Thayer in the Kitchen

In the summer we seem to get inundated with cucumbers.  This is another good way to use some of them.  It makes a good first course for a meal or a light lunch. Soup 1 medium cucumber peeled and seeded (about 11 ounces) 2 cups plain Greek style yogurt 1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt pepper to taste Puree the cucumber, yogurt, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor or blender until smooth. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Garnish or Salad Topping 16 grape tomatoes cut in quarters or about 1 cup of chopped tomatoes 1 small cucumber, peeled and diced 1/2 cup either fresh or frozen (defrosted) corn kernels 2 green onions, sliced thinly 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon sunflower or olive oil salt and pepper 1/4 cup slivered fresh basil leaves Combine.  Top each bowl of soup with some of the salad topping. Adapted from The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet by Barbara Rolls

These are delicious light blueberry pancakes with lots of berries that are easy to make.  If the batter seems too thick, add a bit more buttermilk. We got 10# of delicious blueberries from a Michigan blueberry cooperative organized by a generous neighbor in Madison who ordered 2000#!  We kept 5# and shared the other 5# with my daughter.  It didn't take us long to go through our 5#. 1/2 cup cornmeal 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 cups buttermilk 2 large eggs 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 1/2 cups blueberries Whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.  Make a well in the center and pour in the buttermilk.  Crack the eggs into the buttermilk.  Pour the slightly cooled melted butter into the other liquid ingredients and whisk everything together.  Do not over beat.  Some lumps are fine.  ...

This is the time of the year that many of us find ourselves with lots of zucchini and yellow summer squash.  I'm never unhappy to find lots of it in my CSA box because you can do so many different things with it.  I know that the latest thing is zucchini noodles.  I don't have a vegetable spiralizer yet.  Maybe something I'll need to get?  These squash cakes are good for breakfast as well as other meals.  The recipe came from Madison Magazine. 1-2 tablespoons of sunflower oil or oil of your choice for frying the cakes 2 cups shredded zucchini or yellow summer squash 3/4 to 1 cup corn (I used frozen corn) you could use 1-2 ears of fresh corn kernels 1/2 cup finely diced red onion (I used a white onion from our farm) 2 garlic cloves, minced (I used 3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced)  It is only available for a short time of the year.  It is milder than the cured garlic and must be refrigerated or it will get moldy. 1/2 cup organic cornmeal 1/...

This is a delicious dessert utilizing rhubarb.  If you don't happen to have enough mangoes, peaches or nectarines work well in this recipe as well.  I happened to have a little homemade peach ice cream that my son-in-law had made to serve with it.  It would also be good with store bought ice cream, whipped cream or vanilla yogurt. Rhubarb & Mango Filling 1/3 cup sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch 2-3 cups rhubarb, cut into 1/2" pieces (I only had 2 cups) 2 ripe mangoes, peeled, cored and cubed (I also added I ripe nectarine, peeled, pitted and cubed) 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Grated zest of 1 lemon Combine sugar and cornstarch.  Add fruit, lemon juice and lemon zest.  Toss to combine and set aside. Butter or pan spray for baking dish.  I used a 9" x 9" square pan. Topping 1 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup butter, cut into chunks 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup white sugar 1/2 cup unsweetened grated coconut (yo...

The combination of fish and potatoes in a creamy broth makes a very comforting meal for a winter night.  I found this recipe in a copy from a page of a cookbook: Blue Plate Specials.  Apparently it was a special on Friday at a cafe in Portland.  I have adapted it somewhat for our tastes. 3 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup onion 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 cups diced potatoes (1/2") no need to peel if the potatoes are organic 1# cod fillets or haddock if available chicken broth 1 can evaporated milk 1 cup whole milk or 1/2 & 1/2 3 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled Melt butter and cook onion until transparent.  Add pepper, garlic powder, salt and potatoes, plus enough chicken broth to barely cover the potatoes.  Boil until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.  Check to make sure there is enough broth and add more if needed.  Lay the fish on top of the cooked potatoes and onions.  No need to ...