Vardens Café Specialty Foods Emporium Paris, Kentucky, Recipes

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Specialty Foods

KY, US, the World.

Vardens has brought together the best food products available. We have taste tested our way across the Commonwealth to bring you the best selection possible. We feature not only KY products, but also foods from around America and the world.

Weekly Recipes

Those wonderful fresh tomatoes are in now the taste of summer! Here are some recipe ideas for a simple, fresh meal. Here is a variation on the classis Italian tomato salad, and a savory chilled soup to cool you down on a hot August afternoon. The relish is great on grilled meats and burgers, or as a dip. Enjoy!
-Steve

Email your favorite recipes to jessica@vardens.com , or mail them to: 509 Main Street, Paris Ky 40361 ATTN:Recipes and we will share them on our site!

Simply Fresh Tomato Salad

1 large red tomato, sliced
1 large yellow tomato, sliced
1 cucumber, sliced
8 ounces of mozzarella cheese,sliced
2 tablespoons of olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup of chopped basil

Layer all the vegetables and cheese and then combine oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Drizzle over salad and top with basil. Chill, if desired.

Chilled Heirloom Tomato Soup

1-1/2 pounds ripe heirloom tomatoes, cored and quartered (do not peel)
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 tablespoon celery salt
1 teaspoon ground dried Anaheim chili (or ground mild chili pepper)
2 tablespoons sherry-wine vinegar
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
20 fresh basil leaves

Combine all the ingredients with 1-2/3 cups water in a food processor or a blender and purée to a smooth liquid. Taste for seasoning.

The soup can be served immediately, but the flavors will benefit from ripening for 3 to 24 hours, refrigerated. At serving time, reblend the soup.

Serve in chilled soup bowls.

Tomato Relish

2 teaspoons cumin seeds or 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 pounds plum or other tomatoes, cored and roughly chopped
1/2 red bell pepper seeded, stemmed and minced
1 tablespoon minced onion
Salt and cayenne pepper to taste
Juice of one lime
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

If you're using cumin seeds, place them in a small skillet and toast over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, just a minute or two, until they are fragrant. Finely grind all but 1/2 teaspoon.

Combine the ground cumin, the tomatoes, pepper, onion, salt, cayenne and the lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Just before serving, toss with the cilantro and reserved cumin seeds.