June 25 is National Strawberry Parfait Day and Mahasti wants you to cool off with her version of this classic, summer treat. She recently shared this recipe on her WBIR cooking segment, where you can catch Mahasti every first and third Saturday of the month. You can also find all of those special recipes right here on our blog. bon appetit!

Tomato Head’s Strawberry Parfait

1 quart strawberries, washed, stemmed and quartered

1.5 cup sour cream

1.5 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbl powdered sugar

Your favorite Sugar cookie dough

Make your favorite sugar cookie dough. Scoop the cookies out into small balls onto a cookie sheet and bake the cookies for 10 – 12 minutes or until done. Ideally the cookies will bake up to the size of a half dollar. You will need 3 cookies per parfait. Allow cookies to cool.

While the cookies are baking, wash, stem and quarter the strawberries and set aside. In a medium bowl mix the sour cream, heavy cream, and powdered sugar together with a whisk or hand mixer, until smooth.

To assemble the parfaits:

Place 1 small cookie in the bottom of a glass or bowl. Top with about ¼ cup of sliced strawberries followed by ¼ cup of the sour cream mixture. Place another cookie on top of the sour cream mixture and repeat the process.  Place one more cookie on top and top with ¼ cup more of the sour cream mixture. Parfaits can be assembled up to 6 hours before, or can be eaten immediately.

25,000 people attended the fifth ever-expanding International Biscuit Festival and their taste buds voted our Ms. Pearl Buttermilk Biscuit the People’s Choice Award Winner ahead of 20 other signature biscuit creations. Mahasti shared her biscuit recipe on WBIR recently. In case you missed it, here it is in all its first place glory.

For the biscuit:

2.75 cups all purpose flour

1 tbl sugar

3/4 tsp. Salt

1 Tbl plus 1 tsp baking powder

½ stick unsalted butter

1 1/4 cup buttermilk

For the topping:

3/4 cup Mayonnaise

3 Tbl lemon juice

one 16 oz package frozen corn kernels

1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Black Pepper

1 cup Cooked Bacon chopped (In her version, Mahasti used Benton’s bacon.)

6-8 Roma Tomatoes

Salt

Fresh Basil – julienned

Slice tomatoes into ¼ inch slices. Set aside. Combine mayonnaise with lemon juice. Pour mayonnaise mixture over biscuit, spread around with spatula to cover completely. Sprinkle the cheese over the mayo layer, and sprinkle lightly with black pepper. Sprinkle corn over mayonnaise mixture, followed by cooked bacon pieces.

Bake for 20 – 30 minutes, until cheese has melted and starting to brown. Remove the biscuit from the oven and overlap tomatoes on top of biscuit. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, sprinkle with fresh basil before serving.

Serves 8 – 10

Mahasti’s most recent appearance on WBIR had her using a seasonal vegetable widely available at most Knoxville area farmers’ markets – turnips. For this recipe, Mahasti bought her turnips from Mountain Meadows Farm in Norris, TN. (Be sure to stop by their booth at the Market Square Farmers’ Market before it closes for the season on November 23.)

The popular root vegetable is a good source of calcium, vitamin C and potassium while being very low in saturated fat and cholesterol. By keeping the greens, you’ll retain the nutrition found in them such as vitamin A, vitamin K and beta carotene.

While popular in many fall soups and crock pots, Mahasti decided to create an enjoyable side dish that might accompany a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of soup on a cold day. The next time your family needs an excellent side dish, think TURNIPS!

4 cups turnip root, diced

4-6 cups turnip greens and stems, cut into ½ inch strips

¾ cup onion, diced

¼ cup oil

¼ cup honey

4 Tbl cider vinegar

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp black pepper

Turnips usually come in a bunch of 3 or 4 turnips with greens attached – one bunch should yield the above measurements.

Cut turnip greens from bulbs, keeping the stems. Cut the greens from the stems. Wash the stems, and roots under running cold water. Wash the greens by submerging them in a large bowl of water, removing to a colander and repeating as necessary until no sand or dirt remains in your bowl after lifting the greens out.

Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté for 2 minutes. Add diced turnip root and stems. Stir the vegetables, then pat them into a single layer and cover the skillet with a large lid. Turn the heat down to medium low and leave the turnips undisturbed and covered for 5 minutes. Remove the lid, stir and repeat the process above leaving the turnips covered for another 5 minutes.

Remove lid, add honey, vinegar, salt and black pepper. Increase heat to high – stirring only once or twice. Cook turnips for another 5 minutes. Add the greens, stirring to wilt the greens then leave turnips undisturbed until all of the moisture has evaporated and been absorbed into the vegetables.

Serve hot or at room temperature as a side dish.

Good afternoon! Mahasti would like us to share the recipe from the most recent appearance on her twice monthly cooking segment, hosted by WBIR every first and third Saturday of each month. We think this is the perfect recipe for the beginning of fall.

The onions and pears in this dish lend a sweetness to your plate that balances the savoriness of the collard greens. You’ll also notice the arrival of those popular fall spices – cinnamon, clove and allspice. Besides being delicious, those three spices offer a few health benefits as well. Cinnamon helps prevent inflammation and regulates blood sugar; Cloves contain antioxidants; and allspice has anti-inflammatory properties.

Try this recipe at home and share your successes with us on Instagram. Use the hashtag #tomatohead so we can find you.

3 pears, peeled, cored and sliced

¼ tsp black pepper

½ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground clove

¼ tsp ground allspice

1 tsp sugar

¼ cup onion, diced

¼ cup oil

8 cups packed, Collard Greens

½ tsp salt

1 Tbl Balsamic Vinegar

In a medium bowl toss pears with black pepper, cinnamon, clove, allspice, and sugar. Heat oil a large

skillet over high heat. When oil is shimmering add onions and pears and sauté for 3-4 minutes until

pears are soft. Add Collards and sauté for 1-2 minutes until the greens begin to soften. Add salt and

balsamic vinegar. Continue to sauté until collards are soft – approximately another 3 minutes.

Serve immediately as a side with Chicken or steak.

Our menu experienced some changes last fall. The tuna salad is no longer available but that doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy this classic lunchtime sandwich. A few of our customers have since asked for the tuna salad recipe and today’s the day we share it with everyone. In Mahasti’s simple to follow recipe, she’s substituted sour cream for mayonnaise, thus lowering the calorie count. The addition of Sriracha lends some tanginess, while chipotle sauce adds a smoky profile. The bells peppers, relish and onion add a nice crunch.

Enjoy!

1 – 12 oz Can Tuna in water

2 Tbl Onion, chopped

¼ cup Red Bell Pepper, diced

2 Tbl Cider Vinegar

1 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice

2  heaping Tbl sweet pickle relish

2 heaping Tbl Dill Pickle, chopped

Scant ¼ cup sour cream

1/8 tsp Sriracha Sauce

1 tsp chipotle sauce (from a can of chipotle en adobo)

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/8 tsp plus a pinch salt

Drain Tuna and squeeze out all of the water.  Transfer Tuna to a large bowl, add remaining ingredients and toss well with a spoon till everything is well distributed.

Serve on Flour Head Bakery Every Day White sliced sandwich bread.

The next time you’re traveling in Mexico and want to experience traditional cuisine, we suggest seeking out Sopes. They may be found in the food stalls of Ciudad Juarez or in sophisticated restaurants throughout Mexico City.

If you’re not looking to travel that far or you don’t want to settle for a cheap imitation that caters to American taste buds by covering everything in a ton of cheese, try this recipe that Mahasti created. The pickled onions really pull the dish together and are a great complement to the chorizo.

The recipe for the dough allows you to create small appetizers and a light snack, or one can make them into something larger and use them as a main course.

For the Sopes:

1 cup Masa Harina

¾ tsp baking powder

¾ tsp salt

½ cup plus 3 Tbs boiling water

2 egg yolk

1.25 cup Shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Place Masa Harina, baking powder and salt in a large bowl, and mix until combined.  Pour boiling water over masa.  Mix the Masa with a wooden spoon, until no dry Masa remains in bowl.  You may have to add a little more water.  Allow mixture to cool enough to handle.

Lightly beat egg yolks and pour over Masa mixture.  Add cheese and with your hands work the Masa into a smooth soft dough.

Divide the dough into 6 – 8 pieces depending on the size you would like to serve.   Roll each piece into a smooth ball.  Flatten the balls out with the palm of your hand.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment.  Lightly grease the parchment paper.  Place the flattened dough on the prepared sheet.  With your fingers work up the edges of the dough and flatten the centers.

Bake the Sopes in preheated oven for 15 minutes – or just until the edges start to brown.  Remove Sopes from oven and set aside.  Sopes can be covered with Saran wrap and refrigerated overnight.

Pickled Onion:

 

1 Large Red Onion, sliced into strips

1 cup Cider Vinegar

¾ tsp. Salt

1 tsp Sugar

1 tsp Cinnamon

Place all ingredients except onions in a small saucepan and bring to boil.  Place onions in a small bowl and pour hot liquid over onions.  Allow onions to rest at room temperature for 15 – 20 minutes.  Drain onions and refrigerate.  Pickled onions can be kept in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

 

To Assemble and Serve:

Shredded Monterey Jack

Cooked chorizo

Chopped Lettuce

Sliced Radishes

Sour Cream

Pickled onions

Your favorite Salsa

Top the sopes with Chorizo and Cheese – return the sopes to the oven and heat until Cheese has Melted and is starting to brown.  If you refrigerated your sopes overnight – allow sopes to bake until warmed through.

Place Chopped lettuce on a plate – top with heated sope.  Top with radishes, pickled onion, salsa and sour cream.

Serves 6 – 8

Colorful and seasonal, this pasta dish is an easy preparation for a winter’s day or evening. Mahasti presented the recipe on WBIR this weekend, but if you missed it, we always post her recipes to The Tomato Head blog. Enjoy!

Tomato Head’s Pasta with Cauliflower, Cabbage and Dried Cranberries

1 lb dry pasta of choice
Vegetable oil
4 cups cauliflower, sliced
4 cups white or savoy cabbage, chopped
1 Tablespoon roasted garlic, chopped
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups fresh spinach, chopped
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup walnuts, chopped
¼ cup bread crumbs
¼ cup Parmesan cheese

Cook the pasta according to package directions. When the pasta is cooked, drain, rinse with cold water, toss with ¼ cup olive oil and set aside.

Place Spinach in a large bowl. Add dried cranberries, chopped walnuts and bread crumbs. Set aside.

Turn Oven Broiler on to High.

Slice cauliflower, toss with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and place in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Place on the middle shelf of oven and roast for 9-10 minutes, just until the edges of the cauliflower begin to brown. Remove from oven and set aside.

Coat 3 or 4 large cloves of garlic with oil – place on a cookie sheet and roast under broiler until the cloves are golden brown. Remove from oven, allow the garlic to cool; chop and set aside.

Heat a large skillet, over high heat. Add ¼ cup of oil, cauliflower. cabbage and roasted garlic. Sauté the vegetables just until the cabbage starts to wilt. Add vinegar and salt, allow the vinegar to reduce for 30 seconds. Add the pasta and sauté for one minute or just until the Pasta is re-heated.

Add the contents of the skillet to the spinach bowl. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Toss the pasta until all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Divide into 4 – 6 bowls or serve family style with fresh bread.

We’ve been doing a lot with biscuits lately. Maybe it’s because we’re ready for a little fall to come on in or we’re just enjoying how versatile truly delicious biscuits can be. No matter, Mahasti shared The Tomato Head recipe for Sausage Gravy on WBIR this morning , featuring sausage from Benton’s Bacon. (Hint…you can only get their sausage if you visit their store, and it’s worth the trip).

The recipe is fast, filling, and will have you smiling about your morning all day long. Can’t stand at the stove today? Simply come by for brunch, served 10am – 3pm, and we’ll have the biscuits and gravy ready for you.

Tomato Head’s Sausage Gravy
¼ lb butter
½ lb Benton’s or other breakfast sausage
1/3 cup all purpose flour
4 cups warm milk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper

1 recipe The Tomato Head’s Best Biscuits

While biscuits are cooking:

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add sausage and sauté until sausage has browned. Add flour and whisk until all the flour is incorporated and no lumps remain. Slowly add the warm milk while whisking constantly. Lower heat to low – add salt and pepper and whisk constantly until desired consistency is reached.

Serve immediately over hot biscuits.

Yee haw! This is a good way to end a meal, have a snack, or simply enjoy a new cultural twist on a classic treat.

Mahasti presented The Tomato Head’s recipe for “Country Tres Leche” on WBIR this weekend. What makes it country? The recipe is based upon The Tomato Head’s “Best Biscuits” recipe, instead of the traditional lady fingers or sponge cake. Give it a whirl and let us know what you think.

The Tomato Head’s Country Tres Leche

(aka, Biscuits soaked in three milks topped with blackberry compote and cream)

For Milk Soaked Biscuits:

 

1 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 cup evaporated milk

1 cup heavy cream

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp ground clove

6 – 8 day-old biscuits

In a small bowl mix together condensed milk, evaporated milk, heavy cream, cinnamon, and clove.

Place biscuits in an 8 X 11 baking dish.  Pour 1 ½ cups of the milk mixture over the biscuits and allow biscuits to soak for 2 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Bake milk soaked biscuits for 20 minutes until heated through.

For Blackberry Compote:

 

1 lb fresh or frozen blackberries

1/3 cup sugar

Place blackberries and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.  Cook mixture just until sugar has completely dissolved.  Remove from heat and set aside.

To Serve:

 

Place each biscuit on a plate.  Pour ¼ cup of the remaining milk mixture over each biscuit, followed by ¼ cup of heavy cream and 1/3 cup of blackberry compote.  Serve immediately.