Marisa McClellan

Pesto, Garlic Scape + Arugula

Recipe inspired by our favorite "Canner" Marisa McClellan

This pesto is perfect with Storico Fresco’s pasta, or stirred into a warm salad of quinoa and roasted vegetables!

Makes: 1 half pint Jar

Ingredients

• 8 oz garlic scapes (2 to 3 bunches) from Hickory Hill Farm
• 1 cup packed arugula leaves from Woodland Gardens
• 1/2 cup toasted pecans from Moore Farms and Friends
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese or cheddar from Decimal Place Farm
• 1/4 cup sunflower seed oil, plus more as needed from Oliver Farm
• French Picnic salt blend from Beautiful Briny Sea and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Chop the garlic scapes into 1-inch lengths and combine them with the arugula leaves, toasted nuts, and cheese in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until a paste begins to form. Remove the lid and scrape down the bowl, if necessary. Once you’ve gotten to a chunky paste, slowly stream in the ¼ cup of olive oil with the motor running and process until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning to taste.

2. Pack the pesto into a half pint jar (if you are freezing it, try dividing it between 2 quarter-pint jars). Cover with a think layer of oil (it keeps out the oxygen and prevents the top of the pesto from browning) and either refrigerate or freeze. It will keep in the refrigerator for at least a week, or in the freezer for up to a year!

Peach BBQ Sauce

It has to be summer now that the peaches have arrived. It is all things peachy for the next month or so…

This week I want to share a recipe from Marisa McClellan author of Preserving by the Pint. She was at the market in April selling and signing her awesome canning cookbooks. You can find out where to buy this cookbook by visiting her website.

This is a recipe for canning but I like to cut the quantities in half and use it right away.
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Makes 2 (HALF-PINT/250 ML) JARS

Ingredients
1 dry quart yellow peaches (about 2 lb), from Watsonia Farms
3/4 cup/180 ml cider vinegar
1/2 cup/115 g packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup/80 g minced yellow onion, from Hickory Hill Farm
1 garlic clove, crushed, from Goodness Groceries
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons finely milled sea salt, from Beautiful Briny Sea
1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

Directions
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While it heats, cut the peaches in half and remove the pits. Fill a large bowl with ice water. Blanch the peaches in the boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes, then immediately transfer to the ice water. When cool, remove the peach skins.

2. Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan with a tight fitting lid over medium heat and stir to combine. Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes, until the peaches and onions have softened. Using a potato masher, break down the peach pieces. Continue to cook, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes, until mixture has reduced by about half.

3. Remove the pot from the heat. Using an immersion blender, purée the mixture until smooth (you may have to tip the pan a little to do this) If you don’t have an immersion blender, scrape the mixture into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

4. If the sauce is nice and thick, it is done. If it’s still a little watery, return it to the heat and cook a bit longer. At this point, taste it and add more salt or pepper, if necessary.