7.29.11 Summer Roundup

Corn 790 xxx
photos by gluttonforlife
The corn and tomatoes are in, signaling high summer. My refrigerator is ridiculous, bursting with cucumbers and chard from the garden, and okra and padrón peppers from the farmers' market. Never refrigerate your tomatoes, it ruins the flavor and texture. Just leave them out on the counter in a cool spot. (This is a tip I learned from Martha Stewart many years ago and I have never forgotten it.) On Monday, August arrives, and with it my last post for a while. Time for a little vacation—staycation, really, as G's leg is still healing and travel is not yet a possibility. We may take some local trips, inspired by this recent article on great spots in the Catskills from the most recent issue of Travel & Leisure. Here are a few more ideas for things to make, see, do and get (oops, sounding a little like Goop) as the mercury rises...
Tomatoes1 790 xxx
worship the golden orbs
I'm making fried chicken (this is the best recipe ever) for a crowd this weekend, and I plan to serve this unusual-sounding and very refreshing tomato lemonade (spiked with gin) to start.I'll also be checking out the fabulous herbal bitters and tonics from Urban Moonshine.And possibly investing in one of these gorgeous Edward Wohl cutting boards, available online from Heath.And definitely cooking from my latest acquisitions, Tender and The Japanese Grill.And making batch after batch of this dead simple and unaccountably decadent corn pudding from this week's New York Times.And trying to decide between this new juicer or this potentially game-changing kitchen beast.And while we're on gadgets, I'm also pondering adding a dehydrator to my vast collection, so I can make my own jerkies and fruit leathers without constantly running the oven.I'm going to throw gluten-caution to the wind and make these garden beignets from genius chef David Kinch.And speaking of the garden, I'm going to get ready for fall by putting in a big order for bulbs, including voluptuous Van Gogh irises and black lilies and sunny rudbeckia, from van Bourgondien.Have a beautiful weekend!
 

Tomato Lemonade

from Kat Kinsman in Food & Wine
serves 10
  • — 1/4 cup organic cane sugar
  • — 1/4 cup water*
  • — 2 pounds yellow tomatoes, cored and chopped
  • — 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
  • — 3 cups ice water
  • lemon wedges and herb sprigs for garnish

In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water and bring to a simmer over moderate heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Let the simply syrup cool to room temperature.

In a food processor, puree the tomatoes and strain the puree through a sieve, discarding the solids. Add the simple syrup, the lemon juice and ice water and stir.

Fill 10 tall glasses with ice. Pour in the tomato lemonade, garnish with lemon wedges and herb sprigs and serve.

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2 Comments

Enjoy your time off. You'll be glad to know that my new acupuncturist has inspired me to try some new recipes in the kitchen. I asked if she had any books to recommend........ Nourishing Traditions - just like you! Hope George is feeling better everyday.
Mily on July 30, 2011 at 7:58 am —
Thanks, Mily! Monday will be my last post until Labor Day. Looking forward to recharging. So glad that you're pursuing your path to optimum health; food is such a big part of that! xoxo
laura on July 30, 2011 at 8:09 am —