Not everyone welcomes okra the way I do. But this recipe from Freedom Farmers Market is easy and turns the okra crisp instead of slimy. A very simple way to use up the okra in today’s box. No thyme? Just skip it. What other fresh herbs do you have? Or have you been collecting, like I have, all these “new” smoked peppers like Urdu and Aleppo peppers? They’re easy to become addicted to – now I have to ration myself when I visit Savory Spice at the intersection of Virginia and Highland.
Recipes
Chicken and Onion Tagine
Are you overwhelmed with onions? I can’t imagine such a state, but I hear it happens to some folks who wonder what in the world to do with all those onions. Here’s a recipe from Saveur magazine,
Eggplant/Squash Baba Ghanoush
I find it interesting that in all our eggplant recipes, we don’t have one for baba ghanoush. Well, that’s what I’m making from the eggplants in the box. Truth be told, it’s one of the few ways my husband will eat eggplant.
This one is from “Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking from London’s Ottolenghi” by Yotam Ottelenghi and actually uses squash. I’m going to use up the squash from today’s box, but augment it with eggplant. This is a pretty fancy version, but worth knowing about.
Watermelon Soda Float
This recipe is from Austin, Texas pastry chef Jessica Maher. Perfect way to beat the summer heat. Doctor up a little store bought frozen yogurt, make the easy soda (a lot like the preceding soup recipe) and you’ve got a perfect summer dessert.
Cantaloupe Soup with Basil
I’m on a melon mission this week. We’ve been making cantaloupe granita from a great recipe from Walker Brown of Inman’s Park’s Wisteria Restaurant. Can’t share that recipe yet, it publishes in the AJC on August 11, but here’s a similar recipe for a melon soup that you could turn into a granita just by adding a little simple syrup and then freezing it. If you need some other melon ideas, check out https://grassfedcow.com/ingredient/watermelon/. The recipes there are generally for watermelon, but you could use the cantaloupe in most.
This recipe is fabulous. No idea where I first found it. Use it as a cold soup as it was first intended, add a little seltzer or club soda and make a spritzer, add a little gin and make a cocktail, add a little simple syrup and freeze it for a granita. It couldn’t be simpler and it couldn’t be more delicious.
Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart
If, unlike me, you haven’t consumed all those yummy Sun Gold tomatoes, then here’s a quick and delicious suggestion. Make a salad and it’s dinner or cut into little squares and serve as a first course for your favorite dinner guests.
Potato Tortilla with Peppers
So you know a tortilla is more than a corn or flour wrapper for delicious fillings. It’s also an egg-and-potato omelet. If you’re looking for a few new ways to use up this year’s bounty of red potatoes, check out this recipe from Cook’s Illustrated. It’s got their trademark detailed instructions so you can’t go wrong.
Summer Squash Curry
This recipe is adapted from one in the New York Times. A nice reminder that vegan curries are delicious and coconut milk goes with so many vegetables.
Bulgur with Blueberries
Suzanne’s been quick to keep the recipe ideas updated. Last week’s blueberry pickles are already online at https://grassfedcow.com/ingredient/blueberries/. But if you need more ideas, I’ve got one more offering. It’s a little sweet from the orange juice and would make a fabulous breakfast. Top it with yogurt maybe? It came originally from Prevention Magazine.
Do you know bulgur? They sell it bulk at Sevananda and Whole Foods, and probably at other places as well. You don’t have to cook it at all, just soak it in water to soften the grains. The original magazine recipe called for cooking the bulgur, but I’ve adapted it so there’s no more heat in the kitchen.
Spicy Thai Green Bean and Summer Squash Salad
This delicious salad is from Seriouseats.com. The beans get blanched, the squash is raw. The dressing is fabulous.