2 Tbsp. butter
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1/2 cup sliced celery stalks and leaves
1 large butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1 small cooking apple (such as Jonagold or Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
6 cups chicken stock or water
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
6 allspice berries
garnish:
chopped fresh chives
sour cream
Cook onion and celery in butter over medium-high heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Place the squash and apple in a slow cooker; add onion mixture and stock. Cover and cook on low about 5 1/5 hours, until squash and apple are tender. Grind spices in a mortar or spice grinder; add to soup and cook another half hour. With an immersion blender or, working in batches, in a regular blender, puree the soup until smooth. Reheat if needed.
Adapted from: The gourmet slow cooker, vol. II : regional comfort-food classics / Lynn Alley. Ten Speed Press, 2006. 9781580087322
This is another of those posts I prepared for the Tumwater Farmers' Market blog before it switched editors. There are several of these, which will appear this winter when I'm feeling particularly cold and uninspired.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
Showing posts with label soups. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soups. Show all posts
11 December, 2018
27 September, 2017
Three onion soup
1 teaspoon olive oil
4 medium leeks (white and pale green parts, about 2 cups), chopped
1 small onion (1/4 pound), thinly sliced
2 large shallots (1/4 pound), thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups water
1 large potato (6 ounces) such as Yukon Gold, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup grated Gruyère (2 ounces)
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking; add leeks, onion, and shallots and season to taste. Cook about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until edges are golden brown. Add 1/2 cup water and deglaze skillet, scraping up brown bits. Add potato, broth, and remaining cup water to onions. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are very tender.
Pour about 1 cup of soup into blender, puree, and return to pot. Adjust seasonings and serve sprinkled with cheese and drizzled with vinegar.
Makes about 4 cups.
Adapted from Gourmet (via the Epicurious website).
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
4 medium leeks (white and pale green parts, about 2 cups), chopped
1 small onion (1/4 pound), thinly sliced
2 large shallots (1/4 pound), thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups water
1 large potato (6 ounces) such as Yukon Gold, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup grated Gruyère (2 ounces)
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking; add leeks, onion, and shallots and season to taste. Cook about 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until edges are golden brown. Add 1/2 cup water and deglaze skillet, scraping up brown bits. Add potato, broth, and remaining cup water to onions. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are very tender.
Pour about 1 cup of soup into blender, puree, and return to pot. Adjust seasonings and serve sprinkled with cheese and drizzled with vinegar.
Makes about 4 cups.
Adapted from Gourmet (via the Epicurious website).
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
19 April, 2017
Newsletters: 19 Oct., 2011
Excerpt from the Market Newsletter originally published on 19 Oct., 2011. View the full newsletter for all the photos and links.
In the garden
This being our designated planning-for-the-winter week, it seems only right to give you a run-down of what will be going on out there over the winter. Here's a summary of what the WSU Master Gardeners tell us.
• Nov.: Mulch. Move container plants inside (if you haven't already). Be careful not to over-prune your roses.
• Dec.: Pot up paperwhites for forcing. Fertilize for the winter.
• Jan.: Do a little winter weeding. Start planning next year's garden, including crop rotation.
• Feb.: Don't be fooled by good weather into exposing your roses or getting a start on your spring pruning. Instead, go slug hunting or start your brassica seedlings indoors.
• Mar.: NOW you can prune and feed those roses. Transplant your brassicas outside and start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants inside. Sow hardy vegetables such as beets and spinach.
• Apr.: Sow carrots. Start squash and cucumbers indoors. You should probably mow the lawn, too.
• May.: Plant dahlias, gladiolus and calla lilies; fill containers and deadhead bulbs. Sow corn and beans, and transplant tomato, pepper and squash starts, if and when it's warm enough.
In the kitchen
The cold weather is here, so I guess it's time to talk about nice hearty soups again.
Clove-scented onion soup with Madeira and paprika
0.25 c unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 lb. onions, peeled and thinly sliced
6 c beef broth
3 Tbsp. golden raisins
1.5 tsp. paprika
0.5 tsp. ground mace
8 whole cloves
salt and pepper to taste
4 egg yolks, lightly beaten
0.25 c dry Madeira wine
Cook onions in the butter and olive oil, stirring occasionally, 20 min. or until the onions are wilted and golden. Add broth, raisins, paprika, mace, and cloves. Bring to a boil; partially cover, and simmer 30 min. Season. Stir 1/4 c of the soup into the egg yolks. Add the yolk mixture to the pot and cook, stirring, for about 4 min or until slightly thickened. Stir in Madeira.
From: Adriana's spice caravan / Adriana & Rochelle Zabarkes.
Healthy Oatmeal Soup
10 cups chicken stock
2 skinless chicken breasts
1 large ripe tomato, finely chopped
1 green onion, finely chopped
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 tablespoon ground coriander
1 cup quick cooking oats (more or less, according to desired thickness)
Salt to taste
Boil chicken breasts, tomato, cumin, and coriander in chicken stock until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken meat from the bones and cut or tear into small pieces. Return meat to broth and stir in oats. Bring to a boil, stir occasionally for about 2 minutes. Boil for about 15 minutes.
Source unknown.
Crock Pot Barley Soup
1 lb. stew beef in 1/2" cubes
1 med. onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, diced
3/4 c. barley
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
6 c. beef stock
Slow-cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
Source unknown.
In the garden
This being our designated planning-for-the-winter week, it seems only right to give you a run-down of what will be going on out there over the winter. Here's a summary of what the WSU Master Gardeners tell us.
• Nov.: Mulch. Move container plants inside (if you haven't already). Be careful not to over-prune your roses.
• Dec.: Pot up paperwhites for forcing. Fertilize for the winter.
• Jan.: Do a little winter weeding. Start planning next year's garden, including crop rotation.
• Feb.: Don't be fooled by good weather into exposing your roses or getting a start on your spring pruning. Instead, go slug hunting or start your brassica seedlings indoors.
• Mar.: NOW you can prune and feed those roses. Transplant your brassicas outside and start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants inside. Sow hardy vegetables such as beets and spinach.
• Apr.: Sow carrots. Start squash and cucumbers indoors. You should probably mow the lawn, too.
• May.: Plant dahlias, gladiolus and calla lilies; fill containers and deadhead bulbs. Sow corn and beans, and transplant tomato, pepper and squash starts, if and when it's warm enough.
In the kitchen
The cold weather is here, so I guess it's time to talk about nice hearty soups again.
Clove-scented onion soup with Madeira and paprika
0.25 c unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 lb. onions, peeled and thinly sliced
6 c beef broth
3 Tbsp. golden raisins
1.5 tsp. paprika
0.5 tsp. ground mace
8 whole cloves
salt and pepper to taste
4 egg yolks, lightly beaten
0.25 c dry Madeira wine
Cook onions in the butter and olive oil, stirring occasionally, 20 min. or until the onions are wilted and golden. Add broth, raisins, paprika, mace, and cloves. Bring to a boil; partially cover, and simmer 30 min. Season. Stir 1/4 c of the soup into the egg yolks. Add the yolk mixture to the pot and cook, stirring, for about 4 min or until slightly thickened. Stir in Madeira.
From: Adriana's spice caravan / Adriana & Rochelle Zabarkes.
Healthy Oatmeal Soup
10 cups chicken stock
2 skinless chicken breasts
1 large ripe tomato, finely chopped
1 green onion, finely chopped
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 tablespoon ground coriander
1 cup quick cooking oats (more or less, according to desired thickness)
Salt to taste
Boil chicken breasts, tomato, cumin, and coriander in chicken stock until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken meat from the bones and cut or tear into small pieces. Return meat to broth and stir in oats. Bring to a boil, stir occasionally for about 2 minutes. Boil for about 15 minutes.
Source unknown.
Crock Pot Barley Soup
1 lb. stew beef in 1/2" cubes
1 med. onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, diced
3/4 c. barley
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
6 c. beef stock
Slow-cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
Source unknown.
05 April, 2017
Newsletters: 6 Oct, 2010
Excerpt from the Market Newsletter originally published on 6 Oct, 2010. View the full newsletter for all the photos and links.
Cooking, and reading about cooking
There are two things I associate with October: the return of stew weather and, of course, Halloween. It's a bit early for the latter but it just so happens that my favorite stew recipe was written with spookiness in mind. I'm going to share it with you anyway because it's a perfectly good dish and you don't have to tell people that's supposed to be maggots in there. You can even leave them out if you want.
Maggot Stew
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup flour
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (or to taste)
1 lb. stew beef in 1-inch chunks
2 cans (14.5 oz.) plain or Italian-style crushed tomatoes
1 can (10.5 oz.) beef broth
1 tsp. thyme (optional)
1 tsp. oregano
3-4 medium carrots
1 cup fresh or frozen green beans
3/4 cup orzo pasta
(optional ingredients: onions, potatoes, canned garbanzos)
Pour oil into stewpot on medium-low. Measure flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder into a plastic bag (Ziploc-type is easiest); drop in stew meat, close bag and shake until meat is well coated. Dump bag into stew pot and turn heat to medium. Brown meat, turning frequently, until it begins to look crusty. Add tomatoes, broth, thyme, and oregano. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for an hour. Peel the carrots and cut into small "coins"; add carrots and beans to the pot and simmer another 45 minutes or until carrots are tender. Cook the orzo according to package directions. When just tender, drain in a colander and add to the stew pot. Do not stir in too much. Serve.
Adapted from: Gross grub / Cheryl Porter.
Here's a simple, less... adventurous stew for the slow-cooker:
Apple Cider Stew
1-2 lbs. beef or venison stew meat
8 carrots, sliced thin
6 potatoes, sliced thin
2 apples, chopped
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. thyme
2 tbsp. minced onion
2 c. apple cider
Place carrots, potatoes, and apples in crock pot. Add meat and sprinkle with salt, thyme, and onion. Pour cider over meat and cover. Cook on low for 10-12 hours. Thicken gravy.
Source unknown.
Cooking, and reading about cooking
There are two things I associate with October: the return of stew weather and, of course, Halloween. It's a bit early for the latter but it just so happens that my favorite stew recipe was written with spookiness in mind. I'm going to share it with you anyway because it's a perfectly good dish and you don't have to tell people that's supposed to be maggots in there. You can even leave them out if you want.
Maggot Stew
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup flour
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (or to taste)
1 lb. stew beef in 1-inch chunks
2 cans (14.5 oz.) plain or Italian-style crushed tomatoes
1 can (10.5 oz.) beef broth
1 tsp. thyme (optional)
1 tsp. oregano
3-4 medium carrots
1 cup fresh or frozen green beans
3/4 cup orzo pasta
(optional ingredients: onions, potatoes, canned garbanzos)
Pour oil into stewpot on medium-low. Measure flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder into a plastic bag (Ziploc-type is easiest); drop in stew meat, close bag and shake until meat is well coated. Dump bag into stew pot and turn heat to medium. Brown meat, turning frequently, until it begins to look crusty. Add tomatoes, broth, thyme, and oregano. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for an hour. Peel the carrots and cut into small "coins"; add carrots and beans to the pot and simmer another 45 minutes or until carrots are tender. Cook the orzo according to package directions. When just tender, drain in a colander and add to the stew pot. Do not stir in too much. Serve.
Adapted from: Gross grub / Cheryl Porter.
Here's a simple, less... adventurous stew for the slow-cooker:
Apple Cider Stew
1-2 lbs. beef or venison stew meat
8 carrots, sliced thin
6 potatoes, sliced thin
2 apples, chopped
2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. thyme
2 tbsp. minced onion
2 c. apple cider
Place carrots, potatoes, and apples in crock pot. Add meat and sprinkle with salt, thyme, and onion. Pour cider over meat and cover. Cook on low for 10-12 hours. Thicken gravy.
Source unknown.
17 March, 2017
Newsletters: 17 Nov. 2010
Excerpt from the Market Newsletter originally published on 17 Nov. 2010. View the full newsletter for all the photos and links.
About that food...
My family was always very traditional about our Thanksgiving dinner -- right down to the jokes about the Candied Yam. Mom only cooked one yam, you see, because it had to be there -- marshmallows and all -- for the meal to be complete, but Dad was the only one who would actually eat any. I grew up thinking I didn't like sweet potatoes and yams, then a few years ago someone served me mashed sweet potatoes. I had a spoonful to be polite and discovered they're actually quite good without the marshmallows. Of course, doing them that way means there's no bag of slightly stale marshmallows to roast in the fireplace on a cold January evening....
There is a lot of information about roasting turkeys around this time of year so I'll just give you a couple of links and get on to a less thoroughly discussed facet, one that is becoming increasingly important as families grow smaller: what to do with the leftovers. The first thing I think of for using up leftovers is soup.
...
Turkey and sweet-potato soup
2 Tb butter
1 onion, in thin slices
1.5 tsp dried sage
1 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-in cubes
1.5 qt chicken broth
2 tsp salt
1/4 lb green beans, in 1/4-in. pieces
1/4 tsp pepper
1 lb turkey cutlets, cut into ca. 1.5 x .5-in strips
Melt butter in large pot over med-low. Add onion and sage; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, ca. 5 min. Add sweet potatoes, broth, 1 t salt. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sweet potatoes are tender, ca. 10 min. Transfer half the soup to a food processor or blender and puree. Return to the pot and add beans, remaining salt, pepper. Simmer until beans are just tender, ca. 8 min. Stir in turkey; cook until turkey is done, ca. 1.5 min.
From: Quick from scratch : one-dish meals. Food & Wine Books, American Express Pub., c2004.
Turkey, carrot, and apple stew
olive-oil nonstick spray
1.25 lb boneless skinless turkey breast slices, in strips
2 onions in wedges
14 oz chicken broth
1 rib celery in 1/4-in slices
1/2 c raisins
6 carrots in 1/4-in slices
1 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/8 tsp ground turmeric
1.5 c chopped apples
2 Tb cornstarch
3 Tb cold water
1 tsp Louisiana hot sauce, or to taste
Coat a nonstick skillet with the spray and heat over med. Add turkey and onions and cook, stirring, until browned, 4-6 min. Combine turkey mixture, broth, celery, raisins, carrots, brown sugar, curry powder, and turmeric in a med. crock pot. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hr, until turkey is cooked through. Stir in apples. Cook another 1-2 min. to soften the apples. In a small cup, whisk together cold water and cornstarch and add; cook another 1-5 min. until sauce is thickened.
From: Essential slow cooker recipes / Carol Heding Munson. Main Street ; Sterling, c2002.
-------
Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.
-- Lao-tzu --
It is better to die of indigestion than of starvation.
-- Cicero --
About that food...
My family was always very traditional about our Thanksgiving dinner -- right down to the jokes about the Candied Yam. Mom only cooked one yam, you see, because it had to be there -- marshmallows and all -- for the meal to be complete, but Dad was the only one who would actually eat any. I grew up thinking I didn't like sweet potatoes and yams, then a few years ago someone served me mashed sweet potatoes. I had a spoonful to be polite and discovered they're actually quite good without the marshmallows. Of course, doing them that way means there's no bag of slightly stale marshmallows to roast in the fireplace on a cold January evening....
There is a lot of information about roasting turkeys around this time of year so I'll just give you a couple of links and get on to a less thoroughly discussed facet, one that is becoming increasingly important as families grow smaller: what to do with the leftovers. The first thing I think of for using up leftovers is soup.
...
Turkey and sweet-potato soup
2 Tb butter
1 onion, in thin slices
1.5 tsp dried sage
1 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-in cubes
1.5 qt chicken broth
2 tsp salt
1/4 lb green beans, in 1/4-in. pieces
1/4 tsp pepper
1 lb turkey cutlets, cut into ca. 1.5 x .5-in strips
Melt butter in large pot over med-low. Add onion and sage; cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, ca. 5 min. Add sweet potatoes, broth, 1 t salt. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sweet potatoes are tender, ca. 10 min. Transfer half the soup to a food processor or blender and puree. Return to the pot and add beans, remaining salt, pepper. Simmer until beans are just tender, ca. 8 min. Stir in turkey; cook until turkey is done, ca. 1.5 min.
From: Quick from scratch : one-dish meals. Food & Wine Books, American Express Pub., c2004.
Turkey, carrot, and apple stew
olive-oil nonstick spray
1.25 lb boneless skinless turkey breast slices, in strips
2 onions in wedges
14 oz chicken broth
1 rib celery in 1/4-in slices
1/2 c raisins
6 carrots in 1/4-in slices
1 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/8 tsp ground turmeric
1.5 c chopped apples
2 Tb cornstarch
3 Tb cold water
1 tsp Louisiana hot sauce, or to taste
Coat a nonstick skillet with the spray and heat over med. Add turkey and onions and cook, stirring, until browned, 4-6 min. Combine turkey mixture, broth, celery, raisins, carrots, brown sugar, curry powder, and turmeric in a med. crock pot. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hr, until turkey is cooked through. Stir in apples. Cook another 1-2 min. to soften the apples. In a small cup, whisk together cold water and cornstarch and add; cook another 1-5 min. until sauce is thickened.
From: Essential slow cooker recipes / Carol Heding Munson. Main Street ; Sterling, c2002.
-------
Manifest plainness,
Embrace simplicity,
Reduce selfishness,
Have few desires.
-- Lao-tzu --
It is better to die of indigestion than of starvation.
-- Cicero --
15 March, 2017
Newsletters: 14 Sept. 2011
Excerpt from the Market Newsletter originally published on 14 Sept. 2011. View the full newsletter for all the photos and links.
In the belly
The eggplant, also called an aubergine, belongs to the nightshade family, along with tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. Like tomatoes, it is really a fruit. When immature it contains toxins that can cause illness (but it grows out of it). People with arthritis and related issues should consider avoiding eggplant and its relatives, because the solanine they contain can be a problem for them. However, eggplant has also been used to reduce other kinds of swelling and bleeding, and to treat dysentery, so you'll have to make up your own mind whether to eat it or not. Eggplant is full of bioflavinoids, and the skin of the purple varieties contains another kind of anti-oxidant, anthocyanins. It has some nice B-complex vitamins, but it is more known for its minerals, especially manganese, copper, iron and potassium. It is also a very low-calorie fruit and provides plenty of fiber.
Eggplants probably originated in India or Southeast Asia, and was cultivated in China as early as the 5th century. The Moors brought it to Spain in the 8th century, and the Italians were trading with the Arabs for it in the 13th century. In India it is called brinjal, Australians call it an eggfruit, and West Africans call it garden fruit. Some use it to treat scorpion bites or frostbite.
In the kitchen
I went looking for some nice leek recipes because they looked so pretty, and of course I immediately ran up against my collection of Welsh recipes. So here are two traditional Welsh soups and a fairly modern chicken, just for variety.
Swp cennin a thatws (leek and potato soup)
3 leeks
1 lb. potatoes
2 oz butter
1 oz flour
3 pints chicken stock
1 c milk
3 sprigs parsley
salt, pepper
Trim leeks, wash thoroughly and slice finely. Peel and dice the potatoes. Place leeks and potatoes with 1 oz butter in a large saucepan. Cover and heat gently 5 min. until the leeks are very lightly coloured. Shake the saucepan gently to prevent the vegetables burning. Pour on the stock and simmer 3/4 hour. Melt the rest of the butter in a small saucepan and stir in the flour using a wooden spoon. Stir in the milk, making sure there are no lumps. Simmer 2-3 min. on a gentle heat and add to soup. Stir well and bring back to a boil. Serve hot, garnished with parsley.
From: The Welsh dresser : more recipes from Wales / by Sian Llewellyn. Cardiff : Emeralda, c1986.
Cawl Aberaeron (Aberayron broth)
1.5 lb. bacon
1 lb beef
1 white cabbage
1/2 lb. carrots
1/2 lb turnips
1/2 lb parsnips
1 lb potatoes
2 small leeks
oatmeal
salt, pepper
Wash and shred the cabbage. peel and cut up all the other vegetables. Dice the bacon and beef. Place the meat and all the vegetables except the leeks in a large saucepan; cover with water and season to taste. Simmer 2-2.5 hr. Add the leeks and continue heating for a further 10 min. Serve hot.
From: The Welsh kitchen : recipes from Wales / by Sian Llewellyn. Cardiff : Emeralda, 1972.
Chicken braised with leeks and figs
1 T butter
3 c coarsely chopped leek (ca. 4-5)
2 T flour
3/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
4 chicken drumsticks, skinned (4 oz ea.)
4 chicken thighs, skinned (4 oz ea.)
2 c dry white wine
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 T honey
6 parsley sprigs
1 sprig thyme
16 medium light-skinned fresh figs, halved (ca. 1.5 lb)
1 T chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
thyme sprigs, for garnish
Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over med-high. Add leeks; saute 5 min or until tender. Remove leeks from pan and set aside. Combine flour, salt, pepper, chicken in a plastic bag and shake to coat. Place chicken in the skillet and brown on all sides, ca. 10 min. Return leeks to pan and add wine, vinegar, honey, parsley, thyme. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat. Simmer 15 min. Add figs and simmer another 10 min. or until chickien is done. Remove parsley and thyme sprigs. Sprinkle with parsley and thyme garnish if desired.
From: Cooking light, Aug. 2004.
In the belly
The eggplant, also called an aubergine, belongs to the nightshade family, along with tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. Like tomatoes, it is really a fruit. When immature it contains toxins that can cause illness (but it grows out of it). People with arthritis and related issues should consider avoiding eggplant and its relatives, because the solanine they contain can be a problem for them. However, eggplant has also been used to reduce other kinds of swelling and bleeding, and to treat dysentery, so you'll have to make up your own mind whether to eat it or not. Eggplant is full of bioflavinoids, and the skin of the purple varieties contains another kind of anti-oxidant, anthocyanins. It has some nice B-complex vitamins, but it is more known for its minerals, especially manganese, copper, iron and potassium. It is also a very low-calorie fruit and provides plenty of fiber.
Eggplants probably originated in India or Southeast Asia, and was cultivated in China as early as the 5th century. The Moors brought it to Spain in the 8th century, and the Italians were trading with the Arabs for it in the 13th century. In India it is called brinjal, Australians call it an eggfruit, and West Africans call it garden fruit. Some use it to treat scorpion bites or frostbite.
In the kitchen
I went looking for some nice leek recipes because they looked so pretty, and of course I immediately ran up against my collection of Welsh recipes. So here are two traditional Welsh soups and a fairly modern chicken, just for variety.
Swp cennin a thatws (leek and potato soup)
3 leeks
1 lb. potatoes
2 oz butter
1 oz flour
3 pints chicken stock
1 c milk
3 sprigs parsley
salt, pepper
Trim leeks, wash thoroughly and slice finely. Peel and dice the potatoes. Place leeks and potatoes with 1 oz butter in a large saucepan. Cover and heat gently 5 min. until the leeks are very lightly coloured. Shake the saucepan gently to prevent the vegetables burning. Pour on the stock and simmer 3/4 hour. Melt the rest of the butter in a small saucepan and stir in the flour using a wooden spoon. Stir in the milk, making sure there are no lumps. Simmer 2-3 min. on a gentle heat and add to soup. Stir well and bring back to a boil. Serve hot, garnished with parsley.
From: The Welsh dresser : more recipes from Wales / by Sian Llewellyn. Cardiff : Emeralda, c1986.
Cawl Aberaeron (Aberayron broth)
1.5 lb. bacon
1 lb beef
1 white cabbage
1/2 lb. carrots
1/2 lb turnips
1/2 lb parsnips
1 lb potatoes
2 small leeks
oatmeal
salt, pepper
Wash and shred the cabbage. peel and cut up all the other vegetables. Dice the bacon and beef. Place the meat and all the vegetables except the leeks in a large saucepan; cover with water and season to taste. Simmer 2-2.5 hr. Add the leeks and continue heating for a further 10 min. Serve hot.
From: The Welsh kitchen : recipes from Wales / by Sian Llewellyn. Cardiff : Emeralda, 1972.
Chicken braised with leeks and figs
1 T butter
3 c coarsely chopped leek (ca. 4-5)
2 T flour
3/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
4 chicken drumsticks, skinned (4 oz ea.)
4 chicken thighs, skinned (4 oz ea.)
2 c dry white wine
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 T honey
6 parsley sprigs
1 sprig thyme
16 medium light-skinned fresh figs, halved (ca. 1.5 lb)
1 T chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
thyme sprigs, for garnish
Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over med-high. Add leeks; saute 5 min or until tender. Remove leeks from pan and set aside. Combine flour, salt, pepper, chicken in a plastic bag and shake to coat. Place chicken in the skillet and brown on all sides, ca. 10 min. Return leeks to pan and add wine, vinegar, honey, parsley, thyme. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat. Simmer 15 min. Add figs and simmer another 10 min. or until chickien is done. Remove parsley and thyme sprigs. Sprinkle with parsley and thyme garnish if desired.
From: Cooking light, Aug. 2004.
01 March, 2017
Newsletters: 31 Aug 2011
Excerpt from the Market Newsletter originally published on 31 Aug 2011. View the full newsletter for all the photos and links.
In the belly
Carrots come in many colors: orange, yellow, red, purple, white, and black. Known scientifically as Daucus carota, they belong to the belong to the apiaceae or umbelliferous family, along with parsnips, parsley, dill, and cumin. The carrot is a biennial, and will flower in the second year if it doesn't get eaten first.
Carrots are rich in copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus, vitamins B,C,D,E, and of course beta-carotene, which gives them that familiar orange color. The skin has the most nutrients, and a quick boil can make the nutrients, wherever they are, more available to the body. These are details, however -- the best way to prepare any vegetable is, when it comes right down to it, the way you're most likely to eat it. Carrots are good against cancer, eye trouble, heart disease, stroke, fat and age in general, and good for skin and teeth. Did you know the greens are edible? I think I've mentioned that before, but didn't know that carrot greens are a good source of vitamin K, which the carrot root doesn't provide.
It is actually posible to eat too many carrots, although most people can only accomplish it by drinking carrot juice. Carotenemia is the medical term for increased blood levels of the pigment carotene, and it can be recognized when the skin turns yellow or orange -- it usually clears up in a few days if you lay off the carrots (do not confuse carotenemia with lycopenemia, which is caused by too many tomatoes and turns the skin red). Too much carotene can cause jaundice, a more serious problem, and too much vitamin A can damage the liver (note: polar bear liver is extremely high in vitamin A and can cause vitamin A poisoning, so arctic explorers are advised to avoid it).
In the kitchen
I love the smell of fennel, the beautiful delicate fronds... but once you get it home, then what? Here are some ideas from one of my old standby reference cookbooks, James Peterson's Vegetables.
Grilled fennel
fennel bulbs, stalks removed
olive oil
Peel off any thick fibers from the outside of the bulb. If bulbs are thicker than 1.5 inches, split them down the middle; cut largest bulbs into 3-6 wedges. Toss with oil and grill 10-15 min. per side, until light brown.
Fennel mashed potatoes
1 bulb fennel
1.5 lb. potatoes, peeled and quartered
water
1/4 to 1/2 c milk (may use cooking liquid for some of this)
4-6 Tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste
Remove stalks from the fennel and cut the bulb in half; thinly slice. Bring potatoes and fennel to a boil in enough water to cover halfway; reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 25 min. (well, check at 15 for local ones -- ed.). Drain and mash the potatoes and fennel. Heat milk and melt the butter into it; add to potatoes and stir in. Season to taste and, if necessary, rewarm in the cooking pot.
Variation: if you have trouble with fennel lumps, cook it separately until very soft, puree in a blender and strain into the potatoes.
Italian-style cardoon and bean soup with garlic and fennel
1 small bulb fennel, stalks removed, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
3 Tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 med. onion, chopped
1/2 c dried great northern, cannellini, or cranberry beans, soaked 3-5 hr. in warm water and drained
6 c broth or water, plus more as needed
1 bunch cardoons
4 med. tomatoes (or 24 oz. drained canned tomatoes) peeled, seeded, and chopped
salt and pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley or basil
grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Heat fennel, garlic, and onion in the oil. stirring, until the onion is translucent, about 10 min. Add beans and broth; simmer, partially covered, until beans are soft and not mealy when bitten, 1.5 hr. Remove and discard outer stalks of the cardoon; cut smaller stalks in half lengthwise and peel, then cut into 4-inch pieces. Gently simmer in 3 qt. water and a little lemon juice 15-20 min.; drain and slice into 1/4-inch pieces and freeze all but 2 c for later use. When the beans are cooked, add cardoons and tomatoes and simmer 5 min.; add water or broth to thin the soup if desired. Season; stir in parsley or basil and serve with Parmesan.
Cardoons, by the way, are related to the artichoke and thistle and can be a little hard to find. They grow well here but don't usually show up in markets much (possibly because they can be a little aggressive. OK, invasive). I planted one in my front yard once, but my neighbor thought it was a giant thistle and very kindly cut it down for me. Sigh. I get the impression that celery might be a good substitute, perhaps with some adjustment of cooking times.
Thanks for your interest in our community and its market.
In the belly
Carrots come in many colors: orange, yellow, red, purple, white, and black. Known scientifically as Daucus carota, they belong to the belong to the apiaceae or umbelliferous family, along with parsnips, parsley, dill, and cumin. The carrot is a biennial, and will flower in the second year if it doesn't get eaten first.
Carrots are rich in copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus, vitamins B,C,D,E, and of course beta-carotene, which gives them that familiar orange color. The skin has the most nutrients, and a quick boil can make the nutrients, wherever they are, more available to the body. These are details, however -- the best way to prepare any vegetable is, when it comes right down to it, the way you're most likely to eat it. Carrots are good against cancer, eye trouble, heart disease, stroke, fat and age in general, and good for skin and teeth. Did you know the greens are edible? I think I've mentioned that before, but didn't know that carrot greens are a good source of vitamin K, which the carrot root doesn't provide.
It is actually posible to eat too many carrots, although most people can only accomplish it by drinking carrot juice. Carotenemia is the medical term for increased blood levels of the pigment carotene, and it can be recognized when the skin turns yellow or orange -- it usually clears up in a few days if you lay off the carrots (do not confuse carotenemia with lycopenemia, which is caused by too many tomatoes and turns the skin red). Too much carotene can cause jaundice, a more serious problem, and too much vitamin A can damage the liver (note: polar bear liver is extremely high in vitamin A and can cause vitamin A poisoning, so arctic explorers are advised to avoid it).
In the kitchen
I love the smell of fennel, the beautiful delicate fronds... but once you get it home, then what? Here are some ideas from one of my old standby reference cookbooks, James Peterson's Vegetables.
Grilled fennel
fennel bulbs, stalks removed
olive oil
Peel off any thick fibers from the outside of the bulb. If bulbs are thicker than 1.5 inches, split them down the middle; cut largest bulbs into 3-6 wedges. Toss with oil and grill 10-15 min. per side, until light brown.
Fennel mashed potatoes
1 bulb fennel
1.5 lb. potatoes, peeled and quartered
water
1/4 to 1/2 c milk (may use cooking liquid for some of this)
4-6 Tbsp butter
salt and pepper to taste
Remove stalks from the fennel and cut the bulb in half; thinly slice. Bring potatoes and fennel to a boil in enough water to cover halfway; reduce heat and simmer until tender, about 25 min. (well, check at 15 for local ones -- ed.). Drain and mash the potatoes and fennel. Heat milk and melt the butter into it; add to potatoes and stir in. Season to taste and, if necessary, rewarm in the cooking pot.
Variation: if you have trouble with fennel lumps, cook it separately until very soft, puree in a blender and strain into the potatoes.
Italian-style cardoon and bean soup with garlic and fennel
1 small bulb fennel, stalks removed, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
3 Tbsp. olive oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 med. onion, chopped
1/2 c dried great northern, cannellini, or cranberry beans, soaked 3-5 hr. in warm water and drained
6 c broth or water, plus more as needed
1 bunch cardoons
4 med. tomatoes (or 24 oz. drained canned tomatoes) peeled, seeded, and chopped
salt and pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley or basil
grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Heat fennel, garlic, and onion in the oil. stirring, until the onion is translucent, about 10 min. Add beans and broth; simmer, partially covered, until beans are soft and not mealy when bitten, 1.5 hr. Remove and discard outer stalks of the cardoon; cut smaller stalks in half lengthwise and peel, then cut into 4-inch pieces. Gently simmer in 3 qt. water and a little lemon juice 15-20 min.; drain and slice into 1/4-inch pieces and freeze all but 2 c for later use. When the beans are cooked, add cardoons and tomatoes and simmer 5 min.; add water or broth to thin the soup if desired. Season; stir in parsley or basil and serve with Parmesan.
Cardoons, by the way, are related to the artichoke and thistle and can be a little hard to find. They grow well here but don't usually show up in markets much (possibly because they can be a little aggressive. OK, invasive). I planted one in my front yard once, but my neighbor thought it was a giant thistle and very kindly cut it down for me. Sigh. I get the impression that celery might be a good substitute, perhaps with some adjustment of cooking times.
Thanks for your interest in our community and its market.
08 February, 2017
Two recipes for two
Cauliflower Bisque with Brown Butter Croutons
1 c. whole milk
1 1/4 c. vegetable stock
approx. 1/2 lb. cauliflower florets
1/3 lb. (or a little over) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 sprigs thyme
salt and pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. heavy cream
garnish:
1 recipe Brown Butter Croutons (see below)
about 3 Tbsp. pomegranate seeds
chopped chives to taste
Combine milk, stock, cauliflower, potato, onion, garlic, and thyme in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer, partly covered, 18-20 min., until vegetables are very tender. Discard thyme sprigs. Working in batches, puree in a blender until smooth. Add cream and pulse to combine. Adjust seasonings; serve topped with croutons, pomegranate seeds, and chives.
Brown Butter Croutons
1 1/2 tbsp. butter (preferably unsalted)
1 1/2 c. ciabatta bread, cubed
salt and pepper to taste
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until golden brown, 2-4 minutes. Add bread and cook, stirring often, until toasted, 10-12 minutes. Season.
Adapted from Country Living
--------------------------------------------------------------
Filet Mignon with Rich Balsamic Glaze
2 filet mignon steaks, about 4 oz each
black pepper to taste
salt to taste, optional
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup dry red wine
Generously pepper both sides of each steak; salt to taste. Place in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and brown about 1 minute on each side. Reduce heat to medium-low; add balsamic vinegar and red wine. Cover and cook for 4 minutes on each side, or until done, basting with sauce when turning. Remove to warmed plates and top each steak with a tablespoon of glaze; serve immediately.
Adapted from allrecipes.com
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
1 c. whole milk
1 1/4 c. vegetable stock
approx. 1/2 lb. cauliflower florets
1/3 lb. (or a little over) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 sprigs thyme
salt and pepper to taste
3 Tbsp. heavy cream
garnish:
1 recipe Brown Butter Croutons (see below)
about 3 Tbsp. pomegranate seeds
chopped chives to taste
Combine milk, stock, cauliflower, potato, onion, garlic, and thyme in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Simmer, partly covered, 18-20 min., until vegetables are very tender. Discard thyme sprigs. Working in batches, puree in a blender until smooth. Add cream and pulse to combine. Adjust seasonings; serve topped with croutons, pomegranate seeds, and chives.
Brown Butter Croutons
1 1/2 tbsp. butter (preferably unsalted)
1 1/2 c. ciabatta bread, cubed
salt and pepper to taste
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until golden brown, 2-4 minutes. Add bread and cook, stirring often, until toasted, 10-12 minutes. Season.
Adapted from Country Living
--------------------------------------------------------------
Filet Mignon with Rich Balsamic Glaze
2 filet mignon steaks, about 4 oz each
black pepper to taste
salt to taste, optional
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup dry red wine
Generously pepper both sides of each steak; salt to taste. Place in nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and brown about 1 minute on each side. Reduce heat to medium-low; add balsamic vinegar and red wine. Cover and cook for 4 minutes on each side, or until done, basting with sauce when turning. Remove to warmed plates and top each steak with a tablespoon of glaze; serve immediately.
Adapted from allrecipes.com
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
04 January, 2017
Newsletters: 6 July, 2011
Excerpt from the Market Newsletter originally published on 6 July, 2011. View the full newsletter for all the photos and links.
In the belly
Having had the great good fortune to break a toe (instead of ending up a horrible mess for someone to clean up), I've been researching some of the nutritional aspects of bone healing this week. Obligatory disclaimer: I'm a librarian, not a doctor, so use this information at your own discretion (personally, I approach doctors' advice the same way, but I'm known to be a bit odd).
So, obviously it's important to get plenty of calcium, and vitamin C isn't too hard to guess, but I would have said protein was more for muscular healing. Seems it's good for bones, too. Zinc is important, and up to six weeks of a tiny amount of copper is also recommended by some sources. Copper is a pro-oxidant, so it should only be taken carefully and when needed. Glucosamine is also a good idea, because where a bone has broken there's likely to be some cartilage damage as well.
In the kitchen
While we've been watching anxiously for the more finicky vegetables to ripen, good ol' broccoli has quietly come into season. Here are some quick and easy things to do with it.
Broccoli with sesame oil
8 oz whole broccoli, cut into florets, or 4 oz florets
2 t Oriental sesame oil
Steam broccoli ca. 7 min. Drain and sprinkle with sesame oil.
From: 20-minute menus / Marian Burros. 1st Fireside ed. Simon & Schuster, 1995.
Pasta, broccoli, and pine nuts
3 qt water
1 c small shells or other small pasta (2 oz)
8 oz broccoli florets
4 T raisins or currants
3 T pine nuts
1 c plain low-fat yogurt
1 T rice vinegar
pepper to taste
Bring water to a boil and cook; 5 min. before it is done add broccoli. Combine raisins, pine nuts, yogurt, vinegar, pepper. When pasta and broccoli are done, drain and add to yogurt.
Also from: 20-minute menus / Marian Burros. 1st Fireside ed. Simon & Schuster, 1995.
Broccoli soup
2 T vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
ca. 2 c broccoli stalks and leaves, peeled if tough and diced
13.75 oz chicken broth
pepper
1/4 t thyme, crumbled
Heat oil and saute the onion and garlic until tender, ca. 3 min. Add broccoli stalks and leaves and cook, stirring, 3 min. more. Add broth, pepper, thyme and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 25 min. Puree in batches in a blender and reheat.
From: Cooking for two today / Jean Hewitt, Marjorie Page Blanchard. Little, Brown, c1985.
In the belly
Having had the great good fortune to break a toe (instead of ending up a horrible mess for someone to clean up), I've been researching some of the nutritional aspects of bone healing this week. Obligatory disclaimer: I'm a librarian, not a doctor, so use this information at your own discretion (personally, I approach doctors' advice the same way, but I'm known to be a bit odd).
So, obviously it's important to get plenty of calcium, and vitamin C isn't too hard to guess, but I would have said protein was more for muscular healing. Seems it's good for bones, too. Zinc is important, and up to six weeks of a tiny amount of copper is also recommended by some sources. Copper is a pro-oxidant, so it should only be taken carefully and when needed. Glucosamine is also a good idea, because where a bone has broken there's likely to be some cartilage damage as well.
In the kitchen
While we've been watching anxiously for the more finicky vegetables to ripen, good ol' broccoli has quietly come into season. Here are some quick and easy things to do with it.
Broccoli with sesame oil
8 oz whole broccoli, cut into florets, or 4 oz florets
2 t Oriental sesame oil
Steam broccoli ca. 7 min. Drain and sprinkle with sesame oil.
From: 20-minute menus / Marian Burros. 1st Fireside ed. Simon & Schuster, 1995.
Pasta, broccoli, and pine nuts
3 qt water
1 c small shells or other small pasta (2 oz)
8 oz broccoli florets
4 T raisins or currants
3 T pine nuts
1 c plain low-fat yogurt
1 T rice vinegar
pepper to taste
Bring water to a boil and cook; 5 min. before it is done add broccoli. Combine raisins, pine nuts, yogurt, vinegar, pepper. When pasta and broccoli are done, drain and add to yogurt.
Also from: 20-minute menus / Marian Burros. 1st Fireside ed. Simon & Schuster, 1995.
Broccoli soup
2 T vegetable oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped
ca. 2 c broccoli stalks and leaves, peeled if tough and diced
13.75 oz chicken broth
pepper
1/4 t thyme, crumbled
Heat oil and saute the onion and garlic until tender, ca. 3 min. Add broccoli stalks and leaves and cook, stirring, 3 min. more. Add broth, pepper, thyme and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 25 min. Puree in batches in a blender and reheat.
From: Cooking for two today / Jean Hewitt, Marjorie Page Blanchard. Little, Brown, c1985.
Newsletters: 7 July, 2010
Excerpt from the Market Newsletter originally published on 7 July, 2010. View the full newsletter for all the photos and links.
Cooking, and reading about cooking
I wanted to give you a recipe for tah tsoi this week, but all I managed to find was that it's related to mustard. (If you have a good tah tsoi recipe you're willing to share, please send it along.) So as my deadline loomed, I desperately swiped this interesting but non-tah tsoi soup from Kirsop's recipes:
Radish Top Soup
3-4 Tablespoons butter, divided
6 cups water or chicken stock
1 cup chopped onions or leeks salt
8 cups loosely packed radish leaves
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)
2 cups diced peeled potatoes freshly ground pepper
Melt 4 Tbsp. butter in large saucepan, add onions, and cook until golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in radish tops, cover and cook over low heat until wilted, 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook potatoes until soft in water or stock with 1 tsp. Salt. Combine with radish tops and cook, covered, 5 minutes to mingle flavors. Puree in food processor or blender. Add cream and remaining butter, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot. (Note: to serve cold, omit butter enrichment.) Makes 4-6 servings.
Cooking, and reading about cooking
I wanted to give you a recipe for tah tsoi this week, but all I managed to find was that it's related to mustard. (If you have a good tah tsoi recipe you're willing to share, please send it along.) So as my deadline loomed, I desperately swiped this interesting but non-tah tsoi soup from Kirsop's recipes:
Radish Top Soup
3-4 Tablespoons butter, divided
6 cups water or chicken stock
1 cup chopped onions or leeks salt
8 cups loosely packed radish leaves
1/2 cup heavy cream (optional)
2 cups diced peeled potatoes freshly ground pepper
Melt 4 Tbsp. butter in large saucepan, add onions, and cook until golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in radish tops, cover and cook over low heat until wilted, 8-10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook potatoes until soft in water or stock with 1 tsp. Salt. Combine with radish tops and cook, covered, 5 minutes to mingle flavors. Puree in food processor or blender. Add cream and remaining butter, if desired. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot. (Note: to serve cold, omit butter enrichment.) Makes 4-6 servings.
07 December, 2016
Newsletters: 8 June, 2011
Excerpt from the Market Newsletter originally published on 8 June, 2011. View the full newsletter for all the photos and links.
In the garden
The WSU Master Gardeners say this is the time to plant fall perennials such as asters and chrysanthemums, and the second round of early greens. The watering season begins in June, usually about a week and a half before I realize it (which is why I shop at the Farmers' Market instead of trying to grow my own).
In the kitchen
Radishes are also in season now, so I thought I'd see if I could find something interesting to do with them. Epicurious was happy to oblige.
Roasted Radishes with Brown Butter, Lemon, and Radish Tops
about 20 medium radishes
1.5 Tbsp. olive oil + extra to brush baking sheet
Coarse kosher salt
2 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
Trim radishes of all but 1/2 inch of tops; wash trimmed tops thoroughly; chop coarsely. Cut radishes in half lengthwise; add 1.5 Tbsp. olive oil and toss thoroughly to coat. Place cut side down on a large rimmed baking sheet brushed with olive oil; sprinkle lightly with salt. Roast at 450F until radishes are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally, about 18 minutes. Transfer to serving bowl and adjust seasonings. Melt butter over medium-high heat; add pinch of coarse kosher salt and cook until butter browns, swirling frequently, about 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir in fresh lemon juice. Drizzle over roasted radishes; sprinkle with chopped radish tops and serve.
From: Bon Appétit, April 2011
Chilled Radish Buttermilk Soup
1/2 lb (1 1/4 c) radishes, trimmed and quartered
3/4 lb (2 c) seedless cucumbers, peeled and chopped
2 c chilled buttermilk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 tsp. sugar
Purée all ingredients in a blender until very smooth. Garnish with thin slices of cucumber and radish, if desired.
From: Gourmet, August 2006
In the garden
The WSU Master Gardeners say this is the time to plant fall perennials such as asters and chrysanthemums, and the second round of early greens. The watering season begins in June, usually about a week and a half before I realize it (which is why I shop at the Farmers' Market instead of trying to grow my own).
In the kitchen
Radishes are also in season now, so I thought I'd see if I could find something interesting to do with them. Epicurious was happy to oblige.
Roasted Radishes with Brown Butter, Lemon, and Radish Tops
about 20 medium radishes
1.5 Tbsp. olive oil + extra to brush baking sheet
Coarse kosher salt
2 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
Trim radishes of all but 1/2 inch of tops; wash trimmed tops thoroughly; chop coarsely. Cut radishes in half lengthwise; add 1.5 Tbsp. olive oil and toss thoroughly to coat. Place cut side down on a large rimmed baking sheet brushed with olive oil; sprinkle lightly with salt. Roast at 450F until radishes are crisp-tender, stirring occasionally, about 18 minutes. Transfer to serving bowl and adjust seasonings. Melt butter over medium-high heat; add pinch of coarse kosher salt and cook until butter browns, swirling frequently, about 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and stir in fresh lemon juice. Drizzle over roasted radishes; sprinkle with chopped radish tops and serve.
From: Bon Appétit, April 2011
Chilled Radish Buttermilk Soup
1/2 lb (1 1/4 c) radishes, trimmed and quartered
3/4 lb (2 c) seedless cucumbers, peeled and chopped
2 c chilled buttermilk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 tsp. sugar
Purée all ingredients in a blender until very smooth. Garnish with thin slices of cucumber and radish, if desired.
From: Gourmet, August 2006
07 September, 2016
Corn chowder
3 slices bacon, chopped
1/3-1/2 medium onion, chopped, or a generous sprinkle of onion powder
1 large or 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 small can corn, creamed if available -- if a small can is not available, a regular can may be used
about 2 cups milk or cream
Slowly brown bacon and onions in soup kettle or large saucepan. Stir in potato(es) and corn, and add enough water to cover. Boil gently until potatoes are cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and add milk, tempering it first (i.e. pour milk into a separate bowl and carefully add spoonsful of hot soup until milk is warm enough to be added to the pot without curdling). Carefully heat soup to eating temperature without letting it boil.
From Dorothy Huffman.
This was originally a clam chowder recipe, made with canned clams instead of corn.
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
1/3-1/2 medium onion, chopped, or a generous sprinkle of onion powder
1 large or 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
1 small can corn, creamed if available -- if a small can is not available, a regular can may be used
about 2 cups milk or cream
Slowly brown bacon and onions in soup kettle or large saucepan. Stir in potato(es) and corn, and add enough water to cover. Boil gently until potatoes are cooked through, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and add milk, tempering it first (i.e. pour milk into a separate bowl and carefully add spoonsful of hot soup until milk is warm enough to be added to the pot without curdling). Carefully heat soup to eating temperature without letting it boil.
From Dorothy Huffman.
This was originally a clam chowder recipe, made with canned clams instead of corn.
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
20 January, 2016
Ginger kale soup
4 cups kale, heavy stems removed, washed well and chopped
2 Tbsp. water
1 Tbsp. ginger, peeled and mashed
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. chopped onion
2 Tbsp. flour
4 cups skim milk
1/4 Tbsp. cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
garnish:
1 tsp. sherry per bowl
freshly grated nutmeg
Place kale in a heavy saucepan with the water; cover and cook on med-low for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more water as needed. When kale is almost limp, remove it from the pot. In food processor or blender, blend with ginger until very fine. Heat oil in the saucepan; add onion and saute for about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour, being careful to keep mixture smooth. Gradually add milk and continue to stir. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Add kale mixture; heat until almost boiling. Just before serving add 1 tsp. sherry to each bowl and mix gently. Grate nutmeg over each bowl.
From: The Left Foot Organics cookbook : recipes for great food and a healthy community. Gateway, [2008].
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
2 Tbsp. water
1 Tbsp. ginger, peeled and mashed
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. chopped onion
2 Tbsp. flour
4 cups skim milk
1/4 Tbsp. cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
garnish:
1 tsp. sherry per bowl
freshly grated nutmeg
Place kale in a heavy saucepan with the water; cover and cook on med-low for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more water as needed. When kale is almost limp, remove it from the pot. In food processor or blender, blend with ginger until very fine. Heat oil in the saucepan; add onion and saute for about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour, being careful to keep mixture smooth. Gradually add milk and continue to stir. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Add kale mixture; heat until almost boiling. Just before serving add 1 tsp. sherry to each bowl and mix gently. Grate nutmeg over each bowl.
From: The Left Foot Organics cookbook : recipes for great food and a healthy community. Gateway, [2008].
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
13 January, 2016
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Another recipe from gourmet Kelly, less complex this time. She tells me that despite the milk in it, this soup can be frozen as long as you squish or shake it every 15 minutes while thawing to keep the milk from separating.
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup green onions, chopped
2 cups mushrooms, chopped
2 Tbsp. flour
1 cup half & half
1 cup chicken broth
salt & pepper to taste
Cook green onions in butter in a large skillet or stock pot over low heat for 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook another 2 minutes. Stir in flour and continue to cook 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat; whisk in chicken broth and half & half. Continue whisking until smooth. Bring to a boil over moderate heat and simmer, stirring, for 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings and serve.
quantities for 34 cups:
3 cups butter
9 cups green onions, chopped
24 cups mushrooms, chopped
1/2 cup flour
12 cups half & half
12 cups chicken broth
salt & pepper to taste
Freeze in 2-cup packages; mix frequently while thawing.
Adapted from cdkitchen.com
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup green onions, chopped
2 cups mushrooms, chopped
2 Tbsp. flour
1 cup half & half
1 cup chicken broth
salt & pepper to taste
Cook green onions in butter in a large skillet or stock pot over low heat for 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook another 2 minutes. Stir in flour and continue to cook 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat; whisk in chicken broth and half & half. Continue whisking until smooth. Bring to a boil over moderate heat and simmer, stirring, for 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings and serve.
quantities for 34 cups:
3 cups butter
9 cups green onions, chopped
24 cups mushrooms, chopped
1/2 cup flour
12 cups half & half
12 cups chicken broth
salt & pepper to taste
Freeze in 2-cup packages; mix frequently while thawing.
Adapted from cdkitchen.com
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
21 October, 2015
Pumpkin soup with cheese croutons
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
1 lb. (about 4 cups) pumpkin*, cubed
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
1 tsp. dried sage
salt to taste
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
8 cups chicken stock
for croutons:
12 slices French bread**
olive oil
1 clove garlic, peeled
grated cheese of your choice -- Parmesan, Gouda, or Cheddar would be good
Saute onion, celery, and garlic in oil over medium heat until softened and lightly browned. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, and simmer 30 minutes or until pumpkin and potato are tender. Puree soup with an immersion blender if available, or in batches in a regular blender. Adjust seasonings and keep warm.
Toast bread under the broiler and brush with oil. Rub with garlic on one side and sprinkle heavily with cheese. Return to broiler and toast until cheese is melted. Fill bowls with soup and top with croutons.
Makes about 6 servings, but I bet it'd freeze.
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*Make sure you're using a pie or sugar pumpkin; jack-o-lantern pumpkins are not particularly palatable. You can also substitute butternut squash if you prefer.
**The original recipe doesn't specify, but I suspect you want small slices, as from a baguette. This would probably also look great done like French onion soup, with bowl-sized slices of bread toasted, oiled, and garliced like the croutons, but then floated on the soup, topped with slices of cheese, and the bowls put under the broiler on a tray to melt the cheese.
Adapted from: Ghoulish goodies / Sharon Bowers. Storey, 2009. ISBN: 9781603421461
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
1 medium onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
1 lb. (about 4 cups) pumpkin*, cubed
1 medium potato, peeled and diced
1 tsp. dried sage
salt to taste
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
8 cups chicken stock
for croutons:
12 slices French bread**
olive oil
1 clove garlic, peeled
grated cheese of your choice -- Parmesan, Gouda, or Cheddar would be good
Saute onion, celery, and garlic in oil over medium heat until softened and lightly browned. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, and simmer 30 minutes or until pumpkin and potato are tender. Puree soup with an immersion blender if available, or in batches in a regular blender. Adjust seasonings and keep warm.
Toast bread under the broiler and brush with oil. Rub with garlic on one side and sprinkle heavily with cheese. Return to broiler and toast until cheese is melted. Fill bowls with soup and top with croutons.
Makes about 6 servings, but I bet it'd freeze.
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*Make sure you're using a pie or sugar pumpkin; jack-o-lantern pumpkins are not particularly palatable. You can also substitute butternut squash if you prefer.
**The original recipe doesn't specify, but I suspect you want small slices, as from a baguette. This would probably also look great done like French onion soup, with bowl-sized slices of bread toasted, oiled, and garliced like the croutons, but then floated on the soup, topped with slices of cheese, and the bowls put under the broiler on a tray to melt the cheese.
Adapted from: Ghoulish goodies / Sharon Bowers. Storey, 2009. ISBN: 9781603421461
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
14 October, 2015
Maggot stew
This is a great dish for Halloween dinners, but it's also a very good small-batch stew for all winter. If the orzo "maggots" bother you, substitute something less white and worm-shaped, such as wide whole-wheat noodles or fiori.
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup flour
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (or to taste)
1 lb. stew beef in 1-inch chunks
small onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 cans (14.5 oz.) plain or Italian-style crushed tomatoes
1 can (10.5 oz.) beef broth
1 tsp. thyme (optional)
1 tsp. oregano
3-4 medium carrots, peeled if desired and sliced
1 cup fresh or frozen green beans
3/4 cup orzo pasta
Heat oil in stewpot over medium-low. Measure flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder into a plastic bag, drop in stew meat, close bag and shake until meat is well coated. Dump bag into stew pot, add onion, and turn heat to up to medium. Brown meat, turning frequently, until it begins to look crusty. Add tomatoes, broth, thyme, and oregano. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for an hour. Add carrots and beans to the pot and simmer another 45 minutes or until carrots are tender. For best effect, cook the orzo according to package directions, drain in a colander and add to the stew pot. Do not stir in too much. It also works to add dry pasta directly to stew about 5-10 minutes before stew is done, as long as there is enough liquid, and let it cook that way but you won't get the abundant shining white "maggots" on the surface when you serve it.
Optional ingredients: potatoes, canned garbanzos.
Adapted from: Gross grub / Cheryl Porter.
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 cup flour
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (or to taste)
1 lb. stew beef in 1-inch chunks
small onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 cans (14.5 oz.) plain or Italian-style crushed tomatoes
1 can (10.5 oz.) beef broth
1 tsp. thyme (optional)
1 tsp. oregano
3-4 medium carrots, peeled if desired and sliced
1 cup fresh or frozen green beans
3/4 cup orzo pasta
Heat oil in stewpot over medium-low. Measure flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder into a plastic bag, drop in stew meat, close bag and shake until meat is well coated. Dump bag into stew pot, add onion, and turn heat to up to medium. Brown meat, turning frequently, until it begins to look crusty. Add tomatoes, broth, thyme, and oregano. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for an hour. Add carrots and beans to the pot and simmer another 45 minutes or until carrots are tender. For best effect, cook the orzo according to package directions, drain in a colander and add to the stew pot. Do not stir in too much. It also works to add dry pasta directly to stew about 5-10 minutes before stew is done, as long as there is enough liquid, and let it cook that way but you won't get the abundant shining white "maggots" on the surface when you serve it.
Optional ingredients: potatoes, canned garbanzos.
Adapted from: Gross grub / Cheryl Porter.
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
07 October, 2015
Beef and greens soup
1/4-1/3 lb. stew beef, in small cubes (if purchased cut for stew, cut each cube in half)
about 1/2 small onion, diced
drizzle olive oil
plenty of garlic powder or 1-2 cloves garlic, crushed; or to taste
pepper to taste
dash ground ginger (optional)
about 2 cups beef broth
greens from 2-3 beets,* washed, picked over, and larger stems removed; boiled until just wilted and drained, if desired**
generous handful of spinach leaves,* washed and picked over
small handful pasta, rice, or barley, uncooked (optional)
Brown stew meat and onions in just enough oil to keep them from sticking; season with garlic, pepper, and ginger while cooking. When beef is mostly cooked through and aswim in its own drippings, add broth and adjust seasonings if needed. Bring to a boil and simmer until beef is tender, half an hour to an hour in most cases. Add beet greens, spinach, and rice or barley if using, return to a boil, and simmer 5 minutes or so, until greens are mostly cooked. Add pasta if using and continue cooking until all ingredients are done. Serves one hearty appetite as an unaccompanied main meal or two with a side salad and toast.
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*The amounts are not critical; use whatever suits your taste and feel free to include other greens such as kale in the mix. You may need to adjust cooking time for tougher greens.
**If you find beet greens to be unpleasantly bitter, try pre-cooking them like this to draw off most of the bitterness.
From: Dana Huffman.
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
about 1/2 small onion, diced
drizzle olive oil
plenty of garlic powder or 1-2 cloves garlic, crushed; or to taste
pepper to taste
dash ground ginger (optional)
about 2 cups beef broth
greens from 2-3 beets,* washed, picked over, and larger stems removed; boiled until just wilted and drained, if desired**
generous handful of spinach leaves,* washed and picked over
small handful pasta, rice, or barley, uncooked (optional)
Brown stew meat and onions in just enough oil to keep them from sticking; season with garlic, pepper, and ginger while cooking. When beef is mostly cooked through and aswim in its own drippings, add broth and adjust seasonings if needed. Bring to a boil and simmer until beef is tender, half an hour to an hour in most cases. Add beet greens, spinach, and rice or barley if using, return to a boil, and simmer 5 minutes or so, until greens are mostly cooked. Add pasta if using and continue cooking until all ingredients are done. Serves one hearty appetite as an unaccompanied main meal or two with a side salad and toast.
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*The amounts are not critical; use whatever suits your taste and feel free to include other greens such as kale in the mix. You may need to adjust cooking time for tougher greens.
**If you find beet greens to be unpleasantly bitter, try pre-cooking them like this to draw off most of the bitterness.
From: Dana Huffman.
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
30 September, 2015
Tuscan white bean and roasted garlic soup
1 lb dry Cannellini beans, rinsed
1 bulb garlic, peeled
8 cups water
4 fresh sage leaves, plus more for garnish
2 tsp olive oil
1 Tbsp chicken or vegetable bouillon powder
salt and pepper to taste
Place beans, 3 cloves garlic, water, and a few sage leaves in slow cooker; cover and cook on high 4 hours, or until beans are soft.
Place remaining garlic cloves in the center of a 7x7 inch square of aluminum foil and drizzle with oil; salt lightly. Seal foil and bake at 400F 25-30 minutes, until garlic is soft and golden. Remove from oven and let cool.
Add bouillon to the cooked beans and mix to dissolve. Transfer some of the beans and liquid to a blender; add roasted garlic (reserve a few cloves for garnish if desired). Blend until smooth and return to slow cooker. Repeat until desired texture is reached. Adjust seasonings.
Garnish with fresh sage leaves, white pepper, whole roasted garlic cloves, if desired.
Makes about 7 3/4 cups, or 7 servings.
Adapted from Skinnytaste.com
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
1 bulb garlic, peeled
8 cups water
4 fresh sage leaves, plus more for garnish
2 tsp olive oil
1 Tbsp chicken or vegetable bouillon powder
salt and pepper to taste
Place beans, 3 cloves garlic, water, and a few sage leaves in slow cooker; cover and cook on high 4 hours, or until beans are soft.
Place remaining garlic cloves in the center of a 7x7 inch square of aluminum foil and drizzle with oil; salt lightly. Seal foil and bake at 400F 25-30 minutes, until garlic is soft and golden. Remove from oven and let cool.
Add bouillon to the cooked beans and mix to dissolve. Transfer some of the beans and liquid to a blender; add roasted garlic (reserve a few cloves for garnish if desired). Blend until smooth and return to slow cooker. Repeat until desired texture is reached. Adjust seasonings.
Garnish with fresh sage leaves, white pepper, whole roasted garlic cloves, if desired.
Makes about 7 3/4 cups, or 7 servings.
Adapted from Skinnytaste.com
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
16 September, 2015
Turkey and Butternut Squash Chili
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1 lb. ground turkey breast
1 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup chicken broth
4.5 ounce can chopped green chilies
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) petite diced tomatoes
15 ounce can kidney beans with liquid
15.5 ounce can white hominy, drained
8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic salt
Heat olive oil over medium heat and cook the onion and garlic about 3 minutes, stirring. Add the turkey and cook, crumbling, until no longer pink. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a simmer, and simmer over medium-low heat about 20 minutes, until the squash is tender and turkey is done.
Adapted from allrecipes.com
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1 lb. ground turkey breast
1 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup chicken broth
4.5 ounce can chopped green chilies
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) petite diced tomatoes
15 ounce can kidney beans with liquid
15.5 ounce can white hominy, drained
8 ounce can tomato sauce
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. garlic salt
Heat olive oil over medium heat and cook the onion and garlic about 3 minutes, stirring. Add the turkey and cook, crumbling, until no longer pink. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a simmer, and simmer over medium-low heat about 20 minutes, until the squash is tender and turkey is done.
Adapted from allrecipes.com
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
12 August, 2015
Cucumber Soup With Avocado
1 tsp. butter
1 tsp. olive oil
3 leeks, washed and sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups (about 3 large) cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and cubed
4 cups chicken stock
1 tsp. chopped fresh dill
2 tsp. sherry or red wine vinegar
pepper
8 ounces plain Greek yogurt
to garnish:
2 tsp. chopped fresh dill
1 ripe avocado, peeled and cubed
Heat butter and oil over medium, and saute leeks 5-7 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add cucumber and chicken stock, and simmer about 6-8 minutes, until cucumber is softened. Pour small batches of cucumber soup into a blender and puree until smooth. Return pureed soup to pot and add 1 tsp of dill, sherry or vinegar, salt, pepper, and yogurt. Whisk to blend thoroughly, cover, and refrigerate 2-3 hours, until chilled
To serve: ladle soup into bowls and garnish with avocado and dill.
Adapted from WebMD
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
1 tsp. olive oil
3 leeks, washed and sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups (about 3 large) cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and cubed
4 cups chicken stock
1 tsp. chopped fresh dill
2 tsp. sherry or red wine vinegar
pepper
8 ounces plain Greek yogurt
to garnish:
2 tsp. chopped fresh dill
1 ripe avocado, peeled and cubed
Heat butter and oil over medium, and saute leeks 5-7 minutes, until tender. Add garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add cucumber and chicken stock, and simmer about 6-8 minutes, until cucumber is softened. Pour small batches of cucumber soup into a blender and puree until smooth. Return pureed soup to pot and add 1 tsp of dill, sherry or vinegar, salt, pepper, and yogurt. Whisk to blend thoroughly, cover, and refrigerate 2-3 hours, until chilled
To serve: ladle soup into bowls and garnish with avocado and dill.
Adapted from WebMD
Versión en español: this post is also available in Spanish.
Esperanta traduko: this post is also available in Esperanto, because Dana is a language geek.
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