Vegetable Risotto

 

Summer brings in a beautiful bounty of fresh vegetables.  Today we are cooking a vegetable risotto with items we got out of the garden today.

 

 

2 green apples, cored and thinly sliced

Freshly squeezed juice of a lemon

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes

3 medium zucchini cut into small cubes

1 large carrot, cut into small cubes

1 3/4 cups risotto

3 cups boiling vegetable stock

1 teaspoon dark soy sauce

1 teaspoon curry powder

2 tablespoons finely chopped dill

Pinch of saffron strands

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

 

 

Place the apples in a bowl. Drizzle with the lemon juice. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until transparent, 3-4 minutes. Add the potatoes, zucchini,and carrot. Saute for 2 minutes more. Add the rice and saute for 2
minutes. Add 1 cup of the stock and stir until it is absorbed. Add the apples and lemon juice and mix well. Keep adding the stock, I cup at a time, cooking and stirring until each addition has been absorbed and the rice is tender, 15-20 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the soy sauce, curry powder, dill, and saffron. Season with salt and pepper.

 

 

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Seperating Eggs

Not good at separating eggs?  You can crack them into a funnel.  The whites will slip through while the yolks will remain whole in the funnel.

 

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Molasses Drop Cookies


As a small child I remember working with my grandparents to make molasses.  During the winter, we would take molasses and blend it with butter to put over hot biscuits, but that is another story.  Below is my grandmother’s recipe for molasses drop cookies.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I always have.

 
1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1 egg

1 tsp soda

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup sour milk

2 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp salt

 
Cream together shortening and sugar. Add molasses, beat egg; add. Dissolve soda in milk. Sift together flour, spices, salt; add alternately with milk mixture to cream mixture. Add raisins; mix well. Drop by teaspoons on greased baking sheet. Bake 3500 for 12 min.

 

 

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Got Fresh Herbs You Need To Preserve?


Ever have some fresh herbs that you need to use quickly?  One way to preserve their flavor is to make a herb butter.   Let the butter soften, then add finely chopped herbs in any combination, about 2 to 4 tablespoons per stick of butter. The butter freezes well, and you can serve it with bread, seafood or chicken.911-essay.com

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Corn on the Cob with a twist

We love corn on the cob. When I bring home corn, I usually get a lot of ears and then cook it multiple times during the week.  If you love fresh corn during the summer, but want to give it a little extra zing, try this method.

 

 

6 ears of corn in the husk

6 tbsp unsalted butter

18 sprigs of thyme, if you have some lemon thyme it is even better

 

 

Peel the corn husk leaving them attached at base. Remove and discard the corn silk. Spread a tablespoon of butter over each cob, then lay 3 thyme sprigs against each cob, pressing them gently into the butter. Pull husks back up over corn. Remove 1-2 pieces of husk and tear into 6 strips.. Tie the top of each husk closed with a strip and let the corn stand for at least an hour. I do these up to a day ahead and keep them covered in the refrigerator then bring to room temperature before steaming.

 

 

Bring 1 inch of water to a boil in a large stock pot.  Stand the corn in the pot tied ends up.  Cover and steam. Move the ears from the outer ring to the inner ring one time during the process to allow for even cooking.  Steaming should take about 6 minutes.

 

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Grilled Nectarine Wraps

 

I have a few leftover nectarines from the Raspberry Nectarine Pie.  Have you ever put a nectarine on the grill?  Grilling them brings out the sweetness.  This grilled nectarine wrap makes a great starter for any summer party. While the flavors are ones that you normally would not think of together, don’t be afraid to give it a try.

 

 

2 nectarines sliced in half and pitted

4 slices prosciutto cut into 8 strips lengthwise

8 fresh basil leaves

1/4 lb fresh mozzarella sliced

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

 

 

Place the balsamic vinegar in a saucepan and boil until reduced to 1/8 cup being careful not to scorch.

 

Spray grill with non stick cooking spray and heat to high.  Place the nectarine halves on the grill cut side down for 5 minutes. Remove the nectarines to a plate and cut each half into a quarter.

 
On each quarter place a fresh basil leaf on top of the cut portion of the fruit.  Place a slice of mozzarella on top of each basil leaf, then wrap the covered nectarine around the middle (not lengthwise) with the prosciutto.  Drizzle with the balsamic and serve immediately.

 

 

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Quick Opening Flowers

During the winter I do not have enough fresh flowers in the garden for a party so I shop at the local flower market.  I like to buy my flowers unopened a few days in advance so I can control them opening and being fresh for my event.  To speed up the opening process for  your flower replace the water that they are sitting in with warm water.  Depending on how tight the flower is it may take more time and you may have to keep replacing the water and keeping it warm.

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Quick Ripening of Fruits

Yesterday a friend of mine and I went Raspberry picking thinking we would get enough to finish our jam for the season.  Unfortunately the vines still had a majority of berries that still needed to ripen.  So for the berries that we got that still had a little way to go, it made me remember this tip.  Apples release ethylene gas which hastens the maturing process of other fruits.  Place an apple in a paper bag with the other fruit overnight and it will speed up the ripening process.

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Marinated Olives

Marinated olives make a great snack or a appetizer for your table.  An easy finger food, this recipe with its blend of flavors is easy and can be kept in the refrigerator for months.  The oil that they are marinated in also makes a great salad dressing or flavored oil for cooking.

 

 

1 lb unpitted large green olives, drained

4 garlic cloves, peeled

2 tsp coriander seeds

1 small lemon

4 sprigs of fresh thyme

4 feathery stalks of fennel

2 small fresh red chilies

pepper

Extra virgin olive oil

 

 

 

To allow the olives to absorb the flavors you can use a rolling pin to bash them lightly so that they crack slightly, or take a knife and cut a lengthwise slit in each olive as far as the stone. Using the flat side of the knife lightly crush each garlic clove. Crack the coriander seeds. Cut the lemon with its rind into small chunks.

 
Put the olives, garlic, coriander, lemon, thyme sprigs, fennel, and chilies, if using, in a large bowl and toss together. Season with pepper to taste.  Pack the ingredients tightly into a glass jar with a lid. Pour in enough olive oil to cover the olives, then seal the jar tightly.

 
Let the olives stand at room temperature for 24 hours, then refrigerate for 2 weeks or more. From time to time, gently give the jar a shake to re-mix the ingredients. Return the olives to room temperature and remove from the oil to serve.

 

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Venting Your Pie

Yes,  we really love pie.  There are pie vents to help funnel the steam and juice in your pie which will keep your oven cleaner.  If you do not have a pie vent you can cut 4 small slits in the top crust of your pie and place a piece of tube pasta, like a  ziti or cannelloni that is 2-3 inches long, in each slit.  The juice will bubble up the pasta hole and back into the pie  instead of all over your oven.  After baking remove the pasta pieces and enjoy that you do not have to clean up a mess from the bottom of the oven.

 

 

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