Oven Roasted Tomato Risotto Recipe

The summer weather in the Bay Area hasn't been so great this year, and on top of that, an infestation of gophers in our garden forced us to grow fewer tomatoes in small planters this year. Not only are there fewer varieties, but because of the lack of heat the plants have not been all that prolific. I gathered a couple of handfuls of the few ripe cherry tomatoes I could find and I was determined to do something special with them.

To start, I slowly roasted them in the oven. I could have stopped there and just served them in a salad, but I opted to make my husband's favorite comfort food: risotto. Risotto is extraordinarily versatile (I've developed multiple variations) and perfect for any occasion. For this version, I used Carnaroli rice, which holds its shape better than Arborio rice. For a bit more texture, I mixed in melon-seed macaroni (similar rice-shaped pasta). The combination has a creamy mouthfeel, so no heavy cream is necessary. I colored the dish with sharp yellow Cheddar cheese and served it to all the vegetarians in the house. I think it ended up being a perfect send off for the fruits of our labor.

Paneer Masala Pizza (Indian Style Pizza Recipe)

I ventured into the world of fusion and decided to break the rules by making pizza with Indian toppings. I prepared a traditional paneer butter masala with a mixture of flavorful, bold spices. I used the spicy sauce as the primary flavor for the pizza. In addition, I sprinkled a little Parmesan cheese to hold everything together and finished it with fresh cilantro.

The trick to coming up with your own fusion dishes is to use one recipe as the “base” and then replace a key ingredient with something from another culture. The sauce and cheese used on pizza are perfect targets and paneer butter masala takes care of both. If you wanted to make it even more Indian, you could replace the pizza crust with a naan. It’s a great way to introduce new foods to kids in a way that’s familiar but fresh.

Grilled Baby Artichoke Recipe

Quick reminder to enter the second California Olive Ranch Giveaway. It takes less than a few seconds and you can win a bottle of EVOO! If you like California Olive Ranch, join their fan page on Facebook to get daily updates, special offers and deals.

I'm always shocked when people say they don't like fresh artichokes. They are so underrated. I think it's because they look difficult to cook. During my childhood in France, I enjoyed a very simple presentation that Maman would often serve us when artichokes were in season. She would boil then grill the artichokes so that the hearts were soft and creamy.

Artichokes prepared this way taste great with some sort of dressing. This particular one is made the way Maman used to, using vinegar, mustard and olive oil. To add a little twist, I "stuffed" a mixture of green olives and parsley into the artichokes. I served the finished artichokes with braised chicken as a side dish. Eating artichokes can be a little messy but the meal tasted heavenly. The dish was very tasty while still being healthy. It doesn't take too long to prepare and you're in for a special treat!

California Olive Ranch Giveaway Entry Form:

And for those of you who can't wait to try California Olive Ranch olive oil, head over to their online store, enter coupon code BLOGFRIENDS, and enjoy a 10% discount (for Pham Fatale readers)!

Pham Fatale Giveaway Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary. All prizes are generously donated by the company featured. Pham Fatale does not accept money or gifts in exchange for these items. The companies featured in Pham Fatale Giveaways did not pay to participate in the Giveaways. Winners will be chosen at random, and odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Pham Fatale is not responsible for late, lost, stolen, illegible or incomplete entries which will be disqualified. Pham Fatale will not give your  information to the prize-giving company for future marketing. US Residents only please. Only one entry per person per giveaway. Prizes are not refundable or returnable. Giveaway terms subject to change

Grilled Eggplant Salad with Lemongrass Vinaigrette + A Giveaway!

Even though eggplants are available all year-round, they reach their peak during the summer. I was at the store today, and the skin looked very shiny and pretty on the Japanese eggplants, so I picked up several. I made Indian eggplant dip, but since I still had a few leftover, I decided to have some fun with them. Since these were Japanese eggplants, I made an Asian salad flavored with lemongrass and Thai basil.

First, I salted the eggplants to extract moisture from the vegetables and reduce their bitterness. A quick trip to the grill, and the eggplants were ready to eat. To give the salad dressing an Asian twist, I used lemongrass, sugar cane vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and wasabi for a little heat. I added some crunch to the salad with crushed peanuts. How easy it that?

The first California Olive Ranch Giveaway has already ended and I will announce the winner later on today. Now you can participate in the second giveaway, ending Thursday, September 1^st. It takes a few seconds and you could win a bottle of delicious EVOO! If you like California Olive Ranch, join their fan page on Facebook to get daily updates, special offers and deals.

California Olive Ranch Giveaway Entry Form:

And for those of you who can't wait to try California Olive Ranch olive oil, head over to their online store, enter coupon code BLOGFRIENDS, and enjoy a 10% discount (for Pham Fatale readers)!

Pham Fatale Giveaway Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary. All prizes are generously donated by the company featured. Pham Fatale does not accept money or gifts in exchange for these items. The companies featured in Pham Fatale Giveaways did not pay to participate in the Giveaways. Winners will be chosen at random, and odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Pham Fatale is not responsible for late, lost, stolen, illegible or incomplete entries which will be disqualified. Pham Fatale will not give your  information to the prize-giving company for future marketing. US Residents only please. Only one entry per person per giveaway. Prizes are not refundable or returnable. Giveaway terms subject to change.

Cold Asparagus Soup with Grilled Watermelon

Quick reminder to enter the California Olive Ranch Giveaway. It takes less than a few seconds and you can win a bottle of EVOO! If you like California Olive Ranch, join their fan page on Facebook to get daily updates, special offers and deals.

I live for asparagus. I’ve grilled it, made risottos, meat dishes and more in the past. I’ve made soups before as well, but given that it’s still summer, I figured a cold asparagus soup would fit the bill.

I chose to cook with baby green asparagus spears because they're ultra tender and the color looks attractive. I kept the tips for a simple side dish of pan-fried fish fillets in butter and capers. The asparagus were grilled with olive oil so they were fragrant, then softened in vegetable broth until tender. I finished the soup by blending the asparagus with a little crème fraîche. The cold summer soup is refreshing, tasty, simple, yet very festive.

For a complete vegetarian presentation, I paired the soup with white balsamic grilled watermelon, which is in season. You could also add quail egg Niçoise salad or crab salad.

California Olive Ranch Giveaway Entry Form:

And for those of you who can't wait to try California Olive Ranch olive oil, head over to their online store, enter coupon code BLOGFRIENDS, and enjoy a 10% discount (for Pham Fatale readers)!

Pham Fatale Giveaway Terms and Conditions: No purchase necessary. All prizes are generously donated by the company featured. Pham Fatale does not accept money or gifts in exchange for these items. The companies featured in Pham Fatale Giveaways did not pay to participate in the Giveaways. Winners will be chosen at random, and odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Pham Fatale is not responsible for late, lost, stolen, illegible or incomplete entries which will be disqualified. Pham Fatale will not give your  information to the prize-giving company for future marketing. US Residents only please. Only one entry per person per giveaway. Prizes are not refundable or returnable. Giveaway terms subject to change.