“You can do so much better by turning to your own kitchen rather the drive through for doughnut satisfaction” says cookbook author Hannah Kaminsky.

“A fear of frying puts many cooks off, but with a simple recipe and a healthy dose of caution, you’ll be rolling in hot, crispy doughnuts, fresher and tastier than anything you can buy. Cake-based doughnut holes fit the criteria beautifully: There’s no yeast that needs to awaken or dough to rise, no fussy shaping or cutting to speak of. You can just mix and fry at a moment’s notice.”

Hannah also enjoys the freedom to flavor your homemade treats in special ways. She hid mini marshmallows in the center of these chocolate doughnut holes, inspired by mugs of hot cocoa topped with a crown of mini mallows melting on top.

“The crisp, sugar-coated exterior gives way to the most moist chocolate cake you could hope to taste, the marshmallow in the center adding equal parts indulgence and nostalgia,” says Hannah.

RECIPE: HOT CHOCOLATE DOUGHNUT HOLES

Ingredients For 20-30 Doughnut Holes

1. PLACE the marshmallows in a single layer on a plate or small sheet pan and stash them in the freezer. They must be frozen solidly before going into the hot oil or they’ll melt away completely! Allow to freeze at least 30 minutes before using your icy mallows.

2. MIX the batter. The batter comes together very quickly, so begin by pouring the oil into a medium pot with high sides and set over medium heat on the stove.

3. WHISK together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Separately mix the milk, vinegar and olive oil; then blend the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir just until the batter comes together with no remaining pockets of dry goods. The mixture should be somewhat on the wet side and definitely sticky, but manageable.

4. SCOOP out heaping tablespoons of the batter and stuff a single frozen marshmallow into the center of each. Use lightly moistened hands to shape the dough around the mallow, rounding the raw doughnut out into a rough ball and making sure that the marshmallow is fully sealed inside. Handle them gently, since the dough is very soft.

5. HEAT the oil to 360°-370°F, then carefully lower 3-5 doughnut holes at a time into the pot. Cook for 4-5 minutes, turning the doughnuts as needed to ensure even frying all over. The best way to tell if they’re done is to watch and listen to the oil. At first it will fizzle up madly and seem to almost hiss; but by the time the donuts are finished, the surface of the oil should be much calmer, and you will hear more of a pinging sound.

6. USE a spider strainer (a.k.a. Asian strainer or wok strainer) or a slotted spoon to lift the doughnut holes from the oil and drain them on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining doughnuts. Let them cool for at least 15 minutes before rolling in the additional granulated sugar, and serve as soon as possible.

Reminds Hannah: “Donuts don’t get better with age, and I wouldn’t recommend keeping them beyond a day. Luckily, with doughnut holes this good, I don’t think you’ll have a problem with leftovers!”
  

The simplest addition of a slice of cucumber and an herb sprig turns a nondescript glass of water into a special drink. You can layer on flavors as you like: a slice of lemon, lime, or apple, for example.
 
 
HOW TO MAKE CUCUMBER WATER

1. ADD half a cucumber, cut into 1/8″ slices, to a two-quart pitcher. If it’s a waxed cucumber, use a carrot peeler to remove most of the waxy peel before slicing, but leave some decorative “stripes” by peeling the cucumber vertically, leaving long strips of peel at 1″ intervals.

Variation: Look closely at the photo and you’ll note that both slices and strips of cucumber were used. Although it’s easier to eat the slices, the combination of slices and strips adds visual interest.

3. FILL the pitcher with water. Refrigerate for 4 hours or more to chill and let the flavors infuse. When you’ve drunk up all the water, you can refill the pitcher and re-infuse the same cucumber and lemons, although you’ll get a lighter infusion.

Check out the cucumber cocktail recipes below.

National Cucumber Day is June 14th. National Cocktail Day is March 24th.

CUCUMBER VODKA

Summer also reminds us that it’s time to break out the cucumber vodka. It’s a trending (and welcome) flavor, produced by organic distillers such as Crop Harvest, Prairie, Rain, and Square One, as well as conventional brands such as Effen, Pearl, and Skinnygirl.

(Note to gin lovers: Gordon’s makes Crisp Cucumber Gin, but you may have to get someone to bring it back from England. We haven’t been able to find it in the U.S.)

To make flavored vodka, natural flavor essence is added to the distilled vodka (which can be made from a variety of grains, including corn, rye, and winter wheat). The fresh aroma of cucumber is a result of the same process used to capture the aromatics of flowers and other plants in natural fragrances.

We love what the essence of crisp, cool cucumber does to vodka. Cucumber vodka gives a contemporary spin to familiar cocktails like the Bloody Mary, Gimlet, Tom Collins, and Vodka Tonic. We drink Square One cucumber vodka straight up (and our food bucket list includes arranging a taste test with the other brands).
 
 
CUCUMBER VODKA COCKTAIL RECIPES

These recipes are courtesy Prairie Organic Spirits.

RECIPE #1: GARDEN COCKTAIL

Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. LIGHTLY salt the rim of the glass.

2. COMBINE all ingredients in a shaker. Shake with ice and pour into a rock glass over ice. Garnish with a slice of cucumber.
 
 

[3] A cucumber spear or slice is a delicious garnish for a Bloody Mary, a Martini, or even a glass of water (photo © Sun Basket).

RECIPE #2: CUCUMBER MARY

Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE vodka, tomato juice, lemon, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce in a shaker.

2. SHAKE with ice and pour the mixture (including ice) into a highball glass. Add cucumber to the rim of the glass and serve.
 
 

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Such was the case with the rice vinegar we purchased. It took us a while to integrate it into our daily cooking, but the results have been splendid. It’s less acidic than other vinegars.

 
WAYS TO USE RICE VINEGAR

With zero fat and no calories, rice vinegar is a healthy way to add flavor to your dishes.

 
Do you have a favorite use for rice vinegar? Let us know!

Keeping a good jar of pre-made pesto at hand can make any dish extraordinary in only a matter of minutes.

Pesto sauce, traditionally consists of basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, Parmesan and Pecorino cheeses and salt for seasoning. Add a dollop to dinner and suddenly you’re a fancy cook who understands how to dazzle with delicate herbs. Pesto is vegetarian, low in carbs and packed with fresh ingredients: a bright, healthy addition to your meals.

Pesto originated in the Italian province of Liguria, 220 miles of crescent-shaped Mediterranean coastline that is sometimes called the Italian Riviera. Liguria, the capital of which is Genoa, is home to superb produce, most notably the sweetest, mildest basil. Its people enjoy one of the freshest, healthiest cuisines in all of Italy.

Just as pesto can be made with different nuts (hazelnuts, pistachios, walnuts) and greens (arugula, spinach)—or even non-greens, like red pepper pesto—it can be made vegan instead of vegetarian. One way to do this is to substitute vegan Parmesan.

Why vegan pesto? Aside from accommodating the growing number of vegans, it’s a boon for non-vegans who are lactose intolerant, those cutting back on cholesterol, and kosher consumers who want to serve pesto with meat-based meals.

Sauces ‘n Love, a NIBBLE Top Pick of The Week is one of our favorite lines of Italian-style sauces, sold fresh in the refrigerator case. A sister line, Scarpetta, is shelf-stable and will stay fresh without refrigeration for nine months. Learn more at SaucesNLove.com.
 
MORE ABOUT PESTO

Here’s a new take on strawberry lollipops: fresh strawberry “lollipops.”

Whole strawberries are speared on lollipop sticks, dipped into honey and rolled in chopped nuts.

This better-for-you sweet treat looks very tempting, and delivers:

 
For a lower-glycemic natural sweetener, substitute agave for the honey.

Serve them on a cake pop stand or repurpose a piece of styrofoam.