Summer Share Ten July 27th/29 2021

Important information:

• This is an even biweekly distribution for produce and fruit as well as weekly.
• Please keep those return boxes coming; Thanks!

Farm News from Jane
Well, we have graduated from scallions to bulb onions. The earliest variety we harvest is called Walla Walla. They were bred in Washington State and are an extremely sweet onion. Because of their higher sugar content, they are a softer onion that does not store as well. So, enjoy them weekly until they are gone and then we will begin sharing another variety. The wet weather has caused the onions to wilt prematurely so the onions will be smaller this year. It is amazing to me that I can be so happy and thankful for the long-awaited rains and then ultimately be disappointed with the outcome. Just another life lesson in trust…
The produce roster has really grown in the last couple of weeks. I think that it will take longer to pack these boxes! But it will be a beautiful array of color, flavor and nutrients. I can’t get enough sweet corn, when I sit down to eat. I have to learn to bring home only one ear at a time otherwise I will begin to grow a tassel!
The autumn seeding will commence this week; beets, beets and more beets. The summer beets have come on strong this year. They seem to like our weather pattern (with the help of Ben irrigating them of course). We still have Chioggia beets in the field to harvest and this week’s Avalanche will be followed quickly by another round of golden beets; great grilling’! If you love beets; especially our beets then you should really sign up for a winter share this season. We will be reminding members when we are ready to begin enrollment.
The veggies remind us that summer is coming on strong and that the eating is fine. Please do enjoy every day and all that it offers. Share something with a friend or perhaps a stranger or neighbor. We have SO much to be thankful for and just so much period. I hope that you caught a glimpse of the beautiful pink full moon on the weekend; just glorious. But if you, didn’t you only have to wait another twenty-six days! Peace and joy, Jane

Produce:   Red Napa cabbage   Salad tomatoes   Walla Walla onions   Burgundy beans   Fennel   Avalanche (white) Beets   Garlic   Sweet corn   Bell peppers   Cucumbers
Yellow squash   Zucchini 

Produce/Storage tips:
– Avalanche beets are quite mild and make a great addition to roasted or grilled veggies. Our family loves them leftover served cold in a salad.
– Burgundy beans are gorgeous raw but blanche to an army green when cooked! The deer ate more than a few so a smaller amount of beans this week; treasure the beauty. Substitute them for any other “string” bean in recipes.
– Tomatoes should not be refrigerated. The saladette varieties are firm and hold up well.
– Garlic is still drying down and mat be a bit more difficult to peel but ooh it’s so good; fresh, crisp and fragrant.

Fruit Shares   Tart Cherries   Apricots   Clingstone Peaches

Recipes
POACHED CHERRIES
1 c water; 4 c pitted sour cherries; 1 c sugar
Bring water to boil in non-reactive saucepan. Add cherries; immediately reduce heat to simmer. Cook until almost tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in sugar to dissolve; continue cooking until tender. Serve as accompaniment to roasted beef or pork, or serve over ice cream for dessert.
Makes 3 cups Recipe from Farm-Fresh Recipes.

CHERRY-ALMOND LOAF CAKE
1 cup blanched almonds; 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature; 3/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar 3 eggs, at room temperature; 1/4 teaspoon almond extract; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 2 1/2 cups pitted cherries; confectioners’ sugar

CHERRY COBBLER
3 c pitted sour cherries; 1/2 c sugar; 1 Tbsp cooking tapioca; 1 Tbsp butter, melted; For topping: 1 c flour; 1 c sugar; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 egg; 4 Tbsp butter, softened
In bowl, combine cherries, sugar, tapioca and butter. Stir until well-blended. Spoon into buttered 71/2- by 11 3/4-inch baking dish. Prepare topping: Stir together flour, sugar, salt, egg and butter until crumbly. If desired, use pastry blender to blend in butter. Distribute over top of fruit. Bake at 350 degrees 45 minutes, or until fruit is tender and topping is lightly browned. Makes 8-10 servings Recipe from Farm-Fresh Recipes.

SOUR CHERRY CORN CAKES
2 cups fresh or canned pitted sour cherries, drained; 1/4 cup sugar; 2 tablespoon Chambord liqueur; 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest; 1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix; 1 large egg; 3/4 cup milk; 2 tablespoons melted butter, plus additional butter for cooking the cakes
Combine the cherries, sugar, Chambord, and lemon zest. Let sit for about an hour or longer. Combine the muffin mix, egg, milk, and melted butter. The batter will be thick. In a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium heat, heat about 1 tablespoon butter until the butter is bubbling. Drop about 4 cups of the batter into the skillet for each corn cake. Spoon the cherries onto the wet side of the corn cakes. The corn batter is a little thicker than pancake batter and will not bubble through as much when it is ready to be flipped. Lift up an edge and peek underneath; when it is golden brown, flip it over. Make sure the batter is cooked all the way through, particularly around the cherries. The fruit will burn easily, so you may have to flip the cakes back and forth until they are done. Serves 2. Recipe from The Café Pongo Cookbook.

APRICOT-CHERRY CRISP
2 1/2 pounds ripe apricots; 1 pound sweet cherries or pie cherries; 2 tablespoons sugar; l 1/2 tablespoons minute tapioca; 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
THE CRISP TOPPING: 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small chunks; 3/4 cup light brown sugar, loosely packed; 2/3 cup all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup rolled oats or finely chopped almonds; 1/4 teaspoon sea salt; 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly butter a 2 1/2-quart gratin dish. Pit the apricots and cherries, then toss them with the sugar, tapioca and almond extract. Lay the fruit in the prepared dish. Make the topping. Using your fingers or the paddle attachment of a mixer, work the butter with the rest of the ingredients until the texture is coarse and crumbly. Pat the topping over the fruit. Set the dish on a baking pan to catch the juices and bake until the top is browned and the juices have thickened around the edge, about 45 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla or honey ice cream. SERVES 6 TO 8 Recipe from Local Flavors.

APRICOT CRUMB PIE
1 9-inch PIE CRUST
Filling: 2 3/4 cups cooked fresh, frozen, or dried apricots; 2 eggs; 3 tablespoons warmed honey; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 1/2 cup cooking liquid from apricots (or orange juice); dash of nutmeg
Crumbs: 1/4 cup whole wheat flour; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon; 2 tablespoons soft butter; 1 tablespoon honey
Preheat oven to 450 F. Arrange cooked, drained apricots in pie shell. In a small bowl, beat eggs, add honey, salt, lemon juice, fruit liquid, and nutmeg. Pour mixture over apricots. Blend flour, cinnamon, and butter into crumbs. Add honey. Sprinkle over filling in pie shell and bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 3500 F. and bake 20 to 30 minutes longer, or until set in center. If using fresh apricots for this pie, cook only 3 to 5 minutes; frozen, about 7 minutes; and dried, about 15 minutes. Drain and reserve the liquid. Yield: 1 9-inch pie Recipe from Naturally Delicious Desserts and Snacks.

APRICOT CRUSH
1+1/2 pounds apricots; 1/2 cup orange juice; 1/2 cup sugar
Blanch apricots in boiling water. Peel and de-stone. Place in blender with l/2 cup water. Process until almost smooth. Combine with orange juice and sugar in medium saucepan. Simmer over low heat, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens. Cool. Serve as ice-cream, shortcake, yam, or sweet-potato topping; as ham, fowl, or pork glaze; mixed into cold fruit salads; or as cake filling. Recipe from The Fruit and Vegetable Stand.

APRICOT CUSTARD TART
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar; 32 very small firm ripe apricots or 12 to 15 large ones; 1 egg; 3/4 cup cream or a mixture of cream and crème fraiche; 1 drop almond extract
Press the dough into a tart shell and freeze while you preheat the oven to 425°F. Set it on a sheet pan and bake until lightly colored~, about 25 minutes. Combine the 3/4 cup sugar and 11/2 cups water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, and stir to dissolve the sugar. Halve the apricots. Crack several of the pits, remove the kernels, and add them to the syrup, Poach the apricots in 2 batches until barely tender when pierce~ with the tip of a knife. This may take only 1 or 2 minutes-they should hold their shape nicely and not turn into jam. Gently lift them into a colander placed over a bowl. When all are done, add the drained syrup back to the pan and continue boiling until it’s reduced by about half. (Sometimes I add a few lavender blossoms to the syrup and a few apricots when I have extra or they’re very ripe, the apricots turn translucent and give the syrup body and flavor,) Beat the egg and cream together with the almond extract and remaining tablespoon of sugar. Arrange the apricot halves in the tart shell, the cut sides facing u~ and slightly overlapping. Pour the custard over the fruit and bake until the cream is set and the edges of the fruit are browned, about 25 minutes. Brush a little of the reduced syrup over the fruit. When cool enough to handle, remove the tart from its rim and place it on a serving plate. It’s best served when still a little warm. Makes one 9inch tart; Recipe from Local Flavors.

ROASTED BEANS
2 tbsp olive oil; 1 lb. whole beans, trimmed; 1 cup thinly sliced onion; 10 to 12 garlic cloves, peeled; salt and pepper; 1 to 2 tbsp balsamic or red wine vinegar; 1 cup lightly toasted pine nuts
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Brush a large cookie sheet with 2 tbsp olive oil. Spread the beans, onions and garlic cloves on the tray and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes, occasionally stirring or shaking the tray. Taste a bean to see if it is tender enough for you; cook for 5-10 minutes if still crisp. Remove from oven; transfer to a bowl. Drizzle with vinegar, and some black pepper if desired. Serve at any temperature topped with toasted pine nuts. Serves 6

HERBED GREEN BEANS
1/2-pound fresh green beans, cooked; 2 tbsp butter or margarine; 1/4 cup minced onion; 1/2 clove garlic, minced; 2 tbsp finely chopped celery; 1/4 cup minced fresh celery leaves; 2 tbsp dried rosemary, crushed; 1/4 tsp dried basil, crushed; 1/8 tsp salt; Freshly ground pepper to taste
Drain cooked beans. Melt butter or margarine in saucepan; add onion, garlic, and celery. Sauté for 4 minutes. Add celery leaves, rosemary, basil, salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add beans and toss; cover and heat through. Toss again before serving. Serves 3 to 4

SUPER GREEN BEANS
4 c. fresh green beans; 2 T. butter or bacon drippings; 1/2 tsp. salt; 2 tsp chives; 1/4 c. boiling water; 1/4 c. light cream; 1/8 tsp. pepper
Select tender green beans that snap easily. Wash, trim off ends and remove any strings. Place in bundles on cutting board and cut in 1″ pieces. Heat butter in electric skillet or heavy saucepan with tight-fitting lid; add beans, salt, basil and boiling water. Cover; cook on high heat until steam is produced, then turn as low as possible and cook 25 to 30 minutes, shaking pan occasionally and watching at the last to be sure beans do not burn (they should be barely tender). • Add cream and pepper; serve at once. Makes about 4 servings.

QUICK AND EASY PURPLE GREEN BEANS
6 cups green beans, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 1/3 cup water, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp fresh ground black pepper
Wash your beans then snap the ends off of all the beans. You are taking off about 1/4-1/2 inch. depending on how long the skinny tales are. Discard the ends. Heat the olive oil and water a heavy bottom, large pan or Dutch oven over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the green beans. Stir to coat. Let them sit for 5 minutes or so. You should start to hear them pop. When you hear some popping, stir, then cover the pot and let them cook for 5-7 more minutes. Uncover, check doneness (the longer they cook, they less crisp they are). Sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Serve warm and try not to eat all of them as you bring them to the table. Recipe form iheartvegetables.com

BURGUNDY BEAN BOWL

3/4 cup burgundy beans, washed and ends snapped, and cut into 1-inch pieces, 1/2 medium onion, diced, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus a bit for drizzling, 4 ounces tempeh, cut in small cubes, 3/4 cup lettuce, chopped, 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute, stirring occasionally, about five minutes. Clear a space in the center and add beans. Saute 3-5 minutes until beans have started turning green. Add tempeh and garlic and stir occasionally. Place lettuce in a bowl and drizzle with a little olive oil and vinegar. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper on top and toss to coat. When tempeh is nice and brown and beans are bright green, add a few tablespoons of water to deglaze the pan. Sprinkle contents of pan with salt and pepper. Serve nestled on top of prepared lettuce. Serves 1 for lunch or 2 as a side dish Recipe from https://centerstagewellness.com/

GRILLED (OR GRIDDLED) FENNEL AND ONIONS WITH PARMESAN
1/2 large sweet onion (do not cut off root end); 2 fennel bulbs (stalks removed), about 1 pound total; 2 tablespoons olive oil; salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
Heat large cast-iron griddle (flat side down, ridged side up) on stove top over medium flame, or prepare outdoor grill for medium heat. Place flat surface of onion half on cutting board and cut into slices that are 1/3-inch thick, leaving some of the root end intact on each slice. Brush both sides of onions lightly with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Grill onions on both sides until tender and lightly charred, 3-5 minutes per side. Meanwhile, slice whole fennel bulbs lengthwise in the same manner as onions. Steam them over boiling water 8-10 minutes; drain well. Brush lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill on both sides until tender and lightly charred, 6-8 minutes per side. Arrange onions and fennel on a colorful platter; scatter Parmesan over the top. This is delicious with grilled fish or lamb, or as a side dish with Italian tomato-based pasta dishes. Makes 6 servings. Recipe from MACSAC

FRESH FENNEL BULB SALAD
One large or 2 small fennel bulbs; 2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, partially thawed; 2 tablespoons white wine or red wine vinegar; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; salt and pepper
Remove fronds from the fennel bulb(s). Cut away the root and slice fennel into very thin pieces (it can also be grated). Make dressing by combining vinegar, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and orange juice concentrate in a bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Pour over fennel and allow to marinate at room temperature 20 minutes or longer. Season to taste with pepper and additional salt.
Recipe from Jenny Bonde and Rink DoVee, Shooting Star Farm

FENNEL EGG SALAD
6 large eggs (not too fresh! they will be difficult to peel if very fresh); 1/3 cup finely chopped fennel stalk; 2-3 tablespoons chopped fennel leaves; 2-4 tablespoons finely chopped sweet red onion; 4 tablespoons mayonnaise; 1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar; 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard; salt and pepper to taste
Place eggs in saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to boil. Turn off heat. Cover pan tightly and set timer for 9 minutes. When timer goes off, drain eggs and immerse them in ice water 10-15 minutes. Peel and quarter eggs; place in food processor and, using the pulse button, pulse until finely chopped, 8-12 times. Add remaining ingredients; pulse until ingredients are well blended, 3-6 more times. Use as a sandwich filling, a spread for crackers, a cold sauce for chilled asparagus, or a garnish for tossed green salads. Makes 2 cups. Recipe from MACSAC

PASTA WITH FENNEL
1 bulb fennel, trimmed & quartered; 1/2 lb. fettuccini; 1 Tbsp olive oil; Grated Parmesan cheese; Parsley (garnish)
Simmer fennel in 4 quarts salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Lift fennel from water and slice. Keep warm. In the fennel water, cook the fettuccini until al dente. Drain pasta. Add olive oil and fennel. Serve with sprinkle of Parmesan and parsley. Make 3 servings

GOLDEN FENNEL
1 large fennel bulb, including the greens; 1 tbsp unsalted butter; 1/2 tbsp olive oil; sea salt and freshly ground pepper; grated zest and juice of 1/2 lemon; 1/2 garlic clove, minced; 1/4-to-1/2-pound fettuccine; Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
Peel or discard, if badly bruised, the tough outer layers of the fennel, then quarter the bulbs, setting aside the greens, and slice thinly. (The core will cook to tenderness.) Heat a large pot of water for the pasta. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter with the olive oil in a wide skillet. Add the fennel and sauté over high heat, stirring occasionally, until browned in places, 7 to 10 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon salt. Toss with the lemon juice, and then add 1 cup water. Reduce the heat and cook, covered, until the liquid has evaporated. Add another 1/2 cup water and continue cooking in this fashion until the fennel is very soft and deep gold in color, about 25 minutes in all. Season with pepper. Chop a handful of fennel greens-enough to make about 1/3 cup-with the garlic and lemon zest and set aside.  Add salt and the pasta to the boiling water and cook until the pasta is al dente. Scoop it out and add it to the pan with the fennel and the chopped greens. Taste for salt and season with pepper. Serve with the cheese, finely grated or thinly shaved over the top. serves 4 to 6

BEET AND SHAVED FENNEL SALAD
Salad: 4 large or 6 small beets; 1 bulb fennel; Cracked black pepper to taste
Dressing: 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil; Grated zest of 1 Clementine; Juice of 3 Clementines; 4 teaspoons rice wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary, plus 4 teaspoons rosemary leaves for garnish; 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
For the salad: Rinse the beets; put them in a pan with water to cover, and boil covered until they can be stabbed somewhat easily with a fork. Drain them and cool under cold running water. As the water is running, you can rub off the peels and stems of the beets. This will dye your hands red, but it is quick and easy. Slice the beets very thin and refrigerate them. Trim any discolored outer parts from the fennel. Trim the tops and the base. Using a mandolin, shave the fennel crosswise in almost paper-thin slices. If you don’t have a mandolin cut the fennel lengthwise in half, lay the halves down on their flat sides, and slice crosswise as thin as possible. Soak the fennel in ice water while you prepare the dressing.
For the dressing: Whisk together all the ingredients.
To finish the dish: On 4 salad plates, arrange the beet slices so they are covering the bottom of the plates. Shake the water off a tuft of fennel and place it on top of the beets. Sprinkle about 4 teaspoon fresh rosemary needles on top of each salad. Pour the dressing over the chilled salads. Crack the pepper over each plate at the table. Serves 4. Recipe from The Café Pongo Cookbook.

FENNEL SLAW
2 Tbsp cider vinegar; 1/3 c mayonnaise; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 2 tsp sugar; 1 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill; 1/2 tsp grated lemon peel; Salt, to taste; 1 1/2 lb. fennel bulb
Whisk vinegar, mayonnaise, pepper, sugar, dill, lemon peel and salt together. Cut off and discard fennel stalks. Halve fennel through root end; discard core and any discolored outer leaves. Thinly slice fennel. Toss fennel with enough dressing to coat. Serve. Makes 4 servings Recipe from Farm-Fresh Recipes.

WALNUT-MOZZARELLA SALAD
1/4 cup red wine vinegar; 2 teaspoons prepared Dijon, mustard; 1/4 cup walnut oil (can be found in specialty stores); 1/2 cup broken walnut pieces; 2 cups sliced fennel stalk or celery; 1 clove garlic, crushed; 1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped; 2 cups seeded, chopped tomatoes; 1 small onion, sliced in rings; 1 cup shredded or cubed Mozzarella cheese 1/4 cup basil, chopped
In a small bowl, combine vinegar and mustard; set aside. Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add walnuts, sautéing until they begin to brown. Toss in fennel and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly until fennel begins to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat and mix in remaining ingredients. Blend in vinegar mixture and toss gently. Serve immediately on a bed of lettuce for each serving. Serves 4.
Recipe from Especially Herbs.

CUCUMBER PASTA SALAD
8 oz rotini; 2 c peeled cucumber slices; 1 c quartered cherry tomatoes; 1 (l5-oz) can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed; 3/4 Tbsp dried dill weed; 1/2 c ranch-style dressing; 1/3 c plain low-fat yogurt; crumbled feta cheese
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. In salad bowl, toss cooled pasta with cucumbers, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and dill weed. In a small bowl, blend dressing and yogurt. Add to salad bowl; stir until well-coated. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Crumble feta on top; serve. Makes 8 servings

PRIZEWINNER GREEN BEANS WITH TOMATOES AND GARLIC
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1pound green beans, ends clipped, beans cut in half; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 sprig rosemary, leaves torn off the stem; about 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges; 1/2 cup sliced onions (peeling is optional); 2 teaspoons dried oregano; salt to taste or 2 tablespoons salted butter; 1/2 teaspoon dried ground thyme
Heat olive oil in deep pan over medium heat. Add garlic and pepper flakes; sauté until fragrant. Add onions; sauté until translucent, 3-5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water, the dried spices, and green beans. Stir, cover, and steam-cook beans until nearly done, 10-15 minutes. Stir in the rosemary and tomatoes. Cook very briefly, until tomatoes are warmed through and beans are done. Season with salt, or, if you prefer, melt salted butter over the beans before serving. This recipe won a prize in the 2002 Food for Thought Recipe Contest in Madison, Wisconsin. Makes 4 servings. Recipe from Mora Rosenbloom

COMPOSED SUMMER SALAD FOR ONE
3 or more slices garden-ripened heirloom tomato or several cherry tomatoes; 2- or 3-ounce wedge cheese, at room temperature; 2 slices sweet red pepper; extra-virgin olive oil; 4-5 slices fresh cucumber or a few lightly steamed fresh green beans; freshly ground black pepper; sprig of lemon basil; thick-sliced whole grain bread
Artfully arrange vegetables and cheese on a plate. Drizzle on some extra-virgin olive oil, sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper, and garnish with lemon basil. Serve with whole-grain bread. Makes 1 very easy, very satisfying lunch or snack.

DILLED CUCUMBERS ON TOMATO SLICES
1/3 cup salad oil; 3 tbs. vinegar; 1/2 tsp. each dill weed and salt; 1/4 tsp. sugar; 1/8 tsp. pepper; 1 large cucumber; 3 tomatoes, sliced
Measure oil, vinegar, dill weed, salt, sugar and pepper into mixing bowl. Blend with a wire whip. Wash and pare cucumber. Slice paper thin into a shallow dish. Add marinade. Toss to coat. Chill 6 hours or overnight. To serve, place tomato slices on plates. Spoon cucumbers and marinade over tomatoes. Makes 6 servings.

CORNY TOMATO SALAD
1 Tbsp lemon juice; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp chopped, fresh oregano; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 tsp chili powder; 1/8 tsp ground cumin; 1/8 tsp black pepper; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 2 tomatoes, diced; 1 small zucchini, diced; 1/2 c thinly sliced shallots; 2/3 cup corn, uncooked
Whisk together juice, salt, oregano, garlic, chili powder, cumin, pepper and oil in medium bowl. Add tomatoes, zucchini, onions and corn; toss. Marinate at room temperature 1 hour or several hours in the refrigerator. Makes 6 servings

ROASTED BEET AND RICE SALAD
3 beets, ends removed, skin peeled with vegetable peeler and cut into small cubes, ½ cup balsamic vinegar, ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon crushed rosemary
Salt and pepper, to taste, 1 cup Arborio rice, prepared according to package directions, 5-oz. package feta cheese, 4 cups mixed greens, rinsed
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and coat with cooking spray. Spread the beet cubes out on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. In a medium bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, rosemary, salt and pepper. Mix well. Pour evenly over the beets. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, stirring to coat every 5 minutes or so.
In a large bowl, combine the prepared rice, feta cheese and roasted beats (do not discard juices from pan). Stir until combined. Divide the mixed greens between 4 plates or bowls and top with beet-rice mixture. Drizzle olive oil and juices from pan over the top and serve. Recipe form Pipandebby.com

GRAPEFRUIT AND WHITE BEETS WITH YOGURT AND TARRAGON

3 tablespoons pine nuts, 4 medium white or Chioggia (candy-stripe) beets (about 1 lb.), 1 tablespoon olive oil, Kosher salt, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 2 grapefruits, ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt, ¼ cup fresh tarragon leaves
Preheat oven to 350°. Toast pine nuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing occasionally, until golden brown, 6–8 minutes; let cool. Increase oven heat to 400°. Place beets on a sheet of parchment paper set on top of a sheet of foil; rub beets with oil and season with salt. Close up parchment and foil around beets. Place packet on a baking sheet and roast beets until tender, 40–50 minutes. Unwrap beets and let cool. Peel beets and thinly slice into rounds. Toss beets and vinegar in a medium bowl; season with salt and let stand 15 minutes. Meanwhile, finely grate ½ tsp. zest from 1 grapefruit and set aside. Using a sharp, small knife, cut all peel and white pith from both grapefruits; discard. Thinly slice grapefruit into rounds. Place yogurt in a small bowl; season with salt and mix well. Spoon onto plates. Top yogurt with beets and sliced grapefruit, then tarragon, toasted pine nuts, and reserved grapefruit zest.

DO AHEAD: Beets can be roasted 2 days ahead; let cool. Cover and chill. Pine nuts can be toasted 1 day ahead; store airtight at room temperature.

Recipe by Christopher Baker; BONAPETIT

 

BEET & GOAT CHEESE HUMMUS
1 large beet, 1 can chickpeas, 2 lemons, 1/4 cup tahini paste, 1 teaspoon salt, 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese,
1/4 cup olive oil
First scrub the beet and chop into large cubes. Bake in aluminum foil or on a baking tray at 400°F until soft enough to pierce with a fork (about 25-30 minutes). Allow the beet to cool. In a food processor combine the beet (and any juices you were able to reserve), the rinsed *chickpeas, juice from two lemons, tahini paste, salt and goat cheese. Pulse until well blended. Now while the food processor is running, drizzle in the olive oil. Blend until smooth. Crumble a little more goat cheese on top for a pretty presentation. Recipe from simplyrecipes.com

 

FRIED PEPPERS WITH EGGS
1 large green pepper; 1 tbsp salad oil; 1/4 tsp salt; pinch of garlic salt; pinch of pepper; 1 egg; pinch of salt; 1 tbsp water
Wash pepper, cut off stem ends and remove seeds. Cut in strips. Add peppers to heated oil in skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring with a fork, until they are heated. Do not let peppers brown. Sprinkle with 1/4 tsp. salt, garlic salt and pepper. Lower heat; cover and cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover, increase heat to medium and cook to desired tenderness. For best flavor, do not overcook. Beat eggs, pinch of salt and water together slightly. Pour over peppers in skillet; do not stir mixture until eggs start to set; then, with fork or spatula, move mixture to allow all liquid to set. Do not let eggs overcook. Turn onto warm platter.

HOW SWEET IT IS CORN AND PEPPER SALAD
4 ears sweet com; 1 green bell pepper, diced; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 1/4 cup diced red onion; 2 tablespoons slivered basil; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1/2 cup olive oil; salt and pepper Husk com and boil or grill until crisp-tender. Cool and slice off the kernels. Place com in bowl with sweet peppers, onions; and basil. Whisk balsamic vinegar and mustard in a small bowl, then slowly whisk in olive oil a little at a time. Toss with the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Makes 4 servings.

STEAMED NAPA CABBAGE WITH GREEN PEPPER
One 2-lb. Napa cabbage, thinly sliced; 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 cup cider vinegar; 1 tbsp. dark brown sugar; 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper; 1/4tsp. salt; 1 green pepper, seeded, deribbed and thinly sliced
Combine the vinegar, brown sugar, black pepper, red pepper, salt and 1/4 cup of water in a small saucepan. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat, and cook it rapidly to reduce it by half – four to five minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and set it aside. Pour enough water into a large pot to fill it about 1 inch deep. Set a vegetable steamer in the pot and bring the water to a boil. Put the sliced cabbage and green pepper in the steamer, cover the pot tightly, and steam the vegetables until the cabbage is just barely wilted €about three minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a serving bowl and pour the sauce through a strainer onto them. Toss the vegetables well to distribute the dressing evenly, and let them stand for five minutes before serving. Serves 6

 

CABBAGE, SULTANA AND FENNEL SALAD
1# cabbage; thinly sliced, 1 small fennel bulb; diced (1cp.), 5T. chopped fresh fennel fronds or dill (if desired), 2/3 c golden raisins, 1/2 c yogurt, ½ c mayo. 3 T lime juice, 2 t honey
Toss together cabbage, fennel fronds, and raisins. Combine yogurt, mayo, lime juice, and honey in separate bowl. Stir in cabbage mixture, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
Recipe from Vegetarian Times. Serves 6.

RED CABBAGE SALAD WITH WARM PANCETTA-BALSAMIC DRESSING
1/4 cup dried currants; 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 6 cups thinly sliced red cabbage; 1 3-ounce package thinly sliced pancetta (Italian bacon), finely chopped; 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1/2 cup whole almonds, toasted, coarsely chopped; 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
Place currants in small bowl. Heat vinegar in saucepan over medium heat until hot (do not boil). Pour vinegar over currants; let soak until currants soften, 15 to 20 minutes. Place cabbage in large bowl; set aside. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add pancetta; sauté until brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Add shallot to pancetta and drippings in skillet; sauté 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in currant vinegar mixture and olive oil. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Pour pancetta mixture over cabbage and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes. Add almonds and parsley; toss to blend. 6 Servings

CUCUMBER-YOGURT SOUP
1 medium cucumber, pared, seeded, and cut in large cubes (reserve 4 paper thin slices for garnish); 1/2 tbsp minced fresh chives; 1 tbsp minced fresh mint or 1 tsp dried mint, crushed; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 cup plain yogurt; 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice; 1/2 cup dairy sour cream; 1/2 clove garlic, quartered; 1/2 tbsp sugar; Minced mint or mint leaves for garnish
In blender or food processor, place all ingredients except garnish and blend until pureed. Refrigerate until well chilled. Serve with a garnish of cucumber slice on each serving, topped with additional mint. Serves 3.

CUCUMBER MOONS SAUTÉED WITH FRESH DILL
1 cucumber; 1 1/2 tablespoons butter; 1 1/2 tablespoons minced shallots or chopped green onions; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill; salt and pepper
Peel cucumber with potato peeler and slice in half lengthwise. Scoop out all the seeds with a spoon. Slice about 1/4to 1/3-inch thick. Heat butter in large, heavy skillet over medium flame. Take care not to let the butter brown, but get it good and hot. Add the cucumbers and shallots and cook, tossing often, until cucumbers begin to get tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in dill plus salt and pepper to taste. Continue to toss and cook until crisp-tender, 1-2 minutes longer. Serve immediately. (Note: The cucumbers in this recipe could also be cut into “hoops”: use a long spoon to scoop the seeds out of a peeled cucumber, then slice it into rounds.) Recipe from MACSAC. Makes 2-3 servings.

GARDEN FRESH CUCUMBERS
2 tbsp vinegar; 1/2 tbsp lemon juice; 1/2 tsp celery seeds; 1 tbsp sugar; 3/4 tsp salt; 1/8 tsp pepper; 1 tbsp chopped onion; 1 ½ cup sliced peeled cucumbers (1 medium); Chopped parsley (optional)
Combine vinegar, lemon juice, celery seeds, sugar, salt, pepper and onion. Pour over cucumbers. Chill thoroughly. Serve topped with chopped parsley, if desired. Makes1 1/2 cups.

PIQUANT CUCUMBER SALAD
1 cucumber; 2 tsp white mustard seeds; salt and freshly ground black pepper; 3 Tbsps. rice vinegar or white wine vinegar; fresh chives or young dill, if available
Peel the cucumber, then cut it into quite thin slices. Layer these into a shallow dish, sprinkling the mustard seeds, some salt and a grinding of pepper between the layers. Pour the vinegar over the top. Cover the salad and leave for at least an hour, preferably longer – even overnight – for the flavors to blend. Snip over some fresh chives or dill before serving. Serves 4-6. Recipe from Vegetarian Four Seasons

STUFFED CUCUMBERS
Cut firm, fresh, unwaxed cucumbers in half. Peel. Remove seeds with a long thin knife or apple-corer. Stuff halves with one of the following:

Whole trimmed radishes, soft cheese, Tuna fish, crabmeat, or shrimp
Chill. Slice. Recipe from The Fruit and Vegetable Stand.

QUICK OLD-FASHIONED CORN RELISH
1/2 cup vinegar; 1/3 cup sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon celery seed; 1/4 teaspoon mustard seed; 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce; 1 1/2 cups cooked corn kernels; 2 tablespoons chopped green bell pepper; 1 tablespoon chopped pimiento; 1 tablespoon minced white or green onion
Combine first 6 ingredients in medium saucepan and bring to boil. Cook 2 minutes; remove from heat and cool. Place remaining ingredients in medium bowl. Add cooled mixture and blend lightly. Chill until serving. This will keep indefinitely in the refrigerator; the flavor improves with standing. Makes about 1 2/3 cups

CREAM-GLAZED CORN
1 tbsp butter; 2 cups uncooked corn; 2 tbsp water; Pinch of ground cloves; 2 tbsp whipping cream; Salt
Melt butter in small skillet over high heat. Immediately add corn, water and cloves. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes. Add cream and stir constantly until cream is almost absorbed. Season with salt to taste. 2 servings

MEXICAN GRILLED CORN
2 tbsp low-fat mayonnaise; 2 tbsp nonfat plain yogurt; 11/2 teaspoon chili powder; 4 ears corn, husked; 4 tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan cheese; 1 lime, quartered
Preheat grill to medium-high. Combine mayonnaise, yogurt and chili powder in a small bowl. Grill corn, turning occasionally, until marked and tender, 8 to 12 minutes total. Spread each ear with 1 tablespoon of the sauce and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Serve with lime wedges. Makes 4 servings.

WAVE’S RAVE SWEET CORN RISOTTO
4 ears sweet com; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/4 cup diced onion; 1/4 cup diced pepper; 2 teaspoons minced garlic; 1/2 cup Arborio rice; 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese; salt and pepper
Cut kernels off com cobs. Place cobs in a heavy saucepan with 6 cups water; bring to simmer and cook cobs 20-25 minutes. Strain; return water to pan. Add com kernels; return to simmer. After 2 minutes, remove half the kernels and set them aside. Continue cooking remaining kernels until tender, about 10 minutes. Puree water-com mixture in a blender, and then strain it through a fine-meshed sieve. Heat oil in the same pan. Add onion, sweet pepper, garlic, and rice; sauté 1 minute. Reduce heat to low; add pureed mixture 1 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until absorbed. Continue to add pureed mixture only until rice is barely tender-you may or may not need to add all of it. Add reserved com, Parmesan, and salt and pepper to taste, stirring until cheese melts. Serve immediately. Makes 4-6 small servings.
Recipe from Chef Wove Kasprzak The Dining Room at Monticello

BAKED CORN WITH ONIONS
4 cups fresh corn kernels; 2 cups thinly sliced onions; 1 teaspoon curry powder; salt and pepper to taste; 1/4-pound (1 stick) butter; l/2 cup heavy cream
Alternate corn and onions in layers in a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with curry powder and salt and pepper. Cut butter in slices over the top. Pour on cream. Bake at 375 for 35-45 minutes, or until top is browned.

DUTCH CORN AND CABBAGE
5 slices bacon; 1/2 cup water; 2 1/2 cups corn, cut from the cob; 2 cup shredded Chinese cabbage; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/8 tsp pepper; 1 tsp sugar
Fry bacon until crisp in skillet. Remove bacon; drain, crumble. Reserve 2 tbsp drippings in skillet. Add water, com and cabbage to bacon drippings. Cook, covered, until cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes. Add salt, pepper, sugar and bacon. Mix lightly and serve. Makes 6 servings.