Matthew Mead’s Blog

A new crop of ingredients helps me add a fresh approach to all of my entertaining ideas.

I don’t live close enough to a Whole Foods Market to enjoy shopping there everyday and thats okay.  I still feel like a “kid in a candy store” when it comes to my shopping expeditions and still get excited about all the new and tasty things there.  A recent trip yielded some quick and yummy ENTERTAINING SIMPLE ideas.

Dessert first.  This delicious sticky pudding pre made and packed in the cooler section couldn’t be an easier dessert.  Follow directions and top with a scoop of ice cream and you have a sweet finale that is as delicious as anything you could make.  Our taste test yielded gleeful praise… a cross between brown bread and a cake with a silken toffee sauce and chopped pecans.  I thought the vanilla ice cream might be a bit too much… but no, it truly added an additional layer and taste.

PESTO EXPRESS…

Loved this packaging and was delightfully suprised by a very fresh and colorful pesto inside.  I am thrilled to add this type of quality product to sauces,  roasted chicken breast or to flavor cold pasta salad.  We used it in a recipe for our Fall website and were thrilled with the results.  We also teamed the pesto with the flatbreads and some cheese and fresh herbs and ended up with a quick and tasty appetizer pizza that takes seconds to make.

INSTANT PESTO FLAT BREADS

3 minutes in a 400 degree oven melts the chesse and gives you a crunchy and savory flatbread that is perfect with a crisp chardonay or a minty mojito.

We used a cheese blend of parmesean, romano and mozzerella. 

I discovered some delicious new jams made by a local New Hampshire company, http://www.crookedbirch.com/.  They produce many different and delicious products in great packaging.  I purchased wild blueberry and strawberry rhubarb and besides looking great on my sunny windowsil, they are perfect for saucing ice cream, filling pop overs or mixing with cream cheese for a creamy biscuit spread.

 I made fresh blueberry tarts by filling min shells made of shortbread with jam and adding a couple of fresh berries on top.  There is nothing that tastes more like summer. 

I like to serve these with iced tea and garnish with the very tip of a fern from my garden.  Hope you are enjoying the berry season.  Check out my finds at Whole Foods near you.   Matthew