Winter Share Five January 24th 2019

Important information:

• Thank you for your renewals!

Farm News from Jane
What a chilly start to the week! Our winter weather certainly has kept us on our toes! The extreme cold melted the Asian greens and damaged some of the spinach too. Growing through the winter is always an interesting challenge…  We were still able to harvest spinach from the undamaged beds as the sun warmed the high tunnel sufficiently for the spinach to thaw.
The seeds have been rolling in and soon we will begin planting them in the heated greenhouse. It starts out as a great time especially on a sunny day. It’s nice to enjoy the warmth of the greenhouse in the middle of winter!  Some of the vegetables we grow are quite numerous in amount so it means that there are many, many trays to seed of just one variety of each vegetable. The onions are a good example one this. They are first seeded in trays with 288 small cells. Once they are germinated (sprouted and send up leaves) they are removed from the tray and replanted in 98 cell trays. There are usually a few thousand plants each of variety: shallots, red onions, golden and red Cipollini, Spanish, cooking, sweet onions and also two varieties of leeks and bunching or green onions. Then that process is repeated for many of the other veggies we grow like lettuces and all the cruciferous vegetables like cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower Brussel sprouts and Romanesco. Others plants are seeded directly into the trays that will be brought out to the field to be transplanted. These would include beets, corn, kohlrabi, celery, squashes, fennel and celeriac. We hope, of course for good germination for these that are directly seeded in larger trays as the space in the greenhouse is limited and when we have varieties of plants that germinate poorly the space taken up by that partially germinated tray is wasted. And some veggies that are planted in succession like beets, lettuces and crucifers means that this process is repeated a dozen times for each. That is the only way to have those crops over the entire length of the season. We rarely pick on the same plants more than once except of course for the asparagus, rhubarb and blueberries which are perennial crops. We love growing crops but after the second or third time doing something it can become less pleasurable. Just think of those dairy farmers who feed, milk, and clean up after cows three times a day; seven days a week. What could be very challenging and perhaps monotonous is quite a labor of love… So, to all those who work or have vocations in areas that may be difficult on a day to day basis especially those that require oversight/involvement 24/7, Hat’s off and kudos!!!
I hope that everyone was able to catch a glimpse of the full moon and lunar eclipse. How absolutely incredible is the nature that surrounds us. Enjoy it all as you try and stay warm, dry, focused and content while directly participating in local agriculture and what our local farms and artisans can produce and provide.
Blessings and thanks to all of you! Jane

Produce:   Spinach   Orange Carrots   Rutabaga   Purple Carrots   Garlic   Red beets
Kohlrabi   Butternut Squash   Carnival squash   ADK Blue potatoes   Cooking Onions  

Produce tips
– A kitchen scale is quite helpful if you don’t already have one.; especially when adjusting recipes to fit the volume of ingredients you have “on hand”.
– Rutabaga; If you haven’t already tried the Apples Rutabaga soup it’s a winner!

Recipes
DICED BEETS WITH ORANGE ZEST AND YOGURT SAUCE
1/2 lb. beets, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes; 1/8 cup cider vinegar; zest of 1 orange, grated (about 1 tbsp.); 1/8tsp. ground mace; 1/8 tsp. ground cloves; 1/8 tsp. salt; freshly ground black pepper; 1/8 cup plain low-fat yogurt; 1 tbsp. fresh orange juice; 1/2 tsp. honey
Preheat the oven to 3750 F. In an 11/2-quart ovenproof casserole with a lid, combine the beets, vinegar, 1/4 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 2

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.

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

 

RUSSIAN CABBAGE BORSCHT
1+1/2 c. thinly sliced potato, 1 c. thinly sliced beets, 4 c. water, 1-2 T butter 11/2c chopped onion, 1 scant tsp. caraway seeds, 11/2 t sp. salt (or more to taste), 1 stalk celery, chopped, 1 medium-sizes carrot, sliced, 3-4 cups shredded cabbage, freshly ground pepper, 1 t. dill (plus extra for garnish), 1-2 T cider vinegar, 1-2 T brown sugar or honey, 1 c tomato puree Toppings: sour cream or yogurt and extra dill
Place potatoes, beets, and water in a medium-sized saucepan. Cover and cook over medium heat until tender (20-30 minutes). Meanwhile melt the butter in a kettle or Dutch oven. Add onion, caraway seeds, and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the onions are translucent. (8-10 minutes).
Add celery, carrots, and cabbage plus 2 cups of the cooking water from the potatoes and beets. Cover and cook over medium heat until the vegetables are tender (another 8-10 minutes). Add the remaining ingredients (including all the potato and beet water), cover, and simmer for at least 15 more minutes. Taste to correct seasonings, and serve hot, topped with sour cream or yogurt and a light dusting of dill.
Recipe for the New Moosewood Cookbook

BEET RHUBARB TUNA SALAD

1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup white or brown sugar, 1 stalk rhubarb, chopped, 1 170-gram can of tuna, chunks or flakes, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 3 medium sized beets, boiled, peeled, cut in  1/2″-3/4″ cubes, 1 stalk celery, chopped, (substitute celeriac) 1 carrot, julienned, lettuce, washed and cut or ripped by hand, salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan on medium heat. Wait for the sugar to completely dissolve before adding the chopped rhubarb. Once it starts boiling again, time for 1.5 minutes and take off the heat to cool. Quickly drain the now-mushy rhubarb (keep the syrup to use for sauce or meat marinade and place in a medium size bowl. Add mayonnaise, tuna, celery and fresh ground pepper. Mix them together first and add salt to suit your taste. You can either add the beets now or just top your salad with it to avoid having a bright pink salad. Serve on a bed of lettuce or on its own.

LENTIL & ROASTED BEET SALAD
Salad: 1 pound beets (about 3 medium), 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 cup de Puy lentils (small, slate-green lentils from France; but it works using regular lentils), 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, divided, 1 whole bay leaf (dried or fresh), 2 large cloves of garlic, peeled & smashed, 1/2 medium onion, studded with a whole clove, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional for seasoning to taste
1/4 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley, freshly ground black pepper to taste, 6 cups mixed baby greens, 6 ounces crumbled goat cheese
Dressing (makes 1/2 cup): 3 Tablespoons sherry vinegar, 2 Tablespoons whole-grain mustard, 1 tsp kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper to taste, 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 medium shallots, minced
Preheat oven to 400°F. Trim all but 1 inch of the beet stems. Put the beets on a large piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and seal the foil to make a tight package. Put the package in a small roasting pan. Roast the beets until easily pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. When the beets are cool enough to handle, peel them- the skins should slide right off with a bit of pressure from your fingers. If they don’t, use a paring knife to scrape off any bits that stick. Dice the beets and set aside. While you roast the beets, spread the lentils on a pan and pick out any pebbles or other foreign matter; rinse and drain. Put the lentils in a saucepan with cold water to cover by about 2 inches. Add 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary and the bay leaf to the pan, along with the smashed garlic, onion, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the lentils are tender, about 25 minutes. Strain the lentils and discard garlic and onion. While lentils are simmering, prepare the salad dressing: Whisk vinegar with mustard, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a steady stream to make a smooth, slightly thick vinaigrette. Stir in the shallots. Use immediately or refrigerate in a tightly sealed container for up to 3 days. Put the warm lentils in a bowl and stir in half of the dressing. Cool the lentils completely, then add the beets, parsley, and remaining 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Lightly dress the greens with a bit of the dressing and divide among 6 plates. Spoon some of the lentil salad onto the greens, crumble goat cheese over each serving, and drizzle with some of the remaining vinaigrette.

 

AVOCADO BEET SALAD WITH CITRUS VINAIGRETTE
4 medium-sized beets (any color), green tops removed, beets scrubbed clean, 1 just ripe avocado, 4 ounces mixed green lettuces, 2 Tbsp pistachios, chopped
Citrus Vinaigrette:1 Tbsp minced shallot, 2 Tbsp rice vinegar (unseasoned), 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice,
1 Tbsp fresh orange juice, 2 tsp lemon zest, 1 tsp orange zest, A Pinch of salt, 1/3 c olive oil
Cook the beets: Place beets in a medium saucepan and cover with an inch of water. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to maintain a low simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of the beets, until easily pierced with the tines of a fork. Make the vinaigrette: Whisk together the citrus vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl. Toss the beets in vinaigrette: When the beets are done, drain them, and peel off the outer skin. Cut the beets in half, and the halves into wedges. (Tip: use a plastic cutting board when cutting red beets. Red beets will stain wooden cutting boards.) Place the beet wedges in a bowl and toss with a tablespoon of the vinaigrette. Cut and peel the avocado, cut the avocado into wedges. Arrange the salad: Toss the salad greens with a half of the citrus vinaigrette. Arrange the dressed greens on serving plates. Arrange the beet wedges and avocado wedges on top of the salad greens. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over the salads. Recipe from simplyrecipes.com

TANGERINE AND FENNEL SALAD WITH MIXED GREENS
6-7 small tangerines; 2 tablespoons minced fresh fennel “leaves” (the feathery part of the plant); 1/4 cup olive oil; 1/4 cup dry sherry or flat champagne; salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; 1/2 cup thinly sliced fennel bulb; 4-5 cups mixed salad greens
Cut 1 of the tangerines in half and squeeze the juice into a medium bowl. Mix in olive oil, sherry, both kinds of fennel, salt, and pepper. Peel remaining tangerines; divide into segments. Pierce each segment with a sharp fork a couple of times (to absorb dressing). Add tangerines to dressing; toss well. Chill thoroughly. Divide greens onto 4 salad plates. Arrange tangerine mixture over greens, drizzling some dressing directly onto greens. Sprinkle with additional salt and pepper. Makes 4 servings. Tangerines can be substituted for any citrus fruit for a different flavor. Recipe from MACSAC

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

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

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.

POTATO FENNEL SOUP
1 tbsp butter or oil; 4 cups thinly sliced onions; 2 tsp salt; 4 medium potatoes, sliced into thin pieces 1-2 inches long; 1 cup minced fennel bulb; ½ tsp caraway seed; 4 cups water; white pepper to taste; sour cream and fennel fronds for garnish
Melt the butter or heat oil in a kettle or Dutch oven. Add the onions and 1 tsp of salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 15-20 minutes, or until the onions are very soft and lightly browned. Add the potatoes, another ½ tsp salt, fennel and caraway seeds. Sauté over medium heat for another 5 minutes, then add the water. Bring to a boil, then partially cover and simmer until the potatoes are tender 10-15 minutes. Taste and adjust salt; add white pepper. Serve hot topped with sour cream and fennel fronds. Serves 6. Recipe from The Moosewood Cookbook.

ROASTED CARROTS WITH CUMIN & CINNAMON
1 bunch carrots, halved lengthwise then crosswise into 3-inch pieces, Orange juice, EVOO, Pinch salt, Pinch ground cumin, Pinch ground cinnamon, Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro or parsley
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Toss carrots with orange juice, EVOO, salt, ground cumin and ground cinnamon. Roast, tossing halfway through cooking, until carrots are soft and browned in spots, 30 to 35 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro or parsley.

WINTER ROOT VEGETABLE SLAW RECIPE

Prep time: 25 minutes Yield: Serves 4-6 as a side dish

The choice of root vegetables here works well, but you are free to mix and match. Just be sure to not have too many sweet vegetables like carrots and parsnips, or too many sharp ones, like radishes or turnips.
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 cup sherry or red wine vinegar, 1 cup chopped parsley, loosely packed, 2/3 cup olive oil, 2 large carrots (choose different colored carrots if you can find them), 2 medium parsnips 1 small celery root, 2 black radishes or 1/2 daikon radish
Put the mustard, salt, sugar, vinegar and parsley in a blender and process until combined, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the blender, cover and process at its slowest setting. Drizzle in the olive oil slowly. When it is all in, move the blender to its highest setting and puree for about 90 seconds. Peel all the vegetables except for the radishes, if you are using black ones. The slivers of black in the salad look cool, so I leave them in. Using a vegetable peeler or a coarse grater, slice shreds off the vegetables into a bowl. Try to keep the shreds roughly the same length if you can. To finish, toss some of the vinaigrette with the shredded vegetables and let stand in the fridge for at least 20 minutes before serving.
Recipe from Recipe from SimplyRecipes.com

SICHUAN CARROT SOUP
1 medium onion, chopped, 1 celery rib, chopped; 1 garlic clove, minced, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, 1 lb. carrot, cut into 1-inch pieces, 3/4 inch fresh gingerroot, peeled and sliced thin; 1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes, 3 cups chicken broth, 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 1/2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 cup milk – Garnish, 2 tablespoons heavy cream, 1/4 cup sour cream, mixed with the cream
In a large heavy saucepan cook onion, celery, and garlic in oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until onion is softened. Add carrots, ginger root, red pepper flakes, and broth and simmer, covered, until carrots are very tender, about 20-30 minutes. Stir in remaining ingredients and, in a blender or food processor, puree mixture in batches (use caution when blending hot liquids). Return soup to pan and heat over low heat until hot, being careful not to let boil. Serve soup drizzled decoratively with sour cream mixture. Serves 6; Recipe from Eating Well in Season

CARROT SALAD
1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley, 1 teaspoon, Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, 1 bag (10 ounces) shredded carrots, 1/2 cup dried cranberries, 1 small red onion, chopped, 1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted
Combine olive oil, lemon juice, parsley, mustard, salt and sugar in small bowl.
Combine carrots, cranberries, onion and almonds in large bowl. Add dressing. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight. Recipe courtesy Family Circle Magazine

RUTABAGA CARROT COLESLAW WITH BUTTERMILK GARLIC DRESSING
1 large or 2 medium rutabagas (about 1 pound); 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley; 1 large carrot (about 1/4 pound); salt and pepper to taste; 6-8 tablespoons Buttermilk Garlic dressing (recipe follows)
Peel rutabagas and carrot; cut into large chunks and shred in food processor or on very large grate holes of hand-held grater. Toss with remaining ingredients and chill hour.
Buttermilk Garlic Dressing: 1-2 medium cloves of garlic, 4T. minced green onion, 3T white wine vinegar, ½ c buttermilk, 1/3 c. sour cream, large pinch sugar, ½ c olive oil. Makes 4 servings. Recipe from MACSAC

APPLE RUTABAGA SOUP
Melt 4 oz. butter; Add: l cp coarsely chopped onion; l cp peeled, cored, chopped apple; l cp peeled chopped rutabaga; l cp peeled, seeded chopped butternut squash; l cp chopped carrots; l cp peeled, chopped sweet potatoes. Cook until onions are translucent, stir occasionally. Add; l qt chicken or vegetable stock. Bring to a boil and cook till vegetables are tender and cooked through. Puree in small batches. Add: l c heavy cream; l cp milk; 1/4 c maple syrup. Return to stove and heat through. Add salt and cayenne pepper to taste.

MASHED RUTABAGA WITH ORANGE
2 pounds rutabaga, peeled and diced; 2 T frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed; 1T butter; salt and pepper; 1 orange (optional for garnish)
Put diced rutabaga in a medium saucepan and add water to about halfway up the rutabagas. Bring to boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until very tender. Drain off the water. For a chunky texture, mash with a potato masher. For a smoother texture, run rutabagas through a food mill or process in a food processor until smooth. Stir in orange juice concentrate and butter and season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh orange zest or thin slices of orange. This can be made ahead and refrigerated or frozen, then warmed in the oven. It goes well with sage-rubbed pork and mushrooms or ham. Makes 6 servings

RUTABAGA “POTATO” SALAD
2 medium to large rutabaga, 1/4 -1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon mustard, 1/4 to 1/2 an onion, diced, 1-2 T sweet relish, garlic powder, salt, pepper
Other fun ingredients to try: salad greens, celeriac, celery salt, hard-boiled eggs, dill, dill seed, chopped dill pickle, raw bok choy, diced carrots, even some cooked potatoes mixed in! Clean, peel, and chop the rutabaga into cubes. Put into a pot, just cover with water, and boil until soft and edible, when a fork goes through easily. Drain water out. Rinse the rutabaga in cold water if you want to get it to be a cold salad. Mix in all other ingredients. You can soak the diced onions in warm water (or the rutabaga boiling water) to mellow them if you want. Adjust flavorings to taste. Chill in the fridge, or eat warm. Recipe from Red Fire farm

RUTABAGA AND CARROT SOUP

2 tablespoons of butter, 1 medium rutabaga diced, 2 large carrots sliced, 1 onion, chopped, 6 cups of chicken stock, black pepper, salt to season, 1/4 cup of fresh whipping cream (optional)
Melt the butter in the bottom of a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add the carrots, turnips and onion, stirring them well to completely coat them in butter. Cover the pot and sweat the vegetables for 10 minutes to soften them. Shake the pan every 3 minutes to prevent any sticking, but resist the temptation to lift the lid. Trapping the steam in the pot is key to building up a good vegetable sweat. Add the stock and season well with salt and pepper. I like plenty of freshly ground black pepper in this soup. Bring the soup to boiling point, lower the heat. then cover the pot and let the soup simmer for 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are nice and tender. Turn the heat off and let the soup cool a little before blending it. I use my hand-held blender to blitz the vegetables, but a regular stand-up blender can also be used. Complete the process in batches if using a regular blender. And finally, add the cream. This step is optional, but I love the extra depth of flavor cream lends to this soup. You can add the cream in the pot and blitz the soup again, or do as I do, and add a spoon of cream to each bowl before serving. Recipe from IrishAmericanmom.com

RUTABAGA STEW
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 1/2 pounds chicken, diced, 4 rutabagas, peeled and diced4 medium beets, peeled and diced, 4 carrots, diced, 3 stalks celery, diced1 red onion, diced, water, or to cover
Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Cook and stir chicken in hot oil until completely browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Add rutabagas, beets, carrots, celery, and red onion to the pot. Pour enough water over the vegetable mixture to cover completely. Reduce heat to low and cook at a simmer for at least 4 hours, adding water as needed to keep vegetable submerged. Pork, beef or venison works equally well. Recipe from Allrecipes.com

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SALAD
1 medium red onion, 1 (1 ¾ lb.) squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes, about 4 cups, 3T. olive oil, ½ tsp. salt, 1 (5oz.) pkg. baby spinach (about 3C), 1/3 C fried cranberries, 1/3 C coarsely chopped pecans (optional)
Preheat oven to 450⁰. Cut onion in 1-inch wedges, then cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Toss together onion, squash, oil, and salt in a bowl; transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Roast, stirring and turning vegetables once halfway through roasting, until squash is tender and lightly browned, 30-35 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl. Toss immediately with spinach, cranberries, and pecans (if using).

 

ROASTED ACORN SQUASH SALAD * substitute carnival squash
1 acorn squash – peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes, 2 T olive oil, ½ t cinnamon, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp cumin, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, 3 T apple cider vinegar, 2 T maple syrup, 1 T Dijon mustard, 1 tsp grated orange zest, 1 tsp garam masala, 1 clove garlic, minced, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, ½ C olive oil, 5 oz. baby arugula, ¼ C dried cranberries, ¼ C chopped pistachios
Position a rack into the center position of the oven and preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet or jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Spread acorn squash cubes onto prepared baking sheet and toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Mix cinnamon, onion powder, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl; sprinkle spice mixture over squash cubes. Bake on the center rack of preheated oven until squash are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Whisk apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, orange zest, garam masala, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a bowl until thoroughly combined; slowly drizzle olive oil into vinegar mixture, whisking constantly, until olive oil incorporates into the dressing. Refrigerate while completing remaining steps. Toss cooked acorn squash cubes, baby arugula, cranberries, pistachios, and goat cheese in a salad bowl; drizzle with dressing and serve.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND CORN SALAD WITH CRANBERRIES
1 # butternut squash, peeled and diced, or more to taste, ¼ C olive oil, divided, 2 C corn, 1 T olive oil, or as needed, 1 small red onion, chopped, ¾ C dried cranberries, lemon, juiced, 3 T Chile paste, 1 T garlic powder, 1 tsp cider vinegar, ½ tsp paprika, ½ bunch cilantro or flat leaf parsley chopped

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Arrange butternut squash into a single layer onto a baking pan. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil on top. Bake in the preheated oven until squash is tender, about 15 minutes.  Place corn in a container with the butternut squash. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add red onion; cook and stir until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add cranberries; cook and stir until soft and slightly plump, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer onion and cranberries to the squash mixture. Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon juice, Chile paste, garlic powder, vinegar, and paprika in a bowl. Toss with the cranberry-squash mixture. Mix cilantro into the salad. Recipe from Allrecipes.com

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SHALLOT SOUP
4 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds), 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 4 large shallots, peeled and halved, 1 (1/2-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced, 2 1/2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, 2 tablespoons (1-inch) slices fresh chives, Cracked black pepper (optional)
Preheat oven to 375°. Combine first 5 ingredients in a roasting pan or jelly-roll pan; toss well. Bake at 375° for 50 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Cool 10 minutes. Place half of squash mixture and half of broth in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour into a large saucepan. Repeat procedure with remaining squash mixture and broth. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Top with chives and pepper, if desired.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP WITH CREAM CHEESE
6T chopped onion,4T butter, 6C peeled and cubed butternut squash (or 2 large left whole), 3C water, 4 cubes chicken bouillon, 1/2t dried marjoram, 1/4t black pepper, 1/8t cayenne pepper, 8oz cream cheese
Cut squash in half. Remove seeds. Roast at 350⁰  cut side down for 45 minutes or until tender or peel cube and roast. Sauté onions and butter until soft. Add water, bouillon, marjoram, and peppers. Bring to boil and simmer. When squash is done scoop out pulp and puree in blender or food processor until well blended*. Add cream cheese last in batches and blend until smooth. Return to saucepan and heat through; do not boil. *Can be kept overnight at this point for flavors to blend. Add cream cheese the day you serve soup. Recipe form Karen Blackford

BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASANGNA
1T olive oil, 1+1/2-2 lbs. butternut squash; peeled, seeded and cut in 1-inch cubes, salt and pepper, ½ c. water, ¼ c. butter, 1/3 c. flour, 4 c. whole milk, ¼ t. nutmeg, 12 lasagna noodles, 21/2 c. shredded mozzarella, ½ parmesan cheese
Heat oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the cubed squash and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the water into the skillet; cover and simmer over medium heat until the squash is tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer the squash to a mixing bowl or food processor and mash. Season the squash puree to taste with more salt and pepper. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk for one minute. Gradually whisk the milk into the flour. Bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until thickens slightly whisking often about 5 minutes. Add the nutmeg. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Preheat the oven to 375⁰. Lightly butter a 9x13x2 inch glass baking dish. Spread ¾ c. of the sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Cover the bottom of the dish with one layer of lasagna noodles. Spread half the squash puree over the noodles. Sprinkle with ½ c. mozzarella cheese. Drizzle ½ c. sauce over the cheese. Repeat layering once more, finishing with a layer of noodles covered only by white sauce. Tightly cover with foil and bake 40 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese and continue baking until the sauce bubbles and the top is golden about 15 minutes longer. Let the lasagna stand for 15 minutes before serving. Serves 8; Recipe from Mother earth News

WHITE BEAN, SAUSAGE AND SPINACH CASSEROLE
3 T olive oil, 1 lb. bulk mild Italian sausage, 1 medium onion, chopped, 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 2 T all-purpose flour, 5 oz fresh baby spinach, 1 can (14.5 oz)  roasted diced tomatoes, undrained 1 can (14.5 oz) rushed tomatoes, undrained, 1 can (19 oz) cannellini beans, drained, rinsed, ¾ cup plain panko crispy bread crumbs.
Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 13×9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. In 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage; cook 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until no longer pink. Add onion, garlic, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes; continue to cook 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables have softened slightly. Sprinkle flour over top, and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add half of the spinach to sausage mixture; cook and stir about 1 minute or until wilted. Add remaining half of the spinach; continue to cook and stir about 1 minute or until wilted. Add tomatoes and beans; cook about 1 minute, stirring and scraping bottom of pan, until combined. Remove from heat; transfer to baking dish. In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Sprinkle over top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly around edges and brown on top. Recipe from Bettycrocker.com

SPINACH SALAD WITH HONEY-BACON DRESSING RECIPE
8 cups torn fresh spinach, 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms, 1/4 cup sliced green onions, 1 medium tomato, chopped, 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled, 1 hard-boiled large egg, chopped, 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Honey-bacon dressing: 2 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled, 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon yellow or spicy brown mustard, 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Combine the first seven ingredients in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients; pour over salad. Serve immediately. Yield: 8-10 servings. Recipe from TasteofHome.com

SUNNY-SIDE-UP EGGS ON MUSTARD-CREAMED SPINACH WITH CRISPY CRUMBS
1/4 cup coarse fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless country-style bread; 5 teaspoons Dijon mustard, divided; 2 teaspoons plus 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds; 1 9-ounce package fresh spinach leaves; 3 tablespoons half and half; 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme; 2 large eggs; Fresh thyme sprigs (for garnish
Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss crumbs with 2 teaspoons mustard, 2 teaspoons oil, and mustard seeds in medium bowl to coat. Scatter on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden and crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Meanwhile, add enough water to deep large nonstick skillet to cover bottom. Add spinach; toss over high heat to wilt, about 2 minutes. Scrape into sieve set over bowl; press out liquid. Wipe out skillet; reserve. Transfer spinach to medium saucepan. Add 3 teaspoons mustard, half and half, and chopped thyme. Stir over medium heat until thick, about 3 minutes. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Remove from heat. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in reserved skillet over medium-high heat. Crack eggs into skillet, spacing apart. Fry until whites are cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Divide spinach between 2 plates, spreading out as base for eggs. Top with eggs, crumps, and thyme sprigs. 2 servings

SAUTÉED SPINACH WITH RED ONIONS, BACON AND BLUE CHEESE
2t. olive oil, 1/2c thinly sliced red onion, 2 cloves garlic, minced, 1 10oz bag of spinach, tough stems removed, 2 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled, 1Tcrumbled blue cheese.
Heat oil in large non-stick skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about one minute. Add garlic and cook stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds more. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in bacon and sprinkle cheese on top. Serve immediately. Recipe from Eating Well in Season.

KOHLRABI PARMESAN
3 medium kohlrabi, trimmed of stalks and leaves; 2 T unsalted butter; 1/4 cup parmesan cheese; salt and pepper, to taste; 1 T minced parsley
Peel kohlrabi 1/8 in deep. Shred with grater or food processor. Cook kohlrabi in butter over medium heat, stirring often, until tender, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle with the cheese, salt and pepper. Toss and cook just until the cheese melts, about 1 minute. Garnish with the parsley and serve immediately. 4 servings.

KOHLRABI SLAW
2 kohlrabi; water to cover; 1/8 cup oil; 1/2 tablespoon wine vinegar; 1/8 teaspoon dill seeds; pinch of pepper; salt to taste; 1 tablespoon yogurt
Cook kohlrabi in water until tender. Drain and reserve liquid for soup. Cool, peel and cut into strips. Combine remaining ingredients, pour over kohlrabi and serve as a salad or side dish. 2 servings

 

KOHLRABI-POTATO CUSTARD
2 c. cubed peeled kohlrabi bulbs (2 medium); 3 medium potatoes 1/4 tsp. paprika; 6 drops Worcestershire sauce; 3 to 4 slices bacon; 3 eggs, separated; 1/3 c. milk; 1/8 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)
Cook kohlrabi in boiling salted water until tender, about 20 minutes. Peel and halve potatoes; cook in boiling salted water until tender. Drain vegetables; combine and mash, or put through ricer. Add paprika and Worcestershire sauce. Broil or fry bacon until crisp; crumble into the vegetables along with 1/4 c. drippings. Beat egg yolks; add milk and red pepper; thoroughly mix with vegetables, whipping as for mashed potatoes. Let cool slightly. Beat egg whites stiff and fold into vegetables. Heap lightly into greased 2-qt. baking dish, set in pan of hot water, and bake in slow oven (325°) 40 to 50 minutes, or until risen and delicately browned. Makes 8 servings.

KOHLRABI AND RADISH SALAD
3T olive oil, 1T wine vinegar, salt and freshly ground black pepper, 2 kohlrabi (about8 oz.) 1 cup of radish slices
Put the oil and vinegar into a bowl with salt and pepper to taste and mix to make a simple dressing. Peel the kohlrabi quite thinly, then cut into julienne matchsticks; wash and slice the radish. Add the kohlrabi and radishes to the bowl and stir gently to coat everything with the dressing.
Serves 4 Recipe from Vegetarian Four Seasons

KOHLRABI AND POTATO SOUP
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling, 1 medium onion, chopped, 2 cloves garlic, chopped, 2 1/2 pounds kohlrabi (1 large to 2 small bulbs), peeled and diced, 1 large potato (about 12 ounces), peeled and diced, 4 cups homemade or store-bought, no-salt-added vegetable broth
For garnish: 1 small Asian pear, peeled, cored and finely chopped, 1/2 cup pecan halves, toasted and chopped (see note), 2 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
Pour the 3 tablespoons of oil into a medium soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, stirring to coat; cover and cook until tender and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the kohlrabi, potato and broth. Increase the heat to medium-high to bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low so the soup is barely bubbling around the edges. Cover and cook until the kohlrabi and potato are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Use an immersion (stick) blender to puree the soup until smooth. (Or transfer it to a blender or food processor and puree it in batches, then return it to the pot to keep warm.) Divide the soup among individual bowls. Top each portion with pear, pecans, parsley and a drizzle of the oil. Serve hot. Note: Toast the pecans in a small, dry skillet over medium-low heat for several minutes, until the nuts are fragrant and lightly browned. Cool completely before chopping.

KOHLRABI AND APPLE SALAD WITH CARAWAY
1 t. caraway seeds, T olive oil, 2T white wine vinegar, 1Tdijon mustard, kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, 2 medium kohlrabi or 1 medium celeriac, peeled, thinly sliced on a mandolin, 2 small heads frisee, torn into bite sized pieces (about 6 c.), 1 crisp red apple, thinly sliced, 4T chopped fresh chives, divided Toast caraway seeds in a small dry skillet over medium heat, tossing often until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Let cool, then coarsely chop. Whisk caraway, oil, vinegar and mustard in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper. Add kohlrabi, frisee, apple, and 2 T chives to bowl with dressing and toss to coat; season with salt and pepper. Top salad with remaining 2T chives just before serving.
Serves 4; Recipe from Bonappetit

ROASTED KOHLRABI
4 kohlrabi bulbs, peeled; 1T olive oil, 1 clove garlic, minced, salt and pepper to taste, 1/3C grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat an oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Cut the kohlrabi into 1/4-inch-thick slices, then cut each of the slices in half. Combine olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss kohlrabi slices in the olive oil mixture to coat. Spread kohlrabi in a single layer on a baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven until browned, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally in order to brown evenly. Remove from oven and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Return to the oven to allow the Parmesan cheese to brown, about 5 minutes. Serve immediately. Recipe from AllRecipes.com

BLUE POTATOES MASHED WITH GARLIC

3 pounds blue potatoes, 2 1/2 ounces roasted garlic, 2 ounces sour cream, 1/2-ounce butter, 1 ounce, Parmesan, grated, Salt and pepper
Peel and cut the potatoes into cubes. Boil them in salted water for approximately 15 minutes or fork tender. Once potatoes have cooked, drain the water. In a large bowl add the garlic, sour cream, butter, and Parmesan to the potatoes, and mash until desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe courtesy Petty Officer Todd, U.S. Navy

ROSEMARY ROASTED PURPLE POTATOES

5-6 medium-sized purple or other potatoes, 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 clove garlic, crushed, 1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed, Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Scrub the potatoes well. Dry and quarter them as shown above. Place potatoes in baking pan to form a single layer. Drizzle olive oil over potatoes, sprinkle with crushed garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper. Toss potatoes to coat with oil and spices. Cover pan with foil and slide into oven. Bake potatoes for 15 minutes. Slide pan from oven and remove foil. Using a spatula, turn potatoes over. Return pan to oven without foil and roast potatoes another 15 minutes. Slide potatoes from oven, turn them one more time and continue roasting another 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven and serve immediately. Serves 6

POTATOES 0 ‘BRIEN
1 cup finely chopped red and green peppers; 2 green onions, with tops, chopped fine; 2 tablespoons minced parsley; 2 cups raw grated potatoes; 1 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste; 4-6 tablespoons butter or beef or pork fat
In a food processor, chop the peppers, onions, and parsley together and set aside. Then grate the potatoes. Mix the vegetables, potatoes, seasonings, and cheese, and turn the mixture into a skillet of hot butter or fat (a cast-iron or nonstick skillet is best). Press the mixture flat with a spatula to form a large pancake. When the pancake is crisp and brown underneath (about 5 minutes), slide it onto a plate, then invert the plate over the skillet to brown the pancake on the other side. Serves 2

ROASTED POTATOES, PEPPERS AND SHALLOTS
3/4 pounds waxy potatoes; 1 pepper; 1 large onion, cut into wedges; olive oil; 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary; salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Wash the potatoes and blanch for 5 minutes in boiling water. Drain. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel them and halve lengthwise. Cut pepper lengthwise into 8 strips, discarding the seeds and pith. Oil a shallow ovenproof dish thoroughly with olive oil. Arrange the potatoes and peppers in alternating rows and stud with the onion. Cut the rosemary sprigs into 2-inch lengths and tuck among the vegetables. Season the dish generously with olive oil, salt and pepper and bake, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes, until all the vegetables are tender. Serves 4

GARLIC MASHED-RUTABAGA AND POTATO

4 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 4 cups), 2 medium rutabagas, peeled and cubed (about 5 cups), 2 garlic cloves, peeled, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1/4 to 1/3 cup warm buttermilk
Place potatoes, rutabagas and garlic in a Dutch oven; add water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook, uncovered, 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain; return to pan. Mash potatoes, gradually adding butter, salt, pepper and enough buttermilk to reach desired consistency.