Cooking With This Week's Box
Yellow Spanish Onions: Cheeseburger Pie with Roasted Pobalanos and
Corn (see below); Creamy Chicken and
Greens with Roasted Poblano and Caramelized Onion (see below); Fresh Corn Salsa; Cucumber Honeydew Salad with Feta; Grilled Chicken with Honeydew Salsa; Zucchini Panzanella Salad
Italian Garlic: Cheeseburger Pie with Roasted Pobalanos and
Corn (see below); Creamy Chicken and
Greens with Roasted Poblano and Caramelized Onion (see below)
Green and/or Italian Zucchini: Blueberry Lemon Zucchini Muffins;
Zucchini Cornmeal Pancakes; Zucchini Panzanella Salad
Poblano Peppers: Cheeseburger Pie with Roasted Pobalanos and
Corn (see below); Creamy Chicken and
Greens with Roasted Poblano and Caramelized Onion (see below)
Sweet Peppers: Cheeseburger Pie with Roasted Pobalanos and
Corn (see below); Fresh Corn Salsa; Zucchini Panzanella Salad; Thai Quinoa Bowl
Sunorange, Red Grape or
Chocolate Sprinkles Tomatoes: 47 Recipes You Can Make With a Pint of Cherry Tomatoes; Zucchini Panzanella Salad; Cheese Tortellini with Tomatoes and Corn
Variety of Large
Tomatoes: Tomato Jam; My Best Tomato Sandwich
French Orange Melon: Prosciutto Melon Salad
Arava Honeydew OR
Sweet Sarah Melon: Grilled Chicken with Honeydew Salsa; Cucumber Honeydew Salad with Feta; Cantaloupe Lime Popsicles; Jerk Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Melon Salsa
Red or Rainbow Chard: Creamy Chicken and Greens with Roasted
Poblano and Caramelized Onion (see below)
Sweet Corn: The Cheeseburger Pie with Roasted Pobalanos and
Corn (see below); Fresh Corn Salsa; Cheese Tortellini with Tomatoes and Corn
I don’t know what it is about poblano peppers, but I look forward to
them every summer and can’t get enough of them!
So, I’m excited to share them with you as this week’s featured vegetable
and I have two tasty recipes as well!
The first recipe is one I developed by accident one night when I really
didn’t have a plan for dinner. While
these accidents don’t always turn out, this one was actually a keeper. So I introduce to you, Cheeseburger Pie with Roasted Poblanos and Corn (see below)! This is kind of a cross between a frittata,
quiche and some kind of burger based casserole.
It has just the right amount of creamy cheesiness without being overpowering
and the sweetness of the corn goes well with the background flavor of the
roasted poblano peppers. This got the
Farmer Richard and Captain Jack seal of approval! It also reheats very well. I actually baked it off, cooled it and then
sliced it into portions the next day then reheated it in the toaster oven for
lunch.
The second recipe is for Creamy
Chicken and Greens with Roasted Poblano and Caramelized Onion (see below). This recipe caught my eye
because it’s simple, but got good reviews for having a lot of flavor with a
short list of ingredients. I also liked
it because it includes greens, specifically chard which is in this week’s
box! Serve this dish with warm corn
tortillas, rice, or just eat it on its own.
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| Fresh Corn Salsa Photo from the-girl-who-ate-everything.com |
We’re also excited to include sweet corn in this week’s box! Farmer Richard knows how to grow delicious
sweet corn and I think you’ll be pleased with this! Eat it off the cob, or cut it off the cob and
use it in recipes such as this Fresh Corn Salsa made with sweet peppers, onions and tomatoes.
This is delicious to just scoop up with chips, or spoon it over a
grilled pork chop or baked fish.
Summer isn’t summer without sweet corn and….MELONS! While we’re on the topic of salsa, I’ll share
this recipe for Grilled Chicken with Honeydew Salsa. I don’t often think of eating melon in savory
preparations, but if you get Honeydew Melon in your box this week, it’s a good
option for using in something savory like this salsa or Cucumber Honeydew Salad with Feta. If you get the Sweet Sarah Cantaloupe in your
box this week, consider using it to make Cantaloupe Lime Popsicles or Jerk Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Melon Salsa. As for the French Orange Melon, these are
delicious eaten just as they are. If you
want to try something different, may I suggest this Prosciutto Melon Salad? The salty prosciutto is such a nice
accompaniment to the flavorful, decadent melon and a little drizzle of high
quality balsamic vinegar helps finish it off.
Despite the fact that we’ve been picking zucchini for weeks
now, we still haven’t run out of things to make with it! Last weekend I tried this recipe for Blueberry Lemon Zucchini Muffins which turned out great! This recipe for Zucchini Cornmeal Pancakes is a recommendation shared by a member in our Facebook Group. These are a more savory pancake that I think
would be good served with just a pat of butter or top them off with Tomato Jam.
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| Zucchini Panzenella Salad photo from tasteofhome.com |
On the topic of tomatoes, I came across this collection of 47 Recipes You Can Make With a Pint of Cherry Tomatoes. Of course cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes,
sunorange tomatoes, etc can be used interchangeably in recipes. There are some good suggestions in this
collection including Zucchini Panzanella Salad and Cheese Tortellini with Tomatoes and Corn. Before we finish our conversation about
tomatoes, we need to talk sandwiches. Richard has started his BLT marathon,
although he’s only had two sandwiches this week (…. the week isn’t over
yet). But you don’t have to go to the
trouble of frying bacon to enjoy a good sandwich. Consider Merrill Stubbs recipe for My Best Tomato Sandwich. The key to this simple sandwich is a) good bread and b) good mayonnaise spread
generously. This is the simplicity of
summer!
This week we’re sending another pound of edamame, fresh
soybeans. This was our featured vegetable last week. If you didn’t have a chance to try last
week’s recipes, I’d encourage you to check them out. I really enjoyed the Thai Quinoa Bowl. It was filling, packed in a lot of
vegetables, and the tofu was excellent!
In fact, Richard (who is not a fan of tofu) actually said “This is
really good! It’s the best tofu I’ve ever
had!" It’s also easy to prep all the
components in advance which means you can assemble a quick lunch or dinner in
less than five minutes! The other recipe
we featured last week was for Sushi
Salad with Brown Rice, Edamame, Nori and Miso Dressing,
another great salad to have in your back pocket for a quick meal option.
That wraps up another week of summer cooking. I’ll end with a little teaser….watermelons
coming next week! Have a great week—Chef
Andrea
Cooking With This Week's Box
By Andrea Yoder
Poblano peppers have come to be one of my favorite peppers over the past few years. Why? Flavor. Poblano peppers are dark green with wide shoulders and a pointy bottom. They have a thinner wall than bell peppers, but thick enough that they hold up to roasting very well. In fact, roasting is the process that takes the flavor of a poblano and brings it to its full potential. Poblanos do have some heat which is on the mild side, but in some years moves up to a medium heat level.
Because of their size and shape, poblano peppers are excellent for stuffing with meat, grain and cheese mixtures. Chiles Rellenos is a classic dish based on roasted poblano peppers that are filled with cheese, coated in a batter, and fried. We have a few recipes in our archives that have become some of my favorite summer recipes to make when poblano peppers are available. These include Roasted Poblano, Onion & Jack Quesadilla; Caramelized Poblano Chile & Onion Dip; Vegetable Enchiladas with Tomatillo Cream Sauce.
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| Caramelized Poblano Chile & Onion Dip |
While poblano peppers may be used raw, I mentioned their flavor is enhanced with cooking and more specifically, by roasting. Roasting peppers is very easy and can be done over a direct, open flame or in the oven. If you have a gas stovetop, you can roast the poblanos directly on your burners over a high flame. If you have a small rack, you can put that over the burner. The other direct flame method is to roast them on a grill. If you want to use an oven, it’s best to roast them under a broiler. If you don’t have a broiler, you can roast them in a very hot oven, they likely won’t blacken as much. You want to roast them until most of the skin is blackened. You’ll have to turn them periodically to blacken all sides evenly. Stay close and don’t walk away because sometimes this happens quickly, especially under a broiler. Once the skin is charred, put the peppers in a covered bowl or a paper bag so they can steam and cool slightly for about 10 minutes. Once cool enough to handle, use the back of a knife to scrape away the skin. Remove the stem and scrape away all the seeds from the inside of the pepper. Now you’re ready to add roasted poblano peppers to whatever dish you’re preparing!
Cheeseburger Pie with Roasted Poblanos and Corn
2-3 poblano peppers
1-2 sweet peppers
1 pound ground beef
2-3 tsp vegetable oil (if needed)
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried oregano
1 ½ tsp salt, plus more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 ½ cups corn kernels (from about 2 ears corn)
4 oz cream cheese
2 Tbsp butter
4 eggs
⅓ cup half & half or cream
4 oz Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
Yield: 4-6 servings
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Roast the poblano peppers and sweet peppers either under the broiler in the oven or over direct flame if you have gas burners. Once the exterior of the peppers is blackened, place them in a bowl and cover it so they can steam for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove the cover and scrape the blackened skin off the pepper. Cut in half and remove the seeds and stem. Dice the peppers and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat a 10 inch non-stick or cast iron skillet that is oven proof over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and brown until nearly cooked through, adding vegetable oil if needed.
- Add onion, garlic, cumin, oregano and 1 tsp salt. Stir to combine and sautè for 3-5 minutes. Add the corn kernels and roasted peppers. Stir to combine and reduce the heat to low.
- Cut the cream cheese into smaller pieces and add to the pan. As the cream cheese softens, stir to incorporate it into the ground beef mixture. Taste a little bite to see if it is adequately seasoned. If not, add salt and black pepper to your liking.
- Cut 2 Tbsp of butter into thin pieces and put them around the edge of the pan so the butter melts and runs down the side of the pan to the bottom. Whisk 4 eggs in a bowl along with ½ tsp salt and the half & half or cream. Once the butter has melted in the pan, add the egg mixture. Top with shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
- Place the pan in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the center is set and the top is bubbly and golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let set for 10 minutes before serving. Refrigerate any leftovers, which reheat well in just 10-15 minutes in an oven or toaster oven at 350°F.
Recipe developed by Chef Andrea Yoder at Harmony Valley Farm. Approved and endorsed by Farmer Richard and Captain Jack, The Dog.
Creamy Chicken and Greens with Roasted Poblano and Caramelized Onion
Yield: 4 servings
2 fresh poblano peppers
3 Tbsp olive oil
2-3 medium boneless, skinless, chicken breast halves (about 1 ¼ pounds total)
Salt, to taste
1 medium yellow onion, sliced 1/4 inch
3 garlic cloves, minced
5 cups stemmed and coarsely chopped Swiss chard
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup Mexican crema, crème fraiche or sour cream
- Char the poblanos over an open flame on the stovetop or 4 inches underneath the broiler, flipping occasionally until blackened all over (about 5 minutes for the burner, 10 minutes for the broiler). Transfer to a bag or covered bowl and let steam until cool. Peel off the blackened skin, and then remove the stems and seeds. Cut the poblanos into ¼ inch thick slices.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt on both sides. Pour the oil into a large cast-iron skillet set over medium-high heat. When oil starts to shimmer, add the chicken breasts. Cook until browned on the bottom, about four minutes, and then flip. Reduce the heat to medium, and cook until browned on the other side, five to six minutes. Set aside on a plate. (Note: The chicken might not be completely cooked inside, but you are going to cook it more).
- With the skillet still over medium heat, add the sliced onions. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, but not browning, about nine minutes. Add the garlic and sliced poblanos. Stir well, and continue to cook until very fragrant, about 8-10 more minutes.
- Turn the heat up to medium-high, add the greens and broth. Stir occasionally, and cook until the liquid has almost evaporated and the greens are wilted, about five minutes. Reduce heat to medium, stir in the crema, and cook until it has reduced down to a rich sauce, about five minutes. Continue to stir occasionally.
- Cut the chicken breasts into ½-inch cubes, and add them in. Stir well, and cook until all the chicken is completely done, one to two minutes. Season the mixture with salt to taste. Serve with warm corn tortillas, rice, or just eat it straight from the bowl!
Recipe adapted from Rick Bayless’ book, Fiesta at Rick’s.
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