Cilantro-Lime Rice
A fantastic side to tacos, enchiladas and more.
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1½ cups basmati long grain white rice
1 clove garlic, minced
2¼ cups water
1 teaspoon salt
Zest of one lime
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 cup lightly packed chopped cilantro, leaves and tender stems
Method:
1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan on medium high heat. Add the raw rice and stir to coat with the olive oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the rice has started to brown. Add the garlic and cook a minute more.
2. Add water, salt, and lime zest to the rice. Bring to a rolling boil, then cover and lower the heat to low to maintain a very low simmer. Cook undisturbed for 15 minutes (check your rice package instructions), then remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes.
Fluff the rice with a fork.
3. Transfer the rice to a serving bowl. Pour lime juice over the rice and toss with the chopped cilantro.
Cherry Tomato-Beet Salad
Topped with a mustard-balsamic dressing, this cherry tomato and roasted beet salad is incredibly flavorful.
Ingredients:
4 medium-sized beets
3 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
3 tablespoons combined fresh herbs, such as basil, parsley and sculpit
2 tablespoons chopped shallots
1 tablespoon capers
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Trim roots and stems from beets. Pierce beets with a fork, and wrap in foil. Bake at 400° for 1 hour or until tender. Cool; peel beets and cut into ¼-inch-thick slices.
3. Combine the herbs, shallots, capers, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and mustard in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine cherry tomatoes and about 5 teaspoons of the dressing; toss to coat. Divide sliced beets and dressed cherry tomatoes evenly among 6 plates. Drizzle each serving with about 3 teaspoons of the remaining dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Grilled Nebrodini Mushrooms
A fantastic side to grilled chicken, pork or steak!
Ingredients:
8 ounces Nebrodini mushrooms
3 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
¼ teaspoon salt
A few grinds of fresh black pepper
Method:
1. Wash and dry the mushrooms, then slice into halves, or quarters if especially large.
2. Combine the olive oil and seasonings. Brush both sides of the sliced mushrooms with the oil mixture.
3. Grill the mushrooms over medium-low heat on a barbecue, flipping once, until they are tender and show grill marks. Remove from the heat and enjoy! (Alternatively, you can cook the mushrooms in a lightly-oiled cast iron skillet on the stovetop, or roast in the oven at 425°.
Cucumber-Lime Slaw
This simple, flavorful slaw is wonderful piled on top of tacos!
Ingredients:
4 cups cucumber, peeled if desired, and cut into very thin matchsticks
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
1 tablespoon lime juice
½ tablespoon honey
¼ teaspoon cayenne
Zest of 1 lime
Sea salt
Method:
1. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, vinegar, yogurt, lime zest, lime juice, honey and cayenne. Mix well. Stir in the cucumber and jalapeño pepper, and season with salt to taste.
2. Set aside in the refrigerator to chill until ready to serve.
Roasted Grapes with Thyme
These juicy grapes boast an intense flavor, and are wonderful served with a sharp cheese and toasted bread.
Ingredients:
1 pound Reliance grapes, rinsed and stemmed
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. In a large sheet pan, mix grapes, olive oil, fresh thyme leaves, salt and pepper. Bake, shaking pan occasionally, until grapes are beginning to blister, 15-18 minutes. Use immediately or let stand until ready to use, up to 4 hours.
Kohlrabi & Radish 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)
3-4 radishes, trimmed of any greens and washed
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 radish.
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.
Baked Apples with Mexican Chocolate & Vanilla Bean Marshmallows
A truly delicious dessert made from farmstead apples and cinnamon-kissed chocolate.
Ingredients:
2 medium apples
2 ounces Mexican chocolate, coarsely chopped
4 full-size vanilla bean marshmallows, plus 1 extra, cut into 4 quarters
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons water
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Halve each apple lengthwise. Using a melon baller or grapefruit spoon, scoop out seeds, forming a small crater in the center of each half.
2. Fill each crater with a marshmallow quarter and a quarter of the chocolate. Cut 2 tablespoons butter into small pieces, and divide among apples, placing over the chocolate.
3. Place water and remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a baking dish. Place filled apples in the dish. Bake until a paring knife inserted into apples meets no resistance, 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Set the oven to broil. Top each apple half with a full marshmallow. Broil until golden brown. Drizzle with any juices from the dish and serve warm.
Glazed Hakurei Turnips
These buttery glazed turnips are sure to delight.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch Hakurei turnips, trimmed and greens reserved
¼ cup butter
3 tablespoons sugar
Sea salt
Method:
1. Place turnips in a large skillet; add water to cover turnips halfway. Add butter, sugar, and a large pinch of salt; bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is syrupy and turnips are tender, about 15 minutes. (If turnips are tender before liquid has reduced, use a slotted spoon to transfer turnips to a plate and reduce liquid until syrupy. Return turnips to pan and stir to coat well.)
2. Add turnip greens to skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until just wilted, 2-3 minutes. Season with salt.
Breakfast Scones
These scones are wonderful topped with apple butter.
Ingredients:
Scone mix
¾ cup, plus 2 tablespoons water
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 425°. Combine the water and scone mix in a medium bowl. Stir with a spoon until blended. (Dough will be slightly sticky.)
2. Knead dough 5-6 times on a generously floured board, folding dough in half on top of itself each time. Divide dough into 3 pieces. Pat each piece into a 5-inch diameter dome, and cut each dome into 4 wedges.
3. Place the scones on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve scones warm from the oven.
Escarole Salad with Grana-Dijon Dressing
This salad is packed with bold flavor, drizzled with a Grana-Dijon dressing.
Ingredients:
½ head escarole, tip and tail trimmed, sliced lengthwise and then thinly sliced crosswise
1 head radicchio, thinly sliced
½ cup thinly sliced radish
Juice of 1 lemon
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
¼ cup grated Grana-style cheese, plus more for garnish
½ cup olive oil
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Combine the escarole and radicchio in a large salad bowl. Toss in sliced radishes.
2. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the lemon juice, mustard, grated Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and black pepper. Shake well to combine. Pour over the salad and toss.
3. Grate more Parmesan on top and serve.