Basil Gin and Tonic

I went to make Slick Shoes, but cucumber soda was nowhere to be found. Close enough! Beverages, Make Ahead Servings: 10-12 INGREDIENTS For drink (batch): To serve: DIRECTIONS Mix ingredients, except soda and lime, in a large jar. Let sit for a day or two. Strain. Fill pint glass or collins glass with ice. Add 2 oz … Read more

Green Tofu Skewers

Appetizer, BBQ, Vegan, Vegetarian Servings: 8  INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS Cut tofu into 1 inch cubes. Drain well on paper towels. Put hot sauce, soy sauce, and white miso paste in a blender with 3 chopped scallions and garlic cloves. Blend with 1/4 cup water until smooth. Marinate tofu overnight in the sauce. Soak skewers in lemon water, … Read more

Lemon-Herbsaint Poppers

Servings: 64 Source: David Guas DESCRIPTION These are great served at a cocktail party or a garden party, passed around on a platter with small demitasse spoons. They’re bright yellow and taste of citrus with the unmistakeable anisey twang of Herbsaint. Herbsaint is a New Orleans creation that debuted right after the repeal of Prohibition, crafted to take … Read more

Tomato Water Martini

INGREDIENTS Tomato Water: Drink: Garnish: DIRECTIONS Tomato Water: Purée tomatoes and salt in a robot coupe. Wrap purée in a triple layer of cheesecloth and place in a chinois with a bowl underneath. Let sit overnight. Chill reserved liquid before using. Drink: Put gin and tomato water in a shaker with ice. Shake. Spritz glass with vermouth, pour in mixture, … Read more

Garlic Basil Mayo

I used this as a lobster tail dipping sauce, but it is perfect for this time of year. Ingredients: Directions: Add all ingredients except for olive oil to food processor.  Blend for about a minute and slowly add the olive oil. I just pour it in to the little spout on top and let it … Read more

Paul’s Crawfish Étouffée

Servings: 4  Source: Paul Harsha (adapted from “Cooking with Entergy”) INGREDIENTS 1 stick butter 1 cup celery chopped 1 cup bell pepper chopped 1 cup yellow onion chopped 1/2 cup green onion chopped 1/4 cup parsley chopped 1 clove garlic minced 1 teaspoon flour 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon black pepper or to taste 1/4 teaspoon cayenne or to taste 14.5oz can diced tomatoes 1 pound crawfish … Read more

Sorrel

Every summer we try a few new herbs in the container garden. This summer’s picks were chervil and red sorrel. The chervil was delicious, but dried up when it got hot. The sorrel is still going strong. Sorrel Pesto Difficulty: Easy Servings: about 1 cup Source: Two Small Farms  INGREDIENTS 2 cups coarsely chopped fresh sorrel ribs removed  1/3 cup packed fresh … Read more

Japanese Eggplant

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes Difficulty: Easy  Servings: 2  INGREDIENTS For Eggplant: 1 Japanese Eggplant Shichimi Togarashi  4 tablespoons Peanut Oil Sesame Oil For Dressing: 4 tablespoons Rice Wine Vinegar 2 tablespoons Mirin 1 tablespoon ponzu or soy 1 teaspoon Red Miso 1/2 teaspoon Sesame Oil DIRECTIONS Eggplant:Slice eggplant into 1/4 inch roundsLightly coat a sheet pan with oilPlace eggplant on sheet, drizzle … Read more

Pickled Peppers

Prep Time: 35 min Cook Time: 25 min Difficulty: Easy Servings: About 8 pints  Source: tasteofhome.com  INGREDIENTS 4 quarts long red, green or yellow peppers (Hungarian, Banana, etc.) 1-1/2 cups canning salt 4 quarts plus 2 cups water, divided 10 cups white vinegar 1/4 cup sugar 2 garlic cloves, peeled DESCRIPTION Making your own pickled peppers is so easy and you will never have to buy store-bought peppers ever … Read more