Roasted Beets

I cannot believe I am posting this recipe because my 10 year old self disliked beets to the core. I still wasn’t a fan of them until tonight when I picked up the CSA box and there were 6 beets staring at me. This recipe made me enjoy beets. You’ve got to try it!

6 beets (gold or red or a mix), peeled and cut into 1inch cubes

2 Tb Olive oil

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tb rosemary 

Salt to taste

Pepper, freshly ground to taste

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 

2. Place oil in large bowl. Wash, peel and cut beets. Place beets in bowl and stir to coat with oil. 

3. Mince garlic and add to bowl. Strip rosemary branches of herb and add to bowl. Mix everything well. Add salt and pepper. 

4. Place on baking sheet and put in oven. Bake for 35-40 minutes, turning at least once for good browning. 

5. After removing from oven, add additional salt as needed. Enjoy!

Pasta with Brussels Sprouts, Gorgonzola, and Brown-Butter Pecans

Salt
10 oz. Brussels sprouts, trimmed (2 cups)
1 1/2 Tbs. olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb dried ear shaped pasta (the recipe I followed asked for orecchiette, but you could use medium shells)
1 Tbs. unsalted butter
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans (walnuts will also work)
1 large shallot, minced (may substitute with a couple cloves of garlic)
1/2 cup cream or milk
1/2 cup Gorgonzola, crumbled
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice

Position a rack in the lower third of the over, set a heavy rimmed baking sheet on the rack and heat the oven to 500℉. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to boil over high heat.

In a food processor, slice the Brussels sprouts. Transfer them to a large bowl, drizzle with the olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss until well coated. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and spread the sprouts on it in a single layer. Roast, stirring once halfway through the cooking time, until the sprouts are tender and flecked with charred bits, 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package directions.

In a medium heavy-duty skillet, melt 1/2 Tbs. of the butter over medium heat. Add the nuts and cook, stirring frequently, until the butter is deeply browned and the pecans are toasted, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

Melt the remaining 1/2 Tbs. butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots (or garlic) and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 2-3 minutes. Add the cream/milk and bring to a simmer. Off the heat, add the Gorgonzola and stir until melted.

Drain the pasta and return to the pot. Add the Brussels sprouts, Gorgonzola sauce, and lemon juice and toss well.

Enjoy!

Adapted from recipe in CookFresh

Pickled Jalepeños w/ Onions and Carrots (Escabeche)

While these jars may not be as showy as the jewel-like peach jam, they are packed full of flavor and my favorite way to preserve jalepeños, not to mention carrots! Superb on tacos or as a garnish for mole.

1 lb (10-12 good sized) jalepeños
3 regular sweet onions (or 2 large)
4 medium carrots
4 cloves garlic
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tsp dried Mexican oregano
4 cups vinegar (apple cider or white)
2 Tbsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp sugar

1. Prepare 5 pint jars, lids, and rims and a hot water bath for canning.

2. Remove stems from jalepeños, quarter and clean out seeds. (Wearing rubber gloves for this is very helpful.) Peel garlic and cut in half. Slice onions and carrots into thick slices.

3. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add jalepeños, onions, and carrots and sauté for 7 minutes. Add oregano and sauté an additional three minutes.

4. Add the vinegar, salt, and sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until the jalepeños are cooked through (a dull olive green - no longer vibrant green).

5. Fill 4 - 5 pint jars with jalepeños and veggies. Pour vinegar mixture from the skillet equally into jars and seal. Process in the hot water bath fro 10 minutes.

Keep sealed jars on pantry shelf for up to one year. Once opened, keep refrigerated for up to 2 months.

Minestrone

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp dried basil
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp black pepper
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
10 cups broth
15 oz can crushed tomatoes
15 oz can petite cut tomatoes
15 oz can garbanzo or kidney beans, drained
1/4 cup barley
1/4 cup split or frozen peas
2 medium carrots, chpped
1/2 cup small pasta shells

1. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil for 7 minutes, add spices and saute 3 more minutes. Add spinach and sauteé a minute or so.

2. Pour in broth, tomatoes, beans, barley, and peas. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes or until barley (and split peas) are tender.

3. Add carrots and pasta, bring back to a simmer for 10 minutes or until pasta is al dente.

You can also add a diced sweet potato or winter squash at the beginning with the onion.

Spring Rolls

14 oz (one package) extra firm tofu
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, shredded
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon sesame seed oil
1/2 package rice vermicelli (very thin rice noodles)
10-15 spring roll skins (rice paper)
fresh cilantro
2-3 carrots, peeled and shredded
ripe avocado, thinly sliced
1 cup bean sprouts or very thinly sliced cabbage
* * * * * * *
Spring Roll (inside) Sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
juice of half a lime
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, shredded
1-2 tablespoons water

1. Prepare tofu: drain and dry with a clean kitchen towel to get most of the moisture out. Cut in to half-inch 'cube-sticks'. Prepare 1/4 cup water + 1 tablespoon soy sauce + 1 teaspoon ginger + 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, stir. Place tofu in dry pan and cook off more moisture until edges turn a light golden color. Give 1/2 cup prepared soy sauce mixture a quick stir and pour over tofu and sauté until all the water is evaporated. Add a tablespoon of sesame oil, turn heat up to medium high and sauté until thoroughly browned (about 10 more minutes). Set aside in a small bowl. Meanwhile, prepare sauce for inside the spring rolls by stirring all ingredients together in a small bowl or cup.

2. Prepare rice vermicelli: bring 2 quarts of water to a boil, adding noodles and boiling for 3-5 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.

3. Assemble spring rolls: Fill a pie pan or skillet with warm water, and then gently dip one rice paper wrapper in the water for 3-5 seconds to soften. (Be careful not to over-soak the wrappers!) Remove, and lay on a flat surface or large plate. In a horizontal row across the top-center of the wrapper, first place a few cilantro leaves, then a finger-full of carrots, one avocado slice, one slice of tofu, a finger-full of cabbage and finally a finger-full of rice noodles, leaving at least 2″ space on the right/left sides. Fold the top right and left sides of the wrapper tightly over the mixture, making sure the two side touch in the middle over the filling. Then fold over the top side (taking care to pack in the filling so that it’s nice and snug!), and then finally roll the pack over the remaining bottom side. Repeat with remaining ingredients.

Dipping sauces

Peanut Sauce
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
juice of half a lime
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, shredded
1+ tablespoon water, to achieve desired consistency

Soy Sauce
Use leftover inside sauce, adding 1-2 teaspoons additional soy sauce

Sweet Chili Sauce
Found in the Asian food isle

main photo and some instructions borrowed from this site.

Carrot Butter

this is a recipe i sort of finagled from Sage's Cafe. it's delicious. spread it on a sandwich or toast, or serve with chips, etc.

4-5 medium carrots, peeled
1/3 cup macadamia nuts
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1/4 tsp salt

1. chop the carrots into quarter-inch cubes. place in a pot with plenty of water and boil for 25 minutes. drain.
2. process all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. keep refrigerated in an air tight container.

(Marvelous) Steamed Broccoli

1 large bunch broccoli
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt to taste*
1-2 cloves garlic, minced*
red pepper flakes to taste (optional)

*to simplify, you can replace the salt and garlic with garlic salt.

1. cut broccoli flowers and small stems into bite-size pieces. place in a pot with 1/4 cup cold water (no basket steamer needed). add olive oil, salt, garlic and red pepper flakes and stir to combine.
2. bring to a boil, cover tightly, reduce heat to medium and steam until the broccoli is bright green, approximately 5-7 minutes (but no more) depending on how crunchy or tender you prefer. remove with a slotted spoon and serve at once. if desired, squeeze a little fresh lemon or lime juice over the broccoli just before serving.

Sweet Potato Wedges

do you like yams (or sweet potatoes)? if you didn't before, you will now. and if you already did, you'll be eating these once a week!

1 teaspoon coriander

1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
 (optional)
1 teaspoon salt

2-3 medium sweet potatoes

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tsp balsamic vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Stir together spices and salt, then oil and vinegar.

2. Cut potatoes lengthwise into 1-inch wedges. Stir up the oil mixture again to combine oil and vinegar. Toss wedges with oil and spices, place on a cookie sheet and roast in middle of oven 15 - 20 minutes. Turn wedges over with a spatula and roast until tender and slightly golden, 10 - 15 minutes more.

adapted (and photo stolen) from the smitten kitchen.

Lemon Green Beans

Good Side Dish for (above posted) Mac & Cheese:
1 lb. green beans
Juice on 1/2 lemon
Lemon zest 1/2 lemon 2 T.
Olive oil
2 t. salt

Cook beans for 5 -6 minutes. Shock cool in ice water. In serving bowl, mix juice, zest, oil & salt together. Add green beans. Fridge at least 20 minutes. Add salt right before serving.

Corn Cilantro Salad

1 bag frozen corn (thawed but not cooked)
1 large crisp tomato (diced)
1 bunch cilantro (chopped)
1/3 bottle Italian dressing

Let frozen corn thaw. Add tomato and cilantro. Mix in Italian dressing. Eat and enjoy!