We’re getting a bit of a break in the heat where I live, but I know that’s not true everywhere. My garden continues to produce all kinds of yummy things, and that’s reflected on the menu below. I have Quadrato Giallo d’Asti Peppers, an heirloom sweet yellow Italian bell pepper, giving me lots of nice fruit, so we’re going to use up several at one go in one of the salads this week (sans lettuce, for my friend Michelle). It’s a traditional salad, but now I can see what prompted its creation! I’ve also got lots of tomatoes and basil, which is truly a match made in heaven. I’ve got my basil growing all around my plants for mutual benefit, and they really taste great as a result, and even better together.
There are a couple of ingredients that may need some explaining. Piri-piri sauce originated in Portugal, and from there spread to Africa and South America, so you can find it both in many stores, and even some mainstream groceries, in the African, Caribbean, or South American sections. If you can’t find it, anything but Habanero or Chipotle will do. Piri-piri has added garlic, lime and parsley, so if you throw in a bit of those, you’re golden. No need to make a giant search for this!
And it’s apple season, and pork and apples are a classic pairing. Pork chops n’ apple sauce, Andy! But with our troubles processing sugar, we can’t have a lot. I solved that problem by using the lowest-sugar natural source of apple flavor that I could find: one apple split six ways, and no-sugar-added apple butter, of which Eden Organic is the lowest-source sugar I could find—again, 3 tablespoons split 6 ways in a marinade gives a lot of apple flavor without adding too many sugars. I did find several recipes for low-sugar apple jelly, which was what the recipe originally called for. I didn’t want to put you to all that trouble when you can just buy Eden Organic, which I believe is available at Kroger, as well as many other national chains. This makes a nice, seasonal dish we can actually eat!
I’ve still not completely solved my computer issues, but hope to do so soon. More later on the blog.
