We’re teaming up with food and garden bloggers to host Summer Fest 2012, a season-long garden party. In coming weeks, we’ll feature favorite garden-to-table recipes and tips to help you enjoy the bounty, whether you’re harvesting your own goodies or buying them fresh from the market. Today, we’re exploring cucumbers.
Farmers’ markets are bursting with water-filled, crunchy cucumbers, a refreshing relief amidst the rising summer heat. With numerous no-cook cucumber recipes, there’s every reason to stock up on the green-skinned fruit for salads, soups, dips and more. These simple and refreshing recipes will get you through the hottest days of summer — no grilling required.
Before you get chopping, be sure to choose firm cucumbers, avoiding soft or shriveled spots. Once you’re home, store them in the fridge for up to 10 days.
Salads are an easy and effortless way to let cucumbers shine. For a delightful mix of sweet and savory, try this Watermelon-Cucumber Salad (pictured above), which is topped with creamy crumbled goat cheese. Or try Ellie Krieger’s Cucumber Salad, a mix of cucumbers, red onion and dill.
Get more cucumber recipes from friends
It’s week four of our season-long garden party, Summer Fest 2011, where we welcome food and garden bloggers to feature garden-to-table recipes and tips. We’ll help you to enjoy all that this season has to offer. So far, we’ve delved into cucumbers and peaches.
Classic pairings like peanut butter and jelly, cheese and crackers and spaghetti and meatballs always get recognition, but what about a savory combo that’ll send your taste buds soaring? Broccoli and cheddar are not only meant for each other, but they also add full-bodied flavor to soups, frittatas, potatoes and even casseroles.
Vibrant, emerald-green broccoli — a cabbage relative — reaches its peak in the coming months, so take advantage of the veggie’s vitamin A, C, iron and calcium before the doldrums of winter set in.
Start off with hearty Almost-Famous Broccoli-Cheddar Soup (pictured above) from Food Network Magazine. Sharp white and yellow cheddar cheeses make fresh broccoli florets pop, while a sourdough bread bowl is perfect for sopping up every last drop. If you’d rather eat your broccoli without a spoon, try the magazine’s Broccoli-Cheddar Potatoes. Load potatoes high with broccoli, bacon and spinach, then add a dollop of sour cream on top for a symphony of flavor.
More broccoli recipes from our friends and family »
It’s week four of our season-long garden party, Summer Fest 2011, where we welcome food and garden bloggers to feature garden-to-table recipes and tips. We’ll help you to enjoy all that this season has to offer. So far, we’ve delved into cucumbers and peaches.
As summer’s stifling heat slowly gives way to fall’s refreshing breezes, throw an outside dinner party with tomatoes front and center.
It’s the perfect time to showcase meaty summer tomatoes, dripping with succulent juice and pulpy seeds, in simple appetizers your guests will surely want seconds of.
Start off simple with Rachael’s Tomato and Shrimp Salad With Horseradish Dressing. Large beefsteak tomatoes brighten the plate, while the shrimp adds a heartiness that isn’t overly filling. Whip up Giada’s Calamari, Tomato and Caper Salad in 20 minutes or less for a dish that’s simply executed with lots of fresh lemon, salt and pepper.
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It’s week four of our season-long garden party, Summer Fest 2011, where we welcome food and garden bloggers to feature garden-to-table recipes and tips. We’ll help you to enjoy all that this season has to offer. So far, we’ve delved into cucumbers and peaches. This week we’re getting creative with cherries.
What tastes better than sweet, crisp cherries plump with juice at the peak of the summer season? Sweet, crisp cherries in a warm, delicious pie, of course. Bing cherries range in color from a deep crimson to almost black, and their firm flesh makes for a perfect pie filling. Add a bit of quick-cooking tapioca to thicken the mixture, and you’re all set to pour it into an all-butter pie crust like the Food Network Magazine version above.
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It’s week three of our season-long garden party, Summer Fest 2011, where we welcome food and garden bloggers to feature garden-to-table recipes and tips. We’ll help you to enjoy all that this season has to offer. So far, we’ve delved into eggplants and peaches. This week we’re getting creative with cucumbers.
Water-rich and crunchy cukes are the perfect cool-down veggie for hot days. We’ve seen them in salads all year long but with summer’s best in season right now, you can use them in pretty much every part of your meal.
Start with Sandra’s five-ingredient Cucumber Yogurt Dip that marinates cucumbers in sour cream, yogurt and Greek seasonings. Serve it with pita chips or, yes, more cucumber slices. You can also try Aarti’s Indian-inspired version with fresh mint and make Cucumber Raita.
Browse more cucumber recipes »
Week two of our season-long garden party Summer Fest 2011 welcomes food and garden bloggers to feature garden-to-table recipes and tips. We’ll help you to enjoy all that this season has to offer. Recently, we dove into the world of eggplants. Now ready for the spotlight: peaches.
Remember mealy stone-fruit from the supermarket this winter? No longer. That sweet, juicy, drip-down-your-chin peach is back in season.
You can always showcase fresh peaches in a crowd-pleasing Peach Cobbler. Paula has a highly rated (over 1,000 reviews) version that is the perfect ending to any summer feast. Plus, it only requires 15 minutes’ prep so there’s plenty of time for you to mingle with guests.
If you’re not a fan of sharing your dessert, try Alton’s Individual Peach Upside-Down Cakes and you’ll have a ramekin filled with peaches, ginger and buttermilk all to yourself.
Find more peach recipes after the jump »
We’re teaming up with food and garden bloggers to host Summer Fest 2011, a season-long garden party. In coming weeks, we’ll feature favorite garden-to-table recipes and tips to help you enjoy the bounty, whether you’re harvesting your own goodies or buying them fresh from the market. Today, we’re exploring eggplant.
A quick search on the Internet for eggplant recipes will quickly result in one Parmigiana recipe after another. While I can’t help but love that fried, cheesy dish — especially Alex Guarnaschelli’s version — there are numerous recipes that feature this purple, pear-shaped berry in lighter ways, especially on the grill, which will keep your kitchen cool during the summer months.
Read on for grilled eggplant recipes »
We have to admit we’re highly anticipating this summer’s bounty of fresh fruits and veggies. Last year, FN Dish participated in Summer Fest, a season long franchise where FN editors teamed up with blogs like Steamy Kitchen, A Way to Garden, White on Rice Couple, What’s Gaby Cooking and Pinch My Salt to share tips and recipes about produce like tomatoes, peppers, summer greens, peaches and more.
Now, we’re opening it up to the food community: Next Wednesday, we’ll be launching our second season of Summer Fest on the blog and we want you to be a part of it. Whether you write for a popular food website or you’re the owner of a small food blog, help us spread the word and join our community.
Find out how to participate after the jump »
We’re teaming up with other food and garden bloggers to host Summer Fest 2010, a season-long garden party. Each week we’ll feature favorite garden-to-table recipes and tips to help you enjoy the bounty, whether you’re harvesting your own goodies or buying them fresh from the market. To join in, check out awaytogarden.com.
A few cloves (or heads!) of garlic are great for livening up plain chicken dinners. For an explosion of garlicky flavor, add these favorite weeknight wonders to your repertoire.
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- Chiles Rellenos in Tomato Broth from Food Network Magazine
We’re teaming up with other food and garden bloggers to host Summer Fest 2010, a season-long garden party. Each week we’ll feature favorite garden-to-table recipes and tips to help you enjoy the bounty, whether you’re harvesting your own goodies or buying them fresh from the market. To join in, check out awaytogarden.com.
Mild poblano peppers are the star of this Mexican food favorite, chiles rellenos. The peppers (look for darker colored poblanos for the richest flavor) are stuffed with cheese, dipped in egg and fried until the cheese is melted and the outside is crisp. They’re a fiesta on a plate, especially when paired with a fresh, tomato-based sauce like the Food Network Magazine version above.
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