Monthly Archives: August 2012

Corn Salad with Mint, Parsley and Cilantro

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In a word – Yummy!!!  I have tried this with leftover steamed corn on the cob or grilled corn – either way it is so fresh and delicious you will love it.  Serve as a side dish/salad/grilled meat or fish topping or even try it served over greens for a change to your green salad.

4 cobs of corn – grilled or steamed

Remove corn from cob, and if you want a warm dish, mix everything together and serve.  If you are looking for a cold or room temperature side, just allow corn to cool first.

1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

2 1/2 tbsp fresh lime juice

Combine the onion and lime juice – let stand for at least 10 minutes – this will mellow out the flavour of the onions

1 tsp maple syrup

1 jalapeno, seeded and thinly sliced

3 tbsp each of minced or torn mint, parsley and cilantro leaves

Combine all of the ingredients – and taste.  Season with salt and pepper as needed.

Sundried Tomato and Almond Pesto

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Such a great taste, easy to have on hand and in the freezer.  You can use this in a variety of ways – toss with pasta, use it for a burger topping – blend it with mayonnaise for a quick dip – spread on baguette – blend with cream cheese to serve with crackers – top grilled meat … really, so amazing to eat in so many ways.  Have fun trying, and let me know if you come up with more creative ways to get that taste of sun drenched tomatoes!

Don’t you just want to taste this?

1 cup slivered almonds, toasted until golden

4 cloves garlic

2 cups dry pack sun dried tomatoes (soak in very hot water for a few moments, then drain)

1 tsp salt                                          

1/2 tsp pepper

2/3 cup olive oil

This is easiest if you use a food processor, but possible in a mortar and pestle … just be prepared to work hard!

In food processor, pulse roasted almonds and garlic until a coarse grind.  Add tomatoes, salt and pepper.  Pulse until a smooth paste.  With the motor running add the oil in a slow, but steady stream.  Finish with any leftover tomato water from soaking them.

This can be used within a few days in the fridge, or frozen in smaller containers to use all year long.

If you can’t get the dry pack sundried tomatoes, just use the oil packed ones but drain well.

Cilantro, Jalapeno and Sunflower Seed Pesto

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You are going to love this!  So versatile, you can use it to toss with pasta, spread on baguette or bun for sandwich or burger topping, or even mix it with some freshly chopped tomatoes and onions for salsa.  Try it on top of grilled meat for an extra bit of flavour.

1 small – medium jalapeno pepper, depending on your taste for spicy food

1 cup roasted sunflower seeds

Pulse until coarsely chopped

5 cloves garlic

2 cups fresh cilantro leves

1 tsp grated lime zest

juice of 1/2 lime

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2/3 cup olive oil

In food processor (or mortar and pestle if you are feeling like you need a good workout) combine jalapeno, roasted sunflower seeds and garlic – Pulse or mash until a coarse grind.  Add the cilantro, lime zest and juice, salt and pepper.  Pulse a few times until blended.  In a steady stream, with processor running – slowly add oil

This can be kept in the fridge for a few days, or frozen in small containers to use all year long.

All ready for the freezer!

Grilled or Wood Fire Barbecue Chicken PIzza

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Either make your own pizza dough, or buy some ready made from an Italian deli – make sure it is really good quality if you aren’t making your own. Come up with your own favorite toppings, or use this version – it was a real hit at our good friend Karli’s wedding stagette!  I think the wood fire oven made all the difference, but not everybody has one of those in their back yard.  We have had great pizzas just off our grill too – so try it!  Of course, you could buy BBQ sauce too – but I just like making it so I have included that recipe.

BBQ SAUCE

  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 small onion, minced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/2  cup cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp molasses
  • 1 can or bottle beer
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/4 cup hot sauce
  • zest & juice of 1  lemon or lime
  • 4 tbsp maple syrup
  • 4 tbsp soya sauce

Heat oil in heavy saucepan and saute onions until soft.  Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil – allow to simmer until it has reduced and is nice and thick.  Taste to adjust for seasoning.  Sometimes just a bit of salt and pepper is all you need – but taste, taste, taste!  Get it just the way you like it.

Grill chicken breasts over indirect heat, basting with bbq sauce until cooked through, and juices run clear – allow to cool, then shred.

Grate jalapeno havarti cheese – set aside

Thinly slice red onions and cook over moderate heat until carmelized – allow to cool

Cook one side of the pizza on your grill – or in your wood fire oven – turn over and dress with:

BBQ sauce

shredded chicken

slivers of green and yellow peppers

grated cheese

carmelized onion

Return to grill or oven and cook just until cheese is bubbling and crust is golden and crunchy.

Tomatillo Corn Salsa/Relish

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Are you wondering what to do with a prolific crop of tomatillo plants??  We make lots of Salsa Verde to can for the winter months, and love it in a fresh cilantro salsa also, but this dish is incredibly good – serve with taco chips or as we did – over grilled steaks that have had an ancho chile rub applied before grilling.  It would be equally tasty served with grilled chicken or fish.  My husband loved it just as a salad!  

8 medium tomatillos, husked and chopped

2 tbsp red onion, finely diced

1/2 jalapeno – seeded and diced (use the seeds if you like it really spicy, but taste before adding them!)

3/4 cup of corn, removed from cob (for extra flavour grill the corn first!)

juice of 1 lime

2 tbsp olive oil

Combine all ingredients and toss to blend.  Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as necessary – you won’t believe how fresh and delicious this is.

Roasted Mustard Potato Salad

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Preheat oven to 400

1/4 cup good quality olive oil                    

6 garlic cloves, chopped

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

generous handful of chopped herbs – thyme, rosemary

juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup dijon mustard

1/4 cup grainy mustard

Toss all ingredients in large bowl until well mixed, and add

3 pound fresh baby potatoes – red or white (I like a combination of both)

If the potatoes are on the large size, cut them up.

Mix well with mustard sauce, then turn onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper, trying to not get any extra sauce on the baking sheet.  Do not overcrowd them – having some space means they will get nice and crispy. Reserve the mustard mixture in the bowl.

ready for the oven – no overcrowding allowed

Roast until they are nice and crispy on the outside, and a fork goes into them easily.

When they are out of the oven and have cooled down slightly enough to handle, it is time to turn it into a salad.

In bowl with reserved mustard mixture, add more fresh herbs – adding basil right now is a great idea, along with some freshly chopped rosemary (so fragrant!).

Mix into bowl:

1/4 cup chopped shallots (or green scallions if you prefer)

2 tbsp white vine vinegar

4 tbsp olive oil

Mix well and taste – add salt and pepper to your taste.  Don’t be afraid with the salt and pepper, sometimes just a little bit more makes a great dish taste awesome.

Right before serving I squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lemon over top, and toss gently again.

Serve at room temperature.  This is a great dish to make early on a hot day, and just leave it sit – covered – on the counter until you are ready to eat.

Red Curry Corn on the Cob

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When the corn from the garden is fresh in season I usually love it best with just butter and salt.  Today the corn got picked for the first time when I was making dinner inspired by Thailand.  This red curry butter was incredible on freshly picked, steamed cobs of tender sweet corn – next time I will try it on grilled corn!

Freshly steamed corn ready for the red curry butter.

There are lots of fool proof methods of boiling corn on the cob.  Use your family’s method, or mine…. which is pretty forgiving.

Bring a pot of water to boil, with enough space for the cobs to bubble around a bit in the boiling water.  There are lots of people that prefer to add sugar to the boiling water, but I like a bit of salt.  Allow corn to boil gently for 10-12 minutes depending on the size of the cobs.  Remove from heat and allow them to remain in the hot water until serving time so they don’t dry out.

Dare I tell you how easy the red curry butter is?

Soften 1/2 cup butter, add 2 -3 tsp red curry paste – depending on your family’s love of heat.  Taste and add a bit of salt and pepper if necessary.  Allow butter to harden up enough for the curry and butter to be well incorporated when you mix them.

Serve with your fresh corn – so yummy……..as an added bonus any leftover curry butter is amazing tossed with popcorn.

Spicy Thai Sesame Noodles

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I love the flavours in this dish – serve it either hot or cold – even when you are making it the kitchen smells so inviting, you are sure to have company!

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup tahini

Blend well then add:

1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon red chile flakes & 1/2 teaspoon of Siracha (Rooster Sauce)
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1/2 cup canola oil

1 lime – squeezed

1 pound  rice noodles or chow mein noodles – softened or cooked

Amy did an amazing job slicing, dicing and mincing vegetables for the salad

1 English cucumber, halved and 1/8-inch slices
1 red bell pepper, julienned
1/3 cup finely diced red pepper

1/2 cup chopped roasted (salted) peanuts for garnish

1/3 cup roughly chopped cilantro and scallions

In a bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, sesame oil, vinegar, chiles, siratcha, and soy until smooth – add lime juice and oil.  Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.

Cook or soften noodles

Prepare vegetables – use your imagination when preparing this – I have suggested a few, but go ahead – throw in some snap peas, or carrots, or radishes ….

Combine all ingredients and stir well.  Garnish with peanuts, scallions and cilantro.

This is the perfect accompaniment to Thai Barbecued Chicken – check out that recipe too!

Shrimp Stuffed Sole

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This is a great way to have a quick, easy, scrumptious dinner ready in minutes.  In the summer do these little packets in foil on the barbecue, or grill.  If you live somewhere that grilling isn’t feasible, just do it in the oven!

4 sole fillets

FILLING

3/4 cup cooked shrimp

1/3 cup chopped fresh spinach

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1/4 cup chopped feta

2 tbsp red onion, minced and sauted lightly in olive oil – then cooled

salt and pepper to taste

Combine all filling ingredients

1 lemon

butter

Spray foil (or parchment paper) with cooking spray, then set fillet on it.

Put scoop of filling on each fillet, roll up – place slice of butter and lemon slice on top.  Seal pack and put on grill for 15-20 minutes.  You will have such a delicious sauce inside that serving it with rice to soak it up is a great idea!

Quinoa Feta Salad

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Quinoa

This one is for you Shae – hope you have fun making it!  xo

1/2 cup white quinoa

You can use either all white or red quinoa, but I love the look of the combination!

1/2 cup red quinoa

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups water (or chicken stock if you are so inclined!)

Rinse quinoa well, then combine all ingredients in pot – bring to a boil with the lid off, then turn down to a simmer, cover and allow to cook for 20 minutes undisturbed.  Remove lid, fluff with a fork, and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes to allow some of the steam to release.

Set aside to cool slightly.

1/2 cup feta, broken or cut into little pieces

1/2 cup colored peppers, diced

1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes, minced

1/3 cup black olives, sliced

1/4 cup red onion, finely diced

generous amount of fresh basil, chopped

optional:  1 cob of corn – kernels removed

I only use the corn when it is in season, and a great way to use up that extra cob you cooked!  If corn is in season … then tomatoes are too so use fresh garden tomatoes, chopped up in place of the sun dried tomatoes.

DRESSING

1 garlic clove, minced

1 tsp dry mustard powder

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/2-2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Combine dressing ingredients, blend well and set aside

Combine the prepared vegetables with the cooked quinoa.  The flavours really come together well if you do this when the quinoa is still slightly warm.  Pour enough dressing over to coat, and give it a good toss.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.  Always remember to keep tasting – sometimes just that little extra bit of salt and pepper make the difference you are looking for.

Looking for a full meal deal?  Add some cubed extra firm tofu and black beans – you will have such a delicious satisfying dinner in one bowl.