Rock Your Palate » Quick and Yummy

Berries in Abundance

Anne — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:59:31 +0000

Winter in the Northeast, sometimes you will find various berries in your favorite food store in abundance. Typically they are coming from California and on sale as buy one get one free. I stock up and freeze into a portions. This simple freeze method to will carry you through until you can buy local a the next harvest.

Remove strawberries green leafy stem and cut into halves or quarters depending on the size

Leave blackberries/ raspberries whole

Rinse all berries with cold water and drain.

Arrange berries in a single layer on a shallow tray, spray lightly with water

Place in your freezer for 60 minutes.

Scoop up all frozen berries and place preferred portion into individual freezer bags, label.

You can use this same freeze method with other fruits like apples, pears and peaches. Cut into preferred size and spray fruit with a 30% concentration of lemon juice/ water to prevent browning which occurs when exposed to air.

Stretch your local favorite fruits when in season by using this very simple freeze method!

For further information about freezing foods check out: USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, available online:

http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Anne — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:19:25 +0000

Makes One 12oz serving

1 Cup fresh strawberries

1/2 banana

4 oz plain yogurt

1 teas vanilla

1/4 teas cinnamon

1/2 cup of crushed ice

1/3 Cup 2% milk

Blend all ingredients together in one 16oz serving smoothie blender. Drink immediately.

Spanakopasta

Anne — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 23:55:40 +0000

Recipe serves a family of 8 most under 3 ft tall]

16 oz of Linguine [one box]

12 oz of fresh chopped spinach

1 tea minced garlic

1 medium chopped onion

1/2 Lb Italian Pancetta

1 pint of light cream

1 beaten egg

8 oz chopped feta cheese

nutmeg

Extra Virgin olive oil

Boil 4 quarts of water. Add lingiune and cook per package

Add spinach to the last 3 minutes to the boiling pasta waterDrain pasta and spinach addding a small amount of olive oil to keep the paste from sticking

Heal olive oil to medium sauce pan and add chopped pancetta until browned

Add onions and garlic once golden in color. Dont burnt.

Add light cream and nutmeg to the sauce pan, stirring until almost reaching a boil.

Remove from heat and whisk in egg slowly, this will thicken the mixture.

Add 1/2 feta cheese and mix.

Pour over the noodle mix.

Toss and top with remaining crumbled feta cheese.

Josephine’s Deli Pickles

Anne — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:15:03 +0000

Recipe is for 30 pickles

6 garden cucumbers, cut into spears

1/4 Cup Kosher Salt

6 crushed garlic cloves

2 Quarts of water

Heat water just to boil.

Add kosher salt and garlic cloves.

Stir water until salt dissolves.

Remove from heat and add cucumber spears.

Transfer to a sealed container and place in the frig for 24 hours.

Tarragon Dressed Cucumbers

Anne — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:56:07 +0000

Recipes serves 4

1/2 Cup cider vinegar

3 Tbsp brown sugar

1 teas sea salt

Fresh ground pepper

1 teas garam masala [coriander, cumin, cardamon and cinnamon]

3 Tbsp olive oil

3 – 4 medium size garden cucumbers

Combined vinegar, spices and sugar

Slowly add olive oil while whisking to make dressing

Slice cucumbers into 1/4inch

Add fresh sprigs of tarragon

Drizzle dressing over cucumbers

Toss gently, refrigerate for 30 minutes