August Bounties

 August is the time when all those late Spring plantings come into harvest. There;s so much right now in back yards and on farm stands. Best of al, there's so many dishes to make that involve fresh veggies and fruit.

Tomato plants are in fiull bloom right now. There one fo the most versatile fruits - yes fruits. . Nothing beats a sliced on on bread , slathered with mayo. Yet you can also put them in a variety of different salads. of course the best dishes for them also involve other bounties. Gazpacho, that cold and delicious Spanish soup called for fresh cucumbers, bell peppers and onions. Ratatouille has tomatoes as the star but there 's also eggplant or zucchini as well as peppers and onions. Cucumbers can  be turned into tasty pickles for the barbecue oe picnic along with being sliced into an  elegant salad .Add sprigs of dill for flavor. Eggplant is good in ratatouille but it';s also excellent grilled. Slice and coat each side with olive oil sprinkle with such herbs as rosemary and oregano and then char on the grill.it usually takes six minutes on each side before they;re ready to eat. Zucchini is also in abundance right now. This is another versatile veggie that can be cut into coins or slices  to be air fired or grilled. They're great air fried too and actually make for some crispy chips. Just sliced pat dry and then coat in a mix of olive oil and garlic powder. it does take about  twenty minutes to cook in the air fryer.

Of course fruit is in an August harvest too. Watermelon is big right now. It's excellent as a chilled dessert along with being refreshing. Keep in mind that it;s also excellent grilled with honey. A watermelon granita is an easy make.It just takes seedless watermelon chunks, lime juice and sugar.Th w fruit lime juice and half the sugar are put into a food processor and pulverized until smooth and then placed into a bowl or baking dish, Place into the freezer for two to three hours then begin the scraping process.Lightly scrape the topmost layer and then put back in the freezer. Repeat until the entire bowl is shaved . Store ,covered in Sran wrap until being served. This is also the time for stone fruits like peaches, plums and nectarines., These are good fresh,eaten as a snack or a healthy dessert,.  However these are wonderful in all sorts of baked desserts. Crisps are a perfect way to highlight their  flavors.It's also an easy dessert.Cut the fruit and put into a greased baking dish. The crisp is an easy mix of oatmeal or flour mixed with butter , brown  and white sugars. Cornstarch gives her topping its' customary crispiness. Serve with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate treat.

It's August. It;s harvest time. Take advantage and create delicious dishes with fresh fruits and veggies.

June's Other's Star The Blueberry

 JUne is known for its' strawberry harvests. Yet it's the blueberry that 's the real star. These little jewels are perfect in a variety of different dishes. Try them in a salad or in a dessert. They're good in savory and sweet dishes.

Blueberries are just plain good for you. They have the highest antioxidant levels of any fruit, and are good for protecting againsy certan cancers, eye problems and even urinary track infections. They also help in stopping heart disease , improve metabolism and strengthen brain functions involved in memory. As with most berries they can be used in both dinner and dessert recipes. A nice summery salad treat is a dressing made with them,balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Honey and lemon juice are added to give it sweetness and smoothness while cracked peppercorns offer heat. You could also make this with apple cider vinegar too.Keep in mind these versatile little berries can also be part of a meat sauce  too.It's combining them with balsamic vinegar brown sugar and lemon juice and reducing them to almost a  thick syrup. Its then dipping barbecued steak or chicken in it or pouring it over the meat.If you're a little more ambitious you can try your hand at blueberry ketchup. This is cooking two cups of them with ginger and shallots first , then adding red wine vinegar,  brown sugar and salt. It;s boils until it forms a thick, jammy mix. Try it for a different spin on French fries and burgers.

Of course blueberries are the perfect ingredients for any sweet treat. Many love them in scratch pancakes and waffles. Any of these are perfect for breakfast but also for a brunch.  A different spin is combining the berries with butter and confectioners sugar for topping those breakfast classics. A scoop of it is also good on French toast too. or on  blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins are a great way of using them. Nothing beats one loaded with berries and slathered with butter. More ambitious home bakers will bake them into pies, They're also good in tarts as well for a more elegant dessert.If you want something easy then think of a blueberry crisp. These are cooked berries topped off with a buttery streusel topping created with sugar ,butter, flour and oats for that crunchy topping.You could also make a cobbler topping which is lumps of dough baked on top of the berries. Cakes and cupcakes can also benefit from a blueberry boost. Try blueberry cupcakes with  blueberry buttercream for a summer birthday party. Ice cream lovers will love home made blueberry ice cream for a fun hot weather treat.

Thi s is blueberry season. Use these bright blue jewels in a variety of savory and sweet dishes. Enjoy their flavor and benefits.

Fall's Other Stars of The Harvest

 This may be the season of apples and pumpkins but there are other stars coming out ofthose autumn patches.There's broccoli , cauliflower,and pears to name a few. They're great as main, sides , and desserts. Try them as a nice change up form those Macintoshes and gourds.

Broccoli is a versatile veggie.It can be served hot or cold. A great side is steamed broccoli with melted butter and just a sprinkle of sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Many like it Oriental style, steamed with ginger and  sesame oil. Of course it can also be cooked with chicken or beef , flavored with soy sauce. Serve this on a bed of rice for a hearty and delicious quick meal. One of the best recipes with broccoli is broccoli salad. You may think this is a summer dish but's it's a refreshing side all year long.It's steaming the veggie in the microwave first and then dressing it. Use just olive oil and red wine vinegar along with dashes of garlic powder, sealt salt and freshly ground pepper.  You can add chopped onion for more flavor. Cauliflower , like broccoli is also versatile. Both veggies can be made into tasty homemade soups. Cauliflower soup is the perfect chill chaser and can be frozen for future use. Breaded and air fried cauliflower is a real treat and the perfect game day nibble. It's good on its' own but also served with ranch dressing.

The season has always been all about apples yet there's another fruit that's just as sweet and high in nutrition. Pears!!!! Bartlett, Clap Favorite and Orca are the main autumn ones. Bartlett's are the most popular anf have a love mild candy like flavor. A great dessert is a harvest pear crisp. This is six cups of cored and sliced bartlett pears that have been tossed with lemon juice and coated with a mix of cornstarch, sugar and cinnamon .This is well coated and then covered with a dry dough made up of flour, ,butter and more cinnamon. A mix of chopped walnuts and oats  are then sprinkled on top as a kind of streusel.It's baked for forty minutes at 375 degrees Farenheit. Serve with fresh cream or vanilla ice cream.Orca pears which are a fall favorite in the Pacific Northwest are great for canning.They're cooked in a sugar solution and then canned. Of course you can make pear jams and even syrups with them. Clapp pears are good for baking and what better than a pear cake for a nice autumnal dessert.  You could even bake a layer cake and fill it with pear compote.

Don;t forget thare are other harvest gems that are perfect for any meal or dessert. Give broccoli, cauliflower and pears  a try this season. They're tasty and nutritious, the perfect fall produce.

A kick Of Watermelon

It may be the end of watermelon season but thanks to a new drink, you can have it year round.Wonder Melon is a new drink, that's not only good for you but tastes good too.

To be honest, I was a bit skeptical. Homemade watermelon juice can be a bit bland.Kayco, the company who makes the drink has decided to punch it up.One has the addition of cucumber which is refreshing. The other flavor is the watermelon mixed with lemon and cayenne, a nod to the lemon and cayenne pepper diet drink.Both possess clean, crisp flavors, which will appeal to juicing buffs. I can see Wonder Melon bottles gracing lunch boxes and late summer beach hampers.

Wonder Melon is a juice with a texture between thick and thin.Again, it 's just perfect with ice but you could also fizz it up with seltzer.For a kicky kind of ice, pour some into a Slushie cup.I guess Wonder Melon would also be good as a base for a few cocktails like the watermelon margaritas.Could you make a kind of Bellini with them? Yes, for a buzzy brunch drink. Save the bottles too.They'll  make cute candle holders, thanks to watermelon like shape.

Keep summer with you all year long with with bottles of Wonder Melon.They're fresh , with the definite taste of the season. You'll be reminded of balmy days and warm nights when the temps start dipping.

Life With The Air Fryer

I have to admit that I didn't know what to do with the Power Air Fryer I received for Christmas.My first thought was it's too big and  I'll use it as much as I will that cookie press I bought. Boy, was I wrong!

It turns out this gadget is handy and sometimes better than the oven.I was skeptical at first, wondering if I was going to use it or would it just collect dust. . The air fryer  was what my kitchen was missing. I definitely warmed up to this huge  pod, a little bigger than a Keurig coffee maker.In actuality, it's just a smidge larger than my crockpot and fits quite nicely on my kitchen counter. Another plus is that it has a timer that beeps when the food is done or needs to be turned. To be honest I use it more than my oven now.There's no need to  empty it of the pots pans, and cookie sheets that are conveniently stored inside of my stove. . It is a snap to clean - unlike the other.
 The two "frying " baskets are just emptied of crumbs (read eaten - they're the most delicious part) and then washed in just warm soapy water. To be honest, all the foods that require oven cooking taste better somehow in this amazing machine.It may be the hot air that encircles each piece. I've noticed that Gardein's tofu chicken nuggets were much tastier and crunchier, without any grease. The Power Air Fryer turned Golden"s veggie pancakes into extraordinary golden discs, perfectly cooked with a crispy french fry like exterior.

Having it has expanded the cooking experience. I have air fried Stop & Shop's spring rolls in it. They turned out to be golden without the usual oily after taste.I've bought spanokopita , the small Greek spinach pies that can be cooked in the fryer. I do want to try homemade potato pancakes as well. There is a recipe book with it, that features the usual and not  so usual. It shows how to properly frozen onion rings and fries, along with homemade mozzarella sticks. There's also the intriguing mac and cheeses, a perfect recipe for left over baked macaroni,What's surprising is that the book - more of a pamphlet really - has recipes for beef empanadas and blooming onions.  The next model up has accessories like baking pans and you can bake anything in it.There is even a web site with all recipes air fryer, from shortbread (!) to lamb chops.The recipe for air fried breaded mushrooms look interesting and would even make a good main course. I definitely want to try the banana chips and the air fryer tofu, made crispy with brown rice flour.

The Power Air Fryer is here to stay. I really love this machine.It's versatile and a good alternative to the oven.There's so much to do with it - so much to make.

Hot Fall Days

Thanks to climate change , we tend to have summer well into fall. Gone are all those autumnal dreams of Sunday roasts and freshly picked apple treats. It's time to get back into that summer mode of easy cooking and easy eating.

Tomato season may be over in some parts of the country, yet there are some plants that are still producing. If you're sick of of tomato salad, then think about using them in a salsa crudo.  This is where tomatoes are chopped and then marinated in  fresh basil, olive oil, and chopped garlic. It's then left to stand for a half hour as any type of pasta is cooked. The heat of the pasta is what cooks the sauce. Serve it with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and toasted and oiled Italian bread. You could also use that bumper crop of tomatoes in a cooling pan bagnat, the Southern French sandwich also consisting of tuna, anchovies, and  hard boiled eggs .Olives, peppers, and cucumbers are also added along with Dijon mustard and olive oil. Use a large round loaf of Italian bread for this. It's the perfect sandwich for an early fall day at the beach. Served with chilled cider .If the temps are still too unbearable, then go back to that hot weather fall back - salads. Create hearty chef salad ones for those busy weekends filled with soccer games and chores. Keep the barbecue out for those roasts.London Broil can easily be adapted for grilling. Slice and butter baste for a tasty spin on a Sunday roast . You can even grill new potatoes too, in foil packets.

What about all those apples you picked, anticipating cooler temps for baking? Use them. They make a nice snack , especially when you're trying to wean yourself and the kids off candy and cookies. They can also be baked in the microwave.I'ts just coring them , filling them with butter and red wine or caramel and baking them for three to four minutes. Serve with whipped cream or for a more refreshing vibe, vanilla ice cream. Another idea is just slicing them into wedges and serving them with an already made caramel dipping sauce such as the one from Marzetti. If you still are hungering for some kind of apple dessert, then think about the super easy microwave apple crisp. This only takes ten to twelve minutes  and there's no need to heat up an already hot kitchen with a hot oven.It's just sliced apples with a crisp topping of flour,melted  butter,  brown sugar and a combo of allspice and cinnamon. Again serve with vanilla ice cream for a cool treat.Apples can also be used in a salad. too. They are great with chopped celery and walnuts or with romaine lettuce, pecans and raisins. This is the perfect side for any early fall barbecue or tailgate party.

Don't let those hot fall days faze you. Adapt a summer mode of cooking and enjoy these balmy times. You'll feel better and eat better too.

Nectarines A Nice Summer Treat

Ask people what are the fruis of summer and they'll probably mention strawberries, and blueberries, definitely peaches. Yet another summer harvest is coming in right now Nectarines are also ripening. These wonderful fruits are a nice change from the usual fare and work well in many recipes.

What is a nectarine? A peach without the fuzz.The Chinese first planted them over 2,000 years ago and then the seeds were cultivated in ancient Persia, Greece and Rome, They were popular during the medieval era , growing in England and Spain. The Spanish brought them over to the Americas in the late 16th and early 17th Centuries. Nowadays California is their chief grower, with 95 percent of all nectarine harvests coming from there. Some peach seeds may turn out to be nectarine trees and vice versa.Many growers graft nectarine branches onto peach trees to guarantee a crop of then. The fruit's name means full of nectar.It's the perfect dessert or snack for dieters. Each piece of fruit only has sixty two calories. Surprisingly it's one of the few fruits that has protein in it as well.. Nectarines are also high in Vitamin A and beta carotene (hence the bright yellow flesh).It also has Vitamin,C, potassium and most importantly fiber.The fruit can be kept out for two to three days before they develop brown spots. As with other fruits, nectarines are better stored in the fridge Besides nothing beats the taste of a chilled one on a sweltering day.

Since they're basically peaches, nectarines can be made into the same dishes as peaches. Try them in a cobbler laced with brown sugar.They'd also be tasty in a crisp, either made with oatmeal or Bisquick. A more elegant dessert is a nectarine tart with a hazelnut crust.The fruit works well in cakes too. Try a buttery scratch one laden with slices and a hint of nutmeg.Fruit can be roasted over the grill so why not roasted some nectarines along with plums and peaches. Top the hot fruit with vanilla ice cream for a truly decadent summertime dessert.Another fun dessert idea is trifle with the fruit layered with store bought yellow cake or pound cake and whipped cream. You could even douse it with peach schnapps for a boozy, fun way to end an evening. You could also turn the fruit into a homemade nectarine liqueur. This last is just taking a pound of the nectarines and letting that ferment with three cups of vodka and a cup of sugar. The process takes about three months then before the drink is ready so it will make a nice addition to fall drinking and dining.Nectarines can also be cubed and used in salads for color and sweetness. Add them to a grilled chicken salad along with almonds.  It can also be pulverized and added to apple cider vinegar for a sweet dressing or even marinade.

Make nectarines part of your summer diet. They are a sweet, healthy treat on their own along with being wonderful in a variety of sweet and savory dishes. Get a basket of them at your local market or farm stand.

Summer Harvest Fun

One of the best times to get creative in the kitchen is the summer.There is so much produce to experiment with along with different cooking and prepping techniques.Go to your local farm ,farmer's market or even your garden to get the ingredients of a fun meal. Tomatoes are in abundance right now.Many farms and gardens are yielding big juicy beefsteaks along with smaller varieties of plums and cherry kinds.These give home chefs the opportunity of creating a tomato only salad or a truly tasty Neopolitan bread salad.This last is a mix of any kind of tomato sliced up and marinated with chunks of stale Italian bread marinated in a garlicky vinaigrette.If you're a tad more adventurous then try a stab at ho,e made ketchup. You do need a lot of them, about three pounds, however most farmer s mArkets do sell tomatoes by the bushel.Another fun tomato dish is salsa.Nothing beats a bowl of freshly made tomato salsa ,especially at a barbecue or pool party.Corn is also in abundance .Try barbecue roasted corn ,not just with butter but with a tangy olive oil spread ,heightened with garlic and oregano.If you're still a butterphile then make flavored butters such Lemon and garlic but also think about honey, maple or chile butter spread.Peppers and onions are also in harvest right now.You can try stuffed peppers with grilled steak bits and tomato sauce or used as part of shish kabobs.Onions are also good in a tangy salad or minced as a burger topping. Summer fruit is all over the place right now too.Strawberries are still being picked as are blueberries. You can cook both up with a simple sugar syrup to use over wafflers or vanilla ice cream.Use these along with other fresh fruits in different andinteresting homemade ice cream flavors.Try a blueberry basil combo or a peach and prosecco sorbet.Crisps are one of the easiest and fun desserts to try, especially for novice home chefs.It's an easy cooked fruit stew with a.crunchy buttery topping.Cobblers are another fun summer treat,easily made with Bisquick.They're just a simple batter with any kind of fruit, even blackberry.Fruit can also be used in savory dishes too.Think peach and strawberry pureed in a chicken marinade.Blackberry and even blue berries work well in a steak marinade or even as a chutney alongside a grilled flank or skirt steak.Salads are definitely more zinger with the addition of fresh fruit.Just don't add a mélange of it ,that it overpowers the other ingredients.A better idea is using pureed fruit in a homemade dressing instead.Also juicing fresh fruits and adding the juice to ice tea is another fun and easy way to enjoy the produce of the season. A full summer harvest is like an artist's palette.They're so many different ones to use in creating a fun culinary masterpiece.Pick up or just pick your supplies now for some inventive and tasty cooking.

The Crisp Cookie Revolution

There's something going on with cookies in the United States. Gone are those clingy chewy kind and in their stead a new version. It's the crisper , more homemade tasting and looking kind. To be honest it's a step up and away from all those soft little Frisbees that have been gracing our tables.. These provide better texture and flavor.

To be honest crisp cookies have been around since - oh  forever. They were called snaps, and were wafer thin (although strangely enough not wafers) and the first were ginger flavored. The name probably came from the sound the cookie makes when being broken or bitten/Much later the Nabisco company made them in chocolate and chocolate chip along with the ginger ones They fell out of favor thanks to  companies like Entemann's introducing a denser, richer chewier dough in the early 1980's . People wanted  clingy cookies , more with a cake like texture than the traditional brittle one.

That's changing. I noticed a return to the crispy side when I first discovered  the version from the  Flaky Tart, a four star bakery from Atlantic Highlands New Jersey The baker produced one that had the melt in your mouth buttery and chocolate flavoring yet with a crackly texture. I also discovered that they made their oatmeal cookies with the same bone china texture.Then this type started showing up in grocery stores , just in the chocolate chip flavor. I recently found out  that Target's brand Archer Farms also has these snaps, however they've expanded into the snickerdoodle and sugar cookies types along with the ubiquitous chocolate chip.

Will this trend last forever? I hope so. There's nothing like a crispy cookie to satisfy your need for crunch and sweetness.Crispy rules.

Olallieberries New Fruit To Try

Just when you think there's nothing new to try, something unusual pops up. That for me is the olallieberry. It's a fruit that's been around since the Thirties yet I've just discovered it. This cross between a loganberry and a blackberry can be used in various dessert dishes or just as a snack.

Olallieberries are a hybrid between a logan and a blackberry. First crossbred in 1935 by botanist,S.J. Harvey and the US Department of Agriculture the fruit was named after the Chinook word for berry. They were first tested in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California and grew like crazy in Oregon.It is sometimes called the marionberry or just marion. The nutritional value is the same as the blackberry which means they are high in antioxidants and Vitamin C. Like the other they are harvested in early  June to mid July. The plant is a bramble plant , meaning it has spiny thorns protecting the fruit.The taste is a cross between a blackberry and a raspberry.

Oregonians have a field day  with the fruits during harvest time. There are olallieberry jams and preserves as well as baked goods.Since they're almost like blackberries they can be made into crisps,crumbles and pies. Some chefs and home cooks use them for a sauce. They're also good just plain with ice cream or whipped cream. Right now though you can only  buy the olallieberry in jam or syrup form on line. It would be good topping fresh baked biscuits or scones or on top of an English muffin.The syrup would be a welcome change from maple , topping everything from pancakes to French toast.

Make this the year to experiment with new foods. The olallieberry is one that you have to try. Get in preserve form now or wait til the harvest season to experience this truly interesting fruit.