Sweet and Savory Tomato Jam

Try this on sandwiches, as a condiment for pork, or with some soft cheese. This makes a small batch, but feel free to multiply it.

1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes (halved if large)
1 tsp calcium water (comes with Pomona's)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp ground sage
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp Pomona's Universal Pectin

Combine the tomatoes, calcium water, salt, lemon juice, and sage in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, mashing the tomatoes as they soften. Simmer for 10 minutes or so. If desired, partially puree the mixture.

Combine the sugar and pectin in a small bowl, then stir into the tomato mixture. Bring to a boil, stirring as you go, then remove from heat. Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Makes about 1 cup.

Variations: 1) Instead of sage, add 1/4-1/2 tsp grated ginger root. 2) instead of or in addition to sage, add a couple bruised whole garlic cloves while the jam simmers; remove before pureeing or adding the sugar and pectin.

Pasta with Roasted Eggplant Tomato Garlic Sauce

It's hard to go wrong with this combination, and as we start to head into fall, roasting becomes more appealing. This is great with some sausage tossed in; I recommend lamb sausage if you can find it (a few local farms do make it). Or cook some ground lamb and toss that in.

2 heads garlic, cloves peeled and left whole
1 medium eggplant, peeled and cubed (2-3 cups)
4 cups chopped seeded tomatoes
3 Tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 lb pasta
Crumbled feta for topping (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Combine the garlic cloves, eggplant, and tomatoes in a roasting pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, then toss to coat well. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice.

While the vegetables roast, cook the pasta in a pot of salted boiling water. Drain, toss with a little olive oil, and set aside.

When the vegetables are nice and tender, mash or partially puree them into a sauce. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed. Toss with the pasta until well coated. Serve hot, topped with crumbled feta at the table if desired.

Serves 4-5.

Shiitake Fried Rice

Fried rice is an easy, forgiving dish that you can make with pretty much whatever veggies you have on hand. I often make it with a whole kaleidoscope of chopped produce. But sometimes I also enjoy a more focused version, like this one, which highlights the flavor and texture of shiitake mushrooms.

1 Tbsp canola oil
1 large onion, diced
1/2 lb shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced
6-8 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 tsp minced ginger root
2 eggs, beaten (optional)
2-3 cups leftover cooked rice (cold or room temperature)
1/4 cup soy sauce or to taste
Salt to taste

Heat the canola oil in a wok or large skillet. Add the onion and shiitakes and stir fry over high heat for 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and continue stir frying until the mushrooms and onion are tender. Lower the heat the medium.

If you are using the eggs, make a well in the center of the veggies and pour the eggs in. Scramble the eggs, slowly stirring them into the vegetables as they cook. When they're done, turn off the heat. Add the rice and soy sauce and mix everything well. Taste and add salt if needed.

Serve hot.

Serves about 4.

County Fair

The Franklin County Fair is this weekend at the Fairgrounds in Greenfield. I'll be speaking on Saturday from 3-4 in the Roundhouse. The general topic is cooking with the foods that are in season and on display at the fair. Readers, I would love any suggestions or ideas you have within that. What you would find interesting? What do you think others would find interesting?

Vanilla Peach Jam

I've been freezing and drying peaches over the last week, and also made some jam (by special request from my four-year-old). I have made Ginger Peach Jam in the past but decided to try something a little different this time around. The vanilla flavor adds a lovely note to the peach.

You can make this with pectin or without. When I use pectin, I use Pomona's Universal Pectin. If you do this, follow the directions about how to add it (at the end, mixed in with the sugar).

6 cups sliced peaches (skin on is fine, ok to use frozen)
1 pod vanilla beans or 1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup sugar
Up to 1/4 cup lemon juice (optional)

If you're using frozen peaches, thaw them first.

Combine the peaches and vanilla pod or extract in a Dutch oven and simmer until peaches are very soft, stirring occasionally. Mash the peaches as you go. Remove the vanilla pod at the end. If desired, use an immersion blender to make the jam smoother, or skip it for a chunkier consistency. Stir in the sugar and simmer for a few minutes. Add lemon juice if desired (for flavor; even if canning it's not required). If you are not using pectin, you may wish to simmer the jam longer to thicken it further.

Can the jam, freeze, or refrigerate. (If you choose to freeze it, make sure there is plenty of headroom. If using glass jars, do not seal until frozen.)

Makes about 4 cups.

Thai Corn Chowder

Sometimes I have to try a recipe just to satisfy my own curiosity. This one I have been playing with in my mind since last summer and finally got around to just making it. Fortunately, the result was good enough to share. As I've commented here before, I love corn chowder and make it often through the summer and fall, but I just can't resist different variations.

1-2 Tbsp canola oil
2 shallots, minced
1 1/2 lbs potatoes, cubed
Chicken/veggie stock and/or water
1/4 - 1/2 tsp fish sauce (optional)
3 cups roasted corn (grilled corn would also work well)
1 14-oz can coconut milk (lite is fine)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 - 1/2 cup chopped Thai basil
1-2 tsp lime juice

Heat the canola oil in a soup pot. Add the shallots and saute for about 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, then enough stock and/or water to cover. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the potatoes are tender.

When the potatoes are tender, add the fish sauce (if using), corn, and coconut milk. Add additional water if needed. Stir well, and heat through, then add salt and pepper to taste. Just before serving, add the Thai basil and lime juice.

Serves 4-6.

Roasted Corn

This is delicious on its own as a side dish, but it also makes a wonderful addition to many recipes in which you might want to use corn. Roasting enhances the flavor and brings out notes you don't get from a simple steaming or boiling. Particularly good added to soup, chili, etc. I roasted up a big batch this weekend and froze it in one-meal quantities to add to dishes through the winter.

12 ears corn
2-3 Tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Slice all the kernels off the corn. Toss them with olive oil and salt and pepper, place them in a large baking dish, then roast for 20-30 minutes, stirring once or twice.

Variations: Add dried or fresh herbs to the corn. Basil or sage would be particularly good choices.