Best Ever Secret Sauce

Looking for that special something that can be added to your grilled food that will be sure to impress friends/neighbors at the next cook-out?   This receipe from Williams-Sonoma Complete Grilling Cookbook is just what the chef ordered to get them talking.  Originally intended as a finishing sauce for swordfish, we find it has worked equally well on chicken, shrimp, and other firm textured fish, such as tuna.

What:  Lime and Cilantro Sauce (click on the recipe to enlarge)

Why It's the Best:   For starters, it has cilantro, and, if you're one of our regular readers, you know we're big fans of cilantro.  The subtle kick of the jalapeno brings the sauce to life.  Another wonderful thing about the sauce is that it's so versatile.  We mentioned that it works well with chicken and shrimp, and even though we haven't tried it on skirt or hanger steak, we think it would be delicious on those cuts of meat, as well (think fajitas).  And, we're fairly certain that, like us, you'll enjoy the taste so much, that you will set some aside to use as a dipping sauce for your finished product.  Lastly, it's quick and easy to make, and only needs to be refrigerated for 2 hours. That said, the longer it can be chilled, the better, and you can keep it for days.

How We Know:  This receipe has been a family favorite, and has been passed around for years now.  It's just a no-brainer to add a "zip" to the same old grilled fish/chicken.

Craving Level:  Bi-monthly, when grilling season slows down with the cold, but definitely weekly during the summer months.

Best Pesto Recipe Ever!

By Jennifer

We love Pesto -- not just in the summer months, but all year long. After 20+ years of making it, I believe I've found the Best Ever Pesto Recipe. It's, ironically, from The New Best Recipe Cookbook (from the editors of Cook's Illustrated) -- a must have cookbook! It's best, of course, when you make it with home grown basil and parsley (flat leaf is best), but store bought works fine, too.

What: Fresh basil, parsley, toasted garlic and pine nuts, good parmesan cheese and extra virgin olive oil -- what can be better?!

Recipe:

• 1/4 cup pine nuts (lightly toasted in a dry skillet for 4 to 5 minutes)
• 3 medium cloves of garlic (I use 4, and toast them, too, with the skins on for about 7 minutes, and then peel)
• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 TBS fresh parsley (I use extra -- about 1/4 cup of flat leaf -- it keeps the pesto nice and bright green)
• 7 TBS extra virgin olive oil, salt (to taste)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan (pecorino is even better).
• Place the toasted nuts, garlic, basil/parsley (first bruise the leaves of these together in a freezer bag by beating with a mallet, or using a rolling pin -- or if you have one, a mortar and pestle), oil, and 1/2 tsp of salt in a food processor, and process until smooth.
• Transfer to a small bowl and stir in cheese.
• If you're not using right away, place a layer of plastic wrap over the top and refrigerate for up to three days.
• If you're using on pasta, be sure to mix about a 1/4 cup of reserved pasta cooking water into the pesto before you toss through the pasta. ENJOY!

Why It's the Best: Toasting the pine nuts lightly brings out the fullness of their flavor, and the toasting of the garlic cloves is key to the success of this recipe -- it tames the harsh garlic notes, and loosens the skin for easier peeling. And, pounding/bruising the leaves of the herbs before using them releases more of their wonderful flavor.

How We Know: Family and friends love it, and we never tire of eating it (in many different ways -- on pizza, pasta, grilled shrimp/chicken, crostini with goat cheese -- be creative), and it's the first pesto we've ever had where the flavors of the basil and other ingredients aren't overpowered by the garlic -- no dead vampires in our bedroom the morning after!

Craving Level: Frequent -- especially in the summer months when fresh herbs are abundant.