Citrus & Mint Salad
Bright, juicy citrus tossed with fresh mint—light, refreshing, and the perfect counterpoint to a rich breakfast spread.
Ingredients:
2–3 oranges (Cara Cara, blood, Navel or whatever oranges you have on hand!), peeled and sliced
1–2 mandarins, peeled and segmented
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1–2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, torn
Method:
1. Slice and segment citrus, removing any seeds.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together honey and lemon juice. Gently toss citrus with the dressing and mint. Chill briefly or serve immediately.
Charred Tomato & Garlic Scape Panzanella
Grilled bread, smoky tomatoes, fresh greens, and garlic scapes come together in this rustic summer salad that celebrates the season’s best flavors.
Ingredients:
4 cups cubed sesame-crusted sourdough
2 large heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes, cut into wedges
2 garlic scapes, thinly sliced
4 cups seasonal greens
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 tablespoon chopped oregano
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat a grill to medium-high. Toss the bread cubes with a drizzle of olive oil and grill until lightly crisped and toasted.
2. Place the tomatoes cut-side down on the grill and cook for 2-3 minutes, just until lightly charred.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, herbs, salt, and pepper. Add the grilled bread, tomatoes, garlic scapes, and greens. Toss gently to combine. Serve immediately while the bread still has a bit of crunch.
Salade Niçoise
A classic from the esteemed Julia Child, this colorful salad can be customized to your liking.
Ingredients:
¾ pound green beans, trimmed
1 pound baby red potatoes
½ shallot, chopped
2 heirloom tomatoes, chopped, or 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in halves
4 cups salad greens
2 (6-7 ounce) cans tuna
½ cup Nicoise olives
3 hard-boiled eggs
3 tablespoons chopped herbs, such as parsley, oregano and French tarragon
2-3 teaspoons capers, drained and rinsed
Niçoise vinaigrette (see recipe)
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Add the green beans and cook for 2 minutes. Lift out with tongs and rinse with very cold water.
2. Return the water to a boil. Add the potatoes. Cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a small knife. Drain and transfer to a bowl.
3. As soon as the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel if desired and slice thickly. Add ½ cup of the vinaigrette and the shallot. With a rubber spatula, gently toss the warm potatoes with the Niçoise vinaigrette; set aside to cool. In another bowl, toss the beans with 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette to coat them. In a third bowl, toss the tomatoes with 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette to coat them.
4. On a large platter, arrange the lettuce. Add the potatoes, beans, and tomatoes. Top with tuna, and olives. Spoon some of the remaining dressing over the salad and sprinkle with the herbs and capers. Peel the eggs, pat them dry, and halve them. Garnish with peeled, hard-boiled eggs.
Variations: This recipe can be modified with an array of seasonal produce, it is especially wonderful with radishes or sweet peppers! You can also try substituting the canned tuna with seared Ahi steaks, or even grilled salmon.
Garlic Scape Pesto
A bright, garlicky twist on classic pesto, this seasonal spread makes the most of fresh garlic scapes—perfect for tossing with pasta, spooning over grilled vegetables, or spreading on sandwiches.
Ingredients:
1 cup (about 8-10) chopped garlic scapes
1/3 cup toasted walnuts or pine nuts
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Juice of ½ lemon (more to taste)
½ cup olive oil (plus more as needed)
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Method:
1. In a food processor or blender, pulse the garlic scapes and nuts until finely chopped. Add the Parmesan and lemon juice, and pulse again to combine. With the motor running, slowly stream in the olive oil until the mixture is smooth and spreadable. Add more oil if needed for a thinner consistency. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice if desired.
Buttered Radishes with Poached Eggs
Tender radishes and shallots are topped with a silky poached egg for the perfect finish.
Ingredients:
1 bunch radishes
1 tablespoon butter
2 shallots, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon assorted chopped herbs, such as parsley, chives and thyme
2 large slices of toasted bread
2 eggs
Sea salt
Method:
1. In a skillet, heat butter over medium low heat. Add in the shallots and let cook it begins to soften, 2-3 minutes. Slice radishes in half and add to butter. Season well with salt. Cover and let cook until radishes are tender, 5-6 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning.
2. While radishes cook, poach the eggs.
3. To serve, place toast on a plate, generously cover with radish mixture, then sprinkle with herbs and top with a poached egg each.
Garlic Butter-Roasted Mushrooms
Roasted with capers and garlic, these mushrooms are amazing served over grilled chicken or steak!
Ingredients:
1 pound mushrooms, such as this week’s Chanterelles, halved lengthwise if large
1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoons vegetable oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 450° with rack placed in middle.
2. Toss mushrooms with capers, garlic, salt and several grinds of black pepper in a small 1½- to 2-quart shallow baking dish.
3. Top with butter and roast, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are tender and golden and bubbly garlic sauce forms below, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Serve immediately.
Melon with Fresh Mint & Lime Syrup
Try this sweet-tart syrup with your favorite summer melon.
Ingredients:
1 Canary melon
½ cup sugar
¼ cup thinly sliced mint leaves
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime
Method:
1. Stir the sugar, 2 tablespoons of water, lime zest, and 1½ tablespoons of the lime juice in a small heavy saucepan over high heat until the sugar dissolves and the syrup comes to a boil. Let the syrup cool completely, and then refrigerate it until cold.
2. Strain the chilled syrup into a small bowl and stir in the mint. Allow the mint to infuse into the syrup for at least 5 minutes.
3. Set the melon on a work surface and with a sharp knife trim away the rind and cut the melon into 2-inch chunks. Transfer melon to a large serving platter and pour the cold syrup over the melon, and serve.
Garlic-Sautéed Baby Bok Choy
Simple and flavorful, this quick side dish highlights the sweet crunch of baby bok choy paired with fragrant spring garlic. Serve alongside noodle bowls or your favorite grilled proteins.
Ingredients:
4 heads baby bok choy, halved lengthwise
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 cloves spring garlic, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Method:
1. Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the bok choy cut-side down and cook for 2–3 minutes, until lightly caramelized. Add the soy sauce and water. Cover and cook for another 2–3 minutes, until the bok choy is tender-crisp.
2. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds before serving.
Mushroom & Asparagus Eggs Benedict
Served over toasted bread, this eggs Benedict is truly stunning.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large shallot, finely diced
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- ½ teaspoon thyme, chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 6 ounces wild mushrooms, halved or quartered depending on size
- ¼ cup white wine, or broth
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 4 slices multigrain bread, lightly toasted
- 12 spears asparagus, blanched
- 4 eggs
- Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook until tender, about 2-3 minutes, then add the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about a minute. Add the butter and allow it to melt, then toss in the mushrooms and cook until they release their moisture, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the wine or broth, deglaze the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Add the cream and simmer until it thickens, about 2-3 minutes and reduce the heat to low.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and reduce the heat to medium. Swirl the water in the pot. Crack an egg into a bowl and gently pour the egg from the bowl into the water. Repeat with another egg. Let the eggs cook until the whites are set but the yolks are not, about 2-3 minutes then fish them out. Repeat with remaining two eggs.
- To serve, place the toast on plates, top with the asparagus, poached eggs and creamy mushroom sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.