Football season is upon us, which if you’re like me, means lots of excuses to socialize and bring tasty food to a party! Don’t get me wrong, my grasp of the rules of football is solid – I even play the office pool most weeks. My attention span simply isn’t long enough for an entire game!

The “fresh and seasonal” spin all my segments have was a little tougher this time around, seeing as how summer is slipping through our fingers (although honestly, it feels like it finally just showed up a couple weeks ago!), and fall is knocking quietly but insistently at the door. I think I did a pretty good job of bridging the gap though, using some of last of the season’s heirloom cherry tomatoes and black plums, and giving fall it’s due with sweet potatoes and green beans (they always make me think of Thanksgiving’s obligatory side dish, green bean casserole!). As always, Specialty Produce came though like a champ, providing beautiful fruits and veggies from both seasons. If you haven’t signed up for their fabulous Farmer’s Market Bag program yet, time’s a wastin!

These are all crowd friendly, fork free nibbles. Who wants to be messing with silverware when the big game is on?? Not me!

Neighborhood Foodie Asian Meatballs with Plum Sauce


Ingredients**
1 lb ground pork
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/4 cup finely chopped water chestnuts
2 green onions, very thinly sliced
1 TB soy sauce
1 egg
1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs, divided

Instructions
1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Combine pork, ginger, water chestnuts, onions, soy sauce, egg and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs in a medium mixing bowl.
3. Mix thoroughly with your hands or a wooden spoon.
4. Roll about a tablespoon of the meat mixture into a ball, then roll in remaining 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs. Repeat until all the meat is used up.
5. Place meatballs on a cookie sheet sprayed lightly with non-stick cooking spray.
6. Cook at 400 degrees until crisp and lightly golden, about 20 minutes.

** This recipe makes about 2 dozen meatballs – for larger quantities, multiply recipe as necessary

Plum Sauce
from food.com


Ingredients

First, I have to apologize for the crazy look of this post! Apparently Blogger’s editing features aren’t working correctly tonight, and it’s decided that everything I type needs to be underlined. It also keeps changing fonts on me, and nothing I can think of seems to fix it. Sigh.

I don’t know about you, but when summer rolls around I never feel like spending a ton of time in a hot, steamy kitchen. However, San Diego summers roll around, they throw that tricky May Gray/June Gloom wrench into the equation and trick you into thinking you want something warm and comforting. This year in particular, the weirdly chilly and overcast weather has extended it’s way into July – that is, when it’s not busy morphing into a week long heat wave. All this crazy and unpredictable weather has resulted in an equally unpredictable roster of dishes turning out of my kitchen.

For me, summer cooking means simple, comforting, and satisfying. Personally, that means soup and sandwiches.  When I was growing up, Sundays usually meant soup and sandwiches for dinner. We’d switch out between BLT’s and grilled cheese, with Campbells to go along side. For this month’s segment, I decided to up the ante a little, and throw a little variety into the mix. I started off with a classic cold soup – Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho. Talk about summer in a bowl! To go along side it I stuck with the Spanish theme, and used some nutty Manchengo cheese along with some fresh roasted figs in a pressed grilled cheese sandwich. As always, all the amazing summer produce I used for the segment came from my friends down at Specialty Produce. If you still haven’t signed up for their Farmers Market Bag program, this is really the time to do it. Tons of juicy stone fruits, melons, berries and tomatoes are at their peak in the summer, and the bags are chock full of goodies each week!

For those chilly days when you want something warm but still summery, I went with a Thai inspired corn chowder. The flavors of lemon grass, ginger, red chili flakes, cilantro and sweet corn meld beautifully into a fresh and brightly flavored soup. I took a little help with the “sandwich” here, which is actually a stuffed pita pocket. There’s a Thai restaurant at the foot of Mission Hills called Saffron that makes the most amazing Thai grilled rotisserie chicken, and my favorite peanut sauce in town. They sell pieces a la carte, as combos with rice and tangy Asian slaw, or you can buy the whole bird. I picked up a couple pieces of white and dark, shredded them, and combined the meat with peanut sauce and crunchy, crispy pickled veggies for some zing.

Lastly, I made a chilled dessert soup. Two, actually. There are tons of recipes for cold fruit soups out there that call for heavy cream, yogurt, sour cream, etc. I wanted something lighter though, and truer to the fruit. In the end, I settled on a nectarine soup, and a strawberry one. Both are blended with mint, balsamic, a sprinkle of sugar, a pinch of salt, and in the nectarine’s case, a hit of heat from a little red chili flake. To go along side, a grilled lemon pound cake cream cheese sandwich. It’s the perfect summer dessert!

Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho

from We Heart Food

Ingredients
4 large red heirloom tomatoes
2/3 English cucumber, seeded and diced
4 cloves garlic
1/4-1/3 cup sherry vinegar
3 tbsp diced day-old baguette, crust removed
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/3 English cucumber, seeded and diced
yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
red onion, diced

Instructions
Core and peel the tomatoes, then cut into chunks. In a blender, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, garlic, most of the vinegar, and bread. Taste, and if needed, add the rest of the vinegar. Puree until smooth. While pureeing, slowly add olive oil until emulsified. Season with sugar, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate until cold. Serve in a bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and garnish with cilantro, accompanied by the diced cucumber, bell pepper, and red onion.

Makes 4-6 cups, depending on the size of the tomatoes

Grilled Manchengo & Fig Sandwiches

Ingredients

Manchengo cheese

fresh figs

good quality white bread

butter, softened

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees

Slice each fig in half

Arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet

Roast until soft, juicy and tender, about 20 minutes

Slice cheese to desired thickness

Butter two slices of bread

Place one slice butter side down on hot grill pan

Arrange cheese and figs to cover bread, top with second slice

Weigh down and press sandwich with a cast iron skillet, or other pan weighted with canned goods

Cook until browned and crisp, flip, and repeat

Thai Coconut Corn Stew

from Eat Me, Delicious

Ingredients

1/2 tbsp oil

1 cup onion, diced

1 cup celery, diced

3 medium cloves garlic, minced

1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

3/4 tsp coriander seeds

3/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 stalk lemongrass

4 cups frozen corn kernels

2 cups vegetable stock

1 can (14 oz) light coconut milk

1 red bell pepper, diced

2 tsp lime zest

2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice

1/3 – 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

In a large pot on medium heat, add oil, onions, celery, garlic, ginger, coriander seeds, salt, and red pepper flakes and stir to combine. Cover and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, cut off lower yellow bulbous portion of lemongrass,and remove and discard tough outer leaves along with upper portion of stalk. Using a chef’s knife, “bruise” the bulbous portion to release flavour: cut a few slits and using pressure of knife, open and bruise stalk. Add it to the pot, along with 3 cups corn kernels, stock, and coconut milk, and increase heat to bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Remove lemongrass, and with a hand blender, briefly puree soup to make it a little creamier. Return lemongrass to pot, and stir in remaining 1 cup corn kernels and diced red bell pepper. Cover and cook for another 5-6 minutes on medium-low heat. Stir in lime zest and lime juice (adjust to taste). Season with additional salt if desired. Just before serving, stir in cilantro.

Thai Chicken Pitas with Creamy Peanut Sauce and Pickled Veggies

adapted from Petit Chef

This was actually a recipe for chicken burgers, that I reinterpreted using shredded chicken.

Ingredients

1 Rotisserie chicken (I used the excellent version from Saffron), shredded

Peanut Sauce

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 tsp garlic (or garlic powder)

2 tsp red curry paste

2 Tbsp coconut milk (or more to make thinner)

1 tsp coriander

1 tsp cumin

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate until needed.

Pickled Veggies

1/4 cup rice vinegar

2 Tbsp sugar

1-2 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp red curry paste

1 Tbsp sweet chili sauce

1 clove garlic, thinly sliced

1 shallot, thinly sliced

1/2 cucumber, thinly sliced

2 carrots, peeled into strips

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, mix the rice vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, curry paste, chili sauce, and garlic to combine. Make sure the sugar is dissolved.

2. Add the veggies and toss to coat. Allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes (the longer they go, the more tender and flavorful the vegetables will be)

To finish pitas:

Spread some peanut sauce on a toasted pita. Place shredded chicken inside, and finish with pickled vegetables.

Santa Fe Chilled Nectarine Soup

adapted from medicinenet.com

Ingredients

2 lbs (8 small) nectarines, cut up

1 cup apple juice

1 cup cranberry cocktail juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves (I substituted mint here, so it would marry with the strawberry soup)

Instructions
1. Combine nectarines with juices, salt, pepper flakes and vinegar in electric blender.

2. Whirl until smooth and blended. Add cilantro (or mint) leaves and whirl in a stop-and-go fashion a few seconds, just to chop.

Strawberry Soup with Mint and Balsamic

Ingredients

2 pints fresh strawberries

2 ts white balsamic

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

sugar to taste, depending on how sweet your berries are

pinch of salt

Instructions

Wash and hull berries, reserving a couple to chop for garnish

Combine berries, balsamic, mint leaves, salt and sugar in electric blender

Whirl until smooth and blended

To serve soups, pour slowly and simultaneously into opposite sides of the same bowl.
Garnish with chopped strawberries, and mint.

Grilled Lemon Pound Cake Sandwiches

from canadianliving.com

Ingredients

3/4 cup cream cheese, softened

3 tbsp granulated sugar

1 tsp grated lemon rind

4 tsp lemon juice

1/4 tsp vanilla

12 slices (1/4 inch thick) Lemon Pound Cake

2 tbsp butter

Instructions

In bowl and using fork, mash together cream cheese, sugar, lemon rind, lemon juice and vanilla until smooth. Spread over 6 of the pound cake slices. Sandwich with remaining slices. 

In large nonstick skillet, melt half of the butter over medium heat; cook half of the sandwiches, turning once, for about 3 minutes or until edges are crisp and golden. Repeat with remaining sandwiches.

If Fall is my favorite time of year for the weather, Summer is my favorite for the food. All these gorgeous fruits are in peak season, from berries to watermelon to cherries to stone fruits and everything in between. My fab friends down at Specialty Produce (follow them on twitter and facebook!) are stocked full with all sorts of great stuff right now, and the Farmers Market Bag has been amazing lately. They supplied me with everything I needed to head down the NBC studio this morning, and chat about Summer sides and desserts – no oven or stove required. Here are four fantastic, fresh, flavorful recipes to beat the heat!

Watermelon, Feta, Black Olive Salad
from recipezaar.com

Ingredients

1 small red onion, cut into thin half moon slices

2-3 limes, juice of

1/2 lb feta cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes

4 cups watermelon, cut into 1 inch cubes

1/2 cup pitted oil-cured black olive

1 cup whole flat leaf parsley

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
 
Directions
 
Place the onion slices in a small bowl, add the juices from the limes; set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the feta cheese cubes with the watermelon cubes, the black olives, parsley, mint, olive oil, and pepper.

Add the onion and lime juice mixture and gently toss to combine.

Corn & Blueberry Salad
from Better Homes & Gardens

Ingredients
6 ears fresh sweet corn, husked

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 small cucumber, sliced

1/4 cup finely chopped red onion

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped*

2 Tbsp. lime juice

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. honey

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

Directions

1. Remove most of the husk and all silk from the corn. Place three to four ears at a time into a zip top plastic bag, and leave un-sealed. Microwave on high for 7-9 minutes, depending on your microwave.

2. In a serving bowl combine corn, blueberries, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeño. For dressing, in bowl whisk lime juice, oil, honey, cumin, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Add to salad; toss. Cover and refrigerate overnight (up to 24 hours). Makes 6 to 8 servings.

3. *Hot peppers, such as jalepeños, contain oils that can burn skin and eyes. Wear plastic gloves when working with them. If using bare hands wash well with soap and water.

Blackberry Cabernet Sorbet
By Danilo Zecchin of Ciao Bella

Ingredients

1 cup water

½ cup sugar

¾ cup cabernet wine

2 cups blackberries

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 egg white, whipped

Directions

In a bowl of cold water, gently clean the blackberries. Be sure to remove all debris and any soft or discolored berries.

In a food processor or blender, combine the berries, water, sugar, lemon juice and wine. Process or blend mixture until smooth. Add the whipped egg white and stir until thoroughly blended. Chill mixture.

Freeze (churn) cooled mixture in an ice cream machine, according to the manufacturer’s directions. Garnish with fresh blackberries and mint leaves.

Chilled Peaches in White Wine
from Orangette, adapted from A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes by David Tanis

Ingredients

8 ripe peaches (white or yellow, or a mixture), washed well and rubbed dry

4 Tbsp. sugar, or more to taste

1 bottle (750 ml) dry white wine

Directions

Slice the peaches thinly. (I get about 16 slices per peach.) Combine the peaches and sugar, and toss gently to mix. Add the wine, and toss gently again. Taste, and adjust sugar as needed. Cover, and refrigerate for several hours – or up to a few days, if you want.

Serve the peaches cold, in a glass or shallow bowl, with a small ladleful of their liquid. Eat the peaches with a fork and then drink the liquid left in the glass.