Julia's Pesto Presto

Summer is the time of year for fresh herbs and my basil plants are looking beautiful! There are few things so amazingly flavorful as fresh basil pesto; I simply love it. The addition of lemon helps to brighten the pesto a bit and to loosen the consistency without adding too much oil. Try it with my Greek Tomato Salad -- it's fantastic!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pine nuts
50 leaves fresh basil
1 large clove garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tbs. olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 tsp. salt
pepper to taste

In small food processor, pulse pine nuts, garlic and basil. Add cheese and pulse again. The pesto should seem too dry, but be well-blended. Add oil, one tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition. Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth.

Enjoy!

Erin's Mediterranean Pasta Salad

I have never tasted pasta salad as good as Erin makes it. Her recipe has a spicy, fresh taste that doesn't get pasty or watered down, even in hot weather. It is full of vegetables, definitely earning the title "salad".

Ingredients:

One pound small shaped pasta (rotini, fusilli, macaroni, tagliatelle, etc.)
1 head broccoli
1 pint ripe cherry tomatoes
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 scallion, chopped finely
2 ribs celery, diced
1 handful Kalamata olives, sliced (You may use Manzanilla olives, if you prefer.)
1 cup diced pepperoni
1 lb. low-moisture park-skim mozzarella, cut in 1/2 inch cubes
1 packet dry Good Seasons Italian dressing
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Cook pasta al dente. Rinse under cold water, drain, and immediately toss with a splash of olive oil to avoid sticking. Set aside to cool. Cut broccoli into flowerettes. Blanche lightly, about 1 minute in boiling water. Plunge flowerettes in a bowl of ice water to stop cooking process. Drain and cool completely. Wash tomatoes and cut in half. Combine cooled broccoli, tomato halves, pepper, scallion, celery, olives, pepperoni, and cheese. Toss carefully with cooled pasta in a large mixing bowl, being careful not to damage noodles. Mix salad dressing with vinegar, water, and oil. Stirring salad lightly, dress just enough to moisten mixture and add desired flavor. Taste as you go, adding a little at a time. Extra dressing may be served alongside. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Garnish with fresh oregano and basil, if desired.

Enjoy!

Italian Sausage-Pepper Skillet

Yesterday we harvested the first of our bell peppers. It was fun to see my daughter hold the pepper, warm from the sunshine, against her cheek as she carried it inside. Of course, fresh peppers from the garden are a perfect opportunity to cook this easy, satisfying meal. I serve it over our favorite pasta, angel hair.

Ingredients:

1 pkg. mild Italian sausages (5 or 6 servings)
1 green bell pepper
1/4 Bermuda onion
2 cloves garlic
1 1/2 cups prepared marinara sauce (store bought or homemade are okay)

About an hour before you plan to eat, fill large skillet with 1/2 inch of water. Place sausages in cold pan, cover, and cook over high heat until water boils. Keep pan covered and turn heat down to simmer. Peel garlic cloves, leave whole and place in pan with sausages. Wash, seed, and slice pepper into thin strips. Cut onion into rings. Place onion and pepper slices into skillet and cook 15 minutes. Add marinara sauce, stir all ingredients to coat. Keep skillet covered and over lowest heat. In the time it takes to prepare the pasta (optional), the sausages will be cooked -- and your kitchen will smell delicious!

Enjoy!

Fresh Tomato Salsa

This is such a fantastic condiment. I use it on fajitas (recipe below), but also as a delicious addition to summer salads. Of course, my children and husband can't get enough of it with chips. This recipe will stay fresh 2-3 days in the refrigerator -- but mine never makes it that long!

Ingredients:
3 medium-sized round tomatoes (I like Early Girl, but use what you have)
or
6 Roma tomatoes
1 clove garlic, chopped and mashed
1/4 tsp. salt
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/4 cup Bermuda onion, diced
1 jalapeno, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Wash tomatoes and remove stems. Slice in half and gently squeeze over a bowl to remove seeds. Cut into 1/4 to 1/2 inch dice. In a medium-sized bowl, combine tomatoes, garlic, salt, lime juice, onion, jalapeno and cilantro. Toss gently to evenly distribute ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours to blend the flavors.

Enjoy!

Broiled Tomatoes with Herbs

I love the flavor of freshly cooked tomatoes. This simple dish is the perfect light side dish for fish or chicken. It is best when the herbs and tomatoes are picked fresh. What a bright, wonderful taste of summer!

Ingredients:

4 fresh tomatoes (I like smaller round varieties, like Early Girl)
1/2 tsp. salt (approx.)
4 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
2 tbs. fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped
10 leaves sweet basil, chopped
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 tsp. paprika
pepper to taste
2 tbs. shredded Romano cheese

Wash the tomatoes well. Remove stem and cut in half. Place, cut side up, on a large cookie sheet. Sprinkle a pinch of salt atop each. Drizzle with olive oil. In a small bowl, mix herbs, bread crumbs, spices and cheese. Divide evenly among tomato tops. Drizzle again lightly with olive oil. Broil under high heat, 4-7 minutes, watching carefully to prevent tops from scorching. The tomatoes should still have a firm, not watery, texture.

Enjoy!

Joe and Julia's Homemade Coleslaw

My husband and I developed this recipe the first summer we were married. We were so dissatisfied with store-bought coleslaw and just wanted to make a homemade version. We looked at so many recipes and combined and changed them until we came to this one we really like. It uses a whole head of cabbage, so it makes a nice, big batch. What a great addition to your picnic menu!

Ingredients:

2 big, rounded spoonfuls of horseradish sauce (we use store brand)
2 big, rounded spoonfuls of mayonnaise
1 1/2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. vinegar
3/4 tsp. salt
1 head of cabbage
1-2 large carrots
2 scallions, finely chopped
2 tbs. fresh parsley, chopped

In a small bowl, whisk together the horseradish sauce (not straight horseradish -- horseradish sauce), mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, and salt. This will be the dressing for your slaw. Refrigerate. Finely shred the cabbage -- we do this by hand, but you can also use a food processor. Shred the carrots and add them to the cabbage in a large bowl. Toss in scallions and parsley. Pour dressing over all and toss until ingredients are uniformly distributed. Chill until ready to serve.

Hint: The flavor of this slaw improves with time. You might want to make this the night before you plan to serve it or early in the morning for an afternoon barbecue.

Enjoy!

Garden Green Beans with Onion

Fresh green beans from the garden are such a delight. Their flavor is buttery and their texture is perfect. Here's a simple preparation for one of Summer's perfect foods.

Ingredients:

1 lb. fresh green beans
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tbs. minced white onion
2 slices bacon, diced
salt and pepper to taste

Wash beans and trim stems. Drain. In small saucepan, saute bacon and onion over medium-low heat until onion is translucent. Add water, beans, and salt. Turn up heat to bring the mixture to a boil. Stir once and cover. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes. Taste before serving and season with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Enjoy!