Category: Recipes

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JUDI’S RECIPES – Week 6 July 9, 2018

July 9, 2018

Greetings All,

Welcome to Cucumberland! There will be three cucumbers for each of us in this week’s half share, and full share members will get six. Such a cool, crisp, wet vegetable. It’s perfect for summertime.

Because it is such a wet vegetable, the cucumber lends itself to cold dishes, as cooking it will draw out all the moisture, and our poor cukes will just disappear!

So, this week’s recipe is a cool no-cook cucumber salsa.

CUCUMBER SALSA

Ingredients

       2 TBS lime juice
      1 tsp minced parsley
      2 tsp minced cilantro
      1/2 tsp dried dill weed
     1/2 tsp salt
     1 pkg tortilla chips
1. In a medium bowl, stir together the cucumbers, tomatoes, green pepper, jalapeno pepper, onion, garlic, lime juice, parsley, cilantro, dill, and salt.
2. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips.
That’s all there is to it – no sweat!
HELPFUL HINT: If you take the ribs and the seeds out of the jalapeno, it will be milder. You could also substitute a milder chili pepper, such as Anaheim.
I hope this dish will help you beat the heat. Enjoy!
Have a delicious week.
Best,
Judi
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Zucchini Sauce

From The Seasoned Jewish Kitchen by Amelia Saltsman.

Pasta with Zucchini Sauce

(Makes 6 to 8 servings.)

Zucchini is such an everyday food that it’s easy to forget how delicious a starring ingredient it can be. Simply sautéed in good olive oil with onion and garlic, summer squash melts into a luscious sauce that coats each noodle in creamy goodness. Because there are so few ingredients in this dish, the quality of squash, pasta, and olive oil make all the difference. Use tender, medium-sized green zucchini . This is a delightful vegan dish as is, or you can stir in a handful of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

1 onion

2 large cloves garlic

2 pounds medium zucchini 

4 to 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black or white pepper

1 pound small or regular penne, farfalle, or other pleasant shape short pasta

Finely chop onion and mince garlic. Cut squash into ½-inch pieces for faster cooking. Here’s how to make quick work of this: Cut the zucchini into quarters lengthwise. Gather up the “zucchini sticks” and cut crosswise through as many sticks as you can easily manage at once.

Put a large pot of water on to boil. In another wide pot large enough to accommodate all ingredients, sauté the onion over medium with a little salt in 1 to 2 tablespoons of the oil until onion is soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 30 to 60 seconds. Add zucchini and 2 tablespoons oil. Add about ½ teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook uncovered until color of skins deepens and mixture starts to get shiny, about 3 minutes.

Cover the pot, lower the heat, and cook until zucchini are extremely tender, even melting in places, and have released their liquid to make a sauce, 15 to 20 minutes. Check the pot from time to time just in case you need to add a little water (I’ve never found this necessary when I have fresh young zucchini). Uncover pot, raise heat to medium and cook about a minute to thicken the sauce slightly.

Meanwhile, generously salt boiling water and add pasta. When pasta is almost done, remove about a half cup of the cooking water and reserve. Loosely drain pasta and stir into the zucchini-onion mixture. Turn heat to medium, stir in 1 to 2 more tablespoons of olive oil and about ¼ cup pasta water, salt and pepper, and cook over medium heat until pasta is nicely coated with sauce, about 2 minutes.

© 2012, Amelia Saltsman.

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Portbello sliders

From The Love & Lemons Cookbook. —Love and Lemons

Serves: 4

For the pepita pesto:

  • 1/2 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
  • 1 garlic clove
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cups cilantro (or basil)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon honey, optional (skip or replace with agave if vegan)

For the portobello sliders:

  • 8 small portobello mushrooms
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  • Balsamic vinegar, for drizzling
  • Tamari, for drizzling
  • Pepper, to taste
  • 8 slider buns, toasted
  • 1 tomato, sliced
  • 1/2 cup microgreens
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  1. Make the pesto. In a small food processor, combine the pepitas, garlic, and a few pinches of salt and pepper. Pulse until combined. Add the lemon juice, cilantro (or basil), and cumin and pulse again. With the blade running, drizzle in the olive oil and purée until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Add the honey, if desired (it will reduce bitterness in the cilantro).
  2. Make the sliders. Heat a grill or grill pan to medium heat.
  3. Prepare the mushrooms by removing the stems and cleaning the caps with a damp cloth or paper towel. Place the mushrooms in a medium bowl and drizzle with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, tamari, and pepper. Toss until well coated. (I use my hands to rub it all over until they are fully coated on both sides.)
  4. Place the mushrooms, gill side down, on the grill or grill pan. Cook about 10 minutes per side, or until the mushrooms are tender.
  5. Place the mushrooms on the toasted buns and top each with a tomato slice, microgreens, and a generous slather of pepita pesto.
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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 5 JULY 3, 2018

July 3, 2018

Greetings All,

And welcome to the Baked Apple!

We’re going to be pretty steamy here for the next week or so. Which brings me to this week’s recipe. We are getting the first beets of the season and what could be more delightful than a beet salad? The unfortunate thing is that beets are a root vegetable and have to be roasted for most recipes. And who wants to turn on the oven in this weather? My best recommendation is to do this at night, when it’s a little cooler, or hold your beets until next week when it’ll be a little cooler in the city. If you do it, you’ll be rewarded with a cool delicious dish!

ROASTED BEETS AND FETA

4 medium beets, peeled and cut into half-inch pieces

1 TBS olive oil

1 tsp salt

pepper to taste

4 scallions, chopped

2 tsp lemon juice

Crumbled feta cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

2. Toss the beets with the olive oil, salt and pepper on a baking sheet.

3. Roast the beets until tender, stirring once or twice, approximately 35 – 40 minutes.

4. Transfer to a bowl and toss with scallions and lemon juice

5. Top with crumbled feta cheese

That’s it. If you can roast the vegetables and not melt, you’ll really enjoy this dish.

HELPFUL HINT: An easy way to peel the beets is to immerse them in boiling water for 1 minute, and then plunge them into ice water. The skins will slip off easily.

I hope you enjoy this dish and the Fourth of July holiday.

Have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi

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JUDI’S RECIPES WEEK 4 – JUNE 26, 2018

June 25, 2018

Greetings All,

Summer has arrived! As you know, we don’t have spring in New York City. It seems that winter weather lasts right up until June, and then we have scorching summer.

Summer also brings lovely and bountiful vegetables. This week we are getting the first of the summer squash, versatile and plentiful. So this week’s recipe is a great  mixture of summer squash and zucchini. ideal for serving with pasta.

SUMMER SQUASH AND BASIL PASTA

1/4 cup olive oil

8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

2 lbs assorted summer squashes and zucchini, quartered lengthwise, sliced

Kosher salt

1 tsp pepper, plus more for serving

12 oz paccheri, ziti, or other large tube pasta

2 oz Parmesan, grated (about 1/2 cup), plus more for serving

1 TBS fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup basil leaves

 

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the garlic, stirring occasionally, until it is very lightly browned around the edges, about 4 minutes.

2. Add the squash; season with salt. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the squash begins to break down and gets jammy (they may start to stick to the skillet a bit, which means you are there!), 12–15 minutes. Toss in 1 tsp.  pepper.

3. Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente.

4. Transfer the pasta to a skillet using a slotted spoon or spider and add 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid. Cook the pasta, adding 2 oz. of Parmesan in stages, along with more pasta cooking liquid as needed, until the sauce coats the pasta and the pasta is al dente. Toss in the lemon juice and most of the basil.

5. Divide the pasta among bowls and top with more Parmesan and  pepper and the remaining basil.

HELPFUL HINT: This tastes great the next day, too!

ANOTHER HELPFUL HINT: If you have a basil plant, pinch off the newest tiny leaves. That will make the plant branch out and grow. Do not allow the plant to bloom, or it will die! Pinch off any flower buds as soon as you notice them.

A THIRD HELPFUL HINT: I’m at the full share table. Stop by with any questions you may have about the veggies, the CSA, recipes, etc.

I hope you find the summer weather enjoyable, and I hope you love this dish!

Have a delicious week.

Best,

Judi

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JUDI’S RECIPES WEEK 3 – JUNE 19, 2018

June 19, 2018

Greetings All!

The heat is on! We had no spring this year. It was cold and rainy. And then it was hot! So, if you’ve decided to hide in the air conditioned apartment, why not pass the time cooking your beautiful organic vegetables?

Members are always asking me what to do with the kohlrabi. It is actually a very versatile vegetable, and the greens are delicious in a salad too. I’m guessing that by now you are looking for variations for your salads.

So, today’s recipe is a surefire way to impress your family – kohlrabi fries! And they are not deep fried, so you won’t be feeding your family too much fat. It’s a simple recipe, and a quick one, so you won’t get tied up in the kitchen all night.

KOHLRABI FRIES

  • 1 ½ to 2 lbs kohlrabi
  • 1 TBS rice flour, chickpea flour or semolina (more as needed)
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 to 4 TBS canola oil or grapeseed oil, as needed
  • Chili powder, ground cumin, curry powder or paprika to taste
  1. Peel the kohlrabi and cut them into thick sticks, about 1/3 to 1/2 inch wide and about 2 inches long.
  2. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a heavy skillet (cast iron is good). Meanwhile, place the flour in a large bowl, season with salt if desired and quickly toss the kohlrabi sticks in the flour so that they are lightly coated.
  3. When the oil is rippling,  add the kohlrabi to the pan (be careful – you don’t want to splash hot oil on yourself!) in batches so that the pan isn’t crowded.
  4. Cook the kohlrabi sticks on one side until browned, about 2 to 3 minutes. Then, using tongs, turn the pieces over to brown on the other side for another 2 to 3 minutes. The entire procedure should take only about 5 minutes if there is enough oil in the pan. Drain on paper towels, then sprinkle right away with the seasoning of your choice. Serve hot.

HELPFUL HINT: The kohrabi sticks can be cut several hours in advance and refrigerated until you are ready to fry them.

ANOTHER HELPFUL HINT: IF you really don’t want to fry these, they can be floured, brushed or sprayed with the oil and baked in the oven.

I hope you all enjoy this dish and that you find new and wonderful ways to beat the heat. Have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 2 – JUNE 12, 2018

June 12, 2018

Greetings All!

I hope you all had amazing salads and fresh vegetable dishes last week. This week there are more greens (surprise!) and a few other interesting things.

This week one of the other interesting things is Napa cabbage. Here’s a great recipe for shrimp with Napa cabbage and ginger. It’s pretty quick to make and is nice light hot weather fare. Just add rice.

SHRIMP WITH NAPA CABBAGE AND GINGER

1 bunch scallions

1 lb large shrimp in shell (16 to 20 per lb), peeled and deveined (you can buy them already shelled and deveined).

2 TBS medium-dry sherry

1 tsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp white pepper

1 tsp salt

1 (2-lb) head Napa cabbage, quartered lengthwise, cored, and cut crosswise into 1 1/2-inch pieces (10 cups)

3 TBS vegetable oil

1 tsp minced peeled fresh ginger

1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/4-inch-wide strips (1 cup)

1 TBS soy sauce

 

 

  • 1. Cut the white and pale green parts of the scallions into 2-inch pieces and thinly slice the dark green parts.
  • 2. Stir together the shrimp, 1 TBS sherry, cornstarch, white pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt in a bowl.
  • 3. Rinse the cabbage in a colander. Tap the colander lightly, then transfer the cabbage to a large bowl with excess water clinging to the leaves.
  • 4. Heat a 14-inch wok or 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until it is beginning to smoke, then add 2 TBS oil. When the oil begins to smoke, add the shrimp and stir-fry until golden and almost cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer the shrimp to a clean bowl.
  • 5. Add the remaining TBS oil to the pan and heat until it is just smoking, then stir-fry the ginger and white and pale green parts of the scallions until they are slightly softened, about 2 minutes.
  • 6. Add the bell pepper and stir-fry until it is softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining tablespoon of sherry and cook until most of the liquid is evaporated.
  • 7. Add the cabbage with water from the bowl, the soy sauce, and the remaining 1/2 tsp salt and cook, covered, until the cabbage is tender, about 5 minutes.
  • 8. Stir in the shrimp along with any juices accumulated in the bowl and simmer, uncovered, until the shrimp are just cooked through, about 1 minute. Add the scallion greens and toss to combine well. Serve with brown or white rice.

 

HELPFUL HINT: You could add mushrooms to this mixture, or thinly sliced carrots, celery and my favorite, thinly sliced or grated garlic. This dish is also good with broad noodles instead of rice.

ANOTHER HELPFUL HINT: You can peel the ginger using a regular vegetable peeler, but the edge of a spoon does a good job of scraping out all those crevices.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi

 

 

 

 

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JUDI’S RECIPES WEEK 1 – JUNE 5, 2018

June 5, 2018

Greetings All!

To those of you who are returning members, welcome back! And for those of you who are new, welcome! We’re so happy to have you with us.

My husband Artie and I have been trying to stick to using nothing but organic fruits and vegetables, so this winter shopping was trying (and expensive) for us. We are so happy to be back and look forward to a season of fresh, local, healthy and reasonably priced food!

As always, the first few weeks of the season will bring us a lot of greens.  We are always looking for something to do with all those lettuces and other greens – salads are wonderful, but everyone needs a change once in a while, no?

So, this week, I have a great recipe you can use with any greens. It whips up really fast and is certainly a change from a salad.  So, give Sauteed Greens With Olives a try. You can vary the greens, and the olives too.

SAUTEED GREENS WITH OLIVES

3 TBS olive oil

4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes plus more

10 cups torn mixed greens (such as kale, turnip greens, and lettuce)

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

¼ cup black olives, pitted, halved (or any olives you like)

2 TBS (or more) fresh lemon juice

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring often, until just beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add greens a handful at a time, tossing until wilted between additions. Season with salt and pepper and cook until all the greens are wilted and softened, about 3 minutes longer. Add the olives and lemon juice and toss to combine; season with red pepper flakes and more lemon juice, if desired.

And so, the season begins!

HELPFUL HINT: Watch the garlic closely. If you let it brown, it will be bitter.

ANOTHER HELPFUL HINT: This recipe lends itself to plenty of variations. You can vary the greens you use and the olives too. You can add other vegetables, like bok choy, mushrooms, radishes (yes, radishes!) summer squash, zucchini, peas, sugar snap peas, onions, scallions – anything that strikes your fancy.

 

Welcome to CSA and have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi

 

 

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 24 – CELERY ROOT ANNA

November 14, 2017

Hello Everyone!

Here we are at the end of the season. It’s been a lovely time, and we hope everyone will be attending the potluck on Tuesday, November 28 at Bonnie Webber’s apartment. Please stop at the front table when you come to the site, to get more information and RSVP.

Today’s recipe is a new take on Potatoes Anna, a classic dish. It is made with celeriac instead of potatoes, but you can always substitute potatoes in the recipe.

CELERY ROOT ANNA

Ingredients

4 bacon slices (about 1/4 pound)

1TBS unsalted butter

1 1/2-lbs celery root (celeriac) or 1 1/2 lbs potatoes

6 TBS freshly grated Parmesan

1 TBS chopped fresh thyme leaves

1 TBS chopped drained Kalamata or other brine-cured black olives

 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400° F.

2. Cook the bacon until it is crisp and then crumble it.

3. Melt the butter and lightly brush over the bottom and sides of a well-seasoned cast-iron or non-stick 10-inch skillet.

4. With a sharp knife, peel celery root and, using a mandoline or other manual slicer, cut it crosswise into very thin (1/16-inch-thick) slices.

5. Arrange 1 slice in the center of the skillet and arrange one layer of slices around the center slice in a concentric circle, overlapping them slightly. Lightly brush the layer with some of the melted butter (being careful not to move the slices).

6. Sprinkle with one third of the bacon, 1 1/2 tablespoons Parmesan, 3/4 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon olives, and salt and pepper to taste. Repeat procedure twice more but reverse the direction of slices each time so that the layers are even.

7. Add one more layer of celery root. Brush the top with any remaining butter and sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons Parmesan and remaining thyme.

8. Cover the top of the skillet tightly with foil and bake in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake 20 to 25 minutes more, or until celery root is tender and top and edges are golden brown.

9. Transfer celery root Anna with 2 large spatulas to a cutting board and cut into wedges.

That’s it! Wishing you a warm coy winter, and looking forward to seeing you again in the spring.

Have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi

 

 

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 22 – ROASTED POTATOES WITH CARAMELIZED SHALLOTS

October 31, 2017

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Take time to enjoy the fun – make this delicious dish for dinner and enjoy it between greeting the Trick-or-Treaters.

Roasted Potatoes with Caramelized Shallots

Ingredients:

6 large shallots, peeled and halved lengthwise

3 TBS extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 1/2 lbs medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and quartered (you can use any kind of potatoes, but Yukon golds are the best)

salt and pepper

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F with the rack in lowest position.

2. Toss the shallots with 1 1/2 tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a 13-by 9-inch baking pan, spreading evenly. in one layer

3. Place  the pan in the oven and roast, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are golden, about 30 minutes.

4. Toss the potatoes with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl, then add to the shallots.

5. Roast again, turning occasionally, until vegetables are tender and potatoes are crusty, 40 to 50 minutes.

Note:
Shallots (but not potatoes) can be roasted (for 30 minutes only) 1 day ahead and chilled.
Tip:
The farm has sent a lovely recipe for popcorn this week, but I, lazy girl that I am, have a simple and effortless way to make popcorn.
Here it is:
Do not remove the kernels from the cob. Place the whole cob in a paper bag and fold down the top of the bag. Place in the microwave and set for four minutes (or use the popcorn setting, if you have one). That’s it. When the microwave “dings”, take the paper bag out and enjoy the popcorn!
That’s it. I hope you enjoy the beautiful vegetables. Have a delicious week!
Best,
Judi