Romesco sauce

A delicious sauce for topping roast vegetables, meats or smearing on bread. The chickpeas creates a gluten free option, but traditionally, stale bread is used.

• 2 roasted red peppers, skin and seeds removed

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• ¼ cup water

• ⅓ cup mix of almonds and peeled hazelnuts

• 2 tablespoons tomato paste

• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar

• ¼ cup cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed

• 2 garlic cloves

• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

• ½ teaspoon sea salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

In a blender, place the peppers, olive oil, water, nuts, tomato paste, vinegar, chickpeas, garlic, paprika, salt, and pinches of pepper. Blend until smooth.

Chicken gumbo

• 2 medium onions

• 1 green bell pepper

• 3 ribs celery

• 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening (or oil)

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 4 cups chicken stock (unsalted or low sodium)

• 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes (with juice)

• 1 1/2 cups sliced okra, fresh or frozen

• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 cup long-grain rice

• 1 1/4 pounds boneless chicken breasts (or boneless thighs)

• Chopped fresh parsley, garnish

• Chopped green onions, garnish

Peel and chop onions, peppers, and celery.

For the roux, melt the shortening in a large Dutch oven over low heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until medium brown—about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir the roux constantly to avoid burning. If it burns, you will have to start over.

Add the chopped vegetables to the roux, adjust the heat to medium-low to medium, and continue to cook, constantly stirring, until the onion is translucent.

Slowly add the chicken stock and bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. Add the diced tomatoes, okra, salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, cayenne, and bay leaf; bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the rice following the package directions. Set aside and keep warm.

Cut up chicken into bite size pieces. Add the chicken to the soup and cook, covered, for 6 to 8 minutes longer, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked. Taste the soup and adjust the seasonings with more salt and pepper, as needed.

To serve, scoop a mound of rice into the center of each of the four large, shallow bowls. Ladle the soup around the rice. Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and/or green onion tops, if desired.

Bok Choy Salad

A crunchy tasty salad. Dress just before serving to keep everything crisp.

• 1 pound baby bok choy, washed and thinly sliced (pull leaves apart, soil can get lodged in the base)

• 1 carrot, thinly sliced on the diagonal

• 2 stalks of celery, thinly sliced

• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced, 1 shredded beet, chopped radishes or whatever else you have on hand

• 2 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 1 package ramen noodles (toss the seasoning package, you don’t need it)

• salt & pepper to taste

• toasted sesame seeds for garnish

• sliced almonds for garnish

Combine all the vegetables in a large bowl.

1. Whisk together the olive oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce and honey in a small bowl or glass jar.

2. Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss well until combined.

3. Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced almonds. Crunch up the ramen noodles and sprinkle over top just prior to serving so they stay crunchy.

Cabbage Slaw with Peanuts

Ingredients:

6 cups thinly sliced cabbage (napa, green or red or mix of all is good)

6 scallions, thinly sliced (or one red onion)

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons sesame oil

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 1/2 tablespoons peeled, minced fresh ginger

2 tsp soy sauce

1/2 cup roasted peanuts

salt and pepper to taste

Optional: grated carrots or daikon, sliced red pepper, garlic

Whisk oil, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and salt and pepper to taste. Mix with veggies. Cover and chill. 

Savory Stuffed Winter Squash

2 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.

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. 

Broccoli, Pepper and Rosemary Quiche

1 pie crust
6-8 oz broccoli florets
1 1/2 c grated extra sharp cheddar
1/4 tsp dried rosemary
8 strips cooked sweet peppers
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400F. Prick the base of the pie shell, cover with aluminum foil, and weigh it down with small coins. Bake for 20 min (until the surface is dry). Meanwhile, drop broccoli into boiling salted water for 2 min. Remove and cool under running water. Pat dry. Preheat oven to 425F. Scatter the cheese over the pie crust. Arrange the broccoli on top and sprinkle with rosemary. Place strips of pepper in spoke pattern (to later mark 8 pieces of the quiche). Whisk the eggs and milk together, add pepper and salt and pour into the crust. Bake for 10 min, reduce to 350F and then bake for 10-15 min longer (until a knife blade comes out clean). Cool and serve at room temp.

From "Valley Vegetables" a great fresh-vegetable cookbook. Available at the Farm Shop.

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)

Tofu with Thai Curry Sauce

I love this recipe, originally from The Eating Well Diabetes Cookbook (2005). I use it with pretty much any vegetables and it never fails me. I add carrots or sweet potatoes, when available. Colored peppers do add a lot of pizazz though, so I usually wait until pepper season. 

Sauce:

1 cup coconut milk

2 - 4 T fresh, chopped cilantro

1 tsp red curry paste

1/2 tsp brown sugar or maple syrup

1/2 tsp salt, or to taste

Tofu and Veggies:

14 ounces firm or extra firm tofu

2 tsp olive oil

4 cups greens (kale, chard, spinach, tatsoi, arugula, etc)

1 red, yellow or orange bell pepper, if available

Directions:

Mix sauce ingredients, except cilantro, together in a bowl. 

Drain tofu and pat dry. Cut into 1/2 inch slabs and coarsely pull into pieces. Heat oil on high and toss tofu in until edges are browning. Add sauce ingredients and stir. Add veggies and cook until just soft. If I am adding carrots or sweet potatoes, I add them first and cook for 5 minutes before adding the greens. I add peppers last, as I like them lightly cooked. Throw cilantro on top. Serve with a wedge of lime over rice. 

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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