August moon gives rise to local fare
August signals the end of summer, the start of school and time to start brushing up for tailgating season.
The Made in Oklahoma Coalition has four recipes to try that reflect the transition from summer to fall with the best local, fresh ingredients made in Oklahoma.
Sweet and Spicy Baked Beans work for a potluck or picnic, but everybody knows they can be a secret weapon for pregame tailgating. Embrace this recipe for hearty beans, which starts with sausage-fried onions. This version includes not only white beans, but black and kidneys, too. Topped with bacon before baking, the bold flavors from pepper relish, whole grain mustard, barbecue sauce and brown sugar turn basic baked beans into something special.
Watermelons are easy to find this time of year. Rather than bringing one to a party to leave to the host to deal with, consider carving one up into an elegant Watermelon and Spinach Salad, which also includes arugula, red onion and chopped mint. Perfect for gardeners. Feta cheese and a tangy honey-lime dressing balances the sweet watermelon and bitter arugula in this unique salad. Watermelon is at its peak this month, and the sophisticated combination of flavors makes this a salad worthy for special occasions.
The Coalition’s Coffee Ice Cream is a grown-up dessert coffee-lovers will embrace. It’s a great dessert to share with family and keep them cool on warm August nights.
Next time the family does sandwich night, consider the Rustic Grilled Cheese Sandwich. This grilled cheese sandwich goes way beyond a basic slice of cheese between two pieces of sandwich bread. Layers of arugula, bacon, Havarti cheese and bacon make this as good or better than your favorite gourmet sandwich from a diner or deli.
All these recipes and many more using locally produced items and fresh local ingredients; as well as information about how tax dollars help local businesses; are available on the Made in Oklahoma Coalition website, miocoalition.com.
These recipes use ingredients from Made in Oklahoma manufacturers with products byScissortail Farms, Bar-S, Braum’s Fresh Market, Henderson Coffee, Griffin’s, Suan’s, Seikel’s,Head Country, Triple S, Andrew’s Honey Bees, Hiland and Greer’s Ranch House.