WATERMELON SALSA
Ingredients
Serves 4 cups (1 L)
1 tbsp (15 ml) lime juice
2 tbsp (30 ml) light coloured honey, such as clover
½ tsp (2 ml) salt
2 cups (500 ml) seeded and chopped watermelon
½ cup (125 ml) English cucumber, seeded and chopped
½ cup (125 ml) red pepper, seeded and chopped
¼ cup (60 ml) finely diced red onion
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
¼ cup (60 ml) cilantro leaves, finely chopped
2 tbsp (30 ml) basil leaves, finely chopped
2 tbsp (30 ml) mint leaves, finely chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together lime juice, honey and salt until salt has dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and toss to combine. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Best enjoyed the same day it is made.
- This salsa is great over grilled chicken, pork, seafood or on a vegetarian quesadilla. It is also delicious on its own simply scooped up with tortilla chips.
Drink Pairings
BLUEBERRY, MANGO AND JICAMA SALSA
Ingredients
Serves 3 cups (750 ml)
1 tbsp (15 ml) Ponzu sauce
1 tbsp (15 ml) light brown sugar
1 tbsp (15 ml) lime juice
1 cup (250 ml) chopped mango
1 cup (250 ml) blueberries, cut in half if large
½ cup (125 ml) diced jicama
1 green onion, white and light green parts sliced into thin rounds
1 serrano or jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 tbsp (30 ml) mint leaves
salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together Ponzu sauce, brown sugar and lime juice, until sugar has dissolved. Add remaining ingredients and toss to combine. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Best enjoyed the same day it is made.
- Try this salsa over grilled chicken, pork, steak or fish.
Drink Pairings
YOGURT TART WITH FRESH CITRUS SALAD
Ingredients
Serves 10
1¼ cups (310 ml) all-purpose flour
½ cup (125 ml) slivered blanched almonds
¾ cup (175 ml) granulated sugar, divided
¼ tsp (1 ml) salt
½ cup (125 ml) cold unsalted butter, cut into large chunks
1½ tsp (7 ml) vanilla extract, divided
6 tbsp + 1 tsp (90 + 5 ml) cold water, divided
½ cup (125 ml) granulated sugar
1 star anise
1 cinnamon stick
2 green cardamom pods, crushed
½ cup (125 ml) orange juice
1 tbsp (15 ml) powdered gelatin
¼ cup (60 ml) light coloured honey, such as wildflower
1½ cups (375 ml) natural Greek yogurt
2 to 3 medium oranges
Instructions
- To make crust: in a food processor, blend flour, almonds, ¼ cup (60 ml) sugar and salt until nuts are finely ground. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pulse in ½ tsp (2 ml) vanilla extract and 1 tbsp + 1 tsp (20 ml) water to form moist clumps. Press evenly into a 9-in (23 cm) tart pan with a removable base. Freeze for 30 minutes.
- While crust is freezing, preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).
- Bake crust until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Press any puffed up sections back into tin. Set aside to cool completely on a wire rack.
- While crust is cooling prepare spiced syrup. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together remaining ½ cup (125 ml) sugar, 5 tbsp (75 ml) water, star anise, cinnamon stick and crushed cardamom pods. Simmer until all the sugar has dissolved. Remove saucepan from heat and cool completely at room temperature.
- Once crust is cooled, prepare filling. In a small saucepan, stir together orange juice and gelatin. Set aside for 5 minutes. Place gelatin mixture over medium heat and stir in honey. Once gelatin is completely dissolved transfer to a bowl and whisk in yogurt and remaining 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract. Pour filling into completely cooled crust and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to overnight.
- With a knife, cut away peel and pith from oranges before cutting into slices. Just before serving, arrange orange slices over set yogurt filling and brush with spiced syrup.
Drink Pairings
ADULT GRAPEFRUIT, BASIL AND VODKA POPSICLES
Ingredients
Serves 10 popsicles
1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar
1 cup (250 ml) water
6 large basil leaves, plus extra
½ vanilla bean, split in half
1½ cups (375 ml) white grapefruit juice
¼ cup (60 ml) vodka (or substitute additional white grapefruit juice)
2 to 3 red grapefruits
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stir together sugar and water. Simmer until all the sugar has dissolved. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in 6 basil leaves and vanilla bean. Set aside until cooled at room temperature.
- While simple syrup is cooling, cut away rind and white membrane from outside of each grapefruit. Working with 1 grapefruit at a time, cut out segments between white pith so that you are left with a grapefruit segment free from any pith. Once both grapefruits have been broken down into segments, cut each segment into 3 or 4 pieces.
- Strain basil-vanilla simple syrup into a pitcher and discard remaining solids. Julienne another 2 or 3 basil leaves, if desired, and stir into syrup along with white grapefruit juice and vodka until well combined.
- Fill popsicle moulds ¾ full with grapefruit juice mixture. Add a couple of grapefruit pieces to each mould, pushing down to submerge them. Freeze popsicles for about 45 minutes before adding popsicle sticks. Freeze until frozen solid, about 6 to 8 hours. Unmould popsicles and enjoy.
Drink Pairings
GRILLED PORK CHOPS WITH BLUEBERRY BARBECUE SAUCE
Ingredients
Serves
4 medium pork chops
¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
1 tbsp (15 ml) brown sugar
2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
2 tbsp (30 ml) grainy mustard
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp (15 ml) white wine vinegar
½ tsp (2 ml) salt
½ tsp (2 ml) pepper
BLUEBERRY BARBECUE SAUCE:
1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 piece fresh ginger, about ½-in (1.25 cm), grated
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups (750 ml) BC blueberries
¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup
4 tbsp (60 ml) apple cider or balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp (30 ml) Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp (30 ml) molasses
1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice
½ tsp (2 ml) ground cinnamon
½ tsp (2 ml) ground cumin
½ tsp (2 ml) chili powder
1 tsp (5 ml) smoked paprika
½ tsp (2 ml) salt
½ tsp (2 ml) pepper
Instructions
- Place pork chops in a glass or ceramic baking dish, set aside.
- Whisk remaining ingredients together, except barbecue sauce, and pour over pork chops. Marinate for 1 to 4 hours.
- Preheat barbecue to medium-high.
- Remove pork chops from marinade and place on a lightly oiled grill. Grill pork chops until nicely browned and the internal temperature reads 145 F (63 C). Remove to a warmed platter and let rest for 5 minutes. Drizzle warmed Blueberry Barbecue Sauce over the chops and serve.
- To make BLUEBERRY BARBECUE SAUCE: In a large skillet, heat olive oil and add onion, ginger and garlic and cook until the onion is softened. Add remaining ingredients and gently combine.
- Simmer over medium heat until sauce is slightly reduced and bubbling. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Purée half of the sauce in a blender until smooth and combine with finished sauce. Store in refrigerator until ready to use, for up to 2 weeks. Warm before serving. Makes 4 cups (1 L).
Drink Pairings
PLUM CLAFOUTIS WITH THYME
Ingredients
Serves 6
1 cup (250 ml) whole milk
3 eggs
½ cup (125 ml) white sugar
2 tbsp (30 ml) butter, melted
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla
½ cup (125 ml) all-purpose flour
2 large plums, pitted and each cut into 8 pieces
1 tsp (5 ml) finely chopped fresh thyme
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 F (170 C).
- In a blender, pulse milk, eggs, sugar, melted butter and vanilla a few times to mix ingredients. Add flour and pulse until well mixed. Don't over blend.
- Pour mixture into a greased 8-in (20 cm) pie pan or a cast iron skillet of the same size. Toss cut plums in thyme and place on top of batter. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until it is puffed up and golden. Serve immediately.
Drink Pairings
GRILLED APRICOTS WITH GOAT’S CHEESE AND HONEY
Ingredients
Serves 4
1 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
8 fresh apricots, halved and pitted
4 oz (125 g) goat’s cheese, preferably soft and creamy variety
2 tbsp (30 ml) honey
sprigs of fresh mint or rosemary, for garnish
fresh greens (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat barbecue to medium and lightly oil grill. Alternatively, heat a lightly oiled cast iron pan on medium-high heat.
- Grill apricots cut sides down until fruit is easily turned. Turn apricots and continue cooking until they are soft. Place on a platter and top each half with goat’s cheese. Drizzle with honey and garnish with mint or rosemary. Serve immediately as a side dish or on fresh greens.
Drink Pairings
OKANAGAN PEACH AND FRASER VALLEY RASPBERRY POUND CAKE
Ingredients
Serves 8
2¼ cups (560 ml) all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
½ tsp (2 ml) salt
1 tbsp (15 ml) baking powder
¾ cup (175 ml) sugar, plus 1 tbsp (15 ml) for sprinkling
¾ cup (175 ml) unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing pan
5 eggs
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
¼ cup (60 ml) BC honey
1 tsp (5 ml) grated lemon zest
2 tbsp (30 ml) milk
4 medium Okanagan peaches, blanched, peeled, each cut into 8 wedges
1 cup (250 ml) BC raspberries
STREUSEL, recipe follows
1 cup (250 ml) all-purpose flour
6 tbsp (90 ml) unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup (60 ml) brown sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 F (170 C). Butter a 9-in (23 cm) square cake pan, dust with flour and set aside.
- Into a medium-sized bowl, sift flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
- In another medium sized bowl, cream sugar and butter with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing and scraping bowl down after each addition. Add vanilla extract, honey and lemon zest.
- Fold in half the dry ingredients, then fold in milk. Fold in remaining dry ingredients.
- Pour batter into cake pan and top with peaches and raspberries, sprinkle with Streusel, recipe below. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until cake tester or skewer comes out clean. Let cool before cutting and serving.
- To make STREUSEL: In a medium bowl, mix all ingredients together with a wooden spoon or fingers until everything is blended. The mixture will be crumbly.
Drink Pairings
WHITE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING WITH CARAMELIZED BANANAS
Ingredients
Serves 20
4 cups (1 L) whole milk
1 cup (250 ml) unsalted butter
1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar
2 tsp (10 ml) vanilla extract
1 tsp (5 ml) freshly grated nutmeg
¼ tsp (1 ml) kosher salt
8 cups (2 L) sourdough bread, cut into ½ -in (1 cm) cubes
6 oz (180 g) white chocolate, roughly chopped
½ cup (125 ml) toasted almond slivers
6 large eggs
2 tbsp (30 ml) dark rum
2 tbsp (30 ml) dark brown sugar
1½ cups (375 ml) whipping cream, chilled
2 tbsp (30 ml) skim milk powder
½ cup (125 ml) turbinado sugar
2 large bananas, halved lengthwise and each half cut into 5 pieces
white chocolate curls, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 F (150 C). Grease a 9 x 13-in (23 cm x 33 cm) baking pan with butter and set aside.
- In a large saucepan, bring milk, butter, sugar, vanilla, nutmeg and salt to a simmer over medium-high heat. Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, stir together bread, chocolate, and almonds, set aside.
- Add eggs to milk mixture, and whisk until smooth. Pour custard over bread mixture and stir until evenly combined. Let sit, allowing bread to soften for 20 minutes. Pour evenly into prepared baking pan. Cover with foil, and bake until set, about 1 hour. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack before slicing into 20 squares. Bread pudding may be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.
- In a small saucepan, stir together rum and brown sugar over medium heat. Once sugar has melted, remove from heat, transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until cold.
- In a chilled bowl, whip cream with skim milk powder to soft peaks. Pour in cooled sugar mixture and whip to stiff peaks. Refrigerate cream until ready to use.
- Place turbinado sugar on a plate and dip the flat, cut side of each banana piece in sugar to cover completely. Place sugar-side up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Broil for about 6 minutes until sugar is melted and caramelized. Set aside for 2 minutes to harden. Place slices of bread pudding into serving containers and garnish 2 bruléed bananas, a dollop of rum cream and a sprinkle of chocolate curls.
Drink Pairings
STRAWBERRY MARGARITA CAKE
Ingredients
Serves 10
CAKE:
1¾ cups (425 ml) cake and pastry flour
1½ tsp (7 ml) baking powder
½ tsp (2 ml) baking soda
½ tsp (2 ml) salt
1 cup (250 ml) granulated sugar
1 lime, zest only, finely grated
¼ cup (60 ml) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs
¼ cup (60 ml) vegetable oil
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
¼ cup (60 ml) milk
⅓ cup (75 ml) freshly squeezed lime juice
2 oz + 1 oz (60 ml + 30 ml) white tequila, divided
1 ½ oz (45 ml) orange-flavoured liqueur, such as Triple Sec or Grand Marnier, divided
⅓ cup (75 ml) seedless strawberry jam
COCONUT WHIPPED TOPPING:
2 x 14 oz (398 ml) cans full-fat coconut milk, chilled in refrigerator overnight
3 tbsp (45 ml) icing sugar
1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
1 lime, thinly sliced into rounds, for garnish
1½ cup (375 ml) fresh strawberries, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Lightly grease a 10-in (25 cm) spring-form pan and set aside.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
- In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix together sugar and lime zest until blended and very fragrant, about 1 minute. Beat in butter until mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then beat in oil and vanilla. Gradually add reserved dry ingredients to wet ingredients and stir together until just incorporated. Gradually incorporate milk into batter before adding lime juice, 2 oz (60 ml) tequila, and 1 oz (30 ml) orange liqueur. Mix until batter is uniform and smooth.
- Transfer batter to prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes.
- While cake is baking, whisk together remaining 1 oz (30 ml) tequila, ½ oz (15 ml) orange liqueur and strawberry jam.
- When cake is done, remove from oven and place on a rack. Using a skewer or fork, pierce several dozen holes into the top of cake. Slowly pour strawberry mixture evenly over top of cake, allowing it to absorb as you go. Cool cake in spring-form pan to room temperature.
- While cake is cooling, make COCONUT WHIPPED TOPPING: Without shaking, take chilled cans of coconut milk and open them carefully. Pour out as much liquid as possible into a small bowl or container, reserving coconut cream. Save coconut liquid for another use. Place thick, white coconut cream into a large bowl and beat for 1 minute using a hand beater, or in bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Add sugar and continue whipping coconut cream on high until it has increased in volume and forms soft peaks, about 5 to 7 minutes. Beat in vanilla and refrigerate Coconut Whipped Topping for 10 minutes before using.
- Once cake is completely cooled, remove from spring-form pan and carefully transfer to a serving platter. Spread top of cake with Coconut Whipped Topping and decorate with lime slices and fresh strawberries. Serve immediately or refrigerate cake up to 6 hours. Then let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.