Well Fed Network

Posted by Brilynn Ferguson on Paper Palate.

Pure Food by Christine Cushing is a book that offers a wide variety of dishes that focus on freshness and flavor. The recipes are straightforward and emphasize using seasonal ingredients in a way that suits them best. The layout is clean and the photos are bright and inviting. The book begins with a shopping, organizing, and produce companion that provides suggestions for a well-stocked pantry as well as tips on how to use ingredients that you may not be as familiar with. The recipes are divided into seven chapters: Salads, Dips & Starters, Fish & Seafood, Poultry, Meat, Grains & Starches, Veggies & Sides, and finally Fruit & Desserts.  Prep time and cooking time are listed with each recipe and are generally under an hour with some being much less so. Seasonal availability of ingredients is also given with each recipe, which is a nice touch.

As Christine describes at the beginning of the book, there are five very important factors that are woven throughout the book:

Flavour, Flavour, Flavour

Quality of Ingredients

In Season

Ease of Preparation

Health

Those, combined with the implied factor of fun (as all cooking should be fun), create a nice balance of recipes and tastes. The Strawberry Mango Mojito Salad looked too delicious for me to pass up, and it was the first thing I made. I added some kiwis because I had them on hand and opted to rim the class with sugar, but otherwise stuck to the recipe.

Strawberry Mango Mojito Salad (from Pure Food by Christine Cushing)

1 pint fresh ripe strawberries, hulled and cut in half
1 medium Atulfo mango, peeled and diced (Atulfo is less stringy than other varieties)
¼ cup granulated sugar (60mL)
½ bunch fresh mint leaves, washed and chopped finely
Grated zest and juice of 1 lime
2 oz white rum (50mL) or to taste

Combine the strawberries and mango in a medium bowl.  Sprinkle with sugar, mint leaves, lime juice, zest and rum.

Let stand for about 30 minutes to develop its flavour.

For maximum impact, serve in a martini or rock glass with fresh mint sprigs and a lime slice on the rim of the glass.