FIRST KITCHEN BLOGS

Tomatoes- tis the season.  Its hard to believe that the lush red tasty tomatoes we are seeing at the market now have any resemblance to the ones we see in the winter.  So take time to enjoy them any way you can.   Regular, hierloom, cherry or grape- they're all tasty.  For example try a Caprese salad -we can show you how.   Or how about bruschetta with fresh tomato topping as an appetizer for your next outdoor barbecue.  (You can use that basil you have growing in your herb pot too.) 
                                           

Bruschetta with Tomato-Basil Topping

(About 4 servings)

Grilled toast rounds

16 slices French bread (or about 8 slices Italian bread)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 garlic clove

Brush both sides of bread slices with olive oil and place on medium hot grill; grill until lightly brown; turn and grill other side.  Remove from grill and rub one side of toasts with garlic.  Serve with Tomato- Basil Relish (below).

Tomato-Basil Topping

1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes

2 tablespoons finely chopped onion

1 small garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons chopped basil

Salt

Pepper

Mix tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, vinegar in a small bowl. Stir in basil and season with salt and pepper to taste Cover and let stand about 30 minutes. Garnish with basil springs and serve.

The signs of the end of a great summer are all around- the State Fair is in full swing, friends or siblings are starting to go back to school and that cool crisp air sneaks through our windows at night.  Fall can't be far behind but the days are still beautiful (and less humid!) so we are planning a Labor Day barbecue for our friends- no one has to do anything on Labor Day!  You could even make it an afternoon BBQ so that people who have work or school starting the next day can get to bed at a decent hour and let their food digest!  It is going to be simple but fun. 

 

Tomatoes are in season so we’ll have a delicious Caprese Salad along with our Surf n’ Turf kebabs.  (Check out the recipe page on our FK website.)

                                                         
 

                                                          

Fire up the grill (if no grill- the oven broiler will do) and get cookin’!  You could heat up a baguette on the grill (wrap it in aluminum foil) to serve along side the meal and toss together a simple salad- get ideas from our First Kitchen DVD http://firstkitchencooks.com/fk-shop.html

 

Have your friends chip in a little bit of money to help with cost of the meat and some of the other food.   Make sure you provide the basics like utensils and condiments but definitely have your friends BYOB (bring your own beverage).  Savor these last days of summer with good food and friends!