Food + Family + Friends

Christina Shoup

Overnight Oats

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Overnight oats are such a welcome treat in the morning, especially during the summer months when even the thought of a steaming bowl of anything makes you sweat just a little.  I’ve been making these for longer than I can remember.  When my kids were younger, I used to tuck them  in at night and head straight to the kitchen when I had only 5 minutes of energy left in me.  Thankfully, that’s all the time it takes to make this tasty make-ahead breakfast! 

The oats can easily be adjusted to suit your tastes.  Don’t love bananas? Use blueberries, peaches or apples.  Not a fan of almond milk? Use any dairy or non-dairy beverage.  This happens to be my favorite combination of flavors and lends itself to a variety of crunchy toppings to be added in the morning.  

We’ve taken these oats on camping trips, road trips, early morning youth sports events, and when I was in culinary school, I packed these several times a week and ate breakfast during my morning commute to San Francisco.  Easy, portable, healthy and kept me full all morning.  

And while this used to take me 5 minutes to make two jars of overnight oats,  I’ve got 3 kids that now request one for the morning and it’s definitely worth the extra few minutes to make several more.  And bonus, it’s easy enough for them to make their own! 

Cheers,

Christina

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Overnight Oats

This is a perfect make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings and one our whole family enjoys. It's portable, easily adaptable to fit your tastes and full of fiber and nutrients to keep you full for hours. It's great cold straight from the fridge or heated briefly in the microwave, but in any case, don't forget some sort of crunchy topping before you enjoy!

Course Breakfast
Keyword breakfast, make ahead breakfast, overnight oats
Servings 1 serving
Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

  • ⅓ cup old fashioned oats
  • ⅓ cup greek yogurt, plain
  • ½ cup almond milk
  • ½ banana, diced
  • 2 tbsp almond butter
  • 1½ tsp chia seeds
  • 1½ tsp ground flaxseed meal
  • ¼ tsp vanilla extract
  • ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • drizzle of maple syrup
  • crunchy toppings: chopped nuts, toasted coconut, granola optional

Instructions

  1. Mix all ingredients in a mason jar or tupperware with lid. Refrigerate overnight.

  2. In the morning, add crunchy topping. Eat cold straight from the refrigerator or take the chill off in the microwave for 30 seconds before adding a crunchy topping.

Cherry Peach Smoothie

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This refreshing smoothie is one of my favorite summer smoothies.  The fresh peach and mint are such a great flavor combination. During the summer, I buy extra peaches each week and wait for them to get almost too ripe before transferring them to the refrigerator – this way I have them always ready for this smoothie.  Note: while ripe fresh nectarines also work well, frozen peaches do not.  They just don’t have enough ripe flavor!  

As always, a high powered blender such as a Vitamix is key to making the best smoothie texture.  We were recently on vacation in Lake Tahoe and while the kitchen in our rented home was one of the most stocked kitchens I’ve ever been in (for a rental), our smoothies just weren’t the same without a good blender.  There were chunks of peach peel and ice that just never blended – it was still very drinkable with good flavor, but generally not as enjoyable as usual.  

Here’s to ripe summer fruits and healthy summer snacks!

Cheers,

Christina

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Cherry Peach Smoothie

This refreshing smoothie is one of my favorites for summer. Fresh peach and mint are such a great flavor combination. During the summer, I buy extra peaches each week and wait for them to get almost too ripe before transferring them to the refrigerator – this way I have them always ready for this smoothie. Note: while fresh nectarines work well, frozen peaches do not. They just don't have enough flavor to make this tasty.

Course Breakfast, Snack
Keyword smoothie
Servings 2 servings
Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup almond milk any dairy or non-dairy milk will work
  • ¼ cup plain Greek whole or lowfat yogurt
  • 1½ cups frozen cherries
  • 2 fresh peaches, cut up
  • 1 banana, cut up
  • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 10-12 fresh mint leaves
  • 3-4 ice cubes

Instructions

  1. Place ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Boysenberry Pizza

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This is a childhood favorite – a 4th of July staple for our neighborhood block parties, and even now, I crave it every single summer.  It’s in our family recipe book written by my mom over 15 years ago and it’s a wonderful combination of tangy pudding-like cheesecake and sweet boysenberry jam.  It has a few steps of chilling, cooling, etc. but it’s worth every step.  

The pie dough is a very sturdy one, hence the “pizza” name.  It’s firm enough to cut a slice and pick it up with your fingers.  Do it!  You could certainly do a more standard flaky pie crust (which I love), but the recipe included definitely isn’t that.  

Start with a pie dough, followed by a blind bake (partially baking with parchment and dried beans or weights), remove and bake until golden. If you like your crust to maintain it’s defined crimped edges, be sure to chill the shell for 30 minutes and bake straight from the freezer or refrigerator. If you’re like me, it’s one extra step that isn’t important to you, and definitely doesn’t affect the taste of the final product so you skip it.

Then you make the boysenberry filling and let it cool while the crust cools.  

The cream cheese filling mixed with lemon zest is absolutely delicious- this gets piled in the cooled crust, before the whole berries are scattered around and the jam filling is poured over.  

Like all of us, this dessert NEEDS chills time.  If you begin it in the morning and allow steps for cooling and set up time, I promise you will be rewarded with a boysenberry pizza you can pick up with your fingers and be absolutely delighted.  

If you begin it in the early afternoon and let it set at least 4 hours like I did in the above picture, you will have a little more runny jam filling, but will be delighted nonetheless.  Both are delicious and I hope you get a chance to make it this summer! 

Cheers,

Christina

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Boysenberry Pizza

A delicious combination of cheesecake and fruit pie, this summer dessert is a childhood favorite and now a favorite with my own family. You can use boysenberries or the widely available blackberry. If you make this for friends or family, I promise they will ask you for the recipe after their first bite. A perfect summer BBQ or July 4th treat!

Course Dessert
Keyword blackberry, boysenberry
Servings 8 servings
Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

Pie dough

  • 1½ cup flour
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces
  • 4-5 tbsp ice water

Filling

  • 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup sugar divided
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • ¼ kosher salt
  • 2 tsp cornstarch
  • 2 Tbsp water
  • 2- 6 ounce containers of boysenberries or blackberries

Instructions

Pie Dough

  1. In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar and salt to blend.

  2. Add butter and pulse a few times to cut butter into the flour until you have small pieces of butter throughout.

  3. Add ice water a little at a time and pulse until mixture forms a dough that can holds together when you pinch a bit in your hand.

  4. Gather dough onto a very lightly floured board and press into a disc. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Chilled Dough

  1. Preheat oven to 400°. Roll dough out on a lightly floured board and place in a 9" glass pie dish. Crimp the sides as desired. Make several fork piercings around the bottom and sides of dough.

  2. Blind bake: Place a sheet of parchment paper on the dough and cover with dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes.

  3. Remove parchment and beans and continue to bake for another 10 minutes, until the crust is lightly golden. Set aside to cool. Lower oven temperature to 250°.

Filling

  1. In a medium saucepan, mash 1 container of berries with ⅔ cup sugar. Add water and cornstarch and bring mixture to a boil. While mixture is boiling, stir with spatula to prevent scorching and continue to cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Set aside to cool.

  2. Add cream cheese, egg, sugar, lemon zest and salt to a medium bowl. With a hand mixer, blend until smooth and well combined.

To assemble

  1. Fill cooled pie shell with cream cheese mixture and bake for 15 minutes at lower temperature until set. Cool.

  2. Scatter remaining container of berries over surface of cooled filling. Pour cooled crushed berry mixture over the whole berries.

  3. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 4 hours, until firm and can easily slice with a knife.

Salmon Sandwich with Bacon, Pesto Mayo & Apricot Jam

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This is dish is a Shoup family favorite and was a perfect meal for our Father’s Day dinner. We were enjoying some time in Lake Tahoe last week and this tasty sandwich/burger was an easy one to plan ahead for – nearly all the ingredients can be prepared in advance and the bacon and salmon are the only components that need to be cooked when you’re ready to eat.

Any seasoning works for this, but I enjoy a mesquite grill seasoning with a bit of smoked paprika and brown sugar.

Prepared pesto and mayonnaise mixed together are a nice herbaceous contrast to the sweet apricot jam.

Crisp little gems or peppery arugula are both great choices for this sandwich as well a lightly toasted buttery brioche. Other buns that also work well are pretzel buns and potato rolls.

We don’t usually have sides when we eat this sandwich – but when we do it’s usually a side of sweet potato oven fries or fresh fruit. It’s hard to say how much we love this dish! I hope your family loves it, too.

Cheers,

Christina

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Salmon Sandwich with Bacon, Pesto Mayo & Apricot Jam

This sandwich is a house favorite! The salty bacon, sweet jam, smoky mesquite seasonings and peppery lettuce makes for a very satisfying dish. It's a hit with adults and kids alike and a highly requested recipe in our house.

Course Main Course
Keyword salmon, sandwich
Servings 4 sandwiches
Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

  • 1⅓ lbs salmon fillets
  • 1 tsp mesquite grill seasoning optional
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp brown sugar
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 slices cooked bacon
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup pesto
  • ¼ cup apricot jam
  • 1 cup arugula mixed greens and little gems work as well
  • 4 brioche hamburger buns

Instructions

  1. Place salmon on a sheet tray lined in parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with mesquite seasoning, paprika, brown sugar and salt. Roast salmon at 375° until done, about 15 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, mix mayonnaise and pesto. Set aside.

  3. Make an assembly line of pesto mayo, apricot jam, bacon (broken in half) and lettuce.

  4. Separate brioche buns and place on a sheet tray. Toast these in the oven for a few minutes after pulling out the salmon.

  5. When ready to assemble, spread about 1 tablespoon of pesto mayo each on half of the buns and 1 tablespoon of jam each on the other half. Place one portion of salmon on the mayo, followed by the bacon and lettuce. Top with remaining buns spread with apricot jam.

Energy Bites

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Summer is in full swing, and that means so is the snacking! These power bites are a great addition to your family’s snacking repertoire – whether you’ve got long days of entertaining the kids at home, teenagers logging in for summer distance learning or are hitting the road to safely shelter out of place this summer. 

Perfectly portable snack

Recently, I had the opportunity to contribute an article on snacking in the June issue of our sweet, local magazine, Hillsborough Living.  The magazine is written for and by Hillsborough residents, and it was an honor to submit articles in the May (fridge foraging- frittatas) and June issues. With so many of us spending so much time at home the past few months and likely more time at home this summer, this month’s article on snacking seemed like a timely submission.  I hope you find some helpful tips on the list of snack ideas! 

Cheers,

Christina

Hillsborough Living magazine, June 2020
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Energy Bites

These are a great snack to keep in the refrigerator any time of the year. They are quick to make, portable and a healthy alternative to packaged granola bars and power bars that are often high in sugar and additives. Making a double recipe is not a bad idea- they go fast!

Course Snack
Keyword energy bites
Servings 18 bites
Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

  • 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • ½ cup ground flaxseed meal
  • ½ cup nut butter such as peanut or almond
  • ¼ cup toasted coconut
  • 2 tbsp chocolate chips
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ kosher salt

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, add all ingredients and combine thoroughly. Using a tablespoon, scoop into 18 balls- adding a drizzle more of maple syrup or spoon of nut butter if mixture is too dry to hold together. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to set.

Spiced Rosemary Bar Nuts

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This snack is a house favorite! During shelter in place it’s been the perfect complement to Zoom cocktail hour with friends. In pre-COVID-19 days, it served as the most perfect bite to offer guests when they arrived at our home.  The ingredients are ones I always have on hand – nuts in the freezer, salt/spices in the pantry, maple syrup and butter in the refrigerator, rosemary bush in the front yard.  I highly recommend you keep these on hand as well! As for the rosemary bush, if you don’t have one yourself, I can pretty much guarantee a neighbor of yours does and wouldn’t mind a little container of these as a return favor.

Cheers,

Christina

Easy ingredients to keep on hand
My favorite mix but any will work
Perfect blend of herbs and spices
Whisk melted butter and maple syrup that nicely coats the nut mixture
Quick toss to coat the nuts- best served warm
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Spiced Rosemary Bar Nuts

Perfectly Spicy, Salty, Sweet snack to enjoy with a cocktail. An unexpected and delightful treat for your guests. These are best served warm but very delicious at room temperature as well. Adapted from Union Square Cafe

Course Appetizer, Snack
Keyword bar nuts
Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups unsalted raw mixed nuts walnuts, cashews, and pecans are a great combo; Trader Joe’s has Fancy Mixed Raw Nuts that would work well
  • 1-2 tablespoons fresh chopped rosemary
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • pinch Maldon salt optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°

  2. Line baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Toast nuts on baking sheet in oven until golden, about 8-10 minutes.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine rosemary, cayenne pepper, dark brown sugar, and salt.
  4. Just before pulling the nuts from the oven, melt butter in a heat-proof microwave safe bowl. Immediately add the maple syrup to the butter and whisk together until completely combined. Pour butter mixture and toasted warm nuts into the spice mixture and toss to coat thoroughly. Sprinkle with a pinch of Maldon salt, if using.
  5. Enjoy warm.

Southwest Grain Bowl with Roasted Poblano Dressing

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Bowls have been popular for some time now, and I’m in no hurry to have them go away. Grain bowls, poke bowls, burrito bowls, breakfast bowls, smoothie bowls – I love them all! The one thing they have in common is that they have a lot of components, that’s both a positive and a negative.  They take some time to make each part at home, but when the prep work is finished, you’ve got several meals that can be assembled in no time at all and for a fraction of the price as a purchased bowl.  

For grain bowls, the key components are: Grain + Veggie + Protein + Dressing + Topping

My favorite grain to use in a bowl is farro.  It’s easy to cook and high in protein, thus making a very satisfying vegetarian meal.  Other good options are brown rice and quinoa.  Cooking the grains in vegetable or chicken stock imparts more flavor, but water works too, just be sure to adequately salt that cooking water.  Tossing the cooked grains in a little oil and vinegar is another way to give this important base some flavor.

Spreading cooked grains out on a sheet pan helps keep them from getting gummy

The veggies I use for this recipe are grilled, a favorite way to cook during the warmer months for corn, peppers, asparagus, zucchini, onions, etc.  Roasting is my other favorite way to cook veggies as this method brings out the natural sweetness in broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots.  It can also just be a handful of your favorite greens – I’m a big fan of arugula or kale.  Tomatoes or thinly sliced radishes also make a nice texture contrast.  

Ready for the grill

Protein can be as simple as grilled or store-bought rotisserie chicken, sauteed shrimp or roasted salmon.  I also know that if I use a protein-rich grain such as farro or quinoa, I don’t worry about the need for additional protein – especially since most of my bowls have protein in the form of a crunchy seed or nut on top.  Yum!

The dressing for the bowl is key – it can be a simple vinaigrette that is tossed with several of the individual components and then lightly drizzled on top, or it can be a chunky salsa or thick sauce atop everything that winds up getting all mixed together once served.  Your bowl, your choice.

Farro bowl with roasted chicken and grilled peppers, onion, asperagus and zucchini

And the best part of the bowl just might be the toppings.  You can go wild here.  And depending on the overall tone of your bowl, you can change the personality or nutritional content just based on the topping you choose.  Adding roasted nuts or seeds, chili crunch, sliced avocado, fresh herbs, spicy sriracha or a crunchy raw vegetable are great ways to round out your bowl.  

Farro bowl with arugula, grilled veggies, avocado, pepitas and feta

I have many more favorite bowls I’ll be sharing this summer.  One of my teenagers is a big fan of acai smoothie bowls and since those can demand a pretty hefty price tag from the local juice bar- and she doesn’t drive- I’m thankful she taught herself how to make delicious smoothie bowls at home.  

Cheers,

Christina

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Southwest Grain Bowl with Roasted Poblano Dressing

This southwest grain bowl is perfect for summer when the corn, tomatoes and peppers are in peak season. It's also easily adapted to whatever grain, veggie or hot pepper you have on hand or is in season. The farro is high in protein making this a satisfying vegetarian meal, but roasted or grilled chicken is a great addition as well.

Course Main Course
Keyword grain bowl, poblano dressing
Servings 4
Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

Dressing

  • 2 tbsp canola oil plus more for brushing
  • 2 poblano peppers
  • 2 ears of corn, shucked
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp honey
  • 2 green onions, white part only, thinly sliced green parts reserved for bowl
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • Kosher salt

Grain Bowl

  • 2 ears of corn, shucked
  • 2 medium zucchini
  • 1 red onion
  • 1 sweet bell pepper any color
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • cilantro leaves garnish
  • 1½ cups farro pearled or unpearled work, cooking times differ
  • 2 cups spinach, arugula, or any mixed greens
  • ¼ cup pepitas, toasted optional
  • ¼ cup goat cheese or feta, crumbled optional

Instructions

For the dressing:

  1. Light a grill and brush the grate with canola oil.

  2. Prepare the corn and poblanos for the dressing as well as the corn, zucchini, red onion and bell peppers used in the bowl by brushing with canola oil and sprinkling with salt and pepper. Grill over moderate heat, until all veggies have grill marks and the corn and poblanos are lightly charred all over.

    Transfer to a sheet pan to cool slightly. Peel, seed and chop the poblanos. Cut the corn kernels off the cob. Cut all other veggies into bite-sized pieces and set aside to for the grain bowl.

  3. In a blender or mini food processor, combine 2 tbsp of canola oil, olive oil, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, green onion whites, chopped cilantro, poblanos and 1 cup of the corn kernels. Pulse until a chunky dressing forms. Season with salt.

For the grain bowl:

  1. In a medium pot, boil water and cook farro according to the direction on the package. Drain any excess liquid and spread on a sheet pan lined with parchment to cool. This step also prevents the grain from getting gummy and stuck together.

  2. Toast pepitas in a saute pan until lightly golden and begin to pop. Set aside to cool.

To assemble:

  1. Divide farro among 4 bowls. Top with each bowl with grilled vegetables, dressing, pepitas, green onion, and cheese.

Recipe Notes

This dressing was inspired and adapted from Food & Wine magazine. 

Carrot Apple Muffins

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For most of us with kids, a synonymous word with summer is the word snack.  They begin early in the morning where a typical breakfast teeters on the brink of being snack #1 and #2 of the day.  During the lazy days of summer, I rarely see my kids with an actual meal in the morning, unless I deliberately prepare one.  I don’t mind this way of eating – I’m a huge fan of snacks! The healthy ones, of course- but it seems non-stop in the summer.  I do know that if I prepare a smoothie in the morning and have some muffins waiting in the fridge, I can be sure the first snacks of the day often resemble a nutritious breakfast.

We are big fans of muffins in my house- we usually have a few on rotation.  Not the typical cake-like muffin that’s laden with sugar and few, if any nutrients, but the high fiber muffins that you can feel good about.  These carrot apple muffins are as delicious as my Everything Muffin recipe that I have on the website, but have fewer ingredients and are not as dense.  They are wheat-free, as the flour is made from ground oats and walnuts, are high in fiber with carrots, apples and flaxmeal as well as lower in sugar with the use of dates.  If your food processor or blender has the capacity for it, I highly recommend making a double batch – 12 muffins certainly don’t last long in my house!

Cheers,

Christina

A double batch- testing the limits on my blender’s capacity
This batch was made in a food processor – they have a bit more texture than those made in a blender
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Carrot Apple Muffins

My family cannot get enough of these tasty muffins. A perfect snack or breakfast- these high fiber muffins are simple to make in a blender or a food processor and chalk full of nutrients. A smear of almond or peanut butter make these especially satisfying. This recipe makes a dozen muffins but I always double. They keep well in the refrigerator for several days tasting just as delicious as the day they were made – not every muffin is so lucky!

Course Breakfast, Snack
Keyword muffin
Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

  • ½ cup walnuts
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup peeled, shredded carrots
  • 1 cup diced apples, skin on
  • 5 dates, cut in half and pit removed
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup coconut oil, melted
  • ¼-½ cup almond milk any dairy or non-dairy will work
  • ¼ cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp flaxseed meal
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350° and grease or line muffin tin.

  2. In a blender or food processor, add walnuts and oats and blend until finely ground.

  3. Add all other ingredients and process until well combined.

  4. Scoop batter with an ice cream scoop into muffin tins. Bake until lightly golden, about 20-22 minutes.

Grilled Pork Chops with Stone-Fruit Relish

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With Memorial Day weekend behind us, the first heat wave has passed quickly followed by unseasonable rain, and school distance learning winding down – all signs point to summer.  And even though it often feels like Groundhog day, things are slowly and carefully opening back up and we may feel like there’s some summer fun on the horizon. There’s no doubt about it, this summer won’t have many of the familiar markers of summer- pool parties, overseas travel adventures, and overnight camps, but if we try to incorporate our favorite parts of the season, nobody can take the carefree feeling of summer away from you! 

 I, for one, look forward to more farmer’s markets on the weekends as well as making time for the summer mid-week markets that are beginning to open up locally.  One of the biggest changes I’m making this summer is to have my three kids (ages 15, 13, and 10) make dinner every Wednesday.  I will give them about 3 – 4 of my most trusted cookbooks, and let them pick out the meal, write a grocery list and have it ready for me by the beginning of the week when I do my food shopping.  They have to cook and clean up the dishes they use for preparing the meal- but dad and mom are in charge of the dinner dishes – reverse roles.  

One of my favorite ways to make dinner during the summer is to marinate some type of protein (usually chicken or pork) early in the day, and when dinner time rolls around, quickly and easily throwing that on the grill with a veggie (usually summer squash, bell peppers, corn or asparagus) and serving with a salad or seasonal fruit.  Could not be easier and keeps the heat and the mess outside.  

This recipe for Grilled Pork Chops with Stone-Fruit Relish is one of my favorite summer dishes. It’s got grilled protein, fruit and veggie(ish) and lots of flavor- all rolled into one dish!  It’s based on a recipe from Gourmet Magazine- a beautiful magazine that I wish was still in publication. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Cheers,

Christina

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Grilled Pork Chops with Stone-Fruit Relish

This easy summer dish uses peak of the season ingredients and is as beautiful as it is tasty. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts also works well with this flavorful fruit relish. Smoked paprika makes for a deep smokey flavor and if you like more of a kick, use a serrano instead of the jalapeno. This recipe was adapted from Gourmet Magazine.

Course Main Course
Keyword fruit salsa, pork chops
Servings 4 servings
Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

Marinade

  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • 3 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 4 pork chops (¾ – 1" thick) boneless or bone-in

Salsa

  • 1 nectarine, diced peaches or plums also work
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 2 scallions, finely chopped use white and green parts
  • 1 tbsp seeded, finely chopped jalapeno pepper use serrano for more kick
  • 3 tbsp chopped basil
  • 2 tbsp chopped mint
  • 2 tbsp red-wine vinegar

Instructions

  1. For the marinade, combine all ingredients into a ziplock bag or a shallow glass baking dish. Add the pork chops and make sure they are well coated. Let sit while you prepare the relish.

  2. For the relish, combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

  3. When ready to cook, prepare gas grill by brushing the grates with oil and heating grill to medium.

  4. Remove pork chops from marinade and pat dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Grill chops, turning once, until internal temperature reaches 135°, then tent with foil and rest for 5 minutes. Serve with relish.

Cherry & Nectarine Cake

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Memorial Day weekend is usually Crazy Town in our household – usually falling right in the middle of two special birthdays.  Combine those festivities with typical end of the year school and sports events as well as one of our favorite music festivals in Napa, it’s never a dull weekend! This is a very different May, indeed.  

Different, but I wouldn’t say dull – what with a backyard pool, gorgeous weather in the Bay Area and my favorite people around, I’m actually looking forward to it! To make it special and break up the monotony of spending so much time at home, I plan on all the pool floaties, music blasting on the speakers, fun trays of snacks, poolside cocktails and a strong vacation mindset.  Mindset is KEY! 

Also on tap for the weekend is my annual apricot jam making fest- it’s a house speciality and a gift I give all year long to friends and family.  Our local bakery makes the most amazing sourdough country loaf and croissants- that combined with some high quality salted butter and apricot jam- and you’ve created yourself a little slice of Parisian heaven. YUM

Apricot jam- house favorite!

And finally, since it’s peak cherry season, my cherry and nectarine cake is a simple and easily adaptable treat that I just made for the weekend- and you should too! It’s full of pantry staples and only requires a few ingredients.  Turns out it’s a light after dinner treat but I think even more enjoyable with a morning or afternoon coffee! Remember, it’s that vacation mindset that allows for these kinds of treats. 

Cheers,

Christina

Thick batter is a perfect base for fruit and almonds
Cherries and nectarines, berries are great as well
Raw slivered or sliced almonds and turbinado sugar make a perfect crunchy topping
Perfect snack cake
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Cherry and Nectarine Snack Cake

This easily adaptable cake takes only a few pantry ingredients and can be used with pretty much any fruit that is in season. My favorites include apricot, nectarine, cherry, or a combination of berries. It's not too sweet, making it a perfect pair with afternoon coffee or tea. I love the almond extract with summer fruits. Adapted from a butter cake recipe from Sunset magazine many years back!

Course Dessert
Keyword cake
Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 1½ tsp almond extract
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 cup cherry halves and thinly sliced nectarine about 8 cherries and 1 small nectarine
  • 1 tbsp turbinado sugar
  • 1 tbsp raw sliced or slivered almonds

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Butter or use baking spray to grease a 9-inch pan with a removable rim.

  2. In a stand mixer, combine butter and sugar and beat on high speed for 3 minutes.

  3. Add eggs and almond extract and beat until combined.

  4. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Beat on high for 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.

  5. Scrape the thick batter into the baking pan and smooth with spatula.

  6. Place fruit evenly over the batter and sprinkle with almonds and turbinado sugar.

  7. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until lightly golden. Cool completely on a baking rack before removing the rim and dusting with powdered sugar.