Chilled peach soup
From the Placer County Real Food cookbook:
4 peaches, very ripe, cut in quarters
1 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 cup water
2 to 3 cups Champagne
In a small saucepan, heat the peaches with lime juice, honey, cinammon stock and water. Blend with a hand blender until smooth. Chill at least 1 hour.
To serve, slowly stir in Champagne until [...]
Fresh apricot cake
From Newcastle Produce —
1/3 cup butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
2 1/2 lbs. apricots, halved and pitted
Cinnamon
Powdered sugar
Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix together flour, baking powder and salt. Combine dry mixture and milk alternately, a little at [...]
Black Bean Chile
2 cups black beans, washed
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cups diced onions
3-5 garlic cloves, minced
3 (or more) diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
2 tsp. cumin powder
1 tsp. chile powder
1-2 Tierra chipotles, cut up
3 Tbsp. vinegar
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
Cook beans in boiling water. Let sit, covered, for an hour. Sauté onions in oil until translucent. Stir in the garlic, [...]
Mandarin Marmelade Muffins
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup half and half
3/4 c. Newcastle Produce Mandarin Marmalade
1 tsp. vanilla
1 large egg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Add half and half, marmalade, vanilla and egg and stir [...]
Fresh spring rolls
4-6 rice paper wraps
1 c. cooked flat rice noodles
2-3 strips of cucumber
1/2 c. shredded lettuce
1/2 c. shredded carrots
1/2 c. strips tofu, chicken or shrimp
Fresh mint leaves
Fresh cilantro
Bowl of hot water.
Dip two rice paper wraps in the water until softened. Lay softened wraps
down on work surface. Add ingredients, layering them about 1/3 from
the bottom of [...]
Asian-inspired marinade
Juice and zest of 2 oranges
Juice and zest of 1-2 limes
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame or canola oil
Pinch red pepper flakes
Brown sugar or honey to taste
Use for marinating chicken, fish, Tri-tip, pork or vegetables or as a grilling sauce.
Add sesame seeds for variation.
Source: BackPorch Market
Melon, Cherry Tomato and Mint Salad
This salad showcases the beautiful colors of summer.
Makes 8 servings
4 cups chilled mellon balls
(Try Galia, Tiger Baby and Yellow Doll)
2 cups cherry tomatoes
(Try Sun Gold and Sun Cherry)
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
In a large bowl, gently toss ingredients.
Source: Newcastle Produce
(photo: John Johnson)
Garlic-scape pesto recipe
Garlic scapes are the stalk that shoots up from the garlic bulb. The farmers’ markets are brimming with them. My favorite thing to do with them is to make garlic scape pesto:
1 pound garlic scapes
1 cup grated parmesan cheese
Olive oil (about 1/2 to 1 cup)
Pine nuts if available
Chop the garlic scapes into 3 [...]
