Zatar Flat Bread

Zatar (sometimes za'atar) is a lovely Middle Eastern spice made up (usually) of a blend of salt, sumac (a tart red dried fruit powder), sesame seeds and thyme. I roll out some store bought pizza dough (from Trader Joe’s) and drizzle it with lots of olive oil. Then sprinkle with a good amount of zatar and a pinch of sea salt. Bake on a cookie sheet until brown on the bottom and then rip off pieces to dip in a bowl of thick greek yogurt that’s been sprinkled with a bit more olive oil and zatar. Enjoy!

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Summer Evening at the Farmer's Market

I love this time of the year when farmers markets start happening in the evening downtown. There’s nothing better at the end of the day than a stroll through the market, basket in hand, the smell of fresh fruit and herbs in the air. After a recent visit to our local farmers market, we stopped off for a walk in the now golden Bay Area hills, before heading home to make Red Roasted Carrots and a Chard Quiche for dinner.

Hope you have time to make it to your local farmers market this weekend!

Artwork & Recipe by Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Prosciutto e Melone

While studying art in college for a year in Italy, I discovered the classic Italian antipasto, Prosciutto e Melone (prosciutto and melon). It couldn’t be simpler or tastier on a warm summer evening before dinner! I suggest enjoying it with a Campari aperitif (like Campari and soda) or a glass of chilled Rosé wine. In Italy, the melon slices are cut large, as above, but for parties I like to prepare bite sized cubes of melon wrapped in prosciutto (and a little toothpick to hold each together). Buon Appetito!

by Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Strawberry Caprese

Very excited to have my Strawberry Caprese recipe featured as a double page spread in the current issue of Edible San Francisco Magazine! This salad is so simple and summery- try it with a glass of crisp, cold white wine. The magazine’s Summer issue is fantastic- it hits the shelves early next week, but in the meantime you can see the online version here.

Strawberry Caprese photos, recipe and illustration by Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Edible Magazine cover image (top left, berries & cherries) by Kimberley Hasselbrink

Cocktail Party in the Woods

Last weekend we hosted some people from my husband’s work for a little late afternoon cocktail party. While he set up the bar on the deck, I put together some snacks. I didn’t have a lot of time, so I went for colorful and easy: crudite and several dips, cheeses garnished with fresh herbs, dates, sliced baguette, crackers, nuts, and fresh fruit. I also made a couple sheets of my Zucchini Puff Pastry Bites and a guest brought some beautiful pastries from the farmer’s market. I filled my vintage bottles with different alcohols and mixers, each marked with tags I got at Staples. In addition to an ice bucket full of beer and Cultivate Wines (which I love for the company’s commitment to giving back), I mixed up some Berry Fizzes to pass out, each garnished with a cute paper straw (purchased on Amazon). As the sun went down, we lounged on blankets and played bocce ball…overall, a dreamy and golden afternoon outdoors!

Photos, recipes and illustrations by Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast