Meyer Lemon & Thyme-Infused Olive Oil
A wonderful gift for family, friends and neighbors!
Ingredients:
1-2 cups high-quality olive oil
Small bundle of fresh thyme stems (leaves still attached), thoroughly washed and dried
Rind of 1 Meyer lemon
Method:
1. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan.
2. Add the thyme stems and lemon rind and allow to steep several minutes in the oil (oil temperature should be 180°).
3. Cool, strain the oil of thyme and lemon and then pour into a resealable container until ready to use.
Lemon Olive Oil Cake with Strawberries
This rustic cake has a slightly-crunchy texture courtesy of polenta and is beautifully flavored by olive oil.
Ingredients:
Farm & Larder lemon olive oil cake mix
½ cup olive oil
1 cup milk or buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 pint fresh strawberries, washed and sliced
¾ cup crème fraîche or whipped cream
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a 9-inch cake pan or cast iron skillet with 2-inch sides with some of the olive oil.
2. Whisk together milk or buttermilk, eggs, lemon peel, vanilla, and olive oil. Pour the cake mix into this milk mixture and fold together with a spatula until just combined; do not over-mix. Scrape batter into greased pan and spread evenly.
3. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean and cake pulls away from sides of pan. Immediately run a knife around edge of cake, and turn cake out onto a cooling rack. Allow cake to cool before cutting.
4. To serve, slice cake into wedges and top with sliced strawberries and a generous dollop of crème fraîche or whipped cream.
For optional cake glaze: Combine ¾ cup powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, adding more lemon juice if needed. Drop by spoonfuls over cake after it has been placed on cooling rack, spreading within half an inch of the cake’s sides.
Lemon-Olive Oil Polenta Cake
This rustic cake has a slightly-crunchy texture courtesy of polenta and is beautifully flavored by olive oil.
Ingredients:
Farm & Larder lemon olive oil cake mix
½ cup olive oil
1 cup milk or buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon peel
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup crème fraîche or whipped cream
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a 9-inch cake pan or cast iron skillet with 2-inch sides with some of the olive oil.
2. Whisk together milk or buttermilk, eggs, lemon peel, vanilla, and olive oil. Pour the cake mix into this milk mixture and fold together with a spatula until just combined; do not over-mix. Scrape batter into greased pan and spread evenly.
3. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean and cake pulls away from sides of pan. Immediately run a knife around edge of cake, and turn cake out onto a cooling rack. Allow cake to cool before cutting.
4. To serve, slice cake into wedges and top with your choice of fresh berries and a generous dollop of crème fraîche.
For optional cake glaze: Combine ¾ cup powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, adding more lemon juice if needed. Drop by spoonfuls over cake after it has been placed on cooling rack, spreading within half an inch of the cake’s sides.
Meyer Lemon-Olive Oil Custard
Ready in 10 minutes, this thick, creamy custard would be wonderful served alongside warm sugar cookies.
Ingredients:
3 eggs, at room temperature
½ cup sugar
½ cup Meyer lemon juice
2 tablespoons Meyer lemon zest
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup high-quality olive oil
Method:
1. Place all ingredients except for the olive oil in a blender or food processor.
2. Turn the blender on to its highest setting and process for 4 minutes. While continuing to run on high speed, pour in the olive oil and blend well.
3. Transfer mixture to a double boiler (or bowl set over gently-simmering water in a pot) on the stove top, and stir until custard begins to thicken, about 4-5 minutes.
4. Custard can be refrigerated for up to three days or frozen for longer storage; try it topped with a dusting of powdered sugar and additional lemon zest.
Calendula-Infused Herbal Oil
You can use this oil in salad dressings, or even as an ingredient in salves, massage oils, lip balms, creams, and lotions.
Ingredients:
Calendula flowers
Olive oil
Method:
1. Fill a glass canning jar ⅔ of the way full with dried calendula flowers. If using fresh calendula, wilt for 12 hours to remove most of the moisture (too much moisture will cause the oil to go rancid) before adding to the jar.
2. Pour olive oil into the jar, making sure to cover the flowers by at least one inch with oil so they will have space to expand. Stir well and cap the jar tightly.
3. Place the jar in a warm, sunny windowsill and shake once or more daily. After about a week, strain the herbs out using cheesecloth. Pour the infused oil into glass bottles and store in a cool, dark place.
Meyer Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette
This lovely vinaigrette is bright with lemon juice, sweet honey and fresh parsley.
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons freshly-squeezed Meyer lemon juice
1 teaspoon Meyer lemon zest
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, pressed
¾ cup olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Whisk together lemon juice, zest, honey, parsley, mustard and garlic in a small bowl.
2. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Use immediately, or chill for a later use. If chilled, allow vinaigrette to come to room temperature again, then whisk again to combine.
Meyer Lemon Relish
This fresh-and-tart spread from Food & Wine is wonderful served alongside chicken, halibut or a freshly-toasted baguette.
Ingredients:
1 large Meyer lemon, peeled and peel very thinly-sliced
1 shallot, minced
2 tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons chives, minced
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
½ cup olive oil
Pinch crushed red pepper flakes
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Finely chop the lemon pulp, discarding any seeds, and transfer to a bowl.
2. Add the lemon peel, minced shallots, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic, chives, parsley, olive oil and crushed red pepper to the bowl. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper and serve. (Can be made ahead and refrigerated up to 3 days.)
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks with Honey & Meyer Lemon
Break out the barbecue for these flavorful cauliflower “steaks”!
Ingredients:
2 large heads cauliflower
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 Meyer lemons, zested and juiced
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup chopped toasted walnuts
Lemon wedges, for serving
Method:
1. Remove the outer leaves from each cauliflower head, then cut off the bottom stem end so that you create a flat base and can stand the cauliflower up on a cutting board. Resting the cauliflower on the stem, use a large, sharp knife to trim away the sides, then cut the remaining head into 2 very thick or 3 more moderate “steaks.”. In a small bowl, stir together the lemon zest and lemon juice, garlic, and honey.
2. Heat a grill to medium (about 350°). Brush one side of each cauliflower steak with the lemon–olive oil mixture and then sprinkle the brushed sides with half of the salt. Place the salted side down on the hot grill, then brush the tops of the steaks with the olive oil mixture and season with the remaining salt.
3. Cover the grill and let cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until the bottom is beginning to char. Flip the cauliflower, then re-cover the grill and cook 5 additional minutes, until the cauliflower is tender. Remove from the grill. Sprinkle with the red pepper flakes, parsley, and walnuts. Serve hot with lemon wedges.
Roasted Cauliflower with Preserved Lemon-Olive Tapenade
Roasted and tossed with our housemade tapenade, this flavorful, incredibly-easy cauliflower recipe is a keeper.
Ingredients:
4-5 cups cauliflower florets
¼ cup olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
½ cup F&L preserved lemon-olive tapenade
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 450°. Place the cauliflower florets in a large roasting pan. Drizzle the olive oil over the cauliflower, and season with the garlic, fresh herbs, salt and pepper.
2. Place the roasting pan in the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes until cauliflower begins to brown in spots, stirring occasionally to ensure even roasting. Remove from the oven and toss with the tapenade; serve immediately or at room temperature.