Arugula Pesto

Stash this bright, zippy pesto in your freezer to add to the likes of pastas, soups or even grilled vegetables.

Ingredients:
4 cups arugula
1-2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
1 cup olive oil
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Method:
1. In a food processor, combine the pine nuts, garlic, arugula, Parmesan, and about 1 teaspoon salt and pulse to blend. With the machine running, pour in the olive oil through the food tube in a slow, steady stream and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.

Grilled Radicchio with Olive Oil & Sea Salt

These radicchio wedges are wonderful served alongside a grilled entrée.

Ingredients:
1 head Chioggia radicchio
2-4 tablespoons olive oil
4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Coarse sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Method:
1. Quarter the radicchio heads lengthwise, leaving the cores intact. Brush the cut sides generously with some of the olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.

2. Preheat grill to medium-high and oil the grill rack.

3. Place the radicchio, cut sides down, on the grill and cook, turning frequently, until browned and tender when pierced at the core with a knife, 8 to 12 minutes total. (Close the lid if using a gas grill.)

4. Transfer the radicchio to a platter and drizzle each piece with about ½ teaspoon olive oil and ½ teaspoon vinegar. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.

Summery September Recipes

We might have turned over the page to the month of September, but the gardens continue to ripen with an abundance of late-summer gems, from luscious heirloom and cherry tomatoes to ripe, juicy melons and peaches. Also including zucchini, sweet peppers, cucumbers and Patty Pan squash, plus a beautiful bounty of herbs and greens, this week’s lineup is accented by such provisions as Pain au Levain bread, Italian olive oil and flaky sea salt, Harmony Field’s sheep’s milk feta and chicken eggs. Enjoy!

Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:

Baked Feta with Honey
A kick of honey lends a sweet touch to the salty cheese; serve with grilled bread crostini!

Summer Peach & Heirloom Tomato Salad
Incredibly fresh and light, this colorful salad is accented by a robust heirloom tomato vinaigrette.

Grilled Heirloom Tomato Vinaigrette
In addition to this week’s salad, this bright and robust dressing is wonderful tossed with pasta, or drizzled over steamed or grilled vegetables.

Cucumber & Melon Salad with Basil
Juicy and incredibly crisp, this salad always receives rave reviews.

Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone, Pistachios & Balsamic Glaze
Peaches off the grill are a true summer delight—we particularly love this salty, sticky-sweet topping.

Classic Basil Pesto

Toss it on pasta, add it to salad dressings, drizzle over heirloom tomatoes—the possibilities are endless with this classic sauce!

Ingredients:
4 cups fresh basil leaves (from about 3 large bunches)
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
⅓ cup pine nuts
2 garlic cloves
½ cup freshly grated Grana-style cheese
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

Method:
1. Combine basil, pine nuts, cheese and garlic in a blender or food processor. Blend until paste forms, stopping often to push down any basil caught on the sides of the bowl. Then, with the motor running, add the olive oil in a steady stream and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt, and then transfer to a small bowl.

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