Quick meals - quick and easy recipes - page 136

Agua fresca means “fresh water” in Spanish, and that’s exactly what this drink is: a refreshing water-based beverage. Made up of little more than fresh fruit, citrus juice, and water, aguas frescas are the perfect way to cool down when it’s hot outside. Pair it with a Horchata for your Cinco de Mayo menu. What to buy: Look for the ripest melons available in the produce section—the riper the melons, the less sugar you’ll have to add to the recipe.

The flesh-and-blood Roy Rogers led an all-American life as a popular cowboy and country music singer. With his trusty palomino, Trigger, by his side, he conquered movies, television, and even was immortalized in a namesake fast-food chain. Today, young lads everywhere raise a grenadine-flavored cola in reverence to the King of Cowboys. Cheers to you, Roy!

According to urban legend, the Shirley Temple was created by a bartender at Chasen’s, a Beverly Hills restaurant popular with the entertainment set in the 1930s. Rumor has it that a pint-sized regular liked to belly up with this grenadine-spiked soda. Chasen’s was shuttered in 1995, but here’s a refreshing homemade version of Shirley’s namesake drink for all you teetotalers and youngsters out there.

Paletas are refreshing Latin American ice pops that contain fruit and sometimes cream. These dairy-free paletas celebrate the sweetness of fresh mangoes, with a little kick of cayenne added in. Special equipment: You will need freezer pop molds for this recipe.

Adzuki beans—also known as azuki or Asian red beans—are frequently used in desserts across Asia, in countries like China, Japan, and Korea. Keeping some of the beans whole in these creamy ice pops helps add a bit of texture. Special equipment: You will need freezer pop molds for this recipe.

Like classic Vietnamese iced coffee, this frozen pop contains strong brewed coffee and sweetened condensed milk. It’s a caffeinated treat that’s not recommended for the kiddies! Special equipment: You will need freezer pop molds for this recipe.

Padrón peppers, known as pimientos de Padrón, originate from Galicia, Spain. These small and slightly sweet peppers are generally mild, but one in every handful will be surprisingly spicy. They’re usually deep-fried, but grilling is a healthy and quick preparation that adds a smoky layer of flavor. Serve these tapas style as a prelude to grilled paella and sangría for the ultimate Spanish feast. What to buy: Padrón peppers are harvested in the summer months.

The classic, nonalcoholic version of a cream soda contains club soda, cream, and usually vanilla syrup. Our boozy version uses vanilla and ginger liqueurs instead of syrup and the creamy froth of Guinness stout instead of cream to take this drink from soda fountain to bar top. What to buy: Domaine de Canton is a ginger-flavored liqueur that can be found at specialty liquor stores. Navan vanilla liqueur is a vanilla-infused Cognac made by Grand Marnier.

Pegu Club bartender Kenta Goto’s lovely cocktail La Fleur de Paradis spends its evenings perched atop a weathered zinc bar, sipped by the beautiful people of New York. Our rendition of it using wheat beer instead of champagne is more at home in a plastic cup, enjoyed by folks sporting cut-off shorts and soaking in the sun on a picnic blanket or the open gate of a pickup truck.

The simple act of griddling a PB&J sandwich with lots of butter changes the whole thing, making the outside crispy and the inside warm and extra gooey. What to buy: We took the purist route here with peanut butter and strawberry jam, but feel free to swap in your own combination of nut butter and jelly.

When Hank Williams Jr. sang, “I don’t want no little ol’ Danish rolls. I must have ham and grits,” he was talking about the rib-sticking appeal of creamy grits and sautéed ham for breakfast. In our version we also throw in some cheddar cheese and a few dashes of hot sauce for a speedy yet filling meal. Game plan: To simplify your prep time, shred the cheese and dice the ham the night before. If you have preshredded cheddar, you will need about 3/4 cup.

This easy breakfast “pizza” is a quick way to use up leftover pita bread. In just about the time it takes to brew your coffee, you can have slices of this hot, eggy dish ready. And that beats a congealed triangle of leftover cheese and crust any day. Game plan: You can speed up the preparation even more by grating the cheeses the night before.

Earthy porcini mushrooms and salty Parmesan are a winning Italian combination. Ground and mixed with salt, they become the perfect seasoning for scrambled eggs, roasted chicken, or creamy pasta, pumping up those dishes with savory, umami flavor. Special equipment: You will need a coffee or spice grinder for this recipe.

Without any butter or cream to mask them, the sweet flavors of parsnip and cauliflower come through in this easy, comforting side dish. It’s a healthy alternative to the usual mashed potatoes served with braised short ribs or seared lamb chops. This dish was featured as part of our 5 Recipes for Fall Ingredients. Game plan: This purée can be completely made ahead. Cool and refrigerate until ready to serve. Rewarm, stirring occasionally, in a covered saucepan over low heat.

Knocking back a glass of Pisco Punch is a boozy part of San Francisco’s history. This potent cocktail traces back to the 1890s, when a bartender named Duncan Nicol invented it in SF. This recipe, adapted from San Francisco bartender and Small Hand Foods proprietor Jennifer Colliau, is an easy three-ingredient drink to mix: Simply shake pisco, lemon juice, and pineapple gum syrup together and serve with a pineapple wedge if you’re feeling fancy.