Summery September Recipes
Though the calendar may say September, the recent sunny weather has the gardens thinking it’s still high summer as they continue to produce favorites for this week’s box like heirloom tomatoes, Jimmy Nardello peppers, English cucumbers and ripe melons, as well as give us an autumn preview with the first of the local Chanterelle mushrooms. Also included: Smoky bacon and our buttery housemade dough to craft a stunning crostata—so pop that in the oven, uncork a bottle of California red wine and toast to the best of both summer and fall.
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Smoky Bacon, Sweet Onion & Chanterelle Mushroom Crostata
The show-stopping crostata makes for a delicious entrée; just serve with a side salad of summer greens.
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Corn & Roasted Sweet Onions
Roasted sweet onion adds a wonderful depth of flavor to this refreshing salad.
Summer Melon & Cucumber Salad with Basil
Juicy and incredibly crisp, this salad always receives rave reviews.
Sautéed Summer Squash
So simple, so flavorful: These summer beauties are excellent served over grilled crostini, tossed into pastas, or scattered over pizza.
Pan-Fried Peppers with Lemon & Garlic
Seasoned with slivered garlic, this Bon Appetit recipe is a favorite for enjoying fresh peppers.
Cara Cara & Blood Orange Salad with Mizuna Greens
This citrus-kissed salad is beautifully presented with colorful orange slices and crisp fennel.
Ingredients:
2 Cara Cara oranges
2 blood oranges
6 cups Mizuna greens
1-2 fennel bulbs, quartered, cored and thinly sliced, plus a small handful of the fronds
¼ cup good-quality Parmesan cheese, shaved
Farm & Larder citrus vinaigrette
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
Method:
1. Spread the Mizuna out on a large, round serving platter to make a bed.
2. Using a sharp paring knife, cut the tops and bottoms off the oranges. Stand oranges up and slice to remove the peel and membrane. Then, slice oranges crosswise into thin wheels.
3. Scatter fennel over the greens, then top with the orange slices. Drizzle several tablespoons of the vinaigrette over the salad and toss lightly to coat. Top salad with fennel fronds, shaved Parmesan cheese and a dash of fresh ground pepper, if desired.
Billy Mills’ Bread & Butter Pickles
This recipe from 1940s-era music conductor Billy Mills is a great introduction to pickling.
Ingredients:
7 cucumbers, sliced
5 white onions, sliced
1 green pepper, chopped
1 sweet red Bullhorn pepper, chopped
¼ cup salt
Crushed ice
Pickling solution:
2½ cups white vinegar
2½ cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon mustard seed
1 teaspoon celery seed
¾ teaspoon tumeric
¼ teaspoon cloves
Method:
1. Prepare vegetables and place in a large bowl. Mix in salt and ice, then place in a cool place and let stand for at least 3 hours. Drain.
2. Mix pickling solution, add to drained vegetable in a large pot or kettle. Bring mixture to a boil, remove vegetables to canning jars immediately and cover in the hot liquid; seal.
