Yearning for a dry rub? Spice with heat? Sweetness?

Enter the world of ChezHelvetica food fantasies. A San Francisco Chronicle recipe for Dry-Rubbed Flank Steak with Spicy BBQ Sauce truly defines sensational, wowing taste buds with the heat of Smoked Paprika and Cayenne Pepper and the sweetness of Brown Sugar and Maple Syrup. Rubbed and grilled, the Flank Steak later swims in BBQ Sauce along with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Broccoli with Garlic. Organic Pain de Pascal from Trader Joe’s and scarlet Zinfandel from deLorimier Winery in Alexander Valley completed this course. Another summer dream appeared with a luscious Blueberry, Raspberry and Peach Dulce De Leche Crisp, thanks to Tory Farms, the VAMC Farmers’ Market and the magic of making Dulce De Leche from a can of sweetened, condensed milk. Fantasies fulfilled!

Time For Those “S” Words

Sun. Summer. Squash. Salmon! This evening’s repast featured Squash in a rich Zucchini, Yellow Squash Tart bubbling with Ricotta, Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses and hints of Garlic, Honey and Thyme. This FoodBuzz recipe is actually a galette, however, the ChezHelvetica pantry yielded a crust used for the dish. Blessed with the bounty of healthy salmon this season (and masterfully skinned at CalMart), a “Dilly Salmon Salad” sided with the Tart. With both Dill Pickle and fresh Dill used, just imagine the tangy flavor heightened by Lemon Juice and Dijon Mustard. Butter lettuce, just plucked from its root, bedded the salad. Parties that Cook provided our Blueberry, Raspberry and Peach Dulce de Leche Crisp dessert recipe. Succulent Peaches and sweet Berries from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market comprised the fruit filling with Trader Joe’s Pecans highlighting the Pecan-Oat topping. Then – witness the amazing transformation of a can (literally the can) of sweetened, condensed milk  – boiled for two hours –  into decadent Dulce de Leche! Our final “S” – Supreme!