onions Tag

13 Oct

Posted at 08:11h in Recipes by
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This potato soup is full of flavor, but very simple to make.  It combines the russet potatoes, onion, and garlic from this week’s share and uses the fresh dill as a possible topping.  This is a recipe the whole family will enjoy!

Potato Soup

Ingredients:
4 Tbsp butter
1 red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 quart russet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½ inch cubes
5 cups vegetable broth, divided
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
3 Tbsp flour (*if gluten free, you can use a gluten free flour)
½ cup sour cream
2 tsp finely chopped fresh dill

  • In medium pot on stovetop, melt butter.
  • Add onion and cook on medium heat for 2 minutes.
  • Add garlic and cook an additional minute, stirring constantly.
  • Add potatoes and toss to coat.
  • Pour in 4 ½ cups broth (reserve ½ cup for use later), salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes uncovered.
  • Mix the last ½ cup of broth with the flour in a small bowl. Slowly add to the soup, mixing as you go.  Allow to simmer for 2 more minutes.
  • Once the soup is done cooking, you can serve as is or you can blend it up to create a uniform texture.

  • Dill Sour Cream: combine sour cream and dill in a small bowl. This can be used as a topping.
  • Divide soup into bowls. Top with the dill sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon, ham, fresh chives, fresh dill, etc.
  • Enjoy!

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

22 Sep

Posted at 11:17h in Recipes by
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The fall is typically a time where we shift into new routines.  We juggle school, work, children’s activities, and sporting events.  As a family of 5, we often find ourselves moving in different directions, but still enjoy eating together at least a couple of times a week.  This meal is full of flavor and is fast and easy, so it’s perfect for a quick, but healthy dinner.  I actually like to double the recipe so that we have leftovers throughout the week for lunches.

Sheet Pan Fajitas

Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs boneless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
2 onions, sliced
4 peppers (green bell peppers or sweet peppers), stem/seeds removed and sliced
3 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sea salt
¼ tsp ground cumin

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Place sliced chicken, onions, and peppers in large bowl. Add oil and toss to coat.

  • In small bowl, mix all of the spices. Sprinkle over chicken and vegetables.  Mix well to evenly distribute.
  • Place on large baking sheet.
  • Bake for 25 minutes.

  • Serve in wraps or on top of rice. Top with homemade salsa (see recipe for End of Summer Salsa), guacamole (see recipe below), sour cream, and shredded cheese.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up a week.

 

Guacamole–
4 ripe avocados
1 lime, juiced + 1 tsp zest
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ jalapeno, seeds/membranes removed and finely chopped
½ medium onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 medium tomato, seeds removed and finely chopped
1 Tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped (optional)

Scoop the avocado pulp into a large bowl.  Mash with a fork.  Add lime juice, lime zest, salt, and pepper.  Mix well.  In a small bowl, combine jalapeno, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and cilantro (if using).  Add to avocado mixture and fold in.  Serve with fajitas, tacos, nachos, or just with chips or 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

23 Sep

Posted at 11:13h in Recipes by
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Continuing with our theme of preserving the harvest, this recipe is a great way to savor the amazing flavor we get with farm fresh onions and garlic.  Homemade seasonings are much more flavorful than their store bought counterparts.  This is by far one of my favorite ways to preserve onions and garlic.

DIY Onion and Garlic Powder

Ingredients:
onions (at least 2)*
garlic (at least 2-3 heads)*

*There’s no specific amount you need to have of the onions or the garlic.  However, I highly recommend using at least the quantity listed.  You can always use more!

  • Prep onions.
    • Peel.
    • Thinly slice. I used a mandolin set on the lowest setting (which was 1/16”).

  • Prep garlic.
    • Remove cloves from head of garlic and peel.
    • Slice as thin as possible.

  • Lay out onion and garlic slices on dehydrator racks in single layer. **

  • Place in dehydrator at 135° and allow the magic to happen.

  • Dry time will vary depending on thickness of slices and moisture content of produce.
    • Just to give you an idea of timing, my onions took about 18 hours total. The garlic took over 24 hours (its harder to cut them thin like the onions).
    • The nice part about the dehydrator is you can just set it up, turn it on, and forget about it while the dehydration happens.
  • When the onion and garlic are dry enough, you will be able to pick it up and break it in your hands. If it bends instead of breaks or crumbles, then it is not ready yet.  They should be crispy and brittle.
    • Some pieces may dry quicker than others. If they do, simply remove them and set aside until all of it is done.

  • Once the onion and garlic are dry enough, you need to process it into powder. The best way to do this is using a clean coffee grinder.  You can also use a blender, food processor, or a mortar and pestle.  Process the dried onions until a nice powder is formed.  Do the same for the garlic.

  • Store in airtight containers.

**If you do not have a dehydrator, you may use your oven.  Set it on the lowest temperature setting possible.  The lowest my oven would go was 170°F.  Lay the onion and garlic slices on parchment lined baking sheets in a single layer.  Just like in the dehydrator, the drying time will vary.  I recommend leaving them for 4 hours and then begin checking every 30 minutes to an hour to test the dryness.  Mine took about 6-8 hours total.

Tips:

  • If you process the garlic or onion and your powder sticks together, pop it back in the dehydrator or oven and continue to remove the excess moisture. It should be nice and powdery.
  • If you don’t want to create powder, you can keep as chopped dehydrated onion and garlic. Still great for seasoning dishes.

 

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

02 Sep

Posted at 10:53h in Recipes by
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Grilling during the summertime keeps the heat of cooking out the kitchen.  I have been wanting to create a grilled pizza recipe for a while and this one does not disappoint.  While it takes a little time to prepare all of the ingredients, it is a versatile recipe that can serve as a base for you to try all different kinds of pizzas!  Keep it simple with a roasted tomato sauce and freshly grated cheese from our cheese shares or top it with a homemade pesto and a little ricotta.  You can even slice up the peppers, onions, garlic, or other vegetables from our shares and create a veggie lover pizza.  Grilled pizza is amazing- cooking the crust directly on the grill grates gives it a fantastic texture and topping the pizzas with farm fresh ingredients creates an explosion of summertime flavors.

Grilled Pizza

*This recipe makes 4 personal size pizzas.

Ingredients:
2 lbs pizza dough**
3 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp oregano

Pizza toppings of choice:

Prepare all pizza toppings first. Sauté or roast vegetables.  Make sauce or pesto.  Slice or grate cheese.  If using meat, make sure it is precooked.  Once you begin cooking, this goes very quickly, so you want to have everything prepared and ready to go.

  • Mix all spices together in a small bowl.
  • Preheat grill to medium heat- you want it about 400°F.
  • Split pizza dough into four equal balls. Roll each ball out onto a floured surface.  You can either create round pizzas (measuring about 8 inches in diameter) or oval pizzas (measuring about 10 inches long).

  • Lay your rolled dough on a flat surface- a cookie sheet or cutting board works great.
  • Brush each side with oil and sprinkle with the spice mix.
  • Place dough on the grill grates. Grill for 3-4 minutes or until you see nice grill marks on the underside of the dough.

  • Remove from grill.

  • With the grilled side up, add toppings of choice.

  • Place back on the grill and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes.
  • Remove from grill. Slice and serve.

**You can make your own homemade pizza dough or use your favorite store bought one.  For those that are gluten free, I was able to find a frozen gluten free dough that was wonderful at Kimberton Whole Foods!

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

22 Jul

Posted at 10:25h in Recipes by
1 Like

New potatoes are freshly harvested from the ground and are uncured.  Leaving their thin skins on adds color, flavor and nutritional value to culinary dishes.  Combining these potatoes with butter, spices, and fresh herbs in a casserole make a great side dish.

Herb Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients:
1 lb new potatoes
2 fresh torpedo onions (bulb only- reserve tops for another recipe or broth)
6 Tbsp salted butter, divided
½ cup flour (for gluten free options- use an all purpose blend or cassava flour)
1 tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¾ tsp paprika
2 Tbsp + 1 tsp minced fresh herbs (dill, thyme, rosemary, sage, etc.)
2-3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
¼ cup parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
2 cups milk (dairy or nondairy)

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Thinly slice potatoes. I used a mandolin set on 1/8 inch setting.

  • Thinly slice onions.
  • Use 1 Tbsp butter to grease baking dish. I used a 6 x 10 inch pan.
  • In the baking dish, layer half of the potatoes and then half of the onions.

  • Cut butter into thin slices and place 3 Tbsp on top of the onions.
  • In a medium bowl, mix flour, sea salt, black pepper, paprika, 2 Tbsp fresh herbs, garlic, and parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast.
  • Sprinkle half of the flour mixture into the baking dish on top of the onions and butter.
  • Layer the rest of the potatoes, then the rest of the onions, then the rest of the butter (2 Tbsp), and finally the remaining flour mixture.

  • Slowly add milk to the dish.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
  • Broil for 3-5 minutes to crisp top. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
  • Top with remaining 1 tsp fresh herbs and a few sprinkles of paprika before serving.

Notes:
*To make dairy free- use vegan butter, nutritional yeast, and dairy free milk.
*Can prepare in advance and refrigerate before cooking.
*Leftovers reheat really well.

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

01 Jul

Posted at 08:13h in Recipes by
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Summer is officially here and we are almost ready to celebrate the Fourth of July.  As you prepare for barbecues, picnics, or camping adventures, this recipe is one that incorporates several share ingredients.  It is versatile and can be adjusted depending on what you have available.  Make it for your family or double it for a crowd.  Heat up the grill or cook it on a campfire!

Grilled Veggie Packets

Ingredients:
2 medium summer squash
1 lb new potatoes
2 sweet onions
7 garlic scapes
4 Tbsp olive oil, avocado oil, or melted butter
1 tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp smoked paprika
Optional- fresh chopped herbs

  • Preheat grill.
  • Cut 5 sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil into 12 x 18 inch strips. If you do not have heavy duty foil, you can use two sheets of regular foil per packet.
  • Prepare vegetables.
    • Summer squash- Slice into 1 inch disks. If the circles are really big, you can cut them in half (creating half circles).
    • New potatoes- Wash and leave skin on. Cut into ¼ – ½ inch cubes.  You want these to be smaller than the squash since they take longer to cook.
    • Sweet onions- Peel, quarter, and slice into wedges.
    • Garlic scapes- Cut into ½ inch pieces.

  • Place all prepared vegetables into a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, combine oil/butter, sea salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
  • Pour oil/butter mixture over vegetables and toss until all vegetables are coated.
  • Divide vegetable evenly among foil packets. This recipe allows for about 2 cups per foil.

  • Fold foil to seal and wrap securely.
  • Grill temperature should be about 375-400°F.
  • Place foil packets on grill. Allow to cook for about 15 minutes, turning every five minutes to insure even cooking.

  • Remove packets from grill and carefully open.
  • You can serve right from the foil or place the grilled vegetables on a serving dish.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped herbs of choice or a dollop of herb butter (see recipe below).

Notes:

*If you are getting a mushroom share, feel free to add mushrooms to these packets.

*Pair with your favorite grilled protein.

*These packets can be made ahead of time.  Just refrigerate after assembling.  Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling.

*To make in the oven, cook for about 15 minutes at 400°F.

*Can also be made on a campfire!

*You can change the variety of vegetables in the grill packets as the produce we receive changes throughout the season.

Herb Butter

Ingredients:
8 ounces salted butter, room temperature
2 Tbsp fresh herbs, finely chopped (dill, basil, parsley, cilantro, etc.)

Other optional add-ins:
finely chopped scallions (1 Tbsp)
finely chopped garlic scapes (1 Tbsp)
crushed garlic cloves (2)

  • Cream butter.
  • Add herbs and any optional add ins. Mix well.
  • Place butter on a piece of wax or parchment paper.

  • Shape into a log using paper to help mold.  Log should be about 6 inches long.  Twist ends to secure.

  • Refrigerate for at least two hours.
  • Herb butter will be good in the refrigerator for at least two weeks.
  • If you want to preserve for longer, you can freeze the whole log right in the paper.

 

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

14 Oct

Posted at 14:17h in Recipes by
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One of my favorite ways to serve turnips is to roast them, but I wanted to create a recipe that used them in a different way.  This dish features turnips that have been cooked and then pureed.  Top with some mushrooms and broccoli and this dish becomes a delicious blend of flavors and textures.

Pureed Turnips with Riced Broccoli and Sauteed Mushrooms

Ingredients:
2 lbs purple top turnips
2 Tbsp butter (or non-dairy substitute)
½ tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp black pepper
¼ tsp sea salt

  • Wash turnips and cut into 1- inch cubes.
  • Fill large pot halfway with water. Bring to a boil.
  • Place cubed turnip pieces in water. Bring to a boil again and then reduce to a simmer.  Cook for 30 minutes or until turnips are fork tender.
  • Drain turnips. Place in blender or food processor with butter and seasonings.  Blend until smooth.
  • Place turnip puree in serving bowl. Top with riced broccoli and sauteed mushrooms or simply serve as a side.

Riced Broccoli

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
½ medium onion, finely chopped*
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 Tbsp water
1 cup broccoli crowns, finely chopped*

Heat oil in pan on stovetop.  Reduce heat to low.  Add onions and garlic.  Cook for 2 minutes.  Add water to deglaze the pan.  Add broccoli and cover.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Remove from heat and set aside.

*You can also put the onion and broccoli in a food processor and finely chop.

Sauteed Mushrooms

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
½ medium onion, finely chopped
1 cup Maitake mushrooms, finely chopped
Pinch sea salt

Heat oil in pan on stovetop.  Reduce heat to low.  Add onions and cook for 2 minutes.  Add mushrooms and salt.  Mix and allow to cook for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and set aside.

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

05 Aug

Posted at 11:48h in Recipes by
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Cherry tomatoes, plum tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, and beefsteak tomatoes… oh my!  There are so many amazing things we can do with tomatoes.  They can be the star of a meal or a delicious side.  Eat them as is, add them to salads, can them, make sauce, or create this delicious soup.

Roasted Tomato Soup with Basil Oil and Fried Zucchini Noodles

Ingredients:
3.5- 4 lbs fresh tomatoes
2 medium onions, peeled and quartered
1 pepper (green bell or sweet cubanelle), halved and seeds removed
1 medium summer squash (zucchini or yellow squash), roughly chopped
6 cloves garlic, with skin on
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
6 basil leaves
Basil oil (recipe below)
Fried zucchini spirals (recipe below)

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Slice tomatoes into quarters or eighths if they are really big.
  • Place tomatoes, onions, pepper, summer squash and garlic in a large bowl. Add olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Toss to coat.
  • Place tomato mixture on baking sheet.

  • Roast for 25-30 minutes. Vegetables should be fork tender.
  • Allow to cool for a few minutes. Remove the skin from the garlic cloves.
  • Transfer mixture to blender, including juices on baking sheet. Add basil.  Process until smooth.  You may need to process in two batches.
  • Serve immediately or place in large saucepan and reheat later.
  • To serve, ladle soup into bowls. Drizzle on basil oil and top with fried zucchini spirals.
  • Soup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. It also freezes well.

Basil Oil

Ingredients:
¼ cup basil leaves, packed
2 Tbsp olive oil
Pinch sea salt

  • Place boiling water in a bowl. Quickly blanch basil leaves (about 10 seconds) and then pat dry.
  • In food processor or blender, combine basil leaves, salt, and olive oil. Process well.

Fried Zucchini Spirals

Ingredients:
½ zucchini
½ cup avocado or coconut oil
Sea salt

  • Spiralize zucchini. If you don’t have a spiralizer, you can thinly slice strips of zucchini.  Place between paper towels to remove some of the water.
  • Heat oil in small saucepan.
  • When oil is hot, fry zucchini. Place one spiral in the oil to make sure it is hot enough.  Process the spirals in small batches for about 6 minutes each.  When done, the zucchini spirals should be crunchy.
  • Lay on paper towels and sprinkle with sea salt.

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

28 Jul

Posted at 18:05h in Recipes by
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Farro is an ancient grain, similar in appearance to rice, but with a more nutty nuanced flavor and a chewy texture. To prepare whole grain farro you need to think ahead and soak the grains overnight, but you can cheat and get the semi-pearled variety, which cooks in 15-25 minutes, and is available at most grocery stores and whole foods stores. Whole farro retains all the grain’s nutrients; with semipearled part of the bran has been removed but still contains some fiber.

I fell in love with farro after making this one-pan farro with tomato dish from Smitten Kitchen. If you aren’t familiar with the blog Smitten Kitchen, you should be! Her seasonal recipes that highlight the delicious flavors of farm fresh veggies always impress me- it is super easy to search her site by ingredient, and pull up lots of ideas. You can choose a simple recipe like the one pan farro and tomatoes, or get a little more ambitious, like this delicious zucchini galette I made with our zucchini and some farmers market ricotta from Fulper Farms (they have a stand at the Wrightstown Farmers Market on Saturday’s). And don’t get me started on Smitten Kitchen’s desserts!

So when I saw the first harvest of our giant green bell peppers, I knew I wanted to stuff them with some sort of farro mixture. I brought 3 cups of water to boil and threw in a cup of farro and simmered it until the grains were the texture I wanted (chewy but not mushy), about 30 minutes. Some people say to simmer covered, I did it uncovered but had to add water periodically as it cooked off, so covered is probably a better bet (or start with more water and simmer gently).

In a large saucepan I sautéed in olive oil 4 cloves of garlic and one thinly sliced onion (you could use a sweet onion or the red torpedo’s). Then I added in a chopped tomato (or two), about a cup of leftover cooked corn kernels from our dinner the night before (cut off the cob). I also diced up a chicken breast from Hershberger Heritage, also leftover from grilling the evening before, and threw in a handful of chopped basil. Then I added most, but not all of the cooked and drained farro.  I simmered everything until the juices from the tomato were running.

Meanwhile, I cut two bell peppers in half lengthwise, seeding and coring them, being careful not to pierce the walls of the pepper. I also cut the tops off of some poblano peppers. The peppers went into a steamer basket for 15 minutes. Let cool enough to handle and carefully lay out on a cookie tray. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Spoon the farro mixture into the pepper halves, and stuff into the poblanos. Sprinkle with grated parmesan and mozzarella (or whatever cheese you have on hand). Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is melting and peppers are slightly browned. You can really improvise with the ingredients and scale depending on how many peppers you are stuffing and what you have on hand. Removing the seeds of the poblanos does reduce their heat, but I noticed that the membrane that the seeds are attached to is very hot, so as we got closer to the tip of the pepper, we were in for some delicious heat. You can either try to remove this membrane better than I did, or save the poblanos for those in your family who like that smoky heat.

Serve with a tossed salad- chopped romaine, cucumbers, grated carrots (and a glass of white wine?). Delicious!

Post and photos by Tricia Borneman, Blooming Glen farmer and co-owner.  Tricia and her husband Tom have been farming together since 2000. Blooming Glen Farm is celebrating its 11th season bringing high quality certified organic vegetables, herbs, fruits and cut flowers to our local community.

20 Jul

Posted at 13:39h in Recipes by
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Yesterday at the farm, Chef Rich Baringer of Dinner’s Done Personal Chef Service served up some delicious samples of dishes he made using farm fresh ingredients from this week’s CSA share. He also shared tips on using some of the more unusual greens like dandelion and agretti. (Though agretti was not in the share this week, we figured you might still have some in your fridge from the past 2 weeks). The recipes are below for your enjoyment. Be sure to check out Chef Rich’s website and sign up for his newsletter for more recipes and tips, or check him out on Facebook.

Mediterranean Chopped Salad (adapted from Cook’s Country)

Serves 6. Chef’s Note: I used heirloom tomatoes in place of cherry and added dandelion greens for half of the romaine.

Ingredients
12 oz cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and cut into ½” pieces
Salt and pepper
3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed
1/3 cup Kalamata olives, chopped
¼ cup red onion, minced
1 Romaine lettuce heart, cut into ½” pieces
3 oz feta cheese, crumbled
½ cup parsley, chopped

  • Toss tomatoes, cucumber and ½ tsp salt in colander and let drain for 15-30 min.
  • Whisk oil, vinegar and garlic in a large bowl. Add tomato, cucumber, chickpeas, olives and onion. Toss to combine. Let sit at room temp for 5 min.
  • Before serving, add lettuce, feta and parsley. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper

 

IMG_4711Agretti Salad

Serves 4. Chef’s note: You can blanch the agretti in boiling, salted water for a minute or two if you want it less raw.

Ingredients
1 bunch agretti
4 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 large oranges, 1 sectioned and 1 juiced
¼ cup sunflower seeds, toasted
Red pepper flakes, to taste
Salt
Parmesan cheese, shaved (optional)

  • Trim agretti from woody stem (thinner, more tender stems can be used) and roughly chop.
  • In a bowl, whisk the oil with the juice of one orange. Add salt and pepper flakes to taste and set aside.
  • Dry the agretti (if damp) and place in serving bowl. Toss with dressing. Add orange sections and toss. Garnish with seeds and cheese (if desired).

 

IMG_4710 (2)Green Bean Salad (adapted from Cook’s Country)

Serves 4. Chef’s note: Some thinly sliced radish is a nice garnish.

Ingredients
2 lb green beans, trimmed and cut into 1 ½” pieces
Salt and pepper
1 shallot, minced
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp lemon zest
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 Tbsp dill, minced (I used lemon verbena, which is available in the herb boxes a the farm.)
½ cup almonds, toasted

  • Bring 4 qt water to a boil in a large pot. Fill a large bowl halfway with ice and water. Add beans and 1 Tbsp salt to boiling water and cook until crisp-tender, about 6 min. Drain and place in ice bath. Drain again, dry in salad spinner.
  • Whisk shallot, mustard, zest, juice, garlic and 1 ½ tsp salt in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in the oil until incorporated. Toss dill and beans in dressing and let sit for 30 min (or up to 2 hrs), stirring occasionally. Stir in almonds. Season with salt and pepper.

 

IMG_4712Grilled Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary (for gas grill) (from Cook’s Illustrated)

Serves 4

Ingredients
4 Tbsp olive oil
9 garlic cloves, minced (about 3 Tbsp)
1 tsp rosemary, chopped
Salt
2 lb red potatoes, small, scrubbed, halved and skewered (so flat sides are level with each other)
Pepper
2 Tbsp chives, chopped

  • Preheat grill to high for 15 min. Clean grill grate. Leave primary burner on high, reduce others to medium.
  • Heat olive oil, garlic, rosemary and ½ tsp salt in small skillet over med heat until sizzling, about 3 min. Reduce to med-low and cook until garlic is light blond, about 3 min. Pour mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a small bowl; press on solids. Measure 1 Tbsp solids and 1 Tbsp oil into large bowl and set aside. Discard remaining solids, but reserve oil.
  • Place skewered potatoes in single layer on large microwave-safe place and poke each with a skewer. Brush with 1 Tbsp oil and season liberally with salt. Microwave on high until potatoes offer slight resistance to knife, about 8 min, turning halfway. Transfer to baking sheet coated with 1 Tbsp oil. Brush with remaining oil and season with salt and pepper.
  • Place potatoes on the hotter side of the grill. Cook, turning once, until marks appear, about 4 mi. Move to cooler side and cook 5-8 min until knife slips in and out easily. Remove potatoes to bowl with reserved oil and solids. Add chives and toss.

 

IMG_4709Grilled Zucchini Salad (from The Barbecue Bible)

Serves 4

Ingredients
1 lb zucchini (and/or yellow squash), scrubbed and trimmed
3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
12 large mint leaves (or 1 tsp dried), minced
2 Tbsp parsley, minced
1 Tbsp lemon juice (or more to taste)
1 garlic clove, minced
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp cumin

  • Preheat grill to high.
  • Cut zucchini into ¼” length-wise slices. Brush each with oil and season with salt and pepper.
  • Grill, turning until tender and well browned, about 8-10 min. Transfer to cutting board.
  • Cut each slice on bias into ¼” strips. Transfer to a bowl and stir in remaining 2 Tbsp and rest of ingredients. Season with salt, pepper and additional lemon juice. Should be highly seasoned.


Post and photos by Tricia Borneman, Blooming Glen farmer and co-owner.  Tricia and her husband Tom have been farming together since 2000. Blooming Glen Farm is celebrating its 11th season bringing high quality certified organic vegetables, herbs, fruits and cut flowers to our local community.