Winter Share Six February 8th 2024
Important information:
- This is a monthly and biweekly share. Thanks for your share box returns; please keep them coming.
- The next monthly share is March 7th.
- For those winter share members who have enrolled for summer shares, we will be sending out reminder invoices In March for payments.
Farm News from Jane
The sun has been glorious; and now we have over an hour of daylight since the winter solstice in December. The day length will increase rapidly in the next few months. And by April 6th we will have eleven hours of sunlight. (And yes, even if it’s overcast, we still have sunlight)! There are signs in nature as well. The geese have been active the last two weeks; flying in formation. It must be the brave hearts that hang around all winter. Perhaps they feel like it is getting too warm here in WNY and they’re preparing to fly north! The woodpeckers continue to work on the dead trees and the starling’s songs are more noticeable again. I smelled the first skunk today and although we were ice skating on the farm pond on Sunday the edges are beginning to melt. There have already been some “false” starts of forsythia blossoms by the corner of my house. The cows are enjoying drinking from the puddles (ponds) of melted snow, just like the dog. Why is it that even when there is fresh clean water that they prefer mother nature’s finest offerings? The old farmers would call snow the “poor farmer’s” fertilizer. Maybe there are more nutrients or at least minerals in them than we know….
The seeds have been arriving and we will begin sowing them in trays in the heated greenhouse soon. The potting soil was placed in the greenhouse also to get warmed; ready for tray filling. I understand that many people are already anxious for warm weather but I am not quite there yet. Once the cycle begins it is a long season of seeding, watering, planting and transplanting; February till December this past year. Of course, I also realize and enjoy the choice to grow things out of season; capturing those winter rays in the unheated high tunnels. But who doesn’t enjoy fresh greens in December, January and February that come for your farm just down the road “a piece”! We hope to start tapping maple trees this month. A snow cover helps keep the season go longer so we wouldn’t mind a good snowfall or two before winter ends. But for a few more weeks we’ll continue to do equipment maintenance, inventorying and reorganizing while we enjoy shorter work days and more family time. The groundhog did not see his shadow so “spring” should be even closer they say.
Keep up the “good cooking” and enjoy the sunshine, Jane
Produce: Honey Spinach Celery Red Kale green Cabbage Orange carrots
Garlic Adirondack blue potatoes red Cipollini and Spanish onions
Red beets Celeriac Parsnips Spaghetti squash Butternut squash
Produce tips:
– Our “honey farmers” or apiarists are Teresa and her dad Maciej and the honey is extracted from their hives on our farm. So, it is as “local” as possible; at least to us who live within a few miles! They take tender loving care of their bees, watching diligently over the hives throughout the year. It is quite the labor of love; when you place bees in the hives or bee boxes. It is like planting seeds in the ground; you really don’t know how they’ll fare; if they’ll live and thrive and for bees even if they will stay! It is an act of faith; believing that there will be a “crop” to harvest…Hopefully the bees will fare well this winter season. Last winter there were quite a few lost.
– The butternut squash is a bit dehydrated from keeping it at a lowered humidity for spoilage control. The result: wrinkled outside but sweeter than ever inside! Just like grandma!!!
– Onions; even though we only had a small crop this past season we are happy to share some red Cipollini onions with you. Slice vertically for lovely little slices for your salads or stir-fries.
– The red kale was harvested from the field this week on one of our sunny days. It will be sweet, and a bit softer than the high tunnel kale.
– The celery had grown well through this warmer than usual winter. It is sweet and crisp so great for fresh eating or save for soups.
– Garlic; remember to keep it out of the sun and in a cool spot to keep it as long as possible. There will be a few more “shares” of garlic this season.
– It’s great soup weather if you have time in the kitchen. A great way to utilize the parsnips or celeriac if you are unfamiliar with incorporating them in your entrees.
Recipes
SPIRALED BLUE POTATO AND YELLOW CARROT CASSEROLE
Purple Potatoes, sliced into rounds, yellow carrots, sliced into rounds, shallots, olive oil, garlic, thyme & fresh sage, to taste, Celtic salt & black pepper to taste, 1-2 T cheddar cheese, grated, 1-2 T parmesan, grated,
Cook the shallots down in olive oil with garlic, thyme & fresh sage. Transfer to a round baking dish. Arrange the veggies on the bed of cooked down shallots. Season with olive oil, Celtic salt, black pepper and thyme. Bake at 375F covered for 30 mins. Then uncover it and sprinkle with shredded cheddar + parm and bake at 425 for an additional 20 mins. Recipe from urbankitchenapothacary; thefeed.com
PURPLE POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS
3 Slices of thick style bacon, 1/2 pound new purple potatoes sliced in half and then in small wedges, 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced lengthwise, 4 medium sized shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced, Olive oil, Kosher Salt
Freshly cracked pepper, 1 pinch red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon, 1 tablespoon chopped capers, 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter
Start caramelizing the onions: In a small sauté pan heat one tablespoon of olive oil over a low heat. Add the sliced onions in one even layer, after five minutes add 1/2 tablespoon of butter, stir and add a pinch of kosher salt. While rendering your bacon and cooking your mushrooms in the next steps, make sure to stir the onions every few minutes and remove once they are evenly browned. This should take around 30 minutes, remove from heat when finished and reserve. Cook the bacon: While the onions are slowly cooking slice the bacon in small batonettes (1/8-inch crosswise strips) on your cutting board. Heat up a larger sauté pan on medium and when your pan is hot add the sliced bacon. Slowly sauté the bacon until slightly crispy and remove from the pan onto a paper towel-lined plate, reserve for later. Cook mushrooms in rendered bacon fat: Julienne the shiitake mushrooms and then add them to the pan which now has the rendered bacon fat. Add a pinch of salt and fresh cracked pepper to the Shiitake mushrooms, don’t shake the pan but let the mushrooms brown evenly on one side. Once browned, flip the mushrooms delicately and remove from pan onto a smaller plate, reserve. 4 Brown the purple potatoes: Add 2 Tablespoons of olive oil in the pan and add the evenly sliced potatoes to the hot pan in a single layer; make sure not to crowd the pan. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes and a good pinch of salt to the potatoes. Don’t move the pan, this is very important so that the potatoes can evenly brown. After 3-5 minutes, when they are browned flip potatoes and brown the other side, turn down the heat to medium low to evenly cook the potatoes. 5 Add capers, onions, mushrooms, bacon: Once the potatoes are thoroughly cooked, add the capers and let crisp up for a minute. Then combine the caramelized onions, mushrooms, and bacon to the large sauté pan with the browned potatoes. Re-warm over low heat. When hot, turn the heat off and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh picked tarragon. Recipe from simplyrecipes.com
MEDITERRANEAN PURPLE POTATO FRITTATA
1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 large onion, cut into ¼-inch slices, 1-pound purple potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into ¼-inch slices, ½ teaspoon curry powder (optional), ¾ teaspoon sea salt, divided, 2 T minced fresh thyme, 8 whole eggs, ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Heat a 10-inch, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add oil and arrange onion slices in skillet. Cook, turning occasionally, until lightly browned and just tender, about 20 minutes. Arrange potato slices over onion and sprinkle 2 tablespoons of water over vegetables, then sprinkle with curry (optional) and ¼ teaspoon salt, turning to coat. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until potatoes are just fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Preheat the broiler. Whisk eggs just to blend, and stir in ½ teaspoon salt and pepper. Pour into skillet, sprinkle with thyme and arrange potato mixture in a single layer. Cook over medium heat, until set on bottom, about 10 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and broil 6 inches from heat source until browned at edges and set all the way through, 5 to 8 minutes. Recipe from Debby Maugans, food writer based in Asheville, North Carolina
CRISPY BAKED SMASHED BLUE POTATOES
1 1/2 lb. blue potatoes, small size, 3 T unsalted butter, melted; 1T olive oil, salt, pepper, scallions/cilantro/chives/fresh parsley, finely chopped (garnish)
Place potatoes in a pot and top with 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer until continue cooking until potatoes are soft. About 20-25 minutes depending on size. Drain potatoes over a strainer and set aside until there is no more steam from the potatoes. About 5 minutes. Preheat oven to 3500.
Arrange potatoes on a baking sheet. Smash each potato with a fork, brush with melted butter, drizzle with olive oil (~ 1/4 teaspoon per potato), and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake/roast for 40-45 minutes until the skin is crispy. Do not flip during baking. Remove baked potatoes from oven, serve hot sprinkle with your choice of garnish. Recipe from https://vforveggy.com
BEN’S PARSNIP CARROT SAUTE
Equal amounts of parsnips and carrots, olive oil and 2 cloves or more of garlic, chopped
Peel and slice carrots and parsnips into medallions. Heat large frying pan. Drizzle olive oil into pan; add the vegetables. Cover and simmer until carrots are almost tender. Add garlic. Simmer a bit longer until carrots are tender and almost glazed with a cream texture. Serve warm and step back and watch them disappear!
PARSNIP POTATO GRATIN
4 large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced, 4 medium onions, thinly sliced, 3 large parsnips, peeled and thinly sliced, 1-1/2 cups shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese, divided, 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 2 cups heavy whipping cream
Layer the potatoes, onions, parsnips and 3/4 cup cheese in a greased 13×9-in. baking dish; set aside. In a small saucepan, combine the flour, salt, pepper; gradually whisk in cream. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat; pour over vegetables. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover and bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 20-25 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender and top is golden brown. Recipe from tasteofhome.com
CARROT-PARSNIP BISQUE
2 T plus 1 C peanut oil, divided, 1 medium onion, chopped, 3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg, 1/8 tsp. coarsely ground pepper, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 1 lb. medium carrots, 2 medium parsnips, peeled and chopped, 4 C chicken stock, 1/2 C half-and-half cream, Minced chives, optional
In a large saucepan, heat 2 T oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and pepper. Cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until onion is tender. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Set aside 1 carrot; chop remaining carrots. Add chopped carrots, parsnips and stock to onion mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 20-25 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Remove soup from heat; cool slightly. Process in batches in a blender until smooth. Return soup to pan; keep warm. Using a vegetable peeler, shave carrot lengthwise into very thin strips. In a small saucepan, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. Fry carrot strips 2-3 minutes or until crispy, stirring occasionally. Drain on paper towels. Gently reheat soup; stir in cream. Divide soup among 4 bowls. Top with carrot strips and, if desired, chives. Recipe from tasteofhome.com
CREAMY ROASTED PARSNIP SOUP
2 pounds parsnips, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces, 3 carrots, 1 T. olive oil, sea salt and ground black pepper to taste, 1 T. olive oil, 1 large onion, 3 stalks celery, 1 T. butter, 3 cloves garlic, 1 T. brown sugar, 1 tsp. ground ginger, ½ tsp. ground cardamom, ½ tsp. ground allspice, ½ tsp. ground nutmeg, ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper, 4 C. chicken stock, 1 C. whole milk, ½ C. heavy cream
Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place the parsnips and carrots into a mixing bowl, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Toss to coat the vegetables with oil, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread the vegetables evenly over a baking sheet. Roast in the preheated oven until the parsnips are tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and celery. Cook and stir until the vegetables have softened and the onion is beginning to turn golden brown, about 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, and stir in the butter, garlic, brown sugar, and the roasted parsnips and carrots. Continue to cook and stir until all of the vegetables are very tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Season with the ginger, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper; stir for 1 minute. Pour in the chicken stock, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer gently until all of the vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes. Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot. Stir in the milk and cream. Return to a simmer over medium-low heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving. Recipe from: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe
RAW PARSNIP WINTER SALAD Parsnips are amazing raw.
3 cups shredded raw parsnip, 1 and 1/2 lemons, juiced (if organic, include some zest), 3/4 cup currants,
1 cup whole milk yogurt, honey to taste, pinch of salt to taste
Grate parsnips, unpeeled is fine as long as they’re good and cleaned of dirt.
Just grate down to the inner core, which is tougher, and you can tell when you get there.
Then mix with the other ingredients and taste. If you let it marinate a little while before serving, the flavors meld more. You can use dates or other dried fruit instead of currants, or a mix.
GLAZED PARSNIPS
3 c. diagonally sliced ½” parsnips; 3/4 c. water; 1/2 tsp. salt; 2 tbsps. Butter; 1 tbsps. Honey; 1/4 c. orange juice; 1 tsp. grated orange peel
Cook parsnips in water and salt until tender, about 10 minutes, Drain and remove from saucepan. Heat remaining ingredients together in saucepan. Combine with parsnips. Serve hot. Makes 6 servings. Recipe from America’s Best Vegetable Recipes.
PARSNIP FRITTERS
4 to 5 med. parsnips; 1/2 c. milk; 1 egg; 1/2 tsp. baking powder; 1 1/2 tsp. salt; Flour; oil for deep-fat frying
Scrape parsnips clean, cut in lengthwise slices and cook in boiling salted water until tender. Drain. Combine remaining ingredients, adding enough flour to make a batter the consistency of griddle cakes. Dip parsnips in batter; fry in deep hot fat (370 to 390°) until golden brown. Makes 6 servings.
Recipe from America’s Best Vegetable Recipes.
CURRIED PARSNIP SOUP
1 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tbsp butter; 1 red onion, chopped; 3 parsnips, chopped; 2 garlic cloves, crushed; 2 tsp garam masala; 1/2 tsp chili powder; 1 tbsp all-purpose flour; generous 3 1/2 cups vegetable bouillon; grated rind and juice of 1 lemon; salt and pepper; strips of lemon rind, to garnish
Heat the oil and butter in a large pan, until the butter has melted. Add the onion, parsnips, and garlic and sauté, stirring frequently, for about 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables have softened but not colored. Add the garam masala and chili powder and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Sprinkle in the flour, mix well, and cook, stirring constantly, for another 30 seconds. Stir in the bouillon, lemon rind, and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove some of the vegetable pieces with a slotted spoon and reserve until required. Process the remaining soup and vegetables in a food processor or blender for about 1 minute, to a smooth puree. Alternatively, put the vegetables in a strainer and press through with the back of a wooden spoon. Return the soup to a clean pan and stir in the reserved vegetables. Heat the soup through for 2 minutes, until piping hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper, then transfer to soup bowls. Garnish with strips of lemon rind and serve. Serves 4 Recipe from Practical Soups.
STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS
12 cabbage leaves*; 1-pound hamburger; 1/2 cup uncooked instant rice; 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup); 1 can (4 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper; 1/8 teaspoon garlic salt; 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 1 tablespoon water
Cover cabbage leaves with boiling water. Cover and let stand until leaves are limp, about 10 minutes. Remove leaves; drain. Sauté hamburger, rice, onion, mushrooms (with liquid), salt, pepper, garlic salt and 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce. Place about 1/3 cup hamburger mixture at stem end of each leaf. Roll leaf around hamburger mixture, tucking in sides. Place cabbage rolls seam sides down in ungreased square baking dish, 8x8x2 inches. Mix remaining tomato sauce, the sugar and lemon juice; pour over cabbage rolls. Cover and cook in 3500 oven until hamburger is done, about 45 minutes. Mix cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water in saucepan. Stir in liquid from cabbage rolls. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Serve sauce with cabbage rolls. Garnish with parsley if desired. Serves 4-5
FRUITED CABBAGE SLAW
1/2-pound green cabbage, shredded (about 3 cups); 1 cup shredded carrots; 1 cup pineapple tidbits; 1/2 cup raisins; 1 red apple, cored and cubed; 1 cup plain yogurt; 1 tsp cider vinegar; 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp celery seed; 1 banana, sliced
In a large bowl, combine cabbage, carrots, pineapple, raisins, and apple; set aside. Mix together yogurt, vinegar, sugar, salt, and celery seed. Pour over cabbage mixture and toss until well mixed. Refrigerate 1 hour or more. Just before serving, add sliced banana and toss. Serves 6 to 8
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.
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
HEIRLOOM CARROT SALAD WITH SWEET ORANGE AND THYME VINAIGRETTE
6 Tbs. olive oil, ¼ cup unseasoned rice vinegar, ¼ cup fresh orange juice, 2 Tbs. fresh thyme leaves, plus extra for garnish, 1 Tbs. finely chopped shallot, 1 tsp. honey, 1 ½ lbs. heirloom carrots, 1/3 cup pine nuts, 1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Whisk together oil, vinegar, orange juice, thyme, shallot, and honey in large bowl. Hold each carrot over bowl containing vinaigrette and, using a vegetable peeler or spiral slicer, peel long, thin strips into bowl. Toss to mix.
Toast pine nuts in skillet over low heat 2 to 3 minutes, stirring and tossing frequently to prevent burning. Add pine nuts to carrots, and toss to mix. Sprinkle with parsley, and garnish with fresh thyme leaves.
Recipe from Vegatariantimes.com
GINGER BEER GLAZED CARROTS
1 C strong ginger beer, 1 C chicken stock, 2 1/4 lbs. carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch segments, 2 tsp. butter, 4 tsp. chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp. chopped garlic, 1 tsp. chopped orange zest
In large skillet, boil ginger beer and stock until reduced to 1 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Add carrots and butter; season. Cook over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until tender and glazed, about 15 minutes; season. Chop together parsley, garlic and zest. Sprinkle over carrots.
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
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.
ASIAN PEANUT NOODLE SLAW WITH SHREDDED CHICKEN
Cook 4 oz. spaghetti according to package directions about ten minutes. Drain and rinse to cool. In a large bowl, whisk 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter, ¼ cup water, 3 T each seasoned rice vinegar and lime juice, 1 T packed brown sugar, 1T low sodium soy sauce and 1 tsp. (or to taste) siracha until smooth. Add spaghetti, 2+1/2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, 6 cups shredded cabbage, 2 cups shredded carrots, 3 thinly sliced scallions and 1/3 cup roughly chopped cilantro or parsley. Toss well. Scatter ¼ cup chopped roasted peanuts over the top. Recipe form FAMILYCIRCLE.COM
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
SPINACH STRAWBERRY SALAD
1/2 c sugar; 1 T poppy seeds; 2 Tbsp sesame seeds; 1 1/2 tsp minced onions; 1/4 tsp paprika; 1/4 c cider vinegar; 1/4 c wine vinegar; 1/2 c canola oil; 2 Tbsp butter; 3/4 c slivered almonds; 1 lb. spinach, washed, dried and torn into bite-size pieces; 1-pint strawberries, sliced or substitute another fruit
Put sugar, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, onions, paprika, vinegars and oil in shaker jar. Shake to emulsify. Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add almonds; cook and stir until lightly toasted, 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Combine spinach, strawberries and almonds in serving bowl. Pour half of dressing over and toss. Add more dressing as desired. Serve at once. Makes 8 servings
FRESH GREENS PASTA PIE
3 ounces vermicelli; 1 tablespoon butter or margarine, softened; 1/6 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 2 1/2 eggs; 1 teaspoon cooking oil; 1/2 small onion, chopped; 1 cup chopped fresh spinach or other greens; 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese; 1/6 cup milk; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper; pinch ground nutmeg
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a large pie plate. Cook vermicelli according to package directions; drain. Stir butter and Parmesan cheese into hot vermicelli. Beat 2 of the eggs and stir well into pasta. Spoon mixture into pie plate, and use a spoon to shape vermicelli into a pie shell. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 10 minutes. Set aside. Heat oil in small skillet, add onion and sauté until tender. Beat the remaining 3 eggs and combine with spinach, mozzarella, milk, seasonings, and sautéed onions. Spoon spinach mixture into pasta shell. Cover pie with aluminum foil. Bake 35 minutes; uncover and bake an additional 5 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Makes 3 servings. Recipe from Crystal Lake Gardens
GREEN RICE
3 c. cooked rice (l c. uncooked); 1 c. chopped spinach; 2 eggs, well beaten; 1 c. milk; 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce; 1 1/4 tsp. salt; 2 tsp. grated onion; 1/4 c. butter or margarine 1/2 c. grated sharp cheese
Toss rice and spinach together with fork. Add eggs, milk, Worcestershire sauce, salt and onion. Toss gently to mix, using care not to mash rice. Pour into greased 2-qt. baking dish; dot with butter and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake in slow oven (325°) 30 to 40 minutes. Makes 8 servings. Note: Add a few chopped blanched almonds, if you like. You can substitute 1/2 c. chopped parsley for half of the spinach.
SAUSAGE SOUP WITH SPINACH AND RICE
1 lb. hot Italian sausage; 1 tsp. dried oregano; 1 tbs. olive oil; 1 tsp. dried basil; 1 cup chopped onion; 3 cups fresh baby spinach, torn; 3 cloves garlic, crushed into 2–3-inch pieces; 9 cups chicken broth; 2 cups cooked long-grain rice; 1/2 cup diced tomatoes, with juice; salt and pepper to taste; 3 tbs. tomato paste; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Sauté sausage in a large stockpot over medium-high heat until cooked, about 10 minutes. Remove from pot and discard drippings. Add olive oil to pot and heat. Add onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes, until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Return sausage to pot. Add broth, tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano and basil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add spinach and rice and simmer until spinach is just wilted. Serve topped with Parmesan cheese. Servings: 6 Recipe from The Best 50 Garlic Recipes.
ROASTED GARLIC AND SPINACH QUICHE
1 bulb roasted garlic; 1 tbs. butter; 1 small onion, finely chopped; 4 eggs; 1 cup milk; 1/4 tsp. chili powder; 1/2 tsp. salt; 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper; 1 cup cooked spinach, fresh or frozen drained well; 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese; 1/4 tsp. vegetable oil for oiling pan
Heat oven to 350°. Separate roasted garlic cloves, peel and mash in a small bowl to form a paste. Melt butter in a skillet. Add onion and sauté until soft; about 6 minutes. Add garlic paste and sauté for 4 minutes. Blend together and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, chili powder, salt and pepper. In another bowl, combine garlic-onion mixture with spinach and cheese. Mix well. Spread spinach mixture firmly in a lightly oiled 9inch quiche or pie pan. Pour egg mixture evenly over spinach. Bake for 40 minutes. Quiche is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Servings: 6
Recipe from The Best 50 Garlic Recipes.
SPINACH PESTO DIP
10 ounces frozen spinach, chopped; 1/4 cup walnuts; 1 teaspoon basil; 1/2 teaspoon oregano; Dash of salt; 1 clove garlic, crushed; 1 cup sour cream; 1 cup mayonnaise
Thaw spinach and drain. Blend all ingredients in blender. Cover; chill. Yields 2 cups.
Recipe from Especially Herbs.
ASIAN SPINACH SALAD (small version)
1/2 lb. fresh spinach, washed and trimmed; 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce; 2-3 tsp. sesame oil; 1/2 Tbsp sesame seeds, toasted; 1 cloves garlic, minced; 1/2 tsp sugar; 1/2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar; Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Steam spinach until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze out as much water as possible. Chop coarsely. In bowl, combine soy sauce, oil, seeds, garlic, sugar, vinegar and pepper; mix well. Add spinach to sauce, and toss to coat. Serve hot or cold. Makes 4 servings Recipe from Farm-Fresh Recipes.
SPINACH SALAD WITH HONEY-BACON DRESSING RECIPE
8 C torn fresh spinach, 1Cp sliced fresh mushrooms, 1/4 C sliced green onions, 1 medium tomato, chopped, 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled, 1 hard-boiled large egg, chopped, 1 C 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
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 aside. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan stir together broth, undrained tomatoes, garbanzo beans, mushrooms, and water. Bring to boiling; add past. Return to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir in meatballs and spinach. Cook for 1 to 1 minutes more or just until fresh spinach wilts or frozen spinach is heated through. Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook
KALE & APPLES
1 bunch of kale, stripped from its stalk, chopped into bite-sized pieces and rinsed, (10-12 oz., 6-8 cups), 1 T butter, 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced (1/2 c), 2 crisp apples, such as empire, or Crispin, peeled and cored and cut into ½ dice, 2 t brown sugar, ¼ C dried cranberries, roughly chopped, salt, 2 t olive oil, ½ C walnuts, toasted and chopped (optional)
Place about 4 cups of water in a 10-12 inch skillet or soup pot that that a tight-fitting lid. Bring to a boil and add the kale. Cover and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally until tender, 4-6 minutes, depending on the kale. Transfer to a colander to drain. Shake a few times to release the steam and stop the cooking. Dry the skillet and melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and apples and sauté until the apples are nicely colored and nearly soft, 5-7 minutes. Add the brown sugar and cranberries and sauté for a few minutes more. Add the cooked kale (squeeze out any excess moisture), a pinch or two of salt and the olive oil and mix well. Top with the walnuts, if using and serve hot. *Try with pears or a combo of apples and pears
KALE & CHEESE QUESADILLAS
½ bunch kale, stripped from stalk, chopped into bite sized pieces and rinsed (about 4 cups), 2 c shredded cheese (Cheddar, Monterey Jack or a combination), 1/4 C chopped green chiles (optional), 1t ground cumin, 1/T chili powder, 1 (8-10 count) package flour tortillas, 4 t canola or olive oil
Bring 3 to 4 C of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add kale and cook on high heat, covered for 4 to 5 minutes. Drain in a colander; shake several times to help cool. When cool, squeeze out any excess water, and then break any clumps apart. In a large bowl, combine the cheese, green chiles, cumin, and chili powder with the kale. Heat an 11-12-inch skillet on medium heat and pour about 1 t of oil to coat pan. Place a tortilla in the skillet. Put a generous 1/2C of the cheese mixture in the idle of the tortilla. Place another tortilla on top. When the tortilla is lightly browned, flip over. The quesadilla is done when the cheese is melted, 3-4 minutes. Repeat for the other quesadillas. Cut into wedges and serve – a pizza cutter works great to cut quesadillas. Recipe from Kale, Glorious Kale by Catherine Walthers
RAMEN KALE CRUNCHY SLAW
4 C kale, stripped from stalk, rinsed, cut into ¼ in. ribbons, rinsed and dried, 2t olive oil, 2 pinches of kosher salt, 4 C thinly shredded cabbage (a mix of red and green cabbages looks great), 2 carrots, peeled and shredded, 1 (2-3oz.) packet of ramen noodles, 3T sesame seeds, toasted, ¼ C almond slices, toasted
Dressing: 3 T seasoned rice vinegar, 2 T sugar, ½ t kosher salt, 1-2 t tamari or soy sauce, ¼ t freshly ground black pepper, ¼ C olive oil, 2 T dark sesame oil, toasted
Place kale in a large serving bowl or dish and add the olive oil and salt. Massage the kale with your hands to soften and tenderize, about 2 minutes. Add the cabbage and carrots. Crush the ramen noodles in the package and toss with the salad.
Make the dressing: In a bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, tamari, pepper, olive oil and sesame oil and mix well. Add the dressing to the salad 30-60 minutes before serving. Toss the dressing evenly to coat and mix in half of the seeds and nuts. Top with the remaining nuts when ready to serve. Variation: Add shredded chicken.
Recipe from Kale, Glorious Kale by Catherine Walthers
ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP WITH ORZO AND MEATBALLS
Meatballs: 1/2 # lean ground beef, 1/4 # lean ground pork, 1/3 C dried bread crumbs, 3 T chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, 3 T grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 2 T chopped fresh oregano, 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 egg, beaten, pinch grated nutmeg, pinch paprika
Soup: 2 T unsalted butter, 1 medium white onion, finely chopped, 1 medium carrot, finely chopped, 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, to taste, 4 C chicken broth, 1 (28-ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained, 1 C uncooked whole wheat orzo, 2 C shredded kale
For the meatballs, combine beef, pork, bread crumbs, parsley, Parmesan, garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, egg, nutmeg, and paprika in a large bowl and use your hands to mix well. Use a teaspoon to measure out meat for even sized meatballs. With damp hands, shape them into 1-inch balls and transfer them to a large plate. Cover and refrigerate until ready to cook.
For the soup, melt butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, garlic, salt and pepper and cook until translucent and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Stir in broth, tomatoes, and 2 cups water. Cover and cook 10 minutes over medium heat or until soup comes to a boil.
Add meatballs and orzo to the boiling soup and stir to make sure they are fully submerged. Cover and simmer until the meatballs and orzo are fully cooked, about 15 minutes over medium heat. Stir in kale and cook just until wilted, about 3 minutes. Recipe form Wholefoodsmarket.com
SAUSAGE, WHITE BEAN AND KALE SOUP
1 T olive oil, ½ lb. bulk Italian pork sausage, 2 C diced onions, 3/4teaspoon salt, 1 bunch kale, ribs removed, thinly sliced, 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 1 can (28 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained, 2 cans (19 oz each) cannellini beans, drained, rinsed, 1carton (32 oz) unsalted chicken broth, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
In a 6-quart Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Crumble sausage into hot oil; cook until no longer pink. Transfer with slotted spoon to plate; set aside. Add onions and salt to Dutch oven; cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until translucent. Stir in kale; cook about 1 minute or until slightly wilted. Stir in garlic. Stir in tomatoes, beans, broth and sausage; heat to a simmer. Simmer uncovered 5 minutes to combine flavors. Divide among 8 bowls; top with cheese. Recipe from Bettycrocker.com
BABY KALE SALAD WITH LEMON, PARMESAN & CRISPY ROASTED CHICKPEAS
1 (15 oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained, 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the salad: 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice, from one lemon, 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 small garlic clove, minced, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 5oz baby Kale or Kale/Dark Greens Mix, 1/2 cup shaved Parmigiano-Regianno
Preheat oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the chickpeas on the prepared baking sheet and toss with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 10-12 minutes, stirring once, until the chickpeas are slightly shrunken and crispy. Let cool. In a large bowl, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add the greens and toss until evenly coated. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary (I usually add a bit more salt). Arrange on plates and top with Parmigiano-Regianno shavings and crispy roasted chickpeas.
SPINACH SALAD WITH HONEY DRESSING AND HONEYED PECANS
1 (6-oz.) package baby spinach, 1 cup quartered fresh strawberries, 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion, 1/2 cup fresh blueberries, Honey Dressing, 3 to 4 cooked bacon slices, crumbled, 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese, Honeyed Pecans
Toss together first 4 ingredients and 1/3 cup dressing. Sprinkle with bacon, cheese, and pecans. Serve with remaining dressing.
Honey Dressing: 1/3 cup white balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil ~ Whisk together vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Add olive oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth.
Honeyed Pecans~1/4 cup honey, 1 cup pecan halves, Parchment paper, Cooking spray, 1 T sugar, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, Pinch of ground red pepper Preheat oven to 325°. Microwave honey in a bowl at HIGH 20 seconds. Stir in pecan halves. Coat a parchment paper-lined jelly-roll pan with cooking spray; spread pecans in a single layer on pan. Combine sugar, salt, and a pinch of ground red pepper; sprinkle over pecans. Bake 15 minutes or until toasted, stirring after 8 minutes. Cool completely; break into pieces.
HONEY-APPLE CAKE
1 cup chopped pecans, divided, 2 cups sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1/4 cup honey, 3 large eggs, 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3 cups chopped Golden Delicious apple, Honey Sauce
Honey Sauce: 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup butter or margarine, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup milk
Bring all ingredients to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring constantly; boil, stirring constantly, 2 minutes. Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan; sprinkle bottom of pan with 1/4 cup pecans. Set aside. Beat sugar, oil, and honey at medium speed with an electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended. Combine flour and next 4 ingredients. Gradually add to sugar mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in vanilla, remaining 3/4 cup pecans, and apple. Spoon over pecans in pan.
Bake at 350° for 55 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan, and place on a wire rack over wax paper. Pour 1/2 cup Honey Sauce over warm cake. Cool. Heat remaining Honey Sauce; serve with cake and, if desired, ice cream. Recipe From MyRecipes.com
SWEET AND SOUR BEETS IN WHITE WINE
1/3 c. plus 1 tbsp. cider vinegar, 1/3 c. water, 1/3 c. sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch, Dash of ground cloves, 2 tbsp. dry white wine, 1/2 tsp. butter, 2 c. cooked, sliced beets
In a medium saucepan, combine the first 5 ingredients. Cook over a medium heat until the mixture thickens. Add beets, wine, butter and heat thoroughly. Remove from heat and let stand at least 30 minutes. Reheat just before serving. Recipe form Cook.com
BEET, GINGER, AND COCONUT MILK SOUP
1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 large yellow onion, diced, 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger, 3 large red beets, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces, 5 cups vegetable stock, divided, 1 can (14.5 ounces) low-fat coconut milk, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, Parsley (optional), Canned julienned beets (optional), Crusty bread
In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, 5 minutes. Add garlic and ginger; cook, stirring often, 5 minutes. Add beets and 4 cups stock; bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until beets are fork-tender, 20 minutes. With an immersion or regular blender, puree soup, adding remaining 1 cup stock as needed to reach desired consistency. Stir in milk, salt and pepper. Garnish with parsley and julienned beets and serve with bread, if desired. Recipe from http://www.epicurious.com
RED FLANNEL HASH RECIPE
4 Tbsp butter, 1 cup chopped onion, 2 cups chopped cooked corned beef, 1 1/2 cups chopped cooked beets, 1 1/2 cups chopped cooked potatoes, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional, and use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce if cooking gluten-free), 1/4 cup (packed) chopped fresh parsley (optional), Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Heat butter in a frying pan (cast iron preferred) on medium high heat. Add the onions and cook a couple minutes, until translucent. Add the corned beef, potatoes, and beets. Stir in the pan to combine, and spread out evenly in the pan. Reduce the heat to medium. Press down with a metal spatula to help brown the mixture. Don’t stir, but just let cook until nicely browned on one side, then use a metal spatula to lift up sections of the mixture and turn over to brown the other side. If the mixture sticks to the pan too much, just add a little more butter to the pan where it’s sticking. When nicely browned, remove from heat. Sprinkle in some Worcestershire sauce, if using. Stir in fresh chopped parsley, if using, and sprinkle on freshly ground black pepper to taste. There should be enough salt from the corned beef, but if not, add salt to taste. Serve plain or with fried or poached eggs. Recipe from simplyrecipes.com
BEET & GOAT CHEESE HUMMUS
1 large beet, 1 can chickpeas, 2 lemons, 1/4 cup tahini paste, 1 teaspoon salt, 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese,
1/4 cup olive oil
First scrub the beet and chop into large cubes. Bake in aluminum foil or on a baking tray at 400°F until soft enough to pierce with a fork (about 25-30 minutes). Allow the beet to cool. In a food processor combine the beet (and any juices you were able to reserve), the rinsed *chickpeas, juice from two lemons, tahini paste, salt and goat cheese. Pulse until well blended. While the food processor is running, drizzle in the olive oil. Blend until smooth. Crumble a little more goat cheese on top for a pretty presentation. Recipe: simplyrecipes.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.
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
MOROCCAN GRATED CARROT AND BEET SALAD RECIPE
2 cups of grated carrots (from about 3 carrots), 1 C of grated fresh beets (from about 1 medium sized, peeled beet), 1/2 C golden raisins, 1/2 tsp paprika (sweet, not hot), /4 tsp ground cumin,
1/4 tsp cinnamon, small pinch of salt, small pinch of cayenne, 2 Tbsp lemon juice, 2 tsp 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
“SUMMER IN WINTER” CELERIAC CARROT SLAW
1 small celeriac bulb; 4 large carrots; 1 clove garlic or 1 small shallot, minced; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1/8 tsp salt; 1 tsp Dijon mustard; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 tbsp sour cream; freshly ground black pepper
Peel celeriac with a sharp knife. Grate on large holes of box grater. Peel carrots and grate the same way. You’ll have about 4 generous cups. Mix minced garlic or shallot, vinegar, salt, and mustard in small bowl. Whisk in olive oil until smooth and thickened. Stir in sour cream and fresh ground pepper to taste. Add more salt if necessary. Pour over grated vegetables and toss gently. Allow to marinate for 30 minutes. Makes 4 generous servings.
CELERIAC IN CREAM SAUCE
2 celery roots; 4 tablespoons butter; 1 cup milk; 1/4 cup instant-blending flour
Peel celery roots and cut into strips or wedges. Steam until just soft. Melt butter and slowly add milk. Lower heat. Add flour 1 teaspoon at a time, stirring instantly. Cook, stirring, until sauce thickens. Drain celery root. Pour on cream sauce. Serves 2 to 4. Recipe from The Fruit and Vegetable Stand.
BRAISED ROOT VEGETABLES
1 tablespoon butter; 3 tablespoons dry white wine or Vegetable Broth; 1-pound celery root (sometimes called celeriac), peeled and cut into 1 l/2-inch pieces;4 large carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally 1 inch thick; 8 large shallots or onions, quartered; 3/4 teaspoon salt; Freshly ground black pepper; 8 ounces green beans, trimmed in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the wine. Add the celery root, carrots, shallots, salt, and pepper to taste, stirring to coat the vegetables, Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Add the beans to the vegetables, stirring to coat. Cover and cook, stirring once or twice, until all of the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Serve hot. Serves 4 Recipe from The Big Book of Vegetarian
CELERIAC SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND HAZELNUTS
½ c hazelnuts (11/2 oz), ½ c (4 oz.) Greek yogurt, 3 T fresh lemon juice, 2 T olive oil, 1 T chopped chives, 1 T chopped flatleaf parsley, 1.5 tsp. salt plus more, ¼ tsp. pepper, pinch of sugar, 1 large celeriac root (about 14 oz.), 3 ribs of celery sliced thin, 3 oz. goat cheese, crumbled, celery or celeriac leaves, optional
Spread hazelnuts on a cookie sheet, place in oven and set to 375 degrees. Bake until hazelnuts smell nutty and are turning brown, and are splitting, 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl, cover with a damp dish towel, and let cool. Rub loose skins off and discard; chop nuts coarsely. Whisk together yogurt, lemon juice, oil, chives, parsley, ½ tsp. salt, pepper and sugar. Using a mandoline or knife, slice celeriac as thinly as possible and then slice into ribbons. Toss with dressing and let sit at least ten minutes to soften slightly tossing occasionally. Add celery, toss to combine and more salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with goat cheese, nuts, and celeriac leaves, if using. Serve immediately.
Recipe from rodaleorganiclife.com
CELERIAC WAFFLES
½ C crème fraiche, 2 tsp. prepared horseradish, ¾ tsp. kosher salt, divided, 2 large celeriac roots (about 14 oz. each), peeled and grated, freshly ground black pepper, 11/2 C (4 0z.) Parmesan cheese, 2 eggs, beaten, 21/4 oz. all-purpose flour, (1/2 C), ½ C milk, 1 medium shallot, finely chopped, (1/4 C), 3 T chopped celeriac leaves or flatleaf parsley, 4 tsp. chopped rosemary, vegetable oil for greasing, 4 cups baby arugula or spinach, 1 green apple, cut into matchsticks
In a small bowl, combine crème fraiche, horseradish, and ¼ tsp. salt. Set aside. In a medium bowl, toss celeriac roots with ½ tsp. salt and pepper to taste. In a separate bowl, whisk together the Parmesan, eggs, flour, milk, shallot, celeriac leaves and rosemary. Add to celeriac roots and thoroughly combine. Lightly oil a waffle iron and heat until hot. Spoon a heaping ¼ C batter onto hot iron (batter may not go all the way to the edges) and cook until browned and crisp 3-5 minutes. Serve immediately with crème fraiche mixture, smoked trout, arugula, and apple. (If making ahead, place in a 2000 oven to reheat). Note: If you don’t have a waffle iron, you may prepare these as pancakes in a medium-hot pan with a little butter or oil.
Recipe from Rodalesorganiclife.com
CELERIAC OVEN FRIES WITH SMOKED PAPARIKA
1 celeriac (about 20 oz), peeled and cut into ½ sticks, 2 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp smoked paprika, coarse sea salt, freshly ground pepper
Set the oven to 425° F and line a baking tray with a piece of baking paper. In a large bowl toss celeriac, with oil, paprika and salt, and pepper. Place the celeriac on the baking tray in a single layer and bake, turning occasionally, until brown and crisp on all sides, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle with more salt and serve immediately. Recipe from Rodalesorganiclife.com
ROASTED CELERIAC, POATATO AND MUSHROOM SOUP
3 ½ cups celery root (2 medium-size roots), trimmed, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes, 2 large baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch dice, 4 teaspoons salt, freshly ground pepper to taste, Olive oil spray, 5 Portobello mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced, 25 shiitake, mushrooms, stemmed and thinly sliced, 4 cups chicken broth), 3 teaspoons minced Italian parsley
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the celery root and potatoes in a roasting pan and toss with 2 teaspoons of the salt and pepper to taste. Spray lightly with the olive oil. Roast until tender, tossing from time to time, about 40 minutes. Spray a large, nonstick skillet lightly with olive oil and place over medium heat until hot. Add the mushrooms and sauté until browned and softened, about 5 minutes. Place the chicken broth in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Season with the remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Arrange the mushrooms in the center of 4 soup plates. Mound the celery root and potatoes over the mushrooms. Ladle the broth around the vegetables, sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately. Recipe from cookingnytimes.com
TWO-CELERY SOUP
1 medium celery root (celeriac), peeled and diced; 1 bunch celery, chopped coarsely; 3 leeks, sliced; 1/2 tsp thyme; 3 bay leaves; 4 sprigs parsley; 2 qts chicken broth; Salt and pepper, to taste; 1/4 c minced parsley and/or chives
Combine celery root, celery, leeks, thyme, bay leaves, parsley sprigs and broth in pot. Add salt and pepper. Bring almost to a boil, reduce heat, then simmer 25 minutes or until vegetables are soft. Adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot with a sprinkle of parsley and chives on top. Makes 8 servings
CELERY SALAD
1 bunch celery; 1 red onion, cut in 1-inch strips; 6 Tbsp vegetable oil; 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar; 1/2 tsp salt; Black pepper; 2 oz blue cheese, crumbled; 2 green onions, chopped; 1/4 c minced parsley
Cut celery crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. Put in bowl. Add red onions. In small bowl, combine remaining ingredients except parsley. Pour over celery and red onions. Toss. Top with parsley. Chill at least 4 hours and serve. Leftovers are great. Makes 6 servings Recipe from Farm-Fresh Recipes.
CELERY-FETA SALAD
6 oz feta cheese, crumbled; 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced; 1 small jar pimiento strips; 2 Tbsp fresh chopped thyme or oregano; 2 Tbsp vinaigrette-style salad dressing; Leaves of 1 small head leaf lettuce
Mix the feta with the celery, pimiento and chopped herbs. Sprinkle with the vinaigrette. Place lettuce leaves on four plates; top with feta and celery mixture. Recipe from Farm-Fresh Recipes. Makes 4 servings
CURRIED CELERY SOUP
2 teaspoons olive oil; 1 onion, chopped; 1 leek, washed and sliced; 1 1/2 pounds celery, chopped; 1 tablespoon medium or hot curry powder; 8 ounces potatoes, washed and diced; 3 3/4 cups vegetable stock; 1 bouquet garni; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mixed herbs; salt; celery seeds and leaves, to garnish
Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the onion, leek and celery, cover and cook gently for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the curry powder and cook for 2 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Add the potatoes, stock and bouquet garni, cover and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. Remove and discard the bouquet garni and set the soup aside to cool slightly. Puree in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add the mixed herbs, season to taste and process briefly. Return to the saucepan and reheat gently until piping hot. Ladle into soup bowls and garnish each with a sprinkling of celery seeds and some celery leaves. Serves 4-6 Recipe from Vegetarian the best ever recipe collection.
CARAMEL-LIME DRUMSTICKS WITH SHAVED CELERY SALAD
8 chicken drumsticks (about 2 1/2 pounds total), 1/4 tsp. salt, 1 lb. celery hearts, trimmed;
1 T extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tsp. lime zest, 2 T lime juice plus 1/4 C, divided
Caramel sauce: 2 T reduced-sodium tamari, 1/4 C light brown sugar, 1 T water, 2 T unsalted butter
Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 450 degrees F. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and coat both with cooking spray. Place chicken on the rack and sprinkle both sides with salt. Roast on the lower rack until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part without touching bone registers 165 degrees F, 20 to 25 minutes. Meanwhile, use a vegetable peeler to shave as much of the celery as you can into ribbons. Thinly slice any celery that can’t be shaved. Toss the celery in a large bowl with oil, lime zest and 2 tablespoons lime juice. Set aside. Preheat broiler to high. Brush the chicken with some of the caramel sauce. Broil on the upper rack until browned in spots, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve the chicken over the reserved celery salad with the remaining caramel sauce drizzled on top.
SUCCOTASH CHOWDER
½ medium potato, diced; ½ tbsp butter; 1 cup chopped onion; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 2 stalks celery, minced; ¾ tsp salt; 1 tsp basil; ¼ tsp thyme; 1 ½ cups corn; 1 cup cooked lima beans; 2 cups milk; pepper to taste
Cook the diced potato in boiling water until just tender. Drain well and set aside. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a kettle or Dutch oven. Add onion, garlic, celery, salt and herbs. Sauté over medium heat for about 10 minutes, or until the onion and celery are tender. Stir in the corn and sauté for another 10 minutes. Add the cooked lima beans. Add potato and milk. Season to taste with pepper and salt. Serve hot with minced fresh herbs. Serves 3
CELERY STUFFING
1 c. chopped onion; 2 c. finely chopped celery; 2/3 c. melted butter or margarine; 7 c. dry bread crumbs; 2 tsp. salt; 1/2 tsp. pepper; 1 1/2 tsp. rubbed sage; 1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning; l 1/3 c. milk; 1 1/4 c. turkey broth; 2 eggs, slightly beaten
Simmer onion and celery in butter until soft, but do not brown. Combine with bread -crumbs and seasonings. Add milk, broth and eggs; toss lightly to blend. Stuff loosely into cavities of bird. Makes 6 1/2 cups stuffing. Recipe from America’s Best Vegetable Recipes.
SPAGHETTI SQUASH “PASTA” WITH CARAMELIZED ONION SAUCE
¼ C olive oil; 2-3 large onions, thinly sliced; ¼ tsp salt; ½ C dry white wine;4 oz. Spicy greens, stemmed and minced; ½C crumbled feta or blue cheese; 1 spaghetti squash, cooked; ½ chopped walnuts; parmesan cheese
Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add onions and sauté over medium heat for about 15 minutes. Add salt, lower heat and continue to cook for at least another 10 minutes. Add white wine, turn heat back up to medium and simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes. Add the chopped greens, stir and cook for about 5 minutes. Stir in the crumbled cheese. Add the spaghetti squash strands to the sauce, stir briefly in the pan before serving. Sprinkle with walnuts and parmesan cheese. Serves 2-3
ITALIAN-STYLE SPAGHETTI SQUASH
1/2 medium spaghetti squash (about 1 1/2 lbs.), seeded; 2 Tbsp water; 1 (14 1/2-oz) can Italian style stewed tomatoes, drained; 1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
Place squash, cut side down, in a microwave-safe baking dish. Add water. Cover and microwave on high 10-14 minutes, or until tender. Using a towel or pot holder, hold squash on its side in dish. With other hand, use fork to shred pulp into strands into the dish. Add tomatoes, toss. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and serve.
SPAGHETTI SQUASH SALAD
1 spaghetti squash, 1 large onion; finely chopped, ½ c sugar, 1 c diced celery, ½ c chopped sweet red pepper. ½ c chopped green pepper, ½ c oil, ¼ c vinegar, ½ t salt
Cut squash in half; scoop out seeds. Place squash cut side down, in a baking pan. Fill pan with hot water to a depth of ½ inch. Bake uncovered, at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until tender. When cool enough to handle, scoop out the squash, separating strand with a fork. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl; add the squash and stir well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve with a slotted spoon as a salad or as a relish with burgers and hotdogs. Store in the refrigerator. Recipe from Taste of Home
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.
EASY BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP
2 T butter or olive oil, 3-4 cloves garlic, mashed with side of thick knife, 1/2-1 C chopped onion, 2 1/2-3 lbs. butternut squash, halved, seeded, and baked until soft, 4 C chicken stock or 2 bouillon cubes dissolved in 4 cups hot water, 1 bay leaf, pinch of sugar, 1/2 t or more curry powder, pinch of nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, 2 cups milk (low-fat or skim)
Heat butter or olive oil in large saucepan over medium flame. Add garlic and onions; cook, stirring often, 7-10 minutes. Puree the cooked squash in a food processor and stir into onion mixture. Stir in stock, bay leaf, sugar, curry powder, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Simmer 20-30 minutes. Remove bay leaf. Add the milk; heat but don’t boil. This is adapted from The Complete Book of Soups and Stews, by Bernard Clayton. Serves 6; Recipe from Linda Taylor, Good Earth Farm
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
PENNE WITH BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND BACON
3 cups fresh butternut squash or Pumpkin, peeled and cubed; 1 onion, cubed; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1/4-pound bacon, cubed; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 clove garlic, minced; Fresh rosemary; 1 box (13 ounces) whole grain or regular penne; Fresh parsley; 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
Cook in boiling salted water to cover until it is just tender. Drain and place half of the squash into a food processor with a little salt and pepper. Puree. Cook bacon in a large skillet until it’s just golden. Remove from skillet and drain. Wipe out the skillet and add a few drops of olive oil. Place onion and remaining ‘squash in the skillet and cook just until the onion turns golden. Add garlic and rosemary. Heat through. Add the squash puree. In the meantime, cook the penne until it is tender. Drain, reserving some of the water, add penne to the squash mixture adding a little of the reserved water if the sauce seems too thick. Serve immediately, drizzling a little of the balsamic vinegar over the top. Garnish with parsley. Recipe from Barilla chef Nicola Bindini.
STUFFED SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH SAUSAGE AND SPINACH
1 large spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise, seeded (4 1/2 lb.), 2 T olive oil, 1 lb. bulk mild Italian sausage,
1 cup chopped onions, 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 3/4 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 bag (5 oz) baby spinach, 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (6 oz), ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese (3 oz), ½ cup plain panko crispy bread crumbs
Heat oven to 400°F. Line large rimmed baking sheet with cooking parchment paper; spray with cooking spray. Place both squash halves cut side down on baking sheet. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until tender. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage, onions and garlic; cook and stir 5 to 7 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink. Reduce heat to medium; add flour, salt, pepper, pepper flakes and nutmeg. Cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually add spinach. Cook and stir just until spinach is wilted. Stir in whipping cream. Heat to boiling; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or just until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in mozzarella and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese until melted. When squash is cool enough to handle, use fork to remove squash strands from shells, leaving shells intact. Mix squash strands into sausage mixture. Spoon filling into both squash shell halves. Arrange filled squash halves on same baking sheet. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly around edges and heated through. Let stand 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in 8-inch skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add bread crumbs; stir to coat. Cook and stir about 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to small bowl; mix with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over squash halves, and serve.
FAJITA-STUFFED SPAGHETTI SQUASH
1 medium spaghetti squash (2 to 2 1/2 lb.), 1 teaspoon vegetable or olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ lb. extra-lean ground beef (at least 90% lean), 1 medium serrano Chile, seeded and finely chopped (about 2 teaspoons), 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic, ¾ cup sliced red, yellow or orange bell pepper, ¾ cup sliced onions, 1package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ original taco seasoning mix, 2/3 cup water, ¾ cup shredded Cheddar cheese (3 oz) ½ cup chopped tomato, ½ cup diced avocado
Heat oven to 400°F. Line rimmed baking pan with foil. Cut squash in half lengthwise; remove seeds, and brush insides with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place cut sides down in pan. Roast 35 to 40 minutes or until squash is tender. When squash is cool enough to handle, scoop flesh into bowl, and reserve squash shells on lined pan. Meanwhile, heat 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Cook beef with Chile and garlic 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is thoroughly cooked; remove and reserve. Heat same skillet over medium heat, and add bell pepper and onions; cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is just starting to soften. Add beef mixture, squash flesh, taco seasoning mix and water to skillet. Cook until well blended and heated through, stirring frequently. Stir in cheese; spoon mixture back into squash shells. Bake 5 to 6 minutes or until cheese is melted. Top with tomato and avocado.