tomatoes!

in the dog days of summer

gardens overflow with tomatoes

i find myself

with 

stores of the fruit

and

preservation on my mind

here are a few 

ways to preserve  the bounty

to enjoy

when days are not so long

Sun Dried Tomatoes

(recipe here)

Tomato Chutney

(recipe here)

Tomato Vodka

this is really simple.  peel tomatoes and cram into a jar, use a skewer to secure tomatoes if they start to float to the top.  fill the jar with vodka and store in the refrigerator for at least 5 days.  i make several jars because i like to use the tomatoes and the vodka for pasta alla vodka sauce. leftover vodka is really great for a bloody mary pick me up.

huckleberry ice cream

huckleberries are hard to come by

competing with bears after a long hilly hike

just ain't my thing

luckily

those whom are 

"into it"

are willing to share

with one little caveat

my dealer

is 1200 miles away

traveling for a case of berries

now that is

my thing

huckleberries are a bit like blueberries

with more punch of flavor

sweet with a tinge of sour

no pucker

just enough to 

wet your whistle

this gorgeous purple berry

 cuts rich vanilla ice cream

perfectly

Huckleberry Ice Cream

(vanilla base recipe adapted from David Lebovitz)

vanilla custard

1 cup whole milk

generous pinch kosher salt

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 cups heavy cream

7 large egg yolks

4 tsp good vanilla extract

huckleberry swirl

1 1/2 cups huckleberries

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 Tbs lemon juice

heat whole milk with 1/2 cup of sugar, and kosher salt.  meanwhile whisk egg yolks with remaining 1/4 cup of sugar.  once milk comes to a simmer, slowly pour into the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly.  quickly rinse the milk saucepan to remove any dried or burnt milk.  transfer warm egg mixture back into the saucepan and cook on low heat, constantly stirring with a spatula.  watch carefully, as to not overcook the eggs.  cook and stir just until the mixture coats the spatula (consistency of a light crepe batter).  remove from heat and run through a sieve into a clean bowl.  stir in heavy cream and vanilla.  place entire bowl into another bowl filled with ice and cool water.  stir until it is cooled to room temperature.  pour mixture into a covered container and refrigerate at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight.

make huckleberry swirl

in a small saucepan, place berries, sugar and lemon juice. cook until the berries throw off juice and all of the sugar has melted, then cook for about 10 minutes more..keep the heat low, you don't want to burn the sugars.  mash the berries slightly (you will want some whole, some mashed).  allow to cool and refrigerate until ready to freeze the ice cream.

when ready to freeze

place vanilla base into the bowl of your freezer.  freeze according to manufacturer's directions.  when your ice cream is finished...remove into your freezer container.  as you scoop into your freezer container, layer with your huckleberry swirl.  this will allow you to have a true swirl.  if you put the huckleberry swirl into the mixer, it will completely mix in.  continue to layer adding as much huckleberries and juice as you wish.

Happy 4th