Roasted Pepper Pesto

Roasted Pepper Pesto

This is a delicious roasted red pepper puree which, like any pesto, uses nuts, aged cheese, garlic, olive oil and salt.

Classic Basil Pesto

Classic Basil Pesto

Basil, Parmigiano Reggiano, pine nuts, garlic, salt and really good olive oil. How could pesto not be delicious? Traditionally, pesto is made with a mortar and pestle as a labor of love. A modern food processor makes it super quick and easy to whip up a delicious pesto.

Pasta with Savory Melted Eggplant and Sweet Peppers

Pasta with Savory Melted Eggplant and Sweet Peppers

Eggplant and sweet red peppers are a classic vegetable combination. Cooking eggplant until it’s “melted” transforms it into a luxurious pasta sauce. Enhance the melted eggplant and sweet red peppers with herbs and Parmesan, and you have a vegetarian, comfort filled delight.

Melted Zucchini Pizza

Melted Zucchini Pizza

Melting a full pound of zucchini is the perfect amount to dress a 12-inch pizza. Melting the zucchini coaxes the water out of it, reduces it in size and concentrates its flavor. Give this a try with your favorite pizza crust methodology.

Roasted Vegetable Ratatouille

Roasted Vegetable Ratatouille served with Polenta

Ratatouille is the quintessential dish of late summer. It combines tomatoes, squash and eggplant that arrive earlier in the summer with the sweet peppers which take a little longer to show up. This version of ratatouille uses a tomato sauce made on the stovetop while the other three vegetables are prepared in the oven to their own individual perfection.

Carolina Summer Chile Relleno

Carolina Summer Chile Relleno

Tons of flavor complexity that all work together like a symphony. The smokey, earthy flavor of the charred poblanos. The richness and smokiness of NC smoked pulled pork, along with the tartness of the vinegar it brings. The sweet and tang of fresh peaches and blueberries. The warmth of the cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. The herbal earthiness of the oregano. The crunch and nuttiness of the pecans. All of that covered with a rich, nutty, goat-cheesy cream sauce with a hint of bourbon. Yeah, how can that not be good?

Peach Chutney

Peach Chutney

Summer in the NC piedmont means local peaches. Just like everyone else, I love peaches in sweet concoctions. But my favorite application is to use them in savory dishes. Peach chutney is super easy to make and it is very versatile to work with.

Blueberry Chutney

Blueberry Chutney

Blueberry pie, blueberry muffins, blueberry pancakes. Yeah, all of those are great. But I like the surprise of blueberries in savory dishes. Blueberry chutney is super easy to make and it’s so versatile.

Easy Hummus Recipe

Hummus with Summer Crudités

If you have a food processor, hummus is super simple to make at home. The ingredient list is short: A can of chickpeas with the liquid reserved. Some tahini, lemon juice, salt, and a clove of garlic. Cumin is a traditional seasoning, but you can season hummus many ways.

Peach and Tomato Salad on Whipped Basil Ricotta

Peach and Tomato Salad on Whipped Basil Ricotta

Every ingredient in this salad pairs with every other ingredient, in any pair or any combination. Peach and ricotta, check. Tomato and basil, check. Peach and basil, check. Tomato and ricotta and balsamic, check. Peach, tomato, ricotta, basil and balsamic, all together, CHECK!

Melted Zucchini Grilled Cheese

Melted Zucchini Grilled Cheese Sandwich

How do you cram a quarter pound of veggies into a delicious grilled cheese sandwich? “Melted” zucchini has a creamy texture which pairs so nicely with gooey cheese for a veggie loaded grilled cheese sandwich.