By Joshua McFadden “Six Seasons”
 
Serves 4
½ cup raisins
Red wine vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces spaghetti
Extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
½ cup pine nuts           
½ teaspoon dried chile flakes
1 bunch Swiss chard, dried ends trimmed, stems thinly sliced, leaves torn into strips
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, for grating
 

1. Combine the raisins, a splash of vinegar, and warm water just to cover in a bole and plump for 20 minutes. Drain.
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt until it tastes like the sea. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package directions. Start tasting a minute or so ahead of time so you don’t overcook it. With a ladle or a measuring cup, scoop out about ½ cup of the cooking water, and drain the pasta well.
3. Meanwhile, pour a healthy glug of olive oil into a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and pine nuts and let them toast very slowly until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the chili flakes and cook for another 10 seconds so they can bloom, then add the drained raisins. 
4. Increase the heat to medium, add the chard stems, season with a bit of salt and black pepper, and cook slowly until the stems are slightly tender, 3-4 minutes. Add the torn chard leaves and splash of water (use the pasta water, needed), cover the pan, and cook until the leaves are wilted, 2-3 minutes. 
5. Add the drained pasta the butter to the chard and toss well. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more salt, black pepper, or chile flakes. Grate a bit of Parmigiano over everything, drizzle with more olive oil and pile into bowls. Serve with more cheese.

Serves 4-6

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup golden raisins
1 pound red cabbage, thinly sliced or shredded
1 pound beets, peeled and spiralized or shredded. Use multiple colors if you can.
¼ of a red onion sliced thinly or 1/2 cup chopped scallions
1 small red pepper, thinly sliced
¼ cup capers, drained and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped tarragon or basil
2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/3 cup pistachios, lightly toasted (or pecan, walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds)
Garnish: edible flower petals (pansy, petunia, calendula, bachelor button, roses, marigold. Edible Flowers List)
 

1. Combine the raisins and balsamic vinegar in a bowl and let sit while preparing the salad-at least 15 minutes.
2. Combine all of the remaining ingredients except the salt and pepper and the pistachios in a large bowl. Add the soaked raisins and olive oil and toss everything well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the pistachios on top of the salad and garnish with edible flowers if in season.

Variations:

• add shaved raw butternut squash
• add raw chopped broccoli

This recipe is from Food52 with a few adaptations from me. I highly recommend their site for recipes and cooking products. 

1/2 cup chopped garlic scapes
1 lemon, zested and juiced
1 large garlic clove
8 cups loosely packed arugula
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons almonds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds
1 pinch red pepper flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
 

1. To make the pesto, put the garlic scapes in the bowl of a food processor. Add lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, arugula, parmesan, nuts or seeds, red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper to taste. Pulse everything until it's finely chopped, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
2. With the food processor running, add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream and process until everything is blended into a paste. Taste and add more salt, black pepper, or lemon juice, if needed.
3. Transfer the pesto to a container and refrigerate for up to 10 days or freeze for up to 6 months.

 
Variations and uses:

• Instead of arugula, use spinach or a combination of spinach and basil.
• Use as a spread for toast-add a few fried eggs on top!
• Whisk with eggs and scramble.
• Use with pasta.
• Spread on chicken, pork, or steak.
• Toss with summer roasted or grilled vegetables.

Serves 4-6
 
4 cups seedless watermelon, cut into chunks
1/4 large seedless cucumber, peeled and cubed
2 tablespoons red onion, diced
juice of one lime or lemon
1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries 
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, loosely packed and chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Garnish options:
1/4 red, orange, or yellow pepper, diced 
1/2 cup cucumber, diced
Thinly sliced cherry tomatoes
Float on top of each bowl-Edible flower petals-calendula, bachelor button, borage, marigold, mallow (edible flowers in Liz's gardens)
 

1. Place the watermelon, cucumber, lime juice, 3/4 cup raspberries (reserve 1/4 cup for garnish), and cilantro into a food processor or blender and process to the texture you prefer.
   
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Finish by adding 1/4 cup whole raspberries, diced pepper and/or cucumber.  Chill and serve with edible flowers on top.

 
If a thinner soup is desired, add a fruit juice or light bodied wine to thin out.

Makes 10-12 summer rolls
​ 
1 cup white vinegar, rice vinegar, or red wine vinegar
⅓ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon loose leaf hibiscus tea (or 2 tea bags). See other tea options below.
1 package 8½ inch spring roll wrappers
4 ounces thin rice noodles or 1 package Shirataki noodles (rinsed well and drained)
2 cups shredded carrots
2 cups shaved red cabbage
2 cups thinly sliced snow peas
3 chopped scallions
¼ cup roughly chopped mint leaves
15 thinly sliced basil leaves (Thai basil or sweet basil)
¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves
1 cup edible flower petals (rose, violet, calendula, chive, pansy)
 
To prepare the dipping sauce:
Combine the vinegar, sugar, and crushed red pepper in a saucepan and bring to a simmer to dissolve the sugar, about 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the tea leaves. Steep for 5 minutes then strain the tea leaves from the sauce and set aside to cool. 

Prepare the noodles according to the package and run under cold water to cool. Combine the noodles, vegetables, herbs and flower petals in a bowl and toss gently.
 
To assemble the summer rolls you will need to soften the rice papers.

1. Pour 1 cup of cool water into a pie plate. Place one rice paper into the water until it is soft and pliable, about 30 seconds. Move the softened rice paper onto a clean cutting board.
2. Place a handful of the noodle/vegetable filling onto the center of the rice paper. Lift the edge of the wrapper closest to you over the top of the filling. Fold up each side and then roll into a tight log. Set aside and repeat to prepare remaining summer rolls. Serve with dipping sauce on the side. Store the summer rolls in a dish or , cover with a slightly damp paper towel and refrigerate until serving.
3. Store the summer rolls in a dish or plastic container that’s roomy enough to hold them without their touching. Place a damp paper towel in the bottom of the container to keep the rolls moist. Cover tightly with plastic wrap.

Variations:

• Tea options: jasmine, lemon, chai. 
  
• Any combination of shredded vegetables and leafy greens can be used. I like shredded zucchini, raw shredded beets, pea tendrils, sprouts etc.
• Shredded chicken, smoked turkey, or cooked shrimp can be added. 

Makes 8-10 crepes 
 
⅔ cup whole milk
⅔ cup water
3 eggs
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup flour
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons additional melted butter (for the pan)
1 cup mixed fresh herbs- choose your combination: dill, parsley, mint, chive, scallion. Wild edibles from the garden: violet leaves, wild garlic grass, creeping Jenny, small dandelion leaves
1 cup ricotta cheese-whole fat
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 lemon, zested
salt and pepper to taste
For garnish-edible flowers: violets, chive flowers, pansies, day lilies, rose petals

1. Place milk, water, eggs, and melted butter in a blender and mix until smooth. Add the flour and salt, a little at a time, mixing as you go and scraping down the sides of the jar as needed. This will help to keep flour from clumping. The batter will be thin.
2. Heat an 8-inch crepe pan or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, brush very lightly with melted butter. While tilting the pan in a circle, laddle the batter in to cover the surface with the batter. If using a 10-inch pan, prepare crepes with 1/3 cup of batter.
3. Sprinkle the batter with the herbs while the batter is still wet. Cook for 30-45 seconds. Using a crepe turner or rubber spatuala, turn the crepe over and cook for another 30 seconds. Remove the crepe and place on a wire rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining batter. Cooled crepes can be stacked if needed.
4. Add the ricotta cheese, extra virgin olive oil and lemon zest and combine using a food processor or immersion blender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Spread 2 tablespoons of whipped ricotta onto the crepe. Fold in half and then fold in half again. Serve sprinkled with chopped herbs and some edible flowers if you have them.

 
Variations

• Add smoked salmon or smoked trout to your crepe for a special brunch dish.
• Fill with steamed asparagus and drizzle with a hollandaise sauce or pesto.
• Add 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/4 cup grated parmesan to the whipped ricotta. Fill your crepes and place in a buttered baking dish or cover with tomato sauce and bake.
• Prepare the whipped ricotta w/ the mozzarella and parmesan as above. Stack your crepes with a thin spreading of whipped ricotta between the layers. Serve as is or baked until warmed through.

 
Williams Sonoma has a good selection of crepe equipment. www.williams-sonoma.com/search/results.html?words=crepe

Enjoy these herb syrups in lemonade, limeade, cocktails, coffee drinks, tea, drizzled over fruit, and cakes.

1 cup sugar (honey can be used instead of sugar)
1 cup water
1 cup mint

1. Combine the sugar and water in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes. 
2. Turn off the heat and add the mint leaves. Cool to room temperature. Strain and discard the mint leaves.
3. Add to a drink to taste.
4. Store your syrup in the refrigerator in a covered jar or squeeze bottle. Store for up to 2 weeks. 

Variations: Prepare as above using different herbs 

• Basil syrup- 1/2 cup basil leaves
• Lavender syrup- 1 tablespoon lavender petals (not leaves)
• Chamomile syrup- 1 cup of chamomile flowers-use flowers that have just opened 
• Rosemary syrup- 1 tablespoon leaves
• Lemon verbena syrup- 1/2 cup leaves
• Cilantro syrup- 1 cup leaves and stems
• Lilac syrup- 2 cups flowers-use flowers that have just opened 

Serves 6 as a side dish
 
1 pound bag frozen Petite Peas (these are the sweetest), thawed
4-6 radishes, sliced thinly (about 1 cup)-if the radishes are small use about 2-3 per person, cut them into quarters
2 Tbs butter
2-3 scallions, sliced thinly on the bias
3 Tbs fresh mint, chopped
Kosher salt and Pepper

1. Heat a sauté pan with the butter and the radishes over medium-low heat. Cook until the radishes are soft and lightly pink about 3-5 minutes. 
2. Add the peas and heat until the peas are warmed through, about 3 minutes. 
3. Add the mint and the scallions. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, room temperature, or cold.

 
Variations:
Add: Sugar snap peas, asparagus-sliced thinly, pea tendrils-cook with the peas.
Top With: Feta cheese, or shaved parmesan cheese.
Serve:
    As a salad with cooked new potatoes, rice, or other cooked whole grain.
    On toast with ricotta cheese or mascarpone cheese.
​    

Recipe from the wonderful cookbook Small Victories by Julia Turshen

Serves 4-6

2 large leeks, split in half lengthwise and washed
A handful of fresh Italian parsley sprigs, stems and leaves separated
A handful of fresh mint sprigs, stems and leaves separated
A handful of fresh basil sprigs, stems and leaves separated
6 cups cold water
Kosher salt
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 ½ cups frozen peas
Crème fraiche or sour cream for serving
Chives, chopped for serving

1. Roughly chop the dark green tops, root ends, and tough outer layers of the leeks and put them in a large pot. Roughly chop the remaining leeks(the white and light green parts), wash them, and set aside. 
   
   
2. Add the stems from the parsley, mint, and basil to the pot along with the water and 1 ½ tsp salt and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and let the stock cook quietly for 30 minutes. Strain the stock through a fine-mesh strainer into a large bowl and set aside. Discard the contents of the strainer.
   
   
3. Wipe the pot dry and put it over medium heat. Add the butter, the reserved chopped and washed leeks, and a large pinch of salt and cook stirring, until the leeks are softened and translucent, about 10 minutes. Do not brown. 
   
   
4. Add the peas. Slowly pour in the warm stock, leaving any grit on the bottom of the bowl behind. Turn off the heat and let the soup cool to room temperature (the residual heat will cook the peas).
   
   
5. Once the soup has cooled, add the leaves from the parsley, mint, and basil to the pot. Puree the soup with an immersion blender, or with a regular blender. Season with salt and pepper. 
   ​
6. Reheat the soup and serve warm, or chill it thoroughly. Serve with crème fraiche and sprinkle with chives.

Variations:

• Puree or not! I love this soup partially pureed with lots of texture.
• Serve the soup cold on a hot day!
• Add 2 cups lettuce leaves or spinach leaves along with the peas in step 4. 
• Make the soup creamier by adding a scoop of sour cream or plain yogurt to your bowl and stir it all together.
• Add a protein-cooked chicken, shrimp, scallops, or even white beans. Puree the soup first, then add your protein to the pureed soup and heat through.
• Add diced potatoes to the soup while it is cooking. Add 5 minutes to the soup cooking time.
• Instead of soup, make a side dish. Add just enough stock (start with 1/2 cup) to the sautéed leeks and peas to warm the peas through. Turn off the heat and gently stir in 2 tablespoons of very cold butter to create a creamy finish. 

Serves 4-6 as an appetizer

1-pint grape tomatoes
½-1/3 cup black olives packed in oil 
1 lemon, 1/2 cut into thin rounds and the remaining 1/2 left intact, for serving
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for serving
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon red-pepper flakes
 Kosher salt and black pepper
1 (6- to 8-ounce) block feta, whole or cut into 1-inch slices
 ½ cup fresh cilantro or parsley leaves and fine stems, roughly chopped (optional)
Serve with artisan bread or crackers

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees with a rack set in the lower third. 
2. On a sheet pan, combine the tomatoes, olives, and lemon slices with the olive oil and toss. Add cumin and red-pepper flakes, season with salt and pepper, and toss again until evenly coated. Nestle the feta into the center of the vegetables. Roast 15 to 20 minutes. If you want a little charring on top, put under the broiler for a few minutes
3. Drizzle with olive oil and serve with the remaining lemon half for squeezing. Top with fresh herbs, if using.

Variations:

• Instead of feta use tofu or a firm fish (salmon, swordfish, scrod).
• Add canned chick peas and thinly sliced fennel.
• Add broccoli, asparagus, peppers, or other veg and serve as a meal.
• Instead of cumin use smoked paprika or rosemary.
• When cooked, combine all of the ingredients and toss with pasta and serve hot or cold.

I enjoy creating delicious recipes to share with my students, but when I discover a recipe by another chef I never hesitate to share it. And, when that chef has cookbook that I love, you know I'm going to share that too. Joshua McFadden's book Six Seasons-A New Way with Vegetables has become a favorite, seasonal cookbook for me. You MUST get this book! McFadden has opened my mind and my pallet to so many new flavor combinations and wonderful ways to prepare vegetables seasonally. This recipe is a wonderful example of an easy, beautiful, and delicious recipe I use often. Enjoy!

Makes 4 cups
Kosher salt, to taste
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
2 cloves garlic, smashed flat and peeled
1 pound kale, thick ribs removed (dark green, curly kale)
 Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
½ pound pasta, like pappardelle or rigatoni
¾ cup coarsely grated Parmigiano- Reggiano

1. Put a large pot of generously salted water over high heat, and bring to a boil. 
2. In a small skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and garlic, and cook until the garlic begins to sizzle. Reduce heat to low, and cook very gently until garlic is soft and begins to turn light gold, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. When water is boiling, add kale leaves, and cook until tender, but not mushy, about 5 minutes. Pull out the hot, dripping kale leaves with tongs, and put directly into a blender. (Don’t drain the pot; you’ll use that same boiling water to cook the pasta.) 
4. Add garlic and its oil to the blender, along with a splash of hot water from the pot if you need some more liquid to get the blender going. Blend into a fine, thick green purée. Taste, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, then blend again.
5. Add the pasta to the still-boiling water, and cook according to directions on the package. Ladle out about a cup of the water to save for finishing the dish, then drain the pasta and return it to the dry pot. Add the half of the kale purée, about 3/4 of the grated cheese and a splash of the reserved pasta water. Toss until all the pasta is well coated and bright green, adding another splash of pasta water and more kale sauce if needed so that the sauce is loose and almost creamy in texture. Serve in bowls right away, and top with an extra drizzle of olive oil and the rest of the grated cheese. Any leftover kale sauce can be frozen.

​Additions:
1-pound U26-30 shrimp, peeled and deveined-5 minutes before the pasta is done cooking, add the shrimp to the pasta and continue cooking for 5 minutes. Continue with recipe as written.

More uses for this Kale Sauce

• add to any soup 
• add to any pasta sauce
  
• add cream to the kale sauce and drizzle over pasta, chicken, steak, pork, seafood
• spread on sandwiches or wraps
• stir into eggs to make kale scrambled eggs
• combine with homemade stock to make a soup
• add to Asian noodle bowl

Serves 6 as a side dish

4 ounces sugar snap peas
4 ounces snow peas, sliced on the bias
4 ounces frozen petite peas, thawed
2 scallions, about ½ cup chopped-or equal about of chives, chopped
2 cups pea shoots or tendrils-water cress or mixed greens can be substituted
2 Tbs fresh mint, roughly chopped
2 Tbs fresh flat leafed parsley, roughly chopped
optional: 2-3 radishes, thinly sliced
5 Tbs cider or red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
Kosher salt and Pepper
Ricotta salata or parmesan, shaved
Edible flowers for garnish

1. Heat a saucepan filled halfway with water and 1 tsp kosher salt. Bring to a boil. While the water is coming to a boil, prepare an ice bath with ice and cold water, set aside.
2. When the salted water reaches a boil, add the sugar snap peas and the sliced snow peas. Cook for 3 minutes. Remove the peas from the water with a slotted spoon and immediately place them into the ice bath. Once cold, drain and place on a cotton towel to pat dry-as dry as possible.
3. Prepare the dressing by combining the vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil in a lidded jar. Cover and shake until combined.
4. Place the sugar snap, snow, and thawed peas, into a large bowl with the greens and optional radish slices. Add the herbs and enough dressing to lightly coat the salad and gently toss.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Serve immediately garnished with cheese and edible flowers.

Check out my Facebook Live cooking demo of this salad with the 3 variations below: https://www.facebook.com/thecreativefeast/videos/561124908113428/
​

Make this salad a meal: Hard boiled eggs or poached eggs with roasted potatoes and roasted radishes.

Appetizer: Dress the salad and place on top of toasted bread smeared with ricotta cheese

Pasta: Add the undressed salad to Pasta Carbonara https://www.thecreativefeast.com/recipeblog/pasta-alla-carbonara

My husband has the steak thing down! His plate was so beautiful I had to take the picture. This is a perfect dinner featuring t-bone steak cooked in the Airfryer, my salmon Gravlax (see recipe posted), and my Southwest coleslaw. This coleslaw recipe is one of my "go to " recipes for any occasion. The dressing is great on sandwiches, veggie salads, and as a sauce for chicken or fish. Make extra of the Southwest seasoning and keep it on hand for meats, poultry, fish, and veggies. Enjoy!

Serves 8-10
4 cups red cabbage, shaved thin
1 small red pepper, sliced thinly
½ cup cilantro, chopped
¼ cup onion, minced or thinly sliced (or sliced scallions)
1 cup mayonnaise (choose Sir Kensington's avocado mayonaise or make your own using avocado oil or olive oil)
3 Tbs cider vinegar
1 Tbs honey
2 tsp Southwest seasoning or to taste-see below
Fresh ground pepper
 
1. Combine the cabbage, peppers, and cilantro in a large bowl.
2.  In a small bowl combine the remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
3. Toss the cabbage mixture with ¾ to 1 cup of the dressing (save the rest for another salad).  Season with fresh ground pepper and kosher salt as needed.
 
Southwest Seasoning   
Makes ¼ cup
2 tablespoons smoked paprika-I get mine at Homegoods! You can use sweet paprika instead, but it will not have a smokey flavor-still delicious!
½  tsp chipotle power or ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder or granulated garlic
1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container.
 
Baja Chicken Tacos: Buy small corn or flour tortillas and a roasted chicken and shred the meat. Line the tortillas with Southwest coleslaw and top with shredded chicken. Substitute the chicken with broiled white fish to make fish tacos.