Summer Coolers 

Is it hot yet? Here's two fresh, bright summer salads that are super easy and add a little zing to your favorite grilled dishes. Wash it down with fresh lemonade spiced with herbs from you garden.

Zucchini ribbons   by flickr user foodfanatic

Fresh Zucchini Salad

Recipe by Corinne Trang, The Asian Grill, 2006  

Serves 6 to 8

• ¼ cup mirin
• ¼ cup thin soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 4 small to medium firm zucchini, sliced into paper-thin rounds
• 2 scallions, trimmed and cut into thin diagonal slices (white and green parts)
• Red pepper flakes to taste (optional)

1.  In a salad bowl, whisk together the mirin, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and black pepper. Toss the zucchini and half of the scallions with the dressing and let stand for 30 minutes. Drain.
2. Transfer to a serving bowl, and garnish with the remaining scallions and red pepper flakes, if using.   

 Namasu (pickled daikon radish and carrot) 

Makes 4 servings

Namasu   by flickr user kenschwarz

• 1 pound daikon radish
• ¼ pound carrot   
• ¾ cup dashi soup stock 
• ⅓ cup vinegar
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoons sake 

1. Peel and cut carrot and daikon radish into thin strips. Put a pinch of salt over the carrot and daikon and leave for 20 minutes.
2. Rinse them and squeeze to remove excess water. Put daikon and carrot strips in a large bowl.
3. Put dashi, vinegar, sugar, and sake in a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Pour the vinegar mixture over carrot and daikon strips and mix well. Let sit for several hours or overnight before serving.      

Mint Lemonade   via flickr user johnnyrokkit

An herbal "twist" to brighten-up your lemonade!

Pineapple-mint lemonade

Rosemary lemonade

Berry-lavender lemonade

Make a simple syrup by bringing 1 cup of sugar & 1 cup of water to boil & allow to cook-down for 5-10minutes on medium heat.  

Add your chosen herb (approximately 1 tablespoon or 3-4 springs). Remove from heat & steep for 20 minutes. Strain & chill in fridge.   

Add syrup to fresh or frozen unsweetened lemon juice. Garnish with a few berries and/or with a sprig of your infused herb!

Community Calendar

Image via flickr user littleredelf

Picnic in the Park at the Columbia City Farmers Market 

Time: Wednesday, July 20th ~ 3 - 6pm
Location: Colombia City Farmers Market: 37th Ave S & S Edmunds St, South Seattle.

Celebrate and savor our local summer's sweet bounty: strawberries, raspberries, cherries, peaches, nectarines and more from farms in Eastern and Western Washington.

At 4:00 stop by our chef demo to learn about fruit, cheese, and wine pairings - perfect for summer picnics, or any summer meal (it's an easy way to wow your guests!). Catherine Reynolds of Queso y Vino will show you how.

PLUS: FREE ½ pints of Hayton Farms  strawberries to the first 200 shoppers at the market today! Demo starts at 4pm with plenty of recipes and tips on using local fruits for sweet and savory dishes and treats perfect for a summer picnic.

Kids can Cook at Lake City Farmers Market

Image via Flickr user CascadianFarm

Time: Thursday, July 28th ~ 3 - 6pm
Location: Lake City Farmers Market: NE 125th & 28th NE, next to the Library off Lake City Way

Kids and Food: ideas, activities, cooking demos and fun stuff for parents and children today at the Lake City Farmers Market! 

Greg Johnson of Chef and Father will be on hand today in the chef tent. First demo at 3pm will feature healthy, easy ideas for baby food - using what's fresh and abundant at the farmers market. Second demo will feature great recipes that kids can make at home. 

Games and activities for kids all day long at the farmers market - the best place to learn about where your food comes from!

 

Kirkland Uncorked - Art, Food, & Wine on the Waterfront 

Time:

Fri-Sat-Sun, July 15th, 16th, and 17th

Location: Downtown Kirkland's Marina Park at 25 Lakeshore Plaza.

Kirkland Uncorked is a regional showcase of art, food and wine on the picturesque shores of Lake Washington.  

Don't miss this year's Tasting Garden which features wine tasting, Pyramid Breweries beer by the glass, and enticing bite-sized feasts from Kirkland and Northwest restaurants. Three chefs will face off in the highly anticipated grill-off Saturday at 5:00pm. This is your chance to see three masters grill up a storm:  

• Jacob Nyman, Executive Chef, Coho Cafe - Redmond  
• Pat Donahue, Executive Chef, Anthony's Homeport
• Wiley Frank, Sous Chef, Lark

Then Walk the Promendae and be immersed in with art from local, regional and nationally recognized artists in all mediums. Stop by the Arts for All exhibit and experience clay throwing demonstrations, drawing activities for the public and kids' art activities. Plus there will be festival food booths, CityDog Magazine's Cover Dog Model Contest and the boat showcase.