Celery & Cucumber Salad with Herbs
This side salad from Martha Stewart is incredibly crisp and refreshing.
Ingredients:
6 celery stalks, thinly sliced crosswise
1-2 Persian cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and thinly sliced crosswise
1/3 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Toss together celery, cucumber, parsley, mint, and oil in a bowl. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Cabbage, Carrot & Apple Slaw with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
This refreshing, brightly-colored slaw from Diane Morgan’s Roots is a snap to do-ahead.
Ingredients:
2 cups finely shredded green cabbage
2 cups coarsely grated carrots (or carrots cut into matchsticks)
1 crisp red apple, cored and cut into matchsticks
2 teaspoons finely-snipped fresh chives
Dressing:
¼ cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1¼ teaspoons fine sea salt
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
2 tablespoons honey
Method:
1. To make the dressing, in a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, oil, lemon juice, salt, honey and poppy seeds. Set aside. (Can be prepared up to 1 day ahead.)
2. In a large bowl, toss together the cabbage, carrots and apple. Spoon the dressing over the top and toss to distribute evenly. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with the chives.
Baked Cinnamon-Raisin French Toast
This homey recipe can easily be done a day ahead and chilled until ready to bake.
Ingredients:
1 loaf cinnamon raisin bread
Butter, for greasing the baking pan
8 whole eggs
2 cups whole milk
½ cup heavy cream
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
Topping:
8 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces
½ cup flour
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup raisins
Method:
1. Cut bread into ¼-inch slices, then overlap the slices in rows in a well-buttered baking dish. Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon, then pour the mixture evenly over all the pieces of bread, soaking the bread as much as possible.
2. To make the topping, combine the butter, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl and cut it all together with a pastry cutter. Stir in the raisins. Sprinkle the topping all over the casserole. Cover the pan with foil and refrigerate it for several hours or overnight.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°. Bake the French toast for 45 minutes to 1 hour for a softer texture, or longer for a firmer, crisper texture. Cover with foil for the first 30 minute of baking, then remove it for the remaining baking time. Serve individual helpings with butter and warm syrup
Zucchini Blossom Frittata
A rustic garden dish that celebrates the fleeting charm of summer blossoms.
Ingredients:
8 large eggs
¼ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 baby zucchini, thinly sliced into rounds
1 small shallot, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
½ cup grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan
8–10 fresh zucchini blossoms, stems removed and gently opened
Optional garnish: fresh basil, chive blossoms, or microgreens
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl with the cream, salt, and pepper until light and frothy. Stir in the grated cheese and set aside.
2. In a 10-inch oven-safe skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallot and garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant. Add the zucchini rounds and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden. Pour the egg mixture over the sautéed vegetables, gently swirling the pan so everything distributes evenly. Let cook undisturbed for 1 to 2 minutes, until the edges just begin to set. Carefully arrange the zucchini blossoms on top, pressing them slightly into the eggs. Continue to cook on the stove for another 2 minutes, or until the frittata is set around the edges but still jiggly in the center.
3. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the frittata is fully set and lightly puffed. If using the broiler, broil for 2–3 minutes, watching carefully, until the top is just golden and cooked through. Let the frittata rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh herbs or edible flowers, if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Polenta Cake with Stanley Prune Plums
This luscious cake is kissed with juicy plums and citrus peel.
Ingredients:
4 Stanley prune plums, pitted and cut into wedges
¼ cup packed brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup polenta or yellow cornmeal
1½ teaspoons baking powder
â…› teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
4 egg yolks, plus 2 full eggs
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon or orange peel
1 teaspoon vanilla
Crème fraîche for serving (optional)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly grease and flour bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan; line bottom with a 9-inch circle of parchment paper. Arrange plums on parchment in pan. Sprinkle brown sugar over the plums. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and beat until light. Add egg yolks and eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Add lemon peel and vanilla; beat until combined. Beat in the flour mixture. Spoon batter over plums in pan and spread evenly.
4. Bake about 50 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Remove sides of pan; cool cake completely. Invert cake onto serving platter; remove bottom of pan and parchment. If desired, serve with crème fraîche.
Carrots Marinated with Garlic & Oregano
This room-temperature dish packs in the flavor and makes for a lovely side dish.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch-long matchsticks or thin diagonal slices
4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon fresh oregano
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup fresh parsley, minced
1 cup olive oil
Pinch red pepper flakes
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Whisk together garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
2. In a large pot, bring water to a boil, adding 1 tablespoon salt. Add carrots and cook until just crisp-tender, about 2 minutes.
3. Drain carrots and add to marinade, letting sit in fridge overnight. When ready to serve, return to room temperature and adjust seasonings if needed. Transfer to serving platter and top with parsley.
Pan-Fried Mushrooms
Crispy, garlicky, and delicious, these mushrooms make an incredible side dish.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 12 ounces mushrooms, such as this week’s blue Oyster and King Trumpet varieties, cut into evenly sized pieces
- 3 garlic cloves smashed
- 5 sprigs of thyme
- 2 tablespoons grass-fed butter
- Sea salt and black pepper to taste
Method
- Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium high heat.
- Spread the mushrooms out in a single layer in the pan. Cook, undisturbed for 3-5 minutes until they start to brown. Stir the mushrooms and cook for another 3-5 minutes until browned all over.
- Add the butter, garlic, and thyme to the skillet and reduce the heat to low. Cook for another 5-6 minutes, spooning the ghee/butter over the mushrooms until they are dark brown and slightly crispy.
- Remove the thyme springs and season the mushrooms with salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!
| Ingredients | |
|---|---|
| 10 | ingredient |
Grilled Turnips with Mint & Lime
The combination of mint and lime adds summery appeal to these tender-crisp grilled turnips.
Ingredients:
1 bunch Hakurei turnips, scrubbed and trimmed
¼ cup mint, minced
2 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
Juice of a small lime
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat your grill. Set turnips on a plate and sprinkle with sea salt.
2. Set turnips directly on grill grate away from direct heat and cover. Cook for 5 minutes. Flip turnips and continue to cook, covered. Check after 4-5 minutes, continue turning and cooking until turnips are cooked through.
3. To prepare vinaigrette, whisk together mint, garlic, olive oil, lime juice, plus salt and pepper to taste. Toss with turnips and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Season again with salt and pepper as needed.
Asparagus with Salt and Pepper Whipped Cream
Topped with decadent cream, this simple side dish is just delicious.
Ingredients:
1½-2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and peeled
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
Method:
- Preheat oven to 250º. Cook the asparagus in boiling, salted water, or steam, until just tender. Place the drained asparagus in a shallow serving dish, and keep it warm in the oven.
- In a small saucepan, heat the butter with ¼ cup heavy cream over low heat. Stir and pour over the asparagus; return the asparagus to the oven.
- Beat the remaining ¾ cup cream with the salt and pepper until soft peaks form. Spoon over the hot asparagus. Serve immediately.
Corn Chowder with Red Pepper & Onion
Fresh sage and a hint of red pepper give this sweet chowder just a subtle hint of spice.
Ingredients:
4 ears of corn shucked
1 sweet onion, peeled and diced
1 red Bell pepper, seeded and diced
4 cups vegetable or corn stock
6 fresh sage leaves, chopped
Pinch red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons olive oil
Sea salt
Method:
1. Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat, then place the ears of corn directly on the grates and grill, 8-10 minutes, rotating occasionally, until the cobs are slightly charred. Remove and allow to cool, then shuck the kernels from the cobs using a sharp kitchen knife. Set aside.
2. Heat the oil in a 4-quart pot until shimmering. Add the onion and peppers and sauté until lightly tender, 2-3 minutes. Add the corn (reserving a small handful for garnish), sage and chile pepper flakes; sauté for 1 minute. Season with salt to taste. Stir in the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer until vegetables are all tender, about 5 minutes.
2. Carefully pour half the mixture into a blender and purée until smooth (remember the soup is hot, so be careful). Stir the puréed mixture back into the pot with the remaining soup. Taste the soup and add more salt, if desired. Ladle into bowls, garnish with a few chile flakes and grilled corn kernels and serve hot.