Easy Summer Fruit Dessert

Need an easy summer dessert?

This simple dish -- cut up fruit steeped in a seasoned, sweetened syrup -- is the perfect ending to a meal on a hot summer day, especially when you want a dairy-free dessert.

Of course you could always top the fruit with ice cream or whipped cream. Sorbet would be fine too.

I like it plain, as-is, with a small amount of boiled-down, thickened syrup.

SOAKED SUMMER FRUIT

• 2 pounds stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots), approximately

• 3 cups water

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1 vanilla bean, broken

• 2 orange slices, about 1/4-inch thick

• 4-5 slices crystallized ginger

Cut the fruit in half and remove the pits. Cut the fruit into bite-size chunks and place in a dish deep enough to hold the pieces plus liquid. In a saucepan, combine the water, honey, vanilla bean, orange slices and crystallized ginger and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes. Pour the contents of the saucepan through a strainer over the fruit. Let soak for at least 2 hours. Serve as-is or strain the fluids, boil the fluids for 6-8 minutes or until thickened, and pour over the fruit (or let cool first).

Makes 8 servings

Naan Pizzas with Peas

Ed and I always host New Years Eve for our cousins and my brother and sister-in-law. It’s been a long long family tradition and years ago we all realized that we would rather have a day of nibbles rather than a sit down dinner. So we have one round at about 2:00 and another in the evening. (Dessert much later.) Works for us. I always try some new recipe or two but also serve some old favorites. One that we always like are Naan Vegetable Pizzas. There are a couple of versions on this website, all similar but it always depends on what’s on hand in my house. Recently I didn’t have cooked carrots and cauliflower but I did have some frozen peas! Made these easy hors d’oeuvres even easier! Go for it! Everyone loved it at our New Year’s feast.

Naan Vegetable Pizzas with Peas

• 2 Naan breads

• 1/2 cup Mango chutney

• 1/2 cup peas

• 1 teaspoon curry powder

• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1/4 cup grated Gouda cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the two Naan breads on the cookie sheet. Spread equal amounts of the chutney on each bread. Scatter the peas on top. Sprinkle with the curry powder. Scatter the mozzarella cheese and Gouda cheese over the vegetables. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the vegetables are hot, the cheese has melted and pizzas look toasty. Cut into pieces and serve. Makes about 16-18 pieces

#naan #naanpizza #newyear2025 #horsdoeuvres

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13Sue Freedland, Dana L Shrager and 11 others

Just a Sandwich, Egg and Pesto

Sometimes you just want a sandwich for dinner, right? Maybe you’re tired or it’s too hot to cook or you want a quick meal. Whatever.

My Mom made sandwiches for dinner and so do I. It can be as satisfying as a tradtional dinner but much easier and such a good choice when you don’t feel like fussing.

Here’s one to try:

Avocado, Egg and Tomato Sandwich with Pesto Mayonnaise

• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise

• 4 teaspoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

• 1 small clove garlic, finely chopped

• 4 slices Tuscan-Italian style bread

• 2 teaspoons butter

• 2 large eggs, beaten

• 1 avocado, sliced

• 1 tomato, sliced

In a bowl, combine the mayonnaise, olive oil, Parmesan cheese, basil and garlic and mix thoroughly. Refrigerate until ready to use (may be made 2 days ahead). Toast the bread slices lightly. While the bread is toasting, heat the butter in a small pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted and looks foamy, pour in the eggs and cook, moving the egg around slightly to allow wet portions to reach the bottom of the pan. When the egg is almost cooked, flip it over, cook briefly and remove from the pan. Spread some of the pesto mayonnaise on 2 slices of the toasted bread. Top each with half the cooked egg. Top with slices of avocado and tomato. Cover with remaining bread slice. Cut sandwiches in half.

Makes 2 servings

Roasted Asparagus with Zatar

When I was a kid, vegetables were always boiled (usually to death) and served with a pat of butter or margarine and it was no wonder that most people hated them.

We’ve learned a lot since then.

Whether you steam, poach or roast them, it’s incredibly easy to dress up any vegetable and make it a delicious side dish or even the star of your dinner.

Like this:

Roasted Asparagus with Zatar

• 1 pound medium-thick asparagus

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped, optional

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 1 teaspoon zatar

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Trim the ends of each asparagus spear. Rinse and dry the spears and place them on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle the olive oil on top and scatter the optional garlic on top. Roll the spears to coat each one. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the asparagus for about 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drizzle with the lemon juice, sprinkle with zatar and serve.

NOTE: these are fine whether served hot or at room temperature.

Makes 4-6 servings

Pizza for Pi Day

Pizza with Spinach, Tomatoes and Cheese

It’s Pi Day so I could easily have posted a photo and recipe for apple streusel pie or lemon meringue. Both are delicious desserts.

Of course a savory pie would do too: Chicken Pot Pie maybe?

But I’m more in the mood for pizza pie, so here’s any easy one (using a store bought crust):

Pizza with Spinach tomatoes and cheese 

• 1 pizza crust (about 10-inches)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 large garlic clove, minced

• 1 bunch fresh spinach, washed and dried (about 6 ounces)

• 2 medium plum tomatoes, sliced

• 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded or chopped

• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the crust on a pizza stone or lightly oiled pizza pan or parchment-lined cookie sheet. Heat 1-1/2 tablespoons olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook briefly. Add the spinach and cook for 3–5 minutes or until wilted and all the liquid has evaporated from the pan. If necessary, press the spinach in a sieve to extract liquid. Spread the spinach evenly on top of the crust. Place the tomato slices on top. Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and oregano. Drizzle with remaining half tablespoon olive oil. Bake for 10-13 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the crust is beginning to brown.

 Makes 2 servings

Mushroom Chips

It doesn’t get easier than this: one of the hors d’oeuvre I’ll be serving on New Year’s Eve.

Mushroom chips

• 4 large king oyster mushrooms

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• kosher salt or sea salt

• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Slice the mushrooms about 1/8-inch thick. Place the mushrooms on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush both sides with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and thyme. Roast for about 20 minutes, turning them over after the first 10 minutes.

Makes 4 servings

Persimmon Salsa

I’m continuing my search for some new nibbles for our New Year’s Eve hors d’oeuvres fest — and found a definite!

Persimmon salsa (I’m fortunate to have found some lovely persimmons in the market).

This is a yes because not only is it delicious, it’s also quick and easy to make and so colorful and inviting for a celebration.

Btw — this is also a nice side dish with grilled meat, fish or chicken. And maybe even useful for a Superbowl party — don’t pass this by!

PERSIMMON SALSA

• 2 Fuyu persimmons

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint

• 2-3 teaspoons finely chopped chili pepper

• 1/2 cup chopped red onion

• 1 teaspoon very finely grated lime zest

• 2 tablespoons lime juice

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 tablespoon honey

• salt to taste

Chop the persimmons into small pieces and place them in a bowl. Add the mint, chili pepper, red onion and lime zest and mix to distribute the ingredients. Pour in the lime juice, olive oil and honey, sprinkle with salt and toss the ingredients. Let rest for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Makes about 2-1/2 cups 

Veggie Frittata

When it’s time for a meatless meal I often go for a frittata. It’s quick and easy to cook and, accompanied by a salad and a hunk of bread, is filling enough for dinner.

I’ve made this veggie-cheese frittata many times, using different veggies (about 2 cups worth) and other meltable cheeses (cheddar, havarti, mozzarella) and if I have any, sometimes throw in some crumbled feta, blue or goat cheese.

This is a dish that works no matter what the season, but is especially good in summer when most of us want lighter food. Also — perfect during the Nine Days and for other meatless fast days.

Veggie Frittata

• 1 tablespoon butter

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 2 tablespoons chopped shallot

• 10-12 grape or cherry tomatoes, cut into pieces

• 3-4 large mushrooms, cleaned and chopped

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach

• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, optional

• 6 large eggs, beaten

• 2 ounces grated Swiss cheese

• salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to broil. Heat the butter and olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted and looks foamy, add the shallot, tomatoes and mushrooms and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the vegetables have softened. Add the spinach and parsley, if used, and cook briefly, until the spinach has wilted slightly. Pour in the eggs and scatter the cheese on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired. Cook for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow the liquid egg to get to the bottom, until the eggs are still slightly liquid but nearly cooked. Place the pan under the broiler for 1-2 minutes or until the top is crispy and lightly browned.

Makes 2-3 servings

Marinated Mushrooms

Before the pandemic I would sometimes buy nibbles from the salad bar at the supermarket — stuff I could serve with drinks before dinner when we had people over.

I no longer feel comfortable doing that, especially after seeing a video my daughter sent me of a guy in a store using a ladle to taste some soup and then putting the ladle back into the container!

Aaaaaaarrgh!!!

I can make my own marinated mushrooms, et. al. In fact the ones I make using this recipe are better than anything similar I ever bought anywhere.

There’s no going back for me. These take 15 minutes tops to prepare.

Marinated Mushrooms

• 8 ounces common white mushrooms

• 1/4 cup chopped red onion

• 1 medium garlic clove, finely chopped

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 tablespoon wine vinegar

• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• pinch or two of Aleppo pepper or crushed red pepper, optional

Clean the mushrooms and cut them into bite size pieces. Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the mushrooms, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain the mushrooms and place them in a bowl. Add the red onion, garlic and parsley and toss the ingredients. Pour in the olive oil, wine vinegar and season with oregano, salt and pepper. Toss the ingredients and let them marinate for at least 2 hours before serving. Best served at room temperature.

Makes 6-8 hors d’oeuvre servings

Tomato Eggplant Mushroom Sauce

This recipe was born of my desire to use whatever is left in my pantry and fridge, my need to not waste food, my love of inventing new recipes.

During this awful pandemic, I have not shopped. I use a shopping service, so I am more mindful when I order because I can’t just hop in the car and go to the store for a tomato.

A few months ago I was at the tail end of what was left of an order, the list I keep almost ready for the next shop. I had some tomatoes and mushrooms, a few scallions and some pasta. I always have Parmesan cheese in the fridge. I chopped the vegetables (including a clove of garlic), added some fresh oregano (it was still summer so I had some fresh from the garden) and stewed the sauce until everything was soft and fragrant. We had it for dinner over spaghetti and Ed declared it a miracle.

I have made a variation of this dish several times since then. Once, I had an eggplant, so I added that. Another time I threw in some chopped zucchini. I sometimes replaced the scallion with onion. And of course, with no fresh herbs from the garden (and none left in the fridge) I have seasoned the sauce with dried oregano.

That’s how versatile this recipe is. It’s so easy. We load it with freshly grated Parmesan, but it’s also delicious without the cheese, served as a kind of saucy side dish for beef — steak, meatballs, and so on.

Here’s one version but feel free to change this and that.

Chunky Tomato-eggplant-Mushroom Sauce

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped

• 4-5 tomatoes, chopped or two cups cut up cherry or grape tomatoes

• 1 cup diced eggplant

• 6 ounces mushrooms, cut into chunks

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or basil

• salt and pepper

• cooked pasta

Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan or wok/pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Add the tomatoes, eggplant, mushrooms, herb and salt and pepper to taste and cook, stirring occasionally for about 8-10 minutes or until the mixture is thick and sauce-like. Serve over pasta (or use as a side dish for grilled steak or chicken).

Makes enough for one pound of pasta