Edamame & Arugula Spread is a great alternative to the popular Bruschetta

Crostini has always been one of my favorite go to appetizers. They’re easy & quick to make and are a heartier cocktail hour food. If you’re coming over to my house odds are there will be some cocktails or wine involved. I always want to have some appetizers on hand to soak up the alcohol. Don’t judge! I confess that normally I make my heirloom tomato bruschetta but I felt like switching things up. This Edamame & Arugula Spread was the perfect option!

Your edamame should look like this before adding to the food processor. Remember to remove the beans from the shells!

The mint really add the perfect finish to Edamame & Arugula Spread.

Arugula is in season right now and I love it’s peppery, bold taste. It’s part of the cabbage family and contains a HUGE amount of lutein, an antioxidant that helps maintain healthy eyes, skin and heart. Arugula doesn’t keep very well so try to buy it and use it up within 2 days, 3 max

I use arugula on its own in salads or in addition to another greens. I love it in soups, on homemade pizza or in my pasta. My absolute favorite is subbing it for basil to make a spicier pesto! When cooked, arugula wilts like spinach so keep that mind when experimenting in your kitchen.

Try this spread over baked parmesan crisps instead of  baguette for a different approach.

Enjoy this for breakfast and switch up your routine!

Edamame & Arugula Spread

 

Print

Prep time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 cup shelled fresh or frozen edamame
• ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus additional for drizzling
• 1 cup packed baby arugula, divided in 2 piles
• ¼ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• ½ teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• ⅛ tsp pepper
• ¼ cup mint to garnish
• olive oil for drizzling
• sliced baguette

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
2. If edamame is still in the pod make sure you take the beans out of the pods before using. Very important!!
3. Cook edamame beans in salted boiling water, uncovered, until tender, 3 to 4 minutes, then drain and transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking.
4. Pulse edamame beans in a food processor until very coarsely chopped, then transfer half of mixture to a large bowl.
5. Add ¼ cup olive oil, ½ cup arugula, parmigiano reggiano, lemon zest & juice, ⅛ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper to edamame in processor and purée until smooth.
6. Add smooth mixture into the bowl with chunky edamame..
7. Coarsely chop remaining ½ cup arugula and gently fold into edamame mixture.
8. Cut bread 16 diagonal slices (1/3 inch thick) from baguette and put in a 4-sided sheet pan. Drizzle with remaining tablespoon oil. Bake until pale golden and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes.
9. Spoon edamame mixture onto baguette toasts, then drizzle with oil and top with mint.

Notes

It's VERY important that you remember to remove edamame beans from pods. The outer shell is super coarse & stringy and not something you want to eat.
I buy the pre-shelled edamame from Trader Joes. You can find both fresh or frozen edamame beans and they are inexpensive.
Don't skip out on the mint as garnish!! This is not a garnish you want to miss out on. It really brings the recipe all together for me.

3.3.3077

The post Edamame & Arugula Spread appeared first on The Peony Life.

Olive Tapenade with Rosemary & Basil. A simply addicting appetizer!

YUM! This olive tapenade makes me want to dance. It’s so freaking good! I just can’t deal. This is DELISH served on Baked Parmesan Crisps, alongside a cheese platter, slathered on crusty bread or on slices of cucumber for a healthier approach. I made this the other night to have with a cheese platter and it was just as good as I remembered.

It’s important to use mostly black pitted olives and only a small amount of kalamatas, because kalamata olives are high in sodium. Also, the regular black olives tend to be less expensive, so thats always a bonus!

The hot mustard and garlic give this tapenade a nice little kick, but the anchovy paste is truly my secret weapon. When used properly, anchovy paste really adds something extra special to a dish. It’s often that one ingredient you just can’t put your finger on. The biggest mistake people make, is of course using too much of it. This stuff is POTENT, so use a little bit at a time when cooking. It’s possible to cook with anchovy paste and not have fishy tasting food; just chill on the tube dude.

THIS SAVORY TAPENADE WILL BE A FAVORITE AT YOUR NEXT GIRLS NIGHT!

This is a great make ahead option for a party or appetizer and it is super easy to make. There is actually no real cooking involved in making this tapenade. All you have to do is add the ingredients together in a food processor and voila!

Hope you like it! xx

Olive Tapenade with Rosemary & Basil

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Total time

10 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Serves: 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 small can black olives, drained
• ½ cup kalamata olives
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp dry roasted pine nuts
• 2 tsp hot mustard, such as dijon
• ½ tsp anchovy paste
• 1 tsp rosemary, minced
• 2 tbsp basil, loosely chopped

Instructions

1. Pulse garlic, pine nuts and 1 tbsp olive oil for 30 seconds
2. Add black olives, ½ of the kalamatas, hot mustard, anchovy paste, rosemary & basil and pulse until smooth, adding EVOO slowly.
3. Add remaining half of kalamatas and quickly pulse
4. Serve with crackers or bread

Notes

Make sure you mince the rosemary before adding it to the food processor

3.3.3077

The post Olive Tapenade with Rosemary & Basil appeared first on The Peony Life.

Bring this to a BBQ or Potluck this summer!

This flavorful cold salad is a perfect option for dinner on a hot summer evening or to pack along with you on a picnic. Its filling enough to stand alone as a main or can be served as a side dish. This is a great salad to bring with you to a potluck or BBQ. It will definitely be stand out among the usual macaroni, bean and potato salads.

I must disclose that I have a love/hate relationship with asparagus. Sometimes I crave it like nobody’s business; other times it makes my stomach cringe. This week I’m riding the asparagus train and love how this low calorie veg adds a nice pop of color to the salad.

Asparagus is largely produced in China, followed by Peru and Mexico. Here in the US, production is mostly concentrated in California, Washington and Michigan.

PRAWNS+ASPARAGUS+ORZO MAKE THIS A HEARTY SALAD

This spring vegetable is mostly made up of water, low in sodium and can be found in a variety of colors; white, green and purple. The stalks vary in thickness; indicative of the age of the plant.  Asparagus is also a great source of dietary fibre, iron, and vitamin K.

To pick the best bunch of asparagus, look at the tips and the bottom the stalk. Ideally, you want the tip to be closed tightly and the bottom to look fresh. If the bottom looks dry and the top is starting to flower, it’s past its prime.

change up your weekday routine with a different salad

Lemony Orzo Salad With Asparagus & Shrimp

 

Print

Prep time

20 mins

Cook time

2 hours 20 mins

Total time

2 hours 40 mins

 

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Salad

Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 cup orzo
• 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces. If they are thin asparagus cut into 2 inch pieces.
• 1 lb. shrimp, peeled & deveined
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp lemon zest
• 2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 3 green onions(white and light green parts only), chopped
• ¼ cup dill, minced
• ¼ cup basil, minced
• ¼ cup kalamata olives, chopped
• ⅛ cup feta cheese, crumbled
• salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat.
2. In a skillet over medium heat, cook the minced garlic+lemon zest+shrimp in 2.5 tbsp of coconut oil, stirring frequently to keep from browning.
3. Season shrimp with kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper.
4. When shrimp are almost cooked through, remove from heat and cool.
5. Once water starts to boil,stir in the orzo and cook for 5 minutes. Add the asparagus pieces and continue cooking until the pasta is al dente, about 4 minutes.
6. Drain into a mesh sieve (orzo will probably fall through a regular strainer) and rinse well in cold water.
7. Transfer well drained orzo & asparagus to large serving bowl.
8. Add the cooked lemon & garlic shrimp.
9. Add the juice of 1 lemon+green onion+olives+minced herbs. Toss together and refrigerate.
10. Ideally, refrigerate the salad for 2 hours to allow the flavors intensify.
11. Serve topped with a sprinkle of feta cheese & kalmata olives.
12. Season with salt & freshly ground pepper

3.3.3077

The post Lemony Orzo Salad With Asparagus & Shrimp appeared first on The Peony Life.

FARMERS MARKET DILL PICKLE INSPIRATION

Crunchy Dill Pickles are in my opinion the best snack ever created! They’ve been my #1 snack since I was a toddler and I still pack them in my lunch kit when I’m away flying. Their crunchy texture, vinegary taste and low calorie count, make for a healthier snack option.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO CRUSH THE CUCUMBERS WHEN PUTTING THEM IN THE JAR

When my fiancé and I first met, we immediately bonded over our shared love of the German soccer team, olives and DILL PICKLES! So random, right? As you can see, we really fell in love over intelligent conversations. We’ve been lucky enough to watch Germany win the World Cup from the streets of Berlin and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life! Berlin is a fascinating city on a regular day, but that night; the energy in Berlin was magic!

ALL THE DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREEN

Rez & I wanted to add a few personal touches to our wedding and we thought that a dill pickle bar would be the perfect idea for us. Don’t worry, that’s not all we’re serving our guests for dinner. Hopefully everyone enjoys this easily made snack as much as we do!

ALMOST READY TO GET MY PICKLE ON

On any given day you will find at least 4 jars of dill pickles in my fridge, these Garlicky Dill Pickles being one of them. My favorite store bought pickles are Sonoma Brinery Kosher Dill Pickles. Their ingredients include: cucumber, water, salt, garlic and spices. I am so very happy Trader Joe’s recently started carrying them, for a couple of dollars less than Whole Foods. Rez isn’t as crazy about these and opts for the more classic brands, like Vlassic & Claussin. He really like the super vinegary ones that make you pucker. I don’t discriminate and think all three are solid options.

LEAVE WHOLE FOR THE CRUNCHIEST PICKLE

LEAVE 1/4 INCH BREATHING ROOM FROM THE BRINE TO THE LID

Enjoy these  Garlicky Dill Pickles alongside my Mostly Veggie Tuna Melt or as an afternoon snack!

Enjoy! xx

Garlicky Dilly Pickles

 

Print

Prep time

30 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

Makes 2 quart or 4 pint jars. Pickles must rest in the fridge for at least one week before eating.

Author: Adapted from Marisa McClellan's Garlic Dill Pickle

Recipe type: Appetizer

Ingredients

• 2 quart kirby cucumbers (approximately 3 pounds)
• 1½ cups apple cider vinegar
• 1½ cups filtered water
• 2 tablespoons pickling salt
• 8 garlic cloves, peeled
• 4 teaspoons dill seed
• 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1 tbsp pickling spice(make sure it doesn't include cinnamon).
• 1 or 2 large bunches of dill, washed and dried

Instructions

1. Wash jars thoroughly in warm, soapy water. If you plan on making shelf stable pickles, prepare a boiling water bath canner. Put fresh canning jar lids into a small saucepan with 3 inches of water and set to the barest simmer.
2. Wash and dry kirby cucumbers. Remove blossom end. Cut into chips, spears or leave whole, depending on your preference.
3. Combine vinegar, water and salt in sauce pan and bring to a boil.
4. Equally divide garlic cloves, dill seed, black peppercorns and red chili flakes between jars. Pack prepared cucumbers into jars as tightly as you can without crushing them.
5. Pour the brine into the jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace (that's the amount of space between the surface of the brine and the rim of the jar).
6. Remove any air bubbles from jars by gently tapping them. You can also use a wooden chopstick or plastic utensil to help remove stubborn bubbles.
7. Wipe rims and apply lids and bands (don't screw them on too tightly).
8. If processing jars for shelf stability, lower jars into your processing pot. When water returns to a boil, set a timer for 10 minutes.
9. When time is up, remove jars from canning pot and allow them to cool. When jars are cool enough to handle, check seals.
10. If you choose not to process your jars, let them cool before putting them into the refrigerator. Do note that your jars may seal during the cooling process. However, without the boiling water bath process, that doesn't mean they're shelf stable. Still refrigerate.
11. Let pickles rest for at least one week before eating.

Notes

Makes 4 pint or 2 quart jars of pickles.

3.3.3077

The post Garlicky Dilly Pickles appeared first on The Peony Life.

This Tzatziki takes me back to Greece!

When my fiancé & I went to Greece it was a dream come true!  For almost two decades, traveling to Greece had been #1 on my bucket list. I dreamt of sunsets in Santorini, getting lost in the winding white alleyways, drinking ouzo in a taverna on the caldera and eating the best greek food of my life. I had been patiently impatiently waiting until I met ‘the one’ so to speak, because it seemed like such a romantic place and I didn’t want to go with just anyone. Luckily, when Rez came along he was quick to want to make that dream come true and we started planning an epic euro trip that would include the Greek islands for my birthday.

Elia (Olive) beach, Mykonos

I have no idea how much Tzatziki we consumed while in Greece but it was a lot! Rez was totally in his element, feeling so at home with the familiar foods from childhood. The Tzatziki in Greece was so thick & creamy and was always served on a shallow plate; never in a bowl.

Straining yogurt is an important part of making traditional Tzatziki

Why could I never get it quite right at home? What was I missing? I usually ended up with a runnier Tzatziki, most certainly not the thick spread I was served in Greece. After asking around at a few of the smaller tavernas, I learned that they were straining their yogurt to make a yogurt cheese. It’s similar to a soft cream cheese. The Lebanese culture also does this to make labneh. Ideally, you would strain it for up to 48 hours, but you can cheat and speed up the process for this recipe (I do it all the time). You just need a strainer, cheesecloth and a large bowl to catch the liquid as it drops from the yogurt.

The yogurt will shrink in size by half when strained. If the recipe called for 1.5 cups of strained yogurt, you need to start with 3 cups.

Cut cheesecloth into 6-8 18 inch pieces and layer them in the strainer. Sit the strainer inside the bowl to catch the liquid as it drips from the yogurt. Pour the yogurt into the center of the cheesecloth and pull up the sides of the cloth, bringing the ends together at the top and tying with a string. Place in the fridge and let it sit for an hour.

Nighttime in Fira, Santorini from our hotel room

In the meantime, grate your cucumbers. No need to peel them, just go ahead and start grating. You must use English cucumbers or the small Persian cucumbers for this recipe. Don’t use the wide, regular cucumbers because they are waxy and will give your Tzatziki a bitter taste. Put the grated cucumber in a another strainer and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp sea salt to help draw out the moisture from the cucumbers. If you’re in a rush, you can press down on the cucumbers to speed up the process. If you’re not in a rush, leave cucumbers in the fridge overnight or for 10-12 hours for best result.

Tzatziki, Olives and Fresh Baguette are great to serve your friends over cocktails.

After an hour take it out of the fridge and check the liquid in the bowl to make sure no yogurt is leaking. If there is yogurt in the bowl or coming out of the cheesecloth, it means you’re not using enough. If this is the case, cut a few more pieces of cheesecloth and tie with another string. No biggy!

If you’re trying to speed up the process, you can gently start ringing out the liquid. You can repeat this every half hour of so depending on how much of a rush you’re in. Ideally, you would be able to keep it in the fridge with the cucumbers, overnight or for at least 10-12 hours. The longer you let it sit, the thicker it will be!

Fresh Mint & Dill are suggested for this recipe but dried herbs can be used in a pinch! Just make sure to leave Tzatziki in the fridge for longer to let the dried herbs soften into the spread.

Remove the yogurt out of the cheesecloth and voila Thats how you make yogurt cheese. It’s freaking simple eh? It just requires a little bit of your attention but its so worth it. If you want to do almost no work at all, leave it in the fridge for at least 24 hours so the liquid will drain out naturally.

Now all you have left to do is add all the other ingredients: cucumbers, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, dill and mint.

Kalí óreksi! xx Greek 

Tzatziki

 

Print

Author: Peony

Recipe type: Appetizer

Ingredients

• 1 large English cucumber or 5 Persian Cucumber, unpeeled and grated
• 1½ cups strained full-fat Greek yogurt (roughly 3 cups unstrained)
• 2 large garlic cloves, finely minced
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and more for drizzling
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp salt
• 3 tbsp fresh dill, minced
• 3 tbsp fresh mint, minced

Instructions

1. Cut cheesecloth into 18 inch pieces and layer them in the strainer (I suggest using 6-8).
2. Put yogurt in the middle of the cheesecloth. Make sure you have a bowl under the strainer to catch the liquid. Gather the access cloth of the sides and tie at the tie with string. Put in the refrigerator.
3. Check after 1 hr to make sure the liquid dripping from yogurt is only slightly milky. If there are pieces of yogurt in the bowl, it means you're not using enough cheesecloth. In this case, add a few more layers and tie with another string.
4. Grate your unpeeled cucumbers and put into a strainer. If you're using English cucumber, make sure you remove the seeds first.
5. Add ½ tsp salt to the cucumbers to draw out the moisture. Leave it in the fridge overnight along with strained yogurt for 10-12 hours. If you're in a big rush, you can use your hands to press down on the cucumbers.
6. The next day remove the yogurt and cucumbers from the fridge and combine in a medium sized bowl. Add remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix them all together.
7. Refrigerate until ready to use.
8. Serve in a shallow plate and garnish by drizzling olive oil, olives and fresh herbs.

Notes

You will need cheesecloth and 2 strainers or colanders for this recipe.
To speed up the straining process for both the cucumber and yogurt, you can sprinkle a little kosher salt on top to help draw out the moisture.

3.3.3077

The post Tzatziki appeared first on The Peony Life.