When you’re cooking and eating simply, the quality of your ingredients matters all the more. Whether you’re highlighting a contrasting flavor or developing a layered and nuanced seasoning, good spices make all the difference. Quality spices can be the easiest way to turn something standard into something special. For these reasons we stock our pantry with an array of spices from Burlap & Barrel.
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A bright, lemony salad that celebrates the flavors of fresh summer squash. The Calabrian chilis offer some heat and salinity with the pops of basil cooling it down. If you don’t have a big hunk of Parmigiano laying around, some Pecorino, Stracciatella or a few dollops of ricotta would also be great. Need more bread in your life? This would also be delicious on top of an olive oil toasted slice of Sullivan Street Sare or Sesamo.
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This is an easy salad to throw together that showcases the deliciousness of great summer produce! It makes you feel like you’re at a backyard BBQ, even if you’re eating it in the comfort of your own home. The corn was so sweet this week we didn’t bother cooking it, but this will be just as delicious if you prefer the taste and texture of cooked kernels. This salad can also be jazzed up with some herbs or fresh chilis if you have them on hand!
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An ultra simple, quick and delicious take on a classic dessert. Perfect for that summer BBQ or a backyard picnic. Don’t get too fussy with the assembly, it’s going to look like a beautiful fun mess once you dig into it.
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You know the many cheese puns and the smoked variety in your American deli case, but there’s a lot more about this Dutch masterpiece worth appreciating. Gouda, (technically pronounced GAOW-duh) which is now ubiquitous in almost any grocery store, gets its name from the large cheese market it was sold from, Goudse Kaasmarkt, in the town of Gouda, Holland. Like many classic cheeses, Gouda has been around for centuries and beginning in the seventeenth century it became a highly lucrative export for the country.
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Who says Cabbage can’t be summery? This is the perfect picnic salad! Cabbage offers up a crunchy bite, while the avocado gives you some velvety richness. This picnic slaw is sturdy enough that it won’t wilt into a soggy mess from the hot summer weather. Take it to the beach, take it to the park, or eat it in your own backyard alongside a burger. The dressing recipe makes enough for the slaw plus some extra for dipping some veggies or chips into later!
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Regional foods can often spark a little bit of debate over which is the best version and method of cooking. At the root of this debate is generally immense feelings of pride that one’s version is the best. In the South, Country Ham is a table staple to be enjoyed thoroughly, but not to be taken lightly.
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We call this one "Weeknight Porchetta" because from start to finish it only takes about 45 minutes, but it will taste like you spent all day!
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A summertime drink that cools you down while quenching your thirst! Best enjoyed sitting outside, soaking up the sun. We drank the nonalcoholic version, but this would be perfect with a splash of your favorite gin. If you’re not in the mood for a spritzer, the blueberry lemon syrup works great to sweeten up a batch of lemonade, or even drizzled over pancakes, french toast or waffles!
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Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Well, consider a French chef’s need for fresh goat cheese and the relative positions of Allison Hooper and Bob Reese and the invention of Vermont Creamery. As it goes, Bob was working for the Vermont Department of Agriculture and in charge of putting together a dinner consisting of all Vermont made products. In seeking out Vermont-made fresh goat cheese Bob met Allison, who was milking goats on a small farm after having learned to make cheese in Brittany, France (the French are masters when it comes to goat cheeses). Allison’s cheese was such a success that Vermont Creamery was born that night in 1984.
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A summer salad that actually gets better as it sits, this recipe is easily made in the morning and slowly eaten throughout the day. On these early summer days, it’s the perfect little snack to have on hand when you’re standing in front of the fridge trying to cool yourself down. We like the bounciness of the fresh mozzarella, but it could easily be switched out for some briny Sheep Feta, Ricotta Salata or Bufala Mozz! There’s also no need to get too precious with the herbs, just use what you have on hand! But the Mint is especially delicious in the recipe so don't skip that one.
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As we head into the holiday weekend and kick off summer we’re also closing out American Cheese Month! Celebrating American cheese producers never really ends for us, but we want to take a brief final moment to express to you our love of American cheese makers and in highlighting one of our favorites, Jacobs & Brichford, reiterate why it is that American cheese deserves your attention and adoration every day of the year!
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