Winter Share Twelve May 2nd 2019

Important information:

• This is the final winter share; please bring all accumulated boxes to your distribution site. This week’s share box may be returned at the first summer distribution later this month if you would like.
• The first summer share date is not set as it depends when the rhubarb and asparagus emerge and are in abundance to harvest. We will let you know in a few weeks how things are “shaping up”!
• We still have room for more summer and tree fruit shares.

Farm News from Jane
Some of us may be happy and some may be sad but like it or not; the end of the roots has come. If you have been accumulating a few onions, garlic or potatoes and have left them out in the kitchen they are showing their sprouts by now. It is always so intriguing to watch the vegetables come out of their dormant stage and begin to grow again. Hotel Henry (one of the restaurants we partner with) has lovely bulb forcing vases decorating their tables. In these vases they have rooted beets, cabbage and radishes. What a great idea to welcome the new season; something that’s alive and growing is also so beautiful. And yes, we had a delicious brunch there with great service. So good-bye to the roots for now and hello to lots of fresh greens…
Some of the seedlings we planted in the high tunnel last fall are reaching maturity and are now beginning to produce flowers for seed. Other plants like the ones in the root category, if left in the ground (or forced inside) will also begin to spout leaves and then produce flowers and seeds in their second year of growth. Perhaps if you have grown garlic and some were left unharvested you have witnessed this process. These vegetables are called biennial or bi-annuals and include carrots, potatoes, onions, parsley, turnips, radishes, celeriac and rutabaga.
Hopefully you have enjoyed the tremendous spinach harvest as much as we have this season. We have harvested over 1500 pounds to date. Thank goodness for the great working conditions in the high tunnel; no matter what the weather is like we are able to work protected from the weather!
We are very thankful for the great abundance of crops this winter and we hope that you will join us again next winter; thanks for all your support! And for those of you who will be continuing with us into the summer share season we finally began planting seedlings outside last week; lettuce and fennel were the first to go “out”. And while we were transplanting, we watched an eagle dive for fish in the farm pond! What a site… Spring brings new life and the cycle begins anew. Blessings from all of our family, Jane, Daniel & Ben

Produce:   Spinach   Asian greens   Swiss chard   Onion medley   Rutabaga
Red and Chioggia Beet medley   Garlic powder   Keuka Gold potatoes  

Produce tips:
-The garlic powder is quite potent and of course has many nutritional benefits. It helps to be able to “sneak” it in for those family members who don’t like the bits of garlic in their food!
– Asian greens can be used fresh or lightly sautéed. They have a nice spicy flavor and are good in breakfast egg dishes as well. Try mixing a variety of greens for color, flavor, and nutrition!
– Swiss chard: Slice the leaves from the stalks then sauté stalks first for a few minutes before adding leaves.

Recipes
SWISS CHARD QUICHE
1 lb. Swiss chard or spinach, cook and drain thoroughly; 4 eggs, beaten; 1 cup milk; 1 cup Swiss cheese shredded; 1 cup bread cubed; 1/2 cup sliced green onions; 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated. Combine all ingredients with cooked greens. Pour into 2-quart baking dish. Cover and bake in 375degree oven until set, 25-30 min.

SWISS CHARD BREAKFAST BURRITOS
approximately 3 cups cooked and seasoned Swiss chard*; 2 cups milk; 1 tablespoon flour; 6-8 flour tortillas; 1 teaspoon mustard powder; 2-3 cups shredded cheese (like cheddar or Swiss), divided; salsa; sour cream; 4 eggs, beaten
Oil a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Divide cooked chard down center of tortillas. Sprinkle each pile of chard with 3 tablespoons cheese. Roll up tortillas and place seam side down in prepared pan. Mix eggs, milk, flour, and mustard powder. Pour over tortillas. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight. The next day, let burritos come to room temperature. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until eggs are set, about 45 minutes. Sprinkle remaining cheese of). Top and cover for last 5 minutes of baking. Serve with salsa and sour cream. This recipe can be adapted to use a variety of seasonal vegetables. Makes 4-6 servings. *It’s best to start by sautéing some onions and garlic; then add Swiss chard, cook it, and season it with salt, peppers, and fresh herbs (dill is delicious).

SWISS CHARD OMELET WITH MIDDLE EASTERN SAVOR
For each omelet: 1-2 teaspoons olive oil; 3 eggs, beaten; 1/2 cup chopped, cooked chard leaves and/or stems, warm or at room temperature; 1 tablespoon currants; 1 tablespoon finely chopped kalamata olives; I tablespoon toasted pine nuts; lemon juice; sea salt and freshly ground black pepper; herb sprig (rosemary, thyme, sage, etc.)
Heat olive oil in small nonstick skillet over high flame. Add beaten eggs-they will immediately begin to set on bottom of pan. With a spatula or nonstick egg lifter, pull the cooked egg from outer edges of pan toward center. The uncooked egg will spread and cook. Use spatula to help spread the liquid egg off top of cooked egg and onto exposed sections of pan bottom. Continue to do this until nearly all the liquid egg is set. Reduce heat to very low. The egg will continue to cook as you layer the following across the omelet: chard, currants, olives, and pine nuts. Sprinkle with a few drops of lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. To serve, hold a plate close to the edge of skillet and, shaking skillet slightly, slip omelet onto the plate, either rolling it into a cigar shape or folding it over into a half-moon. Serve immediately. (Or, since this entire process takes only 2-3 minutes, you can keep the omelet warm in the oven while you make more of them.) Garnish with an herb sprig. Makes 1 serving. *This is best if the chard has been cooked with garlic and onions. Recipe from MACSAC

ASIAN-STYLE CHARD
1 bunch Swiss chard, cleaned; 1 tablespoon peanut oil; 1 tablespoon minced garlic scapes; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; freshly ground black pepper
Cut off and discard thick stem ends of chard. Cut out ribs; chop ribs into 2-inch pieces; set aside in a pile. Stack the leaves in small piles; coarsely chop them. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high flame. Add ribs; toss and cook 1 1/2 minutes. Add leaves and garlic; continue to cook, tossing often, until chard begins to wilt, 2-3 minutes. Stir in soy sauce; cook until chard is tender, 1-3 minutes longer. Add pepper to taste. Serve immediately. Makes 2-4 servings. Recipe from MACSAC

SWISS CHARD NOODLE BAKE
1 lb. fresh Swiss chard, cooked just until wilted, drained and chopped; 1/2 pound penne or ziti noodles, freshly cooked and drained; 1/2 pound ricotta cheese; 1 15-ounce jars marinara sauce; 2 eggs, lightly beaten; 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese; 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley; 1 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 3-quart casserole or baking dish. Combine all ingredients in large mixing bowl and blend thoroughly. Turn into prepared dish and bake until top is golden brown and sauce is bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes. 4 servings

CHARD SOUP WITH CREAM CHEESE “CROUTONS”
3 packed cups finely chopped chard leaves; 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed and at room temperature; 4 cups chicken broth; salt (if necessary) and pepper
Combine chard and chicken broth in a pot. Bring to simmer and cook until chard is wilted and tender, about 6 minutes. You may leave it as is or puree it with an immersion blender or in a food processor or blender. Reheat if necessary. Season to taste with salt (if you’ve used canned stock, you may not need to add salt) and pepper. Divide the cubed cream cheese into 3 or 4 soup plates. Pour the hot soup over the cream cheese and serve immediately. Makes 3-4 servings. Recipe from MACSAC

TANGERINE & ROASTED BEET SALAD WITH FETA AND PISTACHIOS
2 medium beets, trimmed, 4 C chopped Swiss chard, 8 Clementines, 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 375^0. 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 beet greens (or chard), leaving a little water still clinging to them; set aside. Grate ½ t zest from 1 tangerine (or clementine), Slice the ends off all the fruit, then slice off the peel and white pith, following the curve of the fruit. Cut the fruit into segments or slices and set aside. Combine the zest with vinegar, mustard, ¼ t salt and a generous grind of pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk in 4 t oil. Add the sliced beets and toss to coat; let stand for 15 minutes. Heat the remaining 2 t oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the greens and remaining ¼ t salt; cook, gently stirring, until just wilted, 2-3 minutes. Divide the greens among 4 salad plates. Top with the beets, fruit, feta and pistachios. Drizzle with any remaining dressing. Serves 4; Recipe from Eating Well magazine

SWISS CHARD, POTATO, AND BACON FRITTATA
8 large eggs, 1½ ounces Manchego cheese, grated (about ⅓ cup), 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf, parsley, 1 tablespoon chopped chives, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, 4 ounces dried chorizo, thinly sliced, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ¼ small onion, cut into ½” pieces, 6 fingerling potatoes, thinly sliced, 1 bunch small Swiss chard, ribs and stems removed, leaves coarsely chopped
Heat broiler. Whisk eggs in a large bowl, then whisk in cheese and herbs; season with salt and pepper. Cook chorizo in a 10” broiler proof skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium heat, stirring often, until browned and crisp, about 3 minutes. Transfer to plate. Heat oil in same skillet; add onion, season with salt, and cook, stirring often, until beginning to soften, about 1 minute. Add potatoes and cook, tossing occasionally, until just softened, about 5 minutes. Add chard and cook, stirring often, until chard is wilted; season with salt and pepper. Mix in chorizo. Pour in egg mixture, tilting skillet to evenly distribute. Cook, undisturbed, 2 minutes, then transfer to oven and broil until egg is cooked through and starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Run a heatproof spatula around edges of frittata to loosen, then slide onto a plate; serve in wedges. Serves 4
Recipe from Bon Appetit.com 

MUSTARD GREENS
Greens, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper
Chop greens into bite sized pieces. Chop or mince garlic. Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add garlic, cook 1-2 minutes. Add greens, cook until wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Use as a bed for chicken or mix in with pasta or eat it all by itself.

SPANISH GREENS
2 tablespoons olive oil; salt and pepper to taste; 3 cloves garlic, flattened or smashed with the flat of a knife; 1/4 cup golden raisins; 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts; 1-pound spinach, chard, collards, or other greens, stemmed and well washed
Heat oil over high flame in very large skillet. Add garlic cloves and stir-fry until golden, about 30 seconds. Discard garlic. Toss in greens. Season with salt and pepper. Cover; wilt greens 2-3 minutes. Add raisins and pine nuts. Check for seasoning and serve. Makes 2-4 servings. MACSAC

RED WINE VINAIGRETTE
2 oz. olive oil; 4 oz. red wine vinegar; 2 T. parsley, I T. Dijon Mustard; 1 tsp minced garlic; 2 tsp sugar; dash of salt and pepper.
Mix all ingredients together by shaking for best results. Pour over greens and enjoy!

SPICY POTATO SAUSAGE AND GREENS SOUP
1 pound bulk hot Italian sausage; 1/2 cup chopped onion, or more to taste; 4 cups chicken broth; 4 cups thinly sliced potatoes (slice them with skins on); 4 cups water; 2 packed cups torn or chopped fresh greens; 1/3 cup whipping cream; salt and pepper
Heat soup pot over medium flame. Add sausage and onions and cook until meat is no longer pink. Add broth, potatoes, and 4 cups water. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer until potatoes are tender, 10-15 minutes. Stir in greens; cook 1-2 minutes. Stir in whipping cream and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve right away, or, for more developed flavor, let cool, then chill and reheat later or the next day. This recipe was inspired by a soup at Olive Garden restaurant. Add some buttered biscuits and it’s a perfect winter meal. Makes 8-12 servings. Recipe from JoAnn Hoffman, Vermont Valley Farm member

SALAD GREENS WITH CHINESE SALAD DRESSING
1/3 cup sesame or olive oil; 1 teaspoon minced garlic, pressed to a paste; 1-2 teaspoons grated fresh gingerroot or 1/4 teaspoon powdered ginger; dash of cayenne; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 teaspoon sesame seeds; 1 tablespoon chopped green onion, salad greens or Chinese cabbage.
Mix all ingredients (except greens); toss with greens. This is also good with bok choy, snow peas, or cucumbers. Makes 1/2 cup dressing. Recipe from Oak Ridge Farm

CHARLEMAGNE SALAD WITH HOT BRIE DRESSING
Salad greens; 1/4 cup white wine vinegar; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; garlic croutons; 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard; 1/4 cup olive oil; 4-5 ounces ripe brie, rind removed, cheese cut, or cheese of your choice; 2 teaspoons minced shallots or green onions into small pieces and brought to room temperature; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; freshly ground pepper
Clean the greens; dry them in a salad spinner or kitchen towels. Tear greens into bite-size pieces and toss with garlic croutons in a large bowl. Warm oil in a heavy skillet. Add shallots or onions and garlic and cook until golden, 3-5 minutes. Blend in vinegar, lemon juice, and mustard. Add the cheese a little at a time, stirring constantly. Toss the hot dressing with the greens and croutons. Serve immediately with freshly ground pepper. Makes 6 servings. Recipe from Matthew and Susan Smith, Blue Valley Gardens

WILTED GREENS SALAD
3 slices bacon; 1 1/2 Tbsp red wine vinegar; 1/2 T lemon juice; 1 Tbsp water; 1 tsp sugar; 1/4 tsp ground black pepper; 4 c leaf lettuce – washed, dried and torn into bite-sized pieces; 3 green onions, thinly sliced; 1 hard-cooked egg (optional)
Cook bacon over medium high heat until evenly brown. Remove from skillet, crumble and set aside. Reserve drippings. Combine lettuce and green onions in large bowl. To the hot bacon drippings, add vinegar, lemon juice, water, sugar and pepper. Stir over medium heat until hot and sugar is dissolved.  Add warm dressing and toss to evenly coat. Sprinkle with bacon. If desired, garnish with egg. Serve immediately. Makes 3 servings

SPRING GREENS RISOTTO
3 Tbsp olive oil; 1/2 c chopped green onions; 1 1/2 c Arborio rice; 1/2 tsp salt; 4 c hot chicken or vegetable broth, divided; 4 c coarsely chopped spring greens (spinach, chard, sorrel); 1/4 tsp grated nutmeg (optional); 1/2 c grated Parmesan cheese
Heat oil in heavy pot over medium- high heat. Add onions; cook 3 minutes. Add rice and salt. Cook and stir until rice begins to color. 2. Add 1/2 c broth; cook and stir until most of broth is absorbed. Add 1 1/2 c broth; simmer, stirring occasionally, until mostly absorbed, about 10 minutes. Add remaining broth. Simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place greens on top of rice. Cover and simmer 3 minutes. Stir in greens. Simmer and stir a few minutes more until broth is absorbed and rice is tender but moist. Remove from heat. Stir in Parmesan and serve. Makes 6 servings Recipe from Farm-Fresh Recipes.

MUSTARD GREENS BRAISED WITH GINGER, CILANTRO, AND RICE
2 big bunches mustard greens, coarse stems removed; 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 onion, diced; 1/4 cup white rice; 2 tablespoons finely chopped ginger; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 cup chopped cilantro stems and leaves; sea salt; plain yogurt, or lemon wedges
Wash the mustard greens well, then chop, but don’t dry them. Heat the oil in a wide, heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onion, rice, ginger, cumin, and paprika. Stir to coat with the oil. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the cilantro and the mustard (and/or chard) greens. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt, cover the pan, and cook until the volume has reduced, 10 to 15 minutes. Give everything a stir, then reduce the heat to low, re-cover, and cook slowly for 40 minutes. There should be ample moisture in the pot, but check once or twice to make sure that nothing is sticking on the bottom. If the pan seems dry, add a few tablespoons of water. Cook until the greens are really tender, 10 to 15 minutes more. Serve warm or at room temperature, with yogurt spooned over the top or a squeeze of fresh lemon. SERVES 4 TO 6

VEAL MEATBALLS WITH MUSTARD GREENS
1/4 C olive oil, 1 C minced onion, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 1/2 t. gr. fennel seeds, 1/4 t. mustard powder, 1/4 t. crushed red pepper, 1/4 t. ground coriander, 1/4 t. chipotle or other smoked chile powder, 1 # ground veal, 1/2 C fresh bread crumbs (2 ounces), 1/4 C heavy cream, 1 large egg, lightly beaten, 1/2 t. kosher salt, 1/2 # mustard greens, thick stems discarded and leaves chopped,1/3 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth
In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil until shimmering. Add the minced onion and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and starting to brown, 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, the fennel seeds, mustard powder, crushed red pepper, coriander and chile powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes; let cool. In a large bowl, mix the cooled onion mixture with the veal, bread crumbs, cream, egg and salt. Form into 1 1/2-inch meatballs and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. In a large skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil until shimmering. Add the meatballs and cook over moderately high heat, turning, until browned all over, 5 minutes. Gently push the meatballs to one side of the skillet. Spoon off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan, then add the mustard greens and stock. Cover and cook over moderate heat until the greens are wilted, 4 minutes. Spoon the meatballs and greens into bowls and serve. Make Ahead: The meatballs can be prepared through Step 2 and refrigerated overnight. Bring to room temperature before proceeding. Recipe form foodandwine.com

3 POTATO SALAD
3 medium Yukon Gold potatoes; 3 medium red potatoes; 1 large sweet potato; 1 medium onion, chopped; 1 cup mayo; 2 tbsp sugar; 1 tbsp white vinegar; 1 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp pepper; 1/2 tsp dill weed
Cube potatoes and sweet potato. Boil until tender; drain and cool. Mix remaining ingredients together. Toss with potatoes. Refrigerate overnight

ROASTED POTATOES WITH SOUTHWESTERN SPICES
Cut potatoes into bite sized pieces coat with olive oil. Roast in 425-degree oven for 20-30 minutes or until done. While the potatoes roast, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a small skillet over medium heat. When the butter starts to sizzle, add 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 medium garlic clove, minced, and cook 1 fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer roasted potatoes to a serving bowl. Pour spiced butter over the potatoes, toss, and serve immediately.

MUSTARD ROASTED POTATOES

1/2 cup whole grain Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted, 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 3 garlic cloves, minced, 1 tablespoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel, 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt, 3 pounds 1- to 1 1/2-inch-diameter mixed unpeeled red-skinned and white-skinned potatoes, cut into 3/4-inch-wide wedges
Position 1 rack in top third of oven and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Spray 2 large rimmed baking sheets with nonstick spray. Whisk mustard, olive oil, butter, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, lemon peel, and salt in large bowl to blend. Add potatoes; sprinkle generously with freshly ground black pepper and toss to coat. Divide potatoes between prepared baking sheets, leaving any excess mustard mixture behind in bowl. Spread potatoes in single layer. Roast potatoes 20 minutes. Reverse baking sheets and roast until potatoes are crusty outside and tender inside, turning occasionally, about 25 minutes longer. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand on baking sheets at room temperature. Rewarm potatoes in 425°F oven 10 minutes. Transfer potatoes to serving bowl. Recipe form Bon Appetit!

ROASTED GARLIC POTATOES
3 pounds small red or white potatoes, 1/4 c olive oil, 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 2T  minced garlic (6 cloves), 2 T minced fresh parsley
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Cut the potatoes in half or quarters and place in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic; toss until the potatoes are well coated. Transfer the potatoes to a sheet pan and spread out into 1 layer. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until browned and crisp. Flip twice with a spatula during cooking in order to ensure even browning. Remove the potatoes from the oven, toss with parsley, season to taste, and serve hot.

PARMESAN GARLIC ROASTED POTATOES

2 pounds red potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces, 2 Tablespoons olive oil, ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, 3 garlic cloves, minced, ½ teaspoon oregano, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, chopped parsley for garnish
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl add the olive oil, parmesan cheese, garlic, and oregano. Toss with the potatoes until coated and lay in a single layer on your baking sheet. Salt and pepper to taste. I also like to sprinkle additional parmesan on top. Roast for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Serve with parsley sprinkled on top.

SPINACH POTATO SOUP
2 cups cubed peeled potatoes (1/2-inch pieces), 1-1/2 cups water, 1 tablespoon dried minced onion, 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, 1 cup thinly sliced fresh or chopped frozen spinach, 1 cup heavy whipping cream, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
In a saucepan, combine the potatoes, water, onion and bouillon; bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Cook until spinach is wilted and mixture is heated through. Recipe from: TasteofHome.com

SPINACH, POTATO AND SAUSAGE SOUP
1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup diced white onion, 2 large garlic cloves, minced, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or more if you like things spicy, like me), 12 ounces vegan sausage, chopped (my favorites are Tofurky and Field Roast brands, find them in the deli section near tofu), 1.5 lbs. quartered, 4 cups vegetable broth , 6 ounces fresh baby spinach , 1/4 cup cashew cream (or other non-dairy cream option. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, pinch of salt and pepper, and sausage and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until sausage is lightly browned and onion has cooked down. Stir often so the sausage doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.  Add the potatoes and cook another 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Add in the vegetable broth and increase heat to a low boil, then reduce to low and simmer for 10-15 minutes until potatoes are tender. Stir in the spinach until wilted, then remove from heat. Stir in the cashew cream, mixing to just combine, and taste for seasoning. Depending on the saltiness of your broth, you may need more salt/pepper. Serve. Recipe from: delishknowledge.com

BEAUTIFUL CHILLED BEET SOUP
1.5 pounds/5-6 medium sized fresh beets, with stalks, cold water (or enough to cover the beets), 16 oz. chicken or vegetable stock, 1 tbsp sugar, 300ml buttermilk, 150ml full-fat natural yogurt, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp sugar, Sea salt and black pepper, Fresh dill, or chives, finely chopped, ½ an English, cucumber, peeled, very finely sliced, 4 radishes, very finely sliced, 2 hard-boiled eggs, cooled, peeled
Wash the beetroot (including the stalks and leaves) very thoroughly. Chop the stalks into small pieces and peel the beetroot. Grate the beetroot (you may want to wear gloves!) and put the beetroot and stalks in a large pan. Cover with 750ml cold water. Bring to the boil slowly, then turn down the heat and very gently simmer for 20 minutes. It’s important that the soup doesn’t boil too rapidly. Once the beetroot has softened, pour in the chicken or vegetable stock, add the sugar, stir well and leave to cool until completely cold. Refrigerate if necessary. You can, if you like, slightly blend the soup at this stage with a stick blender. You’ll get a richer color if you do. To the cold soup, add the buttermilk and yoghurt and stir. Taste; if the soup has quite a sweet flavor, add the lemon juice. Season with sea salt and a little black pepper. To serve the soup, stir through some finely chopped fresh dill and garnish the soup with cucumber and radish. Traditionally this cold beetroot soup is also served with cooled, boiled eggs. If you like the combination of beets and dill, you could go a step further and also try this vegetarian recipe for a buckwheat, beetroot and feta salad.

ROASTED BEET AND RICE SALAD
3 beets, ends removed, skin peeled with vegetable peeler and cut into small cubes, ½ cup balsamic vinegar, ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon McCormick crushed rosemary
Salt and pepper, to taste, 1 cup Arborio rice, prepared according to package directions, 5-oz. package feta cheese, 4 cups mixed greens, rinsed
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and coat with cooking spray. Spread the beet cubes out on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. In a medium bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, rosemary, salt and pepper. Mix well. Pour evenly over the beets. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, stirring to coat every 5 minutes or so. In a large bowl, combine the prepared rice, feta cheese and roasted beats (do not discard juices from pan). Stir until combined. Divide the mixed greens between 4 plates or bowls and top with beet-rice mixture. Drizzle olive oil and juices from pan over the top and serve. Recipe form Pipandebby.com

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

ROASTED BEETS WITH BALSAMIC GLAZE RECIPE
2 # 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.

BEET & GOAT CHEESE HUMMUS
1 lg. beet, 1 can chickpeas, 2 lemons, 1/4 C tahini paste, 1 tsp. salt, 4 oz. crumbled goat cheese, 1/4 C 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. Now 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 from simplyrecipes.com

SAVORY BEET SOUP
1 tsp. olive oil, 1 C chopped onion, 4 C fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, 2C water, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. ground black pepper, 3 medium beets, peeled and halved, 1 medium potato, peeled and halved crosswise, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp. lemon juice, 8 tsps. reduced-fat sour cream
Preparation: Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes or until tender. Add broth and next 6 ingredients (through bay leaf). Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes or until beets and potato are tender. Discard bay leaf. Place one-third broth mixture in blender or food processor; process until smooth. Place puréed mixture in a large bowl. Repeat procedure twice with remaining broth mixture. Return pureed mixture to pan. Warm soup over low heat for 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat, and stir in lemon juice. Combine 1/2 cup soup and the sour cream, stirring with a whisk. Divide soup evenly among each of 8 bowls. Top each serving with 1 T sour cream mixture; swirl sour cream mixture using the tip of a knife. Recipe from: Kathryn Conrad, Cooking Light OCTOBER 2004

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

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

 

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

 

CHILI ROASTED RUTABAGA
2T vegetable oil, 1½t chili powder. 1t onion powder, 1t garlic salt, 1/2t sugar, 1/2t paprika, ½ t cayenne,
1 ½ pounds rutabaga.
Heat oven to 400^0. Mix first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl. Peel rutabagas and cut them into chunks that are about 2inches long and ½-1 inch wide. Toss with spice mix. Transfer to large baking sheet, spreading pieces out evenly. Bake until tender and somewhat browned, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Serves 4-6.

RUTABAGA & POTATO PUREE
1 1/2 pounds rutabaga, peeled and cut into small chunks, 1 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks, 4 cloves garlic, peeled, Salt, to taste, 1/3 cup nonfat milk, scaled, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1/2 teaspoon dried, Freshly ground white or black pepper, to taste
Place rutabagas and potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Add garlic and season with salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook until the vegetables are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain thoroughly and return the vegetables to the pan. Place the pan over low heat and toss for about 1 minute to dry the vegetables slightly. Mash the rutabagas, potatoes and garlic with a hand mixer or potato masher. Add enough milk to make a smooth puree. Stir in thyme and season with salt and pepper. Serves 8; Recipe from Eating Well Magazine