Sautéed Ramp, Melted Mozzarella and Peach Habanero Preserve Crostini

I had initially planned on sharing a non-food related post with you all today.  However, the featured ingredient in this recipe is only in season for a few weeks out of the year, so I wanted to make sure I left you all with some time to hunt down ramps for this recipe before the ramp season officially comes to a close. 

So what the heck is a ramp anyway?  This is actually a piece of produce that I had only been introduced to a few weeks ago.  I had a colleague at work ask me if I had ever tried a ramp before.  Ramp?  Like a railing?  No no no, a ramp is a member of the onion family (think scallion meets chive and then hugs a leek).  Essentially, it's a much milder onion and for some reason, they only have an in-season period of 2-3 weeks.  

Today's recipe makes for a fabulous cocktail party nibble and/or served as a casual appetizer for outdoor entertaining.  The sweetness of the peach and habanero preserve balance out the savory found in the mozzarella and ramps perfectly.  There are a few components to this recipe, but I promise that it is all super easy to make and you will LOVE the end product.

Ingredients

• 7 Fresh Ramps plus leaves (finely chopped)
• 1 Thin Baguette (ex. Ficelle)
• Olive Oil
• Kosher Salt
• Eat This Peach Habanero Preserves
• 8oz Container of Fresh Mozzarella Medallions

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Slice baguette on a diagonal and place pieces on a cookie sheet
3. Bake in the oven for about 5 minutes on each side until slightly toasted
4. Meanwhile, heat 2 Tbs olive oil in a skillet over medium heat
5. When the oil is hot, add chopped ramps and about a half of a teaspoon of kosher salt
6. Sautee ramps until they start to turn a crisp golden brown color (about 2-3 minutes), then remove from heat and set aside
7. Once sliced baguette pieces (aka crostini) are toasted remove from oven, allow to cool for about a minute or two, then apply a thin layer of Eat This Peach Habanero Preserves to each crostini
8. Place crostini on cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil and set aside
9. Remove mozzarella medallions from water and press between paper towels to remove as much excess moisture as possible
10. Then place a medallion on top of each crostini and bake in the oven for about 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted
11. Remove the crostini from the oven and top each with about a teaspoon of the sauteed ramps
12. Serve and enjoy!

Chocolate Coconut Waffled Ice Cream Sandwiches

I have been itching to test out an unusual idea that came to me a while back and this past Sunday (thanks to National Chocolate Chip Day) I finally had my golden opportunity.  Everyone talks about all of the crazy things you can cook in a waffle iron (ex. cinnamon rolls, french toast, grilled cheese, etc...) so my thought was, why not cookie dough?!  It seemed like a concept that would definitely work, and who doesn't love a crispy chocolate chip cookie every once in a while?

After a few rounds of trial and error, I finally figured out how to successfully waffle chocolate chip cookie dough (which of course had me jumping for joy!).  To take these delicious cookies to the next level, I decided to sandwich them with a scoop of my new favorite coconut sorbet and then finish them with a little toasted coconut.   The result?  A dangerously delicious and highly addictive dessert that I can't seem to get enough of!  These ice cream sandwiches are not only great to make for an impromptu single serving sweet treat, they also make for a fabulous summer party dessert idea.  You can customize the flavor pairings to fit your palette and who doesn't love a cool treat on a hot summer day? 

Below are the details for making these most delicious ice cream sandwiches. 

Ingredients

• 1 Bag Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• Recipe for Nestle Toll House Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Coconut Gelato or Sorbet (*I recommend Sharon's Coconut Sorbet)
• Unsweetened Large Flaked Coconut (Toasted)
• Pam Non-Stick Cooking Spray (or similar)

Instructions

1. Make cookie dough according to the Nestle Toll House recipe
2. Heat Waffle Iron (*note- if you have temperature settings on your waffle iron, set it to Medium-Low)
3. When the waffle iron is ready, give each quadrant a quick mist of non-stick cooking spray on both the top and bottom plates
4. Apply a small scoop of cookie dough to each quadrant (I like to use this cookie scoop) and then close the iron so that the cookies can bake.
5. When the cookies are done, carefully remove each cookie from the waffle iron (*I use a small fork, but am extra careful to not scratch the waffle iron surface) and transfer to a cooling rack
6. Once cookies are cooled completely, add a scoop of coconut sorbet or gelato and sandwich between a second waffled cookie.
7. Press the toasted coconut flakes into the exposed sorbet/gelato and then return sandwich to the freezer until you are ready to serve them. 

Simple Tips for Improving Your Kitchen Space

Between all of the entertaining and cooking that I do on a weekly basis, I have developed a few tips over the years that have really helped to maximize both the practicality and functionality of my kitchen.  These are really easy tips/adjustments that can be made in a matter of minutes and will not only increase the organization level in your kitchen, but also enhance your kitchen's overall convenience factor.   Whether you have a big dreamy kitchen or a cubby kitchen (like yours truly) today's post will help you achieve some serious "Kitchen Zen!"

Trash Bags in the Bottom of Trash Can

This is a tip that I learned from my mom and have implemented throughout my home because it is so genius!  Keep a stack of fresh trash bags at the bottom of your garbage can.  By doing this, you will be able to quickly and easily line your garbage can with a fresh bag when it's time to take out the trash.   Storing your extra bags in the bottom of your garbage pail will not only alleviate storage space in your utility closet but it will also save you from having to fumble around for a fresh bag every time your trash can needs freshening.   

Pen and Post-its in Kitchen 

Pen and post-its are a party prep must have!  The day before hosting a party I usually like to get as much of the food prep done as possible.  For example, assembling a hot dip so that I am only left with minimal cooking/heating right before the party.  I love using post-it notes to label the bake time and temperature on those party foods I have made ahead of time.  By using post-it notes I can avoid having a million cookbooks out and clear countertops for plating/serving.  Post-it notes are also great to use for assigning foods to serving dishes when prepping for a party, grocery shopping reminders and notes to your significant other and/or kids.  An all around fab kitchen addition that I have found to be supremely helpful.  

Labels

When most people think of using labels in their kitchen, it's typically to  list the contents of a container.  While that is certainly a great use for labels in the kitchen, I have found using these mini dot labels to be extremely helpful for keeping track of food expiration dates.  I cannot even begin to tell you how I have struggled over the years with those perishable items that read "use within x days of opening."  Who can remember all of those dates!?!  Use these labels to mark your perishables with the date opened so you will never lose track again!  In addition, I have also found these labels to be extremely helpful with tracking the age of my spices (because the expiration date isn't necessarily an accurate indication that the spices are at the end of their shelf life--- see this article).

Keeping Lighters in every room with candles or votives

Lighting a kitchen candle, birthday candles, tapers on my dining room table, etc... I have found it to be so convenient having a lighter stored in my kitchen drawer.  Not necessarily one of those tools you would naturally think to include in your kitchen drawer, but one that I would definitely recommend adding.  

Watermelon Mimosa Recipe

I have a fellow foodie friend at work, who I absolutely adore "talking shop" with and sharing recipe ideas.  We tell each other about different restaurants, cocktails and recipes we try, as well as share tips on cooking, baking, etc.  It really is so much fun having someone in the office who shares the same interest and I can learn from while taking that much needed mental break from staring at my computer for hours on end!

Last week during one of our chats, she mentioned this most delicious mimosa she had enjoyed at this fabulous farm to table restaurant in Baltimore, Woodberry Kitchen.  Totally intrigued by the idea of making a watermelon mimosa, I decided to give it try over the weekend.  Let me just say, it is an absolutely delicious cocktail idea! Naturally I felt compelled to share it with you all today.  I know I have posted quite a few cocktail recipes lately and I promise that I will ease up on my cocktail posts for a while, but this mimosa recipe just had to be shared.   Worthy of any brunch or summer picnic, watermelon mimosas are beyond fab!

Ingredients

• 1 Seedless Sugar Watermelon (i.e. a small watermelon)
• 1 Bottle Sparkling Wine, Prosecco or Champagne (*I suggest using Chandon)
• 1 Large Lime (cut into wedges)
• 1-2 Key Limes (for garnish)
• Fresh Mint Leaves

Instructions

1. Cut up a seedless watermelon into 1 inch cubes (*Be sure to remove any remaining seeds from watermelon meat)
2. Place watermelon in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth
3. Fit a large sieve over a wide-mouthed bowl or pitcher (*I tried using a smaller sieve that fit straight on top of the pitcher and it took forever to strain, so I highly recommend straining the watermelon contents in a large sieve over a large bowl for efficiency)
4. Pour blended watermelon contents into the sieve and allow liquid to drip through strainer for at least 20 minutes
5. Add the juice of a fresh lime wedge and about a teaspoon of freshly muddled/chopped mint leaves
6. Then fill the flute 1/3-1/2 with the watermelon juice
7. Fill the remainder of the glass with either a prosecco, sparkling wine or champagne
8. Garnish with a slice of fresh key lime and serve

Host a Chic Pizza Party

This past weekend I hosted a casual-chic pizza party for a small group at our home.  We had a great time catching up with our friends while enjoying delicious wine, homemade pizza and of course cheering on our beloved Washington Capitals! 

I loved that this small party gave me the opportunity to play hostess and (of course more importantly) the perfect excuse to tablescape!  In order to achieve a balance of casual and chic, I my table setting needed to be a mix of formal and informal.  A centerpiece filled with sunflowers paired with my new favorite navy and white Williams-Sonoma napkins provided the casual spring elements that helped to balance out the more formal crystal and gold elements.  Below I have shared a breakdown of both the table and menu details to show you how I achieved a party that was the perfect balance of both casual and elegant. 

Table Details 

• DIY Herb Bouquet Place Cards
• Pier 1 Dark Brown Rattan Placemats
• Reed & Barton Soho Crystal Highball Glasses
• World Market White Wine Glasses
• Williams-Sonoma Buffalo Plaid Napkins
• Pillivuyt Basketweave Dinner Plates
• Chilewich Dahlia Coasters
• CB2 Bronn Taper Candle Holders
• Centerpiece Flowers: Sunflowers (Trader Joe's)

The Menu

• Hors D'oeuvres: Sprouted Kitchen's Curry Roasted Almonds
• Entree: DIY Homemade Pizza
• Salad: Kale Salad with Avocado Dressing, Roasted Almonds and a slice of Clothbound Aged Cheddar
• Dessert: Blueberry-Lemon Whoopie Pies 
• Wine: Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc (Pictured) and Napa Cellars Zinfandel

Every aspect of the party was super easy to create/execute, especially since I had taken the time to have everything done ahead of time (everything cooked/made/set with the exception of assembling and baking the pizzas).  Being super organized is really the key to hosting a successful gathering.  Regardless of size, if you are collected, organized and adequately prepped for your party, hosting will be an absolute breeze!