Cuisine Eric

Summer is peach time, and I do love a nice hot bubbly crisp. Here I combine delicious summer ripened peaches with blueberries and a crispy granola-walnut topping. As I sliced the peaches, their aroma wafted all around me. That's the thing about summer ripened peaches - they have such a great bouquet. The only thing that could make this any better would be ice cream! Filling 4 large ripe peaches, pitted and sliced 1 pint blueberries 4 Tbsp butter, melted Juice of 1/2 lemon 1/3 cup brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 Tbsp cornstarch Crisp Topping 6 Tbsp butter, room temperature, not melted 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup favorite granola 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped 1/2 cup brown sugar Preheat oven to 375F.   Mix together the filling ingredients and let the fruit macerate while you prepare the topping. Use a fork to mix together the topping ingredients in a bowl.   Butter a 9x13-inch dish. Pour in the fruit mixture and distribute evenly. Distribute the topping evenly over the frui...

This is one of the most satisfying ways to prepare grilled swordfish. A soft bed of sautéed spinach for a nicely grilled piece of swordfish garnished with a creamy tangy sauce bolstered by mild green chilies, all enhanced by sautéed cherry tomatoes, make for a fine summer BBQ offering. 5 oz fresh baby spinach leaves 2 Tbsp butter plus 2 Tbsp olive oil 1 shallot, finely minced 4 cloves garlic, minced About 6-8 oz cherry (or grape) tomatoes (I used cherry on the vine) 1/2 cup heavy cream Palmful fresh parsley, minced 1 4 oz can diced green chilies, drained 1/4 cup dry white wine Zest of 1 lemon Juice of 1/2 lemon 1 lb fresh swordfish fillet (ideally at least 1-inch thick) Preheat the BBQ grill. Season the swordfish on both sides with salt and pepper to taste. Generously, pour olive oil over fish and flip fish several times. Wilt the spinach in a large skillet with a dash of olive oil. Set wilted leaves aside. In same skillet, melt the butter in the olive oil. Sauté the shallot for about ...

This dish is literally summer in a pot! Angel hair pasta adorned with fresh tomatoes, caramelized onions, pancetta (or bacon) in a light wine sauce garnished with fresh basil julienne. It doesn't get much more summer than that. 1 onion, sliced 1/4 lb bacon or pancetta, cubed 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp capers, rinsed and drained 1 Tbsp sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), chopped 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise 1/2 cup dry white wine 1/2 lb angel hair pasta 1 doz fresh basil leaves, cut into julienned strips Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the pasta. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, brown the bacon (or pancetta) with the onions.  Cook over medium heat until the bacon is browned and the onions are slightly caramelized. Add the garlic, capers and sun-dried tomatoes and cook 2-3 minutes more. Tilt the pan to allow bacon fat to separate from bacon/veggie mix. Spoon drained mixture to a bowl. Remove all but 1 tablespoon fat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the...

I used this ice cream to make a red, white and blue 250th anniversary 4th of July celebration ice cream pie for a July 4th family gathering. I topped a shortbread base in a springform pan with the ice cream and then topped it with macerated raspberries and blueberries. A dollop of whipped cream adorned the berries. So many people complimented the ice cream. A simple, but big hit. 1½ cups whole milk ¾ cup granulated sugar 2 Tbsp honey ¼ tsp fine salt Zest of 1 lemon 2 cups heavy cream 2 tsp vanilla extract 3 Tbsp lemon juice (about 1 lemon) The day before churning the ice cream, freeze the ice cream maker churning bowl for at least 12 hours. Warm the milk with the sugar, honey, salt and lemon zest in a small pot to about 125F, stirring often. Remove from heat and let the zest steep for half an hour. Pour milk mixture into a bowl and whisk in the cream and vanilla. Refrigerate until fully chilled, at least 2-3 hours. Install the turning bowl onto the ice cream maker. Stir the lemon juice...

This is a delicious one-pot wonder, great for a busy working weeknight with minimum dishes! The linguini is cooked directly in broth and cream with plump grape tomatoes and pearl onions,  and finished with spinach, calamari and shrimp. The sauce thickens down nicely as the pasta cooks, making a creamy, tasty reduction all at the same time. 2 Tbsp butter plus 2 Tbsp olive oil 8 oz frozen pearl onions 1 pint grape tomatoes 3 cloves garlic, pushed through a press 2 cups chicken stock 1/2 cup water 1/2 lb linguini 1 cup heavy cream 1/4 tsp rushed red pepper flakes, or to taste 5 oz fresh baby spinach leaves 1/4 lb calamari rings, halved 1/4 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined, cut into1/2-inch pieces 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Palmful fresh parsley, finely minced Heat the water and chicken broth to nearly boiling. In a large pot, melt the butter in the olive oil. Add the frozen pearl onions and sauté over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Add the tomatoes and cook fo...

This is a very quick but delicious chicken number great for a fast weeknight meal. Marinate the drumsticks for as long or as little time you have in a delicious garlic lemon mixture. The spinach melts to a moist bed and the two tomatoes give the dish a tangy pop. 1 package (6-7 pcs) lollipop drumsticks 3 cloves garlic pushed through a press Juice and zest of 1 lemon Olive oil 5 oz baby spinach leaves 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes 2 Tbsp oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, minced 1 can mushrooms, drained 1 Tbsp sundried tomato oil Marinate the drumsticks with the garlic, lemon juice and lemon zest with a good drizzle olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Let marinate in the refrigerator for a good 1-2 hours if you can. Preheat oven to 375F. Lay spinach leaves evenly in an oiled 9x13 baking dish. Distribute drumsticks on top of spinach. Scatter the grape tomatoes about the drumsticks.  Top with the sundried tomatoes and mushrooms. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Drizzle with the...

This is a simple and delicious version of the classic grilled cheese sandwich. The Brie melts readily and is so flavorful. Dorie Greenspan inspired the use of mayo instead of butter on panini-facing slices of bread. A genius idea, which makes a most flavorful crust and is much easier to implement. An addition that could improve this sandwich might be layering drained sauerkraut in the middle of the sandwich! 4 slices finest/favorite bread 6 Tbsp mayo 1 heaping Tbsp prepared horseradish 2 palmful fresh baby spinach leaves 1/4 lb Brie cheese, sliced 1/4-inch thick 1 large ripe tomato, thickly sliced Dash garlic powder Heat a panini press. Spread one tablespoon mayonnaise on 2 slices of bread. Pile half the spinach on each slice. Paint the other two slices of bread with the horseradish, evenly. Place half the cheese on the horseradish spread and top the cheese with 2-3 slices tomato. Season tomatoes with garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.  Fold the two dressed slices of bread to...