Recipes

This vibrant pesto is the perfect accompaniment to almost anything on your menu! It’s great on potatoes and corn on the cob, spread on sandwiches, or toss with warm pasta and roasted tomatoes.

Ingredients

• 2 cups loosely packed basil leaves, washed and dried, large stems removed (outdoor seasonal vendors)
• ⅓ cup pine nuts (Country Bulk)*
• 2 medium garlic cloves (outdoor produce vendors)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (Mickey McGuire’s Cheese)
• ½ cup olive oil (Olive Divine)

Directions

1. In a food processor, pulse the pine nuts and garlic together, then add the basil and parmesan and process into a rough paste. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil in a slow stream and process into a paste. If it’s too dry, add a little more olive oil to achieve your desired consistency.
2. Season with fresh ground salt and pepper to taste.

Store pesto in the fridge in a sealed glass container for up to one week.

*Nut allergy? No problem! Substitute pumpkin seeds for the pine nuts. Pumpkin seeds can be found at Stone Crock Bakery and A Food Connection.

This fuss-free dessert is a true crowd pleaser and a cinch to put together, making it the perfect ending to an outdoor feast! This recipe is for one serving, so simply multiply to serve your expected number of guests.

Ingredients

• 1 Ambrosia or Gala apple per person (any sweet, crunchy apple will work great!)
• 1 tsp maple sugar
• 1 tsp butter, plus a bit for buttering your baking dish.
• Pecans, walnuts, or raisins (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Butter a baking dish large enough to fit the amount you’re making.
3. Cut each apple in half and remove the core and seeds.
4. Slice a small amount off each apple on the skin side resting in the pan. This helps the apple sit flat in the pan.
5. Add ½ teaspoon of butter to each half of the apple, and sprinkle with maple sugar and other desired toppings.
6. Bake for about 30 minutes, but if your apples are super crunchy it may take longer!
7. Top with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or crème fraiche.

This recipe is a hit any night of the week and will delight both young and more seasoned palettes alike!

Chicken Fingers Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts, sliced into chicken finger size. This doesn’t have to be an exact size, just try to make them all similar size so they cook evenly (Charles Quality Meats)
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 egg
• Fish Crisp coating or Yo Mama cornmeal coating (Caudle’s Catch)
• Oil for frying

Chicken Fingers Directions:

1. Pour a small amount of coating into a shallow bowl, about a half cup will do one pound of chicken.
2. Beat the egg and milk in separate shallow bowl.
3. Dip chicken pieces first in milk then into the dry coating mix and fry in hot oil in a shallow pan.  Flip once or twice only, letting crust form on each side, approximately 8-10 min per side, depending on thickness of chicken.
4. Cooked pieces can be kept warm on a tray uncovered in a warm oven if needed.

Potato Patties Ingredients:

• 2 medium size Yukon gold potatoes
• 1 medium size sweet potato
• Butter and milk to taste
• ½ cup flour
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• Oil for frying

Potato Patties Directions:

1. Peel and boil potatoes together in salted water until fork tender. Drain water and mash together adding butter and small amount of milk and ground nutmeg.
2. Form scoops of potato (one heaping tablespoon) into patties and lightly roll in flour just to coat.
3. Pan fry in hot oil until crispy on each side. Let a nice crust form on each side before flipping.

Salad Ingredients:

• 1 bag or clamshell mixed salad greens
• Cherry tomatoes
• Green onions
• ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar(Olive Divine)
• ½ cup good quality olive oil (Olive Divine)
• ½ shallot, finely minced
• Pinch of sugar
• Splash of lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Salad Directions:

1. Using a traditional or immersion blender, mix the vinegar, oil, shallots, sugar, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. 
2. Toss salad ingredients in large bowl and serve with chicken and potato patties.

Plate the chicken, patties, and salad and enjoy immediately. Siracha sauce mixed with mayonnaise is a great dip for the chicken.