Tag Archives: garden recipe

Arugula Has Its Day

Tuesday at Raincatcher’s we noticed that the arugula was bolting. Lovely little white blossoms crowned the tops of all the arugula plants in our raised bed.  The bees couldn’t have been happier.

However, it also reminded us that the time had come for one final harvest. Carefully we clipped our way through the plants with bees buzzing all around us.  A very generous amount of arugula, at least 6 pots full, was harvested and shared with our volunteers.

Here is a delightful recipe for using fresh, peppery arugula brought in straight from the garden. A nice addition to the salad would be 1 bunch fresh roasted beets.  Be creative, arugula supports a variety of many different ingredients.

 

Arugula Growing at The Raincatcher’s Garden

Arugula Salad

Ingredients:

¼ cup sliced natural almonds

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon minced shallot

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 ½ tablespoons red-wine vinegar

¼ teaspoon sugar

½ teaspoon salt

3 cups baby arugula (about 3 ounces)

3 or 4 radishes (thinly sliced)

Directions:

  1. Cook almonds in oil in a small skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally until pale golden. Cool almonds in oil, (nuts will get darker as they cool). Transfer almonds with a slotted spoon to a small bowl and season with salt.
  2. Stir together shallot, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, salt and oil from almonds in a large bowl.
  3. Using a mandoline or very sharp knife, thinly slice radishes.
  4. Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over the top and toss well to coat the leaves.

Yield: 4 servings

Note: Freshly “pulled” radishes were added to the salad, as well.

 

 

 

 

Linda Alexander

Find out more about arugula here .

And here’s another way to use harvested arugula.

Thanksgiving Menu

Thank you to our many readers who have purchased the Dallas County Master Gardener Association cookbook, A Year On The Plate. Copies are available on our website and at North Haven Gardens while supplies last.slide08

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Menu by Linda

Chocolate Beet Cake

Chocolate Beet Cake with Beet Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Beet Cake with Beet Cream Cheese Frosting

You may be thinking of Valentine’s Day but we are salivating over the recipes in our cookbook, A Year on the Plate,  only a few short months away from being published.

This cake scored the highest in all categories in our tasting this week.  But how can a cake be garden inspired?   The secret is in its main ingredient.  Can you guess what it is?  The clue is in the name.

By the end of the year this recipe will be in your hands and ready for your valentine when you purchase A Year on the Plate.  Hope that’s ok, this recipe is only a heart beet away!

Ann

Picture by Starla

Cake baking by Carol

 

Flavorful News from the Dallas County Master Gardener Cookbook Committee

A new Dallas County Master Gardener Cookbook is on the way.  Our members have submitted a wheelbarrow full of recipes and gardening tips that the cookbook committee has been dutifully busy tasting and testing.

cookbook collage

We jumped into July with forks in hand. Tomato recipes were tasteful and tempting.  Corn, in abundance, brought comfort to our tummies.  Blackberries had us beaming with their beauty.  And, peaches just pushed us over the edge with their juicy goodness.  What could be better?  Well…

Cookbook August cropped overhead shot

In August we anguished over the okra. Which do we like best?  Fried, roasted, simmered, stewed or even finessed into little muffins?   And, oh how the squash recipes raised our spirits.  Shaved into salads, grated for quiche, pureed into soup, carpaccio and casseroles to consider.  How will we decide?

September, October and November we celebrated the harvest bounty. Sweet potatoes to savor, pumpkin recipes to ponder, an over-the-top apple recipe, a unique and very elegant pear presentation that left us swooning while Meyer lemon pie made us pucker with pride.

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

Creamy Southwestern Pumpkin Soup

Our journey has been filled with flavor, fun and friendly evaluations. We’ve tasted, tested, eliminated some and accepted over 140 recipes.  Profound thanks to our faithful volunteers who have traveled with us.   The adventure continues to grow more exciting and we can’t wait to share our discoveries.

Until then, stay posted for more “flavorful news” from the cookbook committee and a special 2016 unveiling.

Take a peek at some “behind the scenes pics” courtesy of Ann and Starla!

Linda Alexander, Cookbook Chair

Fall Tomatoes at The Raincatcher’s Garden

Listen to Dorothy! I always do! Here’s our fall tomato report:

 

We have talked about green tomatoes almost as much as red, ripe tomatoes:

Green Tomato Primer

Fried Green Tomatoes

Dorothy’s Chow Chow

Fall Tomatoes

Ann

Video by Starla

Peach Jalapeño Salsa Dog

Just in Time for Labor Day Weekend!

hot dog and peach jalapeno salsa

Ingredients:

2 large ripe peaches, quartered

1 jalapeño pepper, cut in half and seeded

1 lime, juiced

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

1 pinch kosher salt

1 package Hebrew National hot dogs

1 package potato hot dog buns

Directions:

  1. In a high speed blender or a food processor add peach quarters, jalapeño pepper, lime juice, cilantro and salt.
  2. Puree quickly (less than 30 seconds) to create a chunky salsa puree. Set aside while hot dogs cook.
  3. Grill or boil hot dogs, add to a bun and top with salsa.

Linda

 

Goodbye Summer and Recipes

We’ve tested and tasted, savored and enjoyed but now it’s time to say farewell.  Our memories have been sweetened with the most delightful flavors of summer; juicy, plump blackberries, tantalizing tomatoes and the star of the show – those luscious, versatile peaches (many would agree, perhaps, summer’s finest fruit).  Yes, we would take them through every season if nature allowed.  But, we must let go and only dream about the spring and summer yet to come.

From the Raincatcher’s Garden: We wish you and your family a restful, and pleasure filled Labor Day weekend.  Join us on our seasonal garden journey by subscribing to Dallas Garden Buzz.

blackberries in carton

 

Blackberry Brie Bites

Ingredients:

1 tube refrigerated crescent rolls (Pillsbury 8 oz.)

1 round Brie Cheese (8 oz.)

¼ cup blackberry jelly (Smuckers Spreadable Fruit)

24 fresh blackberries

24 large toothpicks, optional

Directions:

  1. Separate the crescent rolls into 4 rectangles. Press the seams together and cut into

6 even squares. Press into 24 mini muffin tins.

  1. Cut the rind off the Brie cheese. Cut into 24 small squares. Place on square into each crescent lined tin. Spoon a small amount of blackberry jelly on top of each cheese square. Fold the tips of the crescent rolls over, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes. Remove from the oven and top with a fresh blackberry on a toothpick. Serve immediately.

Yield: Makes 24 crescent cups.

 

Tomatoes for recipe

Gorgonzola-Tomato Salad

Ingredients:

Gorgonzola Tomatoes4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese

¼ cup minced fresh parsley

3 tablespoon minced shallot

2 tablespoons minced fresh basil

6 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced

⅓ cup olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

 

Directions:

  1. Freeze cheese 30 minutes or until firm. Grate cheese into a small bowl; add parsley shallot, and basil, stirring gently to combine. Arrange tomato slices on a large serving platter. Sprinkle cheese mixture over tomato slices.
  2. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, and salt and pepper to taste, beating well with a wire whisk. Drizzle dressing mixture over salad.

Yield: 6 servings

Linda

Peach recipe tomorrow!

 

Fried Green Tomatoes

Green Tomatoes for Sale at Local Farmer's Market

Green Tomatoes for Sale at Local Farmer’s Market

Fried Green Tomatoes

Have you failed to savor this traditional Southern favorite? If so, you may want to reconsider and start frying a mess of these beauties while we’re right at the peak of spectacular summer produce.   Thanks to novelist, Fannie Flagg, for modeling her book Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, Random House 1987, after Birmingham’s Irondale Café, which her great aunt operated for nearly 40 years. Owner, Jim Dolan says his crew cooks about 135 pounds of fried green tomatoes a day. The book and movie helped the dish’s popularity – visitors come from all over the country to sample this Southern specialty.

The first recipe is from Southern Living 2003 Annual Recipes and is considered a classic. However, you might want to give the second one a try, also from Southern Living Annual Recipes, June 1999. The point is, a good southern recipe will make you a believer!

Fried Green Tomatoes with Aioli Sauce

Fried Green Tomatoes with Aioli Sauce

Golden Crispy Fried Green Tomatoes 

Ingredients:

1 large egg, lightly beaten

½ cup buttermilk

½ cup all-purpose flour, divided

½ cup cornmeal

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

3 medium-size green tomatoes, cut into 1/3 inch slices

Vegetable Oil

Salt to taste

Directions:

  1. Combine egg and buttermilk; set aside.
  2. Combine ¼ cup flour, cornmeal, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl or pan.
  3. Dredge tomato slices in remaining ¼ cup flour; dip in egg mixture, and dredge in cornmeal mixture.
  4. Pour oil to a depth of ¼ to ½ inch in a large cast-iron skillet; heat to 375˚. Drop tomatoes, in batches, into hot oil, and cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Drain on paper towels or a rack. Sprinkle hot tomatoes with salt.

 

Blue Willow Fried Green Tomatoes

From the Southern Living Test Kitchen, this recipe garnered its best marks. The Blue Willow Inn reports that their fried green tomatoes are consumed like there’s no tomorrow in Social Circle, Georgia. 

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups self-rising flour, divided

1 ½ cups buttermilk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon salt, divided

1 teaspoon pepper, divided

3 green tomatoes, each cut into 4 slices

2 cups vegetable oil

Directions:

  1. Whisk together 1 tablespoon flour, buttermilk, eggs, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper in a small bowl.
  2. Stir together remaining flour, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper in a shallow bowl.
  3. Dip tomato slices in buttermilk mixture; dredge in flour mixture.
  4. Heat oil in heavy 10-inch skillet to 350˚. Fry tomato slices 2 ½ minutes on each side or until golden.
  5. Drain tomato slices on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt. Serve fried tomatoes immediately.

Yield: 6 servings

Note: For an extra treat, make up a batch of Spicy Aioli and use as a dipping sauce for these yummy gems.

Spicy Aioli

Ingredients:

2/3 cup mayonnaise

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

½ teaspoon cayenne

Directions:

  1. Mix mayonnaise with garlic, lemon juice, mustard, and cayenne.
  2. Cover and chill to store.

Yield: Makes 2 cups

Linda

Pictures by Ann and Linda

 

May Recipes from the Master Gardener Meeting

Linda, Evelyn, and Judy and Tarts

Linda, Evelyn, and Judy and Tarts

Heirloom-Tomato-And Goat-Cheese Tartlets

Ingredients:

Black-Pepper Crusts (see below)

Pesto (see below)

3 cups heirloom tomatoes, cut in half

1 teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 (4-ounce) package goat-cheese crumbles

Garnish: fresh oregano and microbasil

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400°.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and place prepared Black-Pepper Tartlet Crusts on baking sheet. Spoon about 3 tablespoons Pesto into bottom of each crust. Fill each tartlet with tomatoes, and season evenly with salt and pepper.  Sprinkle cheese over tomatoes, and bake for 15 minutes, or until cheese is slightly browned.
  3. Garnish with oregano and microbasil, if desired. Serve immediately.

Black- Pepper Tartlet Crusts

Ingredients:

2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 cup unsalted butter

¾ cup sour cream

Directions:

In the work bowl of a food processor, combine flour, salt, and pepper; pulse to combine. Add butter, and pulse until crumbled.  Add sour cream, and pulse until mixture comes together.  Remove mixture and form into a disk; wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.

  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut 6 (5-inch) rounds from dough.  Place a round in bottom and up sides of each of 6 (4-inch) tartlet pans.  Line tartlet crusts with parchment paper to cover bottoms and sides, and top with pie weights.  Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven; cool slightly.  Remove pie weights and parchment paper.  Return to oven, and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Remove from oven, and cool.

Pesto

Ingredients:

3 cups fresh basil leaves

3 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

3 garlic cloves, peeled

¼ cup grated fresh Asiago cheese

¼ cup toasted pine nuts

½ teaspoon coarse salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

⅓ cup olive oil

Directions:

  1. In the work bowl of a food processor, combine basil, oregano, lemon juice, garlic, cheese, and pine nuts; pulse until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Add salt, pepper, and olive oil; pulse until smooth.  Prepared pesto can be stored, refrigerated in an airtight container, for up to 3 days
Lettuce Prep for Butterhead Lettuce Salad

Lettuce Prep for Butterhead Lettuce Salad

Butterhead Lettuce and Spring Vegetable Salad

Ingredients:

5 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and ground pepper

2 heads butterhead lettuce, washed and dried

6 radishes, trimmed and thinly sliced

1 large carrot, peeled and cut into thin strips

2 ounces alfalfa sprouts

Jane with Sprouts!

Jane with Sprouts!

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar and oil; season with salt and pepper.
  2. Tear lettuce into bite-size pieces and add to bowl along with radishes and carrots. Toss; season with salt and pepper.
  3. Divide salad equally among four plates and top each with sprouts. Serve immediately.

Yield: 4 servings

Asparagus Ready to Eat

Asparagus Ready to Eat

Parmesan Asparagus Roll-Ups with Lemon Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

1 package phyllo dough

½ – 1 cup Parmesan cheese

1 stick butter, melted

30 asparagus spears, washed, woody ends cut and dried

Lemon Dipping Sauce

Directions:

Take pastry out of box and unfold one package of sheets. Cover sheets with a just barely damp paper towel when not using.

  1. Remove one sheet of phyllo and put on a work surface. Brush the entire sheet with butter; put another sheet of phyllo on top, brush second sheet with butter.
  2. Cut pastry sheets into six even strips, cutting from one short end to another.
  3. Sprinkle each phyllo strip with Parmesan cheese.
  4. Wind one phyllo strip around each asparagus in a spiral manner starting at the base.
  5. Repeat with phyllo until all the asparagus is rolled up.
  6. Brush the tops of the phyllo dough with butter and sprinkle with Parmesan.
  7. Put the asparagus on 2 parchment lined baking sheets and bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes, until the phyllo is light golden brown.

Lemon Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

½ cup sour cream

½ cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 garlic clove, pressed

1 teaspoon lemon zest

Dash of hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Put all ingredient s in a bowl and mix well. Serve with asparagus.  Chill if not using right away.

Linda

May 2015 Master Gardener Meeting 036

And what about those Blackberry Pie Bars? Click here!

 

 

Chow Chow

This is the Monday family’s ‘best guess’ recipe for the relish served at an old cat fish place near Oil City, Louisiana.

 I’m not sure why, but  we call it “B and B Relish”.

Tomatoes and Onions on the Stove!

Tomatoes and Onions on the Stove!

B and B Chow Chow

(Also known as Cool Point Relish)

2 Gallons quartered green tomatoes

1/2 Gallon quartered (or smaller) onions

1 Pint hot peppers ( or less)

1/2 Gallons white vinegar

6 Cups sugar

1/2 cup salt

In large pan, add the vinegar, sugar, and salt to a large pan.  Bring it to boil and add tomatoes, onions, and peppers.  Bring it back to a boil, and remove from heat.

Pack in jars, cover with liquid and seal.

Dorothy