Easy Summer Desserts: Chocolate S'mores Pie and Seasonal Fruit Crostata

Chocolate S'mores Pie

3 packages organic cinnamon graham crackers

2-3 tbs. butter or Earth Balance, melted

Pinch of salt 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in food processor, adding melted butter slowly, until mixture is slightly moist and starts to come together. Press into a 9-10inch pie pan. Bake for about 7 minutes.

12 oz. of 60% dark, semisweet, or milk chocolate chips (or 6 oz. of dark and 6 oz. of milk chocolate)

1/2 cup half and half, heavy cream, or soy creamer

10-12 marshmallows (enough to cover the top of the pie)

Heat the half and half/cream/soy creamer in the microwave until it comes to a simmer. Pour over the chocolate chips, stirring constantly until it is melted and creamy. Pour chocolate mixture over the crust and cook in refrigerator for about an hour until the chocolate becomes solid. Top with marshmallows. Put the pie in the oven on high broil for 30-60 seconds just until the marshmallows get toasted and golden.

Blueberry Plum and Nectarine Crostata

I'm no pastry chef, but this rustic-looking tart is simple and doesn't have to look perfect to taste great. You can use different fruit toppings depending on the season - this one is great for mid-summer.

The pastry dough recipe makes 2 tarts, so you can freeze half if you only want to make one at a time.

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 sticks of cold butter, cut into small cubes

1/4 cup ice cold water

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

Place flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and pulse 3-4 times to combine. Add the butter and press it into the flour mixture with your fingers. Pulse 10-15 times until butter is in pea-sized crumbled. With the processor running, slowly add the cold water. Stop the motor and pulse dough until it just starts to come together and form a ball. Turn the dough out onto a floured cutting board and bring together with your hands. Cut the dough in half to form two equal disks. Place the dough you are using in the refrigerator for at last an hour to let the it come together before assembling the crostata. 

Filling:

1.5 cups blueberries

2 nectarines, sliced

1-2 plums, sliced

1 tsp. lemon zest

1/2 lemon, juiced

2-3 tbs. sugar

2 tbs. flour

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and set aside

Crumb topping:

1/4 cup flour (or half oats and half flour)

1/4 cup sugar

3-4 tbs. butter, melted

1 tsp cinnamon

1/8th tsp. fresh ground nutmeg

1/8th tsp. salt or to taste

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Slowly add melted butter and stir with a spoon or fork until mixture becomes crumbly. This can be done up to a couple days ahead.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Take the dough you're using out of the fridge and let it come to just about room temperature. Roll out on a floured board into a 10-12 inch circle. Place on a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Place fruit mixture on top of the dough and sprinkle on crumb topping evenly. Bake 20-25 minutes.

Meatless Monday: Chilled Green Gazpacho, Grilled Soy Sausage with Grilled Teriyaki Vegetables and Pineapple

Happy Fourth of July! It's a great day for grilling and getting together outdoors, so here's a couple recipes to please any vegetarians at your holiday BBQ.

Chilled Green Gazpacho with Chipotle Crema

2 cups seedless cucumber, chopped

2 cups water or vegetable stock (more if you like it thinner)

2-3 tomatillos, chopped (roasted tomatillos kick up the flavor even more)

1/2 cup sweet Vidalia onion, chopped

1 ripe avocado

1 lime, juiced

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1 clove garlic

1 tsp. salt or to taste

1/2 tsp. chopped jalapeno

Sprinkle of fresh ground pepper

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until desired thinness. Adjust seasonings to taste.

Chipotle Crema

Mix 1/2 cup Mexican crema or creme fresh with a few drops of chipotle chili sauce and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Grilled Soy Sausage with Grilled Teriyaki Vegetables and Pineapple

1 package of your favorite soy sausage

Assorted vegetables: red pepper, yellow pepper, orange pepper, sweet onion, Japanese eggplant, zucchini, squash

2 cups fresh pineapple, cut into chunks

1/2 cup store bought or homemade teriyaki sauce (I reccomend Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki)

1/4 cup pineapple juice

1 tsp. sesame oil

1 tbs. canola oil

Sprinkle of salt

Whisk together teriyaki, pineapple, sesame oil, canola oil, and salt.

Marinate sausage in a small bit of the sauce for 20 minutes to 1 hr, then grill sausage outdoors or indoors in a grill pan. Grill the vegetables and the pineapple and drizzle sauce on top, making sure to adequately cover everything. Place grilled sausages on top for a nice presentation.

Fresh Berry and Meringue Trifle

3 meringues per serving (I bought mine at Whole Foods, but I know they have these at Trader Joe's too. Meringues come in a few shapes, I bought the "nests" because they fit nicely in a wine glass)

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced

1 cup fresh raspberries

2 tbs. agave syrup or sugar

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Approx 1 cup whipped cream

Combine berries with sweetener and lemon. Place one meringue on the bottom of a wine glass. Top with a dollop of whipped cream and a layer of fresh berries. Repeat until you've used 3 meringues per glass.