From our August, 2010 edition

“Summertime and the living is easy.” Ease is the word as you boil a cob of corn, wash a berry and devour, slice a melon and slurp away happily – our farm fresh produce makes living easy, tasty and nutritious. Mealtime preparation is faster and tastier in the summertime, and it is thanks to all our delicious local produce readily available at the numerous farmers markets right here in Toronto.

Grillled Chicken with Apricot-Raspberry Salsa
A tangy fresh fruit salsa is the perfect accompaniment to smoky grilled chicken.
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 1/4 tsp (6 mL) ground cumin
1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried oregano
2 tbsp (25 mL) raspberry vinegar
2 tbsp (25 mL) canola oil
2 cups (500 mL) chopped pitted apricots
1/3 cup (75 mL) diced red onion
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
2 tbsp (25 mL) liquid honey
1/4 tsp (1 mL) each cinnamon and salt
1 cup (250 mL) raspberries
In a shallow glass dish, arrange chicken in single layer. Combine 1 tsp (5 mL) of the cumin and oregano; rub all over chicken. Sprinkle with vinegar and oil; turn to coat well. Cover and marinate at room temperature for 30 minutes or refrigerate for up to four hours. Place chicken on greased grill over medium-high heat; close cover and cook, turning once, until no longer pink inside,12 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile in a small bowl, stir together apricots, onion, jalapeño pepper, honey, remaining cumin, cinnamon and salt; let stand for a few minutes for juices to form. Just before serving with chicken, gently stir in the raspberries.
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Rosy Beet Risotto
Delicious, earthy beets lend a pretty hue to this all-time favourite Italian dish.
4 cups (1 L) chicken or vegetable broth
2 tbsp (25 mL) olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp (2 m) dried thyme
1 cup (250 mL) arborio rice
1/2 cup (126 mL) red wine
3 cups (750 mL) diced cooked beets (4 medium)
1/2 cup (125 mL) freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
2 tbsp (25 mL) each snipped fresh dill and chives
salt and pepper
In a small saucepan, bring broth to simmer, keep warm. In a large saucepan, or deep skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, celery, garlic and thyme; cook for five minutes, stirring. Add rice and cook stirring until grains are transluscent, about two minutes.Pour in 1/2 cup (125 mL) of the warm broth; cook, stirring constantly until all liquid is absorbed.. Continue to add warm broth, 1/2 cup (125 mL) at a time, stirring constantly and waiting until broth is absorbed before adding more, until rice is creamy and just tender, about 20 minutes. About five minutes before rice is tender gently stir in beets to heat through. Stir in Parmesan cheese, dill, chives, and salt and pepper to taste.
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Blueberry-Cinnamon Coffee Cake
This moist cake tastes good for breakfast, brunch or dessert served with a slice of cheddar cheese.
Topping:
3 cups (750 mL) fresh blueberries
1/2 cup (125 mL) icing sugar
2 tsp (10 mL) cinnamon
1/2 cup (125 mL) all-purpose flour
1/3 cup (75 mL) cold butter in bits
Batter:
1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, softened
1 cup (250 mL) granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
2 cups (500 mL) all-purpose flour
1 tsp (5 mL) baking powder
1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt
1 tsp (5 mL) baking soda
1 cup (250 mL) sour cream
Topping: In a small bowl, stir together blueberries and half each of the icing sugar and cinnamon; set aside. In another small bowl stir together flour and remaining icing sugar and cinnamon. Cut in butter until like coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts and set aside.
Batter: In a large bowl, cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Beat in vanilla. Sift or stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in baking soda into sour cream. Stir half of the dry ingredients into butter mixture. Add sour cream, stir in remaining dry ingredients. Spread in greased 9 X 13 (3.5 L) metal cake pan, smoothing with spatula (the batter is thick). Sprinkle with blueberry mixture. Sprinkle walnut mixture evenly over top. Bake in 350 deg. F (180 deg. C) oven until skewer inserted in centre comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
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