Tag Archives: summer food recipes

Fresh Corn and Tomato Cilantro Salsa

It’s one of my favorite times of year! Farm stands are filled with the freshest local product , picked in the morning and by late afternoon, I have prepared something for dinner. What I most look forward to is the local corn and tomatoes. This is a quick and easy salsa I made marrying my two favorite summer vegetables into a great salsa, dressed with cilantro and lime. This recipe uses fresh raw corn, fresh and sweet, cut from the cob. The recipe works best when the corn is fresh. I like to use heirloom tomatoes if I can find them and then I make a simple dressing which is much like a pesto using cilantro, although basil would work as well. You can serve this with chips along with you evening cocktail or it makes a perfect side dish. Enjoy!

From by the bay wishing you some lovely salsa food memories!

Maryann

blog corn salsa

Fresh Corn and Tomato Cilantro Salsa

Serves Six

Ingredients

6 ears of corn

1/2 red onion, finely chopped

2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

1 cup cilantro

1/2 cup olive oil

juice and zest of two limes

1 teaspoon honey

1/2 jalapeno, seeded and chopped

2 teaspoons fine sea salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Directions

Remove silk and husks from corn. Cut corn off cob and place in a medium bowl. Add red onion, tomato and lime zest. In a blender or food processor add garlic, cilantro, honey, jalapeno, olive oil, lime juice , salt and pepper. Blend until smooth. Pour over corn and tomatoes and mix well. Adjust salt and pepper to taste and serve at room temperature.

blog corn salsa 2

Festive Red Beet Hummus

Looking for festive foods to add to your 4th of July holiday menu?   Try this recipe for red beet hummus. This is unique hummus is a feast for both the eyes and your taste buds. A slow braise of the beets in the oven makes this easy to prepare along with your food processor. I love the pink red vibrant color!

From by the bay, wishing you festive 4th of July food memories!

Maryann

blog beet hummus

Beet Hummus

Makes 4 cups

As seen in Food and Wine Contributed By Eli Sussman and Max Sussman  Published June 2016
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds red beets, scrubbed
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons ground coriander
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3/4 cup tahini
  • Kosher salt
  • Warm pita bread, for serving

blog beet hummus 2

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425°. In a medium enameled cast-iron casserole, cover the beets with water and bring to a boil. Cover and braise in the oven for about 2 hours, until very tender. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beets to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, slip 
off the skins. Cut the beets into 1-inch pieces, spread them on a baking sheet and refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour. In a food processor, combine the braised beets with the garlic, coriander and lemon juice and pulse until finely chopped. With the machine on, slowly drizzle 
in the olive oil until incorporated and the beet puree is smooth. Scrape into a bowl and whisk in the tahini. Season with salt and serve with pita bread.

Mixed String Bean Salad

 

Here is a perfect summer side dish using all the wonderful colored string beans you can find in markets this time of year. The special ingredient that makes this salad so delicious is the peppery taste and earthy aroma of cumin. It lends an exotic note to a simple dish.

From by the bay, wishing you exotic food memories!

Maryann

 

blog string bean salad 2

 

Mixed String Bean Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound mixed string beans
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt

Directions

Blanch the string beans in a large pot of boiling salted water for 3 minutes until crisp-tender. Drain immediately and immerse in a bowl of ice water. When cool drain string beans and place in a large bowl. Prepare dressing by whisking the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour dressing over string beans and mix well.  Serve at room temperature.

 

 

 

 

Rhubarb Strawberry Crumble with Vanilla Custard Sauce

a strawberry rhubarb crumble 014

 

Rhubarb Strawberry Crumble with Vanilla Custard Sauce

Serves 4-6

 

Filling

3 cups rhubarb, cut into ½ inch pieces

2 cups fresh strawberries

2 tablespoons Grand Marnier

½ cup fine sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

 

Topping

½ cup light brown sugar

½ cup flour

½ cup quick cooking oats

½ cup unsalted butter, chilled

1 vanilla pod, add just the seeds

¼ cup ground almonds

 

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9 x13 pan. In a bowl add the rhubarb, strawberries and Grand Marnier , let sit ten minutes. Then add the sugar , cornstarch and salt. Mix and pour into the greased pan. In a medium bowl ,mix together the brown sugar, flour and oats. Cut butter into mixture with pastry blender until crumbs are pea size. Spread across the fruit mixture. Bake in oven for 45 minutes or until rhubarb is tender. Serve with ice cream , whipped cream or vanilla custard sauce.

 

Vanilla Custard Sauce

Makes 1 cup

¾ cup whole milk

¼ cup fine sugar

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon vanilla

 

Whisk yolks in a bowl until blended. In a medium sauce pan bring milk and sugar to a boil without stirring. Remove from heat and whisk slowly into the bowl with the egg yolks. Return the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens. Sauce is thick enough when it coats the back of a wooden spoon. Pour the sauce through a sieve into a bowl and place the bowl into another large bowl with ice and cold water. Stir in vanilla and whisk occasionally until custard is cool. Once cooled , cover the custard with wax paper to prevent a skin from forming. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hrs. before serving with Rhubarb Raspberry Crumble.

 

 

 

Fresh Peach and Jalapeno Barbecue Sauce

Who doesn’t love a good peach? The summer peach season always seems too short. Right now is when you can find wonderful ripe peaches. Have you ever gone produce shopping and found yourself just carried away with the look and scent of some fruits and vegetables? This happened to me last week, when I was shopping and returned home with a few pounds of peaches. There I was in the kitchen wondering to myself what to do with my purchase. The answer was to create a peach themed meal. I started with a fresh peach and jalapeno barbecue sauce that I used with chicken. The barbecue sauce has a lovely clean taste with just a hint of sweetness with a slight bit of  heat from the jalapeno. The sauce was perfect in combination with chicken on the grill. I proceeded to end the meal with a beautiful peach almond crostata. The crostata uses almond flour which really compliments the sweetness of the peaches and makes for a lighter and slightly softer crust. Both recipes are fresh, sweet and delicious. I suggest buying some peaches this weekend and giving these recipes a try, I’m sure you’ll enjoy them as much as I did.

From by the bay wishing you the peachiest food memories!
Maryann

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blog jalapeno peach bbq

Fresh Peach and Jalapeno Barbecue Sauce
2 1/2 cups fresh peaches, stoned and chopped
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup peach preserves
1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon jalapeno chopped 
1 tablespoon lime juice 
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon salt 
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Place on ingredients into a medium sauce pan and place onto a medium heat. Stir ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool and blend in a food processor. Place in a jar until ready to use . Barbecue sauce will last 3 days

Zucchini Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting

blog zucchini cake

Zucchini Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting

Makes 1 loaf

1 ½ cups plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 ½ cup light brown sugar

½ cup vegetable oil

2 eggs beaten

3 tablespoons warm water

1 cup grated zucchini

½ teaspoon lime juice

½ cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray loaf pan with oil. In a small bowl combine raisins and warm water and let sit for 10 minutes so raisins can get plump. In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients: flour, salt, nutmeg, and baking soda, cinnamon and brown sugar. In a medium bowl combine oil, eggs, grated zucchini and strained raisins, plus 3 tablespoons of the water the raisins were soaking in. Add to the dry ingredients. Mix well and pour into loaf pan. Bake for one hour until the tester comes out clean. Cool on metal rack for 20 minutes. When cool remove bread from pan. Frost the bread with cream cheese frosting right before serving.

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz softened cream cheese

4 oz confectionary sugar

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon lime zest

Directions

Combine ingredients using an electric mixer until smooth. Use to frost zucchini cake or keep in refrigerator until ready to serve cake and frost just before serving