An Explosive Side Dish

Corn on the cob always heralds summer for me, but after eating it five nights in a row the thrill wears off. That’s when my mind turns to Fresh Corn Fritters.  Nothing could be easier to make, especially if you have a few ears of already cooked corn sitting in the fridge.

Mom Money-Saving Tip 104

Grocery stores often have an out-of-the-way corner full of net bags containing fruit or vegetables a little past their prime.  My local supermarket likes to sell its excess apples or oranges this way for 99 cents per bag.  The other day I found a 2-pound bag of fresh okra as well as a 2-pound bag of fresh yellow squash, each at 99 cents.  There were a few blemishes, but I overlooked them.

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Salad vs. Vegetable: Can One Dish Serve Two Purposes?

Yes, one dish can serve two purposes—if you choose the right vegetable.  In this case, Dorothy, our hostess, picked fresh green beans.  I know many ways to cook fresh green beans, but making them the basis of a salad never occurred to me.

Dorothy combined the cold cooked beans with halved cherry tomatoes, tossed in a handful of chopped up feta cheese and topped it all with vinaigrette dressing.  What could be easier – or more colorful?  Dorothy is a fashion designer and knows how to dress a table.

Green Bean Salad – serves 4-6 

1/2 pound (8 oz.) fresh green beans, stem end trimmed
2 cups cherry tomatoes, washed and cut in half
1/2 cup minced feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Vinaigrette dressing 

Half-fill a medium pot with water and bring to a boil over high heat. And the green beans and cook, covered, for 5-to-6 minutes, or until they can be easily pierced with a sharp knife.  Remove the beans from the heat, drain into a colander and pour cold water over them.  When the beans are cool, cut them into 2-inch pieces. 

Combine the beans and cherry tomato halves in a serving bowl.  Add the feta cheese, salt and black pepper and toss to combine.  Add some dressing and toss again.  Serve when needed.

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Mom Cooking Tip 163

To thicken tomato sauce made from fresh tomatoes, stir in 1 tablespoon tomato paste near the end of cooking.  It will give the sauce more body and extra flavor.

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Why Are They Called Lava Cookies?

How do certain foods get their names?  Consider Toad in the Hole, a British concoction featuring sausages baked in a flour-egg batter that puffs up in the oven.  Could it be named after the character Toad in “Toad of Toad Hall,” a play written by A.A. Milne of “Winnie the Pooh” fame?

Question for Mom

Are fresh ginger and ground ginger interchangeable? – Stephanie A.

I used to think they were, but after doing some research I discovered that the answer is NO.  Ground ginger is the spice of choice for baking.  I’ve often used it in stir-fries, soups and casseroles, and it provided a good flavor. So I seldom go to the trouble of peeling and dicing fresh ginger.

I did wonder why fresh ginger didn’t seem to add much flavor, but

Chewing Through Memory Lane

Chopped  Vegetable and Barley Salad

For most of my adult life, I have maintained a notebook of recipes I like.  Every once in a while, when temporary amnesia sets in, I flip through it for ideas.