Aioli is the creamy, garlicky mayonnaise of Provence, traditionally made in a mortar and pestle. But the food processor makes this a quick, easy delight. Add a hit of fresh basil, and it is a fresh summer tomato’s best friend. Good on a simple sandwich or just spread on a thick slice. It also makes an amazing dip for a beautifully colorful display of summer vegetables. I … [Read more...] about Fresh Basil Aioli
Vegetables
Wash Day Green Beans
Wash day beans are an old tradition, one that has taken on many forms in many places. The story goes that laundry day was once a week, usually a Monday, back when doing the wash meant heating up vats of water on an old wood stove to dump in the wash tub, then scrubbing the clothes by hand on that old washboard. The practical housewife was not likely to plan an elaborate meal … [Read more...] about Wash Day Green Beans
Summertime Mint Dressing
If I could create my own personal fragrance, or have some sort of mechanism that made everywhere I go have a certain happy, peaceful scent, the primary element would be fresh garden mint. It smells like summer to me. And sweet tea. And the South. And all good things. I suppose the variety is technically spearmint, but I think of it as Southern mint. I have always grown … [Read more...] about Summertime Mint Dressing
Creamy Hominy Bake with Green Chiles and Cheese
My primary memory of hominy is a quick Sunday night dish my mom used to whip up with eggs and sausage, but I love hominy as a more unusual side for a good Mexican meal. I recently made this dish for a gathering of my parents’ friends, and when they realized it was hominy, I got a few looks. One friend told me she hadn’t had hominy since early childhood, when it was served in … [Read more...] about Creamy Hominy Bake with Green Chiles and Cheese
Meyer Lemon Chiffon Dip for Spring Vegetables
Simple, delicious spring vegetables really just need the simplest of bright accompaniments, and this dip really hits the bill. It is tangy with lemon and perfectly creamy and even has a sunshine-y yellow hue. I love this at room temperature as a dip for lightly steamed asparagus spears or artichoke leaves. Put it can also be spooned over as a sauce. And its uses go far … [Read more...] about Meyer Lemon Chiffon Dip for Spring Vegetables
