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CSA Member submitted recipes

From one of our Long Beach/Culver City CSA members...

I made this "Roasted Eggplant Soup" with the eggplants this week and it
was simply marvelous!  Thought I'd share so you could possibly post it.

ROASTED EGGPLANT SOUP

3 medium tomatoes, halved

1 large eggplant (about 1 1/2 pounds), halved lengthwise

1 small onion, halved

6 large garlic cloves, peeled

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried

4 cups (or more) chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth

1 cup whipping cream (1/4 cup is better, or none at all)

3/4 cup crumbled goat cheese (about 3 1/2 ounces)


Preheat oven to 400°F. Place tomatoes, eggplant, onion and garlic on large baking sheet. Brush vegetables with oil. Roast until vegetables are tender and brown in spots, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven. Scoop eggplant from skin into heavy large saucepan; discard skin. Add remaining roasted vegetables and thyme to same saucepan. Add 4 cups chicken stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer. Cook until onion is very tender, about 45 minutes. Cool slightly.


Working in batches, puree soup in blender until smooth. Return soup to saucepan. Stir in cream. Bring to simmer, thinning with more stock, if desired. Season soup with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with goat cheese; serve.


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From another CSA member...

I made this recipe tonight with this week's squash and the basil.



From foodrenegade.com  (adapted)

  • 3 patty pan (AKA sunburst) squash, sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • 1/8 to 1/4 cup melted butter
  •  fresh basil, chopped
  •  salt

Preheat oven to 350F.

Layer the patty pan slices at the bottom of a buttered baking dish and lightly drizzle with melted butter.Scatter some freshly cut basil on top and lightly sprinkle with sea salt. Layer squash, sprinkle with salt and basil. Bake, covered about 30 minutes until squash is tender.


This was the bomb.

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From a Culver City/Long Beach CSA Member:

I tried these two great recipes from the "Cafe Reconcile" cookbook and
would like to suggest them to your members, especially since okra and
eggplant were in the boxes last week.

Cafe Reconcile
(http://cafereconcile.org/staticdocs/index.asp) in a non-profit in New
Orleans who works with inner-city high-risk youth to teach them
culinary skills (everything from cooking, serving, running the
restaurant, etc.) to help prepare them for the workforce.  They have a
cafe open for lunch with all of the food made and served by the program
participants.  Everything we ate there was so yummy that I purchased
their cookbook.  If you're ever in New Orleans, this is truly a
delightful restaurant!

Regards,
V

SMOTHERED OKRA WITH SHRIMP

2 lbs.
fresh or frozen Okra, defrosted, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/4 lbs. shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 16-oz. can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 Tbsp. Creole seasoning
1 dash white pepper
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 Tbsp. olive oil

Saute onions in olive oil until soft.  Add all remaining ingredients and simmer uncovered until tender, about 40 minutes.

Note:  Vegetarians can omit the shrimp and chicken broth.


STUFFED EGGPLANT JENNIFER

4 large eggplants
1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup onion, chopped finely
1/4 cup bell pepper, chopped finely
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
2 tsp. Creole seasoning
1 cup dried breadcrumbs
1/2 Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. garlic, minced
3/4 cup shrimp, medium, peeled and deveined

Slice
eggplant in halves, roast on an oiled sheet pan at 350 degrees for 20
minutes or until "flesh" is soft.  Once cooled, scoop out flesh with a
spoon and set aside.  In a large sauce pan, melt 3/4 stick of butter
and saute onion and bell pepper.  Add Italian seasoning and 1 tsp. of
Creole seasoning.  Continue on low heat until vegetables are soft.

Add eggplant, breadcrumbs, cheese and garlic and stir on medium, low flame until heated through.

In
a separate saucepan, melt remaining butter until it foams, add shrimp,
season with the rest of Creole seasoning.  When shrimp turn pink, or
nearly cooked through add to eggplant mixture.  Stir together, adjust
seasoning, if necessary.  Place in pan or casserole dish, dust with
bread crumbs, bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until edges bubble.

Note: 
Sure to tantalize your taste buds in this popular Friday dish.  Lightly
roasted and browned to order, a creation by the Cafe Reconcile's very
own Department Chef.  Come early as it is on high demand and a sell-out
every time!


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From our CSA member Kate from Pasadena:

Slow Cooker Ratatouille


1 onion
1 eggplant
1 scallop or 3-4 yellow or zuchini squash
3-4 tomatoes
olive oil
salt

1. Slice all vegetables to 1/4-1/2 inch thick (peel if you like) and
layer in your slow cooker. Add a bit of salt every third level or so.
2. Drizzle 2-4 Tablespoons of oil to your taste on top.
3. Turn on high and cook 3-4 hours until vegs are cooked through -
volume will decrease by about 1/3 to 1/2. Conversely cook on low for
6-8 hours.
4. Use spoon to break up cooked vegis and mix together.
5. Serve over pasta/noodle, rice, cooked spaghetti squash, etc.
Serve with cheese - goat cheese is super yummy!

Also, Indian Okra on allrecipes is awesome! Never thought to put
curry on okra - yummy!
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Green Tomato Pie,
by Martha Davis Kipcak, chef extraordinaire and leader of the SE Wisconsin Slowfood chapter. 

Ingredients:

- Pastry for one all-butter, double-crust pie

- 6 medium green tomatoes

- ¾ cup golden raisins

- 1 ½ tsp grated lemon rind

- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar

- ¼ cup dark brown sugar

- 4 Tbsp flour

- ½ tsp salt

- 1 tsp cinnamon

- 1 tsp ground ginger

- 2 Tbsp cold unsalted butter, cut into small bits

 

Preheat oven to 425.

Wash the tomatoes and cut them into 1/8 inch thick slices, discarding stem ends. Put the tomato slices in a large mixing bowl and add the raisins, lemon rind, lemon juice and vinegar. Stir and set aside.

Combine the sugars, flour, salt, and spices in a small bowl. Sprinkle 2 Tbsp of this mixture over the prepared pie crust and toss the rest with the sliced tomatoes. Turn into chilled pie crust. Dot with butter. Top with additional pie dough, making slashes for air vents if a solid crust on top. Or make a lattice top to cover the pie.

Bake pie at 425 for 15 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 325 and bake for another 50 minutes, or until the filling is bubbling and the crust is golden brown.

Let the pie cool completely before cutting.

 

Enjoy!


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From our CSA member Jessica:

Summer Vegetable Stew
  • 1 onion, chopped fine
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 2 medium zucchini, rinsed and cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 3 cups)
  • 1 medium yellow squash, rinsed and cut into 1/2-inch dice (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 cup fresh corn kernels (cut from about 2 ears)
  • 2 tomatoes (about 3/4 pound), cut into 1/2-inch dice
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh orégano leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried, crumbled
  • 1/2 cup packed fresh basil leaves, shredded

Preparation

In a large deep skillet cook the onion and the garlic in the oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until the onion is softened, add the zucchini, the yellow squash, the bell pepper, and the corn, and cook the mixture over moderate heat, stirring, for 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes, the oregano, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer the stew, covered, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Simmer the stew, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes more, or until the excess liquid is evaporated, sprinkle it with the basil, and serve it warm or at room temperature.


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Hi,
 
Just thought I'd share a few recipes I made from the vegies in last week's box.  Both are from Cooking Light and both were DELICIOUS!
 
Best Regards,
Hollywood Farmer's Market CSA Member
 
GAZPACHO ANDALUZ
 
Centuries ago, gazpacho was made with nothing more than bread, garlic, salt, olive oil, vinegar, and water. After the discovery of America, tomato was incorporated, and today, gazpacho has become a refreshing start to a meal. Olive oil and bread continue to be typical components, but we eliminated bread and cut down on the oil.

Yield

6 servings (serving size: 1/2 cup)

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2  pounds  ripe tomatoes, each cut into quarters
  • 1  cup  coarsely chopped peeled cucumber
  • 1/2  cup  coarsely chopped Vidalia or other sweet onion
  • 1/2  cup  coarsely chopped red bell pepper
  • 1/2  cup  coarsely chopped green bell pepper
  • 3  tablespoons  sherry vinegar
  • 2  tablespoons  extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2  teaspoon  salt
  • 1/4  teaspoon  sugar
  • 1/4  teaspoon  ground cumin
  • 5  garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

Preparation

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor; process until smooth. Press tomato mixture through a sieve over a bowl, pressing solids through with the back of a spoon; discard any remaining solids. Cover and chill.

Nutritional Information

Calories:
80 (51% from fat)
Fat:
5g (sat 0.7g,mono 3.4g,poly 0.6g)
Protein:
1.5g
Carbohydrate:
9g
Fiber:
2g
Cholesterol:
0.0mg
Iron:
0.8mg
Sodium:
207mg
Calcium:
18mg
Cooking Light, AUGUST 2001
 
SQUASH-RICE CASSEROLE
 
We adapted the original version of this squash casserole from the recipe book of Joyce Swisdak's mom, Elizabeth McCann, to bring down the fat and calories and update the flavor. We added rice, sour cream, and Parmesan cheese. Now you can count it as a starchy side and vegetable all in one.

Yield

8 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Ingredients

  • 8  cups  sliced zucchini (about 2 1/2 pounds)
  • 1  cup  chopped onion
  • 1/2  cup  fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
  • 2  cups  cooked rice (I used a brown rice medley)
  • 1  cup  fat-free sour cream
  • 1  cup  (4 ounces) shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/4  cup  (1 ounce) grated fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1/4  cup  Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1  teaspoon  salt
  • 1/4  teaspoon  black pepper
  • 2  large eggs, lightly beaten
  • Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine first 3 ingredients in a Dutch oven; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until tender. Drain; partially mash with a potato masher. Combine zucchini mixture, rice, sour cream, cheddar cheese, 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and eggs in a bowl; stir gently. Spoon zucchini mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly.
Preheat broiler.
Broil 1 minute or until lightly browned.

Nutritional Information

Calories:
197 (25% from fat)
Fat:
5.5g (sat 2.7g,mono 1.5g,poly 0.4g)
Protein:
12.7g
Carbohydrate:
24g
Fiber:
1.4g
Cholesterol:
65mg
Iron:
1.5mg
Sodium:
623mg
Calcium:
209mg
Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2000



Vegetarian Nut Loaf

Bev Huntsberger wrote:
My hubby has been making a wonderful "Nut Loaf" each week with most of the mustard greens,
parsley, onions, mint, carrots - any combination you like. We add an egg, but you can also make
a wonderful vegan nut loaf. We really love to put a thick slice inside a burger bun, for the greatest veggie burger ever!

Ingredients:
1 large bunch greens (chard, spinach or other), chopped
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
1 clove garlic, mashed
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 cup rolled oats, ground to powder in blender
1 cup nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans or a combination), ground
1 cup dried whole-wheat bread crumbs
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup ketchup
1 egg white

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Steam chopped greens for 5 minutes. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and saute onion, parsley,

garlic and oregano until onion is translucent. Combine remaining ingredients with greens and onion mixture.
Shape mixture into loaf. Place in baking pan and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully cut into slices.

Recipe makes 6 servings.





Cilantro Pesto -- Shared with us by a Watts Market CSA Member
It's simple! -- Just ground almonds, cilantro, salt, parmesan, & olive oil

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Alma's Cooked Water Soup --
Shared with us by a Lebec CSA member


Italian cooks don't need expensive ingredients to make flavorful, nourishing meals. Here's an example from the Maremma region of Tuscany — a soup of “cooked water” flavored with Swiss chard, herbs, garlic and hot pepper flakes. Local women often made this recipe for farmhands, breaking an egg into the hot bowls of soup and then carrying them out to the fields; by the time the farmhands were ready to eat, the eggs would be perfectly poached.
 
ALMA'S COOKED WATER SOUP
2 pounds Swiss chard
1 onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 celery stalks, trimmed, peeled and cut into chunks (about 11/2 cups)
1/3 cup fresh Italian parsley leaves
8 fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon peperoncino flakes, or to taste
1 tablespoon tomato paste
9 cups water
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
For each serving of soup:
1 egg
1/2 slice day-old country bread, or 3 or 4 large croutons
Freshly grated pecorino to taste
Wash and drain the chard, and tear out the long stems from the leafy parts. Stack the leaves, and slice crosswise into 1-inch strips. Cut off the tough base of each stem and discard. Chop the trimmed stems into 1/2-inch pieces.
Using a food processor, mince the onion, celery, parsley and basil into a fine-textured paste (pestata). Heat the oil in the saucepan over medium heat, scrape in the pestata, and stir it all around the pan as it starts to steam and sizzle. Sprinkle in the peperoncino and cook, stirring, until the pestata has dried and starts to stick, 4 minutes or so. Drop in the tomato paste, and stir to toast it for a minute.
Pour in 9 cups water, raise the heat to high, and stir up all the cooked seasonings, while adding 2 teaspoons of the salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Bring the water to the boil, and dump in all of the cut chard leaves and stems. Return to the boil, cover partially, and cook at a steady simmer for about 40 minutes, until the chard is very tender and the broth is quite flavorful. Turn off the heat until you're ready to serve.
Ladle about 1 1/3 cups of soup per serving into a skillet or saucepan. (Use one with sides at least 3 inches high and a cover.) Heat to a simmer; crack and carefully slip into the soup one egg for each serving. Turn the heat down very low, cover the skillet tightly, and poach the eggs for two minutes or longer. Put a bread slice or croutons in each warm soup bowl, and when the eggs are done as you like them, lift them out one at a time with a slotted spoon or spatula, taking some cooked greens, too. Lay the egg and greens on the bread, and ladle in hot broth to cover. Sprinkle pecorino over the egg and broth, and serve immediately, passing more cheese at the table. Makes 6 servings
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Recipe for Vegetarian Borscht -- http://www.sustainlane.com/

by Cris B.

This recipe is adapted for those who don't particularly care for beets. Make ahead the day of your gathering. The longer it sits the thicker it gets. It also freezes well.

Use as many fresh, local and organic ingredients as you can. Directions are for preparing vegetables with a food processor. If you like beets, you can add them too (peeled and shredded). Other options: tomatoes, red wine vinegar, bay leaf, garlic, chopped parsley, a pinch of sugar, cinnamon, allspice etc. You can also use vegetable broth and water to cover the vegetables.

Ingredients

  • 1/4-1 pound beets (optional, peeled an shredded)
  • 2 medium onions, peeled
  • 3 ribs celery, with tops
  • 1 leek, white part only
  • 6 to 8 carrots, peeled
  • 1/4 cup margarine
  • 3 large potatoes, peeled
  • 2 medium turnips, peeled
  • 3 medium parsnips, peeled
  • 1 pound green beans
  • 1 bunch watercress, stems removed
  • 1 small head cabbage, cored and cut into 4 wedges
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 4 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

Directions

  1. 1. Place the slicing disk into the bowl of the food processor. Cut the onions, celery, leek, and carrots to fit feed tube. With light pressure, push the vegetables through the feed tube using the pusher.

    2. Over medium heat, melt the margarine in a large stockpot. Add the onions, celery, leeks, and carrots and saute until the onion is soft and limp, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat.

    3. Insert the French-fry blade into the food processor. Cut the potatoes, turnips, and parsnips to fit the feed tube. Chop, using the pusher with firm pressure. Add these vegetables to the stockpot.

    4. Insert the metal blade into the food processor bowl. Add the green beans and watercress. Pulse several times to chop, then add to the stockpot.

    5. Place 2 wedges of the cabbage into the processor bowl. Chop with several pulses. Add to the stockpot. Repeat with the remaining cabbage and add to the stockpot. Add the tomato paste, salt, and white pepper to the stockpot.

    6. Add enough cold water to cover the vegetables, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream, garnished with dill.

Makes 5 Quarts

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Recipe for Winter Kohlrabi Salad -- http://www.sustainlane.com/

by Ed G.

Winter is the time for long-simmered stews, baked squash and jacket potatoes, but something light, green and crunchy can still look good on your plate.

Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

2 medium red or green kohlrabi bulbs (use the stems and leaves as you would kale or swiss chard)
1 large carrot, scrubbed
1 tsp. fennel seed
2 Tbsp. unseasoned rice wine vinegar
1/4 tsp. salt, more to taste
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil

Directions

  1. In a small dry skillet, toast the fennel seeds over medium heat until they begin to brown slightly and smell toasty. Transfer them to a mortar and pestle or spice grinder, and grind them into a coarse powder.
  2. Trim away any stems from the kohlrabi bulb. Use a sharp vegetable peeler to cut away the tough outer skin. Grate or julienne the kohlrabi and the carrot.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the fennel seeds, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and sesame oil. Pour over the vegetables and toss to coat.
  4. Taste for seasoning.

Yield: 4 servings.

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Robust Beet Salad -- Shared by Anna K.

8 servings

Beets are a colorful source of anthocyanins, the purple pigments also found in blueberries, red grapes and red cabbage. They are powerful antioxidants and may help protect against cancer and heart disease. This dish brings to mind pickled beets with a grown-up slant. It keeps well in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:
3 pounds beets
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup rice or cider vinegar
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon wasabi powder (Japanese horseradish)
1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1 tablespoon quality extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, sliced thin
Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. Cut off the beet tops about an inch above the beet. In a large pot cover the beets with three inches of cold water and bring to a boil. Cover and boil over medium heat until tender, about 45 minutes.

2. Drain the beets under cool running water. Slip off their skins. Trim off stems and root ends and slice the beets thinly.

3. Combine the sliced beets in a bowl with the other ingredients, add salt to taste, and chill. Stir several times. This salad will keep for a week in the refrigerator.

Nutritional Information:

Per serving:
122 calories
2 g total fat (0 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
25 g carbohydrate
3 g protein

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