Farmer's Market Okra

Curried Okra

It’s that time of the year in North Carolina when the farmer's market is over flowing with tomatoes and okra. One of my favorite okra dishes is based off the Indian dish Bhindi Ki Sabji.

Canola oil – enough to cover bottom of pan
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
2 onions, chopped
1-2 pounds okra, washed and cut into ½ inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, chopped
¼ teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons ground coriander
½ teaspoon graram masala
2 cups cooked chickpeas
¼ cup white wine
½ teaspoon mango powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in large skillet. Add the cumin seeds and wait until you hear them pop. Add onions and cook for 3-5 minutes. Add okra and spices up to the graram masala. Cook on medium heat for 10-12 minutes or until okra begins to brown. Add chickpeas, white wine, mango powder, salt and pepper. Cook just until heated through. Serve on basmati rice or a bed of diced firm tofu.

For Jake who is not feeling to well.

Chicken Soup and Matzo Balls
Penny Style

1 whole chicken (organic please) cut into 8-10 pieces
Garlic to taste
1 onion, roughly chopped
3-4 carrots, roughly chopped
2-3 celery stalks, roughly chopped
Pinch of whole peppercorns
Water to cover

Place everything in a soup pot. Bring to a boil, skimming scum as needed. Cover and simmer for 3-4 hours. Cool before straining out vegetables and chicken. Store clear chicken stock in a container with an airtight lid. Place in fridge over night. Pull chicken off the bones and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Next day, skim the fat off the clear stock and place in a soup pot. Add 2 carrots and 2 celery stalks diced finely. Bring to a boil and simmer 15 minutes. Add chicken and cook just until hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped parsley. Add Matzo Balls if desired.

Matzo Balls
Makes about 12

4 tablespoons canola oil
4 eggs, beaten
1 cup Matzo Meal
2 teaspoons salt
4 tablespoon club soda
3 tablespoons scallion, diced finely
1 tablespoon parsley, diced finely

Blend all the ingredients together. Place in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, turn to simmer. With a small scoop place one ball at a time into water. Cover with lid and do not peak until the timer goes off after 20 minutes. Add to soup.

Brooks' Birthday Babka

Bubbies Babka
by Penny Rich
1 large, 2 medium, or 3 loaf pans loafs

Every July Bubbies Babka becomes Brooks' Birthday Babka or as she calls it "Chocolate Bread" Happy Birthday Brooks.

1 1/2 cups water, warm
2 tablespoon yeast
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs plus 2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon each almond and lemon extract
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup milk powder
1 cup butter, room temperature
6 cups all purpose flour

Before the rise......

after the rise.
Filling
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons butter

Time for the whizzing to begin.

Roll out the dough.

Then spread the chocolate mixture on and roll up.

2nd rise

Egg Wash – 1 egg, 1 tablespoon water

Mix water, yeast, and sugar together in a bowl of a stand mixer. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Begin mixing in the rest of the ingredients through the butter, slowly. Add 1 cup of flour at a time until the dough forms a smooth mass. Turn mixer off and allow to rest for 20 minutes. Mix again for 5 minutes and remove to an oiled bowl. Cover and allow dough to rise for 1 hour. Make the filling by whizzing all the ingredients in a food processor until it forms a loose paste. Hand knead the dough and form one two or three rectangles. Cover with chocolate paste and roll into log shape sealing the sides and end. Place on a baking sheet or loaf pans and cover with a damp towel. Allow to rise for 30 minutes. Before baking top with egg wash. Bake @ 350 for 45 minutes for a medium loaf, 60 minutes for a large loaf. Cool before slicing.

Recipe of the Day -Angel Hair Pasta with Chickpeas and Almonds

Angel Hair Pasta with Chickpeas and Almonds
4 servings

Easy dinner on a hot North Carolina night. Serve with a salad and some crusty bread.

1 tablespoon olive oil
3-4 garlic cloves, chopped
6-7 cups of vegetable broth
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound angel hair pasta
1 can chick peas
1 cup parsley, chopped
¼ cup slivered almonds
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Heat oil in a large saucepan. Add garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add broth, red pepper and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and add pasta. Cook, stirring for 5-6 minutes until broth is almost all absorbed. Add chickpeas and parsley. Divide into 4 bowls, top with almonds and cheese.

Recipe of the Day - Grilled Cheese Tomato Chutney Sandwich

Tomato Chutney
by Penny Rich

1 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 onion, finely diced
1-2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated on fine rasp
2 cloves garlic, grated on fine rasp
2 pounds tomatoes, skin removed and diced
1-2 jalapeno peppers, finely diced
¼ cup raisins
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon chipotle powder
2 tablespoons sugar
4 Cardamoms pods, grind in mill
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water

Heat oil in a medium pot on high heat. Add mustard and cumin seeds. When seeds begin to pop, lower heat to medium high and add onion, ginger and garlic, cook for 3-5 minutes to release flavors. Add tomatoes, peppers, raisins, slat and pepper. Cook until tomatoes begin to break down about 15 minutes. Add sugar, crushed cardamom and vinegar. Cook uncovered for 45 minutes. Mix cornstarch and water in a small bowl and add to chutney. Cook for 5 minutes and turn heat off. Cool to room temperature before serving or store in a glass container in the fridge for up to one week.




We had a wonderful sandwich at the Chatham Market Friday night with Hinda. Brody and I just had to re-create this Grilled Cheese and Tomato Chutney sandwich. We made chutney, recipe above and then added cheddar cheese, fresh baby spinach and left over London Broil for Mikko and Chris. Yum! New favorite in our house.

Recipe of the Day - Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed Mushrooms
by Penny Rich

4-6 servings

Had to whip up something fast for my committee meeting. The remaining mushrooms disappeared quickly when I asked my son to help me clean up. Wonder where they went?

25 medium sized mushrooms, washed and stem removed [save stems]
½ onion
12-16 mushrooms, washed
3-4 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper
¼ cup panko bread crumbs or fresh bread crumbs
¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 tablespoon basil, chiffonade
1 teaspoon olive oil

Place mushrooms up side down on a cooking sheet lined with foil in a 350° oven. Cook for 10-12 minutes to release juices. Remove from the oven and cool.
Place the onion, mushrooms, mushroom stems, and garlic in a food processor fitted with the metal blade and pulse until the mixture is chopped finely.
Heat olive oil in a medium frying pan and add the mixture from the processor, cooking for 10-12 minutes until the juices are release and evaporated. Add salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and stir in panko, Parmesan, basil and olive oil. Stuff each mushroom cap and place on a cooking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with cooking oil. Bake on 350° for 15 -20 minutes. Remove from oven to serving platter. Top with parsley.

Scallop Scampi with Lemon Parsley Pasta
By Penny Rich

4 Servings

1 pound linguini
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
Zest of 1 lemon
¼ cup parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon butter
5 scallions, chopped in ½ pieces
1 ½ pounds bay scallops
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
¼ cup dry vermouth
1 lemon, juiced
1 tablespoon parsley

Cook paste to direction on package. Drain and toss with butter, oil, lemon zest, parsley, salt and pepper. Place on a serving platter.
Heat butter in a large frying pan on a high flame. Add scallions and sauté for 3-5 minutes. Add scallops and cook for 5-7 minutes until they turn opaque. Remove from heat and place on top of lemon pasta. Return the pan to heat and add garlic, vermouth and lemon juice. Cook for 2-3 minutes and pour over scallops and pasta. Sprinkle with parsley, serve.