Winter Share Three December 13th 2018
Important information:
- Don’t miss the two refrigerator magnets with distribution dates in your share box.
- There is no distribution in two weeks, the next scheduled distribution is January 10th.
- MAP site members: distribution is at their new location; 387 Massachusetts Ave. There is a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house with tours from 10:30-3 pm this Thursday the 13th.
- Box returns are appreciated!
Farm News from Jane
The snow and cold continues to the norm for our very early winter season. Hopefully we’ll still have some snow on Christmas for the “kid” in all of us. The kids have been enjoying the snow and cold this past month. Some have practiced skiing in their “yard” and some have found a hill big enough to sled down; slippery snow is the best! And of course, snowballs and snowmen never lose their attraction! New winter boots have already been broken in and a few mittens lost. Did you see the dog with something in its mouth??? We are almost at the darkest days of the year as we will fall below nine hours daylight by the solstice on the 21st. The plants in the greenhouses will grow extremely slowly or go dormant until we receive a minimum of ten hours of daylight again. This happens in February and by the end of March at the end of sugaring season we’ll find some garlic peeking through. So, fear not the darkest day is almost here and soon we will be gaining sunshine again or at least daylight!
We have quite a full and beautiful selection of veggies this week plus a few “extras”; garlic powder and CSA magnets. But it doesn’t get any better than fresh picked greens in December! Although our autumn harvest was cut a bit short by the below average cold and snow (say augh to not enough Brussels sprouts) we do have fresh spinach and Asian greens picked just yesterday and today. The spinach is very deep green and they are sweet and tender. The Asian greens have a nice “bite” and are also tender. Because they are not exposed to the weather much and are watered from the bottom of the plants, they are clean and not tough. It certainly has been an easier autumn to regulate the cooler temperatures. We have five different coolers to regulate for temperature and moisture. We are thankful for the more consistent cold outdoor temperatures for cooler control maintenance. We’ve increased the amount of potatoes and carrots to help get you through our CSA holiday hiatus. We hope that everyone will be able to enjoy sharing a meal with someone you love over these more peaceful and quieter days ahead. For now, enjoy whatever you are putting your hand to: preparing, decorating, celebrating or relaxing, reading or meditating. Congratulations to those new moms and their sweet baby girls, Lennon and Josie. GOD is GOOD! Blessings from all of us, Jane
Produce: Fresh picked Spinach & Asian greens 5# Keuka Gold potatoes Celeriac
Cooking onions Garlic 3# Golden beets 2 Carnival squash 2 Butternut squash
5# Colorful Carrots Green cabbage
And our own dehydrated Garlic powder courtesy of one of our members; powerful good!
Produce tips:
– Carrots include, orange, yellow, red and purple; what a beautiful holiday crudité presentation! Let us know what you think, are the flavors different from one color to the next?
– There are several varieties of Asian greens which we harvested; eventually you’ll try them all. They vary in flavor and texture. Try them fresh mixed with other salad greens, sautéed or stir-fried. If you are adventurous you may even add them to your sandwich; just like lettuce or even watercress!
– Celeriac is a great addition to soups or in mashed with potatoes; especially for a special holiday dish. Peel first with a sharp paring knife. They look a bit daunted but they add lots of flavor.
– The butternut squash is dehydrating a bit; don’t mind the wrinkles there are sweeter than ever!
Recipes
WARM GOLDEN BEET SALAD WITH GREENS AND ALMONDS 1 bunch beets, both tops and roots, olive oil, Salt and freshly ground black pepper, 4 cloves garlic, minced, 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled, 2/3 cup toasted almond slivers.
Heat the oven to 425°F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan or cake tin with a big square of foil, large enough to complete enclose the beet roots. Lightly rinse the beet roots to remove any really clumpy dirt and pat them dry. Place them in the foil square and lightly drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Fold up the foil and crease to seal. Bake the beets for 60 minutes or until they can be just pierced with a fork. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile, chop the beet greens into bite-size ribbons. Discard the stalks between the roots and where the leaves start, but chop the leaf ribs along with the leaves. Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of dirt and grit. In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat and add the garlic. Cook on low for about 5 minutes or until the garlic is golden and fragrant. Add the chopped leaves and stir to coat with the garlic. Cook on medium-low for about 10 minutes or until the leaves are soft and tender. Remove from the heat. When the beets are cool, rub them with a paper towel to remove the skin. Then chop into bite sized pieces and toss with the cooked greens, goat cheese, and almonds. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or cold. (This also makes an excellent pressed sandwich filling, especially with some extra goat cheese.)
BEETS, ORANGES, AND RASPBERRY SAUCE
1-pound beets, scrubbed; 1-2 oranges; 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar; 1-2; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon grated gingerroot (optional); 1/2 teaspoon salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place beets (in their skins) in a baking dish and cover with foil. Roast beets until tender, about 35-55 minutes, depending on their size. When cool, peel, slice thinly, and place them in a bowl. Peel the oranges and cut in half. Place flat sides down on cutting board and slice each into about 4 wedges. Remove seeds from orange slices before adding to beets. Make vinaigrette out of the remaining ingredients: mash garlic with the salt, add vinegar, and whisk in olive oil. Stir in grated gingerroot, if using. Toss with beets and oranges. You can serve this immediately, but it’s best if allowed to chill and mellow. This dish was inspired by recipes in Mollie Katzen’s Vegetable Heaven and Renee Shepherd’s Recipes from a Kitchen Garden. Makes 4-6 servings.
FRIED BEETS AND CARROTS
2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 teaspoons cumin seeds; 2 medium beets, quartered, sliced 1/4-inch thick; 2 medium carrots, sliced 1/4-inch thick; tamari sauce; greens
Heat olive oil in skillet. Add cumin; cook about 1 minute. Add beets and carrots; fry until tender. Remove from heat, sprinkle on a little tamari, and serve. Variation: If using young beets save the tops. When the beets and carrots are tender, add chopped greens, cover, and cook until soft. Toss mixture, sprinkle with tamari, and serve. Makes 2-4 servings. Recipe from Linda Derrickson, Sunporch Cafe
AUTUMN BEET AND VEGETABLE SALAD WITH CHEESE AND NUTS
Dressing: 1/3 cup minced onions; 5 tablespoons cider vinegar; 3-4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley; 11/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard; 1/2 cup olive oil; salt and pepper to taste
Salad: 2 cups cooked, diced yellow or red beets; 1 1/2 cups blanched, diced carrots; 1 1/2 cups cooked, diced waxy-type potatoes; 1 cup diced roasted red peppers; 11/2 cups diced Jonathan apples; 4-6 ounces cheese, crumbled; 2/3 cup nuts, toasted 6-8 minutes at 350 degrees
Make dressing: Combine onions, vinegar, basil or parsley, and mustard. Whisk in olive oil in a thin stream. Season with salt and pepper. To assemble the salad, toss each type of vegetable and the apples, one type at a time, with enough dressing to barely coat them. Arrange in separate piles in a wide, shallow bowl. Serve at room temperature. Just before serving, sprinkle salad with cheese and nuts, add more salt and pepper to taste, and toss gently. The original recipe calls for blue cheese and hickory nuts, but other nuts and cheeses can be used according to your preference. Makes 8-12 servings. Recipe from MACSAC
DICED BEETS WITH ORANGE ZEST AND YOGURT SAUCE
1/2 lb. beets, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes; 1/8 cup cider vinegar; zest of 1 orange, grated (about 1 tbsp.); 1/8tsp. ground mace; 1/8 tsp. ground cloves; 1/8 tsp. salt; freshly ground black pepper; 1/8 cup plain low-fat yogurt; 1 tbsp. fresh orange juice; 1/2 tsp. honey
Preheat the oven to 3750 F. In an 11/2-quart ovenproof casserole with a lid, combine the beets, vinegar, 1/4 cup of water, orange zest, mace, cloves, salt and pepper. Bake the beet mixture, covered, for one hour. Meanwhile, to make the sauce, mix together the yogurt and orange juice in a small bowl. Refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve. Remove the beets from the oven and stir in the honey. Serve immediately, topped with the yogurt sauce. Serves 2
ORANGE-GINGER BEETS
1/2-pound beets, cooked; 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger; 1/2 tsp grated orange rind or 1/4 tsp ground ginger; 1/3 cup orange juice; Salt and freshly ground pepper; 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice to taste; 1/2 tbsp cornstarch; 1/2 tbsp butter or margarine; 1 tsp sugar; Grated orange rind for garnish
Cut cooked beets in julienne strips; set aside. In small bowl mix orange rind and juice, lemon juice, cornstarch, sugar, ginger, salt, and pepper to taste. Melt butter or margarine in saucepan; add orange juice mixture. Stir over medium heat until mixture boils; reduce heat. Add beets and return to boil again. Remove and serve with sprinkling of grated orange rind for an extra touch. Serves 2
ORANGE BORSCHT
4 medium-size beets peeled and coarsely grated; 5 cups beef stock; salt; freshly ground black pepper to taste; 2 cups tomato juice; 2 1/2 cups orange juice; yogurt; chopped chives
Bring grated beets to a boil in beef stock which has been seasoned to taste with salt and pepper. Turn down heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Add tomato juice. Puree mixture in electric blender, then add orange juice, mixing well to combine. Refrigerate for several hours. Serve with a dollop of yogurt and chopped chives. Yield: approximately 10 cups
BEET AND CELERIAC CASSEROLE
12 ounces raw beets; 12 ounces raw celeriac; 4 sprigs of fresh thyme, chopped; 6 juniper berries, crushed; 1/2 cup fresh orange juice; 1/2 cup vegetable stock; salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Peel and slice the beets very finely. Quarter and peel the celeriac and slice very finely. Fill a l0-inch cast-iron ovenproof or flameproof frying pan with alternate layers of beet and celeriac slices, sprinkling with thyme, juniper and salt and pepper between each layer. Mix the orange juice and stock together and pour over the gratin. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Cover with foil and place in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove the foil and raise the oven temperature to 400°F. Cook for another 10 minutes. Serves 6 Recipe from Vegetarian the best ever recipe collection.
“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.
CELERY ROOT AU GRATIN
3lbs. celery root; salt; 1-1/2 cups cooking liquid; 1/2 cup butter; 6 tbs. flour; cayenne pepper; 1 cup (1/2 pt.) whipping cream; 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese; dry mustard; 1/4 cup soft bread crumbs
Peel and dice celery root. Put cubes in water with a little lemon juice added to prevent darkening. When ready to cook, drain and place in saucepan with enough water to cover and a little salt. Bring to boil. Cook about 20 minutes, or until barely tender. Strain cooking liquid and reserve 1-1/2 cups. Drain cooked celery root very well. Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a saucepan. Remove pan from heat and stir in flour. Add salt and cayenne pepper to taste. Combine cream and reserved liquid. Blend with butter and flour. Return to heat and stir until sauce boils. Add 1/2 cup cheese and a pinch of mustard. Stir over medium heat 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add celery root. Mix well and turn into a large flat casserole. Sprinkle heavily with crumbs, remaining cheese and butter. Bake in 350°F oven 30 minutes. Makes 6 servings. Recipe from the Fresh Vegetable Cookbook.
HOT CELERY ROOT PUREE ON A BED OF WATERCRESS *(substitute Asian greens)
11/2 pounds celery root; 1 Tbsps. butter; 2-3 Tbsps. cream; salt and freshly ground black pepper; 1/2 cup fresh shelled walnuts; bunch of watercress (about 3 cups); 3 Tbsps. walnut oil; 1 Tbsps. red wine vinegar
Peel the celery root, then cut it into even-sized chunks. Put them into a saucepan, cover with water, and boil for about 15 minutes, or until the chunks are tender when pierced with a knife. Drain – the water makes a superb stock, I always save it then mash the celery root with the butter, cream and salt and pepper to taste. While the celery root is cooking, chop the walnuts roughly, then wash the watercress and remove any tough stems. Mix the oil, vinegar and some salt and pepper in a bowl, add the watercress and mix. To serve, divide the watercress between four plates, put a mound of the celery root on top and sprinkle with the walnuts. SERVES 4. Recipe from Vegetarian Four Seasons.
VEGETABLE GOULASH
2 pounds white root vegetables: turnips, kohlrabi, celery root, parsnips; 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 1/2 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.
CELERIAC (CELERY ROOT) SALAD
2 medium firm celeriac; 2 tbsps. lemon juice; 4 hard-cooked eggs; 1/4 c. chopped onion; 1 T minced parsley; 1/8 tsp. pepper; 4 to 5 T. mayonnaise or salad dressing; Salt to taste; Pimiento-stuffed olives; Paprika
Peel celery roots, cutting away fibrous roots at bottom and any adhering top growth. Cut in halves; cook in boiling salted water to cover, with 1 tsp. lemon juice added, until tender, 20 to 30 minutes for halves, about 40 to 60 minutes for whole roots. Drain; cut in cubes, place in bowl and add remaining lemon juice (or French salad dressing) to help keep it white instead of turning gray. When celery roots are cool, add 3 diced hard-cooked eggs, onion, parsley, pepper and mayonnaise. Add more salt, if needed. Mix well; turn into serving bowl. Garnish with slices of hard-cooked egg and olives and sprinkle with paprika. Chill 1 hour, or several hours, before serving. Makes 6 to 8 servings. Recipe from America’s Best Vegetable Recipes.
BRAISED ROOT VEGETABLES
1T 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.
CELERY ROOT AND WILD RICE CHOWDER
1/2 cup wild rice; 1 celery root (about 1 pound); 2 large leeks, white parts only; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 celery rib, diced; 1 cup thinly sliced russet potato; 1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus extra for garnish; 1 bay leaf; 1 large thyme sprig; sea salt and freshly ground pepper; 2 cups Vegetable Stock, chicken stock, or water; 2 cups half-and-half or milk truffle oil, optional
Cover the wild rice with 5 cups water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer for about 45 minutes or until tender. Thickly cut away the celery root skins, then quarter and chop the root into bite-sized pieces. You should have about 3 cups. Chop and wash the leeks. Melt the butter in a soup pot. Add the vegetables, parsley, bay leaf, thyme, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, then add the stock. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the half-and-half and simmer until the vegetables are tender. Taste for salt and season with pepper. To give the soup a creamy background, puree a cup of the vegetables and return them to the pot. If the soup is too thick, thin it with some of the rice water or additional stock. Divide the soup among 4 or 6 bowls and then add a mound of the wild rice to each. Garnish each bowl with parsley and a drop of truffle oil, if using, and serve. Serves 4-6 Recipe from: Local Flavors.
CELERIAC & WALNUT TACOS
½ cup walnuts, 8 ounces celeriac (celery root), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces, 2 tablespoons corn oil, 1 clove garlic, finely chopped, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ¾ teaspoon ground cumin, ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt plus a pinch, divided, ⅛ teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ cup water, ½ cup julienned peeled jicama and/or radishes, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 8 corn tortillas, warmed, 1 ripe avocado, sliced, ½ cup fresh salsa or Pico de Gallo, ¼ cup fresh cilantro
Toast walnuts in a medium skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Pulse in a food processor to coarsely chop. Transfer to a small bowl. Pulse celeriac in the food processor until chopped into ¼-inch pieces. Heat oil in the pan over medium heat. Add the celeriac and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the walnuts and garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add chili powder, cumin, crushed red pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt, onion powder and oregano; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add water and simmer until mostly absorbed but still saucy, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and cover to keep warm. Mix jicama (and/or radishes) with lime juice and the remaining pinch of salt. Serve the celeriac mixture in tortillas topped with the jicama (and/or radishes), avocado, salsa (or Pico de Gallo) and cilantro.
Recipe from Eatingwell.com
STUFFED CABBAGE SOUP
1 lb. extra lean ground beef I used 96% lean, 1 medium yellow onion chopped, 3 garlic cloves minced, 5 cups chopped green cabbage about half of a medium sized head, 4 cups 32 oz. low-sodium beef broth, 3 cups tomato sauce (24 oz.), 1 cup shredded carrots, 1/2 cup uncooked white or brown long grain rice, 2 dried bay leaves, 3 tbsp. packed brown sugar, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves, 1/2 tsp. ground black , pepper, 1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice
In a large soup pot, add the beef and place over medium-high heat. Break it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the onion. Cook about 8 minutes until the beef is brown, stirring occasionally. Add the garlic. Stir and cook 1 minute. Add the cabbage, beef broth, tomato sauce, carrots, rice, bay leaves, brown sugar, salt, oregano, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to simmer and cover the pot. Cook until rice is tender (25 minutes for white rice and 45 minutes for brown rice). Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in the lemon juice. Let the soup rest uncovered for 10 minutes to thicken up before serving. Remove the bay leaves before serving. Recipe from thewholesomedish.com
CRUNCHY WINTER SLAW WITH ASIAN PEAR AND MANCHEGO
1/3 C raw pumpkin seeds, 1 t plus ¼ C olive oil, salt and pepper, 3 T fresh lemon juice, 1 T Dijon mustard, 2 t maple syrup, 4 C very thinly sliced green cabbage or fennel, 1 ½ C matchstick Asian pear, 1 ½ C matchstick peeled celery root (from about ¼ small) or celery, 3 oz Manchego cheese, shaved, divided
Preheat oven to 3500. Toss pumpkin seeds and 1 t olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Bake about 5 minutes; let cool. Finely chop 2 T pumpkin seeds. Whisk chopped pumpkin seeds, lemon juice, mustard, maple syrup, and remaining ¼ C olive oil in a medium bowl; season dressing with salt and pepper. Combine cabbage and or fennel, Asian pears, celery root, daikon, most of the Manchego, and remaining pumpkin seeds in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over top and toss to combine; season with salt and pepper. Top with remaining Manchego
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
IRISH CABBAGE AND BACON
12 strips bacon or other pork equivalent, 1 medium head of cabbage, chopped, 6 cloves garlic; chopped, 2 carrots; chopped, 1-pound potatoes; chopped, Dijon mustard
Add bacon to a pan that will hold all ingredients and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil and add cabbage, potatoes, and garlic; cook until vegetables are tender. Drain most of liquid except about a cup and set into serving dish. While vegetables are boiling, sauté onions in butter or oil on medium heat until browned and caramelized. Set atop cabbage mix and serve with hot, spicy mustard! Yum!
Serves 4 – 6 Recipe from Red Fire Farm
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.
ASIAN SPINACH SALAD
1 lb. fresh spinach, washed and trimmed; 1 Tbsp soy sauce; 1 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil; 1 Tbsp sesame seeds, toasted; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tsp sugar; 1 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.
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.
WINTER SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
1 small winter squash, 1-3 teaspoons butter or olive oil, 1 cup cranberries (fresh or frozen), 2-3 tablespoons raspberry jam or puree
Peel winter squash, chop flesh into 1/2- to 1-inch cubes, and steam over boiling water until soft but not mushy. Heat butter or olive oil in heavy skillet over medium flame. Toss in cranberries and stir frequently until they soften. Mash in skillet with fork or potato masher. Stir in jam. When squash is done, toss it with the cranberry mixture, Makes 4-8 servings. Recipe from Linda Taylor, Good Earth Farm
ARABIAN SQUASH CHEESE CASSEROLE
2 medium-large Acorn or carnival squash; 1 cup onion; 2-3 cloves crushed garlic; 1 cup red or green pepper, chopped; 3 Tbsp butter; 1 tsp salt; 2 beaten eggs; 1 cup buttermilk or yogurt; l/4 cup sunflower seeds; 1 cup crumbled feta
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cook squash for 35 minutes or until soft. Scoop out and mash squash. Sauté onion and garlic in butter and salt, when the onion is translucent add the chopped peppers. Sauté until just done. Beat eggs with buttermilk. Crumble in the feta cheese. Combine everything and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread in butter casserole or baking pan. Top with sunflower seeds. Bake at 375 for 25 minutes covered and then 10 minutes uncovered.
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 adapted from Barilla chef Nicola Bindini.
WINTER SQUASH-PECAN STUFFING
3 Cups dry bread crumbs; 1/3 Cup hot water; 1 Cup cooked Winter Squash; 1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped; 3 Ribs celery, finely chopped; 1 Cup chopped pecans; 2 Tbsp butter; 1 Tsp poultry seasoning; 1/4 Tsp salt; 1 Egg, beaten
Place the bread crumbs in a large bowl and sprinkle with the hot water. Stir in the squash puree. Sauté the onion, celery and pecans in the hot I butter. Add the poultry seasoning and stir the vegetables thoroughly into the crumb mixture. Season with salt and stir in the egg. May use the cavity of the squash as a serving dish! Yield: about 6 cups
SWEET ‘N’ SPICY SQUASH CAKE
3 Cups all-purpose flour; 2 ½ Tsp baking powder; 1 ¼ Tsp baking soda; 1/2 Tsp each ground allspice, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg; 10 Tablespoons butter, cut in small pieces; 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar; 1/2 Cup light brown sugar; 2 Eggs; 1/2 Cup milk; 1/4 Cup orange juice; 3/4 Cup cooked Winter Squash; 1 Tsp vanilla extract; Butter-Cream Icing
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices. Place the butter in a mixing bowl, sprinkle in the sugars and beat until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Mix together the milk and orange juice; let stand for 5 minutes, and then stir in the squash puree and vanilla extract. Add the milk and squash mixture to the creamed butter alternately with the sifted dry ingredients, a little of each at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Spoon the batter into a greased and floured tube pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes; the cake is done when it springs back after pressing lightly with the fingers. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and allow to cool to room temperature before frosting. Yield: enough to serve 10-12
BAKED SWEET DUMPLING SQUASH or Carnival Squash
1 sweet dumpling squash; 3 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup chopped bacon; 1 garlic clove, crushed; ¼ cup thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes; 1 tbsp chopped sage; ¼ cup mascarpone cheese; 3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese; salt and pepper
Cut the sweet dumpling in half. Scoop out the seeds and fibers. Place the squash in a roasting pan. Brush the inside of the squash with 2 tablespoons of the oil and season with salt and plenty of black pepper. Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F for 20 minutes until softened and beginning to brown. Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil and fry the pancetta or bacon until crisp and golden. Add the garlic, tomatoes, and sage and cook for 2 minutes. Pile the mixture into the squash shells. Spoon on the mascarpone and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese. Return to the oven for a further 20 minutes. Serve hot with crusty bread and a leafy salad. Serves 2
SUMMER GREENS AND POTATO FRY-UP
1 tablespoon butter; 1/2 teaspoon dried ground thyme; 1 teaspoon chili oil (or substitute vegetable oil with a little crushed red pepper); 3/4 cup cooked sweet corn; 3 sprigs fresh oregano, torn up (or other fresh herbs except mint); 1 baking potato, or 3-4 small red potatoes, thin-sliced; 1 leek or small onion, finely chopped; 1/2 teaspoon paprika; salt and pepper; grated Parmesan (optional); 1/2 pound fresh spinach, chard or other mild-flavored greens, washed and stemmed
Heat butter and chili oil in large nonstick skillet over medium flame. Add potatoes and leeks or onions, and season well with salt and pepper. (You may also partially cook the potatoes first in salted water until nearly tender before frying them.) Let the potatoes brown lightly in the pan on one side for several minutes. Toss potatoes, season with more salt and pepper, and let them brown lightly again. When potatoes are almost tender, toss in greens and thyme, then add a little less than 1/4 cup water, cover the pan, and raise heat to high. Let steam until greens are nearly done, 1-2 minutes. Uncover, add corn, oregano, and paprika, and allow potatoes to finish cooking and browning. Season to taste and top with Parmesan, if desired. Serve with fried eggs if you like. Makes 2-4 servings. Recipe from Morn Rosenbloom
PAN-COOKED SUMMER GREENS
1 to 2 bunches greens, washed, dried and cut into thin strips; 1 tbsp olive oil; 3 bunching onions, diced; 2 medium garlic cloves, peeled and minced; 2 tbsp soy sauce; Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Steam greens until bright, 2-3 minutes. Drain. Immediately immerse the greens in a bowl of ice water for 30 seconds and drain again. Set the cooled greens aside. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 7 minutes, stirring frequently. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring continuously. Add the greens and toss gently to combine well. Continue to cook for 3 to 5 minutes, depending on the amount of greens. Add soy sauce, and salt and pepper to taste. Gently toss ingredients and cook for 1 to 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat and serve at once. You can also add zucchini and yellow squash to this recipe. Cut then into bite sized pieces and cook with onions. 2-4 Servings
HOT BEET & CARROT SLAW
2 T butter, 1 large clove garlic, 2 beets; fist sized, 1 medium carrot, ¾ C orange juice, salt and pepper
Prepare beets and carrots by peeling and grating. Crush and finely chop garlic. Sauté garlic in butter for 2 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook 5-8 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
BROWN SUGAR OR MAPLE GLAZED CARROT OR PARSNIPS
1 lb. medium carrots or parsnips, 1T butter, 1T brown sugar or maple syrup
Cut the carrots or parsnips in half, both crosswise and lengthwise or in bite sized pieces.
In a medium saucepan cook the carrots or parsnips, covered, in a small amount of boiling salted, water for 8-10 minutes or until crisp tender. Drain; remove from pan. In the same pan combine the butter, brown sugar or maple syrup and dash of salt. Cook and stir over medium heat until combined. Add carrots or parsnips. Cook, uncovered about 2 minutes or until glazed, stirring frequently. Season to taste with black pepper.
TANGERINE & ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH FETA AND PISTACHIOS
2 medium beets, trimmed, 4 C chopped greens, 8 tangerines or Clementine’s, 1 T sherry vinegar, ¼ t kosher salt, divided, ground pepper to taste, 6 t extra virgin olive oil 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 1+1/4 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 greens, 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
CURRIED CARROT AND SWEET POTATO SOUP
2 tablespoons olive oil; 3-4 carrots, peeled, ends removed, and cut into small pieces; 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 small onion, peeled and chopped; 1 garlic clove, peeled and minced; 2 tablespoons sweet curry powder; 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water, or as needed; 1/4 cup orange juice; Salt and freshly ground black pepper; Chopped chives
Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the carrots, sweet potatoes, onion, and garlic. Sauté until vegetables are tender and onions are translucent, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the curry powder and continue to cook for 1 minute. Add vegetable broth to cover the vegetables and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the carrots and potatoes are fork tender, approximately 15 minutes. Remove from heat and puree the mixture with a handheld blender, or transfer mixture to a blender or food processor in batches if necessary, and puree until texture is smooth. If the mixture is too thick, add more broth or water. Transfer puree back to stock pot if necessary, and slowly whisk in orange juice. Heat through, and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into soup bowls, and garnish with chives to taste. Note: If you want to serve the soup cold, chill and top with crème fraiche or yogurt.
4-6 servings Recipe from Kristina Creighton.
ROOT VEGETABLE CHIPS
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally 1/4-inch-thick; 2 medium parsnips, peeled and sliced diagonally 1/4-inch-thick; 1 small sweet potato, sliced 1/4-inch-thick; 1 medium red-skinned potato, sliced 1/4-inch-thick; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preheat the broiler. Grease a baking sheet. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the vegetables, reduce the heat, and simmer for 3 minutes. Drain in a colander and let cool slightly. Transfer the vegetables to a large bowl. Add the olive oil, cornmeal, salt, and pepper, and toss to coat. Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet. Broil until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Serve warm.
Serves 4-6; Recipe from The Big Book of Vegetarian.
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
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.