cucumber |

Cucumber & Fennel Salad with Cuban Oregano

17 July 2015 by local kitchen

Do you remember that funky Cuban oregano plant I picked up a couple of months ago? The crazy I’m-an-herb-but-also-a-succulent plant? Well, it’s been growing like gangbusters in this New York summer of plenty of sun and lots of rain. I’ve been sort of loathe to touch it: with my black thumb, if a plant is doing well, I find it’s best to just sit back and stay out of its way. But I finally broke down, trimmed a couple of stems, […]

Categories: cucumber, fennel, herbs, oregano, salad, summer, vegetarian • Tags: cooking, food, local, quick & easy, recipes, salad

Fattoush

17 August 2014 by local kitchen

Fattoush. Fattoush. Fattoush. It’s just fun to say, no? Traditionally, fattoush is a Lebanese mezze, a salad composed of tomatoes and cucumbers, often radishes and green peppers, and some form of greens, usually purslane. It was also a type of Middle Eastern panzanella: a way to use up day-old stale pita bread, which was fried into crispy croutons and then tossed with a fragrant salad, flavored with the distinctive sour note of a sumac, lemon & olive oil dressing. In […]

Categories: arugula, cucumber, mint, parsley, salad, summer, tomatoes, vegetarian • Tags: cooking, food, local, recipes, salad, summer

Chinese Noodles with Peanut Sauce

2 June 2011 by local kitchen

I’m going away for the weekend and have about 1,000,000,000 things to get done before I leave: so wouldn’t you know that we lost power for the entire afternoon? Ah, NYSEG. Frustrating New Yorkers since 1852. So, a quick one. It’s been hot: sticky hot, super humid, super hazy. Instant summer, coming on the heels of 50 degrees and raining. Down goes the space heater to the garage, up comes the fan. Exit braised meats and roasted root vegetables, enter crisp […]

Categories: Asian greens, cabbage, celery, cilantro, cucumber, hot chile peppers, main course, nuts, pasta, sauces, side dish, summer, vegetarian • Tags: chinese, cooking, food, local, noodles, peanuts, recipes, summer, vegetarian

Locavirgin: Spicy Garlic Sandwich Spears

13 August 2010 by local kitchen

We interrupt the onslaught of peach preserving recipes to bring you something completely different: pickles! OK, so not completely different. Beef tartare au gratin would be completely different (not to mention hilarious). But I don’t eat beef (Sorry, Julia) and what I have is a kitchen overflowing with summer produce. So: pickles it is. The first time I made pickles was two summers ago, which was also the first time I grew a garden. I had a very prolific cucumber vine, […]

Categories: 100% local, canning, cucumber, garlic, Locavirgin, pickles, preserving, quick & easy, summer • Tags: canning, condiments, cooking, food, local, preserving, quick & easy, recipes

Tzatziki

21 September 2009 by local kitchen

I’ve had a massive craving for good Greek food lately. What happened was this: Tai & I stole a day out of our crazy schedules to go climbing last week. We spent a gorgeous Tuesday afternoon on the cliffs of the Gunks, up in New Paltz, NY. Before heading home, we decided to try a new Mediterranean restaraunt in town. Well, the most I can say is that is was disappointing. Not horrible food, per se, but totally tasteless; for […]

Categories: cucumber, dill, fall, sauces, side dish, summer • Tags: cooking, food, Greek, local, quick & easy, recipes, sauces, summer

Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad

27 July 2009 by local kitchen

My cherry tomato plants are finally producing enough for a decent harvest. I collected two big handfuls (just under a pint) the other day and decided to make one of our summer favorites: crisp, cool and refreshing cucumber, tomato & feta salad. This salad is so simple that the ingredients completely make or break the dish: source the freshest, best-tasting vegetables you can find. Sample cherry tomatoes at the farmer’s market. Look for cucumbers that are firm and heavy for their […]

Categories: basil, cheese, cucumber, salad, side dish, summer, tomatoes • Tags: cooking, food, local, recipes, salad

So what? Soba Noodles.

17 July 2009 by local kitchen

Scene: Sitting around the dinner table at Nadine, Stan and Kami’s house. Tai & Kami are arguing about something silly, as they often do. Tai: So? Kami: So what? Soba noodles! We now say this constantly; taking our social cues from a 5 year-old is apprently how we get our jollies. And we do – we giggle every time we say it. Much like a 5 year-old girl. This salad is cool and refreshing, tart and crunchy with a […]

Categories: Asian greens, cabbage, carrot, chives, citrus, cucumber, main course, nuts, pasta, peas, salad, scallions, side dish, summer • Tags: cooking, food, local, recipes, salad

Deli Dill Pickles

14 July 2009 by local kitchen

Have I mentioned that Tai loves pickles? I mean Loves them, with a capital L. I think making pickles last year may have been the best thing I’ve ever done for him. So, even though I despise pickles with a white-hot passion, when I saw Kirby cucumbers at the farmer’s market on Saturday, I simply had to pick up a bunch and start a batch o’ pickles brewing. Because, really, when it’s this easy to make someone happy, how can […]

Categories: canning, condiments, cucumber, dill, fermenting, pickles, preserving, summer • Tags: cooking, fermenting, food, local, preserving, recipes