Outrageous

Cake for breakfast? Don’t mind if I do.

It goes down easier when it’s chock full of veggies. (And still tastes delicious.)

This is one for the recipe box, but I think we’ll rename it “Outrageous Chocolate Cake”.

Harvest Favorite

When zucchini overwhelms you, turn it into lasagna noodles.

More

Why i purchased a half bushel of heirloom eating tomatoes after putting up four times that of San Marzanos, i will never truly know.  The fruit flies don’t mind.  Honestly, i don’t mind them.  These tomatoes are that good.

And now’s my chance to make more panzanella, greek salad, scalloped tomatoes, pico de gallo, tomato pastry and a new one this year: baguette spread with ginger wasabi cream cheese, covered with caramelized onions and topped with tomato slices. 

 Arguably, the best is still sandwiching them between salt and pepper and a lightly toasted, lightly buttered slice of sourdough.

Barbeque Pie

What to do when it feels like 40 degrees and the only thing you can think to do with ricotta, beet greens, garlic scrapes and leftover puréed squash is to bake it in a shell?  Stick it on the barbeque.  

I added fennel seeds and fresh oregano to the filling, placed the rolled out dough and filling in a pie plate and placed another inverted plate underneath and barbequed on medium low for 45 minutes.  Then we sprinkled fresh parmesan and basil on top.
 

Lemon cupcakes

The last time i made lemon squares and sent them along to school, the boys both declared them the best ever addition to their lunches.  

So the next dessert menu naturally made me think of lemon curd.  Sure enough, these cupcakes were a hit.  

Chocolate drizzle

  
These granola bars are a household hit.  Safe for school lunches too!

Popped

I found a really simple way to make popcorn.

 
Put 2-3 T. unpopped corn in a paper bag.  Fold down top.  Skewer the top to keep it closed (that’s what i used but i imagine other closures would work).  Microwave for 2 minutes.  Open up and enjoy.

 I honestly didn’t know that microwave popcorn was that much of a scam.
Disclaimer: this idea is not entirely my own.  I came across it in a review of this product after seeing it in a Lee Valley catalogue (of course).  I had semi-convinced myself it was a kid-friendly version of the stovetop method but couldn’t fully commit to the $28 price tag.

Quick Pastry

Much like the 4 hour baguette recipe, this 15 minute puff pastry is a godsend when i realize i forgot to buy some or to take it out of the freezer in time.

Pot Stickers

I made dumpling wrappers yesterday, something i’ve wanted to do for awhile.  

The dough is made from only flour and water, the ratio for which i came across in a book about multicultural festivals while the kids were playing at a local resource centre.

2 cups flour to 3/4 cup water

  
  
The filling was loosely based on this recipe with the vegetables i had on hand from this week’s CSA share.

And the dips, similarly, were salvaged from the fridge, a leftover over watered-down cashew satay sauce and some doctored-up (with soy and rice vinegar) roasted chilies.

We fried them in ghee and devoured them.

Lemon Chia Pancakes

With strawberries!  
1 cup spelt
1 T. cornstarch
1 1/2 T. chia seeds
1/2 t. baking soda
pinch of salt
1 cup yogurt
1/2 cup milk
zest of 1 lemon