Cooking With This Week's Box
Green Top Red or Gold Beets: Beet Pesto & Greens Pasta
Porcelain Garlic: Squash & Poblano Quesadilla with Pickled
Jalapenos & Chipotle Crema (see below); Tomato Rice Pilaf with Chickpeas; Restorative Rainbow Chard & Leek Soup; Sweet Pepper Mashed Potatoes; Bell Pepper & Corn Pasta Salad; Pasta with Swiss Chard & Corn; Skirt Steak with Cilantro Garlic Sauce; Beet Pesto & Greens Pasta
Red & Yellow Onions: Squash & Poblano Quesadilla with Pickled
Jalapenos & Chipotle Crema (see below); Sweet Pepper Mashed Potatoes; Bell Pepper & Corn Pasta Salad; Pasta with Swiss Chard & Corn; 15 Minute Lo Mein
Orange Ukraine Peppers: Sweet Pepper Mashed Potatoes; Bell Pepper & Corn Pasta Salad
Red or Orange Italian Frying Peppers: Bell Pepper & Corn Pasta Salad; 15 Minute Lo Mein
Purple Viking Potatoes: Sweet Pepper Mashed Potatoes
Jalapeno Peppers: Squash & Poblano Quesadilla with
Pickled Jalapenos & Chipotle Crema (see below)
Poblano Peppers: Squash & Poblano Quesadilla with Pickled
Jalapenos & Chipotle Crema (see below); Roasted Butternut Squash and Poblano Pizza
Leeks: Restorative Rainbow Chard & Leek Soup; Scalloped Potatoes with Leeks; Cod with Leeks and Tomatoes; 15 Minute Lo Mein
Rainbow or Red Chard: Restorative Rainbow Chard & Leek Soup; Pasta with Swiss Chard & Corn
Orange Kabocha Squash: Deborah Madison’s Fall Flan with Maple Yogurt
and Caramel Pecans (see below); Roasted Butternut Squash and Poblano Pizza
Delicata Squash: Squash & Poblano Quesadilla with Pickled
Jalapenos & Chipotle Crema (see below)
Cilantro: Squash & Poblano Quesadilla with Pickled
Jalapenos & Chipotle Crema (see below); Skirt Steak with Cilantro Garlic Sauce; Roasted Butternut Squash and Poblano Pizza
Lets kick off this week’s Cooking With the Box discussion with two
simple recipes that just might have a chance at being family favorites. Lets start with dessert first. Last year I found Deborah Madison’s recipe for Fall Flan with Maple Yogurt and Caramel
Pecans (see below). It was actually
a sweet potato flan recipe, but it is just as delicious with winter squash as
it is with sweet potatoes! I adapted the
name to “Fall Flan” and here you go. I
really like this recipe because it’s very simple and streamlined. Basically all the flan ingredients go into
the blender to be mixed, then you pour it directly into custard cups or
ramekins and bake it in the oven. Once
it’s baked and cooled, you can serve it with a dollop of maple yogurt (simply
stir maple syrup into plain yogurt) and, if you want to go all out, make the
caramelized pecans to put on top. If
you’re short on time you could also just do a spoonful of premade vanilla
yogurt and some simple chopped nuts.
Besides being simple to make, I like this recipe because it relies on
the sweetness of the vegetable along with a little maple syrup to give it its
sweetness. Aside from the touch of sugar
on the nuts, there is no refined sugar in the recipe! I also like it because it can be dessert, an
after-school snack, or you could even have it in the morning for
breakfast. It’s delicious eaten warm, at
room temperature, or chilled. You could
even bake it in short pint jars so you can put a lid on it and take it to go
for lunch!
The second recipe we’re featuring this week is a Squash & Poblano Quesadilla with Pickled Jalapenos & Chipotle
Crema (see below). Don’t be
intimidated by the length of the recipe.
There are multiple steps to get all of the quesadilla components
prepped, but once you have the components it takes no time to make the
quesadilla. This is a good recipe to
prep on the weekends so you can pull off a simple, hot dinner in 15 minutes or
less during the week! This recipe calls
for delicate squash, but you could also use sugar dumpling, butternut or even
kabocha squash in its place. The key is to keep the slices of squash thin.
If you aren’t feeling like quesadillas this week, how about pizza? This recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash and Poblano Pizza also caught my eye and is a great recipe for this week’s vegetables. It calls for butternut squash, but you could
use roasted kabocha squash or even the delicate in its place. Top it off with some crumbles of queso fresco
and fresh cilantro for a tasty vegetable pizza!
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| Tomato Rice Pilaf with Chickpeas Photo from naturallyella.com |
I have to admit, tomatoes have been a challenge this year and we
haven’t been able to offer you the variety and quantity we had planned
for. Nonetheless, we’re thankful for
what we have and still can enjoy a few old favorite recipes as well as a few
new ones! This past week I came across
this simple, yet flavorful, recipe for Tomato Rice Pilaf with Chickpeas. While the rice is cooking, you mix fresh
garlic with lemon, chopped walnuts, basil and olive oil. That makes a dressing of sorts that is tossed
with tomatoes, cooked rice and chickpeas.
This makes a delicious vegetarian main dish, or you could serve a
smaller portion as a side dish along with chicken, fish or steak. Any kind of tomato can work in this dish.
While we’re talking about tomatoes, I should
mention this recipe for Cod with Leeks and Tomatoes. This is a light dinner option featuring the
lean cod with tangy tomatoes and silky leeks.
A nice, light simple meal to mark the final days of summer.
What do you do when you only have a few ears
of corn to work with? Use the corn as an
accent ingredient instead of the main attraction! I love adding a small amount of fresh corn to
dishes because it lends a little pop of sweetness, color and a little texture
contrast. Here is a simple recipe for Pasta with Swiss Chard & Corn. This is a pretty quick and easy recipe to
assemble. If you have some leftover
chicken or steak you could toss it in for a little extra protein, or even stir
in a can of tuna. Here’s another take on
corn with pasta in this Bell Pepper & Corn Pasta Salad. This is a colorful salad featuring sweet
peppers, red onions, corn and fresh herbs.
The recipe calls for basil and parsley, but if you could also use some
of the cilantro in this week’s box if you like.
Take this for lunch along with a deli meat sandwich or serve it for
dinner with a grilled burger.
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| Restorative Rainbow Chard and Leek Soup photo from quitegoodfood.co.nz |
I love chard because it can be used in so many
different ways, both raw and cooked. If
you haven’t yet found a use for it this week, consider making this Restorative Rainbow Chard & Leek Soup. I like to balance some rich meals with some
lighter meals and this soup works for that purpose. Silky leeks mingle with the chard leaves
which soften in the hot broth. Arborio
rice adds some starch and body to the soup and it’s finished with fresh
herbs.
It must be a pasta kind of week!
I have two more recipes based on pasta.
Check out this colorful Beet Pesto & Greens Pasta! This recipe uses both the beet roots and the
green tops! While we typically make
pesto from green leafy vegetables, this recipe turns the root into a “pesto”
type sauce that is tossed with the pasta and the greens are wilted in with the
hot sauce and pasta. This will
definitely be an attention getter!
And the final pasta recipe of the week, 15 Minute Lo Mein. I like vegetable lo mein because you can eat
it hot or at room temperature and you can toss in any vegetables you want! Carrots, sweet peppers, onions, etc are
excellent options for the week, but you could also include the leeks. Kids will love this recipe too, I mean who
doesn’t love a bowl of noodles!
Ok, we’re rolling into the home stretch. If pasta wasn’t comforting enough, read on
for a few more comfort food ideas! Mashed potatoes anyone? I had forgotten about this recipe for Sweet Pepper Mashed Potatoes that I developed several years ago.
Purple Viking potatoes are a great choice for this recipe. You can use either the Ukraine or Italian
Frying peppers to make this recipe.
These potatoes are light and fluffy and full of flavor! Serve these with Skirt Steak with Cilantro Garlic Sauce for a complete meal option.
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| Scalloped Potatoes with Leeks photo from shewearsmanyhats.com |
I grew up in a meat and potatoes Mennonite community. At nearly every celebration dinner or potluck
they would serve either mashed potatoes or scalloped potatoes. So, if you don’t make the mashed potatoes
this week, consider Scalloped Potatoes with Leeks!
Ok, we started this week’s chat with something sweet, so lets end it on
a sweet note as well! Lets turn those
carrots into some kind of a baked treat this week. Perhaps a loaf of this Carrot Coconut Bread or this Easy Carrot Coffee Cake.
Both would be a great option to enjoy as
you sip your Sunday morning coffee, read the newspaper and embark on a day of
relaxation.
And that officially brings us to the bottom of another box. I’ll see you back again next week! Cross your fingers for a little more corn and
get ready for the Korean chili peppers!
Have a great week!—Chef Andrea
Vegetable Feature: Orange Kabocha Squash
By Andrea Yoder
This week we’re packing one of our longtime favorite squash varieties, orange kabocha. You’ll recognize this squash by its bright orange skin and rounded, disc-like shape. This variety is also sometimes called a Japanese Pumpkin and is similar to other squash varieties such as orange kuri and buttercup. The flesh is dark orange in color and has a silky, custard-like texture when cooked.This is a versatile squash and may be used for a variety of preparations including soup, puree, baked goods, curries, stews or simply roasted. Most of the time this variety may be used in recipes that call for buttercup, butternut, or orange kuri as well as any recipe calling for pumpkin. The flavor of this squash is excellent and surpasses even the best tasting pumpkin.
There are several ways you can cook this squash. My easy, low maintenance method is to just cut the squash in half, remove the seed cavity and put the squash halves, cut side down, in a baking dish. Add a little bit of water to the pan and bake the squash at 350°F until the squash is soft and tender when pierced with a fork. Remove from the oven and turn the halves over so they can cool. Once cool enough to handle, scoop the cooked flesh out of the shell and either mash or puree the flesh. You can use it to make a simple squash puree seasoned with spices of your choosing and a pat of butter. Orange kabocha puree can also be used in baked goods and desserts. This rich, sweet flesh makes a delicious pie filling and yields rich, moist, flavorful quickbreads, muffins, pudding and soufflé.
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| One Pot Kabocha Squash and Chickpea Curry |
While this squash can usually be held for longer storage, I would encourage you to eat this week’s selection sooner than later. We’ve already seen some of them starting to deteriorate, so watch them carefully and if you notice any spots starting to form on the exterior, cut that area out of the squash and cook the remainder immediately.
Fall Flan with Maple Yogurt and Caramel Pecans
The Flan:
1 cup cooked, mashed winter squash (kabocha or butternut) or sweet potatoes
⅛ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
⅛ tsp ground ginger
¼ cup maple syrup
4 eggs
1 cup buttermilk (or plain yogurt)
2 tsp vanilla extract
Sea salt
Caramel Pecans & Maple Yogurt:
1 tsp butter
½ cup pecans
1 tsp sugar
Sea salt
1 cup yogurt
1 Tbsp maple syrup
- Heat the oven to 325°F. In a blender, combine the squash or sweet potato, spices, maple syrup, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, and ¼ tsp salt and puree until smooth. Divide the puree among six custard dishes.
- Put the custard dishes in a baking pan and pour hot water into the pan until it reaches at least an inch up the sides of the dishes. Bake in the center of the oven for 45 minutes. The flans should be set and barely quiver when shaken. Remove from the oven and let cool.
- While the flans are cooling, melt the butter in a small pan over low heat. Add the pecans, dust them with the sugar, and turn to coat evenly. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar has melted, caramelized, and coats the nuts. Turn the nuts out onto a plate, add a pinch or two of salt, and let cool. Chop finely or coarsely, as you like.
- In a small bowl, combine the maple syrup and the yogurt. Taste, and add more maple syrup if you wish. Serve the flan topped with a spoonful of maple yogurt and a little heap of chopped crisped pecans.
This recipe is an adaptation of one originally published by Deborah Madison in her book, Vegetable Literacy.
Squash & Poblano Quesadilla with Pickled Jalapeños & Chipotle Crema
Yield: 4-6 servings
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp salt
1-2 delicata or sugar dumpling squash, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
2 poblano peppers, deseeded and sliced
1 medium red onion, sliced thinly
3-4 Tbsp sunflower oil, divided
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 can (16 oz) refried black beans
⅓ cup water
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
8-12 small corn or flour tortillas
Pickled Jalapeños (optional):
1 jalapeño, thinly sliced
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup white vinegar
Chipotle Crema:
½ cup sour cream
¼ tsp chipotle powder
Juice of ½ a lime
Salsa, for serving
Chopped fresh cilantro, for serving
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- If making the pickled jalapeño, put salt and vinegar in a bowl, stir to dissolve the salt. Add the jalapeño slices and let set until ready to serve.
- Prepare the spice mixture by combining garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, cumin, brown sugar and salt in a small bowl. Note: Half of the spice mixture will be used for roasting the squash and onions. The remainder will be used for the refried beans.
- Place squash slices in a mixing bowl. Drizzle with sunflower oil and sprinkle with about ¼ of the spice mixture. Toss to combine and coat the squash pieces evenly, then spread in an even layer on one of the baking sheets. Repeat the process with the sliced onions and poblano peppers, spreading them in an even layer on the second baking sheet.
- Roast the vegetables for 20 minutes or until slightly browned and cooked through. Once the vegetables are done, remove from the oven and cool slightly.
- While the vegetables are roasting, prepare the refried beans. Add 1 Tbsp oil to a small pot over medium heat. Add garlic and sautè for 1-2 minutes. Add the remaining spice mixture and the beans. Stir for a minute. Add water and bring to a simmer. Let the beans simmer over low heat for 10 minutes with the lid on. Remove from heat and set aside.
- While the beans are simmering, make the crema. Combine sour cream, chipotle powder and lime in a bowl. Stir to combine. Set aside.
- Prepare the quesadillas: Spread a thin layer of refried beans on each of four-six tortillas (depending on the size). Divide and evenly spread the squash, onions and peppers on each tortilla. Top each with shredded cheese, then press another tortilla on top, gently.
- Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add just enough oil to lightly coat the pan. Once the oil shimmers, carefully place the quesadilla in the pan, cheese side down. Cook until the bottom side is golden brown, then carefully turn the quesadilla and repeat on the other side. Repeat the process until all quesadillas are toasted.
- Cut each quesadilla into halves or quarters and serve, hot, with the crema, pickled jalapeño slices, cilantro and salsa of your choosing.
Recipe adapted from tuttalavita.ca
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