoes are in season. This version, however, is more of dessert meets the cheese course. The basil syrup called for in the recipe was developed originally for making grown-up sodas.
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I like to make berry infused vinegars which I use as parts of marinades or sauces, and of course I also use them for salad dressings. When using them for dressing, I tend to either use them to contrast with sharper, bitter leaves such as escarole, dandelion, rocket, and the like, or I pair them with more delicate lettuces and then add some fruit and or nuts to the mix. I could see a salad of butterleaf lettuces with strawberries, slivered roasted almonds, and maybe a little bit of crumbled blue cheese with a strawberry vinaigrette made with the vinegar, a little agave syrup, some shallot, a little ginger juice, black pepper, and a light oil such as grapeseed with a touch of almond oil. Garnish the salad with candied ginger bits and a little black pepper that has been dry roasted in a pan-this neutralizes much of the heat and leaves the pepper fruity-and freshly cracked.
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I hesitate to call this a jam as it is useful for more than toast. Try this with pork, chicken, or turkey. Good on sandwiches or as a smear, and would be nice on a cheese plate. This would be good made with berries that are a little over-ripe or starting to look less than perfect.
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I love fruit salsas, they are so surprising. We have a small place in Yelapa, Mexico and this is always a favorite when my pineapples are ripe and the mangoes are falling off the tree. I haven’t had very good luck growing strawberries; the iguanas always get them first!
The salsa is perfect for barbecued meat or is nice inside a fish taco. The taste is a bit sweet and sour.
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Sweet, tart and lemony, this jam is summer in a jar.
INGREDIENTS:
2 1/4 cups crushed strawberries 1 3/4 cups finely chopped rhubarb zest and juice of one Meyer lemon 2/3 cup unsweetened apple juice 3 TBS Ball Low-sugar pectin
METHOD:
PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.
COMBINE strawberries, rhubarb, zest and juice of lemon and unsweetened apple juice in a 6- to 8-quart saucepan. Gradually stir in pectin. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down, over high heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
LADLE hot jam into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center hot lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight.
PROCESS filled jars in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check for seal after 24 hours. Lids should not flex up and down when center is pressed.
Makes about 4 to 5 (8 oz) half pints
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The dice of colorful vegetables and the mix of flavors and textures is like confetti, making this easy soup a celebration of the season. If you have pesto in the refrigerator already, go with the pesto in lieu of the basil leaf shreds as it will reduce the workload. If you wish to make this a more substantial soup, think about adding beans or some pasta.
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No meat in this, but the presentation, the thin slices, and the fact that it is raw make the connection in my mind. This is one of those times you want a fixed blade slicer. It can be done with a knife, but it will be a challenge. Cousa and zucchini are ideal for this dish, and Pattypan will work as well, but I think crooknecks are best left for other preparations. This dish lends itself to variations, from really simple to simple but elegant. The dressing can be scattered as separate ingredients or made into a vinaigrette, the garnish can be skipped or be complex-it’s all up to what you want at the time.
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This is based on a traditional recipe. Or, not so much a recipe as a technique. “Scapece” is basically fried vegetables that are scattered with herbs and vinegar and allowed time to marinate. Served room temperature or gently reheated, this dish serves as an appetizer or salad, or side dish. Most of the recipes use zucchini, but I have seen it done with carrots, eggplant, and peppers. Typically fried, I have seen a version where everything is grilled and then marinated. Although most recipes use red wine vinegar, I have seen some using balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar. I could see using white balsamic vinegar for a nice light twist. This is another recipe that begs for the use of a fixed blade slicer like the Ben Riner.
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This recipe takes my riff on the classic French peas cooked in lettuce as its inspiration. The squash stands in for the peas, and the trick is to not overcook the squash or it will turn mushy and bitter. The little bit of sugar helps with the flavors as well as helping get some color on the squash. This dish comes together quickly and is a boon when in a hurry or making something fancy on the other burners.
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This can be eaten on its own as a bowl of “chili”, but it came about as a vegetarian filling for tacos or enchiladas. The inspiration for this came when Hatch and pasilla chilis were spotted at the local farmer’s market. The Green Sauce is not usually spicy, but you can adjust your chilis to make it so.
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Here, the zucchini is cut into thin strands resembling spaghetti. For this dish you will need a fixed blade slicer (a.k.a. mandolin) of some sort such as a Ben-Riner. Use the comb that gets you closest to spaghetti. This iteration of squash as pasta sees it dressed with a quick tomato sauce with caramelized onions and fennel.
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Here, the zucchini is cut into thin strands resembling spaghetti. For this dish you will need a fixed blade slicer (a.k.a. mandolin) of some sort such as a Ben-Riner. Use the comb that gets you closest to spaghetti. If you have fava beans, sauté them up and add just before service. They become “sauce” to the “pasta” that is the squash.
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For this recipe you will need ramekins or small soufflé dishes. The recipe calls for four 10 to 12 ounce ramekins, but you can use 8 ounce/1 cup ramekins as well. These are great “make ahead” dishes and can be stored in the freezer. Using left-over farro or other grain makes this dish easier. If you have more than enough stuffing, make extra packets and freeze them or use the stuffing in a frittata or as a sauté. Although this recipe looks long, it is not complex and really does not take too long to do.
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From Chef Susan Pasko
This recipe is just one version of my master method for One-Pot Easy-Peasy Market Box Veggies. The principles are always the same…. Start with onions and garlic cooked slowly in butter or oil. Always give the onions a fifteen minute head start, (during which you can prep the other veg, or sit down with a cup of tea or glass of wine!) Then add the hard vegetables, cook 15 minutes more, then the quick-cooking vegetables for 10 minutes, then the leaves which will wilt pretty quickly in most cases. Adjust cooking times by tasting the veggies along the way…. These kind of recipes are guidelines, not rules.
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Here, Patatas Bravas are the inspiration. You could use this dish like a tapa and serve smaller amounts of it, or use it as a side dish. Serve hot, warm, or room temperature.
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