Raw Beet Salad

This sweet and crunchy salad is the perfect nourishing side dish for these hot summer days. Yield: 4 servings.

1 to 1 1/2 pounds beets, preferably small
2 large shallots
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, or to taste
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons sherry or other good strong vinegar
1 sprig fresh tarragon, minced, if available
1/4 cup chopped parsley leaves

Peel the beets and shallots. Combine them in a food processor and pulse carefully until the beets are shredded; do not purée. (Or grate the beets by hand and mince the shallots, then combine.) Scrape into a bowl.

Toss with the salt, pepper, mustard, oil and vinegar. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Toss in the herbs and serve.

Recipe from Mark Bittman.

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Posted on July 10, 2015

Kia’s Tahini Balsamic Salad Dressing

Here’s an easy, quick homemade salad dressing with wonderful, complex flavor.

Although this salad dressing has ten or eleven ingredients listed, it’s actually really simple to make, and can be infinitely adjusted to suit your tastes, or what’s in your pantry/fridge!

1 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
4-5 cloves garlic, finely minced or grated
2-3 tablespoons Bragg’s Liquid Aminos, tamari or soy sauce
1 tablespoon finely diced fresh herbs (basil, thyme, rosemary, etc)
1 tablespoon stone-ground or Dijon mustard
1/4 cup hemp oil (optional)
35 twists on the pepper grinder
3 lemons, juiced (or limes)
2/3 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1-inch nub of ginger, finely grated (optional)

Shake, shake, shake, and you’re done!

Combine everything in a quart mason jar, screw lid on tight and shake vigorously for about two minutes. Done!

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Posted on June 5, 2015

Spinach Feta Brown Rice Bowl

Here comes the spinach!

Here is a nice easy spring dish and a great way to get spinach in for lunch or dinner. Try substituting Nash’s wheat berries for the brown rice for a more local option. Soak it overnight, drain, and then follow the directions below.

2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
1 cup plain brown rice or Nash’s wheat berries
1 onion or 1 bunch spring onions
1 large bunch of spinach
1 bunch or large handful fresh dill
Salt
2-4 ounces feta cheese, diced

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in saucepan over medium flame. Stir in rice (or pre-soaked grain) and heat gently, stirring often, about 1 minute. Add 2 1/8 cups water to the pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover pan, and cook for 45 minutes.

While rice cooks, heat remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium flame. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent. Stir in chopped spinach, dill, and a little salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until spinach is just wilted (about 1-2 minutes). Stir feta and spinach into the cooked rice. Adjust salt if necessary.

Recipe adapted from From Asparagus to Zucchini, published by the Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition.

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Posted on June 5, 2015

Kia’s Tahini Beet Salad

The crew got to try this vividly colorful salad for lunch recently — and boy, was it tasty!

As the availability of last fall’s beet crops extends far into the spring, I’ve been experimenting with new ideas for preparing these delicious crimson roots. This salad’s rich flavor disguises its simplicity, and no one could guess the secret ingredient… tahini!

For the Salad
3 cups minced parsley
4 cups shredded beets, cooked or raw (6-8 medium beets)
4 or 5 chive blossoms (optional)

For the Dressing*
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (2-3 limes)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Thoroughly scrub the beets, then grate them raw. Or steam/boil/roast them until tender, and then grate. Toss beets with parsley and set aside. Although both are delicious, I love the cooked beet version of this dish better, and my two-year-old son did too!

Combine the olive oil, tahini, lime juice, apple cider vinegar and salt & pepper in a pint mason jar. Screw lid on tightly and shake thoroughly. Dressing will be thick. Thin as desired with another splash of vinegar, or water.

Toss veggies with dressing. Break apart chive blossoms into tiny flowers and sprinkle throughout salad. Serve warm or chilled.

This salad debuted at an April 2015 Farm Lunch. It was accompanied by Mary Wong’s ham and cheese scalloped potatoes. Needless to say the crew returned to work that afternoon with full, happy bellies!

*This dressing would be wonderful tossed with any kind of “chop-chop salad.” That’s my term for chopping up (or grating) raw veggies into a slaw-like salad, like broccoli stems, cabbage, carrots, celeriac, ruatabagas, green onions, etc.

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Posted on April 27, 2015

Wilted Spinach Salad with Asparagus

6 cups fresh spinach leaves, washed, dried, and chilled
1 pound asparagus stalks, washed and trimmed
3 tablespoons good-quality balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons minced red onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon freshly-ground pepper
1 hard-cooked egg, chopped

Remove stems and veins from spinach leaves and tear into bite-sized pieces; place spinach on individual serving plates.

Blanch the asparagus in lightly salted boiling water for approximately 3 minutes or until crisp-tender; do not overcook. Remove from heat and refresh under cold water; drain and dry well; set aside.

In a large frying pan over medium heat, whisk together balsamic vinegar, olive oil, red onion, garlic, and pepper; heat mixture until hot, stirring occasionally. Add cooked asparagus spears to dressing mixture, tossing to coat and reheat.

Remove from heat. Place asparagus spears over the top of the spinach. Pour warm dressing over asparagus and spinach. Sprinkle with chopped egg and serve immediately. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

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Posted on April 14, 2015

Quinoa and Parlsey Salad

A flavorful and colorful salad, this can be served cold and tastes even better the second day!

1 cup water
1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
3/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup unsalted pumpkin seed kernels, toasted

Bring water and quinoa to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Spoon into a bowl; fluff with a fork. Add parsley, celery, onions, and apricots.

Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and black pepper. Add to quinoa mixture, and toss well. Top with seeds.

We thank MyRecipes.com for this recipe.

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Posted on April 9, 2015

Rocket Sauce

Produce Manager Eliza Winne loves arugula (a.k.a. rocket). Check out her rocket sauce recipe!

Salad Rocket, also known as arugula, is a spicy leafy green, great in salads, stir-fries and sauces. Packed with beneficial phytochemicals, anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals, two cups of arugula contains over 50% of your daily Vitamin K! This recipe for rocket sauce is easy to make and delicious dressing for a healthy potato salad. For a nutty twist, try adding cooked sunchokes to the potatoes.

Rocket Sauce

2 large bunches fresh arugula
1/2 cup olive oil
5 cloves fresh garlic
1 teaspoon salt

Place arugula in food processor or blender. Pour in the olive oil and start the food processor. Once arugula and olive oil are thoroughly pureed, add garlic and salt. Continue blending until all ingredients are finely chopped and thoroughly mixed together.

Use fresh on salads, potatoes, pasta, sandwiches and burgers, or freeze some rocket sauce in an ice cube tray and thaw at as needed.

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Posted on February 18, 2015

Celery Root & Beet Salad

Use chioggia beets in your salads for their cheery red-and-white-striped flair.

6 medium beets (2 1/4 lb with greens), trimmed, leaving 1 inch of stems attached
1 (1 lb) celery root (sometimes called celeriac)
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, additional to taste
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1/4 cup olive oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (2 ounces), toasted and cooled

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.

Wrap beets tightly in foil to make 2 packages (3 beets in each) and roast until tender, about 1 1/4 hours.

While beets roast, peel celery root with a sharp knife and cut into 1/8-inch-thick matchsticks. Whisk together lemon juice, shallot, oil, salt, and pepper to taste in a large bowl until combined well, then add celery root and toss until coated. Keep at room temperature, covered, until ready to add beets.

Carefully unwrap beets and, when just cool enough to handle, slip off skins and remove stems. Cut beets into 1/8-inch-thick matchsticks and toss with celery root.

Let salad stand, covered, at room temperature 1 hour. Taste salad and season with more lemon juice and salt if necessary, then toss with walnuts.

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Posted on February 9, 2015

Triticale and Squash Risotto

Which squash is your favorite in triticale risotto? Let us know in the comments below!

2 cups triticale berries, soaked for at least 8 hours and drained thoroughly
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 medium butternut, acorn or delicata squash, peeled, seeded and diced
2 x 14-1/2-ounce cans chicken broth
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic
1/2 cup white wine
3/4 pound winter greens (kale, chard, collards), trimmed and leaves chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Cover triticale with fresh water and boil for 20 minutes. Drizzle melted butter over squash on a jelly roll pan; toss. Bake 25-35 minutes or until tender and browned. Bring broth and water to a simmer in a saucepan. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large pot; add onions and cook 4-6 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add wine and cook 1 minute more. Stir in drained triticale and cook until wine is absorbed. Reduce heat to medium and gradually add broth mixture half a cup at a time, stirring, until liquid is absorbed and triticale is tender, 12-17 minutes. Stir in the squash, greens, thyme, salt, pepper and nutmeg; cook, stirring, 4-5 minutes or until greens are tender. Stir in grated parmesan. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.

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Posted on January 30, 2015

Warm Quinoa Salad with Cilantro and Kidney Beans

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium-large red onion, coarsely chopped
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded, and diced
1 cup dry white quinoa
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt or more to taste
1 1/2 cup of vegetable or chicken broth (water can be substituted)
1 cup dried kidney beans, soaked overnight, rinsed well and pre-cooked
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
4 cups spinach
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Lime for garnish

In a medium saucepan, heat the oil on medium heat. Add the onion and bell peppers. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the quinoa, paprika, cumin, chili powder, and salt; stir to combine. Add 1 1/2 cups broth or water and increase the heat to high. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to medium low. Simmer, covered, until the quinoa is almost soft and most of the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Add the beans and half the cilantro; cook until they are heated through, uncovered, and no water remains, about 3-4 minutes. Serve on a bed of spinach and scatter the feta and remaining cilantro on top. Garnish with lime wedges. Serves 6.

Recipe adapted from 50 Best Plants on the Planet: The Most Nutrient-Dense Fruits and Vegetables, in 150 Delicious Recipes by Cathy Thomas.

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Posted on January 14, 2015