Summer Share Twenty-Five Nov. 3rd 2015

Posted by on Nov 3, 2015 in Uncategorized

Important information

  • This is the last distribution for summer shares; the first winter share distribution is on Thursday Nov. 19th.
  • Please remember that ALL winter distributions are on Thursdays.
  • Come out; come out wherever you are… Please look for and return ALL boxes and egg cartons this week.
  • Boxes are not to be taken home this week; please bring containers or bags to transfer your produce into.
  • Summer share membership forms are attached and shares are available only to renewing members at this time. Open enrollment will begin after January 1st for new members. Shares are generally sold out early in March; so please don’t wait to reserve your share for the 2016 season! Members who pick up at Park School or the farm are welcome to bring their form with deposit to distribution this week or at a winter share distribution.

Farm News from Jane

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good bye… The words of the popular song from The Sound of Music seem appropriate for this week. The summer CSA season has come and as with summer is gone after this week. We thank you all for your support and encouragement throughout this season. We are especially grateful for the extra help that we have been receiving from some of our very dedicated and hard working worker share members. Without their help the shares would not have been so bountiful and we would have burned out weeks ago!!! Although the summer shares are completed we still have lots of produce to harvest for winter shares: beets; golden, Chioggia and red, celeriac, rutabaga, potatoes, fennel, daikon radishes, leeks, kohlrabi, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, kales, collards and perhaps even some late greens if the weather continues warm. So many more delicious and nutritious veggies to enjoy; we’re happy that the weather forecast is warm and sunny for most of the week so that we can get a good portion of the roots dug, washed and stored. The sun is setting as I am writing and the cows are heading in for the evening. How funny it strikes me that the time change doesn’t affect nature and her creatures. I personally was quite excited to have the sunrise an hour earlier to begin harvesting today. I’d rather start an hour earlier and finish an hour earlier by the sun’s clock. And although the day was sunny today without much of a breeze the Brussel sprouts were still quite wet when we harvested them this afternoon. Rain suits are normal apparel for this time of year even when the sun is shining! I’m so glad for good raingear to stay warm and dry; the simple pleasures in life…

If you were a new summer share member to Promised Land this season please do renew the month of November or December. We give current members the first opportunity to renew before making any remaining shares available to new members but like the Cadbury Cream Eggs and Bunny, when they’re gone; they’re gone. Summer shares sell out quickly usually in late winter and we are always sad to turn away renewing members because we ran out of shares.

From all of us here at the Oles Farm, grandparents, parents and children thank you again for partnering with us for the season. Without your commitment this partnership wouldn’t work.

God bless and have a warm and peaceful winter season, Jane & Daniel, Ben & Crystal and family.

 

Produce:   Golden beets   Brussel sprouts   Dinosaur Kale   French Fingerling potatoes   Garlic  

             Cooking onions   Orange carrots   Butternut squash   Celeriac   Napa cabbage

Fruit Share:      Fuji Apples      Jonagold Apples

 

Produce tips:

French fingerling potatoes are sweet, creamy and versatile. They boil and mash as well as bake nicely.

– Napa cabbage is delicious fresh in a salad as well as steamed or stir fried; try frying it with onions for a quick and delicious side dish.

– Cooking onions do not need to be refrigerated but keep best in a cool dry spot.

– Celeriac will keep best refrigerated.

– Kale should be bagged before refrigerating.

 

Recipes

APPLE AND WINE-BRAISED CABBAGE

2 tablespoons canola oil; 1/2 large head cabbage, shredded or sliced as thinly as possible; 1 onion, halved and cut as thinly as possible; salt and pepper; 1/2 cup red wine; 1/2 cup red wine vinegar; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 3 apples, cored and cut into eighths; 1/2 cup raisins

Heat oil in large braiser or wok over medium-high flame. Add cabbage and onions; season with salt and pepper to taste, and stir well. Cover, reduce heat, and allow mixture to wilt slightly, about S minutes. Stir in wine, vinegar, and brown sugar. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, about 4-5 minutes. Stir in apples and raisins; cook another 20-30 minutes. I’ve also used water instead of the wine and omitted the apples and raisins and it’s still yummy! Add additional salt and

pepper to taste; Makes 6 servings.

 

AUTUMN BEET AND VEGETABLE SALAD WITH CHEESE AND NUTS

Dressing: 1/3 cup minced onions; 5 tablespoons cider vinegar; 3-4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley; 11/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1/2 cup olive oil; salt and pepper to taste

Salad: 2 cups cooked, diced yellow or red beets; 1 1/2 cups blanched, diced carrots; 1 1/2 cups cooked, diced waxy-type potatoes; 1 cup diced roasted red peppers; 11/2 cups diced Jonagold apples; 4-6 ounces cheese, crumbled; 2/3 cup nuts, toasted 6-8 minutes at 350 degrees

Make dressing: Combine onions, vinegar, basil or parsley, and mustard. Whisk in olive oil in a thin stream. Season with salt and pepper. To assemble the salad, toss each type of vegetable and the apples, one type at a time, with enough dressing to barely coat them. Arrange in separate piles in a wide, shallow bowl. Serve at room temperature. Just before serving, sprinkle salad with cheese and nuts, add more salt and pepper to taste, and toss gently. The original recipe calls for blue cheese and hickory nuts, but other nuts and cheeses can be used according to your preference.

Makes 8-12 servings; Recipe from MACSAC

 

FANTASTIC APPLESAUCE

12 apples, 2 tablespoons sugar, or more to taste

Core and cut the apples into small or large chunks. In a large pot, combine the apples, sugar, and 1 cup of water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to a low simmer, cover, and cook until the apples are tender, about 30 to 35 minutes, stirring occasionally to bring cooked apples to the top and uncooked apples to the bottom of the pot. Coarsely mash the apples with the cooking juice and adjust taste with sugar if desired. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Recipe from Stevens Orchard; About 9 cups

 

CURRIED BUTTERNUT APPLE SOUP

1/4 c butter; 2 c chopped onion; 1 rib celery, chopped; 4 tsp curry powder; 2 medium butternut squash peeled and cubed; 3 medium apples, peeled and chopped; 3 c water; 1 c cider; Salt and pepper, to taste.

Melt better in heavy pot; add onions, celery, and curry powder. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until vegetables are tender. Add squash, apples, and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 20-30 minutes, or until squash and apples are tender. Drain and reserve liquid. Puree apple-squash mixture with one cup of cooking liquid. Return to pot. Add cider and as much of cooking liquid as needed to reach desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Reheat if necessary, and serve. Makes 8-10 servings

 

GERMAN-STYLE APPLES AND CABBAGE

4 packed cups thinly sliced red or green cabbage, (3/4-1 pound); 3 cups peeled, sliced tart apples; 1 cup sliced red onion; 1/2 cup apple cider or beer; 1/4 cup cider vinegar; 1 teaspoon caraway seeds (optional); 1/2 teaspoon salt; coarsely ground black pepper to taste

Place cabbage, apples, red onion, and cider or beer in heavy saucepan or skillet. Cover and cook over medium heat until vegetables become slightly tender, about 8 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; cook another 7-8 minutes. Add more cider if necessary to keep vegetables from sticking. Serve with ring bologna, bratwurst, kielbasa, or sautéed mushrooms. Makes 6 servings Recipe from MACSAC

 

CELERIAC AND GREEN APPLE SALAD

1 small sweet onion, peeled and finely diced; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon organic 2 pounds fresh celeriac; 2 large Granny Smith apples,

unpeeled and cored; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar; 1 cup baby greens; 3 beefsteak tomatoes, cared and sliced 1/4-inch thick; 12 sweet baby turnips, washed and quartered

Make the dressing: In a medium bowl combine the onion, garlic, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, and honey. Mix well and set aside. Peel all of the skin from the celeriac with a paring knife. Grate the celeriac coarsely with a box grater (do not use a food processor-a food processor will grate it too finely, and the salad will have very little texture and be too wet). Set aside. Grate the apples with the box grater. Add the celeriac and apples to the dressing and toss gently. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside for at least 30 minutes before serving. Meanwhile, boil the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk frequently, and continue to boil until the vinegar is reduced by approximately one-third. Taste the celeriac and apple mixture and add salt and pepper if desired. (Celeriac absorbs seasonings very quickly, so always taste the salad before serving to see if more salt or pepper needs to be added.) Place celeriac and apple mixture on a plate garnished with the baby greens, tomatoes, and baby turnips. Drizzle with the balsamic reduction and serve at once. 4-6 SERVINGS Recipe from The Alchemist pub and brewery

 

APPLE BUTTER

6 lbs firm, tart apples, peeled and quartered; 1 quart apple cider; 1 1/4 c sugar; 2 tsp cinnamon; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp ground cloves; 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Place apples in cider in pot. Bring to boil; cook over medium heat, stirring often, until soft, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat. Using hand mixer on high speed, puree apples. Return to heat, and stir in sugar, cinnamon, salt, cloves and nutmeg. Boil rapidly, stirring constantly to prevent splattering. Cook until thick enough to spread. Test: Pour a Tbsp of hot mixture onto chilled plate. If no rim of liquid forms, it is ready. Pour into hot, sterile jars. Attach hot, sterile lids and rings. Process 5 minutes in boiling water bath. Makes 3 pints; Recipe from Farm-Fresh Recipes

 

APPLE COBBLER

1 c sugar; 2 Tbsp flour; 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg; 6 c peeled, sliced apples

For topping: 1 c flour; 1 c sugar; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 egg; 4 Tbsp butter, softened

In large saucepan, combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and apples. Stir gently to coat with sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat 7 minutes, or until just slightly softened. Spoon into buttered 7 I 1/2- by 11 3/4-inch baking dish. Prepare topping: Stir together flour, sugar, salt, egg and butter until crumbly. Distribute over 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

 

GRILLED APPLES

2 Tbsp cinnamon; 2 Tbsp sugar; 4 baking apples, cored

In small bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar. Place each apple on center of aluminum foil sheet; add a tablespoon cinnamon/sugar mixture into core, and wrap apple in foil. Place foil-wrapped apples in small foil pie tins on the grill, and cook until apples are tender. Unwrap, discard foil and serve.

Note: You may prefer not to cut all the way through when you core apple so as to better keep cinnamon-sugar in apple’s center. Makes 4 servings; Recipe from Farm-Fresh Recipes

 

BEETS, ORANGES, AND RASPBERRY SAUCE

1 pound beets, scrubbed; 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar; 1-2 oranges or peaches; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon grated gingerroot (optional); 1/2 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place beets (in their skins) in a baking dish and cover with foil. Roast beets until tender, about 35-55 minutes, depending on their size. When cool, peel, slice thinly, and place them in a bowl. Peel the oranges (or peaches) and cut in half. Place flat sides down on cutting board and slice each into about 4 wedges. Remove seeds from orange slices before adding to beets. Make vinaigrette out of the remaining ingredients: mash garlic with the salt, add vinegar, and whisk in olive oil. Stir in grated gingerroot, if using. Toss with beets and oranges. You can serve this immediately, but it’s best if allowed to chill and mellow. This dish was inspired by recipes in Mollie Katzen’s Vegetable Heaven and Renee Shepherd’s Recipes from a Kitchen Garden; Makes 4-6 servings

 

FRIED BEETS AND CARROTS

2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 teaspoons cumin seeds; 2 medium beets, quartered, sliced 1/4-inch thick; 2 medium carrots, sliced 1/4-inch thick; tamari sauce; greens

Heat olive oil in skillet. Add cumin; cook about 1 minute. Add beets and carrots; fry until tender. Remove from heat, sprinkle on a little tamari, and serve. Variation: If using young beets save the tops. When the beets and carrots are tender, add chopped greens, cover, and cook until soft. Toss mixture, sprinkle with tamari, and serve.

Makes 2-4 servings; Recipe from Linda Derrickson, Sunporch Cafe

 

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 tsps rice wine vinegar; 1 T minced fresh rosemary, plus 4 tsp rosemary leaves for garnish; 1/2 tsp 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

 

ORANGE BORSCHT

4 medium-size beets peeled and coarsely grated; 5 cups beef stock; salt; freshly ground black pepper to taste; 2 cups tomato juice; 2 1/2 cups orange juice; yogurt; chopped chives

Bring grated beets to a boil in beef stock which has been seasoned to taste with salt and pepper. Turn down heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Add tomato juice. Puree mixture in electric blender, then add orange juice, mixing well to combine. Refrigerate for several hours. Serve with a dollop of yogurt and chopped chives. Yield: approx. 10 cups

 

CARROT FENNEL ORANGE SOUP

2 tablespoons butter or butter-flavored cooking spray; 4 cups water, vegetable broth, or chicken broth (or more for a thinner soup); 1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced (reserve a few of the fronds); 1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste; 4 cups sliced carrots (approximately 1 1/2 pounds) ; 1/3 cup orange juice; 1 garlic clove, sliced thin (you can add a couple of garlic scapes, if available); 1/4 cup sour cream

Heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add sliced fennel and cook, stirring often, until soft and beginning to turn golden. Add carrots and garlic; cook and stir for a minute or two. Add water or broth and salt; bring to simmer, cover, and cook until carrots and fennel are tender, about 20 minutes. Puree mixture in a food processor or blender, or with an immersion blender. Stir in orange juice and sour cream until smooth and creamy. Reheat on low heat, but do not boil. Serve each bowl garnished with fennel fronds.

Makes 4 servings; Recipe from Edith Thayer, Vermont Valley Farm member

 

GADO GADO

9 ounces Chinese cabbage, shredded; 4 carrots, cut into matchsticks; 4 bok choy ribs, cut into matchsticks; 9 ounces (4 cups) bean sprouts; fried onion, salted peanuts and sliced fresh hot pepper, to garnish

For the peanut sauce: 1 tablespoon oil; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 1 garlic clove; crushed; 1 small piece galangal, peeled and grated; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/4 teaspoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon tamarind paste or lime juice; 4 tablespoons crunchy peanut butter; 1 teaspoon light brown sugar

Steam the cabbage, carrots and bok choy for 3-4 minutes, until just tender. Let cool. Spread out the bean sprouts on a large serving dish. Arrange the cabbage, carrots, bok choy on top. To make the sauce, heat the oil in a saucepan, add the onion and garlic and cook gently for 5 minutes, until s0ft. Stir in the galangal and spices and cook for 1 minute. Add the tamarind paste or lime juice, peanut butter and sugar. Mix well. COOK’S TIP ~ As long as the sauce remains the same, the vegetables can be altered at the whim a/the cook and to reflect the contents a/the vegetable bin. Heat the sauce gently, stirring occasionally and adding a little hot water if necessary, to make the sauce runny enough to coat the vegetables when poured. Spoon a little of the sauce over the vegetables and toss lightly together. Garnish with fried onion, peanuts and sliced hot pepper. Serve the rest of the sauce separately in a bowl. Serves 4

 

NAPA WASABI SLAW

1 tablespoon wasabi paste; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar; 1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 1/4 cup sesame oil; 1 cup orange juice; 1 head Napa cabbage, very thinly sliced; 6 carrots, shredded; 1 chopped onion; 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Whisk wasabi, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, and orange juice until thoroughly combined. Toss with vegetables and sesame “”seeds. Makes 6-8 servings; Recipe from MACSAC

 

PENNE ALIA ZUCCO (ROMAN PASTA WITH PUMPKIN SAUCE)

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 2 onions, finely chopped; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg; 4 cups peeled and chopped winter squash or pumpkin flesh; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage; 1 pound penne pasta or gnocchi; 1 garlic clove; 1/3 cup grated Parmesan; 1/4 teaspoon crushed red chile pepper

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium flame; add onions and cook, stirring often, until very soft and translucent. Meanwhile, in a food processor fitted with a knife blade, pulse the squash and garlic together in 2 batches until very fine. Add to onions with chile, salt, nutmeg, and 1 cup water. Cover and simmer until squash is soft and of a sauce like consistency, 10-20 minutes. Stir in sage. Cook pasta in lots of boiling, salted water until just tender. Strain, reserving 1 cup of pasta cooking liquid. Add pasta to hot sauce in pan, stir, and cook over high heat, adding cooking liquid if necessary, until pasta is coated. Stir in Parmesan and serve.

Makes 4-6 servings; Recipe from Leah Coplon, The Washington Hotel

 

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and cube one butternut squash. Add 1-2 Tbsp olive oil to coat. Put squash on a baking sheet and roast until tender, about 30 minutes. This is also a great cooking method for potatoes, carrots, rutabagas and garlic. We enjoy a medley of the afore mentioned vegetables together.

 

WINTER SQUASH, ONION, AND SAFFRON RISOTTO

5-6 cups chicken stock, 1/2 teaspoon saffron threads, pulverized, 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2-1 cup finely chopped onion, 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice, 2/3 cup dry white wine, 2-3 cups cooked, pureed winter squash, 3/4-1 cup grated Parmesan, Romano, or asiago cheese, salt and pepper

Bring stock and saffron to a simmer in saucepan. Heat olive oil in large, heavy saucepan. Add onions; cook over medium low heat until softened, several minutes. Raise heat to medium-high and stir in rice. Keep stirring rice 1·2 minutes, then add wine. Stir and cook until nearly all the wine has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Add two ladlefuls hot stock (enough to barely cover the rice); stir frequently until most is absorbed. Continue to add stock a ladleful at a time and stir very frequently until nearly absorbed. Risotto is done when rice is barely tender and mixture is creamy; this should take 25-35 minutes. (Adjust heat if rice is absorbing liquid too quickly.) Stir in squash during last 10 minutes. Fold in most of the grated cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately, with a little more cheese on top of each serving. Makes 6-8 servings; Recipe from MACSAC

 

EASY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

2 T butter or olive oil, 3-4 cloves garlic, mashed with side of thick knife, 1/2-1 C chopped onion, 2 1/2-3 lbs. butternut squash, halved, seeded, and baked until soft, 4 C chicken stock or 2 bouillon cubes dissolved in 4 cups hot water, 1 bay leaf, pinch of sugar, 1/2 t or more curry powder, pinch of nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, 2 cups milk (low-fat or skim)

Heat butter or olive oil in large saucepan over medium flame. Add garlic and onions; cook, stirring often, 7-10 minutes. Puree the cooked squash in a food processor and stir into onion mixture. Stir in stock, bay leaf, sugar, curry powder, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Simmer 20-30 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Add the milk; heat but don’t boil. This is adapted from The Complete Book of Soups and Stews, by Bernard Clayton. Serves 6; Recipe from Linda Taylor, Good Earth Farm

 

SEARED BRUSSELS SPROUTS BRAISED WITH APPLE CIDER

12 large Brussels sprouts; cooking oil; salt; 1/4 cup apple cider

Trim Brussels sprouts and cut in half. Heat a cast-iron pan over medium flame. Add some oil. Sprinkle salt evenly over bottom of pan. Lay Brussels sprouts cut side down in the pan. Cook until deep brown or almost black in some places, about 5 minutes. Add apple cider, cover pan, and turn off heat. Let them continue cooking off the heat another 5 minutes. Serve with grilled chicken or black-eyed peas. Makes 2 servings; Recipe from Ben Hunter, Catacombs Coffeehouse

 

NUTTY BRUSSELS SPROUTS

3 c Brussels sprouts; 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar; 3 Tbsp honey; 1 Tbsp minced onions; 2 tsp Dijon mustard; 1/3 cup walnut or olive oil; Salt and pepper, to taste; 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Remove loose or discolored leaves from sprouts. Cut an X with paring knife through stem end to assure even cooking. Steam in vegetable steamer until just barely tender, about 6 minutes. Combine vinegar, honey, shallots and mustard in jar with tight-fitting lid. Let sit for 5 minutes. Add oil, salt, and pepper. Close lid, and shake well to emulsify. Toss cooked Brussels sprouts with the vinaigrette and walnuts. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings

 

BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON AND BALSAMIC VINEGAR

1 pound Brussels sprouts; 1-2 tablespoons butter; 1/4 pound bacon, chopped; 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1/2 cup finely chopped onion or shallots; salt and pepper to taste

Trim ends off Brussels sprouts and halve the large ones. Blanch in boiling water or steam over boiling water until just tender. Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking and preserve the bright green color, then drain well. Meanwhile, cook bacon until crisp and drain on paper towels. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of bacon grease from pan. Add onions; cook until brown. Add Brussels sprouts, butter, vinegar, salt, pepper,

and bacon. Toss until hot. Makes 4 servings; Recipe from Lee Davenport, Harmony Valley Farm member

 

KALE & BRUSSEL SPROUT SALAD

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 1 tablespoon minced shallot, 1 small garlic clove, finely grated 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt plus more for seasoning, Freshly ground black pepper, 2 large bunches of Tuscan kale (about 1 1/2 lb. total), center stem discarded, leaves thinly sliced, 12 ounces Brussels sprouts, trimmed, finely grated or shredded with a knife, 1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil, divided, 1/3 c. almonds with skins, coarsely chopped, 1 c. finely grated Pecorino

Combine lemon juice, Dijon mustard, shallot, garlic, 1/2 tsp. salt, and a pinch of pepper in a small bowl. Stir to blend; set aside to let flavors meld. Mix thinly sliced kale and shredded Brussels sprouts in a large bowl.

Measure 1/2 cup oil into a cup. Spoon 1 Tbsp. oil from cup into a small skillet; heat oil over medium-high heat. Add almonds to skillet and stir frequently until golden brown in spots, about 2 minutes. Transfer nuts to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle almonds lightly with salt.

Slowly whisk remaining olive oil in cup into lemon-juice mixture. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper.

DO AHEAD: Dressing, kale mixture, and toasted almonds can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover dressing and kale mixture separately and chill. Cover almonds and let stand at room temperature.

Add dressing and cheese to kale mixture; toss to coat. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Garnish with almonds.

Recipe by Susan Spungen

 

KALE AND POTATO TARRAGON SALAD

2 pounds small potatoes, scrubbed, 7 T. olive oil, 1 medium onion, diced, 1 bunch kale, large stems removed, leaves chopped into 1 in. pieces, 1 clove garlic, minced, 2 T. lemon juice, 1/4-1/2 t. tarragon, divided, salt and pepper to taste

Steam or boil potatoes until fork tender. Drain, cut into large bite sized pieces, place in large bowl, and cover to keep warm. Meanwhile, heat 1 T. olive oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add onions; sauté until translucent. Add kale and garlic; cook until kale is tender, about 5 minutes more (you can cover pan to help wilt kale). Combine vinegar, lemon juice, ¼ t. dried tarragon, remaining 6 T. olive oil, and salt and pepper. Add kale mixture to potatoes and pour dressing over everything. (It’s important to toss the dressing while the mixture is hot, to soak in the flavors.) Add more salt and pepper, or tarragon if necessary. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 6 servings.

Recipe from Jenny Bonde and Rick DaVee, Shooting Star Farm

 

MASSAGED KALE SALAD
2 bunches kale, 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 3 large cloves garlic, minced, 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce, 1 minced anchovy fillet or 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional), 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt
Strip leaves from the stems (discard stems). Wash and dry the leaves. Tear the leaves into small pieces and place in a large bowl. Add Parmesan, oil, lemon juice, garlic, soy sauce, anchovy (if using), pepper and salt. With clean hands, firmly massage and crush the greens to work in the flavoring. Stop when the volume of greens is reduced by about half. The greens should look a little darker and somewhat shiny. Taste and adjust seasoning with more Parmesan, lemon juice, garlic, soy sauce and/or pepper, if desired. Recipe from eating Well magazine

 

WARM BAVARIAN-STYLE POTATO SALAD WITH SAUSAGE

2 pounds Yukon Gold or large fingerling potatoes, scrubbed; 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon prepared hot mustard; 3/4 cup chopped onion; salt and pepper to taste; 1/2 cup apple cider or chicken stock; 3/4 pound pork sausage links; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh parsley

Cook potatoes in salted water until barely tender. Drain, cool slightly, peel, and slice 1/3-inch thick. Meanwhile, make sauce: Combine remaining ingredients (except parsley) in saucepan, bring to simmer, and cook 5-7 minutes. Gently toss with potatoes. Heat oven to 450 degrees. Arrange sausages on baking sheet; bake 8-10 minutes. Cut each link into 4 pieces. Add sausages and parsley to potatoes; mix gently. Season with salt and pepper.

Makes 6 servings; Recipe from MACSAC

 

“SUMMER IN WINTER” CELERIAC CARROT SLAW

1  small celeriac bulb; 4 large carrots; 1 clove garlic or 1 small shallot, minced; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1/8 tsp salt; 1 tsp Dijon mustard; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 tbsp sour cream; freshly ground black pepper

Peel celeriac with a sharp knife. Grate on large holes of box grater. Peel carrots and grate the same way. You’ll have about 4 generous cups. Mix minced garlic or shallot, vinegar, salt, and mustard in small bowl. Whisk in olive oil until smooth and thickened. Stir in sour cream and fresh ground pepper to taste. Add more salt if necessary. Pour over grated vegetables and toss gently. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes. Makes 4 generous servings.