Author: Judi

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 1 – JUNE 4, 2019

June 4, 2017

Welcome back everybody! We’re so glad to have you back for another CSA season.

As is always the case at the beginning of the season, we are getting lots of greens. Fresh and delicious,  they are so good for you!

Today’s recipe is quick, easy and delicious.

STIR FRIED BOK CHOY WITH GARLIC AND GINGER

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp avocado oil
  • 1 bok choy sliced in half
  • 1/2 tsp minced ginger
  • 1 garlic clove minced
  • 2 tsp water
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Heat the avocado oil in a wok or sauté pan on medium heat.
  • Add the minced ginger and minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
  • Add the bok choy and  stir fry for 2 minutes, turning once.
  • Pour two tablespoons of water into the pan, cover and let cook for 2 minutes more.
  • Turn off the heat, add salt and pepper and serve.

Delightful!

HELPFUL HINT: Use tongs to turn the bok choy. Much easier than using a spatula.

Enjoy! And have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 24 – NOVEMBER 13, 2018

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

Greetings All,

Here it is: our very last week (unless you ordered a turkey for Thanksgiving. If you did, you will pick it up at the site next Tuesday, November 20.)

I’ve enjoyed our little correspondence each week , although, you never write back. No matter, I still love you. I’ll think of you often during those cold winter months and look forward to seeing you all next June, when we start all over again. I’ll miss your children too. Delightful little beings, they are.

This season, the farm crew battled the rain, which proved damaging to the crops, but they managed to provide us with great vegetables anyway.

So, this week’s recipe is a winter salad, featuring beets and winter fruit. It’s a great way of easing from summer to winter.

WINTER SALAD OF BEETS, FENNEL AND ORANGES

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 medium fresh beets
  • mixed salad greens
  • 2 medium navel oranges, peeled and sliced
  • 1 small fennel bulb, cut in half and thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts (or pecans or almonds or walnuts), toasted
  • DRESSING:
  • 3 TBS olive oil
  • 2 TBS orange juice
  • 1 TBS balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tsp grated orange zest
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°.
  2. Cut slits in the beets and place them on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
  3. Bake the beets until they are tender, about 1 hour.
  4. When they are cool enough to handle, peel the beets and cut them into wedges.
  5. Divide the greens among salad plates.  Top the greens with beets, oranges, fennel and nuts.
  6. Combine the dressing ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.  Shake well.
  7. Drizzle the dressing over the salads.

A nice beet salad may draw us out of our winter funk.

HELPFUL HINT: To hard cook eggs, put them into a pot with cool water and heat until boiling. As soon as they boil, turn off the stove and cover the pot. Let it stand for 15 minutes or so and then drain the water, run cold water over the eggs and, when they are cool, refrigerate them until peeling time.

I hope you have, not just a delicious week, but a delicious winter. Stay warm and cozy and come back next June!

Best,

Judi

 

 

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 23 – NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Greetings All,

This is the home stretch. Our season is almost done. We’ll soon be battening down the hatches for a long winter’s nap. For now, let’s enjoy the bounteous and beautiful fruits and vegetables.

Today’s recipe is a dish made from parsnips, that little known and little understood root vegetable that is sweet and not too starchy.  The recipe uses parsnips and pears – an actually delicious combination. It’s easy to make too.

 

PARSNIP AND PEAR PUREE

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups low-salt chicken broth
3/4 lb parsnips (about 6), peeled, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
5 sprigs fresh thyme
2 ripe pears , peeled, halved lengthwise, cored and thinly sliced crosswise
Directions

 

1. Bring the broth to a boil in a large saucepan.

2. Add parsnips and thyme sprigs, and  reduce the heat to medium.

3. Simmer, partially covered, until just tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in the pears and cook until they are softened, about 8 minutes. Remove the thyme and discard.

4. Using an immersion blender or a regular blender, puree the mixture, thinning with a little water, if necessary. Refrigerate the puree in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

That’s all there is to it, and I know you’ll love this with pork or poultry, or a vegetarian meal.

Have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 22 – OCTOBER 30, 2018

OCTOBER 30, 2018

GREETINGS ALL,

It’s still pretty chilly, but it’s not raining! Have to be grateful for that.

This week, more root vegetables are arriving. They are dense and satisfying and they lend themselves to different cooking methods.

Today’s recipe is one for turnips, those great starchy alternatives to potatoes. Made with an Asian twist and cooked slowly – they are delicious!

GLAZED TURNIPS

Ingredients

1 lb turnips, trimmed, scrubbed and cut into 1” wedges

2 TBS white miso

2 TBS unsalted butter

1 tsp sugar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 TBS fresh lemon juice

 

Directions

  1. Combine turnips, miso, butter, and sugar in a medium skillet, then add enough water to just cover the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Bring this to a boil over medium-high heat and cook the turnips, turning occasionally, until they are tender and the liquid has evaporated, approximately 15–20 minutes.
  3. Once all the liquid has cooked off, continue cooking the turnips and tossing occasionally, until they are golden brown and caramelized, and the sauce thickens and glazes the vegetables, about 5 minutes longer.
  4. Add the lemon juice and a splash of water to the pan and swirl it to coat the turnips. Season with salt and pepper.Enjoy!
  5. HELPFUL HINT: When cooking pasta, bring the water to a boil and then salt it. Do not salt the water before it boils or you will cause pits in your pot.

That’s it for this week. As we wind down our season, I urge anyone who has not yet volunteered at the site to sign up or contact Anastasia.

Have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi

 

 

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 21 – OCTOBER 23, 2018

OCTOBER 23, 2018

Greetings All,

Have we skipped fall and gone straight to winter? The cooler weather is an inspiration. It is motivating us to cook and eat heartier, more harvest-y food.

This week’s recipe is for baked acorn squash, elevated to comfort food status by the addition of kale and sausage. Don’t know about you, but I’m getting a little bored with the butter and brown sugar thing.

BAKED ACORN SQUASH WITH KALE AND SAUSAGE STUFFING

Ingredients

2 medium acorn squash, halved width-wise and seeded

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Olive oil cooking spray for the pan

3 tsp olive oil, divided

8 oz hot Italian turkey sausage, removed from casings

1 large leek, white and light green parts only, halved and sliced

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

4 cups tightly packed torn kale

1/3 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

2 TBS grated fresh Parmesan or Romano cheese

2 TBS panko breadcrumbs

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°.

2. Cut a thin slice off each squash, so they don’t rock. Sprinkle the inside with salt and pepper and then coat them with cooking spray.

3. Place the squash flesh side down on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or baking parchment and  bake until it is tender, approximately 30 minutes.

4. Remove the squash from the oven, flip the halves over so they’re skin side down and set aside.

5. Preheat the broiler.

6. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a nonstick skillet. Add the sausage and cook, breaking the meat into coarse pieces, until brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a bowl.

7. In the  same skillet, add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil and the leek. Cook about 3 minutes, until the leek softens.

8. Add the garlic and  cook for  30 seconds. Add the kale and toss. Add the broth.

9. Cover and cook until the kale is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cooked sausage.

10. Divide the kale-sausage stuffing among the squash halves. In a bowl, combine the walnuts, grated cheese and panko bread crumbs.  Sprinkle this mixture  over the stuffed squash and coat with cooking spray.

11. Broil until the breadcrumbs are golden, about 2 minutes.

HELPFUL HINT: The holiday season is approaching. If your champagne goes flat, throw a couple of raisins into it. The sugar from the raisins will pump up the bubbles.

Hope you enjoy this recipe. Have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 20 – OCTOBER 16, 2018

October 20, 2018

Greetings All,

*If you have not yet volunteered to serve a two hour shift at the CSA, please hurry – it is your obligation as a member to serve at least one shift.

So, summer is, apparently, over. This means shorter days, cooler nights and wonderful hearty harvest food. Lucky us!

Today’s recipe is a twist on potato salad.  Try some sweet potato salad! It really is a yummy change.

 

SWEET POTATO SALAD

Ingredients

2 large sweet potatoes,  peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

2 TBS olive oil

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 can black beans (15 oz), drained and rinsed

3 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced (use both the green and white parts)

1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and cut into small dice

1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)

1/2 cup cilantro leaves, minced

2 TBS honey

2 TBS Dijon mustard

2 TBS lemon juice

2 TBS olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking pan with a baking parchment sheet  or spray with cooking spray.
  2. Spread the sweet potatoes in an even, single layer. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and bake for about 45 minutes, or until fork-tender. Halfway through baking, stir or flip the potatoes.
  3. In a large bowl, mix the black beans, scallions, red pepper, corn and cilantro, then set aside.
  4. In a medium bowl, add the honey, mustard, lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste and whisk to combine, then set aside.
  5. After the potatoes are cooked, add them to the bowl with the beans and vegetables, then add the sauce, and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings, and serve. Potato salad keep, tightly covered, in the fridge for 5 days.

HELPFUL HINT: You can use any vegetables you like in this salad. Whatever you have left over in the fridge will only enhance the texture and flavor of this dish. Also, this may be served hot or cold.

I hope you love this dish as much as I do. Enjoy!

Have a delicious week!

Best, Judi

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 19 – OCTOBER 9, 2018

October 9, 2018

Greetings All,

I’d like to say that the crisp fall weather is here, but it isn’t. Is it just me, or is the weather getting stranger and stranger? Never mind – we have delightful fall vegetables to enjoy.

So, how about something a little bit different for these uncertain days? I’m thinking apples. I’m thinking about warming up the house with the scent of butter and sugar, of juicy apples and cinnamon. This recipe is for my go-to dessert when there’s not much time, but I want to impress company. The recipe is for individual apple tarts. So easy to make and so delicious!

CARAMELIZED APPLE TARTS

Ingredients

1 pkg Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets, thawed in the refrigerator

4 apples (I like to use a combination of red apples and green apples)

3 TBS cold unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla or 1 vanilla bean

cinnamon

 

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Wash the apples and core them, but do not peel them. Cut each apple into thin slices.

3. Unwrap the sheets of puff pastry and, using a saucer as a pattern, trace a circle for each tart.

4. Place the pastry circles on an ungreased cookie sheet or sheet pan.

5. Arrange the apple slices on each circle, overlapping and alternating red and green apple slices in a pinwheel pattern.

6. Dot each tart with butter pieces. Scatter sugar over the tarts, and then sprinkle with vanilla extract or vanilla bean. Finally, sprinkle a little cinnamon on each one.

7. Bake the tarts until the pastry is golden brown and the apples are soft.

8. Serve warm or at room temperature. You can even serve them cold.

 

HELPFUL HINT: These tarts are great with a scoop of ice cream on the side. I sometimes even sprinkle a little apple liqueur, like Calvados on the tarts to give them a little kick.  You can also serve them with whipped cream spiked with Calvados.

So, I hope you get some apple cider and drink it with these apple tarts on a cool evening. Enjoy!

Have a delicious week.

Best,

Judi

 

 

 

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 18, OCTOBER 2, 2018

Greetings All,

The weather continues to be warm and rainy. It still feels like summer, doesn’t it?

Today I thought I’d publish a recipe for carrots. I usually just eat carrots raw, since I love the crunch. But Artie likes his carrots cooked. So, I try to make them as interesting as I can. This recipe uses lots of garlic and a sprinkling of grated cheese.

 

CHEESY GARLIC ROASTED CARROTS

Ingredients

6 carrots, washed and cut into strips

1/4 c olive oil

5 large cloves garlic, minced (or 1 TBS minced garlic)

1/4 c grated cheese (parmesan, romano or any hard cheese)

2 TBS bread crumbs (any kind)

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to  375°F and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
  2. Put the carrot slices in a bowl. Pour the olive oil over the carrot slices, then add the garlic, parmesan, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Toss all the ingredients together to coat the carrots.
  3. Spread the carrots out on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 25 – 30 minutes, or until tender, tossing the slices halfway through.

 

That’s all there is to it.  Enjoy!

Have a delicious week.

Best,

Judi

 

 

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 17 – SEPTEMBER 25, 2018

September 25, 2018

Greetings All,

The summer of extraordinary heat and heavy rain is coming to an end. I don’t know about you, but to me that means I can start using the oven again. Time for some fall comfort food.

How about a zesty squash soup? This is a favorite recipe of mine. It’s easy to make and really tasty.

 

Curried Butternut Squash Soup With Apples

Ingredients

  • 2 TBS unsalted butter
  • 2 TBS olive oil
  • 3 large yellow onions, chopped
  • 2 TBS mild curry powder
  • 2 large butternut squashes
  • 4 apples (sweet, such as Macintosh or Gala)
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 2 c. water
  • 2 c. apple juice

Directions

1. Warm the butter, olive oil, onions, and curry powder in a large pot, uncovered, slowly over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the onions are tender. Stir occasionally, scraping the bottom of the pot.

2. Peel the squash, cut it in half, and remove the seeds. Then cut the squash into chunks.

3. Peel, quarter, and core the apples, then cut into chunks.

3. Add the squash, apples, salt, pepper, and 2 cups of water to the pot. Bring it to a boil, cover, and cook over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, until the squash and apples are very soft.

4, Puree the soup in a food processor.

5. Pour the soup back into the pot. Add the juice and enough water to make the soup quite thick. Check the salt and pepper and serve hot.

You will love this soup with some crusty bread  and perhaps a glass of white wine.

HELPFUL HINT: Squash can always be peeled, cut up and roasted, and then frozen. This kind of divides the work so that when you are ready to make the soup, you just throw in the cooked quash cubes and off you go.

I hope you enjoy this lovely fall soup. Have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi

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JUDI’S RECIPES – WEEK 14 – SEPTEMBER 4, 2018

September 4, 2018

September is here. I hear a lot of moaning and groaning about the end of summer, but that’s three weeks away, people! Cheer up! September also means the fall harvest is beginning and lots of hearty and delicious vegetables are coming our way.

I don’t know about you, but I have a few onions sitting around. Some people shy away from them because they’re sharp and might cause stomach repercussions.  Here’s what I do:  I make caramelized onions! They are mild and delicious, and there are things we can add to make them super interesting and even more delicious. So today’s recipe is one for caramelized onions.

 

CARAMELIZED ONIONS

2 large yellow onions, peeled

2 TBS unsalted butter

Kosher salt
Low-sodium chicken broth or water (for pan; optional)

1. Halve both onions through the root end (vertically). Using the tip of your knife, cut a V-shaped notch around the root on each half to remove it.  This will help the onion slices separate when you slice the onion.

2. Lay each onion half on your cutting board, flat side down, with the root end  facing you, then thinly slice the onion lengthwise. You want slices that are 1/8 to 1/4 inch  thick. You’re going to wind up with a big pile of thinly sliced onion. Don’t worry – it cooks down quite a bit.

3. Heat 2 TBS of butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until it sizzles.  Using a pan that has a wide base gives water room to evaporate, allowing the onions to caramelize rather than steam.

4. Putting all of the onions in at once would crowd the onions, making it hard to stir, which would in turn make the onions on the bottom cook faster than the ones at the top. So, begin with a handful or two of onions.  Cook, stirring, until the onions are soft and starting to turn translucent (1–2 minutes). Stir in a few more handfuls of onions and continue cooking and stirring  until you’ve added all the onions. Season with a pinch of salt.

5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook the onions, stirring every few minutes to prevent them from sticking and browning unevenly, until blonde-colored, 15–20 minutes. At this point, the onions are just done enough  for French onion soup. If you feel like onions are getting too brown around the edges or they’re sticking, reduce your heat a bit.

6. If you want onions that are both softer and more caramelized (for something like onion dip), keep cooking and stirring until the onions are really golden brown, another 15–20 minutes. Because most of the water will have cooked off at this point, there might be some bits stuck to the pan. If this happens, stir in a splash of broth or water. The liquid will dissolve the cooked-on bits, which the onions will re-absorb. For extra-dark onions, the kind that are  great on a burger, cook until they start to almost blacken around the edges and go slightly crisp, another 10–15 minutes. This requires constant attention so they don’t burn.  Caramelized onions are not fast food, but they are so worth the effort!

7. Let the onions cool in the saucepan, then either use them right away or put them in an airtight container and chill. They will keep up to 1 week.

HELPFUL HINT: There are lots of things you can add to these onions to enhance or complement their flavor: red wine, balsamic vinegar, more chicken stock, diced mushrooms – let your imagination run wild!

ANOTHER HELPFUL HINT: I saw this one on the late lamented The Chew: It’s still corn season. To quickly and neatly cut the kernels off a corn cob, use a bundt pan. Rest the tip of the corn cob on the little indentation in the center of the pan (the part that sticks up). Then use your knife to quickly slice off the corn kernels. A bonus: they all land in the bundt pan!

I will be away for the next two weeks, so Anastasia will be gathering recipes for you from the Internet. Enjoy the bounteous season!

And have a delicious week!

Best,

Judi