summer Archives - Page 2 of 2 - domenica dreams of calamari

September 22, 2014November 2, 2014

Peach, Amaretto, Whey Summer Smoothie

After making Ricotta we had a lot of leftover whey and this was one of my experiments. Whey is full of protein so it’s a great post-workout snack.

1 lg ripe peach
2 shots amaretto
1 cup whey water (or if you don’t have whey, sub 1 cup water and 2 tsp whey powder
1/2 cup ice
1 tsp cinnamon

blend all ingredients in a blender. done

September 10, 2014September 24, 2014

Summer Sangria

My cousin recently moved to San Diego to get her Master’s degree. When she was moving in, her parents gave her a hand-me-down punch bowl that had been an unused wedding present. We quickly came up with a new future use for the clandestine punch bowl as a sangria bowl. That same week, Jess came over with the bowl and we came up with this summery sangria recipe. The bowl even has matching glasses that hang off the side.

Summer Sangria:

2 bottles red wine (blends)
4 cups sparkling water
1 bag frozen cherries
2 large, firm peaches
2 passion fruits
lotsa ice

September 10, 2014September 24, 2014

Heirloom Tomato Bulgur Salad

I found this recipe on the whole foods website and decided to spice it up. It’s a great idea for summer because you don’t have to cook it and it really utilized the flavors and natural juices of superripe heirloom tomatoes.

Heirloom Tomato Bulgur Salad:

1 lb heirloom tomatoes
1 cup uncooked bulgur
1/4 cup capers
a few sprigs thyme and rosemary
a few squirts mustard

Cut tomatoes into large dices, saving juices
gently mix the tomatoes and their juices into the bulgur and let sit for three hours or more
add capers, herbs and mustard

September 10, 2014November 2, 2014

Fig & Olive Tapenade

I love figs. so. much. We’ve had a big ole fig tree in our front yard for as long as I can remember. I used to take my first-day-of-school photos in front of it every year. Last year when I went back to school in SLO my friend and I realized how many figs were going uneaten on our fellow community members’ bountiful trees. We decided it was not only tragic but a crime against humanity so we started doing nighttime missions to relieve their trees and transport the fat figs to a more happy home, with us. Where they would be thoroughly appreciated*. Although they aren’t the black mission figs I am used to from my tree in San Diego, they are free and we do it for the figs sake, so I’m not going to complain. BUT the late summer months at home when our tree produces, are some of my favorite days of the year. I check the tree daily, sometimes two or three times. I will not let a fig go to waste. I’ve made many a fig recipe this year but this is one of the simplest and tastiest.

Fig & Olive Tapenade

10 ripe figs
2 cups pitted kalamata olives
a drizzle of balsamic vinegar
3 sprigs rosemary and or thyme

Blend ingredients together and get some good crackers or bread. It’s also divine on top of roast chicken or next to herby lamb meatballs.

*we have also been asked to leave our schools’ orchards, for sneaking into the fig tree enclosure