....is Sangria

In a Pint Glass
Ice (Half Full)
2 oz Triple Sec
2 oz Brandy
4 oz Wine
1/4 Cup Strawberries
Orange Pineapple Juice
(Filled to the Top)

This is the easy - don't have to let it sit overnight - version of Sangria.

....is Strawberries & Chocolate

Croissants (Ready-Made)
Strawberries (Sliced)
Chocolate (Chips)

Roll the Strawberry and Chocolate in the Croissants and bake at 415 degrees for 12 minutes.

....is Pizza

The Dough
1-1/2 Cups Lukewarm Water
1 Tbs Dry Yeast
3+ Cups Flour
2 tsp salt
1/2+ Cup Olive Oil

After topping bake for 20 min at 415 degrees.

I got this recipe from 'heart of the artichoke & other kitchen journeys' by Davis Tanis. It's actually a Focaccia bread recipe. In order to make it closer to the consistency of pizza dough I reduced the Olive Oil and increased the amount of flour. Not to be unhelpful but I did it by eye so I don't know by how much in either case.


The Toppings: Veggie Pizza
Olive Oil (Spread Over the Dough)
Italian Summer Squash (Sliced)
Fresh Tomatoes (Sliced)
Portobello (Sliced)
Asparagus (Diced)
Mozzarella (Grated)
Salt and Pepper (To Taste)

The Toppings: Asian Chicken Pizza
Sesame Oil (Spread Over the Dough and to Cook the Chicken)
Chicken (Shredded)
Portobello (Sliced)
Sun Dried Tomatoes (Sliced)
Mozzarella (Grated)
Salt and Pepper (To Taste)

....is Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake
2 Cups Flour
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Tbsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Ginger
1 Cup Greek Yogurt
(or 1-1/4 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream)

Combine Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Salt, Cinnamon & Ginger. Use wooden spoon or spatula to stir in Yogurt (or Cream). Mix until mixture is comes together in a sticky crumbly mess. With floured hands need dough together, split in half and make two 5-inch rounds and cut them in quarters. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown.

The yogurt was an experiment I tried tonight. It made them more dense, doughy, and less scone like, they still taste yummy. I'm not sure how they'll last or if they were only good fresh. The majority of this recipe is from Edible (also where the Harvest Cake and Chutney came from.)

Cut up Strawberries, if necessary sprinkle with Sugar to sweeten. Lastly - Heavy Whipping Cream - if you're not lazy like I was tonight I recommend whipping it with a little Sugar, Vanilla and Ground Ginger. Otherwise, pour a little Cream straight on the Strawberries and mop it up as you eat the Strawberries & Shortbread.

....is Tomato-Ginger Chutney

Tomato- Ginger Chutney
8 Plum Tomatoes (16 oz)
3 Tbs Olive Oil
1 Medium Onion (Finely Chopped)
3 Cloves of Garlic (Very Finely Chopped)
1 Serrano Chile Pepper
OR
2 Jalapeno Peppers (Cored, Seeded and Very Finely Chopped)
2in Ginger (Peeled and Very Fined Chopped)
1tsp Cumin (Ground)
1tsp Coriander (Ground)
1tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1 Cinnamon Stick
1/4 Cup Rice or Cider Vinegar
2tsp Sugar
1/4 Cup Cilantro (Chopped)
1Tbs Lime (Juiced)

Heat Oil over Medium heat. Add Onion and cook until soften. Stir in Garlic, Chile, GInger, Cumin, Coriander, Salt, Pepper, and Cinnamon Stick. (Stir for 2 min) Stir in Vinegar, Sugar and Tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer until desired consistency. (About 15-25 min) Take off heat and stir in Cilantro and Lime Juice (Sugar will balance acidity). Remember to take out the Cinnamon Stick, dust Nutmeg!

 

Serve over Couscous and add Chicken to make it a full meal.

....is Lettuceless

This is what I ate most of my summer living in Davis, and all of college for that matter. In the summer especially it is way to hot to cook anything, cutting veggies is about as close as I would get. Furthermore, I found that Lettuce would wilt faster than I could keep up with it and I didn't like it all that much anyway. So I cut it out of my Salads, but what's a Salad without Lettuce?

Lettuceless Salad
Tomato
Avocado
Asparagus
Fresh Green Beans
Italian Squash
Strawberries
Parmesan
Jicama

Dress with Olive Oil, Balsamic Vinegar &
Salt and Pepper to taste.

(All ingredients subject to change based solely on my whim, how my fridge is stocked or lack there of.)