Summertime=Delectable Marinades for Grilled Veggies!

Got your grill on? Grilling in the summer means a less hot kitchen, giving your A.C. a break and therefore lowering your cooling bill. More $$ in for you and less pollutants out for the environment. If you grill with local foods you are supporting your local growers and using less fossil fuel to move the food around. So fire up that grill, get your forks and knifes out and get ready to enjoy summertime marinated vegetables on the grill!

6 (5 +1) Amazing Marinades for Grilled Vegetables

Todays post is taken mostly from  Care2.com (http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-marinades-for-grilled-vegetables.html ) written and originally posted by Melissa Breyer Jun 20, 2011. Read all the way thru for the last recipe from www.edibleparadise.comis not be missed!  (Lemon Herb Marinade)

Grilled Veggies“5 Marinades for Grilled Vegetables: Who says non-meat eaters can’t have any fun with a grill? The culture of barbecue may be obsessively carne-centric, but I’ve known many a vegetarian who can perform magic with hot coals, some sauce and a squash. I’ve thrown together plenty of vegetable marinades in my day, here are a few of my favorites. The chemistry is simple–mix the marinade up and let your vegetables marinate in a shallow dish from between 30 minutes to an hour before grilling. For larger quantities, double the ingredients.

Spicy Orange & Cilantro
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon orange juice
1 tablespoon orange marmalade
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Asian
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons seasoned rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Brown Sugar & Bourbon
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons bourbon
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Lemon & Garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Maple & Wasabi
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon wasabi”
 (Thanks to Melissa Breyer who  is senior editor of Healthy and Green Living and writes about food. She creates new recipes that are posted daily to Care2.com, a natural lifestyles social network & website with 10 million members.  If you have not discovered Care2.com now is the time!)

I want to continue our HERB conversation and uses:
so… here is a great HERB Marinade – This seems to be a FAB Find of a Website as well! It is called EDIBLE PARADISE – (Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets,
Cooking seasonally from the farmers markets.)  http://www.edibleparadise.com/
The website is FULL of great info. and beautiful images. As they say “Edible Paradise celebrates the year-round abundance of the highest quality, freshest food grown on the Central Coast by our family farmers at the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets. If you enjoy preparing and eating locally grown food, this blog is for you!” (Note: I am on the “other coast” and I still think this blog is for me!) The recipe below is from them.

♦Lemon Herb Marinade: Chef Andrew Cohen

INGREDIENTS:
3 cloves garlic, peeled and de-germed
1 shallot, peeled and diced coarsely
2 lemons, juiced
Pinch of salt ~ 1/8 teaspoon
Fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 bunch flat leaf parsley, most of the stems discarded
2 tablespoons each fresh oregano, marjoram, mint and/or basil, leaves only
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, leaves only
1/2 tablespoon fresh thyme, leaves only
1/4 cup olive oil

METHOD:
Place the garlic, shallot, salt, pepper, and lemon juice into a blender and puree.
Add the herbs and blend just until chopped. Bits of leaves should still be discernible.

With the motor running, drizzle in the oil to mix well. Do not take too much time doing this or your herbs will cook from the friction and your marinade will be dull and tired tasting.

Immerse item to be cooked in marinade and let soak not more than an hour and a half. Fish not more than an hour. The reason behind this is that the citric acid of the lemon juice will “cook” the food before you get it to the grill.

Use on chicken, fish, and vegetables. You can even use it on beef. The marinade can be used as a sauce also. Before immersing the item to be marinated, remove a little and set aside until you wish to eat. Then, if you wish, you can add a little extra virgin olive oil to the marinade and use it as a sauce or dip for the finished item.

SOURCE: Chef Andrew Cohen

http://www.edibleparadise.com/marinades-sauces-and-condiments/124-marinades-and-bbq-sauces/470-lemon-herb-marinade.html

Summertime, and the living is easy … as well as scrumptious

Continuing on Summertime theme… this week is summertime FOODS, always a fun topic. Summer seems in part to be in about the food, specifically the fresh produce and veggies. Easy to find everywhere, fun to find at your local outdoor markets! Keep it local folks- support your local farmer (especially the organic ones) and your community will be better off for your actions.

Monday, today, we will start the week off with HERBS – hopefully your herb garden is flourishing by now. My mint is taking over already! (see photo!) MintThese wonderful words are from Kathy WeberWedge Wood Flowers: Herbs for culinary, medicinal and ceremonial use: She is one of the fabulous growers at the Whole Foods Farmers Market in Garden City on Tuesdays! There are 2 recipes (bottom of page.) One is from Kathy and the other is from Linda Nunes- the Healthy Eating specialist at Garden City Center Whole Foods. She made us this luscious salad last week as the taste sampler food for the day. Want to know what is being made this Tuesday? Sorry, it’s a secret you will have to come on down to see/taste for yourselves!

“Now that is it summer in our area, the farmers markets are filling up with fresh greens, strawberries, peas and herbs. All of these wonderful offerings from the fields will give us an early summer salad just right for us.
Snipping herbs regularly helps the herb plants grow bushy and full and provides more for us to use. Pinch the tops of the plants to prevent flowering and going to seed. If that happens, the flavor becomes bitter.  That is another reason why snipping herbs daily is a good idea.  If you have more herbs that you can use, dry the sprigs on a paper towel and store for cooking.
Use herbs in the summer to bring out the flavor in meals. Here are some tips where using herbs.  Use dried herbs when cooking sauces and soups. Dried herbs have more intense flavors.  Use fresh herbs in salads, as a garnish in soups or sauces, and add sprigs of parsley or basil in a sandwich. Then taste how good that is! (Note, from Ronfleur and Liz- put a bit of mint on my turkey wrap { turkey, a touch of low-fat feta dressing, lettuce and a sprinkle of mint} and it was WONDERFUL! ) 
Plan to enjoy the early summer time enjoying all the bounty provided to us and know that more is soon to come to us from the fields.”
Kathy learned to love herbs from her parents.  Her father lovingly tended his herb garden and often brought in lettuce, scallions, and parsley for a salad for supper.  Her mother loved to make herb tea from herbs that she dried for the winter and so she grew up understanding how to grow herbs and health benefits they provide. Currently she is studying to become a herbalist with Susan Clements. Learning to make tinctures, salves, and creams.
She has combined all her knowledge of herbs and turned it into a business,
Wedge Wood Flowers: offering a wide variety of herbs for culinary, medicinal and ceremonial use. “I love to help folks, learn to grow and use herbs. Along with my herbs, I make cold pressed soap using essential oils and clays. I often use herbs in making soap.  This year I can be found at farmers markets, Pawtuxet Village, on Sat., Whole Foods University Heights and Cranston on Mon and Tues. I also will be at Washington Co Fail in Aug, Woodstock Fair, and Hebron Fair in Conn. I can also be found at various festivals and harvest fairs. Information on where I will be can be found on my Facebook page, Wedgewood Flowers.”  Kathy’s email is wdgewood89@aol.comif you have questions for her.
Here is a recipe with snap peas from Kathy
Cook in water a handful of snap peas for 1-2 min. Toast 2T sliced almonds. Combine 2T oil, 2 T fruity vinegar salt pepper. Combine romaine or spring greens with 1/4 cup chives, and tarragon, add peas, and almonds
Here is the recipe from Whole Foods Market Healthy Eating Specialist,
Linda Nunes.
Combine fresh greens using red and green lettuce. Add sliced strawberries and chopped basil. Make a simple dressing by blending, 1 cup strawberries, 1T Dijon mustard, 1/2 cup Balsamic vinegar, and 1 shallot.  Pour over the greens and enjoy the flavors.

It’s Tuesday and off to Whole Foods Market as Vendors we go!

Logo Great Harvest Bread Co.

Todays topic continues to be SUPPORT your LOCAL folks.  Farmers Markets, Artist/Craft Fairs, and don’t forget about your local hometown merchant! If you don’t support them they may not be their next time when are looking for them. Remember, there is no food without farmers; there is no art without artist: and there is no local retail without the locals merchants! Today we are chatting with the local bakery Great Harvest Bread Company of North Kingstown, R.I. Great Harvest does their part, not only are they are local, they give back to the community, and they use local products/ingredients
when ever they can.  Did I mention the bread is so good you will have a hard time not eating the entire loaf right away!

It’s Tuesday and so it is our Interview day as well as our Whole Foods Market Afternoon! Julia is interviewing others at the Whole Foods Outdoor Market (Garden City Tuesday afternoons: 3-6 or 7ish.) You can see The Botanical Beauties and Beasties there as well as Great Harvest Bread Co. each week during the summer. Don’t forget Dirty Vegan Foods (last weeks interview) is there as well. Feasts for the eyes, the tummy and your health.

Julia (Botaniumus’ own local baker) is the interviewer.
Wendy is the spokeswoman for Great Harvest Bread Co.

Julia: Great Harvest Bread Co.
Julia: She visits and chats with Great Harvest Bread Co.

Julia: Tell me  about your bakery. Organic? Wholesome? All natural? What  flours are used? (Julia has to giggle for she loves the play on words of her personal body made of flowers and that she makes bakery items with flours all day.)
Great Harvest (Wendy): Our bakery uses organic wheat and spelt when possible.  We offer organic wheat and spelt twice a week each. Otherwise the wheat comes from Montana.  We mill the wheat ourselves and use the flour within 48 hours.  The honey we use is from Aquidneck Honey (local RI) and is all-chemical free.  We try to source all local ingredients where possible (everything from Yacht Club soda to Aquidneck Honey to Casey Farms).

Julia: How did you come to be a professional baker/biz owner? 
Great Harvest: My partner Paul has always had a love of baking and wanted to open his own business.  He happened across a Great Harvest Bread Company in Cranston and fell in love with the product.  From that day at lunch until we opened was just about a year.  Paul spent several weeks over a couple of trips to Montana to train on the bakery systems.

Julia: Since it is said  Bread is the staff of life – what is your morning breakfast bread?
Great Harvest (Wendy): Both Paul and I love our Hi-5 Fiber bread with peanut butter spread on it.  For lunch Paul will usually have Greek yogurt and mix in our homemade Groovy Granola. (Julia has had this bread it one of her favorites too! It is incredibly good, and full of “good for you” ingredients.)

Julia:What’s your favorite item to make?
Great Harvest (Wendy): Paul is involved in both the bread and sweets baking and loves the most whichever one he happens to be working on that morning!  My son Bobby is also one of our bread bakers and Paul’s sister Sandy works a couple of mornings a week as a sweets baker.  All 3 of them love to bake each of the products we offer.

Julia:.What’s your best seller?
Great Harvest (Wendy):
Rhody Crunch is a very popular bread as are our cheese breads.  We offer cheddar garlic, Asiago pesto, and spinach feta.  People love to mix cheese and bread!

Hand and flour

Julia:We love your bread and your philosophies at Great Harvest: Your products are fresh, healthy and local! Is there any thing else you want you’d like to add?
Great Harvest (Wendy): At Great Harvest we mill our wheat on site and use the whole wheat flour within 48 hours of milling.  You will not find fresher flour anywhere!  Our bread and sweets bakers arrive at the bakery every morning by 3:45 to start the process of baking the breads and sweets.  Everything in the store is baked on site, from scratch.  Any breads that have to be pulled from the shelves are donated to the North Kingstown food pantry.  We have very little waste in our bakery.

Julia: On your website I see amazing sandwiches! I know they are all made with your bread
which is delicious rich, moist, hearty and life-enhancing. Great Harvest-style breads (and so sandwiches) keep vital nutrients.
Great Harvest (Wendy): Fresh sandwiches served daily 11 a.m. till 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. on Sunday. You can also order a pick-up. Call us at 401-885-0580

sandwich Great Harvest Bread Co.
A sandwich from Great Harvest Bread Co.

Great Harvest Bread Company
6670 Post Road
North Kingstown, RI 02852

Website: www.greatharvestnk.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Great-Harvest-Bread-Company-North-Kingstown/126435907401080

Hours:
Monday – Friday : 6:30am – 6:30pm
Saturday : 7am – 5pm
Sunday : 8am – 3pm
Phone: 401) 885-0580

It's Tuesday and off to Whole Foods Market as Vendors we go!

Julia with DIRTY VEGAN FOODS
Julia with DIRTY VEGAN FOODS. YUM!

As promised yesterday: Julia interview with  Dirty Vegan Foods who is also at Whole Foods Market Vendor Farm Market out in the parking lot on Tuesday 3-6 or 7ish depending on weather and people traffic.

DVF banner logohttp://www.dirtyveganfoods.com/

Julia: How did you get started?

Katie: (Dirty Vegan Foods) We started as two animal lovers and do-gooder(s) veganizing our own food. We wanted to create vegan versions of everything, so that being kind does not mean missing out. With dreams of nostalgic snack cakes and childhood favorites, we created Dirty Vegan Foods. It began as a blog, and we began to meet other foodies like us. After countless hours and lots of testing, we have created the holy grail of vegan snack food! We are pleased to pass it on to you and hope that you love our products as much as we do.

Julia: What do you specialize in?

Katie: We specialize in nostalgic vegan snack food classics and favorites such as crème filled cupcakes, marshmallow crème canoe cakes, cookies, chocolate dipped crème filled cake rounds, mini donuts, whoopee pies, and more!

Julia:  Is everything Vegan?

Katie: Yes! Everything we make is 100% cruelty free. No animals were hurt, used or abused in the making of these delicious treats!

Julia:  Winky? What?

Winky Shop
Winky Treats

Katie: Are you thinking what we are thinking?? WOW! Yes we did it! Remember these as a kid?? Well get ready to fall back into your childhood. These incredibly soft, moist, sweet delicious treats are going to knock your socks off and have you coming back for more….wink, wink. Each Package contains 2 Vegan Twinkies.

Julia Where else can we find your yummy foods?

Katie: As of now we are busy and all over. More may come so keep an eye out.
Mondays (May 2nd-October 24th): Whole Foods Market University Heights, Providence, RI 3:00-7:00 PM
Tuesdays (May 17th-October 25th): Whole Foods Market Garden City, Cranston, RI 3:00-7:00 PM
Fridays: (June 3rd-July 22nd): Lasalette Shrine Farmer’s Market, Attleboro, MA 2:00-6:00 PM,
(July 29th-October 7th): Rhode Island College (RIC) 3:30-6:00 PM
Saturdays: (June 11th) Festival Fete, Cranston, RI 10:00 AM-5:00 PM (Rain date June 12th)
Sundays: (June 12th-October 30th): Elmhurst Farmer’s Market, Fargnoli Park, Providence, RI 11:00 AM-2:00 PM

To find/follow and contact Katie
E-mail: Info@dirtyveganfoods.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DirtyVeganFoods
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/DirtyVeganF