Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Herbs and Parmesan

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 Ingredients:

1 medium spaghetti squash

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon mixed fresh herbs (I used sage, rosemary, and oregano), finely chopped

1/4 cup grated parmesan

kosher salt

black pepper

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Method:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Cut the stem end off the squash and slice it in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and brush with one tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place squash cut side down on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes or until tender.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Using a fork, scrape the squash to remove the flesh in long strands. Place the squash in a large bowl. Add olive oil, herbs, and parmesan and toss to combine. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

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Roasted Tomato Soup

Ingredients:

8 large tomatoes

1 head garlic

2 cups chicken stock

1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

        

Method:

Serves 6.

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

Core the tomatoes and slice them in half crosswise. Place on a parchment or foil lined sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cut the top off the head of garlic, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil and place on the baking sheet.

Roast tomatoes for 25-35 minutes or until soft and brown around the edges. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 - 15 minutes.

Place the roasted tomatoes in a blender or food processor. Unwrap the garlic and add to the tomatoes. You can easily remove the roasted garlic from its skin by pressing gently on the skins.  Pulse the tomatoes and garlic until almost smooth. Transfer to a medium saucepan. Add the chicken broth, thyme, and balsamic vinegar and stir to combine. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 10 minutes. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately.

Quick Dill Pickles

Ingredients:

4-6 small to medium cucumbers, thinly sliced

1 cup distilled white vinegar

2 cups water

2 tablespoons kosher salt

2 tablespoons sugar

4 teaspoons mustard seed

4 teaspoons black peppercorns

1/4 cup roughly chopped dill

8 cloves garlic, crushed

Method:

Divide the cucumbers between 8 pint jars. Top each jar with 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds, 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns, 1 crushed garlic clove, and 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped dill.

In a large bowl, combine the vinegar, water, salt, and sugar. Whisk briskly until the salt and sugar is dissolved. Pour enough brine over each jar to cover the cucumbers completely. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 48 hours before serving.

Burst Tomato and Herbed Ricotta Galette

Ingredients:

Serves 4.

Pastry Dough:

2 cups all purpose flour

6 oz. butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

2 tsp. kosher salt

ice water

1 egg, well beaten, for egg wash

Filling:

2 pints mixed cherry tomatoes

3 tablespoons mixed herbs, finely chopped (I used basil, thyme, and rosemary)

16 oz whole milk ricotta

olive oil

kosher salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.

For the pastry dough:

Place the flour, salt, and butter in a medium bowl. Using your fingers, rub the butter into the flour, making small butter flakes. Once the butter is evenly distributed throughout the flour, slowly add ice water, mixing with your hands until a shaggy dough forms. Gather the dough into a ball. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to rest for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. After at least 30 minutes, remove from the refrigerator and place on a well floured surface and roll the dough into a 12 inch round approximately 1/8-inch thick. Place the dough on a parchment lined baking sheet and set aside.

For the filling:

Coat the bottom of a large skillet with olive oil. Add the tomatoes and cover with a lid. Heat over medium high heat, moving the pan gently every few minutes to toss the tomatoes around. After about 5 minutes the tomatoes will begin to make a "popping" sound. Carefully remove the lid after about 7 minutes. The majority of the tomato skins should be split. If they are not yet split, return the lid and allow them to continue to cook for a few more minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.

Meanwhile, stir together the ricotta, herbs, salt and pepper.

Spread the ricotta mixture over the pastry crust, leaving a 2 inch border around the edge. Spoon the tomatoes on top. Fold the border over the filling, pleating it to make it fit. The center will be open. Brush the crust with the egg wash.

Bake for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Tomato Jam

Recipe adapted from epicurious.com 

Ingredients:

Makes 5 pints.

5 pounds tomatoes

5 cups sugar

big pinch of kosher salt

Method:

Bring a large dutch oven of water to a boil. Using a paring knife, cut out the stem end of each tomato, then slice a shallow X in the bottom.

Plunge the tomatoes into the boiling water until their skins loosen, about 30 seconds. Remove them with a slotted spoon and let cool. When cool enough to handle, slip off their skins. Discard the water, but save the dutch oven for cooking the jam.

Halve the tomatoes at their equator and gently squeeze out the seeds and juice. Reserve the seeds and juice for another use. Cut the tomatoes into 1/2-inch pieces.

Return the tomatoes to the saucepan and stir in the sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently to ensure that the mixture is cooking evenly, until most of the liquid has cooked off. If foam occasionally rises to the top, skim it off with a large spoon. Remove from the heat.

Ladle the jam into clean jars. Cover tightly, let cool, and refrigerate.

Jam will keep in the fridge for 6 months or can be canned and preserved indefinitely.

Serving Suggestions:

• Spread crostini with goat cheese and top with jam
• Serve alongside a collection of local cheeses and toasted nuts for a seasonal twist on a cheese plate
• Serve with buttermilk biscuits and fresh butter