Chef's Notes Plus

Not All Fruits Ripen Equally

You’ve probably brought home a pineapple and thought, “If I leave it on the counter for a few extra days, it will be extra sweet!” Or maybe a quart of strawberries or a watermelon. Well, if you have, you may have also experienced the disappointment when that pineapple isn’t quite […]

Desserts

Panna Cotta

Makes 5 servings You can flavor panna cotta with many things, including vanilla, cracked coffee beans, lemon zest, cardamom pods, or anything else you fancy. For different flavors simply add the flavoring ingredient to the milk and let infuse for about 30 minutes while it is heating and then strain […]

Desserts, Free Recipes

Poached Fuyu Persimmons with Vanilla Ice Cream

Makes 8 servings Persimmons are sweet and mild in flavor with a plump texture that pairs beautifully with ice cream and a crisp topping. If you like, crumble gingersnaps in place of the baked crisp topping. If you can’t find ripe persimmons, you can substitute apple, pear, quince, or virtually […]

Cakes, Desserts

Polenta Cake with Grappa, Berries, and Minted Mascarpone

Makes 6 servings This cake is dense and not too sweet, almost like a sweet cornbread. I like to use coarse polenta so that it also has an interesting texture, but if you have to use regular cornmeal, that works as well. Ingredients Polenta Cake 1/4 cup unsalted butter, at […]

Sauces, Dressings, and Condiments

Preserved Lemons

Makes 1 quart Use preserved lemons (flesh and rind!) in stews, soups, salad dressings, and even pastas. They will add an unexpected burst of brightness and a surprising savory element you don’t expect from lemon. 6 lemons 1/2 cup salt Juice of 6 lemons 1. Wash the lemons very well. […]

Allergen Friendly, Desserts

Raspberry Granita

Makes 2 pints Ingredients 1 1/4 cup raspberries 1 1/2 cups water 1/4 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice, fresh Directions Push the raspberries through a wire-mesh sieve into a small bowl to make a purée. Stir all of the ingredients until blended and the sugar has dissolved. Pour […]

Free Recipes, Salads

Red Salad

Makes 8 portions Chef’s notes: The salad may be served on a bed of spinach or chiffonade Tuscan kale. For crunch, add a sprinkling of lightly toasted chopped pistachios, hazelnuts, or almonds. If you can’t find opal basil, you can substitute any type of sprout, such as pea shoots, broccoli […]

Chef's Notes Plus

Refreshing Agua Frescas

Originating in Latin America, agua fresca is a refreshing nonalcoholic beverage based on fruits, hibiscus flowers, or, in some regions, cereals, along with sugar and water. Though some may be prepared using juice or tea, like lime or hibiscus (also known as agua de Jamaica), agua frescas are often made […]

Breakfast and Brunch

Rhubarb Mini-Muffins

Makes 24 mini-muffins These tender mini-muffins are the perfect mix of sweet and tart, highlighting our spring favorite: rhubarb! Once rhubarb season has passed, you can use this recipe with raspberries, peaches, or any fruit that suits your fancy. Depending on the size of your muffin pan, you may have […]

Pies and Tarts

Roasted Ginger Plum Tart with Nut Streusel

This tart makes the best of in-season plums, but you can substitute any stone fruit, like halved cherries, apricots, or nectarines. Makes one 9-inch tart Ingredients Vanilla Tart Dough, fitted into a 9-inch tart pan and chilled 1 1/2 lb plums (7 to 8 medium), rinsed, halved, and pitted 1/2 […]

Chef's Blog, Chef's Notes Plus

Simple Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer Produce

Every year, we try to avoid it, but it is inevitable: summer will end eventually—though luckily, only temporarily. Summer produce doesn’t leave quietly, and in its waning weeks, our gardens and farm stands explode with cucumbers, tomatoes, summer squash, eggplants! The mountains of produce are daunting, but irresistible, since in […]