BBQ Ribs
Rub Mixture Ingredients
1/4 cup sweet paprika
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons dried onion
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Ribs
2 St. Louis-cut or spare rib racks, about 2 lbs
Peach BBQ sauce, recipe below
Directions
Mix all the rub ingredients together and coat the ribs all over with the mixture. Place the ribs in a baking dish, cover the dish with foil and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat the oven to 250°F. Place the foil covered baking dish with the ribs in the oven and roast for about 2 1/2 hours, or until the meat is tender but not falling off the bone. The ribs will finish cooking on the grill.
When the ribs are done baking, heat the grill to medium-high. Oil the grill rack.
Brush the ribs with BBQ sauce and place them on the grill. Grill the ribs, basting with more BBQ sauce and turning occasionally, until they begin to char, about 5 to 6 minutes.
Cut into serving pieces and serve with additional BBQ sauce for dipping.
Georgia Peach Barbecue Sauce
Yields about 4 cups.
Ingredients
4 ripe peaches, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
Half an onion finely chopped
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground mace
1/3 cup cider vinegar
One bottle tomato ketchup (about 31 oz.)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons butter, cubed and well chilled
Directions
In a medium saucepan, combine all the ingredients except the butter. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Reduce the heat and simmer, covered with the lid ajar, for 60-90 minutes until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.
Remove the pot from the heat and puree the sauce with an immersion blender.
Return the pan to the heat. With a whisk, blend in the butter cubes, a couple at a time, until incorporated. Cool and then refrigerate the sauce.
Sauce freezes well.
Southwest Biscuits
Ingredients
Biscuit Dough
2 cups unbleached self-rising flour
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, diced
3/4 cup (6 ounces) cold milk or buttermilk
Filling
2 scallions, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
1 ½ cups Mexican blend shredded cheese
2 tablespoons butter
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 inch round baking pan.
Place the flour in a bowl. Work in the butter with a pastry cutter just until the crumbs are the size of large peas.
Add the milk, and stir until the mixture holds together and leaves the sides of the bowl, adding more milk if needed.
Scoop the dough onto a well-floured surface, and fold it over on itself several times, using more flour as needed to prevent sticking.
Roll the dough into a 12 x 8 inch rectangle.
Sprinkle the dough with the shredded cheese and then with the scallions and jalapeno peppers.
Roll the dough up, jelly roll style, from the 8 inch side into an 8 inch log.
With a sharp knife, cut the biscuits into 1 inch pieces for a total of 8 rolls.
Arrange the rolls in the prepared baking pan. Dot the rolls with butter and place in the oven.
Bake for about 30 minutes until golden brown.
Summer Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
8 oz elbow macaroni
2 celery stalks, finely diced
1/2 onion finely diced
1/2 red bell pepper finely diced
1/4 cup chopped scallions
1/4 cup diced bread & butter pickles
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
Dressing
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch black pepper
Directions
Make the dressing by combining the ingredients in a serving bowl and set aside while you cook the macaroni.
Cook the pasta al dente in boiling salted water, drain and add the pasta to the dressing while the pasta is warm.
Add the chopped vegetables and mix well. Add salt to taste, but I find this type of salad doesn’t need extra salt because the mayonnaise, pasta cooked in salted water and seasonings add enough.
Cover the salad and chill the salad for several hours before serving.
Italian Fried Peppers
Ingredients
6-8 Italian frying peppers
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove smashed and cut in half
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning.
Pinch of salt and pepper
Directions
Heat oil and garlic in a small saute pan. Lower the heat and add the whole peppers.
Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Saute slowly until lightly brown on all sides.
Serve at room temperature.
Tomato Basil Salad
Ingredients
1 pint miniature (Juliet) plum tomatoes or grape tomatoes
½ cup sliced fresh basil
¼ cup Italian vinaigrette
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a serving bowl. Leave at room temperature several hours before serving.
Blueberry Galette
Ingredients
1 lb fresh blueberries (3 cups)
2 tablespoons cornstarch or other pie thickener
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh lemon zest
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar
1 (9-inch) refrigerated pie dough (from a 15-oz package)
1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Whipped cream or frozen yogurt, optional
Directions
Put an oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Stir together blueberries, cornstarch, zest, juice, cinnamon, salt and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl until combined.
Unwrap the pie dough and unfold onto the prepared baking sheet.
Spoon the blueberry mixture onto the center of the dough, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border around the edge.
Fold the edges of dough over 1 inch of the blueberry mixture, pleating the dough as you move around the filling.
Dot the blueberry filling with butter pieces.
Lightly brush the pastry with some of the beaten egg and sprinkle with the remaining teaspoon sugar.
Bake until the blueberry filling is bubbling and the pastry is golden, 25 to 30 minutes.
Cool slightly on the baking sheet on a wire rack. Serve the warm galette with a spoonful of whipped cream or frozen yogurt.
When the weather heats up, take advantage of the all the fresh produce that is available during the summer months. Many recipes for creating salads or cold soups do not require any cooking. If an ingredient needs to be cooked, do it early in the day and serve it chilled. Below are a few ideas to keep you cool, including a delicious dessert.
Cold Appetizer Plate
Burrata Cheese drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Olives, Roasted Peppers, Fresh Melon
Bread Sticks
Chicken Salad
The breasts can be cooked early in the day and the rest of the recipe can be prepared later. This makes enough so that there will be plenty for several meals. Serve over lettuce with sliced tomatoes and cut up veggies.
Cooking the chicken breasts
1 1/2 pounds of bone-in, skin on chicken breasts
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the chicken breasts in a baking dish and rub the skin with olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.
Roast for 40-45 minutes, until the chicken registers 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer .
Set aside until cool enough to handle.
Remove the meat from the bones and save the skin and bones to make chicken broth.
Dice the chicken into bite-size pieces and place in a bowl.
For the salad
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped sweet (Vidalia, Walla Walla) onion
1/2 cup good mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 cup red grapes, cut in half
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Mix the mayonnaise and Dijon mustard together in a mixing bowl with a cover.
Add the celery and onion; stir, Add the chicken and mix carefully to keep the chicken from breaking up.
Fold in the pecans and grapes. Adjust salt and pepper, if needed. Cover and chill.
Triggerfish with Caper Sauce
Triggerfish were once ignored by commercial fishermen, however, they are now considered among the finest fish on the Gulf seafood menu. Their clean white meat carries a uniquely sweet flavor when cooked. Since this fish lives in warm waters, you might not find it in your area. Use any thin mild white fish fillets in the recipe below, if you cannot find triggerfish. If you do see it in your fish market, be sure to give it a try. I like to serve this dish with the tomato salad shown below.
Serves 2
Ingredients
2 ounces butter, room temperature
1 lb triggerfish fillets
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 ounces white wine
Hot sauce, to taste
Half a small onion, chopped fine or one shallot
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon capers, rinsed
Directions
Add the butter to a saute pan or skillet and place over medium heat.
Season the fish with the salt and pepper and dredge the fillets in all-purpose flour.
Place each fillet in the skillet and saute until light golden brown.
Add a few drops of hot sauce to the pan as the fish browns.
After the first side is golden brown, turn the fish over and cook until the second side is golden brown.
Remove the fish from the pan to a plate. Reduce the heat to low and add the wine to the skillet.
Add the onion or shallot and stir slowly but continuously for about 2 minutes. Add the lemon juice and capers.
Continue to stir until a thin sauce forms. Return the fish to the skillet and spoon the sauce over the fillets.
Place the fish on serving plates and spoon any sauce in the skillet onto the fish.
Tomato Feta Salad
Serves 4
4-5 medium plum tomatoes, sliced thin
1/4 cup finely diced red onion
2 tablespoons good quality white wine vinegar or Champagne vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
Directions
Place the sliced tomatoes on a serving plate.
In a mixing bowl combine the onion, vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, basil and parsley and toss well.
Pour the dressing over the sliced tomatoes and sprinkle with the feta cheese. Serve at room temperature.
Chocolate Tiramisu
Makes 12 squares
Ingredients
1 (3-4 ounce) package chocolate pudding mix
Two 3-ounce packages ladyfingers, split
1/3 cup chocolate liqueur (Kahlua)
1/3 cup brewed espresso or strong coffee
One 8-ounce carton mascarpone cheese
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, grated
Unsweetened cocoa powder
Directions
Do ahead: Prepare the chocolate pudding mix according to the directions on the package. Chill in the refrigerator.
Mix the coffee and Kahlua together in a shallow dish.
In a medium mixing bowl, beat together the mascarpone cheese, whipping cream, powdered sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer just until stiff peaks form.
Add the chocolate syrup and mix until just combined.
To assemble the tiramisu:
Line the bottom of an 8 x 8 x 2-inch or 11 x 7 x 2 inch baking dish with some of the ladyfingers dipped in the espresso/Kahlua mixture.
Spoon a thin layer of chocolate pudding over the ladyfingers in the baking dish.
Spoon half of the mascarpone mixture over the chocolate pudding layer, spreading it evenly.
Sprinkle with grated bittersweet chocolate.
Top with another layer of ladyfingers dipped in espresso, followed by chocolate pudding and the mascarpone cheese mixture.
Cover and chill for 6 to 24 hours. Sift cocoa powder over the top before serving.
My 2017 Jeta Farms Community Supported Agriculture shares started at the end of May with lots of fresh, just picked produce. So far this season, there has been a regular supply of Silver King Corn, sweet onions, cucumbers, green beans, squash of all types, tomatoes, eggplant, red potatoes, blueberries, blackberries and peppers. Looking forward to the rest of the season.
Grilled Patty Pan Squash
Ingredients
2 large patty pan squashes
1/4 cup prepared basil pesto
Salt and pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Preheat an outdoor grill and brush the grates with oil.
Cut each squash in half. Brush all sides of the squash with the pesto and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper,
Place on the grill and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the squashes over and cook another 5 minutes.
They should be tender but cook a minute or two longer, it they are not.
Place the grilled squash on a severing dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Summer Potato Salad
Ingredients
1 ½ lbs medium red potatoes
2 tablespoons pickle juice
1/2 cup finely diced sweet onion
1/2 cup finely diced celery
1/4 cup finely diced bread and butter pickle slices
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Directions
Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water just until tender, about 10-12 minutes.
Drain and let the potatoes cool until they can be handled without burning your hands.
Peel the potatoes and slice thinly into a storage bowl. Add the pickle juice, stir and set aside for 30 minutes.
Add the onion, celery and pickles. Stir well and add salt and pepper to taste.
Mix together the mayonnaise and mustard and stir into the potato mixture. Garnish with parsley.
Chill the salad before serving.
Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles
2 quart jars with lids ( I use recycled pickle jars)
Ingredients
1 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon pickling spice
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 medium onion, sliced into thin rings
5–6 pickling (Kirby) cucumbers
Directions
Place the pickling spice in the boiling water. Take the pan off the heat.
After the pickling spices have steeped for 10 minutes in the boiling water, add the vinegar, sugar and salt and stir well.
Let the mixture cool to lukewarm.
Then, strain the mixture into a large measuring cup and discard the solids.
Trim the ends of the cucumbers, discard and slice the cucumbers into ¼ inch slices.
Firmly pack layers of onions and cucumbers into two clean quart jars.
Once the jars are full, pour the strained vinegar mixture into the filled jars all the way to the very top.
Put the lids on and close tightly. Turn the jars over onto a kitchen towel and let them sit for a half an hour.
Return the jars to an upright position and put them in the refrigerator.
After about 24 hours the cucumbers will begin to change color a bit – that is when they are ready to eat and they should last about a month in the refrigerator.
Oven Baked ”Fried” Green Tomatoes
Ingredients
2 to 3 medium-sized green tomatoes
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon Cajun spice
3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, beaten
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Oil a cookie sheet.
Place the flour mixed with Cajun seasoning in one shallow dish.
Add the egg to a second dish. Add a tablespoon of water and mix well.
Place the panko crumbs, cornmeal, salt and pepper in a third shallow dish.
Cut the tomatoes into ½ inch thick slices and pat dry with paper towels.
Sprinkle the tomato slices evenly with salt and pepper.
Dredge the tomato slices in the flour, then the egg and then in the panko mixture to coat evenly.
Place the breaded tomatoes on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes, turning the tomatoes over with a with spatula after 10 minutes.
Serve with your favorite sauce.
Italian Frying Peppers
Ingredients
6-8 Italian frying peppers
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove smashed and cut in half
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning.
Pinch of salt and pepper
Directions
Heat oil and garlic in a small saute pan. Lower the heat and add the whole peppers.
Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Saute slowly until lightly brown on all sides.
Serve at room temperature. These peppers are delicious as an appetizer, on a sandwich or as a side dish.
Blueberry Muffins
I almost always make these blueberry muffins with the farm’s sweet berries.
Makes 12 – 15 muffins depending on the size of your muffin pan.
Ingredients
2 1/4 cups (9 5/8 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (2 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup (5 1/4 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup (4 ounces) sour cream
1 1/2 cups (7 1/2 ounces) fresh blueberries
Topping
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 12-15 cup muffin pan.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together with a hand-held or stand mixer, until light and fluffy and almost white in color.
Scrape down the bowl to make sure all the butter is incorporated, then add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and sour cream and mix until incorporated.
Add the dry ingredients and mix on low-speed just until the batter is smooth. Fold in the berries by hand.
Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin cups, using 1/4-cup for each muffin.
To make the topping:
In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over the muffins.
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove them from the oven, cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove the muffins from the pan to finish cooling on a wire rack.
Grilled Italian Sausage
Grill the sausage over indirect heat and the potato packets over direct heat. This meal saves lots of cleaning up in the kitchen.
Ingredients
1 ½ lbs Italian Sausage
Olive oil
Directions
Heat the grill for both direct and indirect cooking. Brush the sausage lightly with olive oil.
Place the sausage on the indirect side of the grill and close the cover.
Cook for 15 minutes and turn the sausage over. Cook for 15 more minutes. Slice and serve with the potato mixture.
Leftover sausage can be used in several ways. Add it to a pasta dish or omelet. It can be chopped and used in a stuffing for summer squash. And, it makes a great sandwich with some sautéed peppers and onions.
Potatoes, Bell Peppers and Onions
5-6 servings
Ingredients
4 medium red potatoes, cut into wedges, boiled until partially cooked
1 medium green pepper, cut into chunks
1 medium onion, cut into chunks
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Directions
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients.
Place the mixture on a piece of heavy-duty foil (about 18 inches square).
Fold the foil around the potato mixture and crimp the edges to seal.
Grill directly over high heat, rotating the packet several times, until the vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes.
Baby Spinach Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette
Serves: 6
Ingredients
Vinaigrette
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 shallot, finely diced
4 tablespoons sherry vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Salt and pepper to taste
Salad
1 pound baby spinach, washed and stems removed
3 hard-boiled eggs
3 baby beets. cooked
1/2 toasted chopped pecans
Half a red onion, sliced thin
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
Directions
Make the vinaigrette:
Heat the olive oil in a small sauté pan over medium heat. Cook the shallot until tender, about 5 minutes.
Add the vinegar and maple syrup. Cook until the mixture is slightly reduced. Season with salt and pepper.
Cool to room temperature.
In a salad bowl, place the baby spinach on the bottom. top with red onion, sliced egg and sliced beets.
Sprinkle pecans and blue cheese on top. Drizzle the vinaigrette over all and toss just before serving.
Some of the US’s best blue crab is hand-picked here along the Gulf Coast, mostly gathered from the Bayou La Batre vicinity. With the volume of crab needed to supply our local seafood markets, multiple small crab pickers along the coast are used when gathering the freshest crab meat. Crabs are readily available along the Gulf coast as soon as the water is warm, so the season usually runs from March to November.
Sustainable Practices
Over fishing has made blue crab difficult to come by in many areas of the US.
According to the Marine Resources Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation, some rivers, estuaries and parts of upper Mobile Bay near the delta are closed to the use of crab traps. These spots serve as a nursery, giving small crabs a chance to grow before they move out into Mobile Bay and the Mississippi Sound, where they can be harvested. Other areas are closed to crabbing to protect the diamondback terrapin–turtles with concentric, diamond-shaped markings–which can get caught in the crab traps and drown.
Established in 2012, G.U.L.F. is the sustainable seafood program under the Audubon Nature Institute. G.U.L.F. works with the seafood supply chain, from harvesters to retailers, fishery management agencies, and consumers to ensure that fisheries in our region thrive for the benefit of future generations. Through education and outreach, restaurant engagement, fishery improvement projects, and third-party assessment and certification, G.U.L.F. pledges to promote sustainable practices, foster a community invested in Gulf fisheries, and create a more stable and confident fishing industry. The G.U.L.F. Responsible Fisheries Management (RFM) certification is a regionalized model measuring the responsible practices for the sustainable harvest of our vibrant Gulf of Mexico seafood. The Louisiana blue crab fishery was the first to go through the process and receive the G.U.L.F. RFM certification. Global Trust, an independent assessment body specializing in the certification of fisheries, carried out the evaluation and awarded the certification.
Fisheries certified under the umbrella of G.U.L.F. will gain credibility in a marketplace with ever-increasing demands for sustainability verification. In recent years, large retailers, such as Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger, Winn-Dixie and Publix have developed strict sourcing policies that require sustainability assurances before purchasing seafood. This certification demonstrates that Louisiana blue crab is responsibly harvested for sustainable use, thereby safeguarding both the seafood itself and the industry that relies on it.
I think crab cakes should taste like crab and not bread. So, I only use breadcrumbs on the outside of the cakes to give them a coating and not in the filling. Of course, this makes them more fragile, so I bake them instead of frying them – which is so much more healthy for us.
Crab Cakes
Ingredients
1 pound fresh lump crab
1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
1/2 cup finely diced celery
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon Old Bay (seafood) seasoning
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
Panko crumbs
Remoulade Sauce
Ingredients
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped shallots
1 1/2 tablespoons capers, drained and chopped
2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
Remove any cartilage from the crabmeat. Do not break up the lumps.
In a mixing bowl, whisk the mayonnaise with the Old Bay seasoning, hot sauce, dry mustard and salt.
Add the diced bell pepper, celery and onion. Mix gently. Fold in the crab meat.
Chill the mixture, covered, for several hours in the refrigerator.
To make the remoulade sauce:
Stir together all the ingredients, cover and store the sauce in the refrigerator until serving time.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
To make the crab cakes:
Spread about 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs on a large sheet of waxed paper.
Divide the crab mixture into 8 portions. Roll each portion into a ball with your hands and place on the breadcrumbs.
Press down gently on each ball to form a cake and cover the entire surface with breadcrumbs. Add more breadcrumbs as needed.
Lightly oil the bottom of a rimmed cookie sheet. Place the breaded crab cakes on the baking sheet.
Put the cookie sheet into the oven and bake until the crab cakes are golden brown on each side, about 20 minutes.
Turn the crab cakes over half way through. Use a wide spatula and turn the cakes gently since they are fragile/
Serve with the Remoulade Sauce.
Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, then turn the crab cakes over, and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until nicely browned.
The following salads go well with crab cakes.
Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad
Ingredients
2 large plum (Roma) tomatoes, sliced into thin rounds
1 small cucumber, peeled and sliced into thin rounds
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon fresh, chopped oregano
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Alternate the tomato and cucumber slices on a serving, Sprinkle the feta, shallots and oregano together.
Dress with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.
Southwestern Corn Salad
Make this salad a day ahead so the ingredients can marinate.
Ingredients
6 ears fresh corn on the cob
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup finely chopped green onions
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 poblano peppers, chopped
Directions
Remove the corn from the cobs and place into a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and toss well.
Cover and chill overnight. Stir well before serving.
Homemade Burger Buns
Makes 6 large burger buns.
Ingredients
2 3/4 cups bread flour
1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon minced dried onion
1 tablespoon honey
2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
4 tablespoons softened butter
1 large egg
2/3 cup lukewarm water
Olive Oil cooking spray
Directions
Combine all of the ingredients in an electric mixer bowl and mix the ingredients with the paddle attachment until the dough comes together around the paddle.
Switch to the dough hook and knead the dough until smooth.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise for 60 to 90 minutes, until puffy and doubled.
To form the buns:
Gently deflate the dough on a lightly floured surface and divide it into 6 pieces; each 4 ounces.
Shape the dough into balls, and place them in the wells of a lightly greased hamburger bun pan.
If you don’t have a bun pan, space them on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet.
Gently flatten the buns with your hand to fill the bottom of the pan’s wells, or until they’re about 3 1/2″ to 4″ wide.
Cover the buns and let them rise for 60 to 90 minutes or until they reach the top of the pan.
Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.
Spray the tops of the buns with olive oil cooking spray.
Bake the buns for 18 to 20 minutes or until they are a light, golden brown and their interior temperature is at least 190°F, measured with an instant-read thermometer.
Remove the buns from the oven and transfer them to a rack. Allow the buns to cool completely, then store airtight at room temperature.
Adapted from a King Arthur recipe.
Grass-fed Steak Burgers with Barbecue Sauce
Makes 4 burgers
Ingredients
4 thick (1/2 inch) sweet onion slices for grilling
4 slices American or Swiss Cheese
Burger Buns, recipe above for homemade or use store-bought
BBQ Sauce
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce (about 3 chiles), plus 1 tablespoon of the sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
2 tablespoons molasses
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Burgers
1 1/4 pounds grass-fed ground beef (sirloin)
1 1/2 teaspoons each kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
BBQ sauce, recipe above
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided
Make the BBQ sauce:
Purée all sauce ingredients in a food processor until very smooth.
Make the burgers:
In a bowl, combine beef, salt and pepper.
Form into 4 equal sized patties about 5 oz each and 3/4 inches thick. Put on a plate, cover, and chill until ready to grill.
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat). Oil the grill grates.
Brush both sides of the onions with BBQ sauce. Grill, covered, until softened, turning once, 8 minutes total.
Brush both sides of the burgers with BBQ sauce and grill, covered, turning once, about 8 minutes total.
Lay the bun halves, cut side down, on grill to toast slightly during the last-minute of grilling for the burgers and onions.
Transfer buns to a platter, place slices of cheese on the bun bottoms and top with burgers and onions.
Serve with extra barbecue sauce or ketchup.
Chopped Vegetable Salad with Green Goddess Dressing
Ingredients
4 mini bell peppers, different colors or 1 large bell pepper
1 cucumber, peeled and seeded
Half of a large red onion
2 celery stalks
Half a pint of grape tomatoes
Green Goddess Dressing, Recipe Link
Directions
Dice all the vegetables into ½ inch pieces.
Combine the vegetables in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly;
Divide the mixture among individual salad bowls.
Serve the dressing on the side, so each diner can add the amount of dressing they like.
Macaroni Salad
Ingredients
8 oz elbow macaroni
2 celery stalks, finely diced
1/2 onion finely diced
1/2 bell pepper finely diced
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved, seeded and finely diced
1/4 cup spicy cherry peppers, diced or pickle relish
1/4 cup minced parsley
Dressing
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Pinch black pepper
Directions
Make the dressing by combining the ingredients and set aside while you cook the macaroni.
Cook the pasta al dente in boiling salted water, drain and add the dressing while the pasta is warm.
Add the chopped vegetables and mix well. Add salt to taste, but I find this type of salad doesn’t need extra salt.
The mayonnaise, pasta cooked in salted water and seasonings add enough.
Chill the salad for several hours before serving.
Refrigerator Dill Pickles
Makes 2 quarts. I use old mayonnaise jars with screw top lids.
Ingredients
2 cups water
2 cups white distilled vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon crushed black pepper
1 teaspoon dill seed
6 thinly sliced garlic cloves
6-8 pickling cucumbers (Kirby)
A few sprigs of dill
2 clean quart size jars
Directions
Combine water, vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, pepper, dill seed and garlic in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; stir.
Quarter pickling cucumbers lengthwise and divide evenly in the jars; add fresh dill.
Top with the hot vinegar mixture. Cover and refrigerate for several days before eating.
The pickles keep for a few months in the refrigerator.
Happy Mother’s Day To All.
Appetizer
Sliced Tomatoes, Burrata Cheese, Olives, Basil and Italian Breadsticks
Entrée
Chicken Pasta Primavera
Ingredients
For the Chicken
2 to 2 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts
1 medium onion, cut into quarters
1 small lemon, sliced
1 carrot, cut into quarters
2 ribs celery, cut into quarters
2 large bay leaves
Small bundle of fresh herbs: parsley, thyme and rosemary
For the Sauce
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
1 large carrot, peeled and cut into 2-inch matchsticks
1 small zucchini, trimmed and cut into 2-inch matchsticks
1 large leek, trimmed, halved lengthwise and sliced into matchsticks
3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and white pepper or finely ground black pepper
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 1/2 cups chicken stock (poaching liquid)
1 cup frozen peas
For the Pasta
1 pound short pasta (penne, casarecce, gemelli)
A handful of fresh herbs: parsley, thyme leaves, sage and rosemary, very finely chopped
1 lemon, zested and juiced
Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Directions
To poach the chicken:
Place the chicken, onion, lemon, carrot, celery, bay leaves and herb bundle in a pot, cover the chicken with water and bring to boil.
Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer 45 minutes. Strain and reserve the poaching liquid.
Cool the chicken until it can be handled. Remove the skin and bones then pull meat into thin, bite-sized pieces.
To make the sauce:
Heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Add the carrots, zucchini, leeks and garlic, season with salt and white pepper, and sauté until tender, 6-7 minutes.
Sprinkle the vegetables with the flour and stir a minute more.
Deglaze the pan with the wine then stir in 2 cups of the reserved poaching liquid.
Cook until thickened, add in chicken and peas, and reduce heat to low.
To cook the pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for pasta. Add the pasta and cook to al dente.
Drain and toss with the chicken and sauce, adding an additional 1/2 cup poaching liquid if needed.
Combine the lemon zest with the finely chopped herbs.
Add the lemon juice to the pasta and serve in shallow bowls topped with gremolata and some Parmesan cheese.
Italian Mixed Greens Salad
Ingredients
1 cup Radicchio
1 cup Butter Lettuce
1 cup Romaine Lettuce
½ cup Sliced Red Onions
Italian Vinaigrette
Directions
Tear the lettuces into small pieces and place in a salad bowl. Add the red onion and Italian vinaigrette to taste.
Toss well and serve immediately.
Dessert
Blueberry Crumb Bars
Ingredients
For the crust
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup salted butter
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
For the berry layer
4 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 teaspoons cornstarch
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.
In a medium bowl, stir together the sugar, 3 cups flour and baking powder. Mix in salt and cinnamon.
Use a fork or pastry cutter to blend in the butter. Add the egg and vanilla. Dough will be crumbly.
Pat half of the dough into the prepared pan.
In another bowl, stir together the sugar and cornstarch. Gently mix in the blueberries.
Sprinkle the blueberry mixture evenly over the crust. Crumble remaining dough over the berry layer.
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is slightly brown.
Cool completely before cutting into squares. Serve with ice cream, if desired.
