What
do you like to eat? Are you a traditionalist? For example, my sisters and mom
like traditional Jamaican food. I like to eat Jamaican food styled everything.
Well, not everything, but if I make it, it will most times be interesting and
delicious. Of course my family would not eat duck. Although I saw duck being
eaten in Jamaica which maybe came through the Chinese influence. Greens are the
staple ingredients and thyme is the signature herb in most Jamaican dishes.
Port is a British influence, which is used mostly in sweet dishes and
blueberries substitute for many exotic Jamaican fruits.
Last
night I had a friend, my daughter and her guy over for dinner. The menu started
with seared duck breast with blueberry and port sauce. I accompanied the duck
breast with sautéed Swiss chard stems in wild rice and butter braised Swiss
chard. The starter to an absolutely amazing main course was roasted cherry
tomatoes, baby Bocconccini and olives salad dressed in aged balsamic vinegar
and olive oil on a mixed baby greens salad. Farmers market has just opened so
the micro greens are in season.
The
end was a failed creme brule, which I turned into a sauce for fresh mixed
fruit. Mango, raspberries and nectarines helped to save my dessert.
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Photo by Sean Weiderick |
The salad
was amazing! Here
is the recipe. Try adding other things like roasted shrimp. That would certainly create a
complete meal. By the way the recipes serve two. You can double the amounts
incrementally to serve more.
The
tomato salad is an adaptation from the Barefoot Contessa’s Back To Basics cookbook.
Roasted
Tomatoes, Baby Bocconccini and Olive Salad.
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Photo by Craig Storey |
8
cherry tomatoes halved - seeds removed.
2
Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4
Cup extra virgin olive oil
3
Cloves garlic - finely grated
1
Teaspoon sugar
1
Good pinch of salt
1
Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
1
Sprig of thyme.
1
Pinch lemon zest
8
Baby Bocconccini cheeses - halved
3/4
cups your favorite olives. Halved
6
basil leaves rolled and shred thinly
2
handfuls of micro salad greens washed and dried.
Preheat
the oven to 250*. In a bowl, put the grated garlic, sugar, salt, thyme, pepper
and vinegar, whisk together. Create an emulsion by adding the olive oil. Add
the halved tomatoes to the dressing, mix together then place on to a parchment
paper lined cookie sheet. Bake for about two hours. Remove and let the tomatoes
stand until warm. In a salad bowl, place the olives and bocconccini, add the
tomatoes and toss. Add the basil.
Arrange
the micro greens then the tomato salad, making sure that each plate has a good
amount of olives, tomatoes and cheese. Serve immediately. This recipe is great
for lunch or a starter. Serve with a light new world Chardonnay or rich
Chablis.
Later if
you have leftovers why not turn it into a sandwich?