Recipes from June and July Cooking Days with Chef Jen

COOKING DAY- June 1st:

Biscuits and gravy:

Jen started the morning with biscuits and gravy. She made the biscuits at home.  Heartmoss Farm sausage was browned until done. Add a handful of flour and stir until the flour is browned and fat is absorbed, making a quick roux.  Add milk gradually while stirring until thickened. Season with white pepper and serve on a biscuit.

Sirloin Tips with Shitake mushrooms:

The sirloin (Little River Farm) was tossed with flour and seasoned with salt and pepper.  Sautée the meat and mushrooms in butter with chopped green onions until the meat is browned. Add stock or water to cover and simmer until the meat is tender adding more liquid as needed.

Roasted Cauliflower:

Heat the grill or oven to 400 degrees.  Toss cauliflower with olive oil, salt, pepper and a big pinch of curry powder and place in a single layer on a pan and roast until browned.

Stuffed Nasturtium Flowers:

Blend together one parts sour cream and 2 parts cream cheese until smooth.  Add honey to taste and pipe into nasturtium flowers.

Quick Pickled Sugar Snap Peas:

Mix in a small saucepan 1 ¼ cups vinegar and 1 tablespoon each salt and sugar.  Bring to a boil and dissolve the spices.  Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/4 cold cup water.  Pack a quart jar with sugar snap peas that have been washed and stems and strings removed.  Add 4 cloves garlic and 2 dried red peppers or some red pepper flakes in a sterilized quart jar. Pour in the vinegar mixture and keep in the fridge for 2 weeks before using.

Chorizo and White Bean Salad:

Soak 2 cups cannellini beans overnight in enough water to cover by 2 inches.  Pour off water and add 2 cloves of garlic and fresh water to cover. Bring to a boil and then simmer until tender.  Always salt beans after cooking or they will toughen.  Brown the chorizo (Olivia’s legacy) and mix with the cooked beans.  Fill a serving plate with fresh lettuce, top with bean mixture and a dollop of sour cream.  Top with dressing.  Jen’s dressing used a pint each of homemade roasted tomato sauce and sweet red pepper sauce, apple cider vinegar to taste, a dash of sriracha sauce and a drizzle of honey.

Lamb Sausage Meatball Sandwich:

Roll lamb sausage (Heartmoss Farm) into balls.  Brown until cooked through.  Add equal quantities of tomato and sweet pepper sauce and simmer until thickened.  Grate mozzarella on French baguette and toast (Stickboy’s in Boone) .  Top with meatballs.

Chicken and Vegetable Stir fry:

Cut the chicken into small, uniform size pieces and sauté in butter.  Remove from the heat.  Chop vegetables; add olive oil to the pan if needed and sauté.  Jen used carrots, sugar snap peas, mushrooms and squash.  Add the chicken back to the pan when the veggies are almost done.  Season with a dash of sriracha and serve with a sprinkling of chives.

 

COOKING DAY JULY 1ST

Roasted Carrots:

Heat the grill or oven to 400 degrees.  Remove carrot tops and reserve for pesto. Toss scrubbed carrots with salt, pepper and olive oil.  Place in a single layer on heat proof pan and roast until golden brown.  Turn once after 10 to 15 minutes and roast the other side until fork tender.  Most vegetables can be roasted.

Carrot Top Pesto:

Put carrot tops, 2 or 3 cloves of garlic, several tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, a tablespoon of lemon juice, a pinch of Aleppo pepper (Penzy’s spices) and salt into a food processor and puree.  Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.  You can add grated parmesan and or nuts if desired but omit lemon juice if you do.

Cole Slaw:

Shred a small head of cabbage.  Shred 2 or 3 carrots.  Add the juice of a lemon, an equal amount of extra virgin olive oil, salt to taste, a pinch of red pepper flakes.  Taste and add a bit of honey or sugar.  You can also add onions, chives and garlic if desired.

Kale Chips:

Heat the oven or grill to 250-350 degrees. ( higher temps will roast faster and need closer attention) Remove the stem and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Bake on a sheet tray in a single layer for 10-20 minutes.  Flip and continue to roast until crisp.  You can add other seasonings if desired.  Try garlic powder, cayenne, parmesan, lemon zest, onion powder or seasoned salt.  Experiment!

Quick Cucumber Pickle:

Combine in a bowl or Ziploc bag: thinly sliced cucumbers, your preferred vinegar to cover (apple cider, rice wine or white), a bit of honey or sugar, salt and herbs.  Try one or 2 of the following: garlic, chives, parsley, cilantro, green onion, even seaweed.  Cover and leave at room temperature for a few hours for flavors to come together.  Refrigerate any leftovers.

Tzatziki:

Combine in the food processor: 8 ounces plain yogurt, 2 peeled and sliced cucumbers, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, the juice of ½ a lemon, salt and pepper, a tablespoon chopped fresh dill, 2 cloves of garlic and a dash of sriracha sauce.  Process until smooth.   Jen served this over raw tender baby  beet greens and Heartmoss lamb burgers.

Blue Cheese Dressing:

Combine in a bowl: ¾ cup sour cream, 1 1/3 cup mayo, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire, ½ teaspoon dry mustard, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, salt and pepper, 4 ounces blue cheese and a dash of sriracha sauce. Blend until smooth.  Best made the day before.  Best with assertive summer greens.