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Marianne Sundquist

Quick & Easy Pickled Rhubarb

Marianne Sundquist · October 11, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Sometimes a recipe is so quick and easy it doesn’t even feel like a whole recipe. But this recipe for quick and easy pickled rhubarb is not only perfectly complete, it also might be the most magical way to use rhubarb I have come across.

Rhubarb has always been one of my favorite fruits, and usually, the second I see it, I try to buy some as finding it sometimes feels as special as spotting an animal in the wild. I’ll usually make a coulis, slice it, and roast it with a squeeze of orange and honey. Or if I have time, I’ll make a pie with just rhubarb, or with the addition of strawberries.

Rhubarb, a springtime vegetable part of the buckwheat family, functions more like a fruit, resembling long stalks of red celery. When I think of celery the first thing I think about is the crunchy texture. But usually, rhubarb recipes are the opposite of crunchy. This recipe is a quick “pickle” where the rhubarb provides most of the acidity and in the process keeps its delightful texture.

Get creative

Feel free to get creative with flavors when making the pickling liquid. You could add vanilla bean, orange, lavender, rosemary, ginger, cinnamon, or even mint. It’s beautiful paired with ice cream, pancakes, and salad greens, but my favorite way to enjoy this is spooned over plain greek yogurt. The pickling liquid is a treat in itself added to sparkling water or in a cocktail. 

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Quick & Easy Pickled Rhubarb

Quick and Easy Pickled Rhubarb in a jar
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This fast and easy recipe for pickled rhubarb is not only perfectly complete, but it also might be the most magical way to use rhubarb I have come across. Use it on grilled meats, as a refreshing salad topping, or on a charcuterie plate.

  • Author: Marianne Sundquist
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 5 mins
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2 cups
  • Category: pickles, jams, & preserves
  • Method: pickeling
  • Cuisine: american

Ingredients

Units
  • 3–5 stalks of rhubarb, depending on size
  • 3/4 c. sugar
  • 1 c. water
  • 1 juicy lemon, zested and juiced

Instructions

Trim ends and dice the rhubarb. Place them in a heat-proof glass jar.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring the sugar, water, zest, and lemon juice to a boil.

Turn off the heat and carefully pour the hot liquid over the rhubarb. Use a spoon if needed to make sure the rhubarb is completely submerged in the liquid. Let this sit on the counter until it’s close to room temperature. Then cover and transfer to the fridge for around a day. The rhubarb will keep in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

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Nutrition values are estimates only. See the disclaimer here.

Everyday Vinaigrette

Marianne Sundquist · June 23, 2023 · Leave a Comment

I love to keep a vinaigrette in the fridge for the week. It makes a lunchtime salad easy, it’s easy to grab for dipping raw vegetables in for a snack, sometimes I find myself drizzling some inside a sandwich or in a chicken, tuna, pasta, or grain salad, or on top of all types of grilled vegetables. The bottom line? A simple vinaigrette is more savvy and useful than it might appear.

Everyday Vinaigrette - fresh ingredients in a bowl

I know I’ve talked about it before, but this is a nook-and-cranny kind of dressing. I have to admit they are my favorite kind. Sure, they can be tossed with all kinds of greens but this kind of dressing functions at its best when it’s topically applied, meaning to spoon on top creating an uneven coating. 

Why in the world does anyone want an uneven coating of dressing you might be asking? It all comes down to the element of delight and surprise. Imagine you are eating a salad and with the first bite you taste some greens, some golden beets, and a bit of goat cheese and in general everything is lightly dressed in a bright, lemony vinaigrette. That salad sounds pretty good and as I write this, I’m starting to feel a bit hungry for lunch. Now, imagine you are eating another salad and with the first bite you taste some greens, some golden beets, a bit of goat cheese and then BAM, a burst of lemon, olive oil, honey, shallot, and some savory element you can’t describe (here it’s the garlic that’s mellowed in the olive oil and acid) has found a spot to hide inside a fold of greens. This is the delightful experience of a nook and cranny dressing. It’s the finely chopped shallot and garlic that gives the dressing the ability to concentrate flavors and hide. I sometimes use other ingredients to function in this way, like crushed grapes or diced apples. You’ll probably notice that the olive oil hardens in the fridge. Just remove the jar about 15 minutes before using or run the sealed jar under hot water for a minute.

This is the dressing I make most often and never measure the ingredients. The lemon juice is interchangeable with many kinds of vinegar like red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, and rice wine vinegar. I encourage you to try this by either following the recipe or not. I have complete faith that your eyes and your mouth will guide you.

Everyday Vinaigrette chopped ingredients
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Everyday Vinaigrette

Everyday Lemon Vinaigrette ready to serve
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This everyday lemon vinaigrette makes a lunchtime salad simple, it’s easy to grab for dipping raw vegetables in for a snack, sometimes I find myself drizzling some inside a sandwich or in a chicken, tuna, pasta, or grain salad, or on top of all types of grilled vegetables. The bottom line? An everyday vinaigrette is more savvy and useful than it might appear.

  • Author: Marianne Sundquist
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 0 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 1 cup
  • Category: Salads
  • Method: chop
  • Cuisine: French

Ingredients

Units
  • 1–2 shallots, depending on size, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1/4 c. freshly squeeze lemon juice
  • 1/3 c. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 T. honey
  • 1 T. dijon mustard

Instructions

 

Chop what needs chopping, squeeze what needs squeezing, and whisk all ingredients together and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. So simple, so easy. You’re a pro!

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Nutrition values are estimates only. See the disclaimer here.

Spicy Mezcal Margarita

Marianne Sundquist · June 12, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Oh, the joys of summertime margaritas! There is something about the smokey addition of Mezcal that just tastes right here in the Southwest. My husband seems to have always had an affinity for Mezcal, preferring to sip it neat, while I first realized how much I loved it after ordering a Mezcal Ranch Water at La Reina at El Rey Court. To be honest, I usually prefer wine, that is until I find myself somewhere with Margaritas on the menu. When entertaining (or just wanting a fun cocktail for the weekend) I love to make everything as relaxed and easy as possible. This Small Batch Mezcal Margarita is a wonderful way to go. 

At first, one might be inclined to think (me until about ten minutes ago) that Mezcal is a type of Tequila. But in reality, Tequila is a type of Mezcal, defined as any agave-based spirit. While Mezcal is produced across eight states in Mexico, 85% of all Mezcal is produced in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. What differentiates Mezcal from Tequila is not only the “terroir” of where the plant has grown and matured, but also the process in which it’s made. Mezcal’s classic smokiness comes from slowly cooking the heart of the agave plant, piñas, in earthen pits lined with wood and rocks and covered to keep in the heat. When I saw photos of this process, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between this method and cooking a pig underground, or a clam bake on a beach. The first oven, as it has been for thousands of years, never disappoints in utility and hints of mystery. No wonder when I sip on Mezcal it somehow feels like I’m tasting a time and place in a single sip. 

This recipe uses one part tequila and one part mezcal to soften the smokiness in the cocktail. This being said the smokiness of Mezcal varies greatly depending on the producer, so use your best judgment. We love Del Maguey’s Vida Clásico but there are so many great choices out there. You can easily skip the tequila and use 8 oz. of Mezcal in this recipe for a bit more smoke. I love a salted rim and always a big slice of jalapeno if I have one on hand. Even though this recipe serves four people, it can easily be stretched to serve more people and lightened up by adding sparkling water, making a light and bubbly version.

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Spicy Mezcal Margarita

Mezcal Margarita in a glass with a jalapeño slice
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This spicy mezcal margarita combines the smoky and earthy notes of mezcal with the bright and tangy flavors of lime. Sit back and vibe out with friends with the smoldering allure that elevates this classic margarita experience.

  • Author: Marianne Sundquist
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 0 mins
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Cocktails
  • Method: mix
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

Units
  • 4 oz. tequila
  • 4 oz. mezcal
  • 5 oz. cointreau
  • 4 oz. fresh lime juice
  • for garnish: medium coarse salt, lime wedges, jalapeno slices (optional)

Instructions

In a glass jar, stir together tequila, mezcal, cointreau, and fresh lime juice. Refrigerate until you’re ready to serve. This mixture will keep for a few days. When ready to serve, If you want a salted rim, pour salt into a small, saucer-sized plate, rub a lime wedge around the entire or part of the rim, dip the rim of the glass into the salt, and add ice to each glass. Pour the mixed cocktail over ice and enjoy. Garnish with lime and/or jalapeno slices

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Nutrition values are estimates only. See the disclaimer here.

Mezcal Margarita slicing the limes

Mushroom, Poblano & Goat Cheese Frittata

Marianne Sundquist · June 11, 2023 · Leave a Comment

If you’re ever tasked with making breakfast, brunch, or lunch for a crowd, this frittata (an Italian unfolded omelet) recipe might be right up your alley. I’m not sure it gets easier than this. No eggs cooked to order. The vegetables can be easily cooked the day before, and all that’s required is a quick whisk of the eggs (not too much so there is not a deflation of air during baking), a sprinkling of vegetables and cheese before throwing it in the oven for less than a half hour and voila! 

But that’s not all. Frittatas can be served any time of the day, as a hot main course or cool added to the middle of a sandwich or sliced and served as an appetizer alongside a variety of antipasto as the women in my family would say. In fact, you can make the entire frittata in advance and reheat it the next day by placing it covered in foil, in a 350 F. oven for 15 minutes or until it’s heated all the way through. If reheating individual slices (like when you have leftovers), I like to place a splash of water in the bottom of a small baking dish before adding slices and then covering them. This creates a bit of steam during reheating and prevents the edges from drying out. Another (and opposite) popular method of reheating slices is to fry them in a skillet on the stove, embracing and encouraging the sides to crisp up.

This simple flavor combination of mushroom, red onion, poblano, goat cheese, and basil is just one combination. Whenever making a frittata I usually ask myself a couple of questions: What do I have that I need to use up that is at risk for going to waste? And, what is amazing right now because of the season we are in? In the late fall, winter, and early spring, I will rummage in the freezer looking for frozen chiles and sweet corn I’ve squirreled away. I can promise you that if I had any corn left I would have added it here. But I found poblanos in the freezer and goat cheese in the fridge, so this is where I began. Please consult the most important person when considering what veggies and things to add to your frittata (You!). What do you love? What’s in your fridge? What can you access at the grocery store or farmers market? 

The most important thing to remember is that in any baked egg dish, water causes problems. Because of this, it’s important that vegetables and meat are cooked before adding them to your egg mixture.

If you’re serving this as a main course, it pairs well with a simple green salad and fresh fruit, or you can make it a party and serve this with a decadent baked French toast (like the one I shared last week) or an assortment of pastries.

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Mushroom, Poblano & Goat Cheese Frittata

HDT - Sq - Goat Cheese Frittata - in a rustic bowl ready for brunch
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If you’re ever tasked with making breakfast, brunch, or lunch for a crowd, this frittata recipe might be right up your alley. I’m not sure it gets easier than this. No eggs cooked to order. The vegetables can be easily cooked the day before, and all that’s required is a quick whisk of the eggs, and a sprinkling of vegetables and cheese before throwing it in the oven for less than a half hour and voila!

  • Author: Marianne Sundquist
  • Prep Time: 30 mins
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 6-8 servings
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: bake
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Units

For the vegetables:

  • 3 T. butter
  • 1 lb. fresh cremini mushrooms (aka baby bellas), cleaned with a dry kitchen towel and sliced
  • 1 medium red onion, sliced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 fire-roasted poblanos, peeled, seeded and diced

For the frittata:

  • 2 T. butter
  • 12 large eggs
  • 1/4 c. heavy cream
  • 1 t. Kosher or large flaked sea salt
  • 1 c. fresh goat cheese
  • torn basil leaves, for garnish

 

Instructions

The mushrooms

In a large saute pan over medium-high heat, add the butter. Once it’s melted, add the mushrooms and onions with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Let them cook until the water inside them releases and evaporates, at which point both mushrooms and onions will begin to caramelize. Let them cook until they are a deep, golden brown, and turn off the heat. Transfer to a small bowl and add the diced poblanos. Reserve until you are ready to bake the frittata.

Baking the frittata

To cook the frittata, preheat the oven to 375 F. In a large bowl or pitcher, whisk together the eggs, cream, and salt. Place butter in a 10 to 12-inch cast iron skillet or a baking dish that’s approximately the same size. Place the skillet in the oven for around 5 minutes, or until the butter is completely melted. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven and swirl (or brush) the butter around so the bottom and sides are coated. Pour in the egg mixture in the skillet, and sprinkle in the cooked vegetables and fresh goat cheese. Bake for around 25 minutes, or until the frittata doesn’t wobble in the middle. You don’t want to overbake it, but you don’t want undercooked eggs on the inside either. You can also insert a small knife in the center. If it comes out clean you are good to go.

 

To serve, garnish with torn basil leaves and enjoy.

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Nutrition values are estimates only. See the disclaimer here.

Mushroom, poblano, and goatcCheese Frittata in a rustic bowl ready for brunch

Grapefruit Carpaccio

Marianne Sundquist · June 9, 2023 · Leave a Comment

We are teetering on the edge of summer bounty so last Tuesday I headed to the Santa Fe Farmers Market with the kids to see what we could find. We saw baskets overflowing with all kinds of salad greens, pints of snap peas, bunches of red radishes, and my favorite spring treat, white hakurei turnips (also called salad turnips). And just as we thought we had exhausted our search, we noticed a small table with microgreens and met the farmer behind Matt’s Microgreens, Matt Sherman. He showed us his sunflower, pea, radish, and broccoli shoots and it occurred to me that this is perhaps the best time to tinker with a recipe with microgreens, when flowers and vegetables are naturally in the midst of their seedling (tiny sprout) stage. I carried home a variety pack with a little of each of the four microgreens he had brought with him.

microgreens in a container

While local farms are filled with growing plants, here is the first taste. Ready to nourish us with their nutrient-dense and vibrant kick of flavor. I had been working on another recipe for this week but it will have to wait. When I returned home, I realized I had a few pink grapefruits and a good-sized hunk of parmesan cheese.

15 minutes is all it takes

This recipe practically made itself in around fifteen minutes before we sat down for dinner. One might think that something that tastes so delicious and looks so beautiful would be laborious, or at the very least, time-consuming to make. Not this salad. Grapefruit is the fruit I chose because I love it and I had it but many other fruits would be incredible choices as we move through the growing season. Apricots, peaches, nectarines, and even pitted cherries partially smashed before being spread across the bottom of a plate would work just as well if not better depending on what fruits you love the most. When chile season is in full swing, I guarantee I will be adding thin slices of fire-roasted poblanos along with the fruit for an added depth and grounding of flavor. 

slicing the fruit

I guess it’s a stretch to call this a carpaccio, but it seems right enough to me. Usually, carpaccio refers to meat or fish that is pounded thin and served raw. But with the grapefruit thinly sliced and spread across the bottom of a plate it has a visual similarity that cannot be ignored. And while this recipe could easily serve four as a side, it could also serve two as an entire meal, especially when paired with meat or fish. On the night we devoured this salad for dinner, we had also grilled a single ribeye steak to share and the pairing was better than we could have ever imagined.

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Grapefruit Carpaccio

holding a plated Grapefruit Carpaccio salad
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Usually, carpaccio refers to meat or fish that is pounded thin and served raw. But with the grapefruit thinly sliced and spread across the bottom of a plate, this simple carpaccio recipe has a visual similarity that cannot be ignored.

  • Author: Marianne Sundquist
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 0 mins
  • Total Time: 15 mins
  • Yield: 2-4 servings
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: carpaccio
  • Cuisine: Italian-inspired

Ingredients

Units
  • 1 pink grapefruit
  • 2 T. lemon juice
  • 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 t. dijon mustard
  • 1 t. honey
  • 1 t. fresh rosemary sprigs, finely chopped
  • Pinch of salt, pepper and red chile flakes
  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced
  • 4 c. microgreens of your choice, sliced into 1 inch pieces
  • 1/2 c. parmesan cheese shavings

Instructions

grapefruit supreme slices

How to supreme

First, we are going to supreme (remove the pith and rind) our grapefruit: With a sharp knife, trim both ends of the grapefruit. Set a flat side on the cutting board. Remove the peel by cutting around the grapefruit, following the shape of the sphere. Discard the peels and now you’re ready to slice. Make thin round slices and push out any seeds with a small knife. Lay these slices on a family-style platter or divide them between four salad plates.

whisking the dressing

Whisk and mix

In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, dijon mustard, honey, rosemary, salt, pepper, and red chile flakes. Add the shallot.

Grapefruit Carpaccio tossing the salad

Toss and serve

Right before serving, add the microgreens, and cheese, and toss. Pile this salad on top of the grapefruit.

 

Enjoy!

 

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Nutrition values are estimates only. See the disclaimer here.

plated with meat
Here’s the carpaccio served with a few slices of cooked steak.
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