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healthy hors d'oeuvres

Macerated Mixed Berries

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2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound mixed berries, sliced
  • 1 cup sparkling wine
  • 3 tablespoons coconut sugar

Method

  1.  Place berries in a large bowl. Add sugar and wine and toss gently.
  2.  Chill 30 minutes. Garnish with mint leaves to serve.

Back to Edible Art

Recipe and photo by: Jennifer Cohen-Katz RD LDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Fresh Balance Nutrition, helps clients identify their personal nutrition style to become their healthiest self. In addition to nutrition for hormonal balance, she offers cooking sessions and VIP personal nutrition services. Find out more at FreshBalanceNutrition.com.

Quick Pickled Okra

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Makes 3 pint jars

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds 
  • whole okra
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 3 sprigs fresh dill
  • 2 teaspoons whole spices, such as black peppercorns, red pepper flakes, coriander, or mustard seeds
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 1 ½ cups vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt or 2 teaspoons pickling salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar, optional
  • 3 wide-mouth pint jars with lids

Method

  1. Wash and dry jars.
  2. Rinse and dry the okra.
  3. Divide the garlic, dill and spices between the jars.
  4. Pack okra into the jars leaving 1/2 inch of space from the rim.
  5. Heat vinegar, water, salt and sugar in a pan. Bring to a boil. Pour brine over okra stopping 1/2 inch below rim of jar.
  6. Screw on lids. Let jars cool then store in refrigerator.

Back to Edible Art

Recipe and photo by: Jennifer Cohen-Katz RD LDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Fresh Balance Nutrition, helps clients identify their personal nutrition style to become their healthiest self. In addition to nutrition for hormonal balance, she offers cooking sessions and VIP personal nutrition services. Find out more at FreshBalanceNutrition.com.

Edible Art

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For summer entertaining, create a beautiful appetizer spread

By Jennifer Cohen-Katz

If it’s just too hot to throw an elaborate dinner party consider a lighter, but just as fun, appetizer party instead. Fortunately summer is just the season to collect the local ingredients for an artfully arranged cheeseboard, charcuterie tray or antipasto spread. 

Wander through the producer-only Howard County farmers markets to gather fresh items. For a colorful arrangement keep a rainbow in mind. Balance a white cheese with deep red and blue berries, orange melon, green herbs, yellow tomatoes and purple olives.  

Pick out locally sourced honey and small batch jams to wedge in for a sweet touch. Did you know there are quite a few apiaries nearby? Beekeeping has become a popular addition to Maryland farms providing us with the health benefits of regional pollens. 

Try to offer at least three cheeses. Whether you hit a Saturday market or go straight to a nearby dairy farm, you can give your tray a balance of flavors. Consider changing it up with a nice goat or sheep’s milk cheese. Balance a soft cheese like burrata with an aged cheese like smoked gouda. 

You’ll want a few bottles of chilled wine on the table. Our local Maryland wines pair naturally with native produce so ask for a great recommendation at your favorite winery. 

Many of the farms around us are raising quality animals to offer delicious charcuterie. Of course, a dish of fresh crabmeat or smoked oysters tucked into the display will really give your guests a hometown treat.

Our creative bakeries provide breads and crackers of varying shapes and grains to round out the arrangement. Each of these is a miniature work of art in itself.

You won’t have to travel too far in Maryland to pull together an attractive piece of edible art for delicious entertaining this summer. 

Macerated Mixed Berries

View Recipe

Quick Pickled Okra

View Recipe

Jennifer Cohen-Katz RD LDN, registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Fresh Balance Nutrition, helps clients identify their personal nutrition style to become their healthiest self. In addition to nutrition for hormonal balance, she offers cooking sessions and VIP personal nutrition services. Find out more at FreshBalanceNutrition.com.