Recipe (Re)creation: Summer Spaghetti with Heirloom Tomatoes, Basil, Toasted Hazelnuts + Burrata

This pasta dish is an ode to summer produce.  It was inspired by a recipe I came across in the summer eating issue of Bon Appétit.  I adapted it by adding the flavor combinations I crave on a regular basis while also sticking to the ingredients I had on hand.  Feel free to double or triple this recipe for a crowd.  It's very straightforward and simple and relies on the freshest produce for all the best flavors to come through. Get yourself to the farmer's market and start cooking!

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 6-8 oz. spaghetti
• 1/3 cup hazelnuts
• 1 large heirloom tomato (or 2 medium ones)
• 1-2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup basil leaves
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• Kosher salt & pepper
• Burrata (as much as you'd like)

Directions

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and toast the hazelnuts on a baking sheet for 8-10 minutes.
-Let the hazelnuts cool, coarsely chop them, and set aside.
-Roughly chop up the heirloom tomato in 1 inch cubes, place in a bowl and season with salt.
-Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente.
-While the pasta is cooking, throw the garlic, red pepper flakes, 1/4 cup basil leaves, half of the chopped tomatoes and half of the hazelnuts and a pinch of salt in a food processor and blend until smooth.
-Drain the pasta and reserve 1/8 cup of the pasta water.
-Add the tomatoes, the blended sauce, the spaghetti, extra pasta water and the remaining hazelnuts and basil to a large bowl.
-Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
-Divide evenly among two bowls and top with generous spoonfuls of burrata.
-Enjoy!

Recipe Creation: Meyer Lemon + Strawberry Ice Pops

As Indian summer is upon us in San Francisco, the temperature is rising and there is truly nothing more refreshing than an ice cold popsicle.  I have been on a total lemonade kick recently and figured if I liked it cold, I would really like it frozen.  I had some strawberries I'd gotten from the farmer's market a week before and I couldn't let them go to waste, so I threw those in too.  Not only do the strawberries make the ice pops even more beautiful, but they also add some texture and are a nice sweet surprise.  This recipe is definitely on the more tart side, so feel free to add more agave if you like a sweeter treat.  Otherwise, keep the recipe as written and you can enjoy the fact that you are not consuming an ice pop loaded with a bunch of added sugar. Though they are super fast to whip together, you do have to be patient and keep them in the freezer for 4 hours before enjoying, so plan ahead!

Makes about 12 ice pops

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup meyer lemon juice (about 6 lemons)
• 1/3 cup agave nectar
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup ripe strawberries, sliced

Directions:

-Pour the lemon juice, water, and agave nectar in a blender.
-Blend for about 30 seconds or until well-mixed.
-Add the strawberry slices to the lemonade and pour the mixture into popsicle molds.
-Make sure to leave about 1/2 inch at the top of each mold to make space for the popsicles to expand as they freeze.
-Put the tops on the molds and freeze for at least 4 hours.
-Enjoy!

Recipe (Re)creation: Grilled Peach + Prosciutto Pizza

I just took a fabulous cooking class at Sur La Table and we focused specifically on grilled pizzas.  The hands-down winner of the night was a grilled peach and prosciutto pizza.  I ended up eating two of them (yes, two) and was determined to make them at home.  I added mozzarella, caramelized onions and some lightly dressed arugula leaves to the top and had myself a culinary masterpiece.  While we did learn how to make our own dough (I will post this later), it is a little time consuming and must be made a few days in advance, so I used Whole Foods store-bought dough.  The key is the leave it out so it is room temperature when you are ready to start forming the crusts.  That way it will be much easier to work with and you will be much happier with your results.  You don't even have to own a BBQ to make these pizzas- any grill pan or griddle will do!

Serves 1-2

Ingredients:

• Vegetable oil (for brushing peaches and grill)
• 1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 large white peach, pitted and sliced
• 8 oz. pizza dough, room temperature
• flour (for forming crusts)
• 2-3 sliced prosciutto, torn
• 2-3 oz. fresh mozzarella, torn
• 1/2 cup arugula
• 1 3/4 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Directions:

-Preheat your grill or grill pan over high heat and brush with olive oil.
-Heat a large non-stick skillet and add 1 tbsp olive oil.
-Add the yellow onion slices and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes.
-Remove the caramelized onions from heat and set aside.
-Next, brush peach slices with oil and place on grill.
-Cook until they develop grill marks, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
-Carefully remove peaches from grill and set aside for later.
-With floured hands, form the pizza dough into a ball.
-Pinch the dough with your thumbs and forefingers to stretch it out.
-Once it is round and flat, place the dough on a floured surface
-Brush one side with oil and place the oiled side down on the grill.
-Cover, and cook until grill marks appear (about 3 mins).
-Then oil the top and flip again until the other side also has golden grill marks.
-Remove from heat, top with torn mozzarella, prosciutto and peaches.
-Return pizzas to the grill, cover, and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
-Mix the arugula and remaining olive oil and balsamic in a small bowl.
-Top the pizza with caramelized onions and arugula salad.

Enjoy!

Recipe Creation: Kale + Quinoa Pilaf with Sautéed Chanterelles

This dish combines all of my favorite foods AND it's super healthy and satisfying.  I can rarely convince my husband to do a vegetarian dinner, but he is more than happy to eat this dish on its own any day of the week.  The lemon adds a nice zesty flavor and the goat cheese balances out the acidity of the dish.  Top it with some buttery sautéed chanterelles and you have yourself a restaurant worthy meal.  This is my version of a happy meal.  Kinda makes me want to hum when I eat it...

Adapted from Food 52

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup rainbow quinoa
• 1 bunch kale, ribs removed + roughly torn
• 3 green onions, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup goat cheese
• 3 tbsp toasted pine nuts
• 1 tbsp hazelnut oil
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 1 cup chanterelles, sliced
• 1 tbsp butter
• salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

-Bring the water to boil in a medium saucepan with a lid.

-Add the quinoa and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes.

-Add the kale and let steam for an additional 5-10 minutes.

-Meanwhile, heat a small skillet on medium heat and add the butter.

-Sauté the chanterelles for about 10 minutes, or until lightly browned & cooked through.

-Mix the green onions, goat cheese, pine nuts, oil, lemon juice & zest in a large bowl.

-Scoop in the cooked quinoa and kale and mix thoroughly.

-Top with chanterelles and season with salt & pepper.

Recipe Creation: The Perfect Grilled Artichoke

Artichokes are tough.  Seriously.  I have failed many a times trying to cook these perfectly.  If you just grill them, they are too tough and if you just steam or boil them, you don't have those beautiful grill marks and charred flavor.  So, I decided to do both!  I was trying my best to (re)create my favorite grilled artichoke at Lolinda and I don't think you'll be disappointed!  In terms of serving the artichoke, I prefer serving it with Lemonaise (lemon aioli) or melted butter, but you can also make extra garlic oil and dip it in that too.  The best thing about artichokes is that they are delicious AND fun to eat ; )

Serves 2

Ingredients:

• 1 artichoke
• 1/2 lemon, cut into wedges
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

-Preheat the grill to 400 F.
-Fill a large bowl with cold water and add a wedge of lemon.
-Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil.
-Trim the artichoke and cut it in half.
-Immediately place the artichoke halves in the cold lemon water.
-Remove halves momentarily to scoop out the fuzzy center of each artichoke.
-Place artichokes in the pot and boil for 15 minutes.
-In a small bowl, mix the oil, remaining lemon juice, and garlic together in a bowl.
-Season the olive oil & garlic mixture with salt and pepper, to taste.
-Remove the artichokes from the boiling water and brush with the garlic mixture.
-Place on the grill, flat side down, for 5-8 minutes.
-Remove from grill and serve with aioli, butter, or more garlicky olive oil.

~Enjoy~