Bucatini Pasta with Sautéed Baby Shiitake Mushrooms
Also tossed with sweet onions and a topping of Grana-style cheese, this pasta is incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh bucatini pasta, or other fresh pasta of your choice
2 cups mini baby Shiitake mushrooms, washed and thinly sliced
1 Walla Walla sweet onion, peeled and diced
3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons butter, divided
¼ cup Grana-style cheese, grated
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil, then add the pasta. Cook until the bucatini is al dente, about 5-6 minutes. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon each of olive oil and butter in the skillet. Once warm, add the onions, mushrooms and garlic, tossing to coat with oil and butter. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and sweat until mushrooms are tender and garlic is fragrant, about 4-5 minutes.
3. Add drained pasta to the skillet with the vegetables, then toss everything together with the rest of the olive oil and butter. If pasta seems a little dry, mix in reserved pasta water. Check for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve with Grana-style cheese to sprinkle over pasta.
Frisée Salad with Apple, Fresh Chevre and Hazelnuts
This salad is equally amazing with slices of juicy pear.
Ingredients:
1 medium head radicchio, torn into bite-size pieces
1 medium head frisée, torn into bite-size pieces
1 apple, cored and diced
F&L honey-citrus vinaigrette
4 ounces chevre cheese, crumbled
½ cup roasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Add the radicchio and frisée to a large bowl and then toss with about ¼ cup of the dressing, until coated. Add the apple slices, chevre cheese and hazelnuts, season the salad with salt and pepper, toss gently and serve.
Asparagus & Pea Risotto with Mint
One of two risotto ideas this week, this recipe is bright with asparagus, peas and mint.
Ingredients:
1 bunch asparagus stalks, cut into 1-inch pieces
2-3 cups freshly-shelled English peas
8 tablespoons butter
1½ cups Arborio rice
4-5 cups warm chicken stock
½ cup white wine (if desired)
½ shallot, finely chopped
1-2 tablespoons chopped garlic (if desired)
â…” cup freshly-grated Grana-style cheese
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, minced
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, then drop in asparagus and quickly blanch for about 2 minutes until asparagus pieces are bright green and just tender (you want them to still have a little bite, so watch closely.) Remove from pot, and place in an ice bath to stop cooking. Pat dry and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, in a sauce pan, bring the chicken stock to a boil and then turn down to a simmer to keep hot. In another large sauce pan over medium low heat, melt 4-5 tablespoons of butter and cook the shallots until soft but not brown.
3. Add garlic and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Turn the heat up and add the Arborio rice. Stir for about one minute.
4. Add a ladleful of stock to the rice and continue stirring until almost absorbed. Add another ladleful of stock and the wine and continue stirring; repeat until all the stock is gone and the rice is creamy and tender.
5. Stir in the remaining butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Then add the peas and asparagus to the pan. Allow to heat through, then add the cheese and mint. Stir to combine and serve immediately.
Variation: This risotto is also lovely topped with an olive-oil fried egg.
Anise Hyssop Lemonade
Sweetened with an anise hyssop simple syrup, this lemonade is incredibly fragrant.
Ingredients:
1 cup anise hyssop simple syrup (recipe follows)
1 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
2-3 cups water
Anise Hyssop Simple Syrup
1 handful (about 20 leaves) anise hyssop
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
Method:
1. To make simple syrup, combine ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Once boiling, remove from heat and allow to steep for 30 minutes. Strain anise hyssop solids, and chill syrup until ready to mix lemonade.
2. In a pitcher, pour lemon juice and anise hyssop syrup, adding in 2-3 cups water to taste. Refrigerate and serve over ice with additional sliced lemons.
Roasted Baby Beet Salad with Rosemary Pecans
Topped with a light vinaigrette and roasted pecans, this salad is both colorful and satisfying.
Ingredients:
Roasted baby red and yellow beets, sliced in half and still warm from the oven (see enclosed recipe)
2-3 cups Mesclun greens, washed and dried
½ cup F&L rosemary pecans
½ cup high-quality olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 small clove garlic, crushed
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. To prepare vinaigrette: Whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar and garlic together, seasoning with fresh ground pepper to taste.
2. To assemble the salad: Arrange the greens on a large platter and then top with beet slices. Top with roasted pecans, then drizzle with the vinaigrette. Top with additional ground pepper to taste.
Olive Oil Fried Eggs
Olive oil adds extra flavor to these sunny side-up eggs.
Ingredients:
Eggs
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat until shimmery. Carefully crack 1 egg and drop into the pan, seasoning generously with salt and pepper.
2. Fry until whites are set and crispy around the edges, but yolk is still runny, about 3-4 minutes. Repeat with as many eggs as you please, adding in additional olive oil as needed.
Garlic & Ginger Green Beans
This zingy preparation will soon be a new favorite.
Ingredients:
1 pound green beans
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons fresh ginger root, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon water
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Method:
1. Blanch green beans in a large pot of boiling water for 5 minutes until just tender and then drain and cool the beans with a rinse of cold water.
2. In a large sauté pan heat the sesame and olive oils over medium heat until shimmering. Add the ginger root and garlic and sauté for 1 minute until both are soft and fragrant. Add in beans, soy sauce, water and red pepper flakes and cook until the liquid is dissolved. Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Grilled Halloumi Kabobs with Sweet Red Peppers
The perfect accompaniment to this week’s baked orzo.
Ingredients:
5 ounces halloumi cheese, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 sweet red peppers, seeded and sliced into 2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
Wood or metal skewers
Method:
1. Preheat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high. (If using wooden skewers, place in a sheet pan and cover with water, and allow to soak while preparing the other ingredients.)
2. Thread cheese cubes onto the skewers, alternating with the red pepper slices. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon olive oil with a dash of salt and pepper, then brush each kabob on both sides with the mixture.
3. Grill each kabob, flipping occasionally, until the cheese is golden and the sweet peppers are softened and slightly charred.
4. Remove kabobs from the grill and transfer to a platter. Drizzle the entire dish with the additional 1 tablespoon olive oil and then sprinkle with the parsley.
Late Summer Vegetable Frittata
Packed with fingerling potatoes, frying peppers and leeks, this easy frittata boasts incredibly fresh flavor.
Ingredients:
8 eggs
1 pint fingerling potatoes, washed and thinly-sliced
4 frying peppers, washed, seeded and chopped
2 leeks, trimmed and thinly-sliced
1 cup spinach leaves, torn into bite-sized pieces
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced potatoes to the skillet and sauté for about 6 to 8 minutes, until tender but firm. Remove from skillet. Add another tablespoon oil, then add the peppers, leeks, spinach and garlic. Sauté for an additional 1 to 2 minutes or until the greens are just wilted. Season vegetables with salt and pepper. Remove from skillet.
3. In a medium bowl, beat together the eggs and thyme with a pinch of salt and pepper. Return the potatoes to the skillet, arranging in an even layer. Top with vegetable mixture and then pour eggs evenly over the vegetables. Drizzle olive oil around the edge of the pan to ensure easy removal.
4. Transfer to oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until the eggs have completely set in the center. Serve straight out of the skillet, cut into wedges, or flip onto a serving plate.
Hard-Boiled Quail Eggs
Our no-fail method for perfectly hard-boiled quail eggs.
Tools:
Small saucepan
Water
Slotted spoon
Method:
1. Fill a small saucepan two-thirds full with water and bring to a boil. Add the eggs using a spoon. Do not overcrowd the pan.
2. Boil for 2½ to 5 minutes depending on your preference; at 2½ minutes, the yolks will still be runny and by 5 minutes they will be fully hard-boiled.
3. Remove eggs with a slotted spoon and cool down under cold running water or in a bowl filled with ice water. Peel very carefully.