Compound Butter

Making compound butter is an easy way to incorporate herbs into your diet year-round.
1 lb butter, unsalted (find 1 lb blocks of Cabot butter in the farm shop)
4 Tbsp chopped fresh herbs (choose one, or combine: thyme, oregano, mint, parsely, sage)
2 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper

 First bring the butter to room temperature. If the butter is too hard, it will be more challenging to incorporate the herbs evenly. Cut the butter into chunks and add o a large bowl, food processor, or Kitchen Aid stand up mixer. Start whipping the butter until it starts to cream. Add the herbs, salt, and pepper, continue to whip until all evenly incorporated. Add 1/4-1/2 pound increments to a large sheet of parchment. Roll the parchment up as you would a sushi roll, forming a tight log.

Recipe from Homegrown.org

Summer Squash Pasta

4 summer squashes or zucchinis
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
¼ cup chopped fresh chives
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves

 For the pasta, gently run a vegetable peeler down the length of the zucchini and yellow squashes to make thin ribbons. Stop when you get to the seeds and rotate to the next side until all thats left are seeds. Sautee the ribbons briefly to warm, or skip warming for a cold pasta salad. Toss the ribbons with the rest of the ingredients, let sit for at least 10 minutes so the flavors can incorporate, and serve.

Recipe from Rachael Ray

Zucchini Salad

3 small zucchinis

3 scallions, finely chopped
2 tbs fresh dill
1 tbsp parsley
4 tsp oregano
1 cup yogurt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp honey

Wash and dice zucchini. Put in a bowl with scallions, dill, parsley, and oregano. Combine yogurt, lemon juice, and honey. Pour over zuke/scallion mix. Toss. Refrigerate at least 1/2 hour.

Tomato Corn Chowder

3 scallions
1 tsp oregano and thyme
4 paste tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup flour
1 cup cream
2 cups fresh corn kernels
1/4 cup parsley

Fresh Brookfield sweet corn and paste tomatoes will make for an especially tasty soup!! Saute scallions with oregano and thyme over medium heat until browned. Add tomatoes, then 4 cups of water. Lower the heat and simmer 30 minutes covered. Mix flour and cream (watch for lumps!) and add to soup. Simmer and add corn kernels, pepper and parsley. Simmer 15 minutes uncovered and enjoy!

Tex-Mex Casserole

4 ears fresh corn
1/4 cup butter
3 medium onions, thinly sliced
6 medium zucchinis, thinly sliced
1 large tomato, seeded and chopped
1 cup fresh tomatillos, diced
2 Anaheim chiles, seeded and chopped
1 1/2 tsp. fresh oregano
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup grated Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using a very sharp knife, cut the corn from the cobs and set aside. In a large skillet, heat a tablespon of the butter and saute the onions and zucchini for 3 to 5 minutes over medium heat. Remove. Add another tablespoon of the butter and saute the tomato and tomatillos for 3-5 minutes. Lightly grease a large casserole. Combine all the vegetables together, including chiles; season with oregano, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the grated cheese and dot with the remaining tablespoon of butter.

Bake the casserole, covered with a lid or foil, for 30 minutes. Then run it briefly under the broiler to brwn the top. Serves 4-6

 From: Recipes from a Kitchen Garden

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

1 squash
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves crushed garlic
2 tomatoes
1/2 lb sliced mushrooms
1/2 tsp oregano
salt and pepper
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 cup grated mozzarella
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp basil
1 tsp thyme
1 cup bread crumbs ,1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
3 tablespoons sliced black olives

Slice the squash in half length-wise and scoop out the seeds. Bake it, face down, on a buttered tray at 375 F for about 30 minutes or until easily pierced by a fork. Cool and scoop out insides. While the squash bakes, saute the onions and garlic with salt, pepper, mushrooms, and herbs, When onions are soft add freshly chopped tomatoes. Cook until most of the liquid evaporates. Combine all ingredients. Pour into buttered 2 qt. casserole. Top with lots of grated Parmesan. Bake at 375, uncovered, for about 40 minutes.

From: the Moosewood Cookbook

Ratatouille

I first tasted this delightful stew in southern France. Almost all the ingredients can be found on the farm!

2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bell peppers, cubed
1 medium zucchini or squash, cubed
1 eggplant, cubed
3 tomatos, chopped
1 clove of garlic (i like to add more)
fresh parsley, oregano, basil

Saute the onion, garlic and pepper until soft; stir in eggplant and squash; add tomatos and seasoning; cover and simmer for about 30 minutes. Voila! Serves 6.

Portuguese Kale Soup

2 cups cooked kidney beans (1 can)
2 cups cooked chick peas
3 cups chopped tomatoes
garlic to taste
1 large potato chopped small
4 cups kale, packed and roughly chopped
1 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
2 cups thinly sliced chorizo (Portuguese sausage) or kielbasa
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients, add water, vegetable or beef stock to 2" above ingredients. Simmer 45 min.
 

Cabbage & Carrot Slaw

1/3 cup white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon dry mustard
4 cups finely shredded green cabbage
2 cups shredded carrots
1 cup thinly sliced scallions
1/2 teaspoon salt
Ground black pepper, to taste

In a large bowl, whisk together vinegar, sugar, garlic, cumin, oregano and mustard just until sugar is dissolved. Add cabbage, carrots, green onions, salt and pepper and toss gently to combine. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours before serving.

This one comes from our friends (and former manager) Kerry & Max at Provider Farm - they love cabbage (among other veggies) and this is delicious!! 

Mediterranean Roasted Broccoli (or Cauliflower) and Tomatoes

1. PREHEAT oven to 450F

2. TOSS ITHE FOLLOWING N A BOWL, SPREAD ON BAKING SHEET AND BAKE 10 - 13 MINUTES OR UNTIL STARTING TO BROWN:

   4 cups broccoli and/or cauliflower

   1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes

   1 Tablespoon olive oil

   2 cloves garlic, minced

   1/4 teaspoon salt

3. PLACE THE FOLLOWING IN BOWL:

   1 Tablespoon lemon juice

   1 Tablespoon fresh, chopped lemon balm leaves or 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

   10 sliced pitted black olives

   2 teaspoon fresh, chopped oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano

   2 teaspoons capers, rinsed (optional)

MIX ALL together. Serve warm or cold

Zucchini Pizza Crust

I have tried many zucchini pizza crusts and this one was the most like crust, rather than casserole. It is quite easy to make and if you go into production mode, you can freeze some for a quick, easy meal later. Because it has cheese in the crust, I have been enjoying loading it with sautéed vegetables and olives. A nice layer or pesto spread on top or veggies with goat cheese are also great!

Ingredients:

8 cups shredded zucchini

1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour (try 4 stars from the farm shop!)

1 egg, beaten

1-2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

basil and oregano (fresh is best) chopped fine, to taste

salt

Heat oven to 450. If you have a pizza stone, heat it. Line pizza stone, pizza pan or baking sheet with parchment paper, or oil well and sprinkle with coarse corn meal. Combine all ingredients until well integrated. Press dough out to desired thickness. Bake in preheated oven until crisp on bottom and beginning to brown on top. Remove from oven, put toppings on and return until toppings are done, approximately 10-15 minutes. You may also freeze or refrigerate the crust at this point for later use. 

Ratatouille

This recipe comes from one of Brookfield Farm's first apprentices, Nicole, who brought the recipe home from southern France. It is a great July dish, as usually all of the vegetables are available. Serve alongside bread and cheese for a complete meal.

2 T olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bell peppers, cubed
1 medium zucchini or squash, cubed
1 eggplant, cubed
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 clove of garlic (i like to add more)
fresh parsley, oregano, basil

Saute the onion, garlic and pepper until soft; stir in eggplant and squash; add tomatos and seasoning; cover and simmer for about 30 minutes. Voila! Serves 6.

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