"caprese salad" news and stories

For those who live in areas where summer, fall, winter, and spring are more than just seasonal tags that tell you what month it is, September is both an exciting and sad time. As the warmth slowly fades away, it's time to revel in squash and all those warm, tasty dishes. But it also means an end to the overabundance of freshness, the time where each week can be an adventure into new produce. The vegetables in the grocery store aren't the same wonderful rainbow of colors. It becomes harder to find the same depth of flavor.

Me, I look at the heirloom caprese salad above, which I ate only a few weeks ago, and wish that the produce season could be just a little longer. I'll miss buying a large basket of tomatoes for only $6, and saturating myself in salsa, sauce, and fresh slices of tomato. I'll miss the large, affordable bunches of basil that work better than any air freshener.

What about you? What summer foods will you miss?

Oh summer, what will we do when you're over? We certainly won't be making gorgeous salads like the one you see above. There's truly nothing better than the combination of fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes and roughly torn basil leaves and this is a lovely interpretation of the classic.

Thanks to Lindsay, for adding this tasty pic to the Slashfood pool.

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Years ago, my friend showed me pictures of her tasty speared caprese salad appetizers -- a mainstay at her cocktail parties. Now, whenever it comes time to think about funky salads or tasty appetizers, I think back to her skewers and wonder how I can change them up into something new. What follows is one way that is absolutely perfect for kids.

Miniature Speared Caprese Salad Bites

Ingredients:

Miniature balls of bocconcini
Cherry tomatoes
Fresh basil
Sea salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
Vinegar (optional)

Plus: plastic cocktail swords

Assembly:

All the kids need to do is grab a cocktail sword, and alternate between the ingredients until its full. The easiest way would be to either do a cheese-basil-tomato-cheese configuration, or a tomato-basil-cheese-basil-tomato configuration. How much will fit on each sword depends on the size of the tomatoes, and the cheese. If size becomes an issue -- cut the bocconcini and tomatoes in half before skewering.

If your kids are allowed to use knives, they can slice the tomatoes in half first, or keep them whole. If you're not able to get fresh basil, substitute a sprinkling of the dried variety. It's not quite the same, but it will do in a pinch.

After they're assembled on a plate/tray, drizzle lightly with your evoo (and vinegar if it's being used) and then sprinkle the top with some salt and pepper.

What results is a fun appetizer or finger food start to the dinner, and it's one that your kids can have fun both making and playing with after -- once the mini salads have been eaten.

You know him as the rapper behind the hit Gangsta's Paradise. But, did you know he has some serious skills in the kitchen as well? Coolio can really cook and he's showing off his skills in a new show called Cooking with Coolio on My Damn Channel.

In his first episode he whips up a really tasty looking Caprese Salad with skill and style. In anticipation of his new show, he answered a few questions for the Slashfood readers about food, how he learned to cook and what he hopes people will take away from his new show. Read the interview and check out the show*!

*There is some inappropriate language in the show, so watch with caution. It is probably not safe for work or impressionable ears.

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Despite the cold weather and overcast skies that have suddenly turned into storm clouds, southern Californians seem to think it's...summer? The Los Angeles Times Food section today was about grilling, salads, ad margaritas.

• Charles Perry barbecues, but keeps it seasonal with Onion Burgers and Winter Roast Pork with Basil Pomegranate Sauce.
• Summer salads can be transformed into winter wonders with a few tweaks: Insalata Pontormo (Warm salad with pancetta and eggs), Winter Caprese, and Fennel, green apple and watercress salad.
• Sunny carrots are perfectly sweet for: Carrot-thyme timbales, Carrot-cashew salad, and Carrots with chive cream.
• SIV gives a half star (½*) to Scarboni, a new steakhouse near 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.
• Winterizing isn't just for your windows; make margaritas work in January.