Gardening gives me happiness
and a connection with the land, a responsibility with the soil from where I get
amazing fruits. What a joy to harvest them and then, with those fruits, concoct
marvelous and simple dishes to enjoy with family and friends.
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| Tomatoes from my garden |
● 2 beautifully ripe tomatoes, sliced
● 1 ball buffalo mozzarella, sliced
● ½ cup fresh basil, mint and tarragon, chopped
● 1 roasted red pepper, sliced
● ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
● 1 teaspoon kosher salt
● 1 teaspoon freshly crushed black pepper
● More EVOO
On a plate, arrange sliced
ripe tomatoes, sliced Buffalo mozzarella, herbs and roasted red pepper. Drizzle
olive oil over salad and season with salt and pepper. Serve with additional
EVOO.
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| Kir's Caprese salad |
For the Salad:
● 2 ripe but firm peaches, thickly sliced
● 6 slices of brioche bread
● 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped in ¾ inch chunks
● ½ red onion, sliced extra thin
● Lots of fresh herbs (basil, mint, parsley,
tarragon, chives), chopped
Dressing:
● 4 Tablespoons rice vinegar
● 1 clove of garlic, crushed
● Salt and freshly crushed black pepper
● 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
● ½ cup EVOO
Grill sliced peaches over
mesquite charred wood. Remove from grill when fork tender and chop. Add to
bowl.
Cut brioche into ¾ inch
cubes. On a flat sheet pan, toast bread cubes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until
dry (about 10-15 minutes). Or, place them on the grill and toast until dry.
Combine peaches, brioche
cubes, tomatoes, thinly sliced onion, and chopped herbs in a bowl.
For the Dressing:
Combine all ingredients in a
Mason jar. Shake very well and dress the panzanella.
Panzanella Tips:
* Make the panzanella an
hour or so before serving so the brioche gets softer with the dressing.
* This salad is equally
delicious with nectarines, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew, plums or berries.
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| Kir's Grilled Peach Panzanella |
This is the name in Catalán
for bread with tomato. This was a staple in the monastery in Monte Randa in
Palma De Mallorca, Spain, and throughout all my monastic life. I fell in love
with the simplicity and deliciousness of the 2 ingredients. It cries Summer and
freshness. In its most simple way it is just tomato, bread, olive oil, salt and
pepper. But you can add as many components as your creativity dictates.
Ingredients:
● Ripe tomatoes, sliced
● Country bread, sliced
● Extra Virgin Olive oil
● Salt and pepper
Optional:
Garlic (minced or sliced),
herbs
Assemble like so:
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| Pa amb tomàquet |
Enjoy your tomatoes!
