At this time of year the farmers’ markets, roadside stands and supermarkets are bursting at the seams with fresh grown produce. Take advantage of all these good things and create some seasonal recipes around fresh July produce. Here are a few ideas.

Stuffed Cucumbers

These little bites are delicious for lunch or for a summer appetizer.

Ingredients

• 2 medium cucumbers, peeled
• 1/2 cup chive and onion cream cheese
• 1/2 cup carrots, finely shredded
• 1/4 of a green bell pepper, finely chopped
• 1 small banana pepper or other spicy pepper, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons relish
• Sweet paprika for garnish

Directions

Cut cucumbers lengthwise. With a spoon, scoop out seeds to form a hollow center.

Combine the carrots, green pepper, spicy banana peppers, relish and cream cheese.

Spread the mixture into the center of the cucumbers. Sprinkle the top with paprika.

Cut each cucumber half into 4 pieces. Chill in the refrigerator until serving time.

Eggplant Rollatini

Ingredients

Eggplant

• 1 medium to large eggplant, peeled and cut lengthwise into ¼ inch slices
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
• Olive oil

Filling

• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• Salt & Pepper
• 1/4 cup minced fresh herbs (parsley, basil)
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Rollatini

• 2 cups Marinara (tomato) sauce
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Combine the flour, salt, pepper and dried herbs in a shallow dish. Heat enough olive oil to cover the bottom of a large skillet.

Dredge the eggplant slices in the flour mixture and place in the skillet.

Cook until brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels and let cool until room temperature.

Mix together the filling ingredients and distribute evenly over the sautéed eggplant slices.

Roll up the slices from the short end and place in a greased casserole dish. Pour the Marinara sauce over the rolls and sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese.

Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes.

Big Batch Summer Vegetable Chowder

Makes plenty to freeze for future dinners and lunches.

Ingredients

• 12 ears fresh corn
• 2 quarts water
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 3 cups southern field peas
• 3 medium red potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
• 9 oz pkg fresh spinach tortellini
• Chopped fresh herbs for garnish

Directions

Slice the kernels from each corn cob into a large bowl. Set aside.

Break each corn cob in half and place in a large Dutch oven or stock pot. Cover the cobs with 2 quarts of cold water. Bring the water to a boil and turn the heat to low.

Simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes.

When the corn cobs have finished simmering, heat the olive oil in a large soup pot over medium low heat.

Add the onions and cook until soft, approximately 2 minutes, then add the garlic, salt, pepper, dried Italian seasoning, reserved corn and remaining vegetables.

Cook for several minutes until the corn is soft, stirring frequently.

Once the corn cobs have finished simmering, remove the cobs from the broth. Add the corn broth to the soup pot. If the corn broth has reduced to less than 4 cups, add more water to equal 4 cups.

Add the chicken broth and tortellini. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the ingredients together over medium heat for an additional 15-20 minutes, covered.

Tomato Tart

Serves 6-8

Ingredients

• One 9 inch refrigerated pie crust, at room temperature
• 3 small to medium vine-ripe tomatoes, cored and sliced 1⁄4″ thick
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 shallot, thinly sliced
• Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives

Directions

Spread tomatoes in a single layer on a double thickness of paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and let drain for 1 hour. Blot dry with more paper towels.

Heat the oven to 425°F.

Place the dough in a greased 10 inch pie dish or tart pan.  You can also place the dough on a baking sheet on parchment and form the tart like a galette.

Spread the cream cheese over the crust, leaving a 1 inch border. Sprinkle the cheddar over the cream cheese.

Top with tomato and shallot slices, overlapping each slightly. Sprinkle with black pepper and chives. Fold overhanging crust up and over the edge of the filling.

Bake until golden brown, 40–45 minutes. Let the tart rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Regular or Gluten-Free Strawberry Peach Sponge Cake

The recipe for this cake can be made as a gluten-free cake or as a regular sponge cake. Any fruit filling works in this recipe – just use what is in season.

Ingredients

Simple Sponge Cake Mixture

Ingredients

• 6 eggs, separated
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup cake flour

Gluten-Free Cake Mixture

Ingredients

• 8 oz butter, softened at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon light rum
• 1 ½ cups King Arthur or Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free All Purpose Baking Flour (not gluten-free flour)
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons milk

Regular or Gluten Free Cake Filling

Ingredients

2 tablespoons light rum for sprinkling on the cake layers

1/2 cup strawberry syrup or jam (recipe for strawberry syrup)

6 strawberries, cut into thin slices

1 medium peach, peeled and sliced thin

12 whole small strawberries, stems removed

Whipped Cream Topping

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon light rum

Directions

Cut parchment or wax paper to fit two 9 inch round cake pans. Spray the pans with cooking spray and place the parchment circles in the pans. Spray the paper. Set aside.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Directions for making the simple sponge cake:

Separate the eggs, putting whites in the large mixer bowl and the yolks in a small mixer bowl.

Add 1/2 cup sugar to the whites and beat until very stiff.

Add 1/2 cup sugar to the yolks and beat until very thick and light yellow in color.

Fold egg yolk mixture into the egg whites.

Fold flour in using 1//3 cup each time until well mixed. Do not over mix.

Pour evenly into the prepared pans.

Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.

Cool for a few minutes, remove from pan and remove paper. Sprinkle each layer with 1 tablespoon of rum. Cool completely.

Directions for making the gluten-free sponge cake:

Cream the butter and sugar together in the large electric mixer bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add the rum.

Fold in the baking flour and baking soda, a little at a time. When completely mixed, add the milk slowly until the batter is fluid.

Pour into the prepared cake pans and bake until lightly brown and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack. Sprinkle each layer with 1 tablespoon of rum. Cool completely.

Directions for making the whipped cream topping:

Combine the ingredients in an electric mixer bowl and with the whisk attachment beat the mixture until stiff.

Directions for assembling the cakes:

Place one cake layer on a cake plate and top with the strawberry syrup. Arrange the sliced fruit on top of the strawberry syrup layer. Spread half of the whipped cream over the fruit.

Place the second cake layer on top of the whipped cream. Spread the cake layer with the remaining whipped cream. Place the whole strawberries evenly in a circle around the cake.

Chill in the refrigerator until serving time.

Posted by Jovina Coughlin in Beans, cake, carrots, celery, Cheese, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, Healthy Italian Cooking, onion, peaches, peppers, Soup, strawberries, tart, tomatoes, tortellini, Vegetables, Vegetarian Tags: July seasonal produce