jalapeno Tag

This recipe is inspired by a salsa my son and I enjoyed this summer.  We were determined to recreate it.  The beautiful, big peaches in the fruit share from North Star Orchard are the stars in this recipe.  But the jalapenos, sweet peppers, sweet onions, garlic and cilantro from the farm enhance the flavor and combine to make a delicious, summer treat.

Peach Salsa

Ingredients:
1-2 jalapeno peppers (stem, seeds, and membranes removed)*
3 cloves garlic
½ sweet onion, roughly chopped
1 sweet pepper (stem, seeds, and membranes removed)
2 Tbsp fresh cilantro
4 cups peaches, diced (skin can be kept on)
½ lime
1 ½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 Tbsp white vinegar

  • Place jalapeno, garlic, onion, sweet pepper, and cilantro in food processor. Pulse a few times and then scrape the sides.  Pulse again until well chopped and then place in a large bowl.
  • Add diced peaches to the bowl.**
  • Zest and juice the lime into the bowl.

  • Add salt, pepper, and vinegar to the bowl. Mix well.
  • Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving.
  • Can be served with chips or as a topping for a grilled protein. This salsa pairs really well with fish and pork.

*Use just one jalapeno if you want a mild salsa.  Go with two if you would like a spicier version.  For more spice, leave the seeds and membranes on! Or try a different hot pepper variety of your preference.

**You can also grill the peaches first for a sweeter roasted flavor! Just halve and brush with a little oil. Peach salsa is also delicious made with peaches and tomatoes. Experiment and see what you like!

 

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  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

Nothing beats fresh carrots straight from the farm.  The recipes this week use the whole carrot- the delicious orange root vegetables themselves, as well as the beautiful greens that so often get tossed in the compost pile.  When you get a bunch of carrots in your share, remove the greens and store them separately in order to preserve their freshness.  Enjoy these honey ginger carrots and carrot top chimichurri alongside your favorite protein for a complete meal.

Honey Ginger Carrots

 Ingredients:
1 bunch carrots, about 8-10
1 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
2 tsp fresh ginger, grated

  • Preheat grill or oven, depending on how you are cooking the carrots. Temperature should be around 350-375°F.
  • Clean carrots. You can peel them if you want, but it isn’t necessary, especially with such farm fresh, tender young carrots.
  • Combine honey, oil, and ginger in small bowl. Mix well.
  • Brush marinade on carrots.

  • If grilling, place carrots on grill rack in single layer. Cook for 15-30 minutes or until carrots are fork tender.  The cook time will vary depending on the size of the carrots.  Smaller carrots will cook faster and the larger carrots will take more time.  Rotate carrots halfway through grill time.
  • If roasting, place carrots on a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 20-30 minutes, rotating halfway through cook time.

Carrot Top Chimichurri

Ingredients:
1 bunch carrot tops, cleaned with main stem removed (should be about 1 cup packed)
½ jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and roughly chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ cup red wine vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
Juice of ½ lemon, or 1 Tbsp lemon juice
Zest from ½ lemon, or ½ tsp lemon zest

  • Carrot tops require a little more work to clean. Soak them in water, rinse really well, and dry.  I used a salad spinner to remove most of the water from the clean carrot tops.
  • Remove the delicate leaves from the main stems. Discard the tough stem and use the delicate leaves for this recipe.
  • Place carrot top leaves, jalapeno pepper, garlic, sea salt, and black pepper in food processor. Pulse to combine and break down all ingredients.
  • In a small bowl, mix vinegar, oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
  • Turn food processor on low, slowly drizzle in the liquid mixture. Scrape down the sides and process one more time.
  • Refrigerate for a few days or freeze for future use.

*This chimichurri is wonderful spooned over beef, chicken, pork, fish, seafood, or roasted veggies.

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  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

Beets are full of essential vitamins and minerals and are a great addition to any meal.  They can be eaten raw and are delicious shredded into a slaw.  They can be roasted and served as a side to your favorite protein.  But one of my favorite ways to serve beets is pickling them.  This recipe gives you two options- pair them with some onions in a more traditional pickled beet recipe or combine with jalapenos and garlic for a spicy version.  I highly recommend trying both.  These pickled beets can be enjoyed straight out of the jar, on a salad, as a side, or even on a snack or charcuterie board.

Pickled Beets with Onions

Ingredients:
5 medium beets
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
1/3 cup honey
2 tsp sea salt
1 cup onions, sliced thin

Pickled Beets with Jalapeno and Garlic

Ingredients:
5 medium beets
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup water
1/3 cup honey
2 tsp sea salt
1 jalapeno, sliced thin (or use ½ for less spice)
3 cloves garlic, sliced thin

  • Clean beets. Leave whole with skin on. (Save the greens and add them to a soup or saute.)

  • Place beets in a pot of water. Bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer and cook until fork tender.  Cook time will depend on the size of the beets.  Smaller beets will take about 20 minutes and larger beets can take up to 45 minutes.
  • Once beets are fork tender, remove them from the pot and place in a bowl of cold water. Allow to sit for a minute or two.
  • Drain beets and peel off skin (it will rub right off). Also remove any stems that you left on.
  • Thinly slice beets (I used a mandolin set on the 3/16 setting) and place in a bowl.
  • If you are making the onion version, add those to the bowl with the sliced beets. If you are making the jalapeno and garlic version, add those to the bowl with the sliced beets.  Mix well and place in a 1-liter glass jar.
  • Combine apple cider vinegar, water, honey, and sea salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 3 minutes.
  • Pour liquid over the beet mixture. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Enjoy the next day or refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.

 

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  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