Healthy Snack Tabbuleh

We actually ate this for dinner one night, but it's an amazing (and healthy) snack with pita chips as well!  


Asian Tabbouleh 
(for 4 - 6 people)

Combine and cover, allowing to "plump" for about 30 minutes: [I followed the cooking directions on the package, which involved boiling the bulghur, not just soaking it - still came out great] 
1 C bulghur 
2 C boiling water 
1/2 tsp. salt

Meanwhile, make a dressing/marinade by combining the following: 
juice of 1/2 a lemon (about 1/4 C) (or half a lime would work too) 
about 1 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce 
a clove or two of garlic, crushed 
1 tsp. chinese chili-garlic sauce (or equivalent) [While this would've been delicious, I omitted it due to the children - next time I will split the recipe and add the spicy to the adult half.  Hopefully someday my children will eat spicy food!]
1 tsp. sesame oil 
3 tbsp. olive oil 
a few tbsp. minced cilantro

Drain off any soaking water remaining after the bulghur has soaked the 30 minutes, then stir in marinade and as many chopped veggies from the list below as you like. Combine and chill well. Serving suggestion: romaine lettuce leaves (the smaller, inner ones) work great as 'scoops' for eating the tabbouleh with. [Pita chips are AWESOME with this]

Veggie additions: 
*asian greens (steam-to-wilt, then run under cold water to stop cooking, then drain and chop) 
any other greens could be used as above also... spinach, chard, beet greens, kale, kohlrabi greens 
diced carrot 
diced seasoned tofu (optional) 
chopped green onion 
*diced summer squash 

* = what I used

August 28 - September 2

In the box:

Arugula - T
Asian stir-fry mix (tatsoi/mizuna) - M
Carrots - M, Th
Cauliflower - Th
Chard - F
Cilantro - M
Leeks - M, Th, C
French breakfast radishes

Padrone Peppers - W
Sungold cherry tomatoes
Summer squash - M
Dry-farmed tomatoes - T, W, C

In the house:

22 lbs. Dry-farmed tomatoes -T, W, C

Leeks - T, Th, C

Sweet Peppers - W

raspberries

Grocery List:

Potatoes

Celery

bulgur

Ricotta Cheese

Mozzarella Cheese (Fresh and regular)

fruit

milk

flour

Menu:

Sunday: Italian Festa

Monday: Asian Tabbouleh

Tuesday: Arugula Lasagna

Wednesday: Tacos with Fresh Salsa

Thursday: Curry Cauliflower Soup

Friday: Chard Fettucine

Recipes:

Asian Tabbouleh
(for 4 - 6 people)

Combine and cover, allowing to "plump" for about 30 minutes:
1 C bulghur
2 C boiling water
1/2 tsp. salt

Meanwhile, make a dressing/marinade by combining the following:
juice of 1/2 a lemon (about 1/4 C) (or half a lime would work too)
about 1 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce
a clove or two of garlic, crushed
1 tsp. chinese chili-garlic sauce (or equivalent)
1 tsp. sesame oil
3 tbsp. olive oil
a few tbsp. minced cilantro

Drain off any soaking water remaining after the bulghur has soaked the 30 minutes, then stir in marinade and as many chopped veggies from the list below as you like. Combine and chill well. Serving suggestion: romaine lettuce leaves (the smaller, inner ones) work great as 'scoops' for eating the tabbouleh with.

Veggie additions:
asian greens (steam-to-wilt, then run under cold water to stop cooking, then drain and chop)
any other greens could be used as above also... spinach, chard, beet greens, kale, kohlrabi greens
diced carrot
diced seasoned tofu (optional)
chopped green onion
diced summer squash

CURRY CAULIFLOWER SOUP
Serves 6
Cauliflower is a wonderful vegetable that's full of cancer-fighting enzymes. Roasting cauliflower avoids the sulfur-smell caused when steaming, and also produces an unbelieveably sweet flavor. [I'll second that! Roasted cauliflower is hands-down more delicious than steamed. - Debbie]

1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
3 tbsp. olive oil
sea salt
1 C finely diced yellow onion (use leeks)
2 carrots, diced small
2 potatoes, cubed small
1 C finely diced celery
1 tsp. curry powder
1/4 tsp. coriander ground
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon
6 C broth of choice

1. preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Toss the cauliflower with 1 tbsp. of olive oil and 1/4 tsp. of salt, then spread in an even layer on the prepared pan. Bake until the cauliflower is tender, about 25 minutes.
3. While the cauliflower is roasting, heat he remaining olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat, then add the onion and a pinch of salt and saute until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the carrots, celery, potatoes, and 1/4 tsp. salt and saute until the vegetables begin to brown, about 12 minutes.
4. Add the curry powder, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and another pinch of salt and and stir until the spices have coated the vegetables. Pour in 1/2 C of the broth to de-glaze the pan, then cook until the liquid is reduced by half. Remove from the heat.
5. Pour 3 C of the remaining broth into a blender, then add half of the vegetables and roasted cauliflower. Blend until smooth, then pour the mixture into a soup pot and repeat the process with the remaining 2 1/2 C broth and the remaining vegetables and cauliflower. For a thinner consistency, add another cup of broth.
6. Gently reheat he soup over low heat. You may want to add a spritz of lemon juice, or additional salt, to taste.

Fettucine with Chard, Raisins, Brown Butter
serves 4

6 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 tbsp. dried currants
2 tbsp. golden raisins
1 bunch swiss chard, cleaned
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 med. onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic*, finely chopped
1/2 lb. fettucine
1/3 cup walnut pieces, toasted
grated parmesan cheese

Melt butter in small pan over low heat until rich amber in color (8-10 min). Set aside. Pour 1/4 cup hot water over currants & raisins in small bowl to plump. Trim stems from chard, stack leaves & slice crosswise into 2" ribbons. Set a large pot of salted water on to boil for pasta. In a large pan over med. heat, saute onion in olive oil w/salt, pepper (about 5 min). Add garlic & chard, and saute 4-5 min until chard is just tender. Cook fettucine in boiling water, timing it to finish cooking with the chard. Drain pasta well, and add to chard along with plumped fruit, walnuts and warm brown butter, adding salt & pepper to taste. Toss to mingle ingredients. Serve w/parmesan.

Canning:

Spaghetti Sauce

TOMATO, LEEK, AND ONION SOUP

1/4 C olive oil
2 medium sized onions, diced
2 leeks, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp. chopped, fresh parsley
1 tsp. minced, fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
2 C tomatoes, diced
3 C stock of choice
soy sauce to taste
1-2 tsp. honey
chopped fresh parsley
chopped scallion tops

1. in a large skillet, heat the oil and saute the onions, leeks, and garlic until translucent but not brown.
2. Combine the sauteed vegetables, parsley, thyme, bay leaf, tomatoes, and stock in a 2-quart saucepan. Cover and simmer until the tomatoes are cooked and the flavors are well combined, 20-30 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
3. Season with the soy sauce and honey. Garnish with parsley and scallions before serving.


For when we get eggplant:
http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/07/rat-a-too-ee-for-you-ee/

August 20-27, 2011

In the box:

Arugula - Th
Asian stir-fry mix (tatsoi/mizuna) - M
Beets (mix of golden and red) - F
Chard - W
Cilantro - Su
Green beans + - M, T
Leeks + - M
Lettuce -T, Th, F
Potatoes (Yellow Finn) - W
Radicchio - Th
Sweet peppers - M
Dry-farmed tomatoes - Sa

In the fridge:
Beets - Sa

Leeks - Su

Lettuce - Sa, T, Th, F

Green Beans - Sa

Radicchio - Th

On the counter:

Tomatoes - Sa

Tomatillos - Su

Menu

Saturday: Salad, Smoked Pork Loin, Steamed Green Beans, Beet Mango Coconut Smoothies

Sunday: Tomatillo Cilantro Sauce Chicken Enchiladas

Monday: Tofu Stir Fry

Tuesday: Smoked Salmon, Green Beans, Salad

Wednesday: Chard Gnocchi, Salad

Thursday: Mixed Greens Calzones, Salad

Friday: Beet Topped Salad

Recipes

Tomatillo Cilantro Sauce

Swiss Chard Gnocchi
serves 6

1 lb. potatoes (sez Russets, but who cares... Fingerlings'll do fine - Debbie)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 1/4 lb. chard, stems/ribs removed (who knows how much 1 1/4 lbs. is... just use the whole bunch in your box)
1 lg. egg
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 3/4 C (about) flour

Steam potatoes until very tender (about 20 min.). Cool slightly, peel if you like (I don't) and mash thoroughly in a large bowl. Mix in salt & pepper.Meanwhile, steam chard until wilted, about 3 minutes. Drain, cool, and squeeze out as much excess liquid as possible. Finely chop, then add to potatoes. Stir in egg and oil. Gradually mix in enough flour to form a soft, slightly sticky dough. Dust a baking sheet with flour (I lay out a sheet of waxed paper myself). Working in batches and using floured hands, roll about 1/4 cup of dough on a lightly-floured work surface to form a 12-inch long rope. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece into an oval ball and then using a whisk, gently roll each ball down the length of the wires, making a ribbed impression in the gnocchi (I hold the balls in the palm of my hand and use the tines of a fork). Transfer gnocchi to prepared baking sheet and repeat the above process with rest of dough. (At this point, gnocchi can be frozen right on the baking sheet, then transferred to a ziploc bag for future use. Cooking is the same for fresh as frozen. - Debbie) Working in batches, cook gnocchi in a large pot of boiling salted water until they float. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a bowl. Serve with your favorite pasta sauce, or sauté in butter and sprinkle with fresh parmesan. Or... use your imagination!

Mixed Greens Middle Eastern Style
from 108 Recipes/Gourmet Vegetarian Cooking, from Nyinga Institute
Serves 4 to 6

4 bunches greens, leaves sorted & washed, stems removed (Sue says you can use any kind of green, although she has not tried Asian Greens.)
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. peanut oil
1 lg. onion, chopped medium-fine
8 - 10 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 C fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 C fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tbsp. sweet paprika
1/8 - 1/4 tsp. cayenne (optional)
1 tsp. salt, or to taste
2 C canned tomatoes, chopped, with their juice


Use a large pot with a tight-fitting lid and heavy bottom. Coarsely chop greens. Heat oil and sauté onion and garlic for about 5 minutes, until they are soft. Stir in herbs and spices. After a minute or so, add greens and salt. Stir vigorously to mix the greens with onions and spices. The greens will shrink as they wilt, so you can add them by the handfuls if they do not fit in the pot all at once.

Turn heat to high, stir in tomatoes with their juice. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium, let sim-mer, covered, stirring often to prevent sticking. After about 40 minutes, taste for doneness. If the greens are tender, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently, until they are fairly dry, with only some liquid showing on the bottom of the pot when stirred aside. Do not leave them unattended until they are finished; they scorch easily.

Comments from Sue: This is a very forgiving recipe. I have used all dried herbs when fresh were not at hand. I have used more or less greens and tomatoes. I have used this recipe over rice, in calzones with pine nuts and feta cheese, and on top of pizza. It also freezes well.

In the box: Arugula - F Basil Carrots - Su, W Pickling cucumbers, Su,W Fresh garbanzos, bunched - W Green beans - W Leeks - F Lettuce - M, W Spinach - M Potatoes - W Sweet peppers - Th Strawberries In the fridge/from Sara's Garden: Heirloom Tomatoes - Su, W, F Padrone Peppers - Th Tomatillos - Th Plums/Peaches Green Beans Lettuce - Su, M Sunday: Hot Dogs and Salad Monday: Raviolis with Spinach Tuesday: Dinner Out Wednesday:Garbanzo Edamame Salad, String Beans with Ginger, Oven Fries Thursday: Quinoa Stuffed Peppers, Tomatillo Salsa with Chicken Tacos Friday: Leek Tomato Arugula Frittata

KIM'S STUFFED PADRON PEPPERS
Thanks, Kim, for sharing this great, tasty recipe!

Padron peppers
Cooked quinoa (instructions below)

Seasoning mix
2 tbsp. nutritional yeast
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. tumeric
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/2 tsp.cumin
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder

1. Cook the quinoa: 2-1 ratio liquid to water or stock (always rinse the quinoa before cooking to remove the "bitter" flavor it sometimes has). Bring stock or water to a boil, add the quinoa, stir, and bring back up to a boil. Cover pot and reduce to a low simmer for about 15-20 minutes. You want the quinoa to be light and fluffy. Remove from the heat and let it sit, covered, for about 10 more minutes. Remove lid and "fluff" the quinoa with a fork. Set aside to cool slightly. While it is still warm, add the seasoning mix to your desired taste. Nutritional yeast is a great booster, full of vitamin B 12, and it gives the quinoa a nutty, cheesy taste.
2. When the quinoa is seasoned to taste, stuff it into the peppers that have the tops cut off. Place them in a baking dish, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and bake in a pre-heated 400 oven. Keep an eye on them so you can take them out when done to your liking and serve as an appetizer or a delightful snack!


REBECCA'S ADDITIONAL PADRON PEPPER IDEAS
The padron peppers are great just raw - I have been using the in salsa that usually uses a jalapeno or serrano. You can saute (fry) them in a skillet with olive oil, and serve warm with a a sprinkle of good, crunchy salt. They are fantastic grilled, similar to a bell pepper that has been grilled, but, oh, so much tastier! They are great stuffed with a creamy cheese of your choice, or you can even pickle them! 

String Beans with Ginger
from Gardencuisine, by Paul Wenner
serves 4

1/2 lb. fresh green beans
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 tbsp. finely chopped fresh ginger
1 stalk lemongrass, finely chopped*
1 red chili pepper, seeded and minced**
1/2 C reduced-fat coconut milk
1/4 tsp. salt

Trim ends of green beans and cut into 2-inch pieces. Heat the oil in a large skillet and add the ginger, lemongrass, and chili pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the green beans, coconut milk, 1/2 cup of water, and salt. Cover and cook over medium heat until the green beans are tender, about 10 minutes.

* Sue didn't have lemongrass, but she did have a lemon verbena bush in her yard. So in place of the lemongrass she stripped the leaves from about 4 good-sized sprigs and finely minced them. And since lemon verbena is a more tender leaf than the strong stem of lemongrass, she only added about 1/4 of it at the beginning, but the rest she added only for the last few minutes, so as not to cook away its delicate the flavor.

** Sue says about 1/8 tsp. of crushed red chili flakes is a perfectly good substitute.

And lastly, she says she once added cubed up potatoes (small cubes, about 1/2"), shelled peas (from the more mature sugar-snap pods), and some green curry paste, and was very pleased with the result! Since the curry paste is quite hot, start with about 1/4 tsp. then taste for heat. You can always add more, but you can't take it away! She says she ended up using about 1/2 to 3/4 tsp. in the end.

August 7-12, 2011

In the box:

Arugula - Th
Beets - Th
Pickling cucumbers - Su, Lunches
Green beans - M
Lettuce - Su
Basil - F
Radicchio - W
Spinach -Th
Japanese white turnips - Su
Asian stir-fry mix (tatsoi/mizuna) - T
Padron peppers - T
Strawberries

In the fridge:

Leeks
Spinach - Th
Padrone Peppers
Carrots - Su, T

Menu:

Sunday: Smoked Meat, Salad, Mashed Turnips and Carrots
Monday: Paprika Shrimp Green Bean Saute
Tuesday: Greens & tofu Stir-Fry with Rice
Wednesday: Radicchio Risotto
Thursday:
Co-op:Spinach & Blueberry Waffles, Chicken Nuggets, Beet and Mango Smoothies, Cucumber Sandwiches
Dinner: Arugula Pesto Pasta
Friday: Basil topped Pizza

Grocery List:

Smoked Mozzarella
Parmesan
pine nuts

mangos

shrimp

tofu 

cannellini beans

 

Plan:
Sunday - Smoke meat, rinse & spin all greens, cook and puree beets and spinach

Monday - Cook dinner

Tuesday - Cook dinner

Wednesday - Cook Dinner during naptime

Thursday morning - make waffle batter, slice cucumbers

Thursday lunchtime, cook waffles, chicken nuggets

Thursday naptime - make pesto

Friday naptime - make pizza dough, take pizza sauce out of freezer

Recipes:

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/paprika_shrimp_green_bean_saute.html
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Smoky-Radicchio-Risotto-Michu-351292
http://www.vegalicious.org/2011/07/29/beet-and-mango-smoothie/

Chicken Purslane Tacos Were a Hit!

I was glad to see this recipe in LEF's recipe database since purslane is not a common ingredient.  It's actually an uncultivated, yet edible and yummy, weed!  I did a few modifications in red to make this a meal with a little more protein, since these days most of our meals are vegetarian!  The kids ate it up!


Mexican Purslane Stuffing 
Submitted by member Cindy Riley (found on the Prairieland CSA website, but the source is Texas A&M University’s “Aggie Horticulture Network”) Anyone have any idea why it’s called ‘stuffing?’
serves 4

1 to 1½ lbs. purslane
1 tbsp. vegetable oil [Cindy used olive oil]
1 tsp. finely chopped fresh garlic (1 clove)
1 sm. onion, finely chopped
1 medium-size ripe tomato, chopped [Cindy says she substituted sun-dried tomatoes][I used sun-dried too]
1 serrano or jalapeno chile, finely chopped, or freshly cracked black pepper, according to taste [perfect opportunity for using the hot peppers in this week’s share!][We used the padrone peppers from the share - luckily the one I chose was mild for the kids]
2 to 3 tsp. soy sauce (okay, maybe only in Texas is soy sauce 'Mexican!')
1 egg, beaten
Two boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded


1. Set aside a few raw sprigs of purslane for garnish. [I did not do garnish] Steam or blanch the rest until tender-crisp (three to five minutes). Drain thoroughly, transfer to a plate covered with several layers of paper towels and blot dry.

2. In a large pan, sauté garlic and onion in vegetable oil until soft. Add tomato and chile (or black pepper) and sauté until the mixture becomes sauce-like. Season with soy sauce. Add the purslane and sauté until mixture is warm and the flavors marry. Add shredded chicken and if not warm, heat until warm.

3. When ready to serve, add the beaten egg to the warm mixture in the pan and mix gently. The egg will bind the mixture loosely but should not harden into scrambled eggs. Garnish individual servings with reserved purslane sprigs. Can be eaten as is, or in tortillas or pita bread. [We had this in tortillas]

Green Bean and Potato Curry was a Hit!

GREEN BEAN and POTATO CURRY
Recipe from the Live Earth Farms Recipe Database This is a simple curry to be served with rice, pickles, and chutney if so desired. [we served it with brown basmati rice]

2 medium potatoes (about 1/2 lb.), cut into 3/4 inch dice
1/2 tsp. turmeric 
3 tbsp. oil of choice
15 basil leaves
1 C very finely chopped leeks, mostly the white part (I also use the tender green part)
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/2 tsp. finely chopped ginger
3 green chilis cut into fine rings [I used the padrone peppers in our share, but I sauteed them separate and added as a garnish to mix in to the adult dishes, so the majority of the dish was kid-friendly]
3/4 lbs. green beans, cut on a diagonal at 1/4" intervals
4 tsp. curry powder (or to taste)
1 can coconut milk
1 stick cinnamon
1 1/4 - 1/2 tsp.sea salt
2 tbsp. fresh lime juice [oops...forgot this step - it was still good!]

1. In a medium pot, combine the potatoes, enough water to cover them well, and 1/4 tsp. turmeric. Bring to a boil. Cover partially, turn the heat down a bit, and cook until the potatoes are almost tender, but still hold their shape well. Drain.
2.Put the oil in a large saute pan or frying pan, and set over medium-high heat. Add the leeks, ginger, garlic, and green peppers. Saute for 2-3 minutes, then add the basil leaves. Add the green beans and saute for another minute. Add in the curry powder and stir at once. 
3. Pour in the coconut milk, 1C water, the remaining tumeric, the cinnamon stick, salt, and potatoes. Stir and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to low, cover and cook about 15 minutes, or until the beans are just tender. (I like my beans on the crunchy side, so I don't cook them for the whole 15 minutes).
4. Add the lime juice and stir in.
5. Remove the cinnamon stick and serve. This is delicious over brown basmati rice served with a spinach salad on the side.