Perfect for a hot summer day

When you want to put together a quick and elegant appetizer party on a hot summer day, nothing could be easier than this- no cooking required!  And most of your friends will not have heard of Aperol, an Italian aperitif mostly seen in Europe.  (You should be able to find it at a larger liquor store though).  Something about the sunny orange color served over ice makes it the perfect summer starter. And it’s always fun to introduce your friends or family to something new.

According to the website, “Aperol is the perfect aperitif.  Its unique bittersweet taste and bright orange color are derived from a secret and original recipe that has remained unchanged over time.  An infusion of ingredients including oranges, herbs and roots which make a perfectly balanced combination.”  It has 11% alcohol content.  After perusing the website I decided on the “Quintessential Aperitif”.  Aperol combined with Prosecco, how could it go wrong?!?

Ingredients:

• Aperol
• Prosecco
• Club Soda or Soda Water
• Ice
• A slice of Orange for garnish

Directions: Fill a wine glass with ice, combine half prosecco and half Aperol in the glass, and add a dash of soda water.  Garnish with an orange slice.

 

I had some wonderful smoked salmon on hand, and paired it with an english cucumber slice instead of the usual crackers.  It’s not only cooling and refreshing, but was also carb free!  Garnished with a few capers and a whisp of fresh dill, these little savory treats went well with our summer drink.  I rounded it out with breadsticks, but you could also serve olives or bread and olive oil for dipping along side.

Put a little European elegance in your summer, and try an aperitif.

Ciao bella

So if you have been online at all the past year or longer, you know how turmeric is one of the greatest health food/spice that there is. What you may not have seen or used is fresh turmeric!  We found some at the farmers market recently. It is a root a lot like ginger, but instead of hands like ginger, it looks more like thin fingers, with a bit darker skin. One big tip- use latex gloves or kitchen prep gloves when you clean the skin off, or you will have yellowish orangish hands!  I put on my gloves, took a sharp knife, and over the garbage gently scraped the skin off with the edge of a paring knife.  Then I cut the finger up into chunks on an old cutting board that I didn’t mind if it stained.  It smells wonderful -fresh, sort of earthy and warm like sunshine and earth. Here is a recipie that I made up to highlight this wonder spice:

1lb large shrimp, washed and peeled with tail on (for flavor!)

1 fresh jalipino, with seeds- minced

1 inch of ginger, peeled and cut in chunks

1 “finger” fresh turmeric, peeled and cut in chunks 

2 large garlic cloves, peeled

1tbs ghee or butter

1 tbs vegetable oil 

1/2 tsp salt

Chopped cilantro for garnish

*Serve over cooked rice

Put all ingredients but shrimp in a blender, I used my magic bullet (because it’s so small and easy to clean)

Blend to a paste, and add to shrimp. Marinate for at least 15-30 minutes in the fridge.

I chose to grill my shrimp on the gas grill, so I threaded them onto skewers. I preheated the grill to medium, and cooked them on either side for about 90 seconds. You want them to be just done.  In my opinion most people over cook shrimp. It’s a really hard balance, you want them just cooked through, but not tough. It’s better to take them off sooner, slice into one and see if it’s opaque and put them back on for another minute rather than over cook. And make sure you let them sit for a few minutes before serving, so they stay juicy and soft.

You could certainly play with the heat of this dish, if you want it less spicey, remove the seeds. If your jalipino tastes like a bell pepper, add some cayenne. Also, if you don’t have a grill, heat up a sauté pan, spray or add the tiniest bit of oil, and sauté the shrimp for 90 seconds on each side or until they just turn opaque and remove from the pan into a waiting bowl. (Again, you can add them back if they are not cooked all the way through)

 Marinating     Grilled!

Here they are! Start with amazing shrimp, add fresh ingredients, and pat yourself on the back for not only being an amazing cook, but oh so healthy! Fresh turmeric- so amazing!

Let me know if you have other ideas for fresh turmeric!