Winter Share Five January 27th 2022
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Farm News from Jane
Although the sun may be hidden from us many days this time of year, isn’t it amazing how much light is brightly reflected off the snow even when the sun isn’t visible. It is the same in the evening, especially when the moon is in view. The last full moon was spectacular rising above the horizon; so orange and huge. It never fails to delight me no matter how often I see it! And when the sun is shining, you’d better have your sunglasses handy. It actually hurts your eyes it is so glaringly bright! It is nice to not only see the sun in these extra-cold snaps but it’s even nicer when the sun comes out and the temperature climbs twenty degrees in a short while. We did anticipate this week’s cold and so we harvested spinach on one of those lone warm days last week. It is always a pleasure to harvest greens in the high tunnel during the cold of winter. It is somewhat of a surreal experience. We also have some kale from storage that was harvested from the field before the temperatures were in the single digits.
The seeds began arriving within the week we ordered; large boxes, small boxes, large seeds, small seeds and everything in between! It takes some time and patience to inventory and categorize them and put them in order of planting dates. In just a few weeks we will begin the seeding process anew for the upcoming season. Onions and leeks are seeded first as well as more seedlings for the high tunnels. It is a pleasant task when we begin; the whole “circle of life” cycle; a nice way to begin the planting season, inside a warm and bright greenhouse! We have lots of time before we will begin preparing soil beds for planting in the fields. Until then we look forward to sowing seeds and watching for them to sprout and bring the “green” in greenhouse…
We hope that you enjoy our vegetable selection this share. There are lots of good soup and stew ingredients to keep you warm on the inside! Have fun in the kitchen preparing your nutrient dense, delicious veggies!
Blessings, Jane
Produce: Spinach Kale Cooking Onions Garlic Green cabbage Chioggia beets
Keuka Gold potatoes orange Carrots Rutabaga Butternut squash white Daikon radishes
Produce tips:
– Daikon radishes: Try roasting sliced with a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper. Cooking in any method mellows their flavor. Use in soups and stew as well. And did you know that they account for 15% of the vegetable production in Japan? The Egyptians used the radish seeds for oil before they had olives. The leaves were also valued as much as the roots throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. Radishes are beneficial as blood cleansers and digestive aid as well.
– Chioggia beets; pronounced kee-OH-gee-uh. I finally took the time to l0ok it up after mispronouncing it for a decade! They are the “candy-striped” beet. They are beautiful raw in a salad and coating with lemon juice after peeling and slicing will preserve their color. Look for ideas in the recipe section.
– Kale will be best sauteed or used in soup. Because it has been in storage it will be a bit drier but would be great for kale chips!
Recipes
BEET CARPACCIO
For salad: 1 lb. beets (preferably Chioggia), trimmed and peeled, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 1 small red onion, thinly sliced; 1/2 cup roasted pistachio nutmeats, 1/3 cup feta cheese, crumbled; 1/4 cup greens
For dressing: 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons sour cream, 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon, 1 teaspoon superfine sugar, 1/3 cup olive oil, salt and white pepper
Thinly slice the beets with a mandolined slicer. Place the slices into a bowl and toss with 1/4 cup lemon juice. Set aside. (The lemon juice will help preserve the color of the beets when you cook them, so let them sit at least 10 minutes while you prep everything else.) Make the dressing: Mix together vinegar, sour cream, tarragon, and sugar with a wire whisk until well-blended. Slowly add the olive oil, while whisking
constantly. (This creates an emulsion). Add salt and white pepper to taste. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Bring water to a boil in a large pot that has a steamer tray. If you like, add salt and a splash of lemon juice to the water. Once boiling, place beet slices on the streamer tray (it’s alright if they overlap slightly). Cover and steam for 5-6 minutes, or until tender yet firm. Briefly shock the beets in an ice bath, then drain. Layer the beets and onions on four small plates. Sprinkle with pistachios and feta cheese crumbles. Make sure the dressing is well-stirred, then lightly drizzle over the salad. Top with microgreens. Recipe from Restaurant Widow; Serves 4
SAVORY BEET SOUP
1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 cup chopped onion, 4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, 2 cups water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 3 medium beets, peeled and halved, 1 medium potato, peeled and halved crosswise, 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 8 tsps. reduced-fat sour cream
Preparation: Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and next 6 ingredients (through bay leaf). Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes or until beets and potato are tender. Discard bay leaf. Place one-third broth mixture in blender or food processor; process until smooth. Place puréed mixture in a large bowl. Repeat procedure twice with remaining broth mixture. Return pureed mixture to pan. Warm soup over low heat for 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice. Combine 1/2 cup soup and the sour cream, stirring with a whisk. Divide soup evenly among each of 8 bowls. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon sour cream mixture; swirl sour cream mixture using the tip of a knife. Recipe from: Kathryn Conrad, Cooking Light OCTOBER 2004
TANGERINE & ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH FETA AND PISTACHIOS
2 medium beets, trimmed, 4 C chopped beet greens or Swiss chard, 8 Pixie tangerines or Clementines, 1 T sherry vinegar, ¼ t kosher salt, divided, ground pepper to taste, 6 t EVOO. Divided, ¼ C crumbled feta cheese, ¼ C coarsely chopped toasted unsalted pistachios
Preheat oven to 3750. Scrub beets well, wrap in foil while still wet and place in a small baking pan. Bake until the tip of a knife slips into a beet easily, 1 to 11/4 hours. Let cool, still wrapped, for 15 minutes. Unwrap and let cool for 10 minutes more. Use a paper towel to rub the skins off. Trim off the ends. Slice the beets into wedges or slices. Rinse and drain the beet greens (of chard), leaving a little water still clinging to them; set aside. Grate ½ t zest from 1 tangerine (or clementine), Slice the ends off all the fruit, then slice off the peel and white pith, following the curve of the fruit. Cut the fruit into segments or slices and set aside. Combine the zest with vinegar, mustard, ¼ t salt and a generous grind of pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk in 4 t oil. Add the sliced beets and toss to coat; let stand for 15 minutes. Heat the remaining 2 t oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the greens and remaining ¼ t salt; cook, gently stirring, until just wilted, 2-3 minutes. Divide the greens among 4 salad plates. Top with the beets, fruit, feta and pistachios. Drizzle with any remaining dressing. Serves 4; Recipe from Eating Well magazine
RAW BEET AND APPLE SALAD
For the Salad:1 bunch of Chioggia beets, 2 medium size apples, 1 handful of mixed salad leaves, ⅓ c. fresh basil, zest of 1 lime
For the Dressing: ½ c. goat cheese, 1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, 2 tbsp. milk, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1 tsp. honey
For the dressing: Zest your lime and reserve it for the salad. Blitz all of the salad dressing ingredients in a mini food processor (you can also do this by hand with a whisk and room temperature goat cheese). Season with salt and pepper to taste. The flavor should be tangy with a hint of sweetness. For the salad: Get yourself a large bowl. Trim and peel your beets with a vegetable peeler. If the tops look good, wash them and save for stir frys and salads. Thinly slice beets with a mandolin. Thinly slice your apples and keep them stacked. Cut vertically into matchsticks. Add the beets and apples to the bowl. Add a little dressing and season with salt and pepper. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so to soften. Tear up the basil leaves. Add the basil and salad leaves to the bowl. Give it a good toss and taste to see if it needs more seasoning or dressing. Evenly sprinkle the lime zest on top. Serve straight away.
Notes: The key to this dish is to slice everything as thin as possible and let it marinate in the bowl for a bit. Using a mandolin is perfect for this. The acidity from the dressing softens the beets, kind of like coleslaw. If it’s too chunky, it’s going to be too crunchy.
* Refrigerate any extra goat cheese dressing in an airtight container. It will keep for about a week.
Recipe from the Clevercarrot.com
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.
BEETBALLS
2 to 3 lb. ground beef, 4 grated large raw Chioggia beets (equal to beef in volume), 1 large grated onion, 1 green garlic, grated, 2 garlic scapes, grated, Chives, parsley, black pepper, minced (dry) onion — add what you like; 1-2 eggs (depends on how much breadcrumbs you want to add/ dryness of mix), Bread crumbs (I use Italian seasoned)
Mix beef & grated beets well. Add grated onion, green garlic and scapes, mix. Add spices. Mix all well to distribute spices. Break 1 or 2 eggs into mix, mix well. Add breadcrumbs to make wet/ not real dry “meatball mix”. Make Beetballs smaller than a softball/ bigger than a baseball. (I get 16 out of 3 lbs. meat). Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour in oven, test for doneness, I go for 150 degrees. Beetballs will shrink to about baseball size. We eat them hot with veggies, cold in salads, and cut in half, seared with white cheddar melted on them with sautéed summer squash/ zucchini. Sweet and moist, we’ve had friends not realize they eat beets.
Nutritionally, if you use 3 lbs. meat and make 16 Beetballs? Each has 3 oz. meat and as many servings of veggies Recipe from Judy Schwann Promised Land CSA member
SHREDDED DAIKON WITH SCALLIONS AND SESAME SEEDS 1 1/2 pounds firm daikon, peeled; 1 bunch scallions, including the firm greens; 1 tbsp sesame seeds; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tsp dark sesame oil; sea salt; soy sauce Coarsely grate the daikon or cut into matchsticks. Slice the scallions on the diagonal into large pieces. Heat a nonstick skillet and toast the sesame seeds, shaking often, until they smell good, about 3 minutes. Pour them into a dish, return the pan to the heat, and add the oils. Add the scallions, cook for 1 minute, and then add the daikon. (If it feels wet-it will exude water as it sits-squeeze it before adding it to the pan.) Season with ½ teaspoon salt, sprinkle lightly with soy sauce, and sauté over high heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Taste for salt, add more soy if needed, toss with the sesame seeds, and serve. serves 2 to 4 as a side dish
DAIKON CARROT SALAD
3/4# daikon radish, 1/2# carrots, 1T grated peeled ginger, 1.5T unseasoned rice vinegar, 1t lime juice, 2T vegetable oil, 1/2 t toasted sesame seed oil, 1t white sesame seeds, 1t black sesame seed
Shave the daikon into ribbons with a vegetable peeler. Toss with 1/8 t salt in a colander, let drain in the sink, tossing occasionally, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile shave the carrots into ribbons with the peeler.
Make the dressing: Whisk the ginger, vinegar, lime juice and 1/4t salt in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in the vegetable oil and sesame oil until blended. Toast the sesame seeds in a skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until the white seeds are golden, about 5 minutes. Add 1T seeds to dressing.
Toss the daikon and carrots with the dressing and season with salt. Top with the remaining sesame seeds.
Serves 4; Recipe courtesy of Food Network Magazine
BRAISED RADISHES
1# daikon radishes trimmed of tops and roots and cut into 1-inch slices, 1.5 C chicken stock, 2T butter cut into bits, 1 large shallot, thinly sliced, 2T sugar, 1T red wine vinegar, salt and pepper
Place the sliced radishes in a skillet with the stock, butter bits, shallots, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Cover the pan and bring to a boil. Uncover the pan and reduce heat to medium. Cook radishes 10-12 minutes. If the stock has not cooked away remove the radishes and cook down until 1/2 cup, about 2 minutes. Serve the radishes with any remaining stock. Recipe from Rachel Ray
BEET AND DAIKON SLAW
2 beets, peeled and cut into l/8-inch julienne (matchsticks); 1 6-inch daikon radish, peeled and cut into l/8-inch julienne; 1 tsp toasted sesame oil; 2 tsp canola oil; 1 tsp unsalted rice vinegar; 1 tsp sea salt
Combine all ingredients in a non-reactive bowl, cover, and let stand at least 1/2 hour. Season to taste and serve. Recipe from Bill Maddex, member of Drumlin Community Farm
SCANDINAVIAN CABBAGE SOUP
2 C. cabbage, chopped; l C. onion, sliced; l C. celery slices; 1 C. peas; l C. thin sliced carrots; 2 C. creamed corn; 1 stick butter; 21/2-3cps milk; 1 tsp salt; 1/4tsp pepper; 1 tsp thyme; 1/4tsp garlic powder or fresh garlic to taste; 11/2-2cps 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.
INDONESIAN CURRIED CABBAGE
1 large cabbage; 1 large bay leaf; 3 whole cloves; 1 clove garlic; 2 cups beef broth; 3 tbs. grated onion; 4 tbs. butter; 1 tbs. curry powder; 6 tbs. flour; salt and cayenne pepper; 2 cups milk; 1/2 cup grated Gouda cheese
Shred cabbage. Rinse in a colander with lukewarm water. Make a bouquet garni of bay leaf, whole cloves and garlic. Place cabbage, broth and bouquet garni (in a spice bag if available) in a large kettle. Bring to boil. Cook gently 10 minutes, or until cabbage is tender. Melt butter in another saucepan. Add curry powder and cook gently 1 minute. Remove pan from heat. Stir in flour and season to taste with salt and cayenne. Carefully blend in milk. Return to heat and stir constantly until sauce boils. Drain cabbage well and discard spices. Combine cabbage and sauce. Pour into buttered casserole. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake in 475°F oven 15 minutes or until top bubbles and is nicely browned. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
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
CABBAGE CASSEROLE
1 head of cabbage cut in bite size pieces, cooked and drained, cracker crumbs, salt, pepper, butter and/or, cheese and milk to taste
Mix cabbage, salt, pepper, cracker crumbs, and a little butter and/or cheese in a dish. Add enough milk to make very moist. Sprinkle with crumbs and butter and/or cheese and cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 10 min or until firm.
HEARTY ASIAN NOODLE SALAD
1 cabbage, small or medium, shredded or chopped medium fine, 2 lb. grated carrot, 1 or 2 grated turnips or daikon, A full bulb garlic, minced or pressed, a large finger sized chunk of ginger, finely grated or minced, 4 Tbsp. Sesame oil, 3 Tbsp. Rice Vinegar, ¼ cup raw or toasted sesame seeds, 3-5 cups cooked pasta, 2/3 cup soy sauce (preferably not low sodium, but whatever you need to do…)
The best part about this recipe is that it can be assembled in any order. It requires kind of a large bowl, of course you could always half the recipe (or double it!). The roots do not need to be peeled, only washed. Cook the pasta until al dente, then strain and rinse thoroughly with cold water before adding to the bowl. The pasta can be of any variety, I have used spaghetti and ziti before, if you use spaghetti cut it up a bit first, so the strands are not so long. I think ginger is best grated through the small side of a cheese grater. After grating the ginger, you will end up with a fibrous mass when you are finished, squeeze this hard and a very nice ginger extract can be squeezed out into the dish. Everything else gets added whenever you want, toss thoroughly and serve chilled or room temp. For added flair, either serve on top of a bed of spinach or mix spinach right in. Try serving it at Thanksgiving, everyone seems to like it. From Jarrett Mann, 2006.Red Fire farm
RUSSIAN TORTELLINI SOUP
T olive oil, 1 medium onion, quartered and sliced, 5 C chicken broth, 4 C mixed, shredded cabbage and carrots, (or coleslaw mix), 10 oz. cheese or meat filled tortellini, ½ t salt, ¼ t pepper, 1/3 C chopped fresh dill (or 2-3 T dry dill) Heat 2T oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add broth; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Add shredded cabbage and carrots, tortellini, ½ t salt and pepper; cook until the tortellini are hot, 4-6 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in dill. Recipe from Eating Well magazine; Serves 4
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 to 15 minutes. May be oiled or sprayed with cooking oil and sprinkled with garlic salt.
SIMPLE KALE & POTATO SOUP
1 medium (8 ounce) yellow or russet potato, scrubbed clean and chopped, 1 garlic clove, minced, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 2 cups vegetable stock, chicken stock, or water, 1/2 bunch kale (6 to 8 big leaves), preferably dino, lacinato, or Tuscan, 1 teaspoon lemon juice or cider vinegar, 1 to 2 large eggs, depending on your appetite, Salt and pepper, Grated Parmesan cheese, extra-virgin olive oil, or yogurt, to serve
Combine the chopped potato, garlic, salt, and stock (or water) in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer. While the potatoes start to cook, chop the kale. Remove any thick, tough stems and chop them into small pieces. Add the chopped stems to the pot with the potatoes and simmer for 2 minutes.
Stack the leaves of kale on top of each other. Slice them crosswise into thin ribbons, and add them to the pot with the potatoes and kale stems. If necessary, add more stock or water to the pot to just about cover the kale.
Cover the pot and let the soup cook for 8 to 10 minutes. The soup is ready when the potatoes are easily pierced with a fork, and when a ribbon of kale has become tender, but has not yet become stringy or pulpy. Stir in the lemon juice or vinegar. Taste and season with more salt and fresh cracked pepper. Also add more stock or water if a more brothy soup is desired. To finish, crack the eggs into measuring cups, and then gently slide them into the soup. Ladle some of the soup broth on top of the eggs to submerge them. Put the lid back on the pot and cook for 4 minutes. When done, the whites of the eggs should be opaque, but the yolk should still be soft. If the eggs break into the soup before they are poached, just use a fork to swirl them into the soup, like egg drop soup.
CREAMY BRAISING GREENS
1 slice thick-cut bacon, preferably not too lean, diced; 1 large sweet onion, peeled and diced; 1 large carrot, peeled and diced; 2 medium garlic cloves, peeled and minced; 1/2 pound sausage, diced; 6 medium boiling potatoes, peeled and diced; 7 1/2 cups chicken stock; 2 1/2 cups mixed braising greens, stems removed, and cut into very fine strips; 1/2 cup heavy cream; 1//4 teaspoon hot sauce (optional); Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sauté the bacon in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside, reserving drippings in the pot. Add the onion and carrot to the pot and cook over medium heat until soft and translucent, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic and sausage and cook, stirring frequently, until sausage is lightly browned, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add the potatoes and stock, stir to combine, and bring to a boil, uncovered, over medium heat. Reduce heat to a simmer and continue to cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are fork tender, about 15 minutes. Add the greens and cream and continue to simmer until soup is heated through, about 5 minutes. Season with hot sauce if desired and salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with reserved bacon. Serve at once. Soup 6-8 servings
WELL- THYMED RUTABAGA
1+1/2 – 2 pounds rutabaga; chicken or vegetable stock; 1 cup sour cream; 1-2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme or 1-2 tsp. dried thyme; salt and pepper to taste
Peel rutabaga, dice the flesh, and place in a saucepan. Add just enough stock to cover rutabaga, bring to simmer, and cook until tender. You can serve this three ways: 1) Soup: Stir in the remaining ingredients; 2) Side dish: Drain off stock and stir in remaining ingredients; or 3) Puree: Drain off most of the stock and puree rutabaga with remaining ingredients, using immersion blender, food processor, or blender. Makes 4-6 servings; Recipe from Linda Holley, Harmony Valley Farm
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. 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.
CIDER-GLAZED ROOTS WITH CINNAMON WALNUTS
3 pounds assorted root vegetables, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 cup apple cider; 1/4 cup dark brown sugar; 1/2 tsp salt, plus more to taste; 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper; 1/2 cup chopped walnuts; 1 tbsp butter; 1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 400°F. If using parsnips, quarter lengthwise and remove the woody core before cutting into 1-inch pieces. Whisk cider, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish until the sugar is dissolved. Add root vegetables and toss to coat. Cover the baking dish with foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and stir the vegetables. Continue cooking, uncovered, stirring every 20 minutes or so, until the vegetables are glazed and tender, about 1 hour more. Meanwhile, place walnuts in a small skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the butter, cinnamon and a pinch of salt. Stir until the butter melts and the nuts are coated. Spread out on a plate to cool slightly. Transfer the vegetables to a serving dish and sprinkle with the cinnamon walnuts.
CREAM OF WINTER RUTABAGA SOUP WITH CINNAMON
2 T butter; 1 onion, peeled and chopped; 1/2 cinnamon stick; 1 1/4 pounds rutabaga; 4 Tbsps. light cream; salt and freshly ground black pepper; caramelized onion rings to garnish (optional)
Melt the butter in a large saucepan, put in the onion, cover and cook with the cinnamon stick for 10 minutes. Peel the rutabaga and cut it into small dice, then add these to the pan. Stir, cover and cook gently for a further 5 minutes. Add 6 cups of water and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the rutabaga is very tender. Remove the cinnamon stick, whizz the soup to a smooth puree in a food processor, then pour it through a strainer back into the saucepan. Stir in the cream and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with caramelized onion rings which are made by frying onion rings in a little olive oil or olive oil and butter for 10-15 minutes, 4ntil they are brown and crisp. Drain them on paper towels and float a few on top of each bowlful of soup. Serves 4; Recipe from Vegetarian Four Seasons
VEGETABLE GOULASH
2 pounds white root vegetables: turnips, kohlrabi, celery root, rutabaga; 8 ounces onions; 2 T. butter; 1 T. mild paprika pepper; 1/2 tsp caraway seeds; salt and freshly ground black pepper; 2/3 cup sour cream First, prepare the root vegetables by peeling them, then cutting them into even, bite-sized pieces; peel and chop the onions. Melt the butter in a large saucepan, put in the onions, cover and cook gently for 5 minutes, then add the root vegetables, paprika and caraway and stir well. Pour in a scant cup of water or vegetable stock and add a teaspoonful of salt. Cover tightly and leave over a gentle heat for 45-60 minutes, or until the vegetables are very tender and bathed in a glossy brick-red sauce. Keep an eye on it and add a tablespoonful of water if it looks as if it’s sticking. Stir in 2 tablespoons of sour cream, check the seasoning, then serve, with the rest of the sour cream. Serves 2; Recipe from Vegetarian Four Seasons
CHILI ROASTED RUTABAGA
2T vegetable oil, 1½t chili powder. 1t onion powder, 1t garlic salt, 1/2t sugar, 1/2t paprika, ½ t cayenne, 1 ½ pounds rutabaga.
Heat oven to 4000. Mix first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl. Peel rutabagas and cut them into chunks that are about 2inches long and ½-1 inch wide. Toss with spice mix. Transfer to large baking sheet, spreading pieces out evenly. Bake until tender and somewhat browned, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Makes 4-6 servings
CARROT AND RUTABAGA MASH
1# carrots peeled, and 1# rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces, 3T. butter, salt and pepper
Boil carrots and rutabaga until just soft. Smash together with a potato masher or food processor until it looks like a puree. Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley if desired. Recipe courtesy of Robert Irvine; Food Network
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
PANERA BREAD’S AUTUMN SQUASH SOUP
1 large butternut squash, 2-3 tbsp. extra virgin coconut oil, Salt and pepper to taste, 2 cups apple juice, 1 15 oz. can pumpkin, 1+ 1/2 cups vegetable broth, 1 1/2 cups half-and-half or substitute almond milk or coconut milk if vegan, 1+ 1/2 tbsp. honey, 1/4 tsp. curry powder, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 1/2 tsp. sea salt or kosher salt, 1/4 tsp. black pepper, roasted pumpkin seeds for garnish
Preheat oven to 450°. Peel squash. Remove seeds and cut in chunks. Place in baking dish or on cookie sheet and drizzle with oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake at 450° for 25-30 minutes or until fork tender. Mash squash with a potato masher and place in a large stock pot. Add pumpkin, apple juice, half-and-half and vegetable broth. Puree ingredients with an immersion blender until well mixed. Add honey, curry, cinnamon, salt and pepper and heat through about 10-15 minutes at a low simmer. To serve, garnish bowls of soup with roasted pumpkin seeds. Adjust the apple juice, vegetable broth and half-and-half according to how large your butternut squash is. If the squash is smaller, decrease liquids. If it’s a whopper you may have to increase this amount. I increased these amounts above the original recipe because I had a whopper butternut squash. Recipe from https://cantstayoutofthekitchen.com
BUTTERNUT SQUASH MAC & CHEESE
2 tablespoons butter (or olive oil), 12 fresh sage leaves (optional), 3 large cloves garlic, minced, 1 pound (about 4 cups) diced butternut squash, 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock (or chicken stock), 1 # uncooked pasta (I used shells), 2 cups whole milk, 8 ounces good-quality sharp cheddar cheese, shredded*, fine sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper, to taste
Bring a large pot of generously-salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the butter in a separate large sauté pan until melted. Add the sage leaves (if using) and sauté for 1-2 minutes until crispy. Transfer the sage leaves to a separate plate and set aside. Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Then add in the butternut squash and vegetable stock and stir to combine. Continue cooking until the stock reaches a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the squash is tender and mashes easily with a fork. Transfer the squash mixture to a blender. Add in the milk and give the mixture a quick stir. Then very carefully (I recommend slightly opening the cap on the blender lid, so that excess steam can escape) pulse the mixture until smooth. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water for later. Then drain the pasta. While the pasta is cooking, return the butternut squash mixture back to the sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add in the shredded cheddar cheese, and stir until it has melted into the sauce. Taste and season the sauce with salt and pepper as needed. (I used about 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.) Then once the pasta is drained, return it to the stockpot. Pour the butternut cheese sauce on top of the pasta, and toss to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add in some of the hot starchy pasta water to thin it out. Serve warm, garnished with the crispy sage leaves if desired. Recipe from Gimmesomeoven.com
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.
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 # 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
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
CRANBERRY-RASPBERRY SPINACH SALAD1 10-oz.pkg.frozen red raspberries in syrup, thawed, ¼ C sugar, 2 t. cornstarch, ½ C cranberry-raspberry drink, ¼ C red wine vinegar, ¼ t celery seeds, ¼ t. cinnamon, 1/8 t. ground cloves, 10 oz. fresh spinach, stems removed and torn ((8 C), ½ C broken walnuts, 1/3 C dried cranberries, ¼ C sunflower seeds, 3 green onions, thinly sliced
For dressing, place raspberries and syrup in a blender container or food processor bowl. Cover and blend or process until smooth; strain through a sieve to remove seeds. Discard seeds. In a medium saucepan combine sugar and cornstarch; stir in strained raspberries, berry drink, vinegar, celery seeds, cinnamon, and cloves. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly; cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Transfer to a nonmetal container. Cover and chill at least one hour. To serve, place spinach, walnuts, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and green onions in a large bowl; toss to combine. Drizzle with some of the dressing; toss to coat evenly. Pass remaining dressing. Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook
MEATBALL SOUP
1 beaten egg white, ½ C soft bread crumbs, ¼ C finely chopped onion, 1/8 t. garlic powder, 1/8 t. black pepper, 8 oz. lean ground beef, non-stick cooking spray, 2 14 oz. cans beef broth, 1 14/2-oz. can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs, undrained, 15 oz. can garbanzo beans, (chickpeas), rinsed and drained, 1 C sliced fresh mushrooms, ½ C water, ½ C dried small bow tie pasta, 3 cups torn fresh spinach or ½ of a 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
In a medium bowl combine egg white, bread crumbs, onion, garlic powder, and pepper. Add ground beef; mix well. Shape into thirty-six ¾ in. meatballs. Lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Cook meatballs over medium heat about 8 minutes or until no pink remains, turning occasionally to brown evenly. Set meatballs
GREEK LENTIL AND SPINACH SOUP WITH LEMON
1 pound brown or large green lentils, rinsed and picked over, 10 cups vegetable broth or water, 1 jalapeño pepper, stemmed, seeded and chopped, 2 teaspoons whole coriander seeds, 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds
2 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, 2 bay leaves, 2 medium Yukon Gold, russet or red potatoes (1 1/4 pounds), scrubbed and cut into 1/2-inch dice, 10 ounces baby spinach, chopped, 1 small butternut squash (1 pound), peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 3 cups), 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 large onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, with leaves, sliced, 3 large garlic cloves, finely chopped, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or more to taste, 2 lemons, 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
In a large soup pot over medium-high heat, combine the lentils, stock or water, jalapeño, coriander, cumin, oregano and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer, partially covered, about 30 minutes, until the lentils are tender. Add the potatoes, spinach and butternut squash, re-cover and cook another 15 to 20 minutes, until the potatoes and squash are tender. Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the onion, and cook, stirring, until it starts to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the celery and garlic and cook, stirring often, until they soften, 3 minutes. Add the mixture to the soup, deglazing the skillet with a little bit of the broth from the soup, then add the deglazed contents back to the soup pot. Add the salt and pepper, taste, and add more if needed. Pick out and discard the bay leaves. Thinly slice one of the lemons and cut the other into wedges. Just before serving, stir the lemon juice into the soup. Serve the soup hot, with a lemon slice floating atop each bowl. Pass lemon wedges at the table.
Recipe from The Washington Post; https://www.washingtonpost.com/
WHEAT BERRY SALAD WITH GREENS & BEETS
3 medium beets, 6 tablespoons olive oil, Salt and Freshly ground pepper, 2 cups whole wheat berries
1 bunch kale or 2 cups spinach, 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or other vinegar, 1⁄2 cup minced shallots, 1 tablespoon finely chopped sage, or 1 tsp if dried, 2 garlic gloves, 1⁄2 cup dry white wine
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and roast chopped beets until tender. Bring wheat berries, 5 cups water, and 1⁄4 teaspoon salt to a boil. Cook over medium heat until tender. About 25-30 minutes. Remove stems from kale, slice leaves, and add to pot with wheat berries (or chop and add spinach or other greens if using). Cover and remove from heat. Steam until wilted, about 5 minutes. Drain and mix in a bowl with beets, vinegar, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Use salt and pepper to taste, toss.
In a medium skillet heat 2 tablespoons olive oil, add shallots and a pinch of salt and cook over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes or until brown. Add the sage and cook for one minute, add garlic and cook for an additional minute while stirring. And wine and simmer, while continuing to stir, until evaporated. Add to salad, toss, and serve. Can be made ahead and refrigerated. Recipe form red Fire farm
CREAM OF CARROT AND RUTABAGA SOUP WITH MAPLE SYRUP
4 cups carrots, peeled and sliced, 4 c rutabaga, peeled and chopped, 2 onions chopped, 3 t. butter, 8 c. chicken broth, 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed, 3 t. maple syrup, ¼ c. cream, salt and pepper
In a saucepan, cook the carrots, rutabaga, and onions in the butter for about 5 minutes, without browning. Add the broth, potatoes, and maple syrup. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for about 25 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. In a blender, purée the soup until smooth. Add the cream. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot. Recipe from Ricardocuisine.com
MOROCCAN GRATED CARROT AND BEET SALAD RECIPE
2 cups of grated carrots (from about 3 carrots), 1 cup of grated fresh beets (from about 1 medium sized peeled beet), 1/2 cup golden raisins, 1/2 teaspoon paprika (sweet, not hot), 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, small pinch of salt, small pinch of cayenne, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 teaspoons honey, 2 Tbsp sliced fresh mint leaves
Place the grated carrots in a medium sized serving bowl. Place the grated beets into a sieve and briefly rinse with cold water. This will rinse away a little of the excess beet juice that may otherwise color the whole salad beet red. Pat dry with a paper towel. Then add to the bowl with the carrots. Add the raisins. Stir to gently combine. In a small bowl, whisk together the paprika, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and cayenne. Then add the lemon juice and honey and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over the carrots and beets, then gently fold until the carrots and beets are lightly coated. Let sit for an hour before serving, either chilled or at room temperature, for the dressing to seep into the carrots and beets. Right before serving, stir in a couple tablespoons of sliced fresh mint leaves. Garnish with fresh mint. Recipe from simplyrecipes.com
GOLDEN HARVEST POTATO BAKE
5 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed, 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed, 5 large carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces, 3 garlic cloves, minced, 1 teaspoon dried tarragon, 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided, 1/2 cup whole milk, 2 large eggs, 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon pepper
Place the potatoes, carrots, garlic and tarragon in a Dutch oven; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain. In a large bowl, mash the vegetables. Stir in 1/2 cup cheese, milk, eggs, vinegar, butter, salt, parsley and pepper until blended. Transfer to a greased 13×9-in. baking dish; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 25-30 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°.
DILLY SLAW
4 cups shredded veggies (carrots, Hakurei turnips, radish, kohlrabi), 5 scallions chopped
Dressing: 3⁄4 cup yogurt or 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise, 2 Tbs. lime juice, 2 Tbs. cider vinegar, 1 Tbs. honey, 1⁄4 cup dill, 1 tsp. salt, 3 garlic scapes or cloves of garlic, minced
Blend dressing and toss with veggies. If time, let chill and stir occasionally so the dressing can soak into the veggies. Recipe from Red Fire Farm, Granby MA
BEETS AND CARROTS IN A LIME VINAIGRETTE
2 medium beets, peeled and cubed, 2 medium carrots, sliced diagonally, 1 medium cucumber, cubed, 6 Tbs veggie oil, 3 Tbs lime juice, 2 Tbs chopped cilantro or dill, 1 garlic clove, minced, salt to taste
Steam beets and carrots separately until tender. Combine dressing ingredients (I find a jar works well because you can put the lid on and shake it all up.) Put the veggies, including the cucumber in a bowl and toss with dressing. Chill. Recipe from Red Fire Farm
BALSAMIC ROASTED CARROTS
1 T olive oil, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, ½# carrots, 2T balsamic vinegar
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil. Combine olive oil, salt, pepper, and carrots in a bag or bowl; toss to coat. Pour the carrots into the prepared baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven until tender, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle the balsamic vinegar over the carrots; shake the pan to coat evenly. Return to oven and bake until the liquid is absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes. Serve hot.
Recipe from Allrecipe.com
ROASTED CARROTS
12 carrots, 3 tablespoons good olive oil, 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons minced fresh dill or parsley
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. If the carrots are thick, cut them in half lengthwise; if not, leave whole. Slice the carrots diagonally in 1 1/2-inch-thick slices. (The carrots will shrink while cooking so make the slices big.) Toss them in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Transfer to a sheet pan in 1 layer and roast in the oven for 20 minutes, until browned and tender. Toss the carrots with minced dill or parsley, season to taste, and serve. Recipe from Ina Garten Foodnetwork.com
ROASTED CARROTS WITH TURMERIC COUSCOUS
1 1/4 lbs. medium carrots, halved lengthwise, 2 tbsp. olive oil, 1/2 tsp. curry powder, 2 3/4 cups chicken stock, 2 cups Israeli couscous, 1 1/2 tsp. ground turmeric, 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt, thinned with 3 tbsp. water, torn fresh mint, 4 lemon wedges
On baking sheet, toss carrots, oil and curry powder; season with salt and pepper. Roast at 500° until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. In saucepan, boil stock. Add couscous and turmeric. Cover and simmer until tender, about 7 minutes; season. Top couscous with carrots, yogurt and mint. Serve with lemon wedges. Recipe from rachaelraymag.com
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
SMASHED YUKON GOLD POTATOES WITH BLUE CHEESE AND TOASTED NUTS
2 pounds young Yukon Gold potatoes (unpeeled); 4 tablespoons butter, softened; 1/2 cup milk or cream; salt and pepper; 1/2-pound blue cheese, crumbled; 1/4-pound (about 1 cup) nuts
Cook potatoes and place in large bowl. Add butter, milk, and a pinch of salt and pepper (or to taste). Smash with fork, leaving some large pieces. Lightly toss in blue cheese. Sprinkle with nuts. Makes 6 servings.
SPICY OVEN FRIES
3-pound potatoes, 2-3 Tbsp olive oil; spice mix; 4 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
Spice Mix: 1 tsp. salt, 1/2tsp oregano, 1/2tsp garlic powder, 1/4tsp chili powder, 1/4tsp pepper Hint; when mixing spices, I multiply by 8 so that I have the spice mix on hand for quicker do ahead preparation. If doing smaller quantity of potatoes try using a scant tsp of spice mix with 1 T of cheese to each pound of potatoes. Chop or slice potatoes as desired. Toss with olive oil to coat. Mix spices and parmesan cheese. Bake at 450 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.
SPICY POTATO, SAUSAGE AND GREENS SOUP
1 # bulk hot Italian sausage; 1/2 cup chopped onion, or more to taste; 4 cups chicken broth; 4 cups thinly sliced potatoes (slice them with skins on); 4 cups water; 2 packed cups torn or chopped fresh greens; 1/3 cup whipping cream; salt and pepper
Heat soup pot over medium flame. Add sausage and onions and cook until meat is no longer pink. Add broth, potatoes, and 4 cups water. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer until potatoes are tender, 10-15 minutes. Stir in greens; cook 1-2 minutes. Stir in whipping cream and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve right away, or, for more developed flavor, let cool, then chill and reheat later or the next day. This recipe was inspired by a soup at Olive Garden restaurant. Add some buttered biscuits and it’s a perfect winter meal. Makes 8-12 servings. Recipe from JoAnn Hoffman, Vermont Valley Farm member