Scenes from a Long Weekend-Part II: Garden Eats

In my last post, Dad, Eileen, Gary and I were in Saranac Lake getting our local food on… I managed to pick up a few goodies….

My new addiction…

I have a weakness for goat cheese….

After bringing Farmer Ben a surprise coffee, I took Gary and my Dad for a long walk on a bike path by the lake. It was hot…and sticky.

I then rushed home to clean-up and make some more delicious eats….

Here is what I whipped up….

Avocado-Tomato Bruschetta

Bruschetta… under a mountain of parmesan

What you’ll need:

• 1 baguette…preferably local
• 4-5 cloves of garlic
• 2 tbsp. olive oil, plus more for drizzling on bread
• 2 large tomatoes (or 3-4 small-medium)
• 15 fresh basil leaves (approximately)
• 1 tbsp. or a splash of balsamic vinegar
• Sea salt and cracked pepper to taste
• 1 avocado

What to do:

• Preheat oven to 350
• Mince garlic.
• Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat, add garlic. Stir…cook garlic until it softens-do NOT let burn. This won’t take long. Pour garlic and oil into a metal mixing bowl and set aside.
• Chop/dice tomatoes (this will be depend on how big you want your chunks to be–side note: chunks is not an appetizing word.) Add to mixing bowl with garlic and oil. 
• Also, if you don’t want soupy bruschetta, drain some of the juices before adding to bowl.
• Chop basil. (tip: stack some leaves on top of each other, roll them length-wise and slice into thin strips) Add to mixing bowl.
• Add in remaining balsamic, salt and pepper and stir. Set aside
• Slice baguette on the diagonal into 1/4 -1/2 inch slices. Place on baking sheet and drizzle lightly with olive oil.
• Place in oven and let brown. Meanwhile, dice up your avocado and add to the bruschetta mixture–do NOT do this until ready to serve.
• Remove toasted baguette from oven and top with bruschetta mixture.

If you’re feeling extra naughty, grate some parmesan over the top.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Garden Delight Pasta

(Or…trying to use up all the veggies on your counter/in the fridge pasta)

What You’ll Need:

• 1 lb whole wheat pasta (I used angel hair)
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion (or 1/2 a giant onion like I used…), diced
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 1 medium eggplant, chopped
• 6 large kale leaves, sliced (I just ripped it up)
• 2 large Swiss Chard Leaves
• 2 sprigs fresh parsley, chopped (about 1-2 tbsp.)
• Juice of half a lemon
• 1 large tomato, chopped (or, if you have leftover bruschetta mix, that will work too!)
• 3 oz. goat cheese (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

What to do:

• Heat water for pasta and cook according to package
•                  While your water is boiling….
• Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat.
• Add in onion, until it starts to soften.
• Add in zucchini and eggplant, stirring occasionally, be careful not to let veggies stick/burn. Reduce heat to medium low. (This should take about 10-15 minutes, depending on your veggies/size of pan)
• Add in Swiss chard and kale, cover and let wilt. Stirring occasionally.
• Stir in cooked and drained pasta (it should be hot) and mix in remaining ingredients.

Remove from heat and Serve hot. Makes 4-6 servings.

Favorite seasonal meal? How do you use up all of your leftover veggies? Goat cheese in pasta, yes or no?

Stay Tuned for Scenes…Part 3!