Pesto al Trapanese by Kevin Penner as seen on George Hirsch Lifestyle

When the tomatoes are vine-ripe it's time to make Pesto al Trapanese. By far the easiest and tastiest sauce. Period, read on…

Kevin Penner, George Hirsch from George Hirsch Lifestyle TV series

Chef Kevin Penner has opened and exec’d many top kitchens; this segment was filmed on the South Fork of Long Island's CittaNuova in East Hampton, NY. His passion to be within steps of the  farms has kept him closer to the roots & vines— and as he puts it, “can be found loitering in the kitchen at some of the highly acclaimed East End restaurants.” Luckily for those who get to sample his gift with food, I am happy he is still part of the East End Team! 

To say the Pesto al Trapanese is incredible is an understatement. But, as Kevin or any great chef will tell you, it is about the ingredients. Underscore those tomatoes, no shortcuts. 

Pesto al Trapanese by Chef Kevin Penner | chefkevinpenner.com 

10 ounces heirloom cherry tomatoes, cut in half

1/3 cup roasted Marcona almonds

1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves

1 large garlic clove, minced 

1 small Calabrian chili in oil, minced (about 1/2 teaspoon) (see note)

Kosher salt

A pinch of red pepper flakes 

1 pound pasta, preferably a long shape (spaghetti, linguine…I use house-made chitarra)

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated

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INSTRUCTIONS

Blend the almonds, tomatoes, basil, garlic, Calabrian chili, salt to taste, and red pepper flakes in a blender until smooth and homogenous. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in Evo, about 30 seconds.

Bring one gallon of water to boil in a large pot. Add pasta and 3 tablespoons of salt and cook until al dente. Reserve ½ cup cooking water; drain pasta and transfer back to the cooking pot.

Add tomato pesto and ½ cup Parmesan to cooked pasta, tweaking the consistency with reserved pasta cooking water so that pesto coats pasta and forms a nice, creamy emulsion. Serve quickly with extra cheese on the side.

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Fondue as seen on George Hirsch Lifestyle

Love fondue, but not a fan of double dippers? The solution, my individual mini-fondue servings, will satisfy the creaminess of the cheese and wine sauce.

Serving a variety of crisp, colorful veggies makes for a healthier spin on the traditional fondue. The vegetables and bread can be prepared ahead, while the fondue sauce is a quick sauce prepared and served immediately. Topped with a zesty pesto cuts the heaviness of just serving an all cheese sauce.

Fondue with Sweet English Spring Peas & Garlic Scape Pesto

Sauce serves 6-8

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4 Tablespoons Garlic Scape Pesto, or my Perfect Pesto or Winter Pesto when scapes are out of season

1 cup dry white wine

½ pound Swiss Emmenthaler or Emmental cheese, shredded

½ pound Gruyere, cheese, shredded

2 Tablespoons flour  

Pinch fresh grated nutmeg and sea salt

Fresh grated black pepper 

Serve with assorted crisp vegetables such as string beans, spring peas, tomatoes & slices of crusty bread. 

Prepare ahead an assortment of vegetables and sliced bread and arrange in small ramekins. 

Mix flour with shredded cheese.  

Immediately before serving, gently simmer wine in a small saucepan. Add Swiss cheese, Gruyere cheese a little bit at a time until blended into the wine. Keep gently stirring after each addition of cheese until completely melted. When all the cheese has melted, add nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Ladle a small amount into each ramekin. Top with a small spoon of pesto. Serve immediately. 

Garlic Scape Pesto

Tips: 

- Use well-aged or moist grating cheeses for optimum flavor and texture of the sauce 

- Caution: Cook at low heat with a gentle simmer, do not boil the cheese sauce 

- To avoid over stringiness of cheese, do not over stir

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Summer is for Steamers

Steamers aka soft shell clams are a tradition in the northeast for serving at a clambake. Although, rare to find and pricey today, by all means, substitute quahogs or hardshell littlenecks or cherrystones in place of steamers.

There are many ingredient options to add a flavoring infusion for the steamers. The basic New England version is pretty simple, allowing the briny taste of the clam to shine. But by all means, jazz up according to your personal taste. Such as red pepper flakes, or shallots, or lemongrass, and or chorizo.

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Steamers White Wine

Makes two servings

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2 pounds steamers or littleneck clams, scrub well and soak in cold water for 2 hours change water as needed to remove sand  

1 Tablespoon olive oil

6 cloves fresh garlic, split in half, peel can be left on 

1/2 cup white wine

1 sprig fresh oregano or thyme

2 Tablespoons fresh parsley washed & roughly chopped 

juice of half lemon + 1 lemon, cut into small wedges for serving

Optional: hot pepper flakes and 1/4 cup melted butter

Crostini with Summertime Condiment

Preheat a large saucepot, large enough to hold steamers. Add olive oil, garlic, and optional hot pepper flakes or other ingredients. Cook for 1 minute. Add steamers, oregano, and white wine. Cover pot and cook until open, about 3-5 minutes, stirring once or twice. Shake the pot to mix up steamers. Caution to not overcook the steamers because they will become dry and rubbery. 

Remove steamers with a slotted skimmer, leaving all the juice in the pot. Add parsley, bring juice to a boil and reduce the juice by half. Serve with juice, lemon wedges and melted butter in a separate bowl for dunking. And, you can always rev the steam up for a full boil or lobster bake to celebrate summer! 

Serve with crostini on the side.

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Soup's On

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For my NY/LI friends, Tune-in/dvr GHL WLIW21 Saturdays 2:30 PM

Thank you in advance for supporting your local PBS station.

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Tomato Soup as Seen on George Hirsch Lifestyle

When the weather says you need to warm up it’s time for a homemade bowl of comfort, soup. Please forego the salt-lick canned version, because you can make a flavorful and nutritious potage in under an hour. Like the above my Creamy Tomato Soup. And the addition of hearty vegetables like cauliflower, squash and yams, which add a lot of extra flavor. 

But what to keep in mind with any soup recipe, or any recipe for that matter is, a recipe is just a guideline. Use a recipe as a guide and improvise with what you have at home. Making soup is an ideal way to convert leftovers into a hearty meal.

Today I made a spicy black bean, chicken & rice soup made from leftover yesterday's dish. Simply sauté a carrot, 1/4 onion, 2 garlic cloves and added 2 pints of chicken broth with the 1 cup of leftover cooked rice and beans. After adding all ingredients to the pot, I added one chopped chicken breast. After simmering for thirty minutes I finished the soup with 1 cup of fresh baby spinach. 

Tip: Do you like a soup thick and hearty? Add a sliced potato or a yam. Don’t have time to wait for the potatoes to cook, then add stale toasted baguette bread as a thickener to the soup. Also, keep canned beans handy; they make a great base for a soup with the addition of small size pasta.

For My Five Onion Soup Recipe

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George’s Gameday Mac and Cheese

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It's that time of year again; chilly evenings, more events going on and tailgates to organize. That's when I turn to my crowd pleasing Mac-N-Cheese. If you're planning your Super Bowl Gameday party menu, then my Mac and Cheese is a must; you can make my mac-mix ahead. Chill it, then just bake-it just before game time. It's good time food.

Use my recipe as a guide and feel free to add smoked ham, pancetta, pulled chicken or grilled shrimp to make your own home-spin.  And, serve with some crowd pleasing Gameday Sliders

gamely sliders as seen on GHL

George’s Gameday Mac and Cheese

Makes 6 servings

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2 Tablespoons Butter

1 onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, chopped

2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

4 cups chicken broth

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

1 teaspoon hot sauce

pinch fresh grated nutmeg

2 cups half & half

1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 cup Jack cheese, shredded

2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

2 Tablespoons fresh italian parsley, chopped

1 1/2 pounds uncooked elbow, shells, or other small pasta

Melt Butter in a large soup pot or saucepan. Add onion, and garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly add the broth, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, add the bay leaves, thyme, diced green chilies, hot sauce, and simmer for 10 minutes. 

Stir in the half & half and heat to a simmer. Slowly add the Cheddar, Jack, and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until they melt and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the cooked pasta. Place in a serving dish and eat immediately or sprinkle with Mac Topping, and bake five minutes in a 350 degree oven. 

Optional Additions:

1 cup each Chorizo or smoked sausage, chopped plum tomatoes

For the Mac Topping

4 Tablespoons butter, melted

6 Tablespoons bread crumbs

2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

1 Tablespoon each fresh cilantro & parsley, chopped

Fresh ground pepper, to taste

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

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