Charred serene and white bean dip

• 2 serrano peppers, halved and stems cut off

• 5 Tbsp olive oil (DIVIDED)

• 4 large cloves garlic, minced

• 3/4 cup minced shallot (~1 large shallot)

• 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans

• 1/2 tsp each sea salt and black pepper

• 1/4 cup tahini

• 1/4 cup lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 425 F (218 C). Spread the peppers out on a baking sheet lined with foil (or a bare baking sheet brushed with oil) and roast for 15-20 minutes, flipping the peppers halfway to ensure even charring.

n a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once hot, add the garlic and shallot, sautéing until softened and translucent — about 3 minutes. Lower heat to medium-low and add the cannellini beans and the salt and pepper. Mix well to combine and heat for 3-5 minutes or until the beans are warmed through.

Remove peppers from the oven and carefully wrap the foil around them to steam for a few minutes. Then carefully peel away the skin and remove the seeds, making sure to wash your hands thoroughly after.

Add the bean mixture, charred peppers (start with just 1 if you prefer less heat), tahini, and lemon juice to a food processor. Blend for about 1 minute, scraping down the sides as needed. Then, with the processor running, carefully stream in the remaining 3 tablespoonsof olive oil until the mixture is creamy and smooth.

Pan seared shisitos (Padrons)

A super easy and fun appetizer!

sea salt

oil

padrons

half a lemon

Place your pan on the stove on medium heat and add oil. Heat till almost smoking and add peppers. Toss occasionally to sear and blister the peppers. Toss regularly so they don’t burn. It takes about 10-15 minutes to cook them through.

Take them off the heat and toss with salt and some lemon juice

Tequilla Braised Corn Salsa

kernels cut from 2 ears of corn
3 tbsp tequilla
1-2 tbsp finely minced hot peppers
2 tbsp finely minced fresh onions
1 finely diced tomato
1 tbsp minced cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

Heat a dry skillet over high heat, add corn kernels, and pan-roast them until they brown in spots - ~3-5min. Stir in tequilla, scrape up browned bits in bottom of pan, and boil until liquid evaporates. Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients. Serve as a snack with chips or a s a topping for grilled meats or fish. Makes 2-4 servings.

Savory Stuffed Winter Squash

3 med. winter squash

1/3 c chopped walnuts

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 c diced red onion
1/4 c diced celery
1 clove garlic minced
1 1/4 c Jade Pearl rice
3/4 c diced red pepper
1/4 tsp sea salt
2 1/2 c boiling water
1 tbsp fresh thyme
1/2 tsp fresh sage
2 c grated gouda or cheddar cheese

 Preheat oven to 400F. Leave the squash whole. Place them in a baking pan in the oven for 1 hr. until tender. Meanwhile toast the walnuts in a lg saucepan over med heat, stirring often ~ 5 min. Add the oil, onion, celery, and garlic. Saute for ~ 5 min. until onions soften. Add the rice, pepper, and salt and cook for 2-3 min. Lower the heat, then slowly pour in the water. Cover and simmer ~ 20 min. Stir in the herbs. Taste and adjust seasonings. Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds. Fill the squash halves with the rice mixture. Top with cheese and serve immed.

From 'Gluten-Free Recipes or the Conscious Cook' a great seasonal cookbook from our shareholder Leslie Cerier.

Sweet Melon Salsa

1 1/2 c finely chopped cantaloupe
1/4 c onion, minced
1/2 large green pepper, finely chopped
1 tbsp minced fresh cilantro
1 hot pepper, seeded and finely minced (or more to taste)
juice of 1 lime (approx 3 tbsp)
1 tsp honey or brown sugar (optional)
1/4 tsp salt 

Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate for at least half an hour to allow flavors to blend. Yield 2 cups.

Stuffed Large Green Leaves

A versatile, beautiful dish, great as an appetizer or main dish. I first made this with collards, but have made it with chard, komatsuna (pictured), vitamin green and kale. The stuffing can easily be changed to please vegans, vegetarians or carnivores, can be any leftover in your refrigerator or a new inspiration

Steam 12-18 large green leaves

(for carnivores)

Heat pan to medium and add 1 pound of ground meat (pork, turkey, beef, lamb). Crush a clove of garlic or add some pureed garlic scape. Add grated ginger or hot peppers for flavor. Cook meat until no longer red.

Add any cooked grain (rice, quinoa, barley, etc), about 1/2-1 cup, or to your liking. 

A dash of oyster sauce adds a nice flavor. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Lay leaves on counter, put a spoonful of filling on top and roll like a burrito. Place in baking dish. May be eaten right away or baked for 20-30 minutes to better meld the flavors. 

(for vegans and vegetarians)

Sautee 1 onion with garlic or garlic scares, add 1 cup cooked rice, chopped mint and chopped parsley and some dried fruit or nuts (dried cherries or currants are great). 

Lay leaves on counter, put a spoonful of filling on top and roll like a burrito. Place in baking dish. May be eaten right away or baked for 20-30 minutes to better meld the flavors. 

Vegan or dairy cheese may be sprinkled on top for additional flavor (feta is great). 

Blueberry Corn Salad

3 ears fresh sweet corn, husked
1/2 c fresh blueberries
1 small cucumber, sliced
1/8 c finely chopped onion
1/8 c chopped fresh cilantro
1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp honey
1/4 tspn ground cumin
1/4 tspn salt
1/8 tspn black pepper

In a large pot, bring water to boiling. Add corn. Cook until water boils again. (You can also skip this step if you make it the day of pick-up. Raw corn!) In a large serving bowl, combine corn, blueberries, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and jalapeno. To make the dressing, whisk together lime juice, oil, honey, cumin, salt, and pepper. Pour dressing over salad and stir until combined. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. (Note-you can make this salad a day in advance. It keeps well)

Recipe from Vegetable Literacy by Deborah Madison

Cold Cucumber, Barley, Yogurt and Dill Soup

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cooked and cooled barley or spelt berries (cook 3/4 cups of barley in 1 3/4 cup water by bringing to boil, turning down to simmer with lid on and cooking until done - approx. 40 minutes)

1 cucumber, roughly chopped (remove seeds if you do not like them)

1 clove garlic

1 Tablespoon fresh dill, chopped fine

1 cup plain yogurt

3/4 cup water or cold vegetable stock

hot pepper (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Puree cucumber, dill, hot pepper (if desired), yogurt and water or stock until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in barley and chill for at least an hour for best flavor (though you can serve right away). Place a few slices of cucumber and a sprinkling of dill on just before serving. 

Cucumber Raita

1/2 lb cucumber
     cut in half, seeds removed.
1 cup plain yogurt (try Sidehill
     Farm from the farm shop)
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
     (more to taste)
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon garam masala
     (more to taste)
1 small chile, minced
     (optional)

Grate cucumber on the large holes of a grater. Sprinkle with a generous amount of salt, toss and let sit in a colander in the sink for 15 minutes. Rinse briefly and squeeze dry in a kitchen towel. Transfer to a bowl. Beat the yogurt with a fork or a whisk and add the cayenne and garam masala. Toss with the cucumbers. Add the cilantro and chile and toss again. Taste and adjust salt. Chill until ready to serve. Serve with any kind of curried stew, with meat and rice, or just plain!

Recipe from The New York Times

Gazpacho

This recipes was contributed by shareholder, Erika Zeros. Especially great when made in advance and chilled well! I added a few notes for variation.
 

Perfect for high summer when the tomatoes are going crazy and it's too hot to cook! If multi-colored tomatoes are available be sure to include a few and chop them for beautiful contrast.

Makes about 10 cups

1 medium-sized cucumber
5 pounds vine-ripened tomatoes
1 medium-sized red onion, diced, about 1 C (white onion or scallions will work)
1 or 2 jalapeno or serrano chilies, seeded and minced.
1/4 C chopped fresh basil (can go with cilantro for a different flavor)
Salt and pepper
2 or 3 T Champagne or white wine vinegar

minced garlic (if desired)

A few basil leaves for garnish.

1. Peel the cucumber, cut in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Dice and set aside.
2. Peel the tomatoes. (Boiling water method: Score the bottom of each tomato with an X. Drop into boiling water for about 10 seconds, just long enough to loosen their skins. Rinse under cold water to cool them, then slip off the skins.) Cut tomatoes in half and take out the core. Place a mesh strainer over a bowl. Over the strainer, squeeze out the juice and seeds. Save the juice to add to the soup and discard the seeds.
3. Puree half of the tomatoes in a blender or food processor and coarsely chop the rest. Combine all of the tomatoes, tomato juice, onion, cucumber, chilies, and basil in a large bowl. Scoop out about 3 cups of the combined soup and return to the blender to puree. Return puree to the large bowl.
4. Season with 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 2 tablespoons vinegar and stir well.
5. Refrigerate and let sit for at least 1 hour before serving, to allow flavors to develop. Add salt, pepper, and more vinegar if needed. Serve chilled. Garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Tip: if the soup is too acidic, add a few pinches of sugar to balance the flavors before serving.

Calabacitas

This recipe was contributed by shareholder, Erika Zeros. She said it is a recipes she modified from The Moosewood cookbook. Tastes great with Mi Tierra corn tortillas or homemade tortillas made with Four Star Farm corn or wheat flour! I Added a few notes, for flexibility if we are short on a crop. Thanks Erika!

A vegetable melange influenced by Pueblo cuisine.

Yield: 4 servings

1 T olive oil
1 C minced onion (or scallions)
1 c miniced anaheim and/or poblano chilis (or other hot pepper)
1/2 t salt
1 - 2 t pure ground chile powder (optional)
2 C diced zucchini (about 10 oz, or 2 6-inch zukes) - may use yellow squash
2 C corn kernels (cut from 2 ears, or defrosted frozen corn)
2 t minced garlic
1 C cooked pinto beans
Grated jack,  cheddar cheese or chipotle cheddar (optional)
Freshly ground black pepper
Squeezable wedges of lime
Grilled flour or corn tortillas

1. Place a medium-sized skillet over medium heat for a minute or 2. Add the olive oil, wait about 30 seconds, then swirl to coat the pan.
2. When the cooking surface is hot enough to sizzle a bread crumb, add the onion, chiles, salt, and optional chile powder, and cook, stirring frequently for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the vegetables become quite soft.
3. Add the zucchini, corn, garlic, and beans, and continue to cook, stirring gently to avoid breaking the beans, for about 5 minutes longer, or until the zucchini is just tender. (Don't overcook the zucchini.) Remove the pan from the heat.
4. Sprinkle in grated cheese to taste, if desired, and stir to distribute it as it melts. Add black pepper (an possibly more salt) to taste. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature, with squeezable wedges of lime and a tortilla for each serving.

(modified from Moosewood)

Cilantro Dipping Sauce

2 hot jalapenos, seeds removed(or other hot pepper to taste)

2 cups loosely packed cilantro

1/2 cup sour cream (or mix of 1/2 sour cream and 1/2 yogurt)

2 cloves garlic

2 Tablespoons lime juice

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

salt to taste

1/4 - 1/2 cup olive oil

Put all ingredients in food processor and process until smooth. Use as sauce for fish, meat or tofu or as dip for bread, french fries or veggies.

Stuffed Cucumbers

I first remember a recipe similar to this from a Mollie Katzen cookbook, but could not find it in any of my current books.  This is adapted from a recipe I found this at food.com. I used almonds instead of walnuts, but otherwise followed the recipe. It it great as an appetizer or side dish. I preferred it within a few hours of making it, as the cukes start to release some of their water after about four hours and lose a bit of their crunch. I highly encourage experimenting with this recipe - dill, yogurt, sour cream, fennel fronds, olives, smoked paprika, hot peppers......

1/2 cup nuts - walnuts were in original recipe, I loved raw almonds

1/4 cup parsley

1/2 cup feta

1/4 cup milk

1 garlic clove

1/2 tsp paprika

1/8 tsp cayenne

4 medium cukes

Halve cukes and cut out seed to make a cuke boat. Throw everything else together in a food processor and process until well mixed, with little bits of nut. Fill your boats and serve as an appetizer or side dish.

Black Bean Burgers with Cilantro Mayonnaise

This recipe comes from a beloved cookbook, Whole Grains for a New Generation, by Liana Krissoff. I have made a few small changes. The original recipe calls for frying the patties in a pan. I oil a baking sheet and bake in the oven, but both methods are good. I have also put these on foil on the grill with great results. If you do not have smoked paprika, I believe it is worth the trip to the store. Once hot peppers come in, sub the cayenne with finely chopped hot peppers from the farm. Be sure to check out the cookbook for more great whole grain recipes. 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups black beans

1 medium carrot, grated 

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

2 Tablespoons lime juice

4 Tablespoons olive oil

1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)

1/2 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

1 1/2 cup cooked fine or medium grind bulgur wheat

2/3 cup whole wheat bread crumbs (optional)

Preheat oven to 375.

In a food processor, puree the beans, carrots, cilantro, lime juice, 2 T of oil, salt, cumin, cayenne and smoked paprika. Add 1/2 the bulgur and puree until combined, then transfer to big bowl and add remaining bulgur and stir together by hand. Shape into 6 patties and coat each side with bread crumbs, if desired. 

Oil a baking sheet or line with parchment paper. Place patties on baking sheet and bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until bottoms are beginning to brown. Flip and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until brown. 

Can be served as a typical burger, bun, etc, or on top of a salad. Great with cilantro mayonnaise and cumin slaw (search cilantro and cabbage in recipe section for those recipes).

Strawberry Salsa

Ingredients:

1 pint strawberries, chopped

1/3 - 2/3 cup finely chopped cilantro

2 tablespoons lime (or lemon) juice

3 finely chopped scallions

salt to taste

hot pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together. Chill for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld before serving. 

Rhubarb Salsa

Ingredients:

Rhubarb (10 stalks cooked)

Small tomato

Small onion

Celery (2 stalks)

Hot peppers (a few slices)

Garlic (2 cloves)

Lemon juice/lime juice (to taste)

Directions:

Simmer chopped rhubarb in small amount of water in sauce pan until soft. Finely chop all other ingredients. Once rhubarb is cooled, combine all ingredients together and let chill in refrigerator.