Kohlrabi slaw

Kohlrabi slaw

What the heck is a kohlrabi?  It's a bulb that grows above the ground and is somewhat in the cabbage family.  I had some in my garden last year and they were fun to play around with in the kitchen.  This year I had to buy them but they should be in the market now and they are really a crisp and fresh vegetable.  I found this recipe on strawberry plum.com and did a little variation:

Only the carrot and chives are from my garden

mise en place

Ingredients

• 3 small Kohlrabi, peeled and julienned
• 1 large Apple peeled and julienned 
• 2 carrots, peeled and julienned
• ¼ large Red Onion, very thinly sliced
• 3 Tbsp. chopped Chives
• dressing:
• 1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
• 1 Tbsp. Honey
• 2 Tbsp. Apple Cider Vinegar
• 4 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Instructions

1. Combine the kohlrabi, apple, red onion, and chives in a large bowl. Lightly season with salt and black pepper.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard, honey, and vinegar. While whisking, slowly pour in the olive oil, whisking until the dressing has emulsified. Season with ¼-1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt and black pepper.
3. Toss the slaw with the vinaigrette. Using a vegetable peeler or cheese plane, shave the cheese over the slaw and serve.

Goat milk thyme ice cream and fresh peaches

Thyme ice cream over fresh peaches

Well you've enjoyed fresh peaches and cream.  How about fresh peaches with thyme ice cream?
I do love the combination of herbs and fruit.  Herbs seem savory but when you add one to the sweetness in ice cream the flavor is different.  My favorite herb in ice cream is lavender but how about some thyme?  The recipe is the basic for vanilla ice cream:
         
4 egg yolks
3/4 cups sugar
1 quart milk - if you have a goat with fresh milk like my Sunflower- even better
3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
method:  Classic Creme Anglaise
whisk together the sugar and egg yolk until the color of lemons
Meanwhile warm 1 cup of milk stovetop until almost a boil
Add thyme sprigs and turn off heat.  Then let steep for up to 1/2 hour
Add the warm milk - a little at a time- to sugar and egg yolks until all milk is incorporated
Return to stove and heat until you can draw a line on the back of a spoon.  Very French- I'm sorry.  Translated that means until thick but not boiling.  Too hot--> scrambled eggs.  I think the temperature is no higher than 180 deg.
Add this through a strainer to the remaining 3 cups of milk.
Place in ice water bath to stop cooking - not required
Cool in fridge for 8 hours before freezing in ice cream freezer

Notice there is no vanilla.  The thyme flavor is subtle but pairs well with peaches
Bon Appetit!

Garlic scape pesto!!

Garlic scapes

Garlic scapes are the soft lime green colored stems and the unopened flower buds of hard necked garlic.  The scapes have a mild garlic flavor and a slight sweetness.  My garden is pathetic this year because of all of the hail storms but I do have some scapes that I have turned into a delicious pesto:

Ingredients:
10 large garlic scapes
1/3 cup pistachios
1/3 cup finely grated Parmigiano- Reggiano cheese
salt and pepper
1/3 cup olive oil

In a food processor combine chopped scapes, pistachios, cheese, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.  With the motor running add the olive oil through the feed tube until the last drop.  Taste and adjust seasoning.  If you use salted pistachios you'll need less salt of course

scape pesto

Finished pasta with about a tablespoon of pesto per serving

Pesto will keep fresh for a week.  Freeze in an ice cube tray and use as needed past that.
Bona Appetito!!!!

Black bean hummus

black bean hummus

Ingredients: Tahini, garlic, black beans, lemon juice, spices ( smoky sweet paprika, cumin, cayenne) salt and olives
Enough of the goat babies for a while.  Let's get back to some good food:  Black Bean Hummus:  a nice Latin twist to hummus.  Try it.  It takes about 5 minutes to make in your Cuisinart.  I use the smoky sweet paprika from Williams-Sonoma

1 can black beans, drained and reserve 2 Tbs of liquid
1 clove garlic
2 Tbs. lemon juice
2 Tbs Tahini (sesame seed butter)
3/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp paprika
10 Greek olives

1. Mince garlic in the bowl of a food processor. Add black beans, 2 tablespoons reserved liquid, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, tahini, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; process until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Add additional seasoning and liquid to taste. Garnish with paprika and Greek olives.    from Allrecipes.com

Off to your new home

The boys go to their new home today.  They are 8 weeks old and wild teenage boys.  They are going to a 2 acre home in Golden ( West of Denver) to be loved by a new family and help mow the weeds.  It has been non stop laughs around here.  Goat babies are the best

Two kids on a kid's lap

Happy Birthday America 239 years

Fireworks are just fun.  We all went to the Rapids (soccer) game for the 4th of July.  There is a great fireworks display after the game.