Western Garden Centers

for what grows here

Main navigation

Recipes

How to Roast Red Peppers

by

Red peppers are one of the best reasons to grow a garden.  They’re flavorful, delicious, great for snacking and cooking, and they’re so versatile.  You can put them in sandwiches, salads, burgers, or on eggs or pizza, or even use them in hummus.  I love roasted red peppers!  I bought a jar once at Costco, but after they stopped carrying them, I decided I would learn how to make my own.  It’s so EASY!  There are several methods, but this is the way I like to do it, because I think it’s the easiest!

You need a foiled-lined rimmed cookie sheet, an oil sprayer or non-stick spray (this is optional), and your beautiful peppers.

Preheat your broiler.  Mine has a high and low setting, I use high.  Cut the peppers in half lengthwise and remove the stem, membrane and seeds.

Give the foil a light spray of oil or non-stick spray and place them cut-side down.  Then give the peppers a light spray of oil.  I use my handy dandy oil sprayer because it’s cheaper than buying can after can of non-stick spray, and then it doesn’t have all the additives.

You don’t have to use oil, but I’ve done it both ways and the skins seem to peel off more easily if I give them a light spray.  Try it both ways.  If you don’t need the oil, then save some calories and don’t use it!

Look how pretty they are…just waiting to be charred!

Put them in your oven and wait for them to turn black!  I set my timer for 5 minutes, and then just watch them carefully after that.  These are just starting to char.

They don’t always char evenly, so I usually have to pull them out and rearrange them.  The peppers in the middle tend to take a little longer in my oven.  You want them nice and charred…these went back in the oven for some more black!

(You can also do this with whole peppers, and you can do them on the grill or over a gas burner, but this is the easiest way for me.  And I always like to follow the path of least resisitance.)

Once they come out of the oven, put them directly into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, or into a ziploc or brown paper bag.  They need to finish steaming so you can easily peel them.  Let them sit for about 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes the skin should easily peel off and you should be left with beautiful, delicious roasted peppers!

Then do something fun with them, like roasted red pepper hummus!

…

Read More »

Smashed Potatoes

by

My boys helped me dig some potatoes for our 4th of July family bbq.  My job was to get the potatoes out of the ground, their job was to put the potatoes in the bag to carry into the house.  It made me oddly happy that my 5 year old told me I was good at harvesting potatoes.  It also made me happy that I found three different varieties, and they just happened to be red, white & blue…on the 4th of July!

I tried to be really careful with my little pitchfork thing when I was digging them out, but some of them still got roughed up.  I figured it didn’t matter much since I was going to smash them anyway!

After I washed and boiled them, I arranged them into a patriotic potato flag on my baking sheet.  Just because I could.  On the 4th of July.

If you’re digging your own potatoes (and please do, I’ve never tasted anything like a new potato out of my garden!  they’re buttery and creamy and tender and amazing.  everyone should have potatoes in their garden!), be sure to wash them well.  Don’t scrub so hard that their tender skin comes off, but be sure to get all the dirt off.  Line your baking sheet with foil and drizzle with oil (or if you’re like me, use your handy little oil sprayer).  Mine had canola oil in it, but olive oil will give it a richer taste.

Smash them with a potato masher.  Be gentle.

Drizzle or spray with more oil, then sprinkle them with kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, garlic powder, and fresh chives.  I think rosemary would be fabulous, but I had chives in my garden, so that’s what went on.

Bake them until they’re crispy and beautiful, and you’ve got the perfect 4th of July side dish!

Smashed Potatoes

20 new potatoes
kosher salt
fresh ground pepper
garlic powder
olive oil
chives, minced (or other fresh herb)

Wash potatoes and boil for 15-20 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a fork.  Drain.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil.  Spray or drizzle with oil.  Arrange potatoes on baking sheet and gently smash them with a potato masher.  Spray or drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and chives.  Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden and beautiful.

Delicious Roasted Zucchini

by

I’m one of those people that gets really excited for zucchini.  I love it.  I love it a lot.  And it makes me really happy to eat it.  I love it in bread, I love it roasted, I love it in cake & brownies, and I know I’ll love it in the recipes I’ve been pinning!  (There are a lot.)  Roasted zucchini is so fabulous, we’ve had it twice this week, and I can’t wait until I have more zucchini ready to pick!!

Roasted Zucchini

4 zucchinis (or as much as you need/have)
seasoning salt
fresh cracked pepper
cayenne pepper
parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking pan with foil, spray with non-stick cooking spray.  Cut zucchini into thick slices, about 3/4 to 1 inch in thickness.  Place on pan.  Sprinkle liberally with seasoning salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese.  Sprinkle conservatively with cayenne pepper.  Roast for about 30 minutes, or until tender.  Then try to get some before your husband eats it all!

He kept eating all the zucchini, it was hard to get any pictures!

Copyright © 2020. Western Gardens - Privacy Policy