Recipes for 5/21/09

Organically Grown Spinach – Bell Organic Gardens Draper, UT
Popeye sure had the right idea eating all that spinach.  Not just because it’s incredibly healthy and chock full of iron, but because it’s also delicious no matter if you like it raw in salads or cooked with pastas or even a creamy spinach dip!  There is just one thing Popeye didn’t know about...drinking a glass of orange juice or consuming anything with vitamin C after eating spinach causes a reaction in which the iron found in spinach is a lot more readily absorbed by our bodies.

Organic Summer Squash – Coke Farm, CA
Zucchini, patty-pans, and crooknecks are the varieties that make up this mixed blend.  Zucchini is something we can all probably recognize without even blinking, but patty-pans and crooknecks are a little less well-known.  Crooknecks are often yellow in color and as their name implies, have a crooked neck, often curved back around towards the bulk of the squash.  Patty-pans are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the tastebuds!  Cute and dainty, they are small, round and have a scalloped edge and are either yellow or green in color.  All of the squash in this mix are wonderful to hollow out and stuff with vegetables, cheese and herbs!

Organic Galia Melon – Coke Farm, CA
Sweet and aromatic, it tastes similar to a cantaloupe although it looks like it could be related to a honeydew.  They are a sign that warmer weather has arrived as they need the heat to mature and ripen.  Although there’s nothing like cutting it up and eating it fresh, one of my favorite and most refreshing ways to indulge on delicious melon is to grate large strings of melon, (making sure to grate over a bowl to catch all the juices!) then placing in a punch bowl and adding water and a little simple syrup to taste.  It has always been a favorite summer drink for my family and I.

Organic Torpedo Onion – Coke Farm, CA
This cultivar of onion is an Italian heirloom variety and is named after the fact that it resembles the shape of a torpedo.  It has a mild and sweet flavor that when eaten raw adds a delicious bite to salads and sandwiches, and when cooked and caramelized, produces a wonderfully sweet flavor that adds depth and richness to any dish.  As wonderful as this onion is, it does not keep well so the sooner you enjoy its delicious flavor, the better!

Organic Romaine – Coke Farm, CA
Crisp and slightly sweet, romaine is the quintessential lettuce.  We all know and love it with classic Caesar dressing and maybe grilled chicken breast on top, but what not many people know is that romaine can stand up to grilling.  Quickly grilling it imparts a smoky-charred flavor that goes extremely well with toppings such as bleu cheese and bacon.  Try it the next time you grill up steaks or chops!

Organic Italian Basil – Coke Farm, CA
Sweet, aromatic and just downright delicious, basil is quite possibly the most famous herb next to parsley.  Used abundantly in Italian cooking, basil is always added at the end of the cooking process as it loses its flavor quickly with prolonged cooking. 

The Vegetarian Basket also includes: 8oz jar of Bench Wildflower and Fruit Blossom Honey from Clifford Family Farms (Provo, UT)

The Omnivore Basket also includes: 8oz jar of Bench Wildflower and Fruit Blossom Honey from Clifford Family Farms (Provo, UT), and Canyon Meadow Ranch 85% Lean Ground Red Angus Beef (Altamont, UT)

Customers who opted for additional fruit will also receive: Organic Yellow Peaches from Sand Hill Farms/Dove Ranch Organics (Arvin, CA)

~Organic certification is provided by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). CCOF has been helping to create and maintain extremely high standards in organic farming since 1973.~

Stuffed summer squash
Serves 4 as a side dish

4 small summer squash
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup finely diced onion
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
1 large egg, beaten
2 tablespoons minced basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
1. Preheat oven to 375F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Slice squash in half lengthwise. Scrape out seeds and discard. Slice a little off the bottoms so squash rest flat, cut side up.
2. In a skillet, heat butter and oil over medium heat. Cook onion and garlic until soft. Transfer to a bowl and cool slightly. Stir in ricotta, 1/4 cup of Parmesan, 2 tablespoons bread crumbs, egg, marjoram, salt, and pepper until blended. Spoon into squash shells.
3. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan and bread crumbs over tops. Bake 25 minutes, until sides are tender; broil 3 minutes, until tops are golden. Serve hot.

Bean and torpedo onion salad
Serves about 4

30 ounces cooked beans (use your fav beans – we like the Paris Bistro Soup Beans)
½ lb green beans cooked
½ cup torpedo onions finely chopped
½ large red bell pepper diced
¼ cup tarragon vinegar
1 clove garlic finely minced
1 tablespoon Italian parsley finely chopped
½ cup extra virgin olive oil

1.  Cook the beans and allow to cool completely.  (this can be done a day before)
2.  In large bowl, combine the beans, green beans, onions and bell pepper.  Stir to combine.
3.  In a smaller bowl, whisk together the vinegar and garlic.  Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking.  After everything is incorporated, gently stir in the parsley.
4.  Pour the vinaigrette over the bean and onion salad and mix well.  Allow to rest 1 hour in the refrigerator so flavors can meld before serving.

Grilled romaine salad with balsamic bacon vinaigrette and bleu cheese
Serves 2

2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup red onion, small dice
2 slices bacon, sliced thinly
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 head romaine, cut in half lengthwise
¼ cup crumbled bleu cheese
salt and pepper to taste

1.  Preheat your grill to medium-high heat
2.  Heat a small sauté pan over medium heat.  Add the bacon and allow to render and cook until crispy.  Add the onions and cook until soft and transparent.  Add the 2 tablespoons olive oil.  To the same pan, carefully add the balsamic as it might splatter.  (You may want to remove from the heat before adding) Stir to combine and season to taste.  Remove from heat and set aside.
3.  Brush the cut side of the romaine with olive oil and place cut side down onto the grill and quickly sear, for about 2 minutes.  (You want the char, but not so much that it cooks out the crispness of the lettuce) Remove from the grill.
4.  Serve cut side up and drizzle the balsamic dressing over the lettuce.  Sprinkle with blue cheese and season with freshly cracked black pepper.

*Alternately, a grill pan can do the same job in this recipe!

Basil Roui
(pronounced roo-eee)

1 cup basil, stemmed and chopped fine
1 small tomato, chopped fine
½ cup breadcrumbs such as panko
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
½ jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped fine
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

1.  Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a medium bowl.  Cover and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to meld.  Bring to room temperature just before serving.  This makes a wonderful crostini topping.

Shopping list...

Stuffed summer squash
- 4 summer squash (included in SFF)
-1 package Plugra unsalted butter
-1 bottle Liberty Heights Fresh label Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2007 Harvest
-1 medium onion
-1 head garlic
- package Belfiore Ricotta Cheese
-1 small wedge parmigiano reggiano
-1 package Liberty Heights Fresh Bread Crumbs or United Pacific Co. Panko
-1/2 dozen package Clifford Family Farm Eggs
-1 package basil (included in SFF)

Bean and torpedo onion salad
-1 package Cassoulets U.S.A. Paris Bistro Soup Beans
- ½ lb green beans
-1 torpedo onion (included in SFF)
-1 red bell pepper
-1 bottle J. Leblanc Tarragon Vinegar
-1 head garlic
-1 bunch Italian parsley
-1 bottle Liberty Heights Fresh label Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2007 Harvest

Grilled romaine salad with balsamic bacon vinaigrette and bleu cheese
-1 bottle Liberty Heights Fresh label Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2007 Harvest
-1 torpedo onion (included in SFF)
-1 package Niman Ranch Uncured Bacon
-1 bottle Compagnia Del Monta Balsamic Vinegar
-1 head romaine (included in SFF)
-1 small wedge Maytag Blue Cheese

Basil Roui
-1 package basil (included in SFF)
-1 small tomato
-1 head garlic
-1 jalapeno pepper
-1 bottle Liberty Heights Fresh label Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2007 Harvest