Recipe: Best Broccoli Salad

Image from Love & Lemons

from Love & Lemons

1 pound broccoli crowns

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons mayo, I like Sir Kensington's or vegan mayo

1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey

1 garlic clove, minced

¼ teaspoon sea salt, more to taste

⅓ cup diced red onions

⅓ cup dried cranberries

Smoky Tamari Almonds

½ cup almonds

½ cup pepitas

1 tablespoon tamari

½ teaspoon maple syrup

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika, more to taste

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Chop the broccoli florets into ½-inch pieces and any remaining stems into ¼-inch dice. Peel any woody or course parts from the stem first.

In the bottom of a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, mayo, apple cider vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, garlic, and salt. Add the broccoli, onions, and cranberries and toss to coat.

Place the almonds and pepitas on the baking sheet, toss with the tamari, maple syrup, and smoked paprika and spread into a thin layer. Bake 10 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes (they’ll get crispier as they sit).

Toss the almonds and pepitas into the salad, reserving a few to sprinkle on top. Season to taste and serve.

Recipe: Greens Gratin With All the Cheese

Image from Bon Appetit

from Bon Appetit

1 medium onion

5 garlic cloves, divided

2 cups heavy cream

1 rosemary sprig

1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more

½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper, plus more

4 medium or 3 large bunches of Tuscan kale and/or Swiss chard (2–2½ lb. total)

1 lemon

¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

6oz. high-quality sharp cheddar cheese

½ cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)

1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 350°. First, prep the cream sauce: Peel and quarter 1 medium onion. Smash 4 garlic cloves and unpeel. Place onion and garlic in a medium saucepan. Pour in 2 cups heavy cream and stir in 1 rosemary sprig, 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper. Bring to a simmer over low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion and garlic are very soft, 15–20 minutes.

While cream cooks, remove ribs from 4 medium bunches of Tuscan kale. Tear leaves into big pieces and wash. It’s okay if some water still clings to the leaves—this will help them wilt later. If you don’t have a bowl big enough to hold all of your greens, pile them on a baking sheet instead.

When cream is ready, pluck out rosemary sprig and discard. Finely grate zest of ½ lemon into cream and stir in ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes. Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.

Heat a large (as large as possible—12" is the goal) ovenproof skillet over medium. Add about one-quarter of greens, cover skillet (use a baking sheet if you don’t have a lid), and cook until wilted, 3–4 minutes. Scoot wilted greens to one side of pan. Add another quarter of greens, cover pan, and cook to wilt, 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat and place skillet on a rimmed baking sheet.

Prep the toppings: Cut 6 oz. high-quality sharp cheddar cheese into ¼"-thick slices (you’ll have about 1½ cups). Place ½ cup panko to a small bowl and finely grate in zest of ½ lemon and remaining 1 garlic clove. Add 1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and stir to combine.

Pile remaining greens on top of wilted kale, pressing down to compact as needed. This will look BANANAS, but the greens will shrink dramatically in the oven. Carefully pour cream mixture over. It’s okay if it drips a little—that’s why it’s on a baking sheet. Break cheese slices into large crumbles and evenly distribute over top. Sprinkle panko mixture over.

Bake gratin until cheese is browned and bubbling and panko is toasted, 50–55 minutes.

Let cool 5 minutes before serving. Try not to eat the whole thing yourself!

Recipe: Spinach Rice Gratin from 101 Cookbooks

Image from 101 Cookbooks

2 1/2 cups leftover/pre-cooked brown rice, room temp
1 1/2 cups cups well finely chopped spinach
4 ounces firm organic tofu, crumbled
10 black olives, chopped
1/2 medium red onion, diced
1/3 cup pine nuts or almonds, toasted
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup shredded Manchego cheese (or Parm, or Gruyere)
3 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt

Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Rack in the top third. Grease a 10-inch round baking dish (or equivalent) with a bit of olive oil.

In a large bowl combine the rice, spinach, and tofu. Now, reserving a bit of each for garnish, stir in the olives, and red onion, pine nuts and olive oil. Now stir in 1/4 cup of the cheese. In a small bowl whisk together the eggs, and salt. Fold the eggs into the rice mixture, pour into the prepared baking dish, and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake for 30 minutes or until the casserole is set, and the top toasty and golden. Remove from the oven, and sprinkle with remaining onions, olives, and nuts. Sprinkle with a bit more salt before serving - or taste and get a sense of whether you need any.

Recipe: Princess Diana's Stuffed Peppers

From food.com

4 medium bell peppers

1⁄4 cup olive oil

FOR THE FILLING

1⁄2 cup chopped onion

1cup thinly sliced mushroom

1 zucchini, diced

1⁄2 teaspoon dried oregano

salt & freshly ground black pepper

2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 cup rice, cooked al dente and cooled

1⁄2 cup water

1⁄chicken or 1/2 vegetable bouillon cube

4 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and chopped

1 tablespoon fresh basil, shredded

4 ounces mozzarella cheese, diced

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

Pre heat oven to 350°F.

Cut the tops off the peppers and clean out the seeds and membranes. If the peppers won't stand up, cut a little piece off the bottom to level them. Place the peppers on a baking sheet and drizzle with the oil.

Bake for 25 minutes, or until they start to soften. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Pour the oil from the peppers into a frying pan and add the onions, mushrooms, zucchini and oregano. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper to taste, and saute over high heat until they start to soften.

Add the tomatoes, rice, water and bouillon cube to the vegetables in the frying pan, and simmer for about 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning. Fold in the bacon, basil and mozzarella cheese.

Divide the filling among the peppers. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top of the peppers.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the filling is hot.

Rae's favorite!

Braised Winter Greens

You can use hearty winter greens of any kind in this recipe and even throw in any more tender greens you might have on hand and want to use up such as turnip greens or spinach. If you want to keep the dish vegetarian I recommend a dash of liquid smoke or a sprinkle of smoked paprika in lieu of the bacon. The finished greens are great with a dash of vinegary hot sauce and can be served as a side or spooned over grits or rice with a fried egg on top!  Many of the vitamins in dark greens are water soluble so don't toss the cooking liquid or ‘pot liquor’! Try using the leftover liquid as a soup base or for cooking grains. 

About 12oz mixed winter greens, tough stems removed and leaves roughly chopped

4-6 slices of bacon, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

1 tbs olive oil (if not using bacon) 

Splash of apple cider vinegar

Sprinkle of red chili flakes

Salt to taste

Enough water or stock to just cover the veggies

Cook bacon until fat is rendered, add in onion and sauté until soft. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, stirring often, about 1min. Add greens, chili flakes, salt, vinegar, and stock or water. Simmer until greens are very tender, 25-30 min. 

Recipe: Celeriac & Apple Soup

from Wild Greens & Sardines

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1½ cups sliced leeks
½ cup roughly chopped onion
¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 medium tart apples (such as Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and quartered
1 pounds celeriac, peeled and cubed
3-4 cups water
½ cup whole milk
Freshly ground pepper
For serving: piment d’espelette or smoked paprika

Heat the butter and olive oil together over medium heat in a large pot. Allow the butter to brown, just slightly. Add the chopped leeks and onion and cook, stirring often, until soft and shiny, about 5 minutes. Add the salt, nutmeg, and garlic and cook for another minute.

Add the celeriac, apples, and water to the pot. Cover and raise the heat to high. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples and celeriac fall apart, 30 to 40 minutes.

If you have an immersion blender, stick it into the pot and blend until smooth. Otherwise, transfer to an upright blender in batches and return to the pot. Add the milk, and taste to adjust salt and add pepper. Serve with a healthy dusting of piment d’espelette or smoked paprika.

Recipe: Classic Potato Leek Soup

from Julia Child

2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed oil

1 pound russet potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped

1 pound leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced

6 cups vegetable stock (or light chicken stock)

Kosher salt, to taste

1 to 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup crème fraiche

1/3 cup minced parsley or chives

Heat the oil in a large (6-plus quart) stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the leek and potato. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have begun to soften and brown slightly, about 8 to 12 minutes (this time will vary greatly depending on the surface area of the bottom of your pot).

Add the vegetable stock, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.

Blend until smooth, either using an immersion blender or by carefully transferring to a blender in batches.

Add the cream, and season to taste with salt (I start with 1 teaspoon and go from there, tasting frequently) and lemon juice.

Ladle into bowls, and garnish with a dollop of crème fraiche and a healthy sprinkling of minced parsley.

Recipe: Stuffed Winter Squash

from The Splendid Table

This recipe is very versatile and can be used with futso, acorn, butternut, or delicata!

2 small winter squash, cut in half through the stem and seeded

2 teaspoons olive oil, plus more for rubbing the squash and oiling the dish

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

6 ounces chorizo or sweet sausage, crumbled or cut into small pieces (or cooked chopped bacon)

1 cup chopped leeks (1 small leek)

1 cup chopped apple (1 to 2 apples)

Freshly ground pepper

2 cups sliced tender greens (spinach, tatsoi, kale, Swiss chard), cut into ribbons

4 fresh sage leaves, coarsely chopped

2 cups cooked millet, rice, or quinoa (or try crumbled corn bread!)

1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese or Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 375° F. Rub the flesh of each squash half with olive oil, and oil an ovenproof dish or baking sheet. Sprinkle the whole baking dish with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Lay the squash flesh side down in the dish and bake until it is very tender when pricked with a fork, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the squash from the oven and raise the oven temperature to 425°F.

Meanwhile, heat the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chorizo and fry until browned. Remove from the pan and set aside. Add the leeks to the hot oil and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the apple, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper, and cook for another minute. Add the greens, sage, cooked grains, and reserved chorizo. Cook for another minute, stirring to combine, and remove from heat. Taste, and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.

Turn the cooked squash over in the baking dish so it is flesh side up. (Be careful, as steam will escape when you turn it.) Scoop the filling into the cavity of each squash half, piling it into a mountain so that it holds as much as possible. Sprinkle with cheese and bake until the cheese melts, about 10 minutes.

Recipe: Simmered Daikon With Chicken In Yuzu Sauce

adapted from I Love Umami

1 lb. Daikon radish

1 lb. Chicken thighs, boneless and skinless

3.5 oz brown or white beech mushroom, optional

1 tsp cornstarch

1.5 tbsp neutral tasting oil

2-2.5 tsp grated ginger

1 tsp coarse sea salt, plus more to taste

1 cup chicken or vegetable stock

1 to 1.5 tbsp yuzu juice*

1.5 tbsp soy sauce

1-2 bulbs scallions (or leeks!), chopped

Slice off both ends of the daikon radishes. Rinse and scrub under tap water. Pat dry and use a peeler to peel off the outer skin. Dice it to cube shape, about 1 to 1 ½ -inch cubes.

Dice the chicken to 1 ½ -inch bite sizes. Slice off the bottom end of the mushrooms and break them to pieces, if using. In a small bowl, make a slurry with cornstarch and 1 tbsp water.

Preheat a large stir-fry pan or Dutch oven over medium heat until it feels warm when placing your palm near the surface, about 2-3 inches away. Add the oil, chicken, ginger, and 1 tsp salt. Saute over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes.

Add stock, daikon radish, and mushrooms. Make sure the radish cubes are in contact with the liquid. Cover with a lid and bring it to boil, about 3-4 minutes.

Then lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the daikon turns soft and can easily be poked through with a fork or chopstick. The color will turn from pale to translucent. Stir the pot periodically to ensure even cooking.

Season with yuzu juice and soy sauce. Stir the slurry one more time before adding it to the pot. Gently toss for 30 seconds to thicken the sauce. Off heat, taste and add more salt, if desired.

Garnish with scallions (or leeks). Serve warm.

*or a 1:1 ratio of lemon and lime juice with a touch of orange or grapefruit juice.

Recipe: Pasta With Fried Peppers and Winter Pesto

from the farm!

For The Peppers

A handful of Sweet Italian Frying Peppers

Olive Oil

A sprinkle of salt and pepper

For The Pesto

1 Cup Arugula

1 Cup Kale

1/4 cup pine nuts

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 fresh grated parmesan cheese

3 tbs lemon juice

2 cloves garlic

A pinch of salt

For The Pasta

1 lb pasta of your choice, cooked per package instructions

Freshly grated parmesan cheese to taste

Chopped parsley to garnish

To Prepare The Peppers

Cut peppers in half and remove stems and seeds. Heat a large saute pan over medium to high heat. Add just enough olive oil to cover the pan and toss in the peppers. Season with salt and pepper and cook for a total of 10-12 minutes depending on the size of the peppers.

To Prepare The Pesto

Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.

Toss cooked pasta with peppers and pesto, top with parmesan and parsley. 

Recipe: Grilled Cauliflower Steaks With Chimichurri

adapted from Dishing Up The Dirt

This recipe was originally for outdoor grilling but we've adapted it for oven roasting for when its far too cold outside for that! Try the Chimichurri sauce on other roasted veggies (carrots, potatoes, beets) or dolloped on top of fish or meat!

1 cup parsley, roughly chopped

2 cloves of garlic, roughly chopped

1/2 cup cilantro, roughly chopped

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (plus additional for more kick if needed)

1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

salt and pepper to taste

Cauliflower Steaks 

1-2 heads of cauliflower, trimmed

olive oil

salt and pepper

Prepare the chimichurri sauce by combining all the ingredients in a food processor and processing until smooth. Taste for seasonings and adjust as needed.

Preheat oven to 425.

Using a sharp knife cut the cauliflower in half down the middle through the stem. Take one half of the cauliflower and cut it into 3/4- 1 inch thick slices. Repeat with the other head of cauliflower. You should end up with 4 "steaks" and a few florets from off the sides.

Rub each side of the cauliflower with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss the remaining florets with olive oil and sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper. Place the steaks and the florets on a baking sheet and roast until crisp tender, about 20-25 minutes. Broil for a minute to sear if desired. 

Divide the steaks and florets between plates and drizzle with the chimichurri sauce. If you're feeling fancy top your steaks with a few fried eggs for a complete meal.

Recipe: Roasted Beet & Acorn Squash Salad

from My Diary Of Us

For the Salad

3 Medium Sized Beets

1 Acorn Squash

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 Tbsp Fresh Thyme

1 1/2 Tbsp. of Kosher Salt

1 Tbsp. Black Pepper

2 Cups of Baby Kale or Spinach (try subbing in your collards, bok choy, or lettuce!) 

2 Oz of Goat Cheese

1 Cup of Cooked Farro (can swap for a wild rice or quinoa)

1/2 Cup of Pecan Halves

For the Dressing

1 Shallot, Sliced Thin

1 Glove Minced Garlic

1 Tbsp. Kosher Salt

1 Tsp. Cracked Black Pepper

1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard

2 Tbsp. Maple Syrup

1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Wash beets and cut in half. Drizzle the beets with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with half of the salt and half of the pepper and toss to coat thoroughly. Wrap in aluminum foil tightly and roast for 45-60 minutes until the beets are fork tender.

Slice acorn squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Slice half rings about an inch thick of the acorn squash and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with the rest of the salt and pepper and thyme. Place the squash on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes until tender and caramelized. (You can roast the beets and the squash at the same time.)

While the vegetables are roasting, make your vinaigrette by combining all ingredients in a mason jar and shaking them well until the dressing is emulsified. (which means it has all come together and the oil has mixed with the rest of the ingredients)

When the beets are done roasting, let cool slightly and then remove the peeling by simply scraping the skin off of the beet. (Roasting makes this process very easy.)

Layer the baby kale or spinach on the bottom on a large serving platter and then arrange the squash and beets on top followed by the farro, goat cheese, and pecans.

Drizzle the vinaigrette over top of the salad and serve immediately or at room temperature.

Recipe: Kohlrabi & Potato Gratin

from Boston Organics

2 Tbs. butter

2 cups heavy cream

2 tablespoons crème fraîche or sour cream

1 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon minced thyme

Salt and freshly ground pepper

4 large potatoes (2 pounds), peeled

1 large kohlrabi, peeled

Preheat the oven to 300°. Butter a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish. In a skillet, melt the butter and add the thyme and garlic and let simmer a few minutes to release the flavors.  Add the heavy cream and sour cream or crème fraîche and plenty of salt and pepper.

Using a vegetable mandolin (or a knife and a skilled hand), thinly slice the potatoes and kohlrabi, then add to the cream and toss to mix. Spread the potatoes, kohlrabi and cream in an even layer in the prepared baking dish and bake for 15 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 325° and bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes longer, or until the potatoes are tender and the top is browned. Let the gratin stand for 10 minutes to reabsorb the excess liquid before serving.

Recipe: Purple Carrot Soup

from A Hedgehog In The Kitchen

1.5 lbs of purple carrots (peeled and sliced)
1 onion (peeled and sliced)
1 clove of garlic (peeled and sliced)
1 tsp of cumin powder
2 cups (40cl) of coconut milk
1 inch of ginger (peeled and grated)
A tbsp of fresh cilantro (chopped)
1 red chili pepper (powdered)
Salt and pepper to taste

Put the carrots, onion, garlic, cumin, cilantro and a teaspoon of coarse salt in a large pot.
Fill the pot with enough cold water to cover the mixture.
Heat on high heat for 30 minutes.
Remove from heat.
Pour the coconut milk.
Add the ginger and half a teaspoon of ground black pepper.
Mix with a hand blender.
Heat until it boils.
Serve with powdered red chili pepper and a sprig of fresh cilantro.

Recipe: Chard Enchiladas

from The Wall Street Journal

6 tomatillos, husks removed and rinsed

1½ jalapeños, stemmed and seeded

3 cloves garlic

3 cups fresh cilantro, plus ½ cup leaves for garnish

¾ cups crema or sour cream

12 cups Swiss chard, ribs removed and leaves roughly chopped

Kosher salt

¾ cup canola oil

12 corn tortillas

1½ cups Oaxacan or Monterey Jack cheese, coarsely grated

⅓ cup queso fresco, crumbled

Lime wedges, for serving

Make salsa: Place tomatillos and jalapeños in a medium pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer until tomatillos fully soften, about 8 minutes. Drain.

Transfer cooked tomatillos and jalapeños to a blender and add half the garlic, 3 cups cilantro, 3 tablespoons crema and 3 cups chard. Season with salt and purée until smooth.

Heat 3 tablespoons oil in medium pot over medium-high heat. Pour in salsa and simmer until thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.

Make filling: Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Thinly slice remaining garlic and add it to pan. Sauté garlic until aromatic and lightly golden, about 1 minute, then add remaining chard. Sauté until leaves wilt but retain their bite, about 2 minutes. Turn off heat, stir in Oaxaca cheese and season with salt.

Fill a small pot with remaining oil and set over medium heat. Once small bubbles form, reduce heat to low. Use tongs to dip tortillas, one at a time, into oil until fully submerged. Once puffed but not at all browned, about 15 seconds per tortilla, set aside on a plate. Add oil as needed.

Divide warm tortillas among 4 plates and top with filling. Roll tortillas around filling to make cylinders and arrange seam-side down. Generously spoon warm salsa over rolled tortillas. Garnish with remaining crema, queso fresco and cilantro leaves. Serve warm with lime wedges.

Recipe: Roasted Delicata, Chard, & Leeks With Farro

from Blossom To Stem

1 delicata squash, sliced (approx. 1/2-inch thick) and seeded

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1/4-1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, (use the smaller amount if you like things on the mild side, the larger if you like extra heat)

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided

1 bunch chard, de-ribbed and sliced into approx 1-inch wide strips

2 large or 4 small leeks, washed well, sliced lengthwise and then crosswise into 1/2-inch slices

3/4 cup farro

2 teaspoons sherry vinegar

1/4 cup marcona almonds

salt

Preheat oven to 425°F. Fill a medium saucepan about 2/3 full with water and bring to a boil.

In a large mixing bowl, add the delicata squash slices and toss to coat. Add 3 tablespoons of olive oil, the garlic, rosemary, red pepper flakes and generous pinch of salt. Lay out in a single layer on one side of a half sheet pan leaving the excess oil and seasonings in the mixing bowl. Add the chard to the mixing bowl along with a pinch of salt and toss to coat. Lay the chard out on the other side of the sheet pan–it doesn’t have to be a single layer, but it should be evenly spread out.

In a small mixing bowl, add the leeks, the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and pinch of salt and toss to coat. Spread in an single layer on a quarter sheet pan or other small pan.

Roast until the vegetables are deeply caramelized in spots and tender. The chard takes about 10-12 minutes. If you have smaller leeks they’ll be ready around 15 minutes, if you have large leeks (most supermarket leeks fall into this category) they take 20-25 minutes. The squash should be take about 20-25 minutes. As each vegetable is ready, remove it from the oven and place in a large bowl.

Meanwhile, cook the farro in the boiling water until tender, about 20-24 minutes. Drain in a fine mesh strainer and add to the bowl with the vegetables. Add the sherry vinegar. Toss everything together to coat. Sprinkle with marcona almonds. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Recipe: Simple Eggplant Stirfry With Shishitos

from Farm Fresh To You

1 cup cooked brown rice

1 eggplant, cubed

1 teaspoon sesame oil

About 4oz shishito peppers, ends removed

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons ginger, peeled and chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

handful cashews or peanuts (optional)

Heat the sesame oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Saute the shishito peppers for 5 minutes, or until beginning to blister. Add the eggplant and cook for 5 minutes, or until beginning to soften.

Add the soy sauce, water, garlic and ginger to the pan and cook for 1 minute, stirring to incorporate.

Serve over brown rice and garnish with cashews or peanuts (optional). Top with more soy sauce if desired.

Sprouting Broccoli Bruschetta

A farm favorite!

1 bunch Sprouting Broccoli

2 cloves garlic

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4c golden raisins

ricotta cheese (approx. 2/3c. - 1c.)

parmesan cheese

salt to taste

2 large or 4 small slices of your favorite whole wheat artisan bread

Preheat the broiler for toasting the bread.

Coarsely cut the sprouting broccoli into slender 1/4-inch long pieces

In a fry pan or skillet over medium heat, warm 3 Tbs. of the olive oil. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the broccoli, and increase the heat to medium high as the broccoli begins to wilt. Cook until tender, 4 to 10 minutes. Add raisins in the final few minutes of cooking. If the pan seems too dry, add a splash of water. Remove from the heat and season with salt to taste.

Place the bread slices on a baking sheet and brush the slices with olive oil if. Broil until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Spread ricotta on slices (about 1/4c. for smaller slices and 1/3c. for larger slices) and top with the broccoli. Grate parmesan and serve immediately.

Recipe: Bacon Corn Hash Over Frisee

adapted from Smitten Kitchen

This hash is the perfect companion to a well-dressed frisee salad (check out our vinaigrette recipe below the hash)! Grab a few ears of corn from our neighbors at Bob's Corn and add some Skylight Farm eggs to finish it off. Some blistered and coarsely chopped shishitos would be a nice flavor addition as well!

Hash

1/2 pound thick-cut bacon, cut into small dice
1 pound red potatoes, scrubbed clean and diced into 1/4- to 1/2-inch cubes (about 3 to 3 1/4 cups)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 medium-large ears corn, kernels cut from the cob (2 1/2 to 3 cups)
1 bundle scallions, thinly sliced

Vinaigrette

1 clove garlic

2 tsp dijon mustard

1/3 cup olive oil

juice of one lemon (around 1/4c)

salt and pepper to taste

Toss bacon into a large skillet over medium heat and cook until golden and crisp. Remove the bacon bits with a slotted spoon, leaving the drippings in the pan and transferring the bacon to paper towels to drain.

Heat the pan to medium/medium-high, making sure the bacon fat is nicely sizzly, then add your potatoes all at once in a single layer. Sprinkle them with 1/2 teaspoon table salt and several grinds of black pepper. Let them cook for a few minutes in one place and get a bit golden underneath before turning them over and moving them around. Repeat this process until the potatoes are browned on all sides; this takes about 20 minutes.

At this point, you can push aside the potatoes and pour or spoon off all but a small amount of the fat.

Bump up the heat a little and add the corn to the skillet. Saute the potatoes and corn together until the corn gets a bit brown but stays fairly crisp, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the drained bacon, and stir the mixture together until it’s evenly warm, about 1 more minute. Remove the skillet from the burner and sprinkle the scallions (reserving a couple spoonfuls if you’d like to use them as fried egg garnish) over the hash. In two minutes, they should be warm and mellowed. Season with more salt or pepper to taste, if needed.

Add a fried egg to it: Heat a small skillet over medium-high heat and swirl in one to two teaspoons bacon fat or butter. Crack one egg into the skillet and reduce heat to medium. I like to cover the skillet with a small lid at this point, as it seems to help the egg cook faster and more evenly. In one minute, you should have a perfect sunny-side-up egg. Season with salt and pepper, serve on top of a pile of bacon corn hash.

Recipe: Roasted Beans With Israeli Couscous and Tahini Cream

One of Rae's Favorites!

½ pound green or yellow beans trimmed and cut

1 cup uncooked Israeli Couscous

½ tsp Za'atar Spice Mix (or just a mix of cumin and coriander if that is all you have) 

1 clove of garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (tiny tiny pinch here)

1/4 cup tahini

3-4 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons water + additional to thin as needed

2 tbs cilantro, chopped 

Greek yogurt

Preheat oven to 400. Toss beans with a glug of olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, and the Za'atar. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 10-15min. Meanwhile cook Israeli Couscous per package instructions and set aside. For the tahini sauce- combine all the ingredients for the sauce and whisk until completely smooth and creamy. If the sauce is too thick add a touch more water. When the beans are cooked pile them on top of the couscous on each plate and drizzle with tahini sauce, cilantro, and a dollop of Greek yogurt. 

A note from Rae: I've made this with roasted fennel with a fennel frond garnish in the past (hence the fennel in the pic) but it is a super flexible recipe that can be combined with other veggies that you may have on hand so be creative!