Rosemary Roasted Asparagus + Tomatoes with Toasted Sunflower Seeds

Rosemary Roasted Asparagus + Tomatoes with Toasted Sunflower Seeds
Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen – Ashley Covelli

1 pound asparagus, trimmed
12 grape tomatoes, halved (I used a mix of red, yellow, orange & brown)
1 shallot, sliced into 1/4-inch thick pieces
3 sprigs rosemary
1/4 cup mustard-lime vinaigrette (or your favorite citrus vinaigrette)
3 tablespoons toasted sunflower seeds

Preheat oven to 425°F. Place all ingredients except sunflower seeds on a baking sheet, tossing to coat, and spread out in a single layer. Roast for 10 minutes, stir and roast for another 10 minutes. Remove from oven and top with toasted sunflower seeds before serving. Enjoy!

Cucumber Ginger Fizzes

http://www.marthastewart.com/343410/cucumber-ginger-fizzes

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/2 cups vodka
  • 2 English cucumbers; 1 peeled and coarsely chopped, 1 left whole
  • 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
  • 2 bottles (750 mL each) sparkling water
  • 1/2 to 1 cup Ginger Simple Syrup
  1. Put vodka and chopped cucumber in a nonreactive container. Refrigerate 1 hour. Strain; discard cucumber. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use, up to 2 days.
  2. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the remaining cucumber lengthwise into wide strips; discard seeds.
  3. Fill eight tumblers with ice. Add 3 cucumber strips and 3 tablespoons infused vodka to each glass. Squeeze, then drop, a lime wedge into each. Top with sparkling water; stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons syrup.

Penne Rigate with Spicy Braised Swordfish

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/penne-rigate-with-spicy-braised-swordfish

1 tablespoon salt­packed capers
3 tablespoons extra­virgin olive oil
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 2 large jalapeños, thinly sliced
6 large anchovy fillets (I used 2 tbs fish sauce), minced
1/2 cup dry white wine
One 28­ounce can whole tomatoes, chopped and juices reserved
1/2 pound penne rigate (spinach)
1/2 pound skinless swordfish steak
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons chopped basil
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1. In a bowl, cover the capers with warm water. Let stand for 20 minutes; drain.
2. In a skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the garlic and jalapeños and cook over moderate heat until the garlic is golden, about 3 minutes. Add the anchovies and cook, mashing, until dissolved, about 30 seconds. Add the white wine and simmer over moderately high heat for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
3. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the penne until al dente. Drain.
4. Season the fish with salt and pepper and add to the sauce along with the capers. Cover and cook over low heat, turning once, until the fish is just cooked through and can be flaked into large, moist pieces, about 8 minutes. Transfer the fish to a plate. Season the anchovy sauce with salt and pepper. Add the penne to the sauce and simmer over low heat for 1 minute, stirring. Spoon the pasta and sauce into bowls and top with the flaked swordfish. Garnish with the basil and parsley and serve. SUGGESTED PAIRING Fruity Sicilian rosé.