bonjourhan

Well, it’s been about six months….. I’ve missed you, blog. I’ve gained a strange obsession with food blogs, and I decided this one should have elements of that as well. So here we are.

Fresh summer produce

As I’ve mentioned, I love to experiment in the kitchen! Stephen had separate dinner plans tonight, so I was left all by my lonesome — which, for me, means that I can try all the extra-weird kitchen experiments that I want to test before I serve to Stephen. Which means it must be REALLY weird, because I’m not shy about my random creations. I am a really big proponent of using what you have, even if it seems like it won’t go together.

Fortunately, this one turned out to be a winner, and I even saved some for Stephen! Unfortunately, it also means I had to come up with a name and measurements for it.

Ingredients

• 1 large ripe peach
• 1 ripe Roma tomato
• 1 clementine (sometimes called “cuties,” they look like tiny oranges)
• 2 green onions
• 1-2 Tbs raisins
• 1-2 Tbs chopped pecans
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp smoky chipotle powder
• 1 Tbs jalapeño jelly (I’m sure you have this on hand, right..? If not, you can substitute some fresh jalapeños or 1 Tablespoon of chunky salsa)

Directions

1. Chop the peach and tomato into small chunks (about 1/4″-1/2″). Slice the green onion into tiny slices. Place it all into a bowl.
2. Peel and separate the clementine, and cut each wedge into three pieces. If you’re feeling adventurous, cut the clementine wedges over the bowl so the juice drips on the mixture.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and stir gently once or twice, just enough to mix.
4. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes so the flavors can blend.

It was great on a salad with Romaine lettuce, sprouts and some mozzarella cheese. I didn’t use a sauce, but you might want to add a sprinkle of some vinaigrette if you like your lettuce wet. Don’t douse the flavor, though!

Experiment

As always… experiment! The ingredients I used for this “recipe” were pretty random, and you may not have that exact combination in your refrigerator. Try different fruits. Try different nuts. Try different seasonings. Plums, almonds and chili powder might be a whole new taste sensation!