Tag Archives: CSA

Summery Shrimp & Mango Kebobs

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My friend had a great idea to make some summery kebobs for dinner. I had some peaches and oranges from my CSA this week and we thought the citrus would go great with shrimp. We threw everything onto the skewers and made a simple orange dressing to drizzle over the kebobs when they were done cooking. We both get Bon Appetit magazine every month and had seen this salad which we really wanted to make with the squash blossoms we got at the farmers market the day before. I also used some of zucchini from my CSA for that as well.

Ingredients: Serves 2
10 jumbo shrimp, peeled
1 large peach, cut into medium sized chunks
1 large bell pepper, cut into chunks
1/2 onion, but into chunks
1/2 orange, juiced
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
Small pinch of cumin
Salt and pepper, to taste

Do ahead: if using wooden skewers, place them in water for about an hour before using them. This will help them from burning or catching fire!

Thread the shrimp, peaches, onions, and peppers onto the skewers. Head a little olive oil in a cast iron skillet and cook the kabobs, turning occasionally, for about 10 minutes or until the shrimp is pink and cooked through (and the other items have a some char to them as well) Alternatively, you can cook these on the grill if you’re not working out of a NYC apartment!

While those cook, make the dressing by simply whisking the orange, white wine vinegar, ginger, cumin, salt and pepper. Set aside. Also make the cous cous per the box instructions. I like to add some chopped nuts and fresh herbs to mine.

If you would like to make the Bon Appetite corn, zucchini, and squash blossom salad, you can find the recipe here! It was very simple to make and really delicious.

Shishito Pepper Crostini With Ricotta & Spiced Honey

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I LOVE shishito peppers. They’re so delicious when simply browned in a pan with some sea salt. I wanted to do something a little more special with them though, so this time I made a crostini with some fresh ricotta cheese and spiced honey. I ate so many of them I could hardly eat my main meal afterward!

Ingredients:
1 pound shishito peppers
1 baguette, sliced into 1/2 inch thick pieces
Fresh ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons honey
Pinch of cayanne pepper
Pinch of paprika
Salt and pepper
Olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drizzle the baguette slices with a little olive oil and cook in oven until slightly toasted.

In the meantime, add the shishito peppers to a pan with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cook them for about 7-10 minutes or until they are browned a bit. Next, in a small bowl mix together the honey, cayenne, and paprika.

To assemble, spread a good amount of ricotta cheese onto the bread, top with shishito peppers, and drizzle with the spiced honey!

 

Artichoke & Spinach Stuffed Shells

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Last night was one of those nights when you go through everything you have in the kitchen and try to come up with something creative just so you don’t have to go to the store. I looked around and had an onion, spinach, a can of artichokes, and some leftover pasta shells. Done…stuffed shells it is! This could not have been easier, and it was pretty good for an experimental dinner!

Ingredients: Serves 3
1/2 box jumbo pasta shells
1 cup ricotta cheese
(half) 14oz can whole artichokes, roughly chopped
1 1/2 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can tomato sauce (if no herbs, add a big pinch of dried basil, oregano, salt and pepper)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Small handful fresh chopped basil, for serving (optional)
Olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Get a large pot of salted water boiling and cook the pasta shells as directed. Make sure not to overcook them as they will continue to cook in the oven.

Head some olive in a large pan, add the garlic, onion, and a little salt and pepper. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, then toss in the chopped spinach and artichokes and cook for another 4-5 minutes. Let cool slightly. In a large bowl mix together the ricotta, cooked vegetables, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Pour some of the tomato sauce on the bottom of a baking dish, then fill each pasta shell with some of the filling and place in a single layer. Cover the shells with some more pasta sauce, and top with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese and shredded mozzarella. Cover with aluminum foil and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for another 5 minutes. Top with some fresh chopped basil and serve.

Spicy Okra With A Tangy Aioli & Roasted Cabbage With Blue Cheese

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This week my friend and I got fancy in the kitchen and made a GREAT dinner. We had recently tried some roasted cauliflower with an amazing buttermilk dressing, so that was our inspiration for the roasted okra. It was delicious! The okra was pretty spicy, so the tangy aioli helped to cool it down a bit. As for cabbage, we decided to just simply roast it and top it with some blue cheese knowing it would go well with the skirt steak we were making. Overall a really awesome meal- food is always best when shared with a friend!

We had these two dishes on the side of our skirt steak, which we simply pan seared with salt and pepper, and topped with cooked onions, parsley, and a few fingerling potatoes.

Roasted Purple Cabbage With Blue Cheese

Ingredients:
1 small purple cabbage, cut in half then into 1/2 inch thick slices
Olive oil
1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degree. Place cabbage slices on a baking sheet and drizzle with some olive oil and a little salt and pepper. Roast for 30-40 minutes or until it begins to brown. Top with bleu cheese and place back in oven for 5 minutes.

Roasted Okra With A Tangy Buttermilk Aioli:

Ingredients:
1/2 pound fresh okra, some halved the long way some kept whole
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup olive oil, plus 3 tablespoons for the aioli
Big pinch of sea salt
Big pinch of black pepper
1/2 small onion (or 1 shallot) finely chopped
3 tablespoons buttermilk (to make buttermilk, just add 2 tablespoons lemon juice to 1 cup whole milk)
3 tablespoons crème fraiche
1 small lime, juiced
Small handful fresh parsley, chopped

In a large skillet, add 1/4 cup olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 5 minutes then add in the okra. Cook for about 10-15 minutes or until slightly charred.

While the okra cooks make the aioli. Mix together the 3 tablespoons olive oil, buttermilk, crème fraiche, lime juice, onion, and a pinch of pepper. Set in fridge until ready to use. (I forgot to take photos of the aioli when making it!)

To plate, drizzle a good amount of aioli onto a plate, then top with the roasted okra and a little more aioli sauce. Finish with some fresh parsley and serve right away.

 

Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

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I get these quinoa bowls from a place near my office at least once a week. My favorite is the Mediterranean bowl, so when I got some eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes this week I decided to make it at home! It was perfect for a summer night, very fresh, light and easy to make!

Ingredients: Serves 2-3
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 small eggplant, chopped
Small bunch kale, chopped small
Handful of green beans
3-4 small tomatoes, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 garlic scapes, chopped
1/2 lemon
1 teaspoon lemon zest
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 small onion, minced
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup almond slivers
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste

Start by making the quinoa. While it is cooking, add in the chopped kale and lemon zest. Next make the vinegar mixture for the green beans and tomato- mix the red wine vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, and a small pinch of salt and pepper. Blanch the green beans for a minute or two, then add them to the vinegar with the fresh tomatoes and let soak until ready to plate. In a separate pan, add some olive oil and cook the onion and garlic until softened, then add the eggplant, green pepper, garlic scapes, nuts, and a little salt and pepper.

Plate some of the quinoa, then top with the eggplant mixture, green beans, and tomatoes. Finish with some feta cheese and a little drizzle of the vinegar.

 

Summer Squash Tacos With a Citrus Slaw

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I stayed at my sisters house last night to help with my one year old nephew while her husband was away for work. It’s a dreamy situation whenever I stay there- I get to be smothered with smooches from my mini nephew and spoiled by my older sister! I wanted to make them dinner, so I brought all my CSA veggies and whipped us up some summery tacos. My sister is a vegetarian so these were meatless. Vander (my nephew) had his own little deconstructed taco with all the same ingredients that we had- the kid will eat anything! It was a lovely family night…

Ingredients: Serves 2
4-6 medium flour tortillas
1 large summer squash, cut into medium thick strips
1 avocado, smashed
2 medium corn, cut off the cob
1 scallion, chopped small
2 green onions (or 1/2 small onion)
1/2 grapefruit, segmented and chopped small
2 radishes, sliced thin
1/4 baby cabbage, shredded
Small handful fresh cilantro
Olive oil
Crumbled goat cheese
1 lime
Salt and pepper, to taste

Heat some olive oil and place the squash in a flat layer, cooking and turning occasionally until both sides are slightly browned and cooked through. While that is cooking, add some olive oil to another pan and cook the corn until slightly browned as well. To make the slaw, place the cabbage, cooked corn, scallion, green onion, grapefruit, and cilantro in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and a good squeeze of half a lime. Toss well and salt and pepper to taste. Lastly, smash the avocado and add a little squeeze of lime and some pepper.

I usually like to warm by tortillas by holding them over my gas stove until they get a light char on them. Fill the tacos with a spread of avocado, followed by some squash, cabbage slaw, goat cheese, and radishes. Serve with some sliced lime on the side. Enjoy!3

Summer Panzanella Salad

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I’m on a health kick right now- I’ve been going to the gym 3 days a week and trying to eat healthier! I feel so much better. It is really true, when you work out and take time for yourself, you feel much more energetic and positive. Not only is it good for your body, but good for your state of mind as well. I find that the small daily frustrations aren’t bothering me as much as they normally do!

With working out comes a more than usual hungry belly though, so this week when I got home I made myself a big salad including pretty much every item I got in my CSA this week, which was nice. I added some toasted pita bread to the salad to help with the carb cravings I knew I would have if only eating a big bowl of veggies. Overall a great fresh meal! I had some leftover veggies and dressing, which I ended up wrapping up in rice paper as spring rolls for lunch the next day. A surprisingly good snack!

Ingredients: Serves 2-3

2 small green onions, thinly sliced (use the white part for the pickling and the greens for later)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
Bread, torn into crouton sizes ( I used onion pita bread)
Two eggs
2 cups kale, chopped well (optional- a lot panzanella recipes do not include lettuce)
1 pound fresh green beans, halved
2 garlic scapes, chopped
1 cucumber, skinned and sliced (I used lemon zucchini- they are round/yellow but taste like a reg cucumber)
1 medium tomato, sliced
Carrots, peeled into ribbons
2 radishes, thinly sliced
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs fresh mint, chopped
Pinch of salt
Pepper

Start by pickling the onions. Place the chopped white onion in a bowl with the red whine vinegar, sugar, and salt. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. To make the mint dressing, place the mint, olive oil, lemon juice, and white wine vinegar in a bowl and mix. Set aside.

Next, get a pot of water boiling and blanch the peas for a minute or before placing in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. In the same pot of water, cook the eggs for 6-7 minutes.

Add some olive oil to a pan and add the garlic scapes, onion greens, and pita bread. Tossing until the greens are cooked and the bread is toasted.

To plate- in a large bowl add some kale to the center, then the rest of the ingredients (carrot, cucumber, radish, green beans, the onion/scape/bread mixture, pickled onions, and sliced egg) then dress it with the mint dressing and enjoy!

Zucchini & Squash Spaghetti With Creamy Pesto

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It’s been pretty hot outside lately, and cooking with the stove or oven can only make is worse at times. I was craving something light and refreshing, so I went with a summery vegetable “pasta” – mimicking the spaghetti with squash and zucchini ribbons instead. It was really good! I loved the veggie pasta, it was satisfying without having all the extra carbs. This is a gluten free meal, and can also be a raw meal if you don’t blanch the vegetables at all!

Ingredients:
1 yellow squash, cut into small strips
1 zucchini, cut into small strips
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup fresh basil
Small handful of cress
1 garlic scape
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons cup pine nuts
2 tablespoons walnuts
2 tablespoons hemp nuts
1/3 cup water (or less as needed)
3 tablespoons ricotta cheese (optional)
Radishes, thinly sliced (optional)
Salt and pepper

Start by slicing the squash and zucchini into thin long strips so they almost resemble spaghetti. Set aside. Next make the pesto. Add the basil, cress, lemon, garlic scape, Parmesan cheese, nuts, olive oil and some pepper to a food processor. Blend well, adding bits of water as needed to get a smooth consistency. Set aside. In a pot of boiling water, blanch the zucchini and squash for about 1 minute until soft. Strain the water and add the squash/zucchini back to the pot along with the pesto. I like to add a few scoops at a time until I have the amount of sauce that I like. Plate the “pasta” and top with a small dollop of ricotta cheese and fresh radishes!

 

Broccoli & Kale Potato Cakes With White Wine Poached Eggs

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I saw a recipe recently where they poached the eggs in white wine and I was really curious what it would taste like. I love eggs, and I love wine, so it seemed like a match made in heaven for me. I also saw a few where they poached them in red wine- making the egg a pretty bright red color. I thought it gave the eggs a nice little taste, but it definitely wasn’t as strong of a taste I was imagining. The potato cakes were nice as well, I think next time I may add a little panko to help keep them from breaking in the pan. Overall a happy little Monday meal!

Ingredients:

Potato cakes:
1 small bunch broccoli, chopped (I used purple broccoli)
1 bunch kale, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
10 small potatoes, quartered (I used fingerling)
2 tablespoons butter
1 egg, beaten
1/3 cup Greek yogurt
Salt and pepper, to taste

Onion Sauce:
1 cup dry white wine
1/2 onion, roughly chopped
3 garlic cloves, sliced
Small handful fresh dill
5-6 sprigs of fresh thyme
Pinch of paprika
Salt and pepper
5-6 fresh chives or scallions

Poached eggs:
4 eggs
1 cup dry white wine
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon peppercorns

Start by placing the potatoes in a pot of boiling salted water. Cook until fork tender, but make sure not to overcook! While those are going, saute the garlic in some olive oil for about a minute, then add the onion and cook for another 2 minutes or so. Next add the chopped kale and broccoli. Cook everything down until softened. When the potatoes are done, drain them and add back into the pot with the butter, egg, Greek yogurt, and some salt and pepper. Smash everything together, then mix in the cooked vegetables. To cook the potato cakes, form the cakes in your hand and place in the pan with some olive oil over medium heat. Flip them around 3 minutes. You want each side to have a little golden crisp to them.

To make the onion sauce, simply place all the ingredients in a pan and cook for about 10-15 minutes. Strain and set the liquid aside.

For the poached eggs- add the wine to a pan along with the bay leave and peppercorns. I put everything loose in there but next time I think I would tie them in a little cheese cloth so that the peppercorns don’t stick to my eggs! Once the liquid is boiling, crack the eggs right into the pan then cover and cook for about one minute. After about 30 seconds check with yolk to make sure it is not overcooking. You want the center to remain a little runny.

To plate, place two potato cakes on a plate and top with the poaches eggs, followed by a good drizzle of the onion sauce. Top with some fresh dill and sliced radishes!

 

Garlic Scape & Dandelion Green Pizza With Sweet Sausage

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I know I make a lot of pizzas, but I am forever curious about the different kind of funky ones I can make- and 99% of the time they taste awesome, which is a pretty high percentage in pizza land. This week I got garlic scapes which I have anxiously been waiting, as well as some dandelion greens which happen to be one of my favorite greens lately…they’re so great just simply sautéed. Anyway, I went over to my friend Meghan’s house and cooked us a pizza while we drank a very large bottle of wine. Overall a great night with some great local ingredients!

Ingredients:
1 small bunch dandelion greens, thick stems partially trimmed
3 garlic scapes
1 medium mozzarella ball
1/2 cup fresh ricotta cheese
2 sweet Italian sausage links, casings removed
1 fresh pizza dough
Salt and pepper

Preheat the oven to 385 degrees. Start roasting the garlic scapes in the oven with a little olive oil for about 10 minutes or until soft, but be careful not to burn them. While those cook, sauté the dandelion greens in a skillet with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Set all the veggies aside once cooked. Next, brown the sausage and break it up well into crumbles. On a floured surface, roll the dough out into a large circle (or two circles if you have smaller pans like we did) To make the pizza, place the rolled dough on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper. Spread the mozzarella and ricotta all over the bottom, then top with dandelion greens, garlic scapes, and sausage. Cook for 20 minutes or until the bottom is golden and the toppings are melted and bubbling. Top with some fresh cracked pepper and a large bottle of wine!