Kalamata Olive Bread with Gorg & Walnuts

Kalamata Olive Bread with Gorg & Walnuts

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Sabzi



Sabzi

In Persian cuisine, meals are often served with a plate of fresh herbs, first as an appetizer and then to enjoy throughout the meal. This would be perfect served alongside shish-ka-bobs or other grilled meats or fish. It would compliment any spicy or heavier main courses and would be fabulous with rice dishes too. Adding fresh herbs to your table will give you and your guests the wonderful option of adding vibrant, green freshness to the meal. A bit of basil, cilantro or fresh parsley can really wake up some grilled chicken or beef.
 Grill a few flatbreads like naan or pita and make a simple cucumber and mint yogurt sauce. Pile your grilled food onto the bread, add fresh herbs, onions and more, top with the yogurt sauce and enjoy!

 I love to serve fresh, uncooked vegetables with all meals if and when possible for a healthy balance. This is a beautiful way to showcase seasonal herbs especially when there’s so much goodness coming from the ground! All of the herbs shown here are homegrown. The Sabzi platter, pictured above, features basil, Greek oregano, mint, Italian parsley and French tarragon. Sliced and whole fresh radishes, whole walnuts, chunks of feta cheese, homegrown hot peppers, red onion and a few lime wedges round out the selection. Do your own thing. Add what you like and be creative.  Assembling a platter like this takes no time at all and adds crisp, clean, raw freshness to your passionate table. 

Nooshe Jan,

Katie

Monday, August 19, 2013

"Pinkled" Onions

I know "pinkled" is not a word. But these stunningly bright, magenta pink onions, are in fact, pickled with fresh lime juice and they are, in fact, PINK! So, this photo was taken on a recent Thursday afternoon during an unwind following a "Mexicali Feast" lunch preparation. As we sat down to sample some Mexican style shredded chicken, some chunky guacamole and a few chips, I was thrilled and fixated on the beauty of these gorgeous, pickled onions.

Here's an easy share. If you want to impress your friends and family with these beautiful "pinkled" onions, do this:

Super Easy, Fresh & Fast
"Pinkled" Onions

1 red onion, peeled, trimmed & sliced
 into very thin slices
Boiling water
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt

Toss the sliced onions into a non-reactive bowl. Pour boiling water over the onions. Count to 10. Really! Drain in a colander and shake off excess water. Toss drained onion slices back into the same bowl. Add lime juice. Add salt. Toss to combine. Cover and place in fridge for about an hour. These will keep for at least a week in the fridge if stored in an airtight container. This easy gem of a recipe is adapted from Mexican food aficionado & chef rock star, Rick Bayless.

If you're doing an ordinary and simple "taco night" or you're grilling marinated skirt steaks or chicken, these onions would be a beautiful and naturally amazing side to add to your menagerie of toppings. Your friends will think you're the coolest and you can explain that you're into naturally pink food, brilliant color, mouthwatering flavor  . . .  and coolness, of course.

; ) Pink Wink & Love,

Katie

P.S. Here's my complete menu from that afternoon's "Mexicali Feast" lunch:


Mexican Style Chicken
Slowly simmered chicken seasoned with the Mexican flavors of freshly ground
 cumin and coriander plus tomatoes, Jalapeno and Serrano peppers;
 served with warm tortillas & lots more!
Mexican Style Rice
White rice prepared with annatto, tomatoes and spices
Rojas con Crema
Roasted Poblano chiles, cut into strips and simmered with Vidalia onions
 in Mexican crema (sour cream) with a bit of goat cheese
Mayacoba Beans
Tender, little Canary beans to pile onto your tortillas
Homemade Guacamole & Tortilla Chips
Homemade KPK guacamole made with perfect avocados, finely diced Vidalia onion,
 tomato, Serrano peppers, fresh cilantro and freshly squeezed lime juice
Fresh Vegetable Complements
Red onions pickled in fresh lime, pickled red jalapenos, garden tomatoes, queso fresco cheese,
jicama sticks, fresh sliced radishes, fresh cilantro, shredded iceberg lettuce
Fresh Fruit
Pineapple, mango, raspberries and blueberries
Authentic Mexican Bakery Specialties
A fun selection from strawberry empanadas to Mexican puff pastry twists






Sunday, August 18, 2013

KPK At The Market

KPK At The Market Menu for Sunday, August 18, 2013


Avocado & Tomato Bruschetta Special
KPK Hummus, Mediterranean Style

Tomato & Basil Bruschetta
Baby Bella & Gorgonzola Bruschetta
Sweet Pepper Tangle Bruschetta 
The TRIO (all three of the above)


Plus all three of our most popular cookies: 
5 G
Chia Flowers
Chocolate Dunked Pecan Shortbread 


Our next market day (after this) is not until September 15th!!!! Hang out with us and enjoy this beautiful weather! Hope to see you there! 

P.S. Happy Birthday to my brother, Joe!

Love, Katie

Saturday, August 3, 2013

TOP 3 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KPK THIS WEEKEND


1) We will be OPEN for BIZ at the
 FRANKFORT COUNTRY MARKET 
this SUNDAY, August 4th from 10 am - 2 pm



2) KPK HUMMUS, Mediterranean Style
debuts this Sunday in limited quantities...
 served with  hot-off-the-grill
 NAAN bread


3) AVOCADO & TOMATO 
Bruschetta 
THIS SUNDAY'S SPECIAL &
LAST YEAR'S BIGGEST SELLING SPECIAL : )


SEE YOU AT THE MARKET!

LOVE, Katie


Mediterranean Fish Stew

Mediterranean Fish Stew
A KPK cross between Spanish style Cod and French Boullabaisse

Smoky Spanish Albondigas Soup

Smoky Spanish Albondigas Soup

Summer Vegetable Soup

Summer Vegetable Soup
aka "Got-To-Go" Soup, inspired by Louie

MORE 4 U

From here, you can continue scrolling down to check out some of my favorite dishes and KPK highlights.

For more posts (articles), recipes, stories and pictures, you can scroll up (in the right column under "What You Missed") and click on 2008, 2009 2010, 2011, 2012 or 2013. As of June, 2013, there are are total of 139 posts in KPK. You can spend more time here when you know where to look, right?! Another way to enjoy my kitchen is to click on any items of interest in the section entitled "Passion Posts", also up above in the right column.

Love, Katie ~ I am so glad you're here! Stay awhile!

Super Healthy Salad

Super Healthy Salad
. . . featuring Roasted Rutabagas (or Swede Turnips, if you wish)

Grilled Corn with Tarragon Cream

Grilled Corn with Tarragon Cream
Click on the image to link to a simple and lovely recipe at Fine Cooking

Cinnamon Pecan Katies

Cinnamon Pecan Katies
Yes I Did

Forbidden Rice Salad

Forbidden Rice Salad
Black "Forbidden Rice" from China is delicious and loaded with antioxidants

Pasta with Hot Pancetta, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Parmesan & Power Greens

Pasta with Hot Pancetta, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Parmesan & Power Greens

Indian Carrot Salad

Indian Carrot Salad

Fluffy Milk Chocolate Mini Cupcakes with Softly Whipped Cocoa Cream

Fluffy Milk Chocolate Mini Cupcakes with Softly Whipped Cocoa Cream

Asparagus & Mozzarella Frittata

Asparagus & Mozzarella Frittata

Grilled Eggplant is Layered Up for an Eggplant Gratin with Fresh Basil and 4 Cheeses

Grilled Eggplant is Layered Up for an Eggplant Gratin with Fresh Basil and 4 Cheeses

Oven Roasted Plum Tomatoes

Oven Roasted Plum Tomatoes

Oven Roasted Herb Butter Turkey Breast, Gemstone Potatoes & Buttery Peas

Oven Roasted Herb Butter Turkey Breast, Gemstone Potatoes & Buttery Peas

Egg Ribbon Salad with Pancetta & Shaved Parmesan

Egg Ribbon Salad with Pancetta & Shaved Parmesan

Fresh Strawberry Slices & Whole Raspberries tucked into cream cheese frosted vanilla cupcakes

Fresh Strawberry Slices & Whole Raspberries tucked into cream cheese frosted vanilla cupcakes

Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops

Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops
an outdoor grill regular at the crib

Smokin' Beets

Smokin' Beets

Roasted Beet & Potato Salad

Roasted Beet & Potato Salad

Rosemary Flatbread

Rosemary Flatbread

"Hola" from Mi Pueblo, San Jose, CA

"Hola" from Mi Pueblo, San Jose, CA

Rapini Frittata

Rapini Frittata

Healthy Portabella

Healthy Portabella

Italian Tuna & Cannellini Bean Salad with D'Amato's Focaccia

Italian Tuna & Cannellini Bean Salad with D'Amato's Focaccia

Fried Asparagus

Fried Asparagus

Day Off Breakfast

Day Off Breakfast
Boiled Eggs & Whole Grain Toast ~ Simple Pleasures are the BEST!

Last Minute Lentil Soup

Last Minute Lentil Soup
with carrots, celery, and a little kale . . . topped with a heap of conchigliette pasta and parmigiano reggiano

A Sampling of Christmas

A Sampling of Christmas
KPK Pecan Shortbread Cookies and Almond Cookies