Winter Share Eight February 26th 2014
PROMISED LAND CSA WINTER SHARE EIGHT FEBRUARY 26TH 2014
Important reminders:
- The next winter share is March 13th.
Farm News from Jane
BRRRR; that’s what it feels like with today’s wind! The glorious sunshine however somehow makes up for the wind.
We had hoped to start planting into the hoop houses within this last week or two but everything is still frozen! We were able to harvest spinach however on one of those warmer days last week so at least we can taste some fresh greens even though we can’t plant any yet! The young transplants in the heated green house are looking beautiful as they wait for warn earth. There are so many shades of green between the lettuces, onions, leeks, herbs and of course those most beautiful colors of Swiss chard. Today’s beets will be the last of the season as were last share’s shallots. Because of last’s year’s wet growing season it seem as though some of the roots are not holding up as well. The potatoes seem to be the hardest hit; although they do get sweeter when in storage. We are including a pound of local honey in this share and hope to have maple syrup to share next month. Time will tell.
We are hoping to tap maple trees during the next thaw. Although we had that nice thaw last week I’m glad we waited until after this below zero temps before tapping. It will be interesting to see how long the season will run as the ground is quite frozen this year. I hear that they are calling for a cold March and Easter arrives quite late this year so perhaps spring is a distance away yet. I did hear birds singing for a few days during that last thaw and we have a small flock of geese that took up a short residence in a flooded back field. The deer are really gathering together in search of more to eat. We’ve seen quite large groups over this past month. It’s always interesting to see how thick the fur gets on the animals especially the cattle or horses during a cold winter; they look very cozy. Well that’s about all on this cold winter’s night. Tomorrow will be another day to keep the house warm by keeping busy in the kitchen; soup or bread anyone?
Stay warm and healthy, Jane
Produce: Spinach Fingerling Potatoes Carrots Cooking Onions
Garlic Green Cabbage Red Beets 1# Honey
Produce Tips:
– It may be best to wash potatoes if you are not intending to peel them; we are unable to wash them this time of year.
– The carrots will be tastier after peeling as the long storage time can cause them to become a bit bitter.
– The spinach is quite sweet so a tangy dressing may be more appropriate if eating it fresh.
Recipes
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. Serves 3-4. Recipe from Max, cook at Red Caboose Day Care Center
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
BEETS, ORANGES, AND RASPBERRY SAUCE
1 pound beets, scrubbed; 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar; 1-2 oranges; 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. Add 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.
BEETS A LA CREME
2 T. butter; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 4 medium beets, cooked; Freshly ground pepper to taste; 1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley; Salt to taste
Cut beets in thick julienne strips, cube, or slice as you prefer. In a large skillet, melt butter. Add beets and sauté for 2 minutes, stirring to coat beets evenly with butter. Season with salt; add cream and continue to cook until reduced to glaze just coating beets. Sprinkle heavily with pepper and parsley. Serve immediately. Serves 3
STIR-FRIED CABBAGE
2 tbsp oil; 1 medium-size onion, sliced; 8 cups coarsely shredded cabbage; 1 tsp celery seed; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp coriander 1/4 tsp salt. Heat oil to medium-hot in large skillet or wok. Stir-fry onion in oil for a minute or two, then add cabbage and seasonings. Stir-fry for 5 to 10 minutes until cabbage is tender but firm. Pan may be covered briefly toward the end of the cooking process to hasten tenderizing. Serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings
DICED BEETS WITH ORANGE ZEST AND YOGURT SAUCE
1 lb. beets, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes; 1/4 cup cider vinegar; zest of 1 orange, grated (about 1 tbsp.); 1/4tsp. ground mace; 1/4 tsp. ground cloves; 1/4 tsp. salt; freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt; 2 tbsp. fresh orange juice; 1 tsp. honey
Preheat the oven to 3750 F. In an 11/2-quart ovenproof casserole with a lid, combine the beets, vinegar, 1/2 cup of water, orange zest, mace, cloves, salt and pepper. Bake the beet mixture, covered, for one hour. Meanwhile, to make the sauce, mix together the yogurt and orange juice in a small bowl. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve. Remove the beets from the oven and stir in the honey. Serve immediately, topped with the yogurt sauce. Serves 4
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 Jonathan 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
SECRET CHOCOLATE CAKE (CHOCOLATE BEET CAKE)
2 C. cooked chopped beets, ½ c. applesauce, 1+1/2 c. sugar, ½ c. oil, ½ c. plain yogurt, 3 eggs,
1+1/2 t. vanilla, 1+1/2 c. flour, 1 c. whole wheat flour, ½ c. baking cocoa, 1+1/2 t. baking soda, ½ t. salt, ½ c. chocolate chips (I prefer mini chips), powdered sugar or your favorite glaze or frosting
Prepare beets by cooking, peeling, and chopping them. Combine with applesauce and puree with a hand blender or in a standing blender. Set aside. Sift together dry ingredients and set aside. Beat together the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. For 2 minutes. Add half the dry ingredients and incorporate slowly, alternating with the beet/applesauce mixture until everything is blended. Pour half the batter into greased Bundt pan. Sprinkle with the chocolate chips, then pour the remaining batter on top. Bake @ 3500 for 45-50 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in pan on rack. From Simply in Season Children’s Cookbook by Mark Beach & Julie Kauffman
QUICK MEAL CABBAGE WITH HAM AND SESAME SEEDS
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil; 6-8 cups shredded cabbage; 2 teaspoons minced garlic; 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock or water; 114-1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes; salt and pepper to taste; 1/2 cup thin strips of ham; lemon juice; toasted sesame seeds Heat oil, garlic, and pepper flakes in large skillet. Add ham; sauté 1 minute. Add cabbage. Stir in stock. Cover, and simmer hard until most of the stock is absorbed and cabbage is wilted and tender, 5-10 minutes. Add salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Garnish with sesame seeds. Inspired by a recipe by Pam Anderson with Karen Tack in Cook s Illustrated January 1995). Makes 4 servings.
PORTUGUESE STONE SOUP
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided; 3 spicy smoked sausages, (10-12 oz.) sliced; 1 cup diced onion; 1 cup diced carrot; 1/2 cup diced celery; 3 tablespoons minced garlic; 8 cups chicken stock; 1 bay leaf; 1 teaspoon oregano; 1/2 teaspoon thyme; 4 cups (about 2/3 pound) very thinly sliced cabbage; 2 cups diced potatoes; 1 can (14 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained; bottled hot pepper sauce; salt and pepper
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a soup pot over medium-high flame. Add the sliced sausage and brown it well. Remove sausages from pot add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. When it is hot, add the onions, carrots, and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook about 1 minute longer. ‘Stir in chicken stock, bay leaf, oregano, thyme, and the sausage. Bring to a simmer and cook about 10 minutes. Add cabbage and potatoes; simmer 10 minutes longer. Add beans and simmer another 10 minutes. Season with hot pepper sauce, salt, and pepper to taste. Makes 8 or more servings. Recipe from MACSAC
SCANDINAVIAN CABBAGE SOUP
2cps Cabbage, chopped; l cp Onion, sliced; l cp celery slices; 1 cp peas; l cp thin sliced carrots; 2cps creamed corn; 1 stick butter; 2 1/2-3cps milk; 1 tsp salt; 1/4tsp pepper; 1 tsp thyme; 1/4tsp garlic powder or fresh garlic to taste; 1 1/2-2cps shredded cheddar cheese.
Sauté cabbage, onions, celery, peas, and carrots in butter until tender, stirring frequently. Add milk and seasonings. Heat over low; add cheese, stirring until melted.
GREEN RICE
3 c. cooked rice (l c. uncooked); 1 c. chopped spinach; 2 eggs, well beaten; 1 c. milk; 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce; 1 1/4 tsp. salt; 2 tsp. grated onion; 1/4 c. butter or margarine 1/2 c. grated sharp cheese
Toss rice and spinach together with fork. Add eggs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt and onion. Toss gently to mix, using care not to mash rice. Pour into greased 2-qt. baking dish; dot with butter and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake in slow oven (325°) 30 to 40 minutes. Makes 8 servings.
SAUSAGE SOUP WITH SPINACH AND RICE
1 lb. hot Italian sausage; 1 tsp. dried oregano; 1 tbs. olive oil; 1 tsp. dried basil; 1 cup chopped onion; 3 cups fresh baby spinach, torn; 3 cloves garlic, crushed into 2-3 inch pieces; 9 cups chicken broth; 2 cups cooked long-grain rice; 1/2 cup diced tomatoes, with juice; salt and pepper to taste; 3 tbs. tomato paste; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sauté sausage in a large stockpot over medium-high heat until cooked, about 10 minutes. Remove from pot and discard drippings. Add olive oil to pot and heat. Add onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Return sausage to pot. Add broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano and basil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add spinach and rice and simmer until spinach is just wilted. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese. Serves 6. Recipe from The Best 50 Garlic Recipes.
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