Sunday, July 17, 2016

Fresh Peach Cucumber Salad

Fresh peaches that aren’t fully ripe can still be used in a fresh peach cucumber salad, adding a tart bite with a hint of sweet. An herby dressing with mint and parsley complement the peaches beautifully.

Food Lust People Love: Fresh peaches that aren’t fully ripe can still be used in a fresh peach cucumber salad, adding a tart bite with a hint of sweet. An herby dressing with mint and parsley complement the peaches beautifully.


This week my Sunday Supper group are using peaches in a variety of recipes both sweet and savory. I’m in the Channel Islands right now where apparently they make no bones about the fact that the peaches are picked too young. The little plastic boxes they are sold in say quite boldly – Ripen At Home. But I think we all know how that turns out. They really don’t taste the same or ripen well at home. Never mind, though, because slightly under ripe peaches are still tasty in salad. If you are fortunate enough to have good peaches, those work too!

Fresh Peach Cucumber Salad

Aside from the mint and parsley, the dressing is a basic vinaigrette so if you have a favorite vinaigrette recipe, by all means use it and just add the herbs to the salad itself.

Ingredients
For the dressing:
1/4 cup or 60ml extra virgin olive oil
1/8 cup or 30ml good quality white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon whole grain mustard
3 tablespoons finely minced fresh mint
1 tablespoon finely minced parsley
1/4 teaspoon sugar
For the salad:
1 English cucumber
4 peaches
1/4 medium purple onion
2 1/2 oz or 70g pea sprouts

Method
Put all the dressing ingredients in a jar. Close the lid tightly and give it a good shake to combine the ingredients. Set it aside at room temperature while you get on with prepping the salad.

Cut your cucumber lengthwise in half, then cut the halves again so you have four long pieces. If the seeds are too juicy, you can but them off and discard. (My dog loves them!) Chop the cucumber into smaller chunks.

Cut the peach off the pit in slices, then cut those into smaller pieces. If you have freestone peaches, you can remove the pit, then slice and cut.

Finely slice your onion.



Add the cucumber, peaches and onion to a large salad bowl.  Give the herb dressing another good shake and drizzle on just as much as you need to wet the peaches and cucumbers. You might not use it all. (It’ll keep well in the refrigerator for a week or two.)

Food Lust People Love: Fresh peaches that aren’t fully ripe can still be used in a fresh peach cucumber salad, adding a tart bite with a hint of sweet. An herby dressing with mint and parsley complement the peaches beautifully.


Toss to coat.

Add in the pea sprouts just as you are ready to serve and toss again.

Food Lust People Love: Fresh peaches that aren’t fully ripe can still be used in a fresh peach cucumber salad, adding a tart bite with a hint of sweet. An herby dressing with mint and parsley complement the peaches beautifully.


Enjoy!

Food Lust People Love: Fresh peaches that aren’t fully ripe can still be used in a fresh peach cucumber salad, adding a tart bite with a hint of sweet. An herby dressing with mint and parsley complement the peaches beautifully.


Many thanks to our Peachy Keen host, Sue of Palatable Pastime and our event manager, Renee of Renee’s Kitchen Adventures. Take a look at all the deliciousness we have for you this week!


Starters:
Breakfasts:
Beverages:
Condiments:
Sides & Salads:
Main Dishes:
Desserts

Pin this Peach Cucumber Salad!  

Food Lust People Love: Fresh peaches that aren’t fully ripe can still be used in a fresh peach cucumber salad, adding a tart bite with a hint of sweet. An herby dressing with mint and parsley complement the peaches beautifully.


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Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Cider Honey Quick Loaf #BreadBakers

This rich cider honey quick loaf is naturally sweetened by the cider and the honey. It’s especially delicious toasted.


This month my Bread Bakers are creating sweet breads without refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners. Our host Mayuri of Mayuri’s Jikoni limited us to natural sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, blackstrap molasses, dates, banana puree, coconut sugar, balsamic glaze, brown sugar syrup, real fruit jam made without any sugar, stevia or palm jaggery. Further, she said NO SUGAR - white, brown, demerara, turbinado, muscovado, etc- . to be used in the bake.

Trying to use what I have on hand, I decided that honey was the way to go. I’m in the Channel Islands right now so I am also fortunate to have ready access to alcohol, unlike at home in Dubai where one must have a license to purchase (and mine has expired.) The first thing we buy is some traditional English cider, often called hard cider in the United States. It's tart and dry with a little sweetness.

Ingredients
3 cups or 375g flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons honey
12 oz or 355ml cider, at room temperature
1/2 cup or 113g unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Method
Preheat your oven to 350°F or 180°C.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.

In another smaller bowl, add the honey to half of the melted butter.

Pour in the cider and mix well.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just mixed.



Pour half of the remaining melted butter into the loaf pan.



Spoon the batter into the pan, and pour the rest of the butter on top of the batter. Jersey butter comes by its color naturally, from the beta-carotene in the grass the cows eat.



Use a pastry brush to spread it around.

Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until top is golden brown and a toothpick/knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. If the top is browning too quickly, cover with foil and continue baking until done.



Cool for a few minutes in the pan and then turn the loaf out on to a wire rack to cool.

Slice and enjoy!



Check out all the wonderful naturally sweetened breads we have for you today! Many thanks to Mayuri of Mayuri’s Jikoni for hosting.
BreadBakers
#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. Follow our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated each month on this home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.



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Sunday, July 10, 2016

Lime Coconut Lassi

Made with yogurt, coconut milk and fresh lime juice sweetened with a little honey, this coconut lime lassi is the perfect drink on a hot summer day. 




My mom has a go-to place in Houston when she is out running errands. It’s called Rajah’s and her standard order is two samosas and a sweet lassi. Somehow the cool yogurt drink goes perfectly with the spicy fried samosas filled with curried potatoes and peas. And the two together make the perfect snack.

This week my Sunday Supper group is cooking and creating with coconut so I made a delightful chickpea potato curry for the Sunday Supper website. So Tasty! For this space, what could be more perfect than a complementary lassi? The sharp lime juice and yogurt were deliciously mellowed by the creamy coconut and the honey added just the right amount of sweetness. This drink would also make a delicious cocktail with the simple addition of a little rum.

Ingredients - for about 12 oz or 355ml. One tall glass or two shorter glasses, if you feel like sharing.
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup or 240ml coconut milk
1/3 cup or 85g plain Greek (thick) yoghurt
6-8 ice cubes

Method
Add the lime juice and honey to a large clean jar. Swirl around or stir until the honey dissolves in the lime juice.



Add in the coconut milk, yogurt and ice.


Put the lid on the jar and shake until well combined and frothy. Pour into glass or glasses.


Garnish with slices of lime.



Enjoy!

Are you craving coconut? This is your Sunday! Many thanks to our host Conni of Cosmopolitan Cornbread and our event manager Shelby of Grumpy’s Honeybunch for all of their hard work this week.

Great Starts
Dive in with Sides and Appetizers
Coco-Nutty Main Dishes
"Col-lots-a" Desserts
Sweet to Sip Beverages

Pin it! 


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