Marinated Lebnah Cheese with Fresh Herbs
Flecked with herbs and drizzled in olive oil, this creamy cheese is a wonderful appetizer; just pair with fresh bread.
Ingredients:
2 cups Farm & Larder Lebnah cheese
½ cup high-quality olive oil
3 tablespoons minced fresh herbs, such as tarragon, parsley and chives
½ teaspoons grated lemon zest
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Roll cheese into ½ -inch balls. Place in small jar or bowl.
2. Whisk oil, herbs, and lemon zest in a small bowl to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Pour mixture over cheese in jar. Cover; place in refrigerator and let marinate for at least 8 hours and up to 2 weeks.
Marinated Labneh with Lemon & Herbs
Flecked with herbs and drizzled in olive oil, this creamy cheese is a wonderful appetizer; just pair with smoked salmon, fresh bread or crackers.
Ingredients:
2 cups Farm & Larder Labneh
½ cup high-quality olive oil
3 tablespoons minced fresh herbs, such as mint, parsley and thyme
½ teaspoons grated lemon zest
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Roll cheese into ½-inch balls. Place in small jar or bowl.
2. Whisk oil, herbs, and lemon zest in a small bowl to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Pour mixture over cheese in jar. Cover; place in refrigerator and let marinate for at least 8 hours and up to 2 weeks.
Charred Carrots with Whipped Cheese & Herbs
Sweet roasted carrots meet creamy cheese, bright herbs, and lemon in this simple yet elegant spring side dish.
Ingredients:
1 bunch baby carrots, scrubbed and trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and black pepper
½ cup ricotta or other soft cheese
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, oregano, or chives)
Flaky sea salt, for serving
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 425°. Toss carrots with olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread on a baking sheet. Roast for 20–25 minutes, turning once, until tender and lightly charred around the edges.
2. While the carrots roast, stir together the ricotta, lemon zest, and lemon juice until smooth and creamy.
3. Spread the whipped cheese onto a serving platter or shallow bowl. Arrange warm carrots over top.
4. Finish with fresh herbs and a sprinkle of flaky salt before serving.
Fresh Mafaldine Pasta with Sautéed Porcini Mushrooms
Also rich with chicken stock and herbs, this pasta beautifully captures the flavors of mellow, earthy mushrooms.
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh Mafaldine pasta
4 cups Porcini mushrooms, washed and patted dry
¼ cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided in half
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ cup combined fresh chopped parsley, sage and thyme
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
¼ cup grated Grana-style cheese
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Drop in pasta noodles and cook until al dente, about 4 to 6 minutes. Drain and rinse, reserving ½ cup of the starchy cooking liquid.
2. Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter with the olive oil over medium heat, stirring to combine. Add the mushrooms and garlic and sauté 2-3 minutes until mushrooms are soft and tender and then add chicken stock and cook until reduced slightly, another 3-4 minutes. Add in fresh herbs and season generously with salt and pepper.
3. Add in the drained pasta and toss. Add in reserved 1 tablespoon of butter and grated cheese, and mix to distribute. If pasta seems dry, add in reserved cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time until adequately moist. To serve, add some grated Grana cheese, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs on top.
Grilled Halloumi Salad
This simply-perfect salad is tossed with ripe heirloom tomatoes and topped with grilled halloumi and bright herbs.
Ingredients:
5 ounces baby arugula greens or Romaine lettuce, torn in small pieces
1-2 cups heirloom tomatoes, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 tablespoons good quality olive oil
1 Walla Walla sweet onion, thinly sliced
8 ounces halloumi cheese, sliced into 1-inch strips
â…“ cup freshly-chopped mint, basil, mint or oregano, or a combination thereof
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Place the arugula or lettuce greens in a medium-sized bowl. Add olive oil, tomatoes and sweet onion and toss very gently to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium heat, then grill the halloumi cheese strips, browning on both sides. (This should take about 2 minutes per side.)
3. Place cheese strips over greens, then sprinkle the salad with fresh herbs.
Baked Eggs with Crème Fraîche & Fresh Herbs
These oeufs en cocotte boast a wonderful balance between the rich crème fraîche and the bright parsley and chives.
Ingredients:
8 large eggs
1 cup Farm & Larder crème fraîche
Pinch nutmeg
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons snipped fresh chives
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. Season the crème fraîche with salt, freshly ground pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.
3. Place a heaped tablespoon of crème fraîche in the bottom of a small individual ramekin or custard cup*, followed by a sprinkling of parsley and chives. Crack an egg on top, add a second tablespoon of crème fraîche and sprinkle with an additional pinch each of salt, pepper and nutmeg. Repeat with remaining ramekins.
4. Place the ramekins in a baking dish and pour enough lukewarm water into the dish to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
5. Bake for 15 minutes or until the egg yolks are set to your liking. Finish each serving with additional chopped herbs.
*This dish can also be made in a large baking dish, or even in a few smaller baking dishes. Spread a thin layer of cheese and herbs on bottom, carefully crack eggs and space out evenly, then dollop additional cheese and add water as directed above.
Jammy Eggs with Morels & Herbs on Toast
Earthy morel mushrooms, silky jammy eggs, and fresh garden herbs come together atop crisp toast in this simple spring dish that feels equally suited to brunch, lunch, or a light supper.
Ingredients:
4 slices rustic bread, toasted
2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
8 ounces morel mushrooms, cleaned and halved if large
2 spring onions, thinly sliced
4 eggs
2 tablespoons chopped fresh herbs (parsley, chives, thyme, or mint)
Zest of 1 lemon
Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Flaky salt, for serving
Method:
1. Bring a small saucepan of water to a gentle boil. Carefully lower in the eggs and cook for 7 minutes. Transfer immediately to an ice bath and peel once cool enough to handle.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the morels and spring onions and sauté for 5–7 minutes, until tender and lightly golden. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Arrange the toasted bread on plates and spoon the warm mushroom mixture over top.
4. Halve the jammy eggs and place over the toast. Finish with fresh herbs, lemon zest, flaky salt, and a few grinds of black pepper before serving.
Fresh Spinach Lasagna with Béchamel & Duxelles
This light and lovely vegetarian entrée is packed with spring favorites!
Ingredients:
6 cups milk
1 cup butter
1 cup flour
¼ cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups yellow onion, chopped
1 bunch spinach, thoroughly washed and dried
F&L duxelles
¾ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 pound ricotta cheese
2 eggs
2 cups grated Grana-style cheese
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
1 package lasagna noodles, cooked very al dente and drained
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. For the sauce: Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it is almost boiling. In another small saucepan, melt the butter and whisk in the flour. Cook this mixture for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly add the milk to the flour mixture. Stir vigorously until the sauce thickens. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
2. For the lasagna: Preheat oven to 350°. Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat, then add the garlic and onions and sauté until the onions are translucent. Add the spinach, duxelles and ½ cup of the parsley and cook until well-combined, pressing any excess moisture out of the spinach greens as you go. Set this mixture aside.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the remaining parsley, ricotta cheese, eggs and â…” cup of the Grana-style cheese.
4. Oil a large baking pan. First, layer 1½ to 2 cups of the béchamel, followed by a layer of noodles, then half of the spinach mixture and all the mozzarella cheese. Next, add another 1½ to 2 cups of the béchamel, another layer of noodles, all of the ricotta mixture, and the remaining spinach mixture. Finally, add the rest of the béchamel, the remaining noodles and sprinkle the remaining Grana-style cheese over top. Bake, covered, for 45 minutes. Uncover the lasagna and cook for another 10 minutes. Allow the lasagna to cool for about 15 minutes prior to serving.
Lemon Risotto with Cherry Tomatoes & Fresh Summer Herbs
This bright risotto showcases bright herbs and juicy cherry tomatoes—just remember to keep stirring!
Ingredients:
1½ cups Arborio rice
4 cups warm chicken stock
8 tablespoons butter
½ cup white wine (if desired)
½ shallot, finely chopped
1-2 tablespoons chopped garlic (if desired)
1¼ cups grated Grana cheese
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 pint cherry tomatoes, washed and halved
3 tablespoons combined fresh herbs, such as parsley, mint and oregano, all chopped
Method:
1. In a saucepan, bring the chicken stock to a boil and then turn down to a simmer to keep hot. In another large saucepan over medium low heat, melt 4-5 tablespoons of butter and cook the garlic until soft but not brown.
2. Add the shallot and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Turn the heat up and add the Arborio rice. Stir for about one minute.
3. Add a ladleful of stock to the rice and continue stirring until almost absorbed. Add another ladleful of stock and the wine and continue stirring; repeat until all the stock is gone and the rice is creamy and tender.
4. Stir in the remaining butter, lemon juice and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top with the cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs and a healthy grating of Grana cheese and serve immediately.
Double the Cheese Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Melty Fontina layered in between slices of Gruyère cheese bread? We say, yes please!
Ingredients:
8 ounces Fontina cheese, grated
Sliced Gruyère cheese bread
Butter
Method:
1. Generously butter a slice of bread and lay butter-side down in a skillet. Add a generous amount of grated Fontina and top with another slice of buttered bread. Repeat with as many sammies as you please.
2. Cook over medium-high heat, flipping once the bottom side is golden brown and Gruyère cheese starts to soften. Toast for another 2-3 minutes until the other side is golden brown. Remove from the skillet and enjoy!
Variations: Triple the cheese, if you like (mozzarella or cheddar would both work well!); or, try layering caramelized onions and/or thinly-sliced apple inside the sandwich, too.