Remember the Cage Free Trio last year? Fully embracing MCM’s cage-free eggs (Tomatero Farms), the local jazz trio got their name right on Bartlett last year. Andrew has been playing music in SF ever since he was born. Sam teaches at Horace Mann just down the street. Please welcome back the all-time tip-earning champions of MCM! Help’em best their record!
Tonight: 5:30pm
One of the most exciting things about early Fall (more exciting than the new school year, even more exciting than Halloween!) is the plenitude of crisp fresh apples available. These gorgeous jewels make it extremely difficult to make it all the way home from the MCM without reaching into my Ecobag and devouring a juicy apple from Hale Apple Farm. On the rare occasion that self-control prevails, I immediately make this easy yet impressive-looking quesadilla, topped with raspberry salsa (made with fresh raspberries from Yerena Farms and ripe tomatoes from Tomatero Farm). It’s a great dish to throw together for unexpected guests and makes a lovely vegetarian entree, but can also be sliced into thin wedges and served as an attractive appetizer.
Ingredients
8 6” corn tortillas
2 medium-size, sweet apples, such as Braeburn or Fuji, cored and sliced thinly
8 tbsp. soft goat cheese
about fresh raspberries
1 small handful cilantro, chopped finely
2 tomatoes, cored and diced
1/2 jalapeño, diced finely, seeds discarded if you prefer a milder salsa
juice of 1 lime
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Directions
Place raspberries, cilantro, tomato, jalapeño, lime juice and salt into a food processor or blender. Puree until just slightly chunky with green flecks. Alternatively, chop everything very finely using a sharp chef’s knife. Set aside.
To assemble the quesadillas, spread each tortilla with a tbsp of goat cheese. Sandwich a few slices of apple and a few grinds of black pepper between two tortillas. Press gently to adhere the top tortilla to the bottom one and the filling. Repeat until 4 quesadillas have been assembled.
Heat olive oil in a frying pan or grill pan over high heat. Cook quesadillas, working in batches as necessary, for 2-3 minutes on each side or until tortillas are crispy and golden and cheese has softened.
Cut into wedges and serve with the raspberry salsa.
What better way to start the day than with a veggie-stuffed breakfast burrito? Stop by the MCM tonight to pick up fresh veggies from a variety of vendors, and farm-fresh eggs from Tomatero Farm. Wrap this yummy scramble up in warm whole-wheat tortillas and you’ve got a healthy, delicious and highly-portable breakfast!
Ingredients
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 red onion, diced
3-4 big pieces of rainbow chard, roughly chopped tough stems/veins discarded
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 heirloom tomato, cored and diced
1 carrot, shredded
1 zucchini, diced
6 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup shredded white cheddar or jack cheese
1 large handful fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
4 large whole-wheat tortillas
Directions
Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook just until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chard, bell pepper, tomato, carrot and zucchini and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until chard begins to soften. Add eggs and cook, stirring occasionally, until eggs scramble. Turn off heat and gently stir in shredded cheese and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Roll egg mixture up in tortillas with guacamole, sour cream, hot sauce or whatever else you like in your burritos. These are also perfectly delicious without added condiments.
Makes 4 large breakfast burritos.
This easy, delicious sauce is a great way to take advantage of the plethora of different heirloom tomatoes still available at the market! Whether you hit up Her Farms, Happy Boy Farms, Tomatero Farm or Blue House Farm, make sure to get plenty of juicy, near-soft tomatoes. While you’re at the MCM, also pick up some raw almonds from Winters Fruit Tree to whirl into this easy, unique sauce.
Ingredients
1/4 cup extra virgin olive
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 green jalapeño, seeded and diced
4 large, juicy heirloom tomatoes, cored and chopped (about 3 cups chopped tomatoes)
1 handful fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 tsp Ancho chili powder
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds, plus more for garnish
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and jalapeño and cook for 30-60 seconds, just until fragrant (be careful not to burn the garlic). Reduce heat to medium-low and add the tomatoes, basil, chili powder, almonds and red wine vinegar. Cover and cook for 25-30 minutes or until tomatoes break down.
Puree until very smooth. Serve garnished with fresh basil and more toasted sliced almonds.
Makes about 2 1/2 cups tomato sauce
