Corn Chowder: A Taste of Summer Comfort

This weekend, I whipped up a batch of corn chowder that was so good, it didn't even last long enough for a proper photo shoot. 

The secret to this soup's incredible flavor starts with the corn itself. I used the freshest ears from Coles Farm Stand, picked just moments before I bought them. You simply can't beat the sweet, crisp taste of local corn, and it made all the difference in this dish.

I searched online for a simple corn chowder recipe and settled on one that used just a few ingredients, most of which I already had in my pantry. The recipe called for bacon, but I didn't have any on hand. What I did have was a jar of bacon fat I'd been saving, and it was the perfect substitution. I sautéed the onions in that rich, smoky fat and then followed the rest of the recipe as written.

The result was a creamy, hearty soup that tastes like a warm hug on a summer day. It's proof that sometimes the best meals come from the simplest ingredients and a little creativity in the kitchen.

The original recipe from SimplyJoy.com

I made 1/2 of this recipe and had enough for the two of us, plus twolunch portions.

Ingredients-

4 slices thick-cut bacon, diced into small pieces

1 small onion, diced

1/3 cup all-purpose flour (40 grams)

5 cups chicken broth (1133.8 grams or 1182.9 ml)

1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes diced into 1/2 inch pieces (680.4 grams)

8 cobs of corn husks and silk removed, and kernels cut off

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

2 bay leaves

1 cup heavy cream (227 grams or 236.6 grams)

salt and pepper

Method-

In a large stock pot or a large dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring often.

Add the onions, cooking until they are translucent and very soft, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the flour, coating all the onions and the bacon. Continue cooking about a minute until the flour begins to brown, it will be very thick and gummy.

Very gradually, pour in the chicken stock. 

Pour about two tablespoons at a time (no need to measure, this is just an estimate), whisking it into the flour mixture. There should be no visible liquid between each pour. 

Continue this way until you use all the liquid, pouring more quickly at the end. This should take no more than about a minute or two.

Add the potatoes, corn, thyme, and bay leaves and increase the heat to high and bring to a boil (you are looking for big bubbles at the surface). 

Then reduce to a simmer (the lowest you can go heat wise and still see bubbles) and continue cooking for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft.

Stir in the cream, and let heat through for a minute. 

Season with salt and pepper to taste. The amount of salt you add will vary depending on your bacon and chicken stock.

Spaghetti with Bolognese Sauce

Delicious dinner.

Tonight we had Spaghetti with Bolognese sauce. It had been way too long, and I was craving that rich, comforting flavor. I pulled out one of my go-to cookbooks, Lidia's Italian American Kitchen, and made her classic recipe. 

Ingredients-

3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 med yellow onion, minced

1 med carrot, peeled and finely shredded

1/2 cup minced celery with leaves

2 tsp kosher salt

1/2 lb ground beef

1/2 lb ground pork

1 lb ground veal

1/2 cup dry red wine

1 tbsp tomato paste

3 cups crushed tomatoes

4 dried bay leaves

Fresh ground pepper

Method-

Heat the olive oil in a wide, 3 to 4-quart pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. 

Stir in the onion, carrot, and celery, season them lightly with salt, and cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent. 

Crumble in the ground beef and pork and continue cooking, stirring to break up the meat, until all the liquid the meat has given off has evaporated and the meat is lightly browned, about 10 minutes. 

Pour in the wine and cook, scraping the bottom of the pan, until the wine is evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook a few minutes, then pour in the tomatoes, toss in the bay leaves, and season lightly with salt and pepper. 

Bring to a boil, then lower the heat so the sauce is at a lively simmer. 

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is dense but juicy and a rich, dark red color. 

This will take about 2 to 3 hours—the longer you cook it, the better it will become. 

While the sauce is cooking, add hot water as necessary to keep the meats and vegetables covered. (Most likely, a noticeable layer of oil will float to the top toward the end of cooking. 

Once finished, the oil can be removed with a spoon or reincorporated in the sauce, which is what is traditionally done.

Fresh Tomato Pizza

Fresh Tomatoes from Coles Farm Stand. Pizza dough recipe from Jim Lahey.

This pizza was 👍👍👍👍👍.

Crispy Pork Schnitzel and the Last Cucumber

Delicious dinner, Crispy Pork Schnitzel and Summer Cucumber Salad.

Crispy Pork Schnitzel recipe from The Bold Appetite.

Ingredients-
5 thinly sliced pork cutlets
1 1/4 cup unseasoned panko bread crumbs
1 1/4 cup unseasoned Italian bread crumbs
1 large egg
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
oil

Method-
Set up your breading station: a bowl of flour, a bowl of beaten egg, and a combo of both breadcrumbs. 

Season each bowl with a heavy sprinkle of salt.

Coat each cutlet in flour, followed by the egg mixture, and finally, the breadcrumbs. Be sure to press the breadcrumbs in to ensure complete coverage before setting the breaded pork aside. Either cover and place in the refrigerator for later or move onto frying.

In a large, deep pan or skillet, add about 1/4 inch of oil and heat it to 350°F over medium-high heat. 

Fry the pork chops for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until they’re a light golden brown.

Once cooked through, remove the chops from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate. 

The Summer Cucumber Salad used the last cucumber from my sister's garden. The recipe is from Ciao Italia: Plant, Harvest, Cook! by Mary Esposito.

Summer Cucumber Salad (serves 4)

Ingredients-
5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 tbs[ red wine vinegar
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dry mustard
3 small cucumbers, peeled, cut in half lengthwise, seeded, and cut crosswise into half moons
1 cup cooked green beans, cut into thirds
1 cup chopped tomato or 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/2 cup feta cheese

Method-
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, 3 tbs[ red wine vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp dry mustard until well blended.

Put cucumbers, green beans, and tomatoes in a salad bowl. 

Add the dressing and toss gently.

Add the cheese and toss again.

Serve right away.

Frittering Away the Days: Corn Fritters & Zucchini Fritters

Fried food is my weakness—who doesn't love it? Yesterday and today, I embraced that love by making two different kinds of fritters. The first was Jacques Pépin's classic corn fritters, made with sweet corn fresh from Coles Farm Stand. I also whipped up some zucchini fritters.

Corn Fritters

Ingredients-
1/2 cup flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 cup sparkling water
1 cup shucked corn
vegetable oil

Method-
Mix the flour and baking powder in a bowl. Slowly add the sparkling water, only enough to make a batter.

Stir in the corn.

Heat oil in a sauté pan and add a spoonful of batter to the oil.

Let it sit for a few minutes, until you see bubbles on the top, then flip the patties and cook on the other side for about 2 minutes.

Put a baking rack to cook and season with salt as soon as they come out of the pan.

To see Jacques Pepin prepare this recipe, click here.

Zucchini Patties from An Italian in My Kitchen

2 cups grated zucchini, well-drained* (approximately 3 medium zucchini)
1 tbsp finely chopped onion
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (25 grams)
1/4 cup flour (32 grams)
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp salt
1-2 dashes black pepper
1-2 tbsp olive oil

*wring out excess moisture with hands

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except the olive oil.

In a medium to large frying pan over medium heat, heat the olive oil. 

Drop a heaping large spoonful of the mixture, and cook until browned on both sides.

Drain on a baking rack for a couple of seconds, sprinkle with salt and then serve immediately. 

Pan Roasted Lamb Chops with Mint Relish

Tonight's dinner ended with a discussion about portion sizes. I purchased Lamb Chops at Ferroras. Four chops or $6 and change. Amazing!! Dinner for 2 for $6.00. We are now thinking that the package I purchased should have been one portion. 

The chops were cooked spot on. Kudos to me!!!

But 2 little chops were really not enough per person for dinner. Appetizer, maybe. Dinner, maybe not.

We also picked up fresh corn from Cole's Farm Stand.

I tried microwaving it. I need to work on that one procedure.

The lamb chop recipe is from The Complete Cooking For Two Cookbook.

Pan Roasted Lamb Chops with Mint Relish

Mint Relish Ingredients-
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp chopped mint
1 small shallot, minced
2 tsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp honey
Salt and pepper

Lamb Ingredients-
4 6 to 8 oz lamb loin chops, 1/2 " thick, trimmed
Salt and pepper
2 tsp vegetable oil

Method-
For Mint Relish-
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
Let the relish sit at room temperature while preparing the lamb.

For the Lamb-
Adjust the rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 425˚. 

Pat the chops dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.

Heat oil in a 10" oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking.

Brown chops well on both sides, 3 to 5 minutes (I just did 3 minutes per side.)

Transfer skillet to oven and roast chops until meat registers 120 to 125˚ (for medium rare), 6 to 8 minutes. (I would recommend no more than 6 minutes as the resting time continues to cook the meat.)

Using potholders (THE SKILLET HANDLE WILL BE HOT), remove the skillet from the oven. 

Transfer chops to plate and tent loosely with aluminum foil and rest for 5 minutes. (I skipped this part because the chops were already at 125º.

Serve with relish.

Zucchini, Pancetta and Pasta

We are in the middle of summer, and it is about time we had Zucchini, Pancetta, and Pasta. It is one of those recipes that just comes together. 

Zucchini, Pancetta, and Pasta

This easy-to-follow recipe is perfect for a quick and delicious summer meal. It's designed to be flexible, allowing you to adjust the ingredients to your taste.

Ingredients-

Pancetta - diced
Zucchini - Cut to your preferred shape (sliced, diced, or ribbons work well)
Pasta - Choose your favorite shape
Butter - A small knob
Parmesan cheese - Grated
Olive oil - For sautéing
Salt and pepper - To taste

Method-

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta according to the package directions. 

Before draining, reserve about a cup of the starchy pasta water.

While the pasta cooks, heat a pan over medium heat. 

Add the pancetta and cook until it's crispy.

Add the zucchini to the pan with the pancetta and a drizzle of olive oil. 

Sauté until the zucchini is cooked to your preferred tenderness.

Once the pasta is ready, RESERVE ABOUT A CUP OF THE PASTA WATER, drain it, and add it directly to the pan with the zucchini and pancetta.

Add a knob of butter, then gradually stir in the Parmesan cheese.

Slowly add small amounts of the reserved pasta water while tossing everything together. 

The goal is to create a creamy sauce that coats the pasta.

Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Sticky Sesame Chicken

This 30-minute recipe from Le Crem De La Crumb is a definite repeat! It was incredibly easy to make and, despite a few extra dishes, far too delicious to grumble about.

Ingredients-

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts - chopped into 1 ½ inch pieces
2 eggs - whisked
6 tbsp flour

3 tbsp corn starch

4 tbsp vegetable oil
3-4 cups cooked white rice - for serving

sesame seeds - for garnish

green onions - chopped, for garnish

Sauce
6 tbsp honey

4 tbsp ketchup

3 tbsp granulated sugar

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp white vinegar

3 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp toasted sesame oil

½ tsp salt

1 tbsp cold water

2 corn starch

Method-

Prepare the Sauce

Whisk together honey, ketchup, sugar, brown sugar, white vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and salt. Set aside.

Prepare the Chicken

Place beaten egg, 3 tbsp cornstarch, and flour in three separate bowls.

Dip chicken pieces in egg mixture, then flour (toss to coat thoroughly), and lastly in corn starch (toss to coat thoroughly).

Heat oil over medium heat in a large pan or skillet. 

Add chicken and cook, stirring throughout to ensure even cooking, 5-10 minutes until cooked through. 

Use a slotted spoon to transfer chicken to a paper towel-lined dish.

Use a couple of folded paper towels to wipe out any excess oil from the pan. 

Add sauce and bring to a boil over medium heat. 

Whisk together cornstarch and water until dissolved, then whisk the cornstarch slurry into the boiling sauce til thickened.

Reduce heat to medium-low, add chicken back to the pan, and toss to coat completely. 

Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions and serve over rice. Enjoy!

Pork Medallions with Blue Cheese Sauce

When I first whipped up this dish last year, I knew it was a keeper. 30 minutes from start to finish and instant approval from my toughest critics! While the main components are delicious, the true game-changer is undoubtedly the sauce.

Ingredients-

1 lb pork tenderloin

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp butter, divided

1 shallots, finely chopped

1/4 cup white wine

4 oz blue cheese, cubed

1/2 cup heavy cream, Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp chopped fresh parsley

Method-

Trim the tenderloin of the silverskin and any excess fat.

Cut the tenderloin into eight 2-inch-thick medallions. 

Flip each medallion onto a cut side and press down with the palm of your hand to flatten slightly. 

Season with salt and black pepper.

Heat the olive oil and 1 Tbsp butter in a large sauté pan over high heat.

When the butter is melted and foaming, add half of the meat and sear until nicely browned, 2 to 3 min. 

Flip and cook the other side until the meat is well browned and slightly firm to the touch, about another 2 min. 

Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining pork.

Melt the remaining tablespoon butter in the pan. 

Add the shallots and a pinch of salt and sauté for about 30 seconds, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

Deglaze the pan with the white wine.

Once the wine has almost completely evaporated add the cream and blue cheese cubes. 

Simmer over medium heat for about 3 minutes until the sauce is smooth and thick.

Return the pork and any accumulated juices to the pan, and cook, flipping the pork once, until it’s firm to the touch and still a little pink in the middle (cut into a piece to check), 2 to 4 min. 

Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve garnished with parsley.