Recipe: Winter Greens & Grains Gratin

2021 Week 21 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic From A Sweet Spoonful

This recipe calls for kale but any greens will do so consider adding in the mizuna from your box for a bit of extra flavor! The millet is intended to cook most of the way in the gratin itself, so there is no need to pre-cook it.

Butter, for the pan

1 bunch kale, ribs and stems removed and torn into large pieces

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 shallot, sliced into thin rounds

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon dried thyme

½ cup raw millet

2 large eggs, beaten

3/4 cup grated Parmesan

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to salt the water

Freshly ground black pepper

1/8 teaspoon chile powder

Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly butter a 1 ½ or 2-quart baking dish. Soak the millet in a bowl of warm water while you set out to prepare the other ingredients.

Boil a large pot of salted water, and add the kale. Cook until just softened, about 2-3 minutes. I did mine in two batches as all the kale wouldn’t all fit in our large pot. Use a slotted spoon and transfer the kale to a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Remove from the cool water and, using your hands, squeeze as much water from the kale as possible and lay it out on good work surface. The kale tends to clump into balls when squeezed, so spend a few moments separating it and “declumping” it.

Heat oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the shallot and cook, stirring often, until translucent, about 4-5 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute more. In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained kale and cooked shallots. Drain the millet completely and add that as well.

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, heavy cream, milk, nutmeg, salt, black pepper and chile powder. Pour the liquid over the kale mixture and stir well to combine. Turn out into the prepared baking dish and top with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes, then increase the heat to 400 F and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until cheese is completely melted, the top is browned and the edges are bubbling. Allow to cool and set for 15 minutes before serving. Cover leftovers and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Recipe: Green Shakshuka

2021 Week 20 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic From Wild Greens & Sardines

Another flexible recipe that can include just about any hearty green! Shakshuka is typically based around tomatoes but here peppers and leafy greens create the base for creamy baked eggs. Try throwing in some chopped green tomatoes for some extra tang and serve with a simple side salad.

Olive oil
2 medium leeks, white and light green parts, cleaned well, thinly sliced (sub in thinly sliced onion from your box!)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno or serrano chile, minced (add in more peppers of any kind!)
6 cups mixed greens, roughly chopped (such as spinach, kale, chard, beet greens, dandelion greens, etc.)
Handful of mixed herbs (such as basil, parsley, dill, chives, fenugreek leaves), plus extra for garnish
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
6 eggs
Feta for topping
Sumac for topping
*Chile oil for topping
Za’ atar flatbread for serving

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and sauté until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and chile, and sauté another minute. Add the greens and herbs, season with salt and pepper and sauté until cooked down, about 5 minutes. Stir yogurt into greens.
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Make six indentations in the greens mixture. Crack an egg into each. Cover the skillet and cook until the egg whites are just set but yolks still runny. Turn off the heat, top with crumbled feta and chopped herbs, sprinkle with sumac and drizzle with chile oil.

*For the chile oil: Place 2 to 3 tablespoons chile flakes (such as Calabrian, Aleppo, Urfa Biber or Korean) in a heatproof bowl. Heat up oil of your choice (I used olive oil, but peanut, grapeseed, or canola would work). When sizzling hot, pour the oil over the chile flakes. Let sit, ideally for 24 hours, to allow the chile to fully infuse the oil.

Recipe: Roasted Carrot Ginger Soup

2021 Week 20 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic From Dishing Up The Dirt

Sweet, creamy, and comforting, this soup with surely warm you up this week! Try adding a smidge of red curry paste for a bit of extra flavor and serve with some good crusty bread for dipping!

1 1/2 pounds carrots (about 6 large carrots) cut into 1 inch pieces (no need to peel)

1 large yellow onion, peeled and quartered

2 large cloves of garlic, peels left on

2 teaspoons fresh thyme

salt and pepper

olive oil

4 cups low-sodium vegetable stock

2 tablespoons minced ginger

1/2 cup full fat coconut milk (blended before measuring)

Preheat the oven to 400F.

On a large rimmed baking sheet toss the carrots, onion, garlic and thyme with a little olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place in the oven and roast until the veggies are golden brown and tender, about 35-45 minutes. Toss halfway through cooking.

Let the veggies slightly cool and then remove the garlic from its skin. Place half of the veggies in a blender with 2 cups of the broth, the ginger and coconut milk. Blend until smooth and creamy. Pour the pureed soup into a large pot and keep warm on medium-low heat. Add the remaining veggies and broth to the blender and puree until smooth. Pour into the soup pot, stir well and keep warm until ready to serve. Taste for seasonings and adjust as needed.

Recipe: Winter Squash & Greens Bake

2021 Week 20 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic From Smitten Kitchen

This is a flexible recipe that can embrace just about any hearty green or winter squash variety! It keeps for up to a week so you can make it well ahead of time and then just reheat in a 350 degree oven whenever you are ready to eat.

1 large egg

1 cup (250 grams) ricotta

1 cup (100 grams) finely grated parmesan, divided

1 cup (85 grams) coarsely grated fontina cheese

1 1/4 cups (300 grams) water

3 tablespoons (45 ml) olive oil, divided

1 tablespoon kosher salt (I use Diamond; use less of other brands)

Freshly grated nutmeg (optional)

Freshly ground black pepper

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, to taste

3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

5 ounces (140 grams) baby spinach, roughly chopped (sub in your chard!)

2 tablespoons thinly-sliced sage leaves or 1 teaspoons chopped thyme leaves (optional)

1 1/4-pound (560-grams) butternut or another sturdy winter squash, peeled, seeded, sliced thin or 1 pound (455 grams) in prepared chunks, sliced thin

8 ounces (225 grams) dried pasta (see Note), broken into pieces if large/long

Heat oven to 350°F (176°C). Line a 9-inch springform with 3-inch sides (see Note) with a sling of parchment paper, pressing it across the bottom and creasing the sides to get it to fit as best as possible. If the sides aren’t well covered, repeat with a second piece of parchment in the other direction.

Whisk egg and ricotta in a large bowl. Stir in half of the parmesan, fontina, water, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, a few gratings of fresh nutmeg, lots of freshly ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic. Stir in squash, spinach, and sage or thyme, if using. Add dried noodles and stir until everything is coated.

Pour into prepared pan and press gently so everything is in as even of a layer as possible. Sprinkle with second half of parmesan. Gently fold any parchment that extends over the rim of the pan into the center and cover the pan tightly with foil. Bake on a sheet (for extra security against drips) for 1 hour, then remove foil, reopen the parchment folded over the top, and drizzle the dish with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Return to the oven uncovered for 30 minutes. Pasta will be baked through and the top will be crisp. If it doesn’t have as much color as you’d like on top, you can finish it under the broiler for a minute or two.

Cool in pan on a rack for 30 minutes before removing the springform ring, sliding the pasta bake by its parchment onto a serving plate, and cut it into wedges.

Recipe: Pickled Green Tomatoes

2021 Week 20 Newsletter

Recipe Adapted From Love & Lemons

This recipe is the closest I have ever come to the incredible pickled green tomatoes that I used to buy at City Feed when I lived in Boston, MA. You can of course forgo the bourbon, but I recommend giving it try. The pickles are fantastic in sandwiches (especially grilled cheese!), diced and tossed with eggs, or just eaten as a snack!

~Rae

1 pound green tomatoes

1 garlic clove, sliced

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup water

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon sugar

½ tablespoon whole black peppercorns

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 ½ tablespoons bourbon

Slice tomatoes, either into 1/4-inch thick slices, or halved and cut into 8-10 wedges. Divide tomatoes among jars, packing the tomatoes tightly in each jar. Place a few slices of garlic in each jar.

In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, water, salt, sugar, peppercorns, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer until sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and add bourbon.

Pour brine over pickles, filling jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Make sure all of the tomatoes are fully submerged. If they start to ‘float’, wedge a few more tomato pieces in there to keep them firmly packed.

Screw on jar lids and refrigerate for at least 3 days to allow pickles to fully pickle, and after that pickles will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Recipe: Broccoli & Za'atar Soup With Tahini Cream

2021 Week 18 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic From Dishing Up The Dirt

This is another one of those recipes that we end up sharing every year because it is just so darn good! If you find broccoli cheese soup a little too heavy, are trying to avoid dairy, or want to convince a picky eater to give this veggie another try, this is the go-to soup for you! The tahini cream is absolutely essential for balancing out the richness of the soup with a spicy and acidic zing so don't skimp on making it!

~Rae

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large yellow onion, finely chopped

3 cloves of garlic, minced

3 teaspoons za'atar

2 whole heads of broccoli, broken into small florets (about 4 cups worth)

1 medium sized yukon gold potato (about 1/2 pound), peeled and roughly chopped (or any white/yellow flesh potato)

1 litre (4 cups) low sodium vegetable broth + additional to thin if needed

salt and pepper to taste

Lemon Tahini Sauce

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

freshly ground black pepper to taste

Garnishes

1/2 cup cilantro, minced

1/4 cup lightly toasted pine nuts

za'atar for sprinkling

Heat the oil in a heavy bottom pan and cook the onion and garlic over medium-high heat until they begin to soften up, about 5 minutes. Stir in the za'atar, broccoli and potatoes and coat the veggies in the spice mixture. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes.

While the soup simmers prepare the tahini sauce. Combine all the ingredients for the sauce and whisk until completely smooth and creamy. This works best with a small food processor, immersion blender, or regular blender. Taste for seasonings and adjust as needed. If the sauce is too thick add a touch more water.

Once the soup has simmered for 25 minutes and the veggies are tender use an immersion blender to puree the soup until completely smooth and creamy. Alternately (and my preferred method) transfer the soup to a high speed blender (you may have to do this in batches) and puree until smooth. Season the soup with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Taste for seasonings and keep on low heat until ready to serve.

Divide the soup between bowls. Drizzle each bowl with a few tablespoons of the tahini sauce and garnish with cilantro and pine nuts.

Recipe: Scrambled Eggs With Peppers & Tomatoes

2021 Week 18 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic From Umami Girl

Delicious for breakfast for for dinner! Pair with toast or roasted potatoes and add in a healthy pinch of cumin and smoked paprika. If you don't have cotija cheese, some crumbled feta or a healthy dollop of sour cream would do just as nicely.

1 tablespoon olive oil

Several sweet or spicy peppers

1 medium onion, diced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 eggs

½ cup crumbled cotija cheese

⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Cholula or other hot sauce, to taste

Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a 10-inch nonstick skillet. Add peppers and onions along with a good pinch of salt. Cook for a few minutes, until softened to your liking. Meanwhile, scramble the eggs in a medium bowl.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour eggs into the skillet and cook, pulling to the center with a silicone spatula as the set underneath, until just cooked through. Divide between two plates and top with cheese, cilantro, hot sauce to taste as well as more salt if you like and some freshly ground black pepper.

Recipe: Som Tam Salad With Joi Choi

2021 Week 18 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from Cheap & Cheerful Cooking

Som Tam Salad is traditionally made with Green Papaya but many other veggies can be subbed in with delicious results- the original riff on this recipe included Kohlrabi but here we suggest using the Joi Choi from your box! Consider throwing in some steamed broccoli as well, the dressing works well with just about anything.

~Rae

1 head Joi Choi

1 carrot

3 cloves garlic

1-2 bird's eye chillies (or sub jalepeno to taste!)

1 heaped tbsp peanuts, roasted

½ pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
String Beans (like the yellow beans in your box!)

Dressing (a staple in Alice's house)

3 tbsp lime juice

2 tbsp soy sauce

2 tbsp palm sugar or brown sugar

1 pinch salt

Blanch beans in boiling salted water for 2min, then chill and cut into pieces. Slice the carrot into thin strips and Joi Choi into crunch ½-1 inch strips, greens & stems. Place garlic, chilies, salt, and sugar in a mortar and crush finely. Add peanuts and crush roughly. Add lime juice, soy sauce, and tomatoes. Mix everything and squeeze tomatoes lightly. Add dressing and serve with sticky rice.

Recipe: Roasted Tomato Vinaigrette

2021 Week 17 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from Tasting Table

Looking for a way to get another taste of those summer salads you have been enjoying all season long? Give this punchy dressing a try while tomatoes are still popping! 

About 1 lb tomatoes, cut into pieces OR 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 tablespoon finely minced shallots

½ teaspoon finely grated garlic

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Preheat the oven to 400º. On a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, toss ½ of the tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Roast until the skins begin to blister, 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the shallots, garlic and vinegar. Season with salt and let sit for 15 minutes.

Transfer the remaining half of tomatoes to a food processor along with the macerated shallot mixture and lemon zest. Season with salt and pulse until smooth. Transfer the vinaigrette to a bowl and stir in the roasted tomatoes. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed before serving.

Recipe: Spanish Style Eggs With Kale & Chorizo

2021 Week 17 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic From Milk Street

Migas started out as a Spanish-Portuguese way to use up stale bread but we think you'll agree that this recipe is so much more than just a way to get rid of leftovers!

8 large eggs

kosher salt

3oz Spanish chorizo, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise

2 tbs olive oil

2 ½ cups ½in chewy bread cubes

1 medium onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

¼ tsp sweet paprika

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

2 cups lightly packed coarsely chopped kale

ground black pepper

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs with ½ tsp salt. In a skillet cook the chorizo until browned and crisp, 2-5min. Transfer the chorizo to a bowl, leaving any fat in the pan. 

Add 2 tbs of olive oil to the pan and add the bread with a pinch of salt. Cook, tossing frequently until browned and crisped, 3-5min. Transfer to the bowl with the chorizo.

Add remaining 1 tbs of olive oil, onion, garlic, paprika, cayenne, and ¼ tsp salt to the pan and cook, stirring frequently until the onion and garlic are softened , 3-5min. Add the kale and cook until wilted but still bright green. 

Pour the whisked eggs into the skillet and immediately reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring frequently, until barely set, about 1min. Stir in bread and chorizo and cook to desired consistency, 30-90 seconds. 

Recipe: Lo Mein With Pac Choi & Green Onions

2021 Week 17 Newsletter

Recipe adapted from The Woks Of Life

Another tried and true noodle dish that is also ultra flexible! Feel free to throw in additional sautéed veggies or mushrooms and extra protein of your choice (shrimp, pork, chicken, tofu, Chinese sausage, etc). 

~Rae

1 lb fresh Chinese white noodles or Lo Mein Noodle

2 tbs sesame oil

4 tbs soy sauce

2 tbs oyster sauce

2 tbs rice wine

1 tbs grated ginger

½ tbs garlic, minced

pinch of sugar

1 tbs peanut oil

3 green onions, split at the thick parts and cut into 2in lengths

1 cup roughly chopped pac choi

Boil water in a large pot for the noodles. If using the lo mein egg noodles, you can skip this step, as those noodles do not require any pre-cooking. But if using fresh white noodles, you will have to boil them. Just cook until al dente, drain, and rinse in cold water. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, rice wine, and oyster sauce.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok over high heat and add the garlic, ginger, and the white parts of the scallions. Stir-fry for 30 seconds and add pac choi to the wok and cook until the greens are just wilted. Then add your noodles and the green parts of the scallions. Make sure that before you add them, they’re somewhat loose and not all clumped together (you can rinse them in warm water to loosen them up before adding them to the wok).

Pour your sauce mixture over the noodles and stir-fry until the color of the noodles are uniform. A folding or scoop-and-lift motion works well for that. Once everything is well-combined, dish out the noodles and serve.

Recipe: Lentil Soup With Fennel & Sausage

2021 Week 17 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from Taste Cooking

When the weather starts getting drizzly and chilly this is a recipe that I always end up turning to. It's rich, satisfying and oh so heart-warming on a fall or winter evening!

~Rae

1 ½ cups green or brown lentils, preferably French

1 tsp baking soda

7oz Toulouse sausage, or other uncooked pork sausage, casings removed

Olive oil, as needed

1 medium yellow onion, diced

1 medium bulb fennel, trimmed, cored, and diced (or substitute 4 celery stalks)

½ tsp fine sea salt

3 whole cloves

½ tsp dried thyme

6 cups chicken or vegetable stock

Freshly ground black pepper

Crème fraîche or full-fat sour cream, for serving

Roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for serving

Hot sauce, for serving (optional)

The day before you want to cook them, soak the lentils in enough cold water to cover by 2 inches mixed with the baking soda.

The next day, in a heavy-bottomed pot, cook the sausage over medium heat until browned, breaking it into bits with a wooden spoon as it cooks. (If the sausage meat is lean, add 2 teaspoons olive oil so it doesn’t stick.) Scoop out and set aside on a plate.

Add the onion, fennel, and salt to the pot and cook, stirring regularly, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes.

Drain and rinse the lentils. Add to the pot with the cloves and thyme. Add the stock, cover, and bring to a simmer. Cook until the lentils are cooked through, 35 to 40 minutes. If you want to give more body to the soup, mash roughly with a potato masher, or process briefly with an immersion blender. You want the soup to remain chunky.

Return the sausage to the pot and stir. Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Ladle into bowls. Add a spoonful of crème fraîche, black pepper, and parsley, and serve. I like a dash of hot sauce, too.

Recipe: Frisee & Apple Salad

2021 Week 16 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from Martha Stewart

I often think of salads as a summer dish but this recipe just screams fall. Try serving with a poached egg or roast chicken to make it a meal!

~Rae

1/4 cup sour cream or creme fraiche

4 teaspoons champagne or white-wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon honey

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 large head frisee (about 7 ounces), cut into bite-size pieces

1 apple, such as Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Gala, cored and thinly sliced

In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream or creme fraiche, champagne or white-wine vinegar, and honey. Season with salt and pepper.

In a large bowl, toss frisee and apple with enough dressing to coat. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Recipe: Spicy Sichuan Noodles With Pac Choi

2021 Week 16 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from Wild Greens & Sardines

This recipe is pretty much a meatless version of Dan Dan noodles (traditionally ground pork is the star attraction) but the sauce is so rich, creamy, and highly flavored that you won't for a minute feel like you are sacrificing deliciousness in favor of incorporating more veggies into your meal. You can purchase chili oil at the grocery store but if you have the time and inclination I highly recommend making your own (recipe included below)- you will be shocked at how many dishes it will find its way into!

~Rae

noodles
8-10 ounces dried or fresh ramen noodles (I usually use buckwheat soba noodles)
Bring a pot of salted water to a bowl. Drop in the pasta and cook until just al dente. Drop into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain.
For the Tofu-Mushroom
1 tablespoon oil
4 ounces firm tofu, finely chopped
4 ounces mushrooms, any variety, chopped (I often use rehydrated dried shiitake mushrooms because that is usually what I have on hand in the pantry)
2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced
1 inch of ginger minced

1-2 heads of pac choi, chopped
1 teaspoon Shaoxing rice wine, Saki or dry Sherry
2 teaspoons soy sauce or tamari
Salt to taste
Heat a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a bit of oil and saute the pac choi until tender and wilted, set aside. Add the tofu and mushrooms and sauté until nicely browned. Add the garlic and ginger, and a little more oil if needed, and sauté another minute. Add the rice wine and soy and stir to combine. Fold the cooked pac choi into the mix and salt to taste.
For the Sauce
1 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns
4 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
2 teaspoons Chinese black vinegar
2 to 4 tablespoons Sichuan chile oil plus some flakes, depending on desired heat level (recipe below)
2 tablespoons tahini
Splash of pasta cooking water
Combine the Sichuan peppercorns, soy sauce, black vinegar, Sichuan chile oil and tahini in a bowl. Whisk to combine. Add a tablespoon or two of pasta cooking water, just to loosen up the sauce a bit.
Toppings
Thinly sliced scallions
Roasted, chopped peanuts
Ground Sichuan peppercorns

To Assemble
Spoon a few tablespoons of sauce in the bottom of each bowl. Layer half of the noodles on top. Spoon the tofu-mushroom mixture on top. Add thinly sliced scallions, chopped roasted peanuts and a pinch of Sichuan peppercorns. Add a little more sauce on top. Enjoy!

Sichuan Chile Oil
1/4 cup red pepper flakes, such as Korean chile flakes (Gochugaru)
2 teaspoons toasted and ground Sichuan peppercorn
3/4 cup oil, such as grape seed
1 cinnamon stick
1 star anise
1 tablespoon whole Sichuan peppercorns
3 bay leaves
2-3 slices ginger

Place the red chile flakes and ground Sichuan peppercorn in a heatproof bowl. Set aside.

Heat the oil with the cinnamon stick, star anise, whole Sichuan peppercorns, bay leaves and ginger in a pot over medium-high heat. Turn down the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Place a fine mesh strainer over the bowl with the chile flakes. Carefully pour the hot oil all over the chile flakes. Be careful, it will bubble up. Allow the oil to cool completely and allow the oil to infuse for at least 24 hours before using. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for maximum shelf life.

Recipe: Braised Celery With Lentils & Garlic

2021 Week 16 Newsletter

Recipe and pic from Epicurious

A fantastic way to make the most of both your celery and garlic while providing a warm and hearty meal for your household! 

¼ cup plus 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 bunch celery, leaves reserved, stalks sliced ½” thick on a diagonal

6–8 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 tsp. kosher salt, plus more

½ cup dry white wine or dry vermouth

A small handful hardy herb sprigs (such as rosemary, thyme, and/or sage; optional)

2½ cups low-sodium beef, chicken, or vegetable broth

2 cups Big-Batch Marinated Lentils

4 large eggs

Flaky sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Crusty bread (for serving; optional)

Heat ¼ cup oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium-high. Add celery and toss to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until celery is very lightly browned, about 5 minutes, then add garlic and toss to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is deep golden brown and celery is tender and golden brown, 5–7 minutes. Mix in 1 tsp. kosher salt, then add wine and herbs (if using) and stir to combine. Cook until wine is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil; stir in lentils. Cook until lentils are warmed through and flavors have come together, about 5 minutes. Taste and season with more kosher salt if needed. Fish out herb sprigs if using and discard.

Heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Crack eggs into skillet and cover with a lid (or a baking sheet if you don’t have one), reduce heat to low, and cook just until egg whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes.

Divide braised celery mixture among bowls. Top each with an egg and some celery leaves; sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Serve with crusty bread, if desired.

Marinated Lentils

2½ cups French green or black beluga lentils, rinsed, picked through3 tsp. kosher salt, divided¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil¼ cup sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar½ tsp. honey¼ tsp. hot smoked Spanish paprika or Hungarian sweet paprika

Combine lentils and 2 tsp. salt in a large saucepan and pour in cold water to cover by at least 1”. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer gently until lentils are tender but still have some bite (like al dente pasta), about 20 minutes. Drain and return to pot.

Meanwhile, whisk oil, vinegar, honey, paprika, and remaining 1 tsp. salt in a small bowl or measuring glass.

Pour vinaigrette over hot lentils and toss to coat. Let sit at least 10 minutes before serving to give lentils time to absorb flavors from vinaigrette.

Do ahead: Lentils can be prepared 5 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill.

Recipe: Chocolate Beet Cupcakes

2021 Week 16 Newsletter

Recipe and pic from The Kitchn

You knew we couldn't let a season go by without sharing at least one chocolate beet recipe! These cupcakes are so moist and delicious and I can personally attest that they are also an excellent way of sneaking some beets onto a picky child's (or adult's) plate!

~Rae

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/3 cups  sugar

3/4 cup beet puree (2 small beets, roasted)

1/2 cup buttermilk

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted

2 large eggs, room temperature

For the frosting:

8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped and melted

1 tablespoon sugar

Pinch salt

1/2 cup sour cream

Preheat oven to 350°F and line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, beet purée, buttermilk, butter, chocolate, and eggs. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet.

Divide the batter evenly between prepared cups. Bake until the tops are puffed and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a rack to cool completely. Frost as desired.

To make the frosting:

In a large bowl, whisk together the melted chocolate and the sugar and salt until smooth. Stir in the sour cream. Use immediately.

Recipe: Charred Green Beans With Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

2021 Week 15 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from A Beautiful Plate

This recipe would make a zingy side dish but you could also transform it into a meal in itself by tossing the beans over long grain rice (and beans) and throwing a fried egg on top! 

2 tablespoons (30 mL) extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons (30 mL) fresh lime juice

¼ cup packed fresh cilantro leaves plus more for garnishing

¼ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

Charred Green Beans:

1 lb (16 oz) fresh green beans trimmed

extra virgin olive oil

flaky salt such as Maldon

Prepare Vinaigrette: Combine the olive oil, lime juice, cilantro, salt and pepper in small food processor bowl. Puree or pulse ingredients together, until mixture just begins to come together, and cilantro is still finely chopped. Set aside in a small container. Shake before using.

Prepare the Charred Green Beans: In a medium bowl, toss the trimmed green beans lightly with olive oil (roughly 1 tablespoon or so) and season lightly with salt. Heat a grill (use a grill pan if your grill slats are spaced apart) over medium-high heat or large grill pan over very high heat. The pan should be piping hot. If you are grilling inside, turn on your kitchen fan, as it will get smoky.

Add about a third of the green beans directly to the hot grill or grill pan, spreading them out evenly. Grill the greens beans for roughly 4 to 5 minutes, tossing them every few minutes, until they are evenly charred and beginning to soften slightly. Transfer the charred green beans to a serving platter or separate mixing bowl. Repeat with the remaining green beans.

Allow the charred green beans to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then toss with the cilantro-lime vinaigrette. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro leaves and finishing salt. The dish can be served hot, at room temperature, or cold straight from the fridge.

Recipe: Chard & Potato Enchilladas

2021 Week 15 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic from Anathoth Garden

Once upon a time I didn't even know what chard was, let alone how incredibly versatile it is! This recipe is a great way to use up multiple veggies in your box in one go while putting something just a little different on the dinner table. *You can add a protein such as pork, sausage or chicken if desired, simply chop it up small and cook until browned then add the filling before rolling tortillas.

~Rae

Vegetable Oil

Salt

1/2 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

Salt and pepper

1/2 lb (1 bunch) Swish Chard (stems and leaves washed, dried and chopped)

1 medium onion, chopped

3-4 garlic cloves, minced

3/4-1 lb pepper jack cheese, shredded

8 tortillas, either corn or flour

1 jar (12-14 oz) salsa, as hot as you like

Sour cream and sliced green onions for topping

Heat a couple tablespoons of oil in a large skillet; cook the potatoes until golden brown. Place on a paper towel and season with salt and pepper as desired.

Add the chard stems to the skillet. Cook until beginning to soften.

Add the onions and garlic and cook until softened.

Add the chard leaves and cook until wilted. Remove from heat.

Add the potatoes and 1 cup of the cheese to the mix and toss together.

Preheat an oven to 350 deg.

Put ½ cup or so of the salsa to a baking dish.

Add 2 tablespoons or so of the mixture to a tortilla and roll up, placing in the dish seam side down. Repeat for all the tortillas. *If using corn tortillas, cook in the skillet for a few seconds to soften before filling.

Top the tortillas with the rest of the salsa and spread the rest of the cheese evenly over the top.

Bake until the cheese is melted and the filling is beginning to bubble.

Serve with sour cream and green onions on the top.

Recipe: Black Bean & Roasted Pepper Quesadillas

2021 Week 15 Newsletter

Recipe and pic from Nourish & Fete

When I'm looking for something easy, filling, and tasty in a way that will please even my picky five year old daughter, quesadillas are where I turn! This recipe is a great way to incorporate the peppers from your box this week- top with chopped cilantro or some salsa fresca! 

~Rae

2 peppers: all sweet or a sweet and hot combo, your choice!

3 teaspoons olive oil divided

1 teaspoon kosher salt divided

1 small yellow onion finely chopped

3 cloves garlic minced or pressed

3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground chipotle chili powder

1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

2 (15 ounce) cans black beans drained and rinsed

1 cup chicken or vegetable broth

juice of 1 lime

1 cup shredded cheese monterey jack, colby jack, or any Mexican blend is terrific

8 flour or corn tortillas

sliced avocado or salsa as desired, for serving

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (approximately 200 degrees C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Slice the tops and bottoms off the peppers, cut into quarters, and remove seeds along with the inner white membranes. Arrange peppers on the prepared baking sheet, drizzle with 1 teaspoon olive oil, and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Bake for 20-30 minutes, turning peppers about halfway through, until the skins are blackened and slightly charred. Remove from oven and set aside; when cool, coarsely chop.

To make the black beans, heat remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until it just begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, cumin, chipotle chili powder, cayenne pepper, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt; saute about 30 seconds, just until fragrant.

Stir in the beans followed right away by the broth. Bring to a brisk simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and continue simmering gently until beans are tender and most liquid has been absorbed, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in lime juice, and adjust seasonings to taste.

To assemble quesadillas, warm a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and place a tortilla on the surface. Sprinkle a thin layer of cheese evenly over the surface of the tortilla, followed by a thin layer of beans and a sprinkling of chopped red peppers. Finish with an additional thin layer of cheese, then top with another tortilla.

Using a spatula, gently press down on the top tortilla, and cook until both layers of cheese begin to melt. Gently flip the quesadilla, and cook for 1-2 minutes more on the other side. Remove to a cutting board, slice into wedges, and serve with avocado or salsa as desired.

Recipe: Easy Salsa Fresca

2021 Week 15 Newsletter

Fresh, comes together in just a few minutes, and tasty on just about anything- this simple salsa screams SUMMER! Serve with tortilla chips, dollop on eggs, or use as a topping for quesadillas, enchiladas, or tacos.  

½ small sweet onion

3 cloves garlic

1 pint cherry tomatoes, or 1-2 heirloom tomatoes cut into chunks

½ cup cilantro leaves packed

1 lime juiced

1 jalapeno, de-seeded (unless you want more heat!)

salt to taste

Place the onion, garlic, and jalapeon in a food processor, and pulse until finely chopped.

Add the tomatoes and cilantro, and pulse until you reach the desired consistency.

If there is a lot of excess liquid, drain some out. Add the lime juice and salt, and stir.