Tater tots are a mid twentieth century (1953) invention born out of the frugality of brothers F. Nephi and Golden Grigg. Co founders of Ore-Ida, they were looking for a way to use the potato pieces left over when making their french fries. The pieces were used as feed for the livestock on the family farm or just tossed in the trash. The brothers Grigg knew that there had to be a way to consume the discards.They chopped the potato pieces, added seasonings and salt, put them through an extruder where they got their tot shape then into the deep fryer.
Fast forward to the twentieth first century and Americans consume 70 million tots a year. They are loved by young and old alike, everyone from high end chefs like Daniel Boulud to mommy bloggers. Mommy bloggers have taken tots beyond the potato. To their delight they discovered that their little ones would eat veggies they wouldn’t touch before when they were presented in tot form. Broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets and zucchini have all been used to make tots.
So it was time for me to take on the tot. I chose two things we have in abundance, zucchini and basil. Basil is in season so why not make some pesto? Whatever vegetable you choose for your tots it is important to squeeze as much water out of the shredded vegetable as possible. A clean linen dishcloth is what I recommend. If time is short and you don’t have time to make the tot shape, divide the mixture evenly into well greased mini muffin pans. Make a double batch and freeze half for later. To eat, place frozen tots on a baking sheet and bake at 400°F 10-15 minutes, until heated through.Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, zucchini pesto tots make a great snack or side dish.
Shredded zucchiniShredded zucchini after squeezing
Zucchini Pesto Tots
Ingredients
1¼ lb zucchini
2-3 T basil pesto
1 large egg, lightly beaten
½ c panko bread crumbs
½ c grated Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 400° F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Grate the zucchini with the large holes of a box grater.
Transfer the grated zucchini to a large dish towel and strain out as much liquid as possible.
Transfer the grated zucchini to a large bowl then add the pesto, egg, Parmesan and kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Mix together until well blended.
Spoon a generous tablespoon into your hand and roll it into a cylinder. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining zucchini mixture.
Bake 18-20 minutes, rotating the baking sheet half way through, until golden brown. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
When the invitation says the party is a potluck, it’s time to pull out your favorite crowd pleasing dishes. Joe is most likely to bring his delicious baby back ribs or his mouth-watering prime rib roast. Sometimes both! As for me, I’m the designated salad queen. My end of summer salads usually include juicy ripe tomatoes and salad greens. Not this year, an exceptionally rainy and hot summer brought an early end to the tomatoes. Joe usually plants a nice variety of lettuces and greens at the end of August, for the same reason that didn’t happen either.
Not giving up on making a salad, I chose a vegetable that we did have in abundance, eggplant. Joe grows a wide variety; every color, from pure white to dark purple, globe shaped, plump Italian, long slender Asian varieties. The salad can be made with any variety of eggplant. Peel the eggplant, leaving strips of skin and cut into 1″ cubes and place into a large bowl. Sprinkle eggplant lightly with kosher salt, this helps bring out excess moisture.
Set the eggplant aside while you make the vinaigrette. Whisk together oil and vinegar, honey, smoked paprika and cumin. Blot the water off the eggplant and toss with the vinaigrette.
If you don’t already have it, smoked paprika is a great addition to your spice rack Smoked paprika can be made with either sweet or hot peppers that are dried and smoked over an oak fire. When purchasing smoked paprika, if the label doesn’t specifically say it’s hot, it is sweet, with a deep rich smoky flavor. Cumin is one my favorite spices, it adds a warm, nutty flavor and aroma to this dish.
Preheat oven to 375°F with the rack in the middle position Spread the eggplant cubes evenly over a large parchment lined baking sheet. Roast until eggplant is softened and browned. Every fifteen minutes stir the cubes during the baking process to ensure even browning. The entire cooking process takes about 35-40 minutes.
While you are waiting for the eggplant to cook, whisk together the lemon juice and soy sauce. Return the cooked eggplant to the large bowl and toss with the soy-lemon mixture. Stir in chopped parsley, nuts and most of the crumbled goat cheese. Top salad with remaining cheese and chopped scallions.
Late summer harvest of eggplants.
Late summer harvest of eggplants.
Ready to toss with vinaigrette.
Roasted Eggplant Salad
Serves 4
Ingredients
2 lbs eggplant
Kosher salt
1/3c olive oil
2T apple cider vinegar
1T honey
1T smoked paprika
½t cumin
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 T fresh lemon juice
1 T soy sauce
1 c roughly chopped parsley
½ c roughly chopped smoked almonds
2 oz goat cheese crumbled
¼ c finely chopped scallions
Directions .
Preheat oven to 375° Cut the eggplant into 1″cubes and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle lightly with kosher salt and set aside.
Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, honey, smoked paprika and cumin. Blot excess liquid from the eggplant, toss with the vinaigrette. Stir in the chopped garlic.
Spread the eggplant out on a large parchment lined baking sheet and place on the middle rack of the oven. Roast until softened and lightly browned, stirring every 15 minutes, eggplant should be done in 35-40 minutes.
Whisk together the lemon juice and soy sauce. Return the eggplant to the bowl and toss with the lemon juice mixture. Stir in the parsley, almonds and most of the goat cheese, reserving a little.
Place the finished salad in a serving bowl and sprinkle scallions and reserved goat cheese on top
Fellow vegetable gardeners, we’ve all done it. You diligently pick small to medium-sized zucchini, sometimes even with the blossom still in tact. Then it happens, you get busy doing other things, it rains for several days or you just forget. The once compact little fruits now resemble a major league baseball bat. If you are running out of ideas, zucchini chips are a quick and easy way to use up “the ones that got away”.
This recipe works best with medium to large zucchini because the chips shrink as they bake. Slice into 1/8 inch rounds, a mandolin works best here for uniform slices. Place the slices on paper towels and top with another layer of paper towels. Press down lightly to remove excess liquid. Move the slices to parchment lined baking sheets that have been lightly coated with olive oil or olive oil spray. I used half sheet pan (18×13) sized trays. Brush rounds lightly with extra virgin olive oil and season lightly with salt or your favorite seasoning blend. Bake in a 235°F oven for about 1 ½ hours, rotating trays at the half way point. If some of the chips are not ready, remove the crisp chips and put the damp chips back in the oven to finish baking. Let the chips cool a bit before devouring. Enjoy warm or at room temperature. Chips can be stored in zip-lock bags, that is, if any are left over.
A mandolin is perfect for achieving even slices.
Line zucchini slices on paper towels to blot excess moisture.
Zucchini Crisps
Makes about 80 crisps
Ingredients
2 or 3 medium to large zucchini
Extra virgin olive oil
Kosher Salt and any spice mix
Directions
Preheat an oven to 235°F (convection is best). Cover two large baking sheets with parchment and lightly coat with olive oil or olive oil spray.
Wash and dry off the zucchini and cut off the stem end. Thinly slice (1/8 inch) the zucchini, a mandolin makes this easy.
Lay the slices out on paper towels and cover the slices with a second layer of paper towels.
Press down lightly on the paper towels to blot up excess moisture.
Place the sliced zucchini on the baking sheets, being careful not to overlap.
Brush the slices lightly with extra virgin oil and sprinkle with salt.
Bake until crisp and golden, 1½ to 2 hours, At the halfway point, switch the pans around to ensure even baking.
Nothing is more refreshing to start a meal on a hot and humid summer day than a chilled soup. It’s even better when those ingredients can go right into the blender, no need to spend time cooking over a hot stove. This recipe combines crisp juicy cucumbers and creamy avocado with tangy lime and garlic chives.
All the “green” in the recipe is courtesy of the garden, except the avocado and possibly in the future we will have those as well. Our wonderful and very thoughtful sister-in-law Jody, gave Joe an Avoseedo, an ingenious seed starting device that helps you sprout an avocado pit. With minimal attention, changing the water every 1-2 weeks, in a few months you will have an avocado plant. He’s planted two in pots so far. Certainly beats the old toothpick over a glass of water method. Be sure to use a ripe avocado for a smooth puree.
This is primetime for cucumbers in our garden, just wish they didn’t come in all at once. Since our cukes were more mature they were a bit seedy and the skins thicker, I peeled and seeded them for this recipe. First trim the ends, peel, then cut in half. I found a melon baller (small side) to be the best way to scoop out the seeds. Cut the sections into half-inch chunks. I used three cups of peeled and seeded chunks.
The jalapeno and other hot peppers are making an earlier than usual appearance in the garden. That’s good but there is a rabbit that is taking a bite out of quite a few of our peppers before we can harvest them. Time to put up the chicken wire. Half of a jalapeno added to the soup was the right amount for our taste. Peppers can vary in heat so taste a small piece of the pepper first and add accordingly. Our Persian lime tree is producing the most fragrant and juicy fruit, about two dozen on the tree at last count. Fresh lime juice adds the right acidity and brightness to the soup.
Garlic chives, also known as Chinese chives are the perfect herbal accent for this soup. If you are not familiar with them, common chives are tube-shaped and bright green while Chinese chives are a darker green and flat. Common chives have pinkish-purple globe like flowers that appear in the spring while Chinese chives have white star-shaped blossoms that are only starting to appear now. The flavor as the name indicates, is garlicky, but milder than a garlic clove.
The soup couldn’t be simpler to make, put all the ingredients in the blender and puree until the soup is smooth. Add yogurt to your liking, anywhere from a half to a full cup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place in a bowl and refrigerate for 4-6 hours to allow the flavors to blend. Before serving you may need to thin the soup out with a little water or milk. Garnish with chopped garlic chives and flowers. Makes a delicious first course or light lunch.
Garlic chives in the garden.
Garlic chives are flat with white flowers.The heat in the jalapeno comes from the white ribs.I used the smaller end of the melon baller to scoop out the cucumber seeds.Chop into 1/2 inch pieces.Into the blenderPuree until smooth
Spicy Cucumber Avocado Soup
Serves 3-4
Ingredients
3 cups cucumbers, peeled and seeded, cut into ½-inch chunks
1 medium ripe avocado
½-1 c Greek style low-fat plain yogurt
2 t fresh lime juice
½ chopped jalapeno (or to taste)
2 T chopped garlic chives
kosher salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Peel and pit the avocado. Cut into chunks.
Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if desired. Thin the soup out with a little cold water if necessary.
Refrigerate the soup for several hours to blend the flavors. Serve garnished with chopped garlic chives and flowers.
The next time you are weeding, take a second look, you may be unintentionally pulling out the most nutritious green in your garden. Purslane, also known as duckweed, fat weed, little hogweed and pursley, is the only weed that can claim “superfood” status. Purslane is a rare plant source of omega 3 fatty acids, found in fish and flax seeds. It is also a good source of vitamins A, C and B, magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron. Did I mention it’s low in calories and a good source of fiber? Not bad for a plant that is an uninvited guest everywhere from fertile garden soil to the cracks in your driveway.
Purslane looks a bit like a miniature jade plant with small oval-shaped fleshy leaves that grow on thick succulent stems. Early season purslane leaves and stems are tender and edible, snip branchlets from heavier stems. The plant produces yellow flowers that will eventually produce tiny black seeds. Later in the summer separate larger leaves from mature stems. Most important, be sure you are harvesting purslane from areas that are not treated with herbicides. When in doubt, don’t pick!
Purslane is native to India and Persia and is widely used in both cuisines. In Mexico purslane is known as verdolagas where it is combined with pork to make a classic stew. Purslane’s succulent-like leaves have a refreshingly crisp texture with a slightly tart finish. You can use it raw in salads or cooked as a side dish.
Purslane is abundant in our garden this year. I am using it as a “transitional green” between the greens we harvested for salads in the spring and the new crop that will be ready to pick soon. I harvest it daily but it can be kept in the refrigerator for several days. Since purslane grows so close to the ground it should be rinsed very well in several changes of water. I fill a sink with cold water and submerge the purslane and swish it around to loosen the dirt that may be attached to it. The purslane floats and the dirt (most of it) sinks to the bottom. At this point you can remove any bruised or damaged leaves. Then I lift it out and give it a second quick soak it in the salad spinner. now it is ready to spin.
In this salad, purslane is combined with a little flat leaf parsley, baby arugula (ours will be ready soon) and cucumbers and sweet Sungold tomatoes from our garden. Walnuts add a little crunch, garnish with edible nasturtium blossoms for additional color.
Purslane has popped up next to the cucumbers.My daily purslane harvest.Up close and personal for better identification.
Purslane Salad
Serves two
Ingredients
2 c purslane leaves and tender stems
½ c Italian parsley leaves
2 c baby arugula
1 medium cucumber, peeled, quartered lengthwise, seeds removed, cut into 1″ pieces
1 dozen small tomatoes like Sungold, cut in half
1/3 c chopped walnuts
lemon juice or a light vinegar
Extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Nasturtium blossoms for garnish.
Directions
Combine greens, cucumber, tomatoes and walnuts in a large bowl. Sprinkle with some kosher salt and toss.
Add a splash of lemon juice or vinegar and a tablespoon or so of olive oil and toss. Taste a leaf and correct seasoning as needed.
Divide on two plates and season with fresh ground pepper. Garnish with nasturtium blossoms and serve.
With temperatures consistently in the eighties and more than our share of rain, it was time to do a final harvest of the spring vegetables. The heat, rain and deer damage sadly ruined our edible pod pea crop. On the positive side we have enjoyed a variety of lettuces, spinach, radishes and small white Japanese turnips. Also in the harvest, those funny looking space alien looking vegetables, kohlrabi.
Translated from the German, cabbage turnip, it is the bulbous above ground stem that gives the “turnip” name to the crispy green and sometimes purple vegetable. Oddly enough, it doesn’t taste like cabbage or turnips. When young, about the size of a tennis ball, it is thin-skinned, sweet and juicy with a mild flavor reminiscent of broccoli stems. Older, larger kohlrabi should be peeled, and the flavor is still sweet but a bit peppery.
Kohlrabi is a natural shredded or julienned in a slaw. This time I combined it with another ugly ducking vegetable, jicama. “HEE-kah-mah” is the edible tuberous root of a vine native to Mexico. Resembling a round potato, the papery brown skin needs to be peeled away before eating. The texture of the flesh is similar to an apple or a pear with a flavor that is mild and slightly sweet.
You can either shred or julienne the vegetables. Since the kohlrabi I used was on the small side, I shredded it in the food processor. The kohlrabi were still young and tender, so there was no need to peel, preserving the purple color. Larger kohlrabi with thicker skin should be peeled.
I was looking for a new twist on dressing the slaw so I turned to The Flavor Bible for some inspiration. I saw that both mustard and lemon were compatible flavors so I thought a honey whole grain mustard dressing would add the right texture and tang to the recipe. A little juice from one of our Ponderosa lemons gave the dressing brightness.
This simple slaw is a great addition to any buffet or picnic because it stays crisp long after it is dressed.
Kohlrabi ready to pick from the garden.Just picked kohlrabi, love that purple color!Jicama surrounded with purple kohlrabiThe kohlrabi need to be trimmed before they are shredded.A recent harvest of Ponderosa lemons.Nicknamed the “five pound lemon” they usually weigh two to four pounds. Ponderosa lemon is a citrus hybrid of a pomelo and a citron.
Kohlrabi Slaw
Serves 4-6
Ingredients for slaw
3-4 small or 1 large kohlrabi
1 small jicama
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Honey Lemon Mustard Dressing
Ingredients for dressing
2 T honey
2 T whole grain mustard (can add another T if desired)
3 T olive oil
¼ c freshly squeezed lemon juice
pinch of salt
Directions for dressing
Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking.
Directions for slaw
To prepare the kohlrabi, trim the root stem to the base. Cut the leaf stems from the globes. Wash leaves if using in another preparation. If the kohlrabi is mature, peel, if smaller leave skin on.
To prepare the jicama, peel.
Grate kohlrabi and jicama in a food processor or on a box grater. Squeeze out any excess water with your hands. You should have about 6 cups total.
Place shredded vegetables in a large bowl. Pour the dressing over the slaw and toss to combine. Season to taste with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.
Our spring vegetable garden includes several varieties of lettuce, spinach, radishes, Japanese turnips, beets, kohlrabi, sugar snap peas and cooking greens. However there is one spring vegetable that we don’t grow that makes my trip to the farmers market worthwhile, fresh local asparagus. Asparagus is a real sign that spring is here. and the season is fleeting. I will serve it roasted, grilled, raw in salads, in stir fries and a new way (at least for me) I heard about from a new “friend”, Alexa.
Alexa is a digital assistant that performs tasks, like turning on Sirius radio when I’m in the kitchen. “Alexa, play Seventies on Seven”. You can ask her the score of the game, will it be sunny today and even turn the lights on if you have the right smart home device. Our Amazon Echo has a screen that always shows the time, weather and rotating news headlines, fun facts and even recipes. One afternoon I noticed that a recipe for oven baked asparagus fries popped up. I was too busy at the time but thought that this was one I needed to try. On line I found many recipes, this is my interpretation of this popular dish.
Look for medium-sized asparagus for this recipe, twenty spears weighed about a pound. If you are storing the asparagus for any length of time, leave the rubber band on, trim about an inch off the bottom. Stand the spears up in a jar with about two inches of cool water and cover loosely with a plastic bag.
When you are ready to proceed with the recipe, preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy clean up and brush with a tablespoon of oil or coat lightly with cooking spray. Set up your breading station by lining up three containers that are long enough to accommodate the asparagus spears. Place the flour in the first container. Add the beaten eggs to the second container. Combine panko and Parmesan and season with salt and pepper for the third container. Trim off the tough ends and lightly rinse the asparagus. Coat the spears with flour, dip in the egg then turn to coat in the Parmesan panko mixture. Place on baking sheet, lining up in a row but not touching. Lightly coat the spears with olive oil cooking spray. Bake in preheated oven, turning spears over halfway during the cooking process to ensure even baking.
In the category of “in case you didn’t know” panko is a Japanese style white breadcrumb that is light and airy with a texture like crushed corn flakes. You can easily find them in the Asian section of your supermarket. I prefer to only put a third of the breadcrumb mixture in the dredging pan at a time. After you have rolled several eggy spears in the crumbs, they tend to make the crumbs wet, so adding more dry crumbs as needed makes the process easier and neater. Remember the rule of wet hand dry hand. Designate one hand to do the dry steps, flour and breadcrumbs and the other to do the wet step-the egg mixture.These are best served right from the oven. Serve plain or with smoked paprika aioli.
I love my Williams-Sonoma interlocking stainless steel pans for my breading station.Ready to go into the oven.Crispy, brown and delicious!
Baked Parmesan Panko Asparagus Fries
Serves four
Ingredients
1 lb asparagus-medium thickness
½ c or more unbleached all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 T fresh lime juice
1 c panko breadcrumbs
1 c freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
Non stick spray or olive oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment and lightly coat with a tablespoon of olive oil or olive oil cooking spray.
Rinse the asparagus and snap or cut tough ends off.
In a large bowl stir with a fork to combine the Parmesan and panko
Set up your breading station: line up three shallow bowls or dishes that are long enough to accommodate the spears. Put the flour in the first dish. Place the beaten eggs in the second and lightly beat in the lime juice. Place the Parmesan panko crumbs in the third, season crumbs with salt and pepper to taste.
Dredge the spears first in the flour, dip in the egg mixture and roll in the crumbs to coat on all sides, pressing crumbs in.
Place asparagus on the prepared baking sheet, spears close together but not touching. Coat lightly with olive oil cooking spray.
Bake the asparagus until browned, crisp and crunchy, about 10-12 minutes. Flip spears over halfway through the cooking time for even baking.
Serve immediately with smoked paprika aioli or your favorite dipping sauce.
Smoked Paprika Aioli
Makes about a cup
Ingredients
4-5 cloves roasted garlic
¾ c mayonnaise (homemade or prepared)
1 t smoked paprika
1 t fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
To make roasted garlic, cut off top third of a head of garlic, drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil and bake in a 375°F oven for about 40 minutes or until garlic is soft and brown.
With a fork, mash 4-5 roasted cloves in a medium bowl. Add mayonnaise, smoked paprika, lemon juice and whisk to combine. Adjust seasonings and salt and pepper to taste.
Refrigerate for at least an hour to meld the flavors.
Is there any other vegetable as versatile as cauliflower? Puréed as a substitute for mashed potatoes, broken down into fine grains like rice, couscous and polenta, filling in as both pizza crust and tortilla, sometimes I think we forget how good it is without the disguises. I love to toss cauliflower florets with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast them until crispy brown on the outside and tender and creamy to the bite. A tray of roasted cauliflower sometimes doesn’t make it to the dinner table, we finish it off like popcorn. I shouldn’t leave out cauliflower “steaks”, thick slabs roasted in the same fashion as the florets and just as good. But the version that is visually impressive and surprisingly not that hard to do is whole roasted cauliflower. The internet has countless recipes for whole roasted cauliflower, most of the ones I read just baked the cauliflower. This one, from Israeli celebrity chef Eyal Shani in the latest issue of Milk Street Kitchen uses two techniques, poaching in well salted boiling water and then roasting at a high heat.
Prime season for cauliflower is in the fall and the ones available at farmers markets can be as large as 4-5 pounds. Out of season we depend on the wrapped varieties in our local supermarkets. Look for a cauliflower that weighs about two to two and half pounds. A larger head will be overcooked on the outside before it is tender on the inside. To begin the two step cooking process, get a large pot of water on to boil and preheat your oven to 475°F with the rack in the middle position.
While you are waiting for things to heat up, carefully trim off the leaves and the hard core near the bottom of the cauliflower. Leave the main stem intact and make sure not to cut through any of the florets. When the water has come to a rolling boil, add a half cup of kosher salt to the water. Carefully lower the cauliflower into the boiling water and immediately set a timer for five minutes. Since the cauliflower floats to the top, you will need to flip it halfway through the cooking process so it will cook evenly. When the timer goes off, transfer the cauliflower, stem side down to a colander. I found that a large Chinese strainer made this process easy. Allow the cauliflower to drain for at least ten minutes, you want the cauliflower to roast, not steam.
Transfer the cauliflower to a shallow sided baking dish, stem side down of course. Sprinkle with pepper or a pepper seasoning blend and rub with olive oil. Don’t neglect the bottom florets. Place the dish in the oven and bake, rotating the dish several times during the cooking process. This will allow for even browning. Tilting the pan with a potholder, use a small spoon to redistribute any olive oil that accumulates in the pan. The cauliflower is done when it is golden brown on the outside and the center is easily pierced with a skewer. Let cool for five minutes and serve right in the baking dish. Use a knife to cut into wedges. Delicious as is, or serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Start with a cauliflower that weighs about 2 lbs.Trim away the leaves and the hard stem.Blanch cauliflower in a large pot of well salted water. Salting the water ensures the cauliflower is seasoned to the core.At the halfway point flip the cauliflower to the other side.Immediately transfer cauliflower to a colander to drain, stem side down.The finished product.
Whole Roasted Cauliflower
Serves two to four
Ingredients
2-pound cauliflower
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
3-4 T extra virgin olive oil
Directions
Preheat oven to 475°F with the rack in the middle position. In a 6 to 8 quart pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a rolling boil. While you are waiting for the water to boil, trim the green leaves and hard stem from the cauliflower. leaving the core and florets intact. Add a ½ cup of salt to the water and when it comes to a boil carefully lower the cauliflower into the water. Immediately set a timer for five minutes. Flip the cauliflower half way through the cooking process. Remove from heat.
Transfer the cauliflower to a colander stem side down and drain for at least 10 minutes.
Transfer the cauliflower to a shallow sided baking dish, stem side down.
Drizzle with olive oil and use your hands to rub it in. Season with fresh ground pepper.
Roast in the preheated oven, rotating the baking dish several times during the cooking process. Spoon oil that accumulates in the pan back over the cauliflower.
Cauliflower is done when golden brown on the outside and a skewer can easily pierce the center, 20-25 minutes.
Let rest for five minutes and serve in the baking dish.
With three nor’easters bringing snow, rain and high winds over the last week or so and two more anticipated this week, it’s hard to believe that the first day of spring is tomorrow. We are months away from the heart of the summer produce season but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a delicious fresh salad. Using this formula for a roasted vegetable salad from Fine Cooking magazine is just what you need to stimulate your cooking creativity and beat the winter blahs.
Hearty greens like spinach, arugula and radicchio form the base of this salad. Other choices could include baby greens like kale, collards and chard. I must emphasize baby (immature), because the mature greens are quite toothsome and should be used in recipes where they are cooked. This is a good time to experiment with bitter greens like escarole, endive and radicchio. They contrast nicely with sweetness of the roasted vegetables.
Roasted vegetables give the salad substance and a lot of deep rich flavor. Root vegetables, potatoes and winter squash are great for roasting, you can even add apple and pear wedges. Cut the vegetables into fairly even sized pieces so they cook evenly. Toss the vegetables with olive oil and some kosher salt. If you are using red beets, toss and roast on a separate pan. Otherwise the beets will discolor the other vegetables on the baking sheet. Roast about 20 minutes, tossing veggies halfway and rotating the baking sheet. The amount of vegetables may seem like a lot but roasting condenses them in size and concentrates their sweet flavor. I used golden beets, rainbow carrots, butternut squash and apple, all items I had in my pantry. So for me it was a “clean out your fridge” recipe.
The salad is accented with cheese and nuts that add contrasting flavors and textures. Aged Gouda brings a sharp, sweet flavor reminiscent of butterscotch and toasted slivered almonds add a wonderful aroma and crunch. An optional sprinkling of dried fruit, raisins, dried cranberries, figs give a nice touch as well.
A slightly tart white balsamic lime vinaigrette is a pleasing contrast to the sweetness of the roasted vegetables. I chose this recipe because Joe picked a large yellow, very fragrant lime from our Persian lime tree. This vinaigrette calls for an oil you may not be familiar with. High in polyunsaturated fats and vitamin E, grape seed oil is extracted from the seeds of grapes. Its flavor is neutral allowing the infused flavors of shallots and ginger to shine through.
White balsamic vinegar is made from the same variety of white grapes as dark balsamic . While the dark balsamic is simmered for hours and aged in barrels for years, white balsamic is slow cooked to avoid caramelization and is not aged. White balsamic vinegar is a good choice when you don’t want to darken the appearance of your final dish.
Toss the greens in a large bowl with a drizzle of the warm vinaigrette. Distribute the greens on two plates. Next, gently toss the roasted vegetables with some of the remaining vinaigrette. Distribute the vegetables over the plates, along with the nuts, cheese and optional fruit.
This would be a nice vegetarian lunch or dinner. Add chicken or thinly sliced flank steak if you need to include meat. The formula gives you the chance to be creative and make your own unique and delicious salad.
Butternut Squash, Golden Beet, Carrot and Apple Salad
Serves 2
Ingredients for the roasted vegetables
6-7 c mixed vegetables and fruit, I used butternut squash, rainbow carrots, golden beets and apple, trimmed and peeled.
2 T extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
Directions for the roasted vegetables
Position oven rack in the center and preheat oven to 450°F.
Trim vegetables into 1-inch dice or wedges.
In a large bowl, combine the vegetables and fruits with the oil and 1 t salt.
Toss well and transfer to a large rimmed heavy-duty baking sheet.
Spread the vegetables evenly on the baking sheet.
Roast. flipping the vegetables halfway through the baking time and rotating the baking sheet.
Cook until the vegetables are browned and tender, 20-25 minutes.
Let cool and transfer to a large bowl.
Toss the vegetables with olive oil and salt.Spread out evenly on a baking sheet.
Ingredients for the white balsamic lime vinaigrette
¼ c grape seed oil
1/3 c thinly sliced shallots
kosher salt
1 t chopped fresh ginger
2 T white balsamic vinegar
1 T maple syrup or honey
1 T fresh lime juice (more to taste)
1 t grated lime zest
1 t fine minced parsley
1 t Dijon mustard
Freshly ground black pepper
Despite the color, this is a lime, very fragrant and juicy from Joe’s citrus trees.Infusing grape seed oil with shallots and ginger.
Directions for the white balsamic lime vinaigrette
Heat the oil in an 8-inch skillet, over medium heat. Add the shallots and a pinch of salt and cook for 2-4 minutes, shallots should be softened and slightly browned.
Add chopped ginger and cook until fragrant until softened and fragrant, 15 seconds. Take infused oil off the heat and let cool for about 5 minutes.
While the oil is cooling, to a heat proof metal bowl add the vinegar, maple syrup, juice, zest, mustard, ¼ t salt and a few grinds of pepper.
Whisk the warm oil into the vinegar mixture until emulsified. Taste vinaigrette and season to taste with additional salt, pepper or citrus juice.
Ingredients for assembling the salad
5-6 cups of sturdy greens, torn into bite sized pieces if needed
Kosher salt
Roasted vegetables from step one
¼ c toasted slivered almonds
½ c cubed aged Gouda
Directions for assembling the salad
In a large bowl, lightly salt greens and toss with a drizzle of the warm vinaigrette. Taste a green and add a little more dressing if necessary. Arrange the greens on a platter or two plates.
Season the vegetables with a pinch of salt and dress them lightly with 1-2 T of the remaining vinaigrette.
Spread the vegetables evenly over the greens, then top with the almonds and Gouda. Serve immediately, passing the remaining dressing at the table.
A few weeks ago we took a much needed vacation to visit close friends in south Florida. When traveling we enjoy seeking out the most interesting (at least to us) restaurants a city has to offer. I have learned that you won’t necessarily find what you are looking for by Googling for the results, any restaurant can tout itself as “the best”. Checking Trip Advisor or Open Table may not produce the results you are looking for either.The Trip Advisor number one restaurant in Fort Lauderdale is a hoagie place! I have found the most reliable results come from our destination’s city or regional magazine. They supply the most critical (good and bad) reviews, plus information about restaurants that have just opened and are not under the culinary radar yet.
Over the years, one of our favorite finds in Fort Lauderdale is, or should I say was, Market 17. Located at the Portside Yachting Center, Market 17 served delicious and creative food and was one of the first true farm to table restaurants we experienced. We have enjoyed dining there many times during our visits to Florida. Sadly, we learned that the building that houses the restaurant is going to be demolished due to the expansion of the convention center. So for one last time we “ate the menu”, appetizers, tasting portions of the entrées and dessert split between six of us, with wine to accompany the meal.
According to their website Market 17 will have a new concept in early 2019, so in tribute to this fine restaurant I have reinterpreted their local farm green salad. The menu describes it as a salad of greens, rainbow carrots, apples, cucumber, radish, candied pecans topped with a white balsamic vinaigrette.
Start with the freshest greens you can find. We are not in season for our own garden produce so our salad greens come from our local supermarkets. The greens I buy for the most part are in a plastic clamshell container. Even though they are labeled “triple washed” there are always some spoiled leaves that are never missed by the disdainful eye of Joe. So I still soak them in a sink filled with cold water with an eye to remove any bad or discolored leaves. It is important to spin the greens dry, excess water will dilute your dressing. For this salad I chose baby spinach and bibb leaves, the leaves are bite sized so there is no need to tear them. I store washed greens in gallon twist tie bags with a paper towel inside to absorb any excess moisture.
Rainbow carrots add color and crunch to everyday salads. They can range in color from deep purple, crimson red, white and bright yellow. Originally carrots were mostly purple and white. Orange carrots are a strain developed by 17th century Dutch farmers and contain more beta Carotene than other varieties. I cut my carrots into matchstick julienne, if this is too fussy for you, cut into thin slices.
Radishes bring color, crunch and a little spiciness. Cucumbers and apples give a crisp and juicy element. I like to peel the cucumbers, just leaving strips of green peel for color. I used a mandolin to slice the radishes and cucumber very thinly. Choose a sweet tart apple variety like Granny Smith or Sweet Tango.
Place your greens in a large bowl, this gives you space to dress the salad without compressing the ingredients. A white balsamic dressing adds flavor but not the dark color that can muddy an otherwise bright, colorful salad plate. The finishing touch, candied pecans that are quick and easy to make. A delicious salad that brings back great memories.
Market 17 Green Salad
Serves two
Ingredients
4-5 generous handfuls of baby romaine, spring mix etc
1 Persian cucumber
2 radishes
3 rainbow carrots-yellow, purple and orange
1 small apple (I used Sweet Tango)
candied pecans (recipe follows)
white balsamic vinaigrette (recipe follows)
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Rainbow carrots are readily available in most supermarkets.
Directions
Rinse lettuce and spin dry, removing any spoiled leaves. Place in a large bowl.
Peel cucumber, leaving only thin strips of skin. Slice thinly with a mandoline or a knife
Trim root ends off radishes, slice thinly.
Peel carrots and cut into matchstick pieces, you will need about two cups.
Cut the apple into thin slices, peel if desired (I didn’t)
Shake vinaigrette to combine ingredients, taste and adjust for balance and drizzle some over the salad greens. Toss lightly.
Add the cucumber, radishes, carrots and apple to the bowl. Toss with additional dressing and add salt and pepper to taste.
Use tongs to plate individual salads and top with candied pecans.
White Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients
¾ c extra virgin olive oil
¼ c white balsamic vinegar
2-3 T honey
½ t kosher salt
¼ t fresh ground black pepper
¼ t dried oregano
Directions
In a medium bowl, whisk all ingredients together until well blended.
Candied Pecans
Ingredients
½ c brown sugar
½ t sea salt
¼ t ground cumin
2 T water
1 c pecans
Directions
In a medium non stick skillet, combine all the ingredients except the pecans. Cook over medium heat for a few minutes, until the sugar dissolves and mixture is bubbling.
Add in the pecans, stirring to coat all surfaces in the glaze, 3-5 minutes.
Remove pan from the heat and spread the pecan out on a parchment lined baking sheet. Let cool completely. Break apart into individual pieces. Store in an airtight container.
