Blue Cheese, Fig and Caramalized Onion Crostini

Final recipe with figs here today. A few posts ago I introduced figs as my New Food Challenge #6. Since figs are a delicacy in the student world, I tried my best to stretch my dolla and make 3 different smple recipes. Now I know there are a hundred thousand other recipes that you can do with figs. I tried to pick some easy ones that showcase the true figgy flava. But this is all this poor student can afford for now.  I stuffed figs with goat cheese and drizzled them with honey and thyme THEN I wrapped them in prosciutto and blue cheese and topped with a little balsamic reduction. But I left the best for last. Well my fave anyways. AND they are so pretty. Don't you think? Bring these to your next party and I guarantee a show-stopper moment.

Goat Cheese Stuffed Figs with Honey

Last post I introduced the New Food Challenge #6: Figs. So here is the first thing I tried with them. Super super simple and easy. Except it didn't turn out....perfect. The figs weren't ripe enough, I cut them too far down so they starred out, and I think I over cooked them because they were a bit mushy....*sigh* 

But like I mentioned last post, these babies are not uber cheap, therefore I wasn't about to throw them out and start over. I was gunna eat them anyways. And guess what? I liked them. A lot. I thought it tasted delicious. So I am going to write about it and correct the mistakes. Because in my opinion... this will impress the PANTS off of anyone you serve this too! SO THERE.

New Food Challenge #6: Fresh Figs!

Comment: these are green still because they are not fully ripe yet!

It is fig season! Yay! Well fresh fig season. You can find dried figs everywhere and anywhere. We are talking about the fresh, plump, juicy fruit (not the gum).

Did you know that a fig has multiple flowers growing inside of it? And SOME please believe that the fig was actually the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden - not the apple. WHO KNEW?

Quinoa with Corn and Edamame

Last post we learned how super awesome quinoa is.

But, I also learned that on its own... is pretty plain Jane. Nothing against Jane or anything, but that is just not how we roll over here at the Gourmet Student.

We put the extra in extraordinary.

Plus I was bored and needed to use the edamame in my freezer because they were starting to look a little .. blah.

New Food Challenge #5: Quinoa

Quinoa (pronounced keenwa). What a funky looking word eh? I know you have heard of it... it all trendy and shit nowadays. But it should be! Its a superfood!

It is a grain (well it is actually a seed) that is high in protein, rich in fiber and iron, it has a low glycemic index and contains a whole whack of amino acids. You can use it to replace any rice or grain dish you have. I have seen crazy stuff like quinoa muffins and quinoa pizza dough (soooo trying that in the future). It also keeps you fuller, longer.. which is pure awesomeness.

Creamy Pesto and Garlic Scape Potato Salad

Ahhh... potato salad. A staple at any family bbq/picnic. I don't know about you, but when I think about potato salad, I think of KFC, grocery store sides, Mom's recipe with chunks of celery, and a whole whack of mayo. Bring back memories? Ohhh yaaa. Actually not that many for me since I do not particularly like chunks of celery in anything. So I typically stayed away from it... or picked the celery out (my mom hated that!)

New Food Challenge #4: Garlic Scapes

We have all heard of garlic (well I hope at least). But has anyone heard of garlic scapes? Not me, not until this summer I have not. Well guess what, they are the flowering stalk that comes FROM garlic. Ever leave garlic on the counter to long and a weird green looking stem starts to grow out of it? Yep, garlic scape. And they are edible! And delicious at that.

Thai Eggplant, Mushroom and Parmesan Sandwich

Recently I posted all about Thai Eggplants as a New Food Challenge - the what, the when, the how.. and I followed up with Basil Thai Eggplants. But clearly that is not enough. Nope, not for this girl. 

Besides my ravenous hunger pains and my determination to cook a hole in my frying pan, I actually just had a bunch of  my Basil Thai Eggplants left over that I didn't want to waste. So with some sauce, a bun, a whooole whack of cheese and a friend to put heads together with, we came up with - ooey gooey THAI Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich!

Basil Thai Eggplant

A few days ago I introduced a new food: Thai Eggplant. Now I get to tell you what the heck I did with them! Like I mentioned before, the most common recipe that I found was Basil Thai Eggplant. So I decided to give it a whirl and make my own little version.

I thought it would be simple and quick and still allow me to taste the pure flavour of the eggplant. And it was just as I suspected... it tasted like eggplant... with some basil.

New Food Challenge #3: Thai Eggplant

Recently I wrote about the United Supermarket that opened in London, Ontario. I told you about all the fabulous produce that I saw! The longbeans, fresh horseradish, bittermelon, sugar cane and so on and so on. I made a decision right then and there - I need to buy something new and share it with you!

New Food Challenge #2: Baby Bok Choy

With Chinese New Year happening last week, I was in the mood for some cooking with an Asian flare. So why not use one of my most favourite vegetables: bok choy! I grew up on this veg and it is hard for me to envision a stir-fry without it. As I was about to post my bok choy recipe, I realized that not everyone has some Chinese family members, and not everyone knows what the heck bok choy even is!

But now you will  muahaha...

New Food Challenge #1: The Pomelo

Welcome to the first new food challenge! I have decided I really need to broaden my horizon and start trying some new foods. More specifically, simple ingredients. Just things you may walk right on by in the grocery store, or things you wouldn't look twice at at the market. Some foods I may try are actually ordinary to some people, and vice versa. But what the hey, we are taking this journey together right?!

First up...the pomelo. Pomelo pomelo pomelo. What the heck is a pomelo? Well it is interesting because I first heard about a pomelo from my mother. But not while growing up, only recently after I have moved out. I was home for the weekend and there she was, eating one at the kitchen table. "What the heck is that?" I asked. "A pomelo!" she replied as if she has been eating them forever and I am a nutball for not knowing hahaha....oh mom what a hoot.