Puntarella and Tomato Salad

This late season mild weather has been great for hiking, stacking wood, outdoor dinners, and vegetables which were on full display at the Farmer’s market this past weekend. Mid-October and I had some of the best cherry tomatoes of the season, crazy! And it’s not over yet.

Puntarella is a pleasantly bitter green related to chicory, similar in taste to mustard greens. In Rome it’s traditional to only use the white stalks with an anchovy, garlic, and red wine vinegar dressing, but this isn’t Rome and I was in a hurry to get dinner on the table. Chop the puntarella and let it soak in some ice water for five minutes, then drain and dry thoroughly. Combine in a bowl with some tomatoes and toss with your best extra virgin olive oil, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste.

Asian Chicken Wings

It’s the fresh ginger and garlic that make these chicken wings so good, and no frying necessary. In a large bowl combine a one inch piece of minced ginger and two garlic cloves along with an 1/8 of a cup each of rice wine vinegar and soy sauce, a tablespoon of vegetable oil, a small splash of sesame oil, a generous tablespoon of chili garlic sauce, a teaspoon of sugar, and some freshly ground black pepper.

Salt a 1 ½ pound pack of wings and either cook on a cookie sheet in a 450 oven for 25 minutes, in a cast iron pan over high heat, or on the barbeque. When the wings are crispy and cooked through simply toss with the marinade and serve making sure to include the bits of ginger and garlic from the bottom of the bowl.

Tomato Tart

I’m not a baker, but thanks to locally based, Kiss Tart, I don’t have to be. Their uber flakey and buttery ready-made dough made this late season tomato tart a memorable dinner…and breakfast and lunch the next day too.  

Thinly slice a couple of large onions and cook in a sauté pan over medium heat with three tablespoons of butter, a teaspoon of sugar, and a bit of salt and black pepper. Stir occasionally until golden brown. In the meantime, roll the thawed dough out into a thin crust and form into a half sheet pan or medium sized baking dish. Preheat your oven to 450.

Cover the bottom of the dough evenly with a cup of shredded fontina or Monterey Jack and a quarter cup of Parmesan cheese followed by the caramelized onions and a layer of small round, or sliced tomatoes. Brush the edges of the crust with an egg and milk mixture then bake for twenty minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Finish by topping it with a handful of chopped basil and a sprinkle of salt.