celery Tag

With the beautiful bounty we have received from the farm this week, I wanted to create an easy recipe for vegetable broth and a simple soup.  These recipes showcase the amazing celery, carrots, onions, broccoli, and fresh herbs from this week’s share, and the parts of the veggie you might typically discard are utilized in the broth- like kale ribs, beet greens and onion peels.

Slow Cooker Vegetable Broth

Ingredients:
2 onions- cut into 1/8ths with skin on
1 head garlic- chopped in half with skin on
4 carrots with tops- rough chopped
4 celery stalks with leaves- rough chopped
8 cups chopped veggie scraps (kale ribs, beet greens, turnip tops, onion peels, etc.)
3 Tbsp fresh herbs of choice- rough chopped
1 ½ tsp sea salt
¾ tsp black pepper
8-12 cups water (fill slow cooker almost to top)

  • Prep all ingredients and place in slow cooker.
  • Pour in water to within an inch of the top of the slow cooker.
  • Cook on high for 6 hours.
  • Toss strained vegetables.  Freeze or refrigerate broth.
  • This recipe makes about 8 cups of broth.

Easy Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 onions, peeled and chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 bunch carrots, chopped
4 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
1 head broccoli with stalks, chopped
½ lb mushrooms, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh herbs, finely chopped
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
8-10 cups vegetable broth

  • Heat oil in large saucepan.
  • Add onion and sauté on medium heat for 4 minutes.
  • Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.
  • Add carrots, celery, broccoli, mushrooms, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  • Add broth and simmer covered for 30 minutes.
  • Serve as is or with cooked pasta or rice.
  • Enjoy!

 

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio, Blooming Glen Farm CSA Coach.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

I’m sure you are as excited as we are to have the first batch of this season’s potatoes make its way into your CSA share. Fresh out of the dirt, these pink little nuggets have a flavorful, earthy goodness that is hard to beat. One important thing to note about this week’s variety–Dark Red Norland–is that they are a “new” potato and have not been cured, so the skin is really delicate. This is great because you don’t have to peel them, but it also means they will look a little tattered from tumbling in our root washer.

I still think they are mighty pretty : )

Dark Red Norland

The first thing I usually want to do when potatoes come into season (besides mashing them with a pound of butter) is make a simple cold potato salad. Since I’m looking for a new way to incorporate more fresh herbs into my dishes, I concocted this “fancy” version of potato salad with four kinds of herbs and those delicious yellow wax beans you have the choice of picking this week. I encourage you to eat this one warm or at room temperature. The flavors seem to develop much better. ENJOY!

Herb Potato Salad with Yellow Wax Beans
*This recipe actually uses 7 items from this weeks share!

-Cut 2 pounds of new potatoes into bit size cubes and bring them to a boil in a large pot of salted water. Boil for 10 minutes or until “fork tender”.

-In the meantime, chop:

1 sweet onion
1 bunch of celery (about 5 stalks)
a handful each of chives, parsley, dill, and french tarragon

-Cut the stems off of a half-quart (or 1/2 pound) of  fresh yellow wax beans (green beans can also be used). Blanch them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and then transfer immediately into a bowl of ice water. Chop into bit-size bits. [***I actually just threw them in with the potatoes that were already boiling on the stove and it turned out just great!]

-Drain the cooked potatoes and toss in the beans, veggies and herbs.

-Pour in a simple vinaigrette made with 3 tablespoons of red or white wine vinegar, 6 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of dijon mustard, and salt to taste.

Recipe and photos by Jana Smart- Blooming Glen Farm employee and frequent creator of creative recipes using farm fresh seasonal ingredients. Check out more of her recipes on her food blog http://www.agrarianeats.blogspot.com/