Tomato Salad with Corn, Summer Squash & Roasted Onions
Roasted sweet onion adds a wonderful depth of flavor to this refreshing salad.
Ingredients:
2 sweet onions, peeled and sliced into ½-inch-thick rings
2 heirloom tomatoes, chopped
2 small ears of corn, shucked, blanched and kernels removed
1 summer squash, diced
1 scallion, diced
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
10 basil leaves, thinly sliced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Arrange the sliced onion rings on a baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and sprinkle generously with sea salt, tossing to coat onions on both sides. Roast for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through until onions are brown and soft. Remove from onion, allow to cool, then roughly chop.
2. In a large bowl, add the chopped tomatoes, corn kernels, summer squash and scallion. Add roasted onions and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together honey with sherry vinegar, then add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, and salt and pepper then whisk well to combine. Drizzle dressing over the salad to taste and top with basil.Â
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Grilled Peppers & Zucchini
Serve these classic grilled vegetables from Domenica Marchetti’s The Glorious Vegetables of Italy atop warm bread.
Ingredients:
3-4 frying peppers
2 zucchini, sliced into ¼-inch pieces
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 garlic clove, sliced thin
Sea salt
Method:
1. Preheat gas or charcoal grill to medium-high, then place whole peppers on grate and grill until skins are blistered and blackened. Add zucchini slices and also grill until just soft with grill marks.
2. Transfer grilled peppers to a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let stand about 10 minutes. Remove peppers and lay on cutting board. Cut each in half, seeding and stemming, then scrape off charred skin with a knife. Cut into thin strips.
3. Drizzle olive oil over peppers and zucchini, season with salt and sprinkle with parsley. Toss to coat, then add slices of garlic. Allow to sit for 30 minutes to meld flavors before serving.
Variation: Try rubbing both the zucchini and peppers with our signature F&L dry rub before grilling—delicious!
Purple Kohlrabi & Turnip Slaw
This crisp, zippy slaw is a wonderful accompaniment to grilled meats, or even served atop burgers.
Ingredients:
1 pound kohlrabi (about 2 small heads, leaves included)
1 cup small turnips, peeled and quartered
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon peanut oil
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Separate the stems from kohlrabi bulbs, trim, and discard the tough bottoms of the stems. Half the leaves lengthwise, then thinly shred crosswise. Trim root end from bulb and peel away tough outer layer; halve lengthwise.
2. Fit a food processor with a shredding blade (or use a box grater) and shred the kohlrabi bulb and turnips.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together lime juice, peanut oil, honey, and sesame oil; season with salt and pepper. Add green onions, kohlrabi leaves and bulb, and radish to bowl; toss to coat. Let stand at least 15 minutes.
Blueberry-Nectarine Buckle
This easy dessert is sure to please the whole family!
Ingredients:
For the topping:
½ stick (¼ cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
½ cup sugar
â…“ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
For the batter:
1½ sticks (¾ cup) unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon baking powder
1â…“ cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
2 cups blueberries, picked over and rinsed
2 nectarines, pitted and cut into 1-inch wedges
Method:
1. Make the topping: In a small bowl, blend together the butter, sugar, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg until the mixture resembles coarse meal; chill the topping while making the batter.
2. Make the batter: In a small bowl with an electric mixer or a stand mixer, cream together the butter and the sugar and beat in the vanilla. In a small bowl stir together the baking powder, the flour, and the salt, beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture alternately with the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and fold in the blueberries and the nectarines.
3. Spread the batter in a well-buttered 10-by 2-inch round cake pan or 2-quart baking pan, sprinkle the topping evenly over it and bake the buckle in the middle of a preheated 350° oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean and the topping is crisp and golden. Serve the buckle with whipped cream or ice cream.
Carrot & Apple Saute with Rosemary
This beautiful combination sings with fresh flavor.
Ingredients:
1 bunch carrots, trimmed of greens, peeled and chopped into matchsticks
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tart apples, peeled, cored and cut into ½-inch wedges
2 tablespoons finely-chopped shallots
2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Put the carrots in a skillet and add just enough salted water to cover. Cover and bring them to a boil over high heat. Reduce the carrots to medium-low and simmer until the carrots are crisp-tender, 4-5 minutes. Drain and set the carrots aside.
2. Dry the skillet and return it to the stove. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and melt it over medium-high heat. Add the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until they soften, about 1 minute.
3. Add the carrots with the remaining tablespoon butter and rosemary. Cook, stirring occasionally, until they are well combined and the carrots are hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.
Cider-Braised Beets
These delightful beets from Rick Rodgers’ The Big Book of Sides are sure to be a new favorite.
Ingredients:
1 cup fresh apple cider
1 bunch beets, green tops removed, peeled and cut into ½-inch-rounds
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons finely-chopped fresh tarragon
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Combine 1½ cups water, the cider and butter in a large, deep, non-reactive skillet. Add the beets and enough water, if needed, to barely cover them. Bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Reduce the heat to medium and cover the skillet with the lid ajar. Cook at a brisk simmer until the beets are just tender when pierced with the tip of a small, sharp knife, about 20 minutes. Season the beets to taste with salt and pepper.
3. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beets to a serving bowl. Sprinkle with the tarragon and serve.
Grilled Radicchio with Olive Oil & Sea Salt
These radicchio wedges are wonderful served alongside a grilled entrée.
Ingredients:
1 head Chioggia radicchio
2-4 tablespoons olive oil
4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Coarse sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Quarter the radicchio heads lengthwise, leaving the cores intact. Brush the cut sides generously with some of the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat grill to medium-high and oil the grill rack.
3. Place the radicchio, cut sides down, on the grill and cook, turning frequently, until browned and tender when pierced at the core with a knife, 8 to 12 minutes total. (Close the lid if using a gas grill.)
4. Transfer the radicchio to a platter and drizzle each piece with about ½ teaspoon olive oil and ½ teaspoon vinegar. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.
Honey-Balsamic Roasted Carrots
This slam-dunk recipe from Domenica Marchetti’s The Glorious Vegetables of Italy beautiful combines both savory and sweet flavors.
Ingredients:
1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375°. Put carrots in a large roasting pan.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, honey and 2 teaspoons vinegar. Pour over carrots. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and a generous grinding of pepper. Toss gently to combine.
3. Roast carrots for 10 minutes; toss, roast for 15 minutes more, or until carrots are tender and browned in spots.
4. Transfer to serving platter and sprinkle with a few additional drops of vinegar and a dash of sea salt.
Polish Sausage, Cabbage & Potato Stew
This dish is perfect for a crisp fall evening, filling the kitchen with its rich, savory aroma!
Ingredients:
1 pound Polish sausage links, poached in water and then sliced into diagonal rounds
1 medium green cabbage, chopped
4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional, for extra flavor)
Sea salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Method:
1. Heat the olive oil or butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sliced sausage and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside. In the same pot, add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Stir in the cabbage, potatoes, caraway seeds (if using), salt, and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the cabbage starts to soften.
2. Pour in the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, until the potatoes are tender.
3. Return the browned sausage to the pot and simmer for another 5-10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy this cozy, savory stew with a slice of crusty bread on the side.
Slow-Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes
Slow-roasting these beautiful tomatoes concentrates their unique flavor—try these with a drizzle of pesto!
Ingredients:
1 pound heirloom tomatoes
2 tablespoons ultra-fine sugar
1 tablespoons green peppercorns
Good quality olive oil
Sea salt
Method:
1. Cut off the stem end of the tomato and then slice it into approximately ½-inch slices. When all the tomatoes are sliced, place them on a rimmed sheet pan and brush or drizzle olive oil over each tomato slice.
2. Mix the sugar and the salt together. Sprinkle some of the sugar/salt mixture on each tomato. In a mortar, grind the peppercorns until very crushed but not totally pulverized, then sprinkle over tomatoes.
3. Put the pan of tomatoes into a 175° oven for about 3 hours until caramelized.