Winter Share Ten April 5th 2018
Important information:
- There are two winter shares remaining after this one; next distribution is Thursday April 19th.
- Final CSA summer payments are due.
Farm News from Jane
Spring is in the air but with it- the mud season ensues! This is when I would really appreciate a black top or concrete driveway. I was dismayed when the lovely little snowdrops were buried in a new blanket of snow just a few weeks ago. But as the snow has receded the snow drops are just as pretty and perky as before the weight and cold of the snow. I should have understood that is why they are so aptly named. We’ve had another calf and so far, her coat is still bright and clean; her mom sure has her work cut out for her. Thank goodness that she has a very long tongue which enables her to keep her baby looking spiffy! March begins calving time for our cows. The weather isn’t always as nice as you would like but it won’t take long for the grass to “green up” and until then they continue to enjoy last year’s hay. It is so interesting to see how the seasons unfold themselves each year. Many people ask us what we think the upcoming season has in store for growing. We did peek at a Farmer’s Almanac about a month ago and it actually did predict a cold and snowy middle of March. We don’t pay much attention to those forecasts. We will look occasionally at the radar weather map for the day when we are ready to plant but otherwise we just walk one day at a time; allowing us to respond to what each day brings. How the saying go? Each day has enough trouble; tomorrow will worry about itself.
We have even more fresh greens from the high tunnel for this share. The roots and storage veggies are beginning to wind down as the fresh greens increase. So, the shares will begin to lighten in amount and weight as we proceed through the spring time. For those of you who have summer shares to look forward to, there is the excitement for the cycle to begin again. The earth greening up and yielding it’s “fruit” in due season is the hope of spring! April has arrived and with it our anticipation of the warmth and light of a longer “days” to enjoy. Let’s look through the spring rain and cool temperatures to the delight of the summer days to come. Enjoy all the “greens”; edible and visual. Blessings, Jane
Produce: Spinach Head lettuce Swiss chard Adirondack red potatoes
Maple syrup Cooking Onions Garlic Kohlrabi Chioggia Beets Carrots
Produce tips:
–Maple syrup does need to be refrigerated after opening. And did you know that if you ever have syrup that formed mold on the surface that after skimming the mold, bringing it to a boil and skimming off the foam will restore it! Just use a very deep pot as the syrup climbs as it heats!!!
– Head lettuce is not washed but because it is grown in the high tunnel except for the cut end it should be clean.
Recipes
GERMAN-STYLE KOHLRABI
Salt, 4 kohlrabi, thinly sliced, 4 tablespoons butter, 2 T all-purpose flour, 1 pint half-and-half, whole nutmeg, for grating
Bring a 3 or 4-quart pot of water to a boil and give it a good couple pinches of salt. Add the kohlrabi and boil until tender but not falling apart, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside on the plate you plan to serve the kohlrabi on. Melt the butter in the same pot, and then sprinkle the flour over. Whisk constantly until the flour is cooked and turns a light tan color, about 3 minutes. Gradually add the half-and-half, whisking the entire time. Turn the heat down to a simmer, and keep whisking until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Pour the hot sauce over the kohlrabi and grate a dusting of nutmeg with a thin grater over the entire dish. Season with salt and serve! Recipe courtesy of Tamara Reynolds
KOHLRABI AND CARROTS
1medium kohlrabi, Peeled, chopped into 3/4-inch cubes (about 2 cups), 4large carrots, cut into chunks to match the size of the kohlrabi, 1⁄4teaspoon nutmeg, 1tablespoon butter (optional), salt and pepper
Cover the Kohlrabi and carrots with lightly salted water and boil until quite tender (about 15-20 minutes). Drain. Lightly mash, leave a lot of texture don’t try to make them smooth like mashed potatoes. Add nutmeg and butter. Serve.
Recipe form GeniusKitchen.com
KOHLRABI SLAW
2 cups chopped cabbage, 4 kohlrabi, peeled and grated, 2 carrots, grated, 2 T minced fresh onion, 1/4 C white sugar, ½ t salt, 1/8 t ground black pepper, 1/8 t celery seed, ½ C mayonnaise, 2 T apple cider vinegar
Toss the cabbage, kohlrabi, celery, carrot, and onion together in a large bowl. Whisk the sugar, salt, pepper, celery seed, mayonnaise, and vinegar together in a separate bowl until smooth; pour over the cabbage mixture and stir to coat evenly. Chill in refrigerator 1 hour before serving. May vary the amounts of each veggie depending on what is on hand!
KOHLRABI PANCAKES WITH FLAXSEEDS
Adaptable to many vegetables, these savory pancakes go great with Cucumber Tzatziki, plain yogurt, or sour cream.
1 pound kohlrabi (peeled), 3 tbsp ground flaxseed (whir whole ones in a blender or processor until ground), 2 tbsp flour
1/4 tsp salt, 1 carrot, 1 tbsp oil for frying (coconut oil is tasty)
Grate the kohlrabi and carrot (a food processor makes it easy). In a large bowl, mix the ground flaxseed, flour and salt. Then add the grated carrot and kohlrabi and mix. With your hands, form smallish patties about 1/2 inch thick. Cook in a frying pan with the oil until each side is golden brown. Add more oil if needed between rounds of pancakes. I love the way the ground flaxseed holds these together! You could also get them to hold together with egg if you don’t have flaxseed. Recipe from red Fire Farm
KOHLRABI AND POTATO SALAD WITH HORSERADISH
1 or 2 Kohlrabi peeled, 2 medium Potatoes, 2 to 4 tablespoons sour cream, 2 teaspoons chopped dill, Salt and freshly milled pepper, Prepared horseradish in vinegar
Slice the kohlrabi into julienne strips or wedges. Steam until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Coarsely cube potatoes and boil until tender. Then put potatoes and kohlrabi in a bowl and toss with sour cream, horseradish, and dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Recipe form Red Fire Farm, Granby MA
CREAMY KOHLRABI SOUP
2T butter, 1 onion; chopped, 1# kohlrabi; peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice, 2.5 C. vegetable broth, 2.5 C. milk, 1 bay leaf, 1 pinch of salt, grated black pepper to taste, ¼ C uncooked orzo pasta
Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium-low heat. Cook and stir onion in melted butter until soft, about 10 minutes. Add kohlrabi; cook and stir another 2 minutes. Pour vegetable broth and milk over the onion mixture. Add bay leaf. Bring the mixture to a boil, place a cover on the pot, and reduce heat to low; cook at a simmer until kohlrabi is tender, about 25 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf; allow the soup to cool slightly. Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway. Pulse the blender a few times before leaving on to puree. Work in batches until all soup is blended. Return pureed soup to stockpot; season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle orzo pasta into the soup; cover the stockpot and simmer until the orzo is tender, about 10 minutes. Allrecipe.com
KALE SALAD WITH POMEGRANATE AND MAPLE PECANS
Salad: 12 oz Tuscan kale, deveined and sliced into ½ in. ribbons (8c.), 1 large red apple, cored, quartered, and thinly sliced (1+1/4 c), ½ pomegranate seeds, 1+1/2 OZ. Gouda, thinly shaved with vegetable peeler. To assemble salad: place kale in large bowl; gently massage 3 T vinaigrette into leaves to ensure even coverage. Gently toss with apple and pomegranate seeds, and transfer to serving bowl. Top with maple pecans and shaved Gouda.
Maple pecans: ½ c. pecan pieces, 1T maple syrup, 2 t. olive oil, ½ t. salt, ¼ t. cayenne pepper. Preheat oven to 350o. Combine all ingredients in small bowl and toss until well coated. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake for 12 minutes, or until toasted and fragrant, stirring occasionally. Let cool to room temperature.
Vinaigrette: 2T. Balsamic vinegar, 2T olive oil, 1 small shallot, peeled and finely minced (1+1/2 T.) To make vinaigrette: whisk together ingredients, and season with salt and pepper, if desired.
KALE CHIPS
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F. Line a non-insulated cookie sheet with parchment paper.
With a knife or kitchen shears carefully remove the leaves from the thick stems and tear into bite size pieces. Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10-15 min. May be oiled or sprayed with cooking oil and sprinkled with garlic salt.
CREAMY POTATO KALE SOUP
5 tablespoons butter, 1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped, 3 large potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped, 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth, 2-3 cups chopped kale, stems removed, 2 cups milk, salt and pepper to taste
Heat the butter in a large pot over medium high heat. Add the onions and potatoes and sauté until golden brown, 5-8 minutes, sprinkling with salt and pepper. Add 6 cups of the broth and the kale; simmer for 5-10 minutes until the kale softens and becomes a darker green. Transfer the soup to a heavy-duty blender. Puree for 2-3 minutes or until the soup is completely smooth. Transfer the pureed soup back the pan and stir in the milk and the remaining 2 cups broth depending on how thick you want the soup to be. Season with salt and pepper and serve with yummy paninis, toasted wheat bread, or crackers, cheese, and hummus. Notes: This recipe is very adaptable – add more herbs, use more potatoes, more kale, more broth, etc. Also note: the more kale you add, the brighter green your soup will be! Also, the longer you cook the onions and potatoes the more it “dulls” the flavor. You want them to be sautéed and golden, but not totally mushy.
RAMEN KALE CRUNCHY SLAW
4 C kale (about ½ bunch), stripped from stalk, rinsed, cut into ¼ in. ribbons, rinsed and dried, 2t olive oil, 2 pinches of kosher salt, 4 C thinly shredded cabbage (a mix of red and green cabbages looks great), 2 carrots, peeled and shredded, 1 (2-3oz.) packet of ramen noodles, 3T sesame seeds, toasted, ¼ C almond slices, toasted
Dressing: 3 T seasoned rice vinegar, 2 T sugar, ½ t kosher salt, 1-2 t tamari or soy sauce, ¼ t freshly ground black pepper, ¼ C olive oil, 2 T dark sesame oil, toasted
Place kale in a large serving bowl or dish and add the olive oil and salt. Massage the kale with your hands to soften and tenderize, about 2 minutes. Add the cabbage and carrots. Crush the ramen noodles in the package and toss with the salad. Make the dressing: In a bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, tamari, pepper, olive oil and sesame oil and mix well. Add the dressing to the salad 30-6- minutes before serving. Toss the dressing evenly to coat and mix in half of the seeds and nuts. Top with the remaining nuts when ready to serve. Variation: Add shredded chicken.
Recipe from Kale, Glorious Kale by Catherine Walthers
ROASTED BEETS WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE RECIPE
2 # red beets, medium sized, scrubbed clean, Olive oil, Salt, 1/2 c balsamic vinegar, 2 t sugar, 1 t grated orange zest, freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 400°F and line pan with aluminum foil. Rub beets with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, place in pan, cover with foil: Place the beets in the pan. Rub olive oil over the beets, and sprinkle with salt. Cover the beets with another sheet of aluminum foil. Roast for 1 to 2 hours: Roast for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the beets and how old they are. After 1 hour, test every fifteen minutes by poking a beet with the tines of a fork. Once the fork tines go in easily, the beets are tender and cooked. Remove from the oven.
Prepare balsamic glaze: While the beets are cooling, prepare the balsamic glaze. In a small, shallow sauté pan, add the balsamic vinegar and sugar. Heat on high until the vinegar has reduced to a syrup consistency. Remove from heat. Peel and cut cooked beets: After the beets have cooled for several minutes, but are still warm to the touch, peel off the outer skins and discard. Cut the beets into quarters or more, bite-sized pieces. Pour glaze over beets: Place beets in a serving bowl. Pour balsamic glaze over the beets. Stir in grated orange zest and add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with a little orange zest to serve.
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
BEET, GINGER, AND COCONUT MILK SOUP
1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 large yellow onion, diced, 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger, 3 large beets, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces, 5 cups vegetable stock, divided, 1 can (14.5 ounces) low-fat coconut milk, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, Parsley (optional), Canned julienned beets (optional), Crusty bread
In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger; cook, stirring often, 5 minutes. Add beets and 4 cups stock; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until beets are fork-tender, 20 minutes. With an immersion or regular blender, puree soup, adding remaining 1 cup stock as needed to reach desired consistency. Stir in milk, salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley and julienned beets and serve with bread, if desired.
Recipe from epicurious.com
CHEESY SPINACH
Mix: 1 eggs; 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice; 1/3 cup brown rice, cooked; 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley; 2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional); salt and pepper to taste
Mix separately: 1/2 large bunch of spinach, chopped and steamed; 1/3 cup cottage cheese; 1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese; 1egg, plus 1 egg white; salt and pepper to taste; a pinch of cayenne pepper
Spread the ingredients from the first mixture in the bottom of a greased casserole. Spread the spinach mixture over them. Bake at 350 degrees until firm, 45-60 minutes. Makes 3-4 servings.
Recipe from Max, the cook at Red Caboose Day Care Center
SPINACH STRAWBERRY SALAD
1/2 c sugar; 1 T poppy seeds; 2 Tbsp sesame seeds; 1 1/2 tsp minced onions; 1/4 tsp paprika; 1/4 c cider vinegar; 1/4 c wine vinegar; 1/2 c canola oil; 2 Tbsp butter; 3/4 c slivered almonds; 1 lb. spinach, washed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces; 1 pint strawberries, sliced
Put sugar, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onions, paprika, vinegars and oil in shaker jar. Shake to emulsify. Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add almonds; cook and stir until lightly toasted, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Combine spinach, strawberries and almonds in serving bowl. Pour half of dressing over and toss. Add more dressing as desired. Serve at once. Makes 8 servings
FRESH GREENS PASTA PIE
3 ounces vermicelli; 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, softened; 1/6 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 1/2 eggs; 1 teaspoon cooking oil; 1/2 small onion, chopped; 1 cup chopped fresh spinach or other greens; 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese; 1/6 cup milk; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper; pinch ground nutmeg
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a large pie plate. Cook vermicelli according to package directions; drain. Stir butter and Parmesan cheese into hot vermicelli. Beat 2 of the eggs and stir well into pasta. Spoon mixture into pie plate and use a spoon to shape vermicelli into a pie shell. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 10 minutes. Set aside. Heat oil in small skillet, add onion and sauté until tender. Beat the remaining 3 eggs and combine with spinach, mozzarella, milk, seasonings, and sautéed onions. Spoon spinach mixture into pasta shell. Cover pie with aluminum foil. Bake 35 minutes; uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.
Makes 3 servings. Recipe from Crystal Lake Gardens
ROASTED GARLIC AND SPINACH QUICHE
1 bulb roasted garlic; 1 tbs. butter; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 4 eggs; 1 cup milk; 1/4 tsp. chili powder; 1/2 tsp. salt; 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper; 1 cup cooked spinach, fresh or frozen drained well; 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese; 1/4 tsp. vegetable oil for oiling pan
Heat oven to 350°. Separate roasted garlic cloves, peel and mash in a small bowl to form a paste. Melt butter in a skillet. Add onion and sauté until soft; about 6 minutes. Add garlic paste and sauté for 4 minutes. Blend together and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, chili powder, salt and pepper. In another bowl, combine garlic-onion mixture with spinach and cheese. Mix well. Spread spinach mixture firmly in a lightly oiled 99inch quiche or pie pan. Pour egg mixture evenly over spinach.
Bake for 40 minutes. Quiche is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Servings: 6 Recipe from The Best 50 Garlic Recipes.
YOGURT AND SPINACH SOUP
2 ½ cups chicken bouillon; 4 tbsp long-grain rice, rinsed and drained; 4 tbsp water; 1 tbsp cornstarch; 2 1/2 cups low fat plain yogurt; 3 egg yolks, lightly beaten; juice of 1 lemon; 12 oz/350 g young spinach leaves, washed and drained; salt and pepper; warm crusty bread, to serve
Pour the bouillon into a large pan, season, and bring to a boil. Add the rice and simmer for 10 minutes, until barely cooked. Remove from the heat. Combine the water and cornstarch to make a smooth paste. Pour the yogurt into a second pan and stir in the cornstarch mixture. Set the pan over low heat and bring the yogurt to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon in one direction only. This will stabilize the yogurt and prevent it from separating or curdling on contact with the hot bouillon. When the yogurt has reached boiling point, stand the pan on a heat diffuser and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and set the mixture aside to cool slightly, and then stir in the beaten egg yolks. Pour the yogurt mixture into the bouillon, stir in the lemon juice, and stir to blend thoroughly. Keep the soup warm, but do not let it boil. Blanch the washed and drained spinach leaves in a large pan of boiling, salted water for 2-3 minutes, until they begin to soften but have not wilted. Tip the spinach into a colander, drain well, and stir it into the soup. Warm through. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Remove from the heat and serve immediately in wide, shallow soup dishes, with warm crusty bread. SERVES 4 Recipe from Practical Soups
SWISS CHARD OMELET WITH MIDDLE EASTERN SAVOR
For each omelet: 1-2 teaspoons olive oil; 3 eggs, beaten; 1/2 cup chopped, cooked chard leaves and/or stems, warm or at room temperature; 1 tablespoon currants; 1 tablespoon finely chopped Kalamata olives; I tablespoon toasted pine nuts; lemon juice; sea salt and freshly ground black pepper; herb sprig (rosemary, thyme, sage, etc.)
Heat olive oil in small nonstick skillet over high flame. Add beaten eggs-they will immediately begin to set on bottom of pan. With a spatula or nonstick egg lifter, pull the cooked egg from outer edges of pan toward center. The uncooked egg will spread and cook. Use spatula to help spread the liquid egg off top of cooked egg and onto exposed sections of pan bottom. Continue to do this until nearly all the liquid egg is set. Reduce heat to very low. The egg will continue to cook as you layer the following across the omelet: chard, currants, olives, and pine nuts. Sprinkle with a few drops of lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. To serve, hold a plate close to the edge of skillet and, shaking skillet slightly, slip omelet onto the plate, either rolling it into a cigar shape or folding it over into a half-moon. Serve immediately. (Or, since this entire process takes only 2-3 minutes, you can keep the omelet warm in the oven while you make more of them.) Garnish with an herb sprig. Makes 1 serving. *This is best if the chard has been cooked with garlic and onions. Recipe from MACSAC
SUMMER GREENS AND POTATO FRY-UP
1 tablespoon butter; 1/2 teaspoon dried ground thyme; 1 teaspoon chili oil (or substitute vegetable oil with a little crushed red pepper); 3/4 cup cooked sweet corn; 3 sprigs fresh oregano, torn up (or other fresh herbs except mint); 1 baking potato, or 3-4 small red potatoes, thin-sliced; 1 leek or small onion, finely chopped; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; salt and pepper; grated Parmesan (optional); 1/2 pound fresh spinach, chard or other mild-flavored greens, washed and stemmed
Heat butter and chili oil in large nonstick skillet over medium flame. Add potatoes and leeks or onions, and season well with salt and pepper. (You may also partially cook the potatoes first in salted water until nearly tender before frying them.) Let the potatoes brown lightly in the pan on one side for several minutes. Toss potatoes, season with more salt and pepper, and let them brown lightly again. When potatoes are almost tender, toss in greens and thyme, then add a little less than 1/4 cup water, cover the pan, and raise heat to high. Let steam until greens are nearly done, 1-2 minutes. Uncover, add corn, oregano, and paprika, and allow potatoes to finish cooking and browning. Season to taste and top with Parmesan, if desired. Serve with fried eggs if you like. Makes 2-4 servings. Recipe from Morn Rosenbloom
SWISS CHARD SOUP
1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced (approximately 1 ½ cups); 1 tablespoon butter; 1 tablespoon oil; 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour; 1 1/2 cups chicken stock; salt; pepper to taste; 2 cups milk; 4 to 5 cups fresh Swiss chard, leaves and ribs
Sauté mushrooms in butter and oil for 5 minutes. Add flour and stir until flour is evenly distributed, then add chicken stock, salt and pepper, and milk. Cook slowly, stirring constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened. Add Swiss chard and simmer for 15 minutes. Yield: approximately 4 cups
PANAMA’S PINK POTATO SALAD
5 medium sized potatoes, 2 medium sized carrots, 3 medium sized red beets, 1-2 stalk celery or (1-2 cups celeriac), 1 onion, 1 bunch parsley, 1 clove garlic, 3 eggs, 1-2 tablespoon mayonnaise, 1-2 teaspoon mustard, salt and pepper to taste * if substituting celeriac, you may cook it with the potatoes or chop and add raw to salad.
Start by boiling the potatoes in a large pot. When they are close to half cooked add the beet and carrot.
Then add the eggs to the pot for the last 10 minutes. Meanwhile, chop the celery, parsley, onion, and garlic. Drain the potato pot. You should now have tender potatoes, a tender beet, carrot and a hardboiled egg. Peel, dice the beet and carrot. It is a little counter intuitive to us Americans, to boil and then do the chopping. However, that is the custom in Panama. The cooks say it is easier to peel the vegetables after boiling. Separate the hardboiled egg white from the egg yolk. Chop the egg whites. Crumble the egg yolk. Mix the egg whites, celery, parsley, onion, garlic, mayonnaise and mustard in a deep bowl. Then add everything else and mix just enough to coat the vegetables with the mayonnaise. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add more mayonnaise or mustard to the desired consistency. Mix well. Sprinkle the crumbled egg yolk on top for a beautiful touch of yellow color! Serves 4; Recipe from Red Fire Farm; Anna
VEGAN PINK MASHED POTATOES WITH GINGER AND CARDAMOM
2 Adirondack Red potatoes, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1/2 cup hemp (or soy) milk, 1/8 teaspoon cardamom, 1 tablespoon chopped candied ginger, finely chopped, salt to taste
Scrub potatoes and cut into chunks. (I always leave the nutrient-rich peel on.) Place them in a pot of boiling water and boil until tender, then drain. Add all other ingredients and mash with a potato masher until smooth and perfectly lavender. Recipe from Care 2 Healthy Living
CURRIED CARROT AND SWEET POTATO SOUP
2 tablespoons olive oil; 3-4 carrots, peeled, ends removed, and cut into small pieces; 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 small onion, peeled and chopped; 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced; 2 tablespoons sweet curry powder; 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water, or as needed; 1/4 cup orange juice; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Chopped chives Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the carrots, sweet potatoes, onion, and garlic. Sauté until vegetables are tender and onions are translucent, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the curry powder and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add vegetable broth to cover the vegetables and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the carrots and potatoes are fork tender, approximately 15 minutes. Remove from heat and puree the mixture with a handheld blender, or transfer mixture to a blender or food processor in batches if necessary, and puree until texture is smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add more broth or water. Transfer puree back to stock pot if necessary, and slowly whisk in orange juice. Heat through and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into soup bowls, and garnish with chives to taste. Note: If you want to serve the soup cold, chill and top with crème fraiche or yogurt. 4-6 servings; Recipe from Kristina Creighton.
BROWN SUGAR OR MAPLE GLAZED CARROT OR PARSNIPS
1 lb. medium carrots or parsnips, 1T butter, 1T brown sugar or maple syrup
Cut the carrots or parsnips in half, both crosswise and lengthwise or in bite sized pieces.
In a medium saucepan cook the carrots or parsnips, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted, water for 8-10 minutes or until crisp tender. Drain; remove from pan. In the same pan combine the butter, brown sugar or maple syrup and dash of salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until combined. Add carrots or parsnips. Cook, uncovered about 2 minutes or until glazed, stirring frequently. Season to taste with black pepper.