Buy Local: Peaches

Just a friendly reminder to support your local farmers and buy local! August is my favourite month of the summer because peaches are in season! Make sure you are buying local Ontario produce (or local produce from wherever you may live) in the market, or, better yet, visit a farm and pick the fruit yourself! To locate an Ontario farm to visit, go to the Ontario Farm Fresh website. Also be sure to check out the OMAFRA website to learn more about Ontario produce.

Cheaters Handbook: Fresh Herb Ice Cubes

My backyard is full of beautiful fresh herbs, so they have become a constant source of inspiration for me.  Recently, they have even found their way into my ice cubes! This little trick is a great way to add a hint of flavour to water, iced tea, or any other cold and refreshing drink, as well as a touch of sophistication.  It makes all the difference in terms of appearance when serving your guests a glass or pitcher of water at the table.  I put lemon balm leaves and mint leaves in my ice cubes because I find their flavour the most versatile for summer drinks, but you can experiment with whatever you have!  Simply fill your ice cube tray with water and add an herb leaf to each ice cube pocket.  Ta da! That is one stylin' ice cube tray!

Peaches with Ricotta Cream

Peaches are one of my favourite fruits to eat.  So when August (peach season) comes along, I start brainstorming all the different ways to prepare and eat fresh peaches.  Peaches with Ricotta Cream is a light and simple dish that allows for the natural sweetness and juicy texture of the fresh peaches to shine through, while giving it more substance and a creamy texture with the layer of ricotta cream.  Serve this dessert for a light and fresh finish to a heavy meal.

Note: I used lady finger cookies for this recipe this time around which had a great texture and sweetness, but the taste of amaretti cookies is spot on with this dish.  Why not try a combination of the two? 

Tip: Try preparing your dessert like an individual trifle.  Simply layer pieces of lady fingers in the dish before topping with peach slices and ricotta cream.

Ingredients:

2 peaches, sliced and peeled

1/2 - 3/4 cup ricotta cheese

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp Grand Marnier

1/2 tsp orange or lemon zest

2-4 tsp sugar (preferably superfine sugar)

1/4 tsp cinnamon

slivered almonds,toasted for garnish

lady finger cookies or amaretti cookies (amount depends on how you serve the dish)

Directions:

1.  Stir together ricotta, vanilla extract, lemon zest, Grand Marnier, sugar, and cinnamon, adjusting the amount of sugar depending on your taste.

2.  Place peaches in 2 martini glasses or glass dishes.  Spoon ricotta cream over the peaches, letting it drape down the sides.  Crumble lady finger cookies or amaretti cookies over ricotta cream. Top with almonds and garnish with a lady finger cookie or amaretti cookie. 

Citrus and Fresh Herb Salmon

When watching an episode of The Next Food Network Star last week, I got inspired watching one chef dress up a salmon with bought salmon marinade with lots of fresh lemon and lime juice. I have no idea what was in the marinade, but just watching her squeeze the fresh lime juice over the salmon before serving it made me crave some sort of citrus baked salmon all week long! So I decided to make a baked salmon with lots of fresh lemon and lime juice while, once again, taking advantage of my abundance of fresh herbs to brighten up the flavours even more. This salmon is very simple and fast to prepare making it a perfect weeknight dinner.

Tip: Remove your fish just before it is perfectly cooked. The fish will continue cooking in the foil after it is removed from the oven. This allows the fish to remain moist and perfectly cooked.

Tip: Make this fish in your toaster oven to save energy and keep your home cool.

Ingredients:

2 salmon steaks or fillets

3 lemon slices + about 1 tbsp more

3 lime slices + about 1 tbsp more

3 thyme sprigs

3 oregano sprigs

6 lemon balm leaves (if you don't have lemon balm, simply grate some lemon zest)

8 fresh chives

salt and pepper to season

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400º. Season both sides of salmon steaks or fillets with salt and pepper.

2. Lay salmon onto a piece of aluminum foil, large enough to securely fold salmon up with.

3. Arrange herbs evenly on top of salmon and top with lemon and lime slices.

4. Fold in aluminum foil to completely cover and seal salmon.

5. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily when tested with a fork. Let sit in foil for an additional 2 minutes. Remove, squeeze about 1 tbsp each of fresh lemon and lime juice over, and serve.

Max's Market

Because of the Toronto city workers strike that, thankfully, has finally come to an end, I was able to spend a lot of time with my mum this summer, who works for Toronto Parks and Rec.  See, the strike wasn't only negative, because through our time together over the summer, we were able to have lots of bonding time, try some delicious food...well....more like lots, and we were able to explore through all different areas of Toronto, several of which I have never even been to in all my 21 years living in Toronto!  It seemed that each time we made a plan to have a mother daughter day, we would venture to a whole new area of Toronto! This time we decided to venture to Bloor West Village.  

Bloor West Village is full of lots of little shops and restaurants, and was lovely to walk through on a warm summer day.  My mum had told me all about this amazing market that she knew I would go crazy over, and boy was she right! Max's Market truly is something special!  Max's is less like a market, and more like a specialty gourmet food store.  The store is filled with tons of luxurious food brands (all with gorgeous packaging), and a mass amount of prepared foods that go way beyond what you would normally find in your local supermarkets prepared section.  Max's takes prepared food to the next level, having the courage to try unique ingredients and interesting flavour combinations, all spectacularly presented.  After much deliberation, my mum and I decided to share a Brisket Sandwich and Beet and Apple Salad for lunch, and pick up one of Max's stunning Galettes, we decided on their Crab and Brie Galette, for dinner. 

The Brisket Sandwich was packed with tender and flavourful beef, with a ribbon of mustard, stuffed inside a fresh kaiser bun.  The Beet and Apple Salad was bright and fresh tasting with strings of bright red beets, sweet apples, and zesty onions, tied together with a flavourful vinaigrette and fresh parsley.  The Crab and Brie Galette was my favourite out of our selections.  Firstly, the galette was massive allowing it to fill four very hungry people.  It was filled with decadent crab, brie, potatoes, red peppers, and fresh herbs, all resting in a flaky cheddar cheese crust and topped with lemon slices.  This large and delicious galette, packed with such luxurious ingredients such as crab and brie, was purchased for only $13.99!  What a steal!  My only issues with Max's Market is that I couldn't try everything, and they didn't allow me to take pictures of inside the store to show you all their beautiful creations! 

Max's Market is located at 2299 Bloor Street West.