Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thursday's Kitchen Cupboard

Like many of you this time of year, we're in high canning gear. Belle is storing tomato juice and sauce. She's freezing beans, sliced bell peppers, leeks, cantaloupe and watermelon (for smoothies). She's also been pickling beats, jalapenos and okra. We just picked up 50 lbs of pears for canning and a half-bushel of apples for eating. She's made several jars of salsa verde with our tomatillos. The best thing of all, we're eating home grown meals on a regular basis.

One of my favorite sandwiches this season is Belle's summertime vegetable panini. It's a great way to use up zucchini and keep the tomatoes moving. I don't have a picture, but it's easy, and it's great!

Summertime Vegetable Panini Sandwich

slice tomatoes, egg plant, zucchini, and onions
layer the veggies in a shallow cake pan
brush with olive
season with crushed garlic and basil

roast in oven at 450 degrees for half an hour

slather fresh pesto onto sliced ciabatta bread
layer with vegetable medley
top with grated mozzarella cheese
toast sandwich in panini maker
viola! 

Happy Thursday's Kitchen Cupboard to you all, and be sure to visit Robin. She has two amazing summertime martini recipes to share. Yum!

Shrimp Pica de Gallo. It's chopped tomatoes, onions, tomatillos, jalapenos, salad shrimp, cilantro leaves, crushed garlic, lime and salt.

venison medalions, garden corn, sliced red bell peppers and carrots, cooked beets and red wine. Yes, we do have our occasional barbaric moments with no shirts at dinner time!


19 comments:

  1. I love that last pic!! We sure are busy and Belle's sandwich sounds yummy!!

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    1. I bet you're goin' nuts! Hang in there, 'cause I also bet you're doing an excellent job. Belle started at Starbucks this week. So pray for us too!

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  2. Oh Jody, I got hungry just reading this post, LOL. I just love to read how others are preserving their summer harvests. And don't you just love frozen melon in smoothies?

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  3. Yes we do love frozen melon smoothies! We're just beginning to learn to do it. Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Ooh, that panini sounds good. We don't have a panini maker but I bet we could put the sandwich on the gas grill for a bit, which is what I do to grill BLT's.

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  5. Sounds like a very tasty meal and alot of goodies frozen for future.

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    1. Thanks Jenny. We're love the spoils this time of year.

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  6. Yum. And I've never thought about freezing the excess cantaloupe for smoothies. That is a good idea.

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    1. We did it for the first time last year. It's great. We're going to freeze watermelon this year. We can't wait to see how that turns out.

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  7. I think I need a pannini toaster! :D Sounds delicious. Isnt' eating from the garden in high season wonderful. I don't think there is much better than that.

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    1. We love our panini maker. We love it so much that we wore it out. The same day it stopped working Belle went right out and got a new one. They're great for so, so many things, like sandwiches, burritos and quesadillas!

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  8. I'm coming to your house for dinner.....or at least I would if we lived a tad bit closer to you :-)

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    1. You're welcome anytime. Please bring your dad too!

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    2. I mean your husband! Be sure to help the boys invite me to read read their new blog. I'd love to be connected with you all that way.

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  9. I had a roast vegetable panini for lunch today - although shamefully I bought mine at the local cafe. It was good though they added some nice pesto and it worked well.

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    1. There's no shame in that. Sounds delicious!

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