Tag: summer

Categories
Veggie

Crystal Miso Salad

one and a half slices local simple recipes food

Crystal Miso Salad

one and a half slices miso ginger soy salad noodles recipe thai

Single serve. Veggie forward. Cold. Clean. Fresh. & Crunchy.

🥢🍋‍🟩🌶️🫑🥒🥕🫚🥜🫛🥢

what you need

2 small Persian cucumbers, sliced lengthwise and very thin

1 extra large carrot, peeled and then shaved using the carrot peeler

the green parts of 2 green onion stalks, sliced

1 cup finely sliced red or savoy cabbage

1 cup steamed and cooled shelled edamame

1 cup rice vermicelli noodles, cooked according to package directions 

1/2 cup roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped 

1 small handful of fresh cilantro, washed and coarsely chopped 

🥢

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon plain miso paste

1 tablespoon creamy, runny peanut butter

2 tablespoons hot water

1 teaspoon sea salt

the juice of 1/2 a lime

1 teaspoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil 1 teaspoon chili oil (such as Momofuku)  

🥢

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

how to make it

Method: lots of chopping and peeling

Utensil: peeler, mostly

First, the veggies. Peel the carrot, chop the cucumber, steam the edamame, chop the cilantro, chop the cabbage, chop the green onion, and toss it all together in a mixing bowl.

Then, the dressing. Combine all ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously. Adjust for taste. It should be slightly thin.

Finisher. Cook the rice noodles and strain them into the vegetable mixture, careful to keep them somewhat separated as they have a tendency to cool together in a chunk. You can also toss them in a little sesame oil to help with this. Add the peanuts and toss everything once or twice. Then add the dressing and toss until everything is coated. You should have one heaping bowl full when this is all done. 

Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and eat with chopsticks.
more chopsticks
Categories
Cocktail

Ginger Peach Smash

one and a half slices recipe peach summer fall cocktail vibe
cropped-Transparency-01

Ginger Peach Smash

one and a half slices recipe peach summer fall cocktail vibe

Okay, one more to round out summer. A simple segue from summer to fall with some #datenightvibes and fresh peaches. What could be better than a tart, tangy, spicy fresh cocktail to welcome the fall leaves? This is the perfect start to Summer Sausage Orzo or perhaps a heartier Pork and Apples as a main. 

what you need

1oz brown sugar or peach simple syrup

*the peach simple syrup can be made as in the Burnt Peach Old Fashioned recipe. Otherwise, simple syrup is equal parts water and sugar (1 cup) simmered stovetop for ~20 minutes until the water reduces by half.

several chunks of fresh, ripe peach (or the leftover peach chunks from making the simple syrup)

3oz bourbon of choice

4 large mint leaves

Ginger Beer (I use Maine Root – it is pretty spicy)

how to make it

Gently muddle the peach chunks, simple syrup, and mint together in a cocktail shaker. 

Add some ice and the bourbon, and shake well. 

Strain into a rocks glass over one large ice cube and top with your desired amount of ginger beer. 

Add a peach slice or a sprig of fresh mint for garnish.  
More Peaches
skillet berry fruit cobbler easy oneandahalfslices

Flaky Cobbler

We find ourselves mid-way through summer with a plethora of beautiful fruits like blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and plums. The stone fruits – peaches, nectarines, apricots, and plums – are delicate fruits with high water content

Go To Post »
July 31, 2021 2 Comments

Peach Caprese

This is a continuation of my summer eats glorified snack dinners (see Watermelon Feta Salad). For when the summer months take hold, the cicadas ring true, and the humidity is as thick and sticky as

Go To Post »
August 11, 2021 2 Comments

Cashew Chicken Noodle

This is a great sweet and spicy weeknight meal, made in one pot with interesting fruity flavors and cashews! Pair with your favorite rice noodle (I like vermicelli) and sprinkle with Thai basil for full

Go To Post »
July 2, 2021 No Comments
one and a half slices summer and fall peaches simple dessert recipe

Crisped Peaches

Quite possibly the easiest, most summery, and healthiest dessert! If you just don’t have the energy for my easy stone fruit skillet cobbler but still need something sweet to make after a summery date night

Go To Post »
August 25, 2023 1 Comment
one and a half slices peach cobbler

Peach Cobbler

Cobbler is one of those things you can make on any weeknight with any fruit in about 20 minutes (plus 1 hour of cooking time). Top it with some vanilla bean gelato and serve it

Go To Post »
August 27, 2022 No Comments
Categories
Veggie

Girl Dinner

one and a half slices zucchini parmesan girl dinner pasta delicious
one and a half slices local simple recipes food

Girl Dinner

trust me you want it

I’m entering my level up era and I’ve been eating a lot of girl dinner. Yes, I know, girl dinner is french fries and a pornstar martini. But this girl dinner is a fraction of the cost and it takes like 15 minutes to make. At home. So you can continue doing #levelup things (or play videogames, either). 

also, have you tried the primavera version?

what you need

2 cloves fresh garlic, thinly sliced or minced

2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest

(optional) 1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 zucchini, cute into small slices

1 small handful of angel hair pasta

2 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup good parmesan cheese

salt & pepper to taste

how to make it

Set a pot of salted water to boil. Add your pasta and boil until cooked through.

In a pan, sauté garlic and zucchini until al dente in the first tablespoon of butter. Remove from heat until the pasta is ready. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter, all the lemon, and a bit of black pepper. 

Return to heat and add the pasta using tongs, allowing several tablespoons of the pasta water to spill into the pan (no need to drain). Toss the mixture once or twice.

After about a minute of sizzle and simmer, add the cheese and some salt and give the pasta another couple of tosses. Plate immediately and top with a bit more parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. 

more girl snack dinners
Categories
Cocktail

Summer in Madrid

one and a half slices oneandahalfslices cocktail recipe Instagram inspiration summer
one and a half slices local simple recipes food

Summer in Madrid

Loosely based somewhere afloat in the Atlantic between a French 75 and an Aperol Spritz, I bring you Deep Summer. (And yes, our Ginger really did spend a summer in Madrid…)

☀️

what you need

1oz strawberry simple syrup

1/2oz fresh lime juice

(optional) 1oz floral gin (I like The Botanist)

3-4oz prosecco

For strawberry simple syrup: 1 pint of strawberries and equal parts sugar to your water (so, 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar). 

how to make it

Combine strawberry simple, lime juice, and gin (if using) in a cocktail shaker with ample ice. SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE. Pour into a tall-stemmed champagne glass (the only kind) and top with prosecco. 

To make strawberry simple syrup: combine 1 pint of fresh strawberries (halved with tops removed) with equal parts water and sugar. Boil on medium heat for 15-20 minutes, remove from heat, allow to cool, and strain into a mason jar. Will keep in the fridge for several weeks. 

More Deep Summer
Categories
Cocktail

Tequila Wiretap

one and a half slices tequila craft cocktail recipe locally sourced ingredients virginia
one and a half slices local simple recipes food

Tequila Wiretap

aka The Infante
one and a half slices tequila craft cocktail recipe locally sourced ingredients

Something really crazy is happening… we are drinking tequila 💀 This cocktail is super unique. You want a clean, white tequila. It’s giving coconut and summer, but there is neither coconut nor summer in the cocktail. It is creamy without having any cream. You’d think the nutmeg would signal Christmas but it doesn’t (but it could…). This is one of the most enigmatic cocktails I have ever tasted. And it belongs… everywhere. 

what you need

for The Tequila Wiretap

*tasting notes of summer and getting into trouble in foreign countries

2oz white tequila (I used Casamigos)

1oz fresh lime juice

1oz orgeat syrup

1/2oz fresh blood orange juice

for the traditional Infante

*tasting notes of creamy July heat, a little bit like coconut even though there is none, and some say it tastes like soap (the same people who dislike cilantro…)

2oz white tequila (I used Casamigos)

1oz fresh lime juice

1oz orgeat syrup

1tsp rose water

how to make it

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ample ice. SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE. Pour into a little coup glass and top with some fresh grated nutmeg.

More Deep Summer Cocktails
Categories
Sweet

Lemon Coconut Morning Pudding

one and a half slices lemon coconut overnight oats breakfast easy
OneandahalfSlices food blog recipes One and a half Slices Virginia eat local

Lemon Coconut Morning Pudding

one and a half slices lemon coconut overnight oats breakfast easy

Okay, okay, this stuff may not look super appetizing, but it tastes fantastic and is packed with very healthy things that make for an awesome breakfast. You are talking something like 20-30g of protein (depending on the yogurt you use and whether you include protein powder). Not to mention the chia seeds, which are packed with fiber, protein, and healthy fats…iron, magnesium, all the healthy B vitamins… This dish is a great meal prep option for the week if you’re into that. I go in and out of Overnight Oats phases but this definitely tops the oats, IMO. This recipe makes one hearty jar. Double it or triple it and divide evenly between more jars for meal prep or other family members.  

🍋🍋🍋

what you need

2-3 tablespoons of chia seeds

1/4 cup of regular oats 

1 cup of nut milk of choice (coconut, oat, macadamia all work well)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon of lemon zest

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (I💖my Skyr). 

(optional) 1 scoop vanilla protein powder (so, if it’s a gym day, I’ll do this. My plant-based, easy-on-the-stomach protein powder of choice is Sprout Living and their vanilla flavor works well in this).

3 tablespoons fresh coconut flakes, toasted (flakes, not shreds!). It makes a difference. If you haven’t replaced your normal coconut with Let’s Do Organic’s Unsweetened Coconut Flakes and gotten into the habit of toasting them in the oven, this is your sign.

*Note: If you want to double up on the coconut, you can also use coconut milk from a can in place of nut milk. I am really enjoying Native Forest’s Unsweetened “Simple” Organic Coconut Milk. It has none of that guar nonsense. I am constantly on the hunt for nut milks without gums or stabilizers like Malk because, let’s be honest, I just can’t make my homemade almond milk all the time. 

how to make it

The vessel here can get interesting. You can use a mason jar (what the internet uses). You can use a drinking glass (what I use). You can use a tupperware (not recommended unless it is glass). 

Whatever you choose, place all the ingredients inside except the nut milk and, optionally, the toasted coconut flakes. Stir it up well! No need to layer. 

Once combined, pour in the nut milk and continue stirring. 

Cover and place in fridge overnight. Enjoy in the morning. If you didn’t mix in the toasted coconut, you can sprinkle that on top in the morning for a crunchy topping. 

The consistency will have thickened considerably but you want it more like a thick stew than like oatmeal, so play around with it until you get your desired consistency. The type of yogurt you use, the type of milk, and the protein powder all make a difference in the consistency. 

More Homemade Breakfasts
Categories
Cocktail

Burnt Peach Old Fashioned

one and a half slices burned burnt peach old fashioned cocktail recipe grilled summer
cropped-Transparency-01

Burnt Peach Old Fashioned

Tired of the simple Old Fashioned, don’t have the blow torch to make a Smoked Old Fashioned, but not quite yet ready for a Bourbon and Blood? Let’s add some summer peaches… The burnt peach Old Fashioned is the perfect Summer/Fall segue. You can use your grill… or not. And it pairs perfectly with summer Mains like Summer Sausage Orzo. This is by far my favorite Old Fashioned.

what you need

1/2 oz peach simple syrup

2 oz bourbon of choice

1 orange slice

2 small chunks of cooked peach (or really ripe fresh peach)

2 dashes cardamom bitters 

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 large ice cube

For the peach simple syrup:

1 whole peach, cut into 1″ chunks

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

how to make it

First make the peach simple syrup. Combine the water, sugar, and chunked peach in a pot with a dash of cinnamon and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until the liquid reduces a bit, turns darker brown, and viscosity increases slightly. Using a slotted spoon, remove the peach chunks and set aside for use in your cocktail. Remove the syrup from heat, allow to cool, place in glass jar, and store in the fridge for up to several weeks. 

Now, make your cocktail. Combine the bitters, orange slice, peach chunks, and peach simple syrup in a cocktail mix. Muddle. Add the bourbon and crushed ice. Stir until chilled. Strain into a glass over a large ice cube. Garnish with fresh peach slices and a cocktail cherry. 

If you really want to get fancy, you have two options: 1) Smoke this thing, or 2) garnish it with grilled peaches (whoa. flavor). 

Other Interesting Cocktails
Categories
Sweet

Crisped Peaches

one and a half slices summer and fall peaches simple dessert recipe
OneandahalfSlices food blog recipes One and a half Slices Virginia eat local

Oven Crisped Peaches

Quite possibly the easiest, most summery, and healthiest dessert! If you just don’t have the energy for my easy stone fruit skillet cobbler but still need something sweet to make after a summery date night dinner such as summer sausage orzo, this is your go-to. 

what you need

2 semi-ripe peaches, halved and pitted

1/4 cup nuts of choice (I used almonds and a handful of pecans)

1/4 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup brown sugar

2-3 tablespoons butter

Sprinkles of cinnamon and nutmeg

Vanilla ice cream for serving

 

how to make it

Arrange your halved and pitted peaches in a small baking dish and pre-heat oven to 350. 

Place nuts and rolled oats in a chopper and pulse several times until chunky. Add in the remaining ingredients and pulse a few more times until the mixture is sticky and you can make it into a ball, like cookie dough. 

Place one dough ball on top of each peach half and then mash it down so it covers the entire top of the peach. 

Bake for 45 minutes, let sit for 5 minutes, top with vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream, and serve immediately. They can be stored in the fridge and warmed oven for breakfast or dessert the following night. 
More Summer Recipes
Categories
Omni

Summer Sausage Orzo

one and a half slices oneandahalfslices summer orzo pasta one pot meal recipe
OneandahalfSlices food blog recipes One and a half Slices Virginia eat local

Summer Sausage Orzo

Well, we’ve done it. We’ve completed another legendary summer. From Yellow 2023 to substantial Gulf Stream boating, we have arrived back in Northern Virginia sunkissed, well-fed, and ready for a Virginian Fall. But before we say goodbye to the sunny season, I’ve got a collection of recipes for you that all share the theme of Deep Summer. We will end with one or two cocktails as a perfect segue into bourbon season. Perhaps you’ve still got a couple peaches rolling around. Maybe you’ve sun dried a tomato or two. These next few recipes are for you. We’ll start with date night Orzo. Then quickly move to dessert: oven-crisped almond peaches. 

So… it’s date night (oh no… you all know how my date nights go down). We are welcoming ourselves back to Virginia and into a swanky new condo in Arlington with a kitchen worthy of the Food Network. Our first Saturday Supper is right around the corner (#iykyk… the door is open, come cook with us!) Anyway, date night. Theme: deep summer. Drinks, vibe, music (see below), and a spectacular main course – spicy, filling, with a super complementary and unique flavor set that sits comfortably on the palate. It helps to pre-chop everything but otherwise this dish comes together nicely in just one large skillet. Emphasis on ‘large’ as this uses an entire pound of Orzo. It will easily feed a family or you’ll have leftovers for a couple of days. Enjoy your last little bit of summer, and pair with some Oven Crisped Peaches for dessert or a Peach Smash cocktail.

Credits

Recipe inspo: Half Baked Harvest (man, Tieghan does some interesting recipes, especially if you’re feeling quick weeknight Asian). 

Local sausage: Longstone Farm, you have my heart, and all of my business when it comes to pork chops and loose sausage.

🌴          🌴         🌴

what you need

1 pound loose sausage of choice

1 small zucchini, finely diced

1 large shallot or half a yellow onion, finely diced

1 pound of orzo

5 cups of vegetable broth

juice from half a lemon

3 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup of sundried tomatoes, thinly sliced

1 cup of good parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

a handful of fresh basil, cut into thin strips

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons dried oregano

2 teaspoons dried thyme

1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes

2 cups of fresh spinach

1/2 cup of half and half, or milk substitute of choice

how to make it

Place an extra large skillet over medium heat and begin by browning the sausage. Then add the shallot, garlic, oregano, thyme, red pepper, and sundried tomatoes, stirring until they soften, ~3 more minutes.

Pour in the vegetable broth and the mustard, stir briefly, and let the mixture come to a boil before adding the orzo and the zucchini. Let simmer on medium heat for ~15-20 minutes or until Orzo is cooked through (this took a while for me). You can cover the dish or leave it uncovered, but monitor the liquid to ensure the orzo absorbs everything it needs to but does not burn. Stir frequently.

At this point, turn off the heat or turn it way down to its lowest setting. Mix in the cheese, the half and half, and lemon, and the spinach until just combined and the spinach has wilted, ~2 minutes. 

Remove from heat, spoon into bowls, and top with parmesan cheese and strips of basil. Serve immediately. 

🎶🎧🎶

I’ll leave you with my summer vibes, in case you didn’t get to check the Yellow 2023 playlist collection.

Red Red Rubies – so named for its having come to life in the month of July.

For deep summer, gulf stream boating, and collage art.

Headliner song: Confetti by Charlotte Cardin. 

Cooking prep!
Date night flowers
Other things to do with sausage

White Bean Chorizo Soup

As we enter into the longest winter months with January barely having come to a close, it seems like it will never be warm again. These are the months for soups, stews, and roasts; hearty and cozy. This is one such soup. It is creamy (without any cream) and I hereby dub it my Winter Soup, topped with spicy chorizo, salty pepitas, and a dash of oregano.

Go To Post »
February 6, 2021 1 Comment
lentil sausage stew soup recipe oneandahalfslices

Viking Lentil Stew

If there is crisp in the air, you want this. You want two bowls of this. And you want it with parmesan cheese on top. It is the most flavor-rich, complex soup I have probably ever tasted. It leaves you full, warm, and longing to make another pot. The secret is in the quality of the sausage.

Go To Post »
October 21, 2020 1 Comment
Categories
Events

Yellow 2023

one and a half slices agent based model experience
one and a half slices recipes local delicious food

Yellow 2023

a Merigold experience
one and a half slices agent based model experience

Hey, Slices. We are here. 

Welcome to the beach.

To salt, sun, surf, #openflame, and each other.

Everything you eat (recipes!) and everything you hear (playlists!) this weekend are available on this very page. Please share widely, remember fondly, and keep an ear out for our next event. Please leave us a review, comment, or testimonial!

Taste

What you ate:

Other Crowd Favs:

Listen

The music we are all hearing is nothing short of cosmically stellar. Assuming you agree, here is the master playlist from the event with 8+ hours of music. Hit shuffle. Individual named playlists can also be found on my Spotify profile. 

Next

If you enjoyed Yellow there is lots more on the horizon. The Fall of 2023 will bring our Saturday Supper series in Virginia. You can follow along on the blog by subscribing, on Instagram by following, or in person if you’re willing to travel to Northern Virginia. Our table is always open. You can also find McKenna and her gorgeous sourdough on Instagram and on her Back to Basics website. We hope to see you all soon!