Summer Barbecue Tray Bake

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Yield: 4 servings

1¾ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs

1/3 + ¼ cup barbecue sauce

2 & 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

3 large ears of corn, kernels removed (cobs discarded), approximately 3½ to 4 cups

2 medium zucchini (3/4 pound), diced medium, approximately 2½ to 3 cups

1 pint (3/4 pound) grape tomatoes

20 (3-inch sprigs) fresh thyme

10 large cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

4-ounces Feta cheese, crumbled, approximately 1 cup

4 tablespoons butter, diced into 16 cubes

1 lemon, very thinly sliced, seeds removed

Set an oven rack to the upper middle position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a sheet tray with aluminum foil and then line the sheet tray with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, add the chicken thighs, 1 teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Mix to combine. Add 1/3 cup barbecue sauce and stir to combine. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add the corn kernels, zucchini, tomatoes, thyme, garlic, 1&1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper and olive oil. Stir to combine.

Spread vegetables out evenly on the parchment/aluminum lined sheet tray.

Sprinkle feta over the vegetables. Evenly disperse the butter atop the vegetables followed by the lemon slices.

Place the chicken thighs in the four corners of the sheet tray, with the thickest part of the thighs closest to the edge/corner of the sheet tray. If you have more than 4 thighs, place the thickest portion of any additional thighs closest to the edge of the sheet tray.

Bake for 30 minutes, flipping the chicken thighs after 15 minutes. Remove sheet tray from the oven and spoon or brush on the remaining ¼ cup barbecue sauce on the chicken thighs (side up only). Transfer back to the oven, set oven to broil and broil for 4 to 5 minutes, until tomatoes and lemons blister and the chicken starts to char.

Remove the sheet tray from the oven and serve a spoonful of the lemony feta vegetables into shallow bowls. Top each with a chicken thigh. Serve some extra barbecue sauce on the side to dollop on the chicken.

Note: to make vegetarian, simply sub chicken thighs for extra firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch slices and follow the recipe as is

Honey Buttermilk Panna Cotta

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Yield: 8 servings

Panna Cotta:

1 packet powdered unflavored gelatin (2 teaspoons)

3 tablespoons cold water

1 cup heavy whipping cream

⅓ cup honey, preferably orange blossom

2½ cups buttermilk

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Nonstick spray

1. Prepare eight 4-ounce ramekins by lightly spraying nonstick spray into each and wiping gently with a paper towel to distribute the spray evenly along the sides and bottom.

2. Add the gelatin to the cold water in a medium bowl, and allow to bloom (soften) for 5 minutes; do not stir.

3. Meanwhile, stir the heavy whipping cream and honey together in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the honey is fully dissolved at just barely a simmer.

4. Slowly add the warm honey cream to the gelatin and stir until the gelatin is fully dissolved.

5. Pour the buttermilk into a large bowl (or a large pitcher for easier pouring) and, stirring continuously, slowly pour the warm cream mixture into the buttermilk.

6. Stir in the vanilla.

7. Fill the ramekins equally and refrigerate uncovered for approximately 5 hours until chilled and completely set.

8. To unmold the panna cotta, dip the bottom of each ramekin into very hot water for 45 seconds, or until you can see the panna cotta just beginning to melt around the sides. You may also take a knife and run it around the inner circumference of each ramekin. Place a dessert plate on top of the ramekin, then holding both the ramekin and plate, simply invert. Sometimes you may have to give it a little shake—not you, the ramekin. Remove the ramekin and serve each panna cotta with either fresh berries or preserves sauce (recipe below).

Preserves Sauce:

½ cup 100%-fruit strawberry or raspberry preserves

2 tablespoons water

Over low heat, in a small saucepan, mix together the preserves with the water until warm. Strain the warm preserves though a small strainer, pushing on the preserves with the back of a spoon to strain out the seeds.

Raw Kale Salad with Toasted Almonds, Apples, Avocado and an Orange Vinaigrette

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Yield: 4 servings

Salad:

3 large oranges

1 bunch curly kale, de-stemmed, leaves rolled up and sliced into thin strips (chiffonade)

¼ cup toasted, salted almonds, chopped roughly

¼ cup toasted, salted pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

¼ cup toasted, salted sunflower seeds

½ cup dried cranberries

5 small carrots, peeled and chopped roughly

1 large apple, unpeeled, cored and diced small (preferably Pink Lady, Gala or Honeycrisp)

1 large Haas avocado, pitted and diced medium

Kosher salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1/2 cup fresh feta cheese, crumbled

Vinaigrette:

1 medium shallot, peeled and diced finely (3 tablespoons)

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice (from the oranges)

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Cut the peel and pith off the oranges, then segment them by cutting between the dividers. Discard any seeds, but reserve the juice for the vinaigrette.

In a medium container with a tight fitting lid, combine the vinaigrette ingredients, close the lid tightly, and shake well to combine. Or, whisk to combine the ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.

Add the kale, nuts, seeds, cranberries, carrots, apple, avocado and orange segments to a large serving bowl. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper and additional orange juice as needed. Serve in bowls and top with some crumbled feta.

Boozy Apple Clafoutis

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Yield: 8 to 10 servings

2 cups whole milk

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar, divided

5 whole large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

¼ cup Gran Marnier

1/3 cup white miso

1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

3 medium apples (1¼ pound) (any apple you like eating), peeled, cored and thinly sliced

Adjust an oven rack to the middle position, then preheat the oven to 375ºF.

Add milk and 2 tablespoons butter to a small saucepan set over low heat. Heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture just begins to steam. Remove from heat and set aside.

Add the flour and ¾ cup of the sugar to a medium bowl. Whisk to combine. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, Gran Marnier and miso. Whisk until well combined. While whisking continuously, slowly stream in the warm milk mixture into the medium mixing bowl. Set aside.

Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter, ¼ cup of sugar, cinnamon and cloves in a large (12-inch) oven safe nonstick pan. Set over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, stir to combine with a rubber spatula. Distribute the apples atop the mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples begin to soften, approximately 5 minutes.

Immediately pour the batter from the medium mixing bowl over the apples. Do not stir.

Transfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes. The dish will soufflé and the edges should be lightly browned.

Remove from the oven and let sit in the pan, undisturbed, for 10 minutes. It will deflate and the clafoutis will pull away from the edges.

After 10 minutes, place a large cutting board on top of the nonstick pan, then holding both the cutting board and pan, invert the clafoutis.

You can slice and serve while it’s still hot (it may be a bit messy, but it’s still delicious) or you can serve at room temperature. It will firm as it cools.

Serve as is (inverted) or if room temperature or chilled (aka easier to work with), you can flip the clafoutis to be apple side up.

Optional toppings: powdered sugar, whipped cream, ice cream

Ras al Hanout Spiced Flank Steak Skewers with Couscous and Spicy Orange Citronette

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Yield: 4 servings

Flank Steak

1¼ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons garlic paste, cloves grated on a microplane

2 tablespoons ras al hanout

1½ teaspoon ground coriander

1½ teaspoon ground cumin

1 tablespoon dark brown sugar

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

1 pound flank steak, cut into ¼-inch slices against the grain

Neutral oil for cleaning the grill

Mix the salt, pepper, garlic, ras al hanout, coriander, cumin, brown sugar, olive oil and orange juice in a medium bowl until a paste is formed.

Add the steak and mix thoroughly to coat all the steak in the paste.

Thread steak on skewers, fitting approximately 2 to 3 pieces per skewer.

Turn your grill burners to high, to preheat your grill, for 15 minutes.

(Tip: while your grill is preheating, continue with the recipe)

After 15 minutes, clean the grill, then, using tongs, lightly dip a cloth in neutral oil and wipe to coat the grill rack.

Transfer skewers to the grill and cook, uncovered, over high heat, for 5 to 7  minutes, flipping the skewers once halfway through. Transfer skewers to an aluminum-lined sheet tray (for easy clean up) and tent with foil to keep warm until service.

Alternatively, you can cook skewers on an aluminum foil lined sheet tray under your broiler, for approximately 7 minutes, flipping once halfway through.

Orange Citronette

½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon harissa spice paste

Whisk ingredients together in a small bowl.

Couscous

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 large shallot, peeled and diced small

1½ cups couscous

¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¾ teaspoon ground coriander

½ teaspoon kosher salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½ cup roughly chopped dates

½ cup roughly chopped dried apricots

2/3 cup golden raisins

½ teaspoon orange zest

2 cups chicken stock

¼ cup roughly chopped mint leaves

¼ cup roughly chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley leaves

2/3 cup pomegranate seeds

½ cup roughly chopped roasted, salted pistachios

Heat the butter in a 3 quart saucepan over medium-high heat until the butter foams up, subsides, and begins to turn a light golden brown.

Add the shallot, stir and cook for 1 minute.

Add the couscous and cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously, until the couscous is warm and thoroughly coated with the butter. Add the cinnamon, coriander, salt and pepper, stir and cook for approximately 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add the dried fruit and orange zest and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 minute. Add the stock, stir and bring to a simmer. Cover. Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes.

To serve, drizzle half of the orange citronette over the couscous and then fluff the couscous with a large serving fork. Transfer couscous to a serving dish and top with the mint, parsley, pomegranate and pistachios. Top with the steak skewers and pass around the remaining citronette for people to drizzle over their serving.

Harissa Braised Chickpeas with Potatoes and Spinach

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Yield: 4 to 6 servings

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 medium yellow onion, peeled and diced small

3 large carrots, peeled and diced medium

3 celery stalks, diced medium

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

6 large garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped

1 tablespoon lemon zest, grated on a Microplane

3 tablespoons harissa, plus more to taste

1 pound potatoes (your choice), cut into ½-inch cubes

1 (15.5-ounce) cans chickpeas (do not drain)

4 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock

1 (16–ounce) bag frozen spinach (loose leaf, not a block)

1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

Kosher salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

½ cup plain Greek yogurt, sour cream or crème fraiche

Add the olive oil, onions, carrots, celery, salt and pepper to a 5.5 quart Dutch oven or small pot and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft and translucent, 10 to 12 minutes.

Add the garlic, lemon zest and harissa. Stir and cook until fragrant, 1 minute.

Add the potatoes, chickpeas (with their liquid) and stock. Cover and increase the heat to high to bring to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the potatoes are cooked through, approximately 15 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in the frozen spinach until fully incorporated and thawed. Stir in vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper and additional vinegar.

Serve in bowls topped with a dollop of yogurt and, if you’re game, stir in additional harissa.