CSA 2013 Week 17

Week 17 Bounty:
Chard
Assorted tomatoes
Sweet Peppers (also yellow, orange or green and hot)
Fresh Cilantro

Basil
Pumpkin
Gift of Cream cheese from our goats milk
Ice Box Melon
Radishes
Okra
Broccoli


Meal #1 (tomato, basil, carrots, celery, cilantro, peppers)
Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup
Makes about 2 quarts (about 8 servings)
2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced carrots
1 cup finely diced onions

(I also threw in some cilantro and sweet peppers and two frozen beet green cubes and two frozen zucchini cubes)
1 tsp dried oregano or 1 T fresh oregano
1 T dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
4 cups chicken broth
½ bay leaf
½ cup flour
1 cup Parmesan cheese
½ cup butter
2 cups half and half, warmed (or skim milk if you’re trying to cut some calories)
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
Add tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, oregano, basil, and bay leaf to a large slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft. About 30 minutes before serving prepare a roux. Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour. Stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cup hot soup. Add another 3 cups and stir until smooth. Add all back into the slow cooker. Stir and add the Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt and pepper. Add additional basil and oregano if needed (the slow cooker does a number on spices and they get bland over time, so don’t be afraid to always season to taste at the end). Cover and cook on LOW for another 30 minutes or so until ready to serve. * Recipe from Today's Mama

Meal #2 (corn, cabbage, onions, carrots)
Smoked Meat with Rub
We smoked ribs and brisket.  
RUB:
3 tablespoons ground coffee
1 tablespoon coarse (kosher) salt
1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder

Corn Muffins from freezer

Ramen Noodle Salad

1 lg. head cabbage - chopped
5 green onions, chopped
1/2 sm. carrots, grated
2 pkg. Ramen noodles (broken)
1/2 c. sunflower seeds
1 pkg. slivered almonds
1/2 c. butter
Brown noodles, sunflower seeds, almonds in butter; set aside.
DRESSING
1 c. salad oil
2 tsp. soy sauce
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix until well blended. Add dressing and noodle and nut mix to cabbage 15 to 20 minutes before serving. * Recipe from Cooks.com

Side (broccoli, chard, potatoes)

Diced Broccoli and Chard with Potatoes

We put the chard and fingerling potatoes in our food processor, then cooked it in a fry pan with some olive oil and soy sauce.  It was delicious!

Other (okra, zucchini)
Easy Indian Style Okra (for the freezer)
1 pound sliced fresh okra (about 1/2 inch thick)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garam masala
Salt to taste
1 medium onion, chopped
3 Tablespoons oil
Place the sliced okra in a large ziploc bag, add cumin, ginger, coriander, garam masala, pepper and salt. Freeze. When ready to eat, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook until tender. Add frozen, spiced okra and stir for a few minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low, and cover the pan. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until okra is tender. It may take longer depending on size of okra. *Recipe adapted from CALIGAL76 at allrecipes.com

Double Chocolate Zucchini Cake

3/4 cup oil
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups grated zucchini
1/2 cup sour milk or buttermilk (or 1 Tbsp lemon juice in 1 cup measuring cup and fill with milk)
3 Tbsp cocoa or carob powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp each cinnamon and cloves
2 1/2 cups flour (used half white and half whole wheat flour)
small bag of chocolate or carob chips (used Ghiradelli dark chocolate)
Heat oven to 350 degrees; grease a 9-by-13-inch pan. Mix all ingredients and bake 30-35 minutes. Makes 16 servings. *Recipe in From Asparagus to Zucchini via Scotch Hill Farm.

Melon was enjoyed with our lunches. 
The pumpkin, radishes, peppers and goat cheese are leftover.

CSA 2013 Week 16

Week 16 Bounty:

Peppers
Squash
Zucchini
Cabbage
Okra
Hercules carrots
Green beans
Beedy Camden's Kale
Spicy greens mix
Assorted tomatoes
* Image from Scotch Hill Farm, Broadhead, WI

Meal #1 (beets, carrots)
Roasted Chicken and Beets With Couscous and Yogurt Sauce

2 1/4 pounds chicken drumsticks and thighs (8 total)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons paprika
3 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt and black pepper
2 pounds beets, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch wedges (I also added carrots)
1 cup couscous
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
Heat oven to 425° F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the chicken with the cumin, paprika, 1 tablespoon of the oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. On a second rimmed baking sheet, toss the beets with the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Roast, tossing the beets once, until the beets are tender and the chicken is cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the couscous according to the package directions.
In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, lime juice, and cilantro. Serve the chicken with the couscous, beets, yogurt sauce, and lime wedges. * Recipe from realsimple.com

Meal #2 (spicy greens, potatoes)
Salmon in Lemon Brodetto with Greens Puree
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 shallot, diced
2 lemons, juiced
1 lemon, zested
2 cups chicken broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
2 cups frozen peas, thawed (about 10 ounces) - I used the spicy greens
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
1 clove garlic
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Salmon:
1/4 cup olive oil
4 (4 to 6-ounce) pieces salmon
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
To make the Lemon Brodetto, warm the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the shallots and saute until tender, about 7 minutes. Add the lemon juice, zest, and broth. Bring to a simmer, and keep warm, covered, over low heat. To make the Puree, combine the greens, mint, garlic, salt, and pepper in a food processor and puree. With the machine running, add the olive oil in a steady drizzle. Transfer the puree to a small bowl and stir in the Parmesan. Set aside.To make the Salmon, warm the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over high heat. Season the salmon pieces with salt and pepper. Sear the salmon until a golden crust forms, about 4 to 5 minutes on the first side. Flip the fish and continue cooking until medium-rare, about 2 minutes more depending on the thickness of the fish. To assemble the dish, add the tablespoon chopped mint to the Lemon Brodetto and divide between 4 shallow dishes. Place a large spoonful of Puree into the center of each bowl. Place a salmon piece atop each mound of Puree. Serve immediately. * Recipe adapted from Giada De Laurentiis at foodnetwork.com

Pan-Fried Potatoes
Diced or chopped potatoes
Olive oil
Seasonings
Heat olive oil in pan. Add potatoes. Cook until desired. We like them brown and crunchy. We add salt and seasoning a few minutes before they are finished.

Meal #3 (squash, zucchini)
Cheesy Zucchini Quinoa
1 3/4 cups vegetable broth or water
1 medium zucchini, grated (1 zucchini and 1 small squash)
1 cup cheddar, shredded (I used 1.5 cups of mild brick)

(I added a can of garbanzo beans, drained)
Salt and pepper to taste
Bring the quinoa and broth to a boil over medium heat, reduce the heat and simmer covered until the broth has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender,about 15-20 minutes. Remove from heat and mix in the zucchini, cheese, salt and pepper. * Recipe from closetcooking.com
Other (kale, green beans, okra)
Fruit and Veggie Shake
Add kale, lots of fruit (anything we have on hand: watermelon, cantalope, pineapple, apricot, kiwi, mulberries). Add a little whole fruit juice and coconut water and blend. Occasionally I add yogurt.

"Bean" Dip

1 cup cashews
2 cups green beans, cleaned and ends removed
2 Tbsp lemon juice
3 Tbsp oil (I used olive)
2 tsp onion powder
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
Dash cayenne pepper
Soak 1 cup cashews in water for 30 minutes. Drain most of liquid, but not all. Puree 1 cup soaked Cashews into a paste. Leave cashew paste in your food processor or blender and add the remaining ingredients. Puree everything together until well blended. * Recipe adapted from www.addictedtoveggies.com

Easy Indian Style Okra (for the freezer)
1 pound sliced fresh okra (about 1/2 inch thick)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garam masala
salt to taste
1 medium onion, chopped
3 Tablespoons oil
Place the sliced okra in a large ziploc bag, add cumin, ginger, coriander, garam masala, pepper and salt. Freeze. When ready to eat, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook until tender. Add frozen, spiced okra and stir for a few minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low, and cover the pan. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until okra is tender. It may take longer depending on size of okra. *Recipe adapted from CALIGAL76 at allrecipes.com

Leftover 
Peppers, cabbage, tomatoes

CSA 2013 Week 14

Image from Scotch Hill Farm, Broadhead, WI

Week 14 Bounty:
Tomatoes
Arugula
Peppers
Melon
Squash
Okra
Green beans
Basil
Cucumber
Chard

Meal #1 (squash, eggplant)
We enjoyed these with some Italian sausages.  They were delicious.  We make sure to make them small and thin so they crisp up or the kids don't like them.

Zucchini/Eggplant Cakes
1 whole Large Zucchini
1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
1/2 cup (to 3/4 Cup) Breadcrumbs
1/2 cup 4-cheese Italian Blend (or Parmesan Or Romano)
2 whole Eggs
Kosher Salt To Taste
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
Olive Oil
Wash and cut the end off of one large zucchini. Shred it using the large holes of a cheese grater. Squeeze the shredded zucchini inside of a clean towel until you’ve removed as much liquid as possible. Place shredded zucchini into a medium sized bowl. Add minced garlic, breadcrumbs, cheese (shredded), eggs, kosher salt and pepper to taste. Stir with a fork until well mixed. Heat olive oil (about ¼ inch deep in bottom of skillet) to a medium heat. When the oil is hot enough drop a glob of zucchini batter into the skillet and flatten it a bit. After about two minutes, turn the cakes over ( they should be nice golden-brown) and cook on the other side until done (about 2-3 minutes). Serve with the dipping sauce of your choice and enjoy!  *Recipe from thepioneerwoman.com

Meal #2 (arugula)

My husband, Allen, loves pizza with arugula and this effort was well worth it!
Pizza con Arugula

Whole wheat Trader Joe's pizza crust

Frozen pesto cubes from the freezer, thawed

Sliced fresh mozzarellla

Arugula

Spread pesto on crust, added mozzarella slices and baked at 400 degrees for 12 minutes.  Added arugula just before serving.

Meal #3 (chard, onion, garlic, parsley)

This was not a hit with the little ones, but Allen and I enjoyed it.
Honey Lemon Salmon with Parsley Rice and Swiss Chard
4 tbsp lemon juice, separated
1 tbsp honey (21g)
2 salmon fillets
About 1/2 lb raw Swiss chard, chopped
1/2 onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups of cooked rice
About 1/4 cup fresh parsley, separated
Kosher Salt
Cook rice according to package directions. Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. In a separate pan, add 1 Tbsp of olive oil and onion slices. Heat on medium, stirring every so often so they don't stick or burn in the pan. When they start to get soft add the Swiss chard. Lower heat slightly. Toss occasionally as the Swiss chard cooks down. While the Swiss chard cooks, combine honey and lemon juice in a small bowl. Set aside. When the Swiss chard is tender transfer to a serving bowl. This process should take about 15-20 minutes. If you like very wilted Swiss chard add about 1/4 of water to pan when cooking to speed up the steaming process. Wipe out pan and add 1 tsp of olive oil. Heat on medium. When hot add salmon fillets. Cook for about 5 minutes on each side. When the salmon is almost done add the honey/lemon sauce to pan. Cook for about 1 minute longer for the sauce to thicken. Be care not to burn the honey (I turn the heat to low at this point). To plate add 1/2 of the Swiss chard to the center of the dish. Place salmon on top of the Swiss chard and top with a few sprinkles of fresh parsley.  Add remaining parsley to rice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve on the side. * Recipe from lifeonfood.blogspot.com

Sides (basil, garlic, green beans, okra)

Some fabulous repeats to stock up the freezer.
Basil Walnut Pesto
2 cups packed basil leaves
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons softened butter (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
Place basil, olive oil, walnuts, garlic and salt (if using) in food processor. Blend until thoroughly combined. Add Parmesan and butter (if using) and blend 5-10 seconds more. Just before serving, add 2 Tbsp of hot pasta water from cooked pasta. Serve over pasta with bread and salad.* Recipe by dahlia at Food.com

"Bean" Dip
1 cup cashews
2 cups green beans, cleaned and ends removed
2 Tbsp lemon juice
3 Tbsp oil (I used olive)
2 tsp onion powder
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
Dash cayenne pepper
Soak 1 cup cashews in water for 30 minutes. Drain most of liquid, but not all. Puree 1 cup soaked Cashews into a paste. Leave cashew paste in your food processor or blender and add the remaining ingredients. Puree everything together until well blended. * Recipe adapted from www.addictedtoveggies.com

Easy Indian Style Okra (for the freezer)
1 pound sliced fresh okra (about 1/2 inch thick)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon garam masala
salt to taste
1 medium onion, chopped
3 Tablespoons oil
Place the sliced okra in a large ziploc bag, add cumin, ginger, coriander, garam masala, pepper and salt. Freeze. When ready to eat, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook until tender. Add frozen, spiced okra and stir for a few minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low, and cover the pan. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until okra is tender. It may take longer depending on size of okra. *Recipe adapted from CALIGAL76 at allrecipes.com

Other (melon, tomatoes, cucumber)
Melon with lunch
Leftover - tomatoes and cucumber

CSA 2013 Week 10

Week 10 Bounty:

Spring treat corn
Onions
Beaver dam peppers (mildly hot)
Black jalepeños
Bell pepper
Cabbage
Cucumbers (H19, Long, or Silver Whites)
Melons
Basil
Tomatoes
Cutting celery
Okra
*Photo from Scotch Hill Farm, Broadhead, WI




I am once again way behind. We were out of town for 9 days, staying at a lake cabin with six other family members. I took much of our share with us and froze what I quickly could before we left. However, I sadly had our first losses of the year. I don't think that I had any last year. I really hate to waste a thing. We lost the okra and cabbage because we just didn't use it quickly enough. Those are two of my favorites, so it is even more disappointing. But our menu on vacation was mostly on the grill and these vegetables never fit with the meals. 

Meal #1 (corn)
We grilled our burgers on the campfire and they were delicious! We did not have a pot large enough for the corn and tried a new method someone recommended of microwaving the corn. It turned out quite well.

Grilled Burgers
Corn on the Cob 
Cobs of corn, husked and cleanedWet a paper towel, and wring out. Wrap the ear of corn in the moist towel, and place on a dinner plate. Cook in the microwave for 2 minutes per ear. Carefully remove paper towel, and enjoy! * Recipe from allrecipes.com


Meal #2 (bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini)
This was a hit that even the kids loved.  Healthy and fun!
Shish Kabobs
Bell peppers 
Onions 
Mushrooms
Zucchini
Shrimp
Chicken
Chopped everything, filled kabobs and grilled.

Meal #3 (tomatoes, basil, sage, thyme, tarragon)
This was just upon returning from vacation and we received our Week 11 share from the neighbors who graciously picked it up for us.  So we combined the Week 10 and 11 tomatoes to make enough sauce to freeze.
Pasta with Tomato Sauce and Salmon
Sauteed garlic, added wine and reduced. Steamed tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, basil, sage, thyme, tarragon, salt, pepper. Blended with an immersion blender in saucepan.  Served over pasta and cooked salmon.

Sides (melon, cucumber)
Melon 
Cucumber 
Both were eaten with lunches

Other (celery, peppers)
Celery, chopped and frozen
Beaver dam peppers and black jalapenos leftover

CSA Share Week 15

Wow!  Only five more weeks left.  We got a little creative this week.  The result made for some wonderfully delicious meals.  Everything was great, but my favorite was definitely the Caprese and "Bruschetta."  Perhaps I am partial due to their Italian flair, but they made a fun, flavor-filled meal.

The Hermit Cookies were a particular surprise.  I wanted to make cookies and thought - why not try to add in a vegetable?  They were scrumptious and the kids loved them. I didn't adjust the recipe for the added liquid, so the cookies were nearly like a bread/bar consistency.  Next time I will adjust the ingredients accordingly.

The large tomatoes and peppers I used combined with last week's share and made salsa on delivery day.  The beans I also combined with last week's beans and made that yummy dip.  I was so far ahead that we ended up with no leftovers, with the exception of a lonely eggplant that will be combined with the three new eggplants we received yesterday!

Photos courtesy of Scotch Hill Farm, Broadhead, WI

Week 15 Bounty: 
Leaf lettuce mix
Spicy Greens mix
Arugula 

Tomatoes
Melon
Beans
Basil
Eggplant
Okra
Bok Choi
Cilantro
Summer Squash
Peppers



Meal #1: Juliet and Sungold tomatoes, basil 
Caprese (cah-PRAY-zay)
Cut up larger tomatoes, kept cherry sized tomatoes whole. Tossed with basil and fresh mozzarella.

Naan "Bruschetta"
Whole wheat naan (from Trader Joe's) toasted lightly in the oven at 375 with buratta (also from Trader Joe's), prosciutto and walnuts. Buratta is fresh cheese made from mozzarella and cream. This is an easy version of my favorite bruschetta in Italia.

Okra with Bacon
Slice into stars and fry in hot bacon grease or olive oil. Season to taste with garlic, salt & pepper or crumbled bacon. * Recipe from Scotch Hill Farm.

Meal #2: bok choi, green onions, ginger 
Enjoyed this scrumptious dish with wild rice.

Salmon and Bok Choi
3 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
2 teaspoons dark sesame oil (didn't have, so we substituted some olive oil)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound baby bok choy or bok choy
4 (6-ounce) sustainable salmon fillets
1/4 cup diagonally cut green onions
Preheat broiler. Combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Coarsely chop bok choy leaves, and arrange on one end of a jelly-roll pan. Coarsely chop bok choy stems and arrange in a single layer on opposite end of jelly-roll pan. Place salmon, skin side down, in a single layer on top of leafy greens. Pour half of soy sauce mixture evenly over salmon; pour remaining half evenly over bok choy stems. Broil for 5 minutes; stir stems. Broil an additional 4 minutes or until desired degree of doneness. Arrange 1/3 cup bok choy on each of 4 plates. Top each serving with 1 fillet and 1 tablespoon green onions. * Recipe from Cooking Light at myrecipes.com

Meal #3: greens, arugula

Enjoyed the greens and nuggets with a pumpkin risotto package that we brought back from Italia.  It was a great dinner all together.  I love pumpkin risotto, but my homemade recipe is actually better than this was, so I am really looking forward to making it from scratch.

Spicy Greens with Warm Balsamic Dressing

We used the spicy greens and arugula for this recipe.

1 bunch arugula, cleaned, trimmed and chopped

1 head radicchio, chopped
2 cups chopped escarole, 1/2 head
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic, cracked
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
Arrange greens on a large platter. Heat oil and garlic in a small pan over moderate heat. Simmer garlic in oil to infuse the flavor. Remove the garlic from the oil and transfer it to a small bowl. Wipe the pan and return to heat. Add balsamic vinegar . Raise heat to high and reduce vinegar by 1/2, 30 seconds. Stream oil into saucepan and whisk to combine with vinegar. Drizzle dressing over the salad and season the greens with salt and pepper. * Recipe from Rachel Ray at food.com

Baked Chicken Nuggets
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried basil
1/2 cup butter, melted
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut chicken breasts into 1 1/2-inch sized pieces. In a medium bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, cheese, salt, thyme and basil. Mix well. Put melted butter in a bowl or dish for dipping. Dip chicken pieces into the melted butter first, then coat with the breadcrumb mixture. Place the well-coated chicken pieces on a lightly greased cookie sheet in a single layer, and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. * Recipe from Teresa at allrecipes.com

Other Uses: melon, cilantro, squash

Melon 

Balled and tossed with blueberries

Cilantro
Washed, chopped and frozen on jelly roll pan, then transferred to freezer bag.

Hermit Cookies
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 egg
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup squash, pureed
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup raisins, currants, etc (I used dark chocolate chips)
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts)
Oil a cookie sheet; set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Beat till combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in the egg, milk, squash and vanilla till combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven 10 minutes or till edges are lightly browned. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool. Makes 36 cookies. * Recipe from Better Homes and Garden New Cook Book

CSA Share Week 13

The pictures from Scotch Hill Farm fortunately do this produce justice.  It is as beautiful as it looks and it tastes just as good.  

Everything was delicious this week, but the highlight of the week was the "bean" dip.  We shared it at a party and it was a hit.  We might even make it again this week, so that we can enjoy more of it.  

We still have broccoli leftover, but there was more broccoli in today's share so tomorrow's dinner should be hearty!  


Week 13 Bounty: 

Photos courtesy of Scotch Hill Farm, Broadhead, WI

Heirloom Celery
Broccoli
Tomatoes
Green Bean variety
Okra
Eggplant
Spicy Greens Mix
Basil
Green Wave Mustard
Summer Squash
Green Bell Peppers

Hot Peppers

Meal #1: patty pan squash, basil, oregano

Squash and Bacon Pasta

A small variation of our regular Zucchini and Bacon dish.

8 oz. pasta (we like whole wheat tagliolini with this dish)
6 slices of bacon
squash, diced (used two small patty pan squash)
1/2 cup reserved pasta water
1/4 cup very loosely packed, finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Crumbled dry basil and oregano
Coarse salt and cracked black pepper
Cook the pasta in boiling, salted water to al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. Return the pasta to the pot and set aside. In a large saute pan, add the bacon and cook until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crispy. Remove bacon from pan.  Add the squash to pan with bacon drippings and cook until it starts to soften. Add the reserved pasta water, crumble cooked bacon over top, basil/oregano and the cheese. Toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve immediately.

Meal #2: squash, greens

Squash Buttermilk Flapjacks
1 1/2 cup flour (used half white, half whole wheat)
1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/4+1/8 tsp salt
1 egg + 1 egg white
1 1/2 c buttermilk (use 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice in 1 1/2 cup and fill with milk)
3 Tbsp melted butter or vegetable oil (sometimes we use a butter/oil/flaxseed combo)
6 cubes of pureed squash, thawed

1/4 tsp each clove, allspice, cinnamon
Put the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, clove, allspice, cinnamon and salt together into a mixing bowl. In a 2-cup glass measure or small bowl, beat the egg lightly. Whisk in the buttermilk, beets and melted butter or oil until well blended. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry, mixing only until the batter is evenly moistened; it will still contain small lumps. Grease your nonstick frying pan lightly with a paper towel moistened with vegetable oil. Heat over medium heat for about 1 minute. Ladle 1/4 cup of the batter into the pan. Spread out to 5 inches. Cook until golden brown on the bottom with tiny bubbles all over the top, 1 to 2 minutes. Shake the pan or slip a spatula underneath the flapjack to loosen it. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve the flapjacks hot out of the pan with natural maple syrup. Makes about 4 pancakes. * Recipe adapted from A Man And His Pan

Green Eggs
8 eggs
milk
butter/oil
6 cubes of pureed greens
salt and pepper to taste
Thaw the greens and mix them with a fork with eggs, a little milk, a chunk of butter, and salt and pepper. We scramble the eggs.

Meal #3: cabbagettes
Black Bean Tacos
Can of black beans, seasoned for tacos
Shredded taco cheese
1/2 head of cabbage (or a couple cabbagettes), chopped
Black olives
One tomato, diced
Whole wheat tortillas
Drain liquid from beans and heat in stovetop pot. Warm tortillas in microwave, add ingredients as you choose.

Photos courtesy of Scotch Hill Farm, Broadhead, WI

Gorgeous heirloom tomatoes: (top left going clockwise) yellow brandywine, pink brandywine, great white, amish paste, valencia, german striped, paul robeson, and green zebra. 

Other Uses: tomatoes, onions, garlic, eggplant, green bell peppers, hot pepper, basil, oregano, sage, cabbage(ttes), beans, celery, okra, greens

Clean out the Fridge Freezer Spaghetti Sauce

olive oil, onions, garlic
red wine
tomatoes, eggplant, green bell peppers, hot pepper

basil, oregano, sage
ketchup
balsamic vinegar
sugar
wheat flour
My husband, Allen, is the experimental chef at our house.  He decided to throw the above ingredients in the slow cooker and pureed them once cooked.  He can't tell me how much of anything he used, but that it just "seemed right."  He says it tastes good.  I guess we'll see...

Simmered Cabbage
1/2 head cabbage, chopped into approx 1 inch squares or pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper, to taste
1 cup chicken broth or 1 cup vegetable broth (I prefer it with the chicken)
3 tablespoons dry sherry (optional)
Heat oil and butter in large heavy and wide saucepan or saute pan; add cabbage, salt, pepper, and stir over low heat for 5 minutes. Add broth (I usually add a bit of sherry, too) and bring to boil, cover and simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often, for about 15 minutes or until cabbage is tender. Raise heat to medium, uncover and let juices reduce to about half (be careful not to let burn). Taste and adjust seasoning, serve hot. * Recipe from Julesong at Food.com

"Bean" Dip

1 cup cashews

2 cups green beans, cleaned and ends removed (used Dragon's Tongue beans)

2 Tbsp lemon juice

3 Tbsp oil (I used olive)

2 tsp onion powder

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp garam masala

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp salt

Dash cayenne pepper

Soak 1 cup cashews in water for 30 minutes. Drain most of liquid, but not all.  Puree 1 cup soaked Cashews into a paste. Leave cashew paste in your food processor or blender and add the remaining ingredients.  Puree everything together until well blended. * Recipe adapted from www.addictedtoveggies.com

Heirloom Celery

Washed, diced and frozen on jelly roll pan.  Once frozen, place in freezer bag.

Easy Indian Style Okra
Just added the new to last week's bag. See Week 8 for the recipe.

Pureed Greens

Spicy Greens Mix and Green Wave Mustard

Washed, steamed, pureed and frozen.

Hot Peppers
Being dried for future use.

CSA Share Week 9

Whew!  Finally got to posting this.  We were on vacation staying at a cabin in northern Wisconsin all last week.  We pre-planned what veggies to fix and freeze and what to take along.  Everything was delicious - mostly things we've done in years past.  We also had a very helpful friend pick up Week 10's share for us.  Now we've got to catch up on using those, too!

Week 9 Bounty:

Photos courtesy of Scotch Hill Farm, Broadhead, WI

Broccoli
Bright Lights Chard
Red onions
Eggplant
Basil
Okra
Green Bell Peppers
Hot Pepper
Summer Squash
Tomatoes





Freezer Items: broccoli, tomatoes, green bell pepper, onion, cilantro, hot pepper, okra, basil, garlic 
The Best Fresh Tomato Salsa
3 cups chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup onion, diced
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4 teaspoons chopped fresh jalapeno pepper (I used 4 tsp of hot pepper from share)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Stir the tomatoes, green bell pepper, onion, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeno pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Serve. * Recipe from Allrecipes.com by Cheryl Dressler


Easy Indian Style Okra
Just added the new to last week's bag. See Week 8 for the recipe.

Basil Walnut Pesto
See Week 7 for the recipe.  I tried making it complete with parmesan, added a little water and it went into frozen cubes quite nicely.


Broccoli Puree
Steamed and pureed, adding a little water, and put in ice cube trays to use later in sauces.


Meal #1: chard
Chard Omelettes
Diced chard leaves and stems, separately.  With some olive oil in a pan, cooked the stems until softened, then added leaves.  Removed chard from pan.  Added chard and cheddar cheese to omelettes as we made them.  

Meal #2: eggplant, summer squash, zucchini
Grilled Burgers with buns
Grilled Veggie Skewers
Cubed eggplant, zucchini and squash. Tossed with olive oil and seasoning salt.  Stabbed the cubes onto skewers.  Grill until cooked - timing depends on the heat of your grill and size of cubes. 

Meal #3: patty pan squash
Grilled Sausages with buns
Pan-fried Patty Pan Squash
Diced squash and fried in pan with olive oil and seasoning salt (our favorite that we use all the time includes: salt, rosemary, garlic, sage, basil, juniper and black pepper).  

We actually ended up with plenty of leftovers from the veggie skewers and the pan-fried squash, so I put it in the Magic Bullet and we had a delicious pasta sauce for the next day.

Other Uses: dill
Dried dill by hanging it

CSA Share Week 8

We had a lot of hits this week.  The Benedictine Spread was scrumptious!  We shared it with friends and then froze the rest so we can enjoy it with family next week.  We would definitely use our cucumbers this way again.  The vegetable lasagna is always great and so easy to freeze and use again later.  

The Summer Squash Puffs, while not necessarily healthy due to frying, are quite delectable.  We tried the Easy Indian Style Okra last year and everyone enjoyed it.  The flavors are great and we had no problem with the texture of the okra.  

We have tomatoes and dill leftover.  I would like to find another dip or spread that would incorporate dill next week.  The tomatoes can likely be combined with Week 9's for a batch of salsa!

Photos courtesy of Scotch Hill Farm, Broadhead, WI

Week 8 Bounty: 
Cabbage
Carrots
Summer Squash - Patty Pan and Magda
Zucchini
Long Cucumber
Short cucumber
Onions
Green Bell Peppers
Tomatoes (Jet Star, Juliet, Sun Gold)
Okra

Dill

Meal #1: cabbage, tomatoes

Black Bean Tacos
Can of black beans, seasoned for tacos
Shredded taco cheese
1/2 head of cabbage, chopped
Black olives
One tomato, diced
Whole wheat tortillas
Drain liquid from beans and heat in stovetop pot.  Warm tortillas in microwave, add ingredients as you choose.

Meal #2: carrots, zucchini, patty pan squash

We like this to be more like true Italian style, better balance of pasta to sauce. With true Italian pasticcio the flavor of the pasta is just as prominent as the flavor of the sauce. The original recipe was one that has been passed around the family for years.  It was only supposed to be one frozen package of spinach, but a few years ago I began adding other veggies.  It also called for two jars of spaghetti sauce and I only use one.  My homemade spaghetti sauce is full of more vegetables, so this is a vegetable delight.

Pasticcio di Verdure (Vegetable Lasagna)
15 oz. ricotta cheese
1.5 c shredded mozzarella
1 egg, beaten
10 oz. or 1.25 c chopped spinach (I used puréed cubes)
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp nutmeg
15 oz. jar spaghetti sauce (I used homemade)
Small bunch of carrots
1 cup grated zucchini - liquid squeezed out and reserved
12-15 lasagna noodles (I prefer "rolled flat like homemade," or to make the pasta)
1 c water (I used zucchini and spinach juices)
In a large bowl, mix ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, egg, spinach, spices, sauce, carrots, and zucchini. In a greased 13x9x2 pan, layer 1/2 cup of filling mixture, then three noodles. I usually do four to five layers depending on amount of sauce. Top with remaining filling mixture and sprinkle with 1/2 cup mozzarella. Pour water (or vegetable juice) around edges and cover tightly with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. 

Stuffed Patty Pan Squash
6 pattypan squash, stem and blossom removed
6 slices bacon
1/2 cup diced onion
1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring one inch of water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add squash, cover, and cook for 10 minutes, or until a fork can pierce the stem with little resistance. Drain, and slice off the top stem of the squash. Use a melon baller to carefully scoop out the centers of the squash. Reserve all of the bits of squash. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Remove bacon to paper towels, and set aside. Saute onion in bacon drippings. Chop the reserved squash pieces, and saute them with the onion for one minute. Remove the skillet from heat, and stir in the breadcrumbs. Crumble the bacon, and stir into the stuffing along with the Parmesan cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Stuff each squash to overflowing with the mixture, and place them in a baking dish. Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until squash are heated through.

Other uses: cucumbers, onions, magda squash, zucchini

Benedictine Spread
3 small/medium cucumber
Bunch of spring onions, quartered
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon salt
Dash cayenne pepper
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
Slice cucumber in half lengthwise; remove seeds with a small spoon. Place cucumber in blender/food processor and pulse about 5 times, until cucumber is minced. Place onion in the blender/food processor, pulsing until it is finely chopped. To cucumber/onion mixture add cream cheese and stir well with a spatula. Add salt, cayenne, mayo and red wine vinegar. Spread on crackers or bread for sandwiches.

Summer Squash Puffs
1 quart oil for frying
4 summer squash, cut into chunks.
1 medium onion, grated
2 eggs, beaten
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup dry corn muffin mix
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
Heat the oil in a deep, heavy skillet or deep fryer to 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Place the squash in a pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook 10 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and mash. In a bowl, mix 2 cups squash*, onion, and eggs. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, corn muffin mix, baking powder, and salt. Thoroughly blend the squash mixture into the flour mixture. Drop the squash and flour mixture by rounded tablespoons into the hot oil, and fry until evenly brown and crisp. Drain on paper towels.

Easy Indian Style Okra (for the freezer)

1 pound sliced fresh okra (about 1/2 inch thick)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon garam masala
salt to taste

1 medium onion, chopped 

3 Tablespoons oil

Place the sliced okra in a large ziploc bag, add cumin, ginger, coriander, garam masala, pepper and salt. Freeze.  When ready to eat, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, and cook until tender. Add frozen, spiced okra and stir for a few minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low, and cover the pan. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until okra is tender. It may take longer depending on size of okra.  *Recipe adapted from CALIGAL76 at allrecipes.com

Green Bell Peppers

Diced and frozen for future use in chili

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread
This was so good that I made a double batch and froze it in two freezer containers.  When we are on vacation I will take out the night before to thaw.  In the morning, they will be ready to cook fresh in muffin or bread pans.  Nice and easy breakfast!  I actually used only 1 cup of sugar per recipe - I prefer less sugar. The recipe can be found in Week 6: http://condividereunpasto.blogspot.com/2012/07/csa-share-week-6.html