From The Garden – Hope Wissel

Another YUMMy recipe from Rachel at Wicked Good Spice Mixes. I love eggplant but hubby isn’t a fan so I haven’t tried this personal but it has gotten rave reviews from friends

Ingredients:

1/4 cup Wicked Good Basil Olive Oil
2 medium eggplants, unpeeled, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 large Vadalia onion, diced

2-3 tbs. of GARLIC EXPLOSION
2 – 3 tbs Tuscan Bistro
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes diced
2 cups plum tomatoes, diced
3 tablespoons BALSAMIC VINEGAR
3 tsp drained capers
6 – 8 fresh chopped basil
1 can tomato paste
1 cup olives (mixed and pitted)
2 stalks celery, diced
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 cup of water
Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium heat.
Add eggplant, onion, and garlic explosion, sauté until eggplant is soft and brown, about 15 minutes.
Add diced tomatoes with juice, then red wine vinegar and drained capers.
Cover and simmer until eggplant and onion are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes.
Season caponata to taste with salt and pepper.
Mix in fresh basil.
Transfer caponata to serving bowl.
Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold. (Caponata can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.)

A Wicked Good Idea is Born

The main reason the company was started was to show people how easy, healthy and fun it can be to make a delicious meal at home! Rachel always thought the hardest thing about cooking is how much of this spice and how much of that spice you should add. So go ahead and throw all of those spices you use infrequently and start using our spice blends! They are fresh and economical! Our blends are perfectly formulated to use for just about everything you like to cook.

The farmer’s market may be closed until the end of May BUT you can get these awesome products at the following locations:

502 Baking Company, 502 Brick Blvd, Brick, NJ 08724 (732) 477-4502

Berry Fresh Farms, 151 Brick Blvd, Brick NJ 08723 (732)477-0606

Cream Ridge Winery, 145 Route 539 (PO Box 98), Cream Ridge, NJ 08514 (609) 259-9797

Dearborn Farm Market, 2170 Rt 35, Holmdel, NJ 07733 (732)264-0256

From The Garden, 353 Fairfield Road, Freehold NJ 07728 (732)866-1745

Cedar Post Farm and Garden Center, 147 NJ Route 70, Lakehurst,NJ 08753 (732)270-8833

Delicious Orchards, 320 Route 34, Colts Neck, NJ (732) 462-1989

New Egypt Marketplace, 53 Main Street, New Egypt, NJ 08533 (609) 458-7900

The Lusty Lobster, 88 Bay Ave. Highlands, NJ 07732 (732) 291-1548

Twin Ponds, Rt 9 Howell, NJ 07731

Lovelandtown Grocery and Provisions, 219 Bridge Ave, Point Pleasant,NJ 08742 (732)903-6855

Princes Farm Market , 1123 Mountain Ave, Mountainside, NJ 07092

(908)358-3311

Have a great recipe you want to share? We would love to feature YOU! If you try this, let us know what you think…

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Today’s recipe is from my friend Rachel at Wicked Good Spice Mixes Co. I was introduced to their amazing products at the Brick Farmer’s Market about two years ago. Their spot was a must every week. From flavored vinegar to organic olive oil to spice mixes. The best part is they have a multitude of uses for some of their products. Who would have ever thought of using flavored vinegar in seltzer water for a refreshing drink?

I made this YUMMY recipe this week. I will admit, I had a brain fog MS day and despite having the directions in front of me I forgot the spaghetti squash, and the tomato paste BUT the end result was still delicious!