'Tis The Season For Fresh Zucchini Blossoms!

by Melody Kettle

I waited a long time, but yesterday, the day finally arrived!

I was lucky enough to bring home from Grandma's garden seven zucchini blossoms.  With just a little tempura batter - an alternative I learned from Chef Ryan DePersio - I fried up the heavenly Fiore di Zucca, sprinkled them with a little Sicilian sea salt (my personal favorite), gave them a tiny squeeze of lemon and it was divine!

Zucchini flowers should be appearing at the Farmer's Markets soon, so keep your eyes open for them.

Here's my recipe for tempura batter:

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Salty Noodles & Cockroaches = Sour Grapes for Food Blogger in Taiwan

by Melody Kettle

photo courtesy of West Chester Dumonts via Creative CommonsAccording to an article in the Taipei Times, the Taiwan High Court sentenced a food blogger to 30 days in detention and two years of probation and ordered her to pay NT$200,000 (approximately $7,000 US dollars) in compensation to the restaurant. 

In the review, the blogger, surnamed Liu (劉), criticized the beef noodles as too salty, described the conditions of the restaurant as unsanitary due to cockroaches, and stated the owner was a “bully” by allowing haphazard parking in front of the restaurant.

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Kidsave Summer Miracles

by Melody Kettle

Jersey Bread & Butter Corn At Matarazzo Farms

by Melody Kettle

Matarazzo Farm in Caldwell has just received fresh Jersey Bread and Butter corn.  The farm stand also has outstanding Jersey tomatoes, anti-oxidant rich blueberries, and ripe peaches.

In addtion to local produce Matarazzo Farm is now offering 50% off all plants, planters, flats and hanging baskets!

Matarazzo Farm

216 Mountain Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006-4008

(973) 226-3289

Top Eight List: Versatile Vegetables

by Melody Kettle

I do love pork, beef, and all things encased, but vegetables are a truly versatile and delicious gift! But not all veggies are created equally. 

The greatest vegetables demonstrate adaptability, malleability and flexibility. Some can be sutffed, rolled, grilled, layered, fried, stewed, roasted, pureed, made into salsa, made into cakes, etc, etc.

On that note, here's Hot From The Kettle's Top Eight Most Versatile Vegetables List!

1. Onions

2. Tomatoes (For purposes of this list, it's a vegetable)

3. Eggplant

4. The Squash Family (For purposes of this list, they are vegetables)

5. Cauliflower

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Project Graduation via Midland Avenue

by Melody Kettle

It was pure goose-bump inducing excitement as busloads of MHS graduates paraded up Midland Avenue to an array of sirens and flashing lights!  Here's what Project Graduation looked like on Midland Avenue as  parents, clarinet players, pot bangers, drum players, and alums turned out in support of our local grads!

Congratulations to Montclair High School Class of 2011!  Please enjoy the video.