Summer Brunch Recipes
Locally-grown blueberries, heirloom tomatoes and summer squash: This week’s brunch-themed box is packed with some of the season’s all-time best produce, served up alongside such morning time favorites as Skagit River Ranch’s breakfast sausages, freshly-baked cinnamon-raisin bread, locally-roasted coffee and eggs from our heritage breed hens. Also accented by salad-ready escarole greens, soft amaretti cookies, living Genovese basil, sugar snap peas, orange carrots, Persian cucumbers, and much more, this lineup will have your day off to a great start. Enjoy!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Baked Cinnamon-Raisin French Toast
This homey recipe from The Pioneer Woman can easily be done a day ahead and chilled until ready to bake.
Sausage, Sweet Onion & Leek Scramble
This hearty scramble will fill you up to start your day.
Baked Eggs with Heirloom Tomatoes
Juicy tomatoes, fresh herbs and a touch of cream lend rich appeal to this dish.
Escarole Salad with Grana-Dijon Dressing
A wonderful side salad!
Blueberry-Nectarine Buckle
This easy dessert is sure to please the whole family!
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
⅓ 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
1⅓ 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.
Changing Seasons Recipes
With dewy mornings and darker evenings, the subtle shifting of the seasons seems to be well underway here in the Northwest. The gardens are thus towing the line between summer and fall with the continuation of favorites like melons, blueberries, Thai basil and edible flowers alongside the arrival of such fall highlights as locally-grown corn, Jimmy Nardello peppers and the cooler-weather-loving greens. This week’s lineup includes all the aforementioned produce as well as sliced multigrain bread, farm-fresh eggs and a crisp apple Verjus from Sauk Farms; here’s to enjoying the best of both worlds this week!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Stewed Romano Beans with Tomatoes
Braising the beans lends them a beautiful texture without sacrificing any of their gorgeous color!
Pan-Fried Peppers with Lemon & Garlic
Seasoned with slivered garlic, this Bon Appetit recipe is a favorite for enjoying fresh peppers.
Green Bean Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
Tossed with a Dijon mustard and sherry vinaigrette, these beans boast bright, zesty flavor.
Sweet Corn & Roasted Potato Salad with Fresh Basil
This room temperature salad will be a hit at your next barbecue. (Plus, it’s a snap to prep ahead!)
Thyme-Apple Verjus Vinaigrette
One of our favorite dressings for fall; try tossing with sliced apples, roasted nuts and your favorite salad greens.
Pickled Blueberries
Tart-sweet and incredibly addictive, these pickled berries are a wonderful finishing touch for salads and sandwiches (try them on grilled cheese).
Blueberry Cobbler
It’s hard to beat this classic summer dessert—just add vanilla ice cream!
Ingredients:
6 cups blueberries
F&L cobbler crust mix
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup sugar
10 tablespoons cream
Ground cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)
Method:
1. Melt butter in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine the F&L cobbler crust mix with the cream, stirring until dry ingredients are just moistened.
2. Bring 1 cup sugar, blueberries and lemon juice to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Pour the mixture into the baking dish and top with cobbler batter. Sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg, if desired.
3. Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve the cobbler warm or cool.