Tapenade

Think cool. This is one of those recipes that has the flavor power, great to add a bit of zest as a topping and condiment. Pair with a chilled pino gris.

Tapenade comes from the word tapeno which means capers in Provence. The addition of sun dried tomatoes adds a little sweetness.

Olive Tapenade

Makes 1 cup

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle 

2/3 cup black oil cured olives (Kalamata or Nicoise), pitted and finely chopped 

2 anchovy fillets in oil, drained and finely chopped 

4 cloves caramelized garlic 

2 Tablespoons capers, drained, rinsed under cold tap water and finely chopped 

2 small sun dried tomatoes, finely chopped 

4 Tablespoons virgin olive oil 

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

3 basil leaves , chopped

In a bowl, mix together the olives, anchovies, garlic, capers, sun dried tomatoes, oil, pepper, and water. Spread Tapenade on toasted French baguette bread, top with fresh basil, or serve with your favorite sandwich. 

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For the Colony

The art of the apiarist is more about the preservation business these days. We taped a TV segment with a beekeeper in Ireland. I talked bees with J. Smith, who takes his bees very seriously. He is based in County Kerry where he has devoted his life to preserving the species and is constantly spreading the word of the critical condition the population is in globally. The one thing he said that really stuck with me was his explanation of how the bee colonies "live together with a collective consciousness - something humanity should adopt." His honey is available for local merchants and markets; sustainability is paramount.

My Honey Orange Cake

For more info: Tourism Ireland

Coupole

Serving cheese for outdoor entertaining may bring to mind several favorite options, but serving the right cheese does make a difference this time of year. You don’t want to feel weighed down by nibbling on too heavy a cheese in warm weather, or have a cheese that appears to be melting on your serving tray right before your eyes.

The solution is as easy as taking cheese out of its package. And, in this case, I’m offering a suggestion for serving an artesian handcrafted and slightly aged goat cheese. A distinct goat cheese, called Coupole. It is easily cut into wedges, making it an ideal way to serve in warmer and more humid weather.  

The Coupole is a fresh, young goat's milk cheese shaped like a small dome and lightly dusted with vegetable ash. It hails from the ambitious new Loire-Valley-style production facility at Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery which has been pioneering innovative dairy products for over 25 years. Their fresh chèvres, spreads, butters and fermented creams can be found in chef's kitchens across the country. As the Coupole ages, a slightly wrinkled skin develops, and the paste softens. This creamy, delightful goat's milk cheese is a wonderful addition to America's dairy products. One piece weighs approximately 8 ounces.

Goat cheese is an ideal lead-in to most summer foods which are on the lighter side and also pairs well served along side grilled fruit, grilled vegetables and grilled fish.   

Serve with quartered fresh figs and spiced nuts, or drizzled with honey for dessert. You may also go Genoa style by topping it with a freshly made pesto. If you really want to gild the lily, top with pesto & honey; a serving suggestion that was served to me from the master himself, Val Manning of Manning’s Food Emporium in Ballylickey, West Cork, Ireland.

Serve with summer beverages; lagers to wines such as sauvignon blanc, chenin blanc, or rose.

 image credit: Vermont Creamery

Fentimans

When was the last time you had a rootbeer float? You don't need to wait until August 6th (National Rootbeer Float Day) to get inspired. Here's my spin on a summer rootbeer float. You need two ingredients; good icecream + Fentimans Ginger Beer. Tip: use an ice cold glass.

I am seeing a resurgence in the popularity of an 18th century beverage, ginger beer. Not to be confused with ginger ale, which is made with ginger extract. The original version of ginger beer was actually an alcoholic beverage originating in England, today really only available by the home brewer.

Today's commercial brands are classified as soft drinks/sodas; containing less than a half percent of alcohol. Fentimans of the UK, is a great example of a company that has been brewing ginger beer since the 1900s. The point of difference in their ginger beer vs. any other, is their original brewing process requiring a few days of fermentation compared to the limited production time of other ginger beers available today on the market.

Fentimans on their ginger beer:

Unlike other Ginger Beers our process starts with fermenting the finest chinese ginger root. This goes a long way to explaining the wonderful Ginger "Burn" that each bottle contains. If you like Ginger, you will love our Ginger Beer!

Fentimans: available in the US

Pick 5 Grilling Essentials

Are you ready for the weekend? There are many types of grillers — the weekenders, the year 'round grillers, and the serious barbecuers; yet the essentials are fit to grill for us all. Check out my five grilling essentials and get ready to Know Your Fire!

Simply Outdoors - digital shopping guide, powered by Sears

1. Kenmore Deluxe Grip Long Plastic Handle Grill Cleaner: Good grip + stainless steel scraper.

2. 12-Piece Barbecue Set with Digital Fork Thermometer: The complete collection of all the basic tools + skewers.

3. BBQ Pro Charcoal Starter: Have your coals smoldering in minutes; holding 4 lbs. of briquettes.

4. Kenmore 4-Burner Gas Grill with Open Storage: Full size grill with side burner, area for prep + storage.

5. Stainless Steel 3-Piece Barbecue Set: Rust Resistant + 19 inch handles for safety.