Mini Fruit Tacos Showcase Fresh Berries

Fruit Tacos ~ Ricotta, Berries, Sopapilla Taco Shells

Mini Fruit Tacos

Sopapilla Taco Shells
Lemon-Orange Ricotta, Orange Marmalade
Fresh Berries, Pistachio, Vanilla Yogurt, Mint

Perhaps we are spoiled here in Southern California, with a bounty of fresh fruit all year around, but savvy cooks don’t simply create dishes with fresh ingredients, the key is serving those fresh ingredients at their peak.

Summer is the peak season for raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. To delight your family, serve these seasonal gems in a mini taco shell!

This taco shell is inspired by sopapillas, a dessert popular in the Southwestern US and in Latino culturesThe crispy fried pillows of dough are originally thought to have originated in Albuquerque, New Mexico over a couple centuries ago. Sometimes served as a savory dish with meat, cheese and chiles – it is most often served as a sweet treat, simply adorned with honey or cinnamon sugar.

These fruit tacos are filled with lemon-orange ricotta cheese, orange marmalade, fresh berries, and garnished with pistachio nuts, vanilla yogurt and mint. And while they make a charming summer dessert – the citrusy cheese filling and orange marmalade make them quite suitable for breakfast on a brilliant July morning as well.

Nature’s beautiful colors and the petite presentation are positively enchanting. The textures range from crispy to creamy – with nutty and fruity flavors, made even brighter by the use of citrus and salt. Something magical happens when a conventionally savory taco is turned into something little and sweet.

 Mini Fruit Tacos Recipe

Continue reading “Mini Fruit Tacos Showcase Fresh Berries”

Spicy Rainbow Slaw

Spicy Rainbow Slaw

A Spicy Kaleidoscopic Slaw

Napa Cabbage, Purple Cabbage, Korean Pear, French Breakfast Radish
Pink Carrot, White Carrot, Orange Carrot, Purple Carrot
Red Fresno Chile, Serrano Chile, Cilantro, Scallion
Sesame Oil & Rice Wine Vinegar Dressing

Spicy Rainbow Slaw

A sharp knife and vegetable peeler are all it takes to make this kaleidoscopic summer slaw. As a twist on the ubiquitous Asian Slaw – Korean pear, French breakfast radish, serrano chile, and red Fresno chile are added for additional sweet, spicy, and crunchy notes. The result is a truly irresistible wild salad pleasing to the eye and palate. Add bay shrimp and peanuts to take this slaw from a side dish to a meal.

Spicy Rainbow Slaw Recipe

Continue reading “Spicy Rainbow Slaw”

Thyme & Mint Roasted Eggplant with Arugula, Spinach, Tomato and Yogurt Sauce

Thyme Roasted Eggplant Salad

Thyme & Mint Roasted Eggplant

Japanese Eggplant, Arugula, Spinach, Tomato
Garlicky Yogurt Sauce, Arugula Flowers Garnish

While the presentation may look a bit familiar, the dish itself is unique.  It is inspired by one of my all time favorite chefs ~ Yotam Ottolenghi. His fans will recognize the Japanese eggplant presentation from the cover of his innovative vegetarian cookbook Plenty, where he adorns them with pomegranate arils and za’atar. Try Ottolenghi’s dish in autumn when pomegranates are in season, but try my version this summer with bursting ripe tomatoes and vibrant fresh greens.

Continue reading “Thyme & Mint Roasted Eggplant with Arugula, Spinach, Tomato and Yogurt Sauce”

Farmer Turns a City Dump into Urban Farm

FARM LOT 59

Local Farmer Turns a City Dump into a Charming Urban Farm

Long littered with car bumpers, scrap metal and trash, a land plot in Long Beach, California has been transformed into an enchanting petite urban farm. There, everything is organically grown and tended to the old fashioned way— by hand, without the use of chemicals or pesticides.

FARM LOT 59

Continue reading “Farmer Turns a City Dump into Urban Farm”

Cherimoya Brûlée

Cherimoya Brûlée

Cherimoya Brûlée

Recently at the local farmers market, a woman walked up and started asking about an exotic fruit called cherimoya. I shared that while it was very expensive (a medium-large one cost almost $8) I thought that it was ultimately worth the price. At about the same cost per pound as a top sirloin steak, it is probably not a fruit you would have on the breakfast table every day – but to add variety, or when guests are in town, cherimoya is a special treat.

This fruit, native to the valleys of Ecuador, Columbia, and Peru, has a mysterious flavor and unique texture. The juicy white sweet flesh tastes a bit like pineapple, though not as tart, with a hint of banana, and maybe papaya. The aroma is heady and tropical. The texture is even more intriguing, less like fruit and more like custard. As I was explaining the cherimoya to her, a pineapple banana crème brûlée came to mind. And that is how this Cherimoya Brûlée was born…

Cherimoya Brûlée Recipe

Continue reading “Cherimoya Brûlée”