Cherry Tomato Vanilla Bean Preserves

You might not need this recipe with the first sweet, sweet cherry tomatoes of the season, but if you end up with a bounty of cherry tomatoes – this is a great way to use them up.

I cannot remember where I got this recipe but it’s delicious with goat cheese. Or over ice cream. Yes!

Pectin is sold with canning supplies in small Jello-size boxes with brand names like Sure-Jell, but also in store brands. I think Ball maybe is now also selling a small “bulk” container so you can just spoon out a teaspoon or so rather than using a whole box to make a batch of jams. Great for small batch preserving.

Beet, Rice and Goat Cheese Burgers

This recipe was published in the New York Times. A really yummy veggie burger. Unless I plan to serve my beets raw, I go ahead and cook the whole batch (either wrapped in foil as a big bundle and baked, or put into a large microwave-proof container with a little water, covered, and allowed to steam in the microwave). Now I have roasted or steamed beets to pickle, slice into salads, or turn into dishes like this.

Cucumber Cooler

A recipe without provenance. Simple syrup is a mixture of one part granulated sugar and one part water, heated enough to dissolve the sugar. It will keep in your refrigerator for weeks and is the perfect way to sweeten iced tea – no undissolved sugar in the bottom of the glass.

Dolma Mahshi (Iraqi Stuffed Onions)

This recipe comes from Aladdin’s Castle Cafe in Portland, Oregon. No pomegranate molasses? Any chance there’s tamarind paste in your pantry? That would work as a fruity but tart substitute. If you don’t have either, just skip it. Although it’s worth finding a bottle of pomegranate molasses. It makes a wonderful glaze for grilled meats and seafood among many other uses.