About Romaine Lettuce

romaine lettuceIt’s the time of the season when the weather is getting hot and people are craving light salads over heartier meals. Often overlooked in the interest of hearty greens, romaine lettuce is a lighter green that packs a serious nutritional punch!

Romaine is an excellent source of:

  • Vitamin A – important for eye health
  • Vitamin K – essential for blood clotting
  • Folate – critical for neuronal development and DNA synthesis

Romaine is a good source of:

  • Vitamin C – important for immune health
  • Potassium – protective against high blood pressure and heart disease
  • Copper – central to building strong tissue, maintaining blood volume, and producing energy in cells
  • Iron – enhances oxygen transport to all parts of the body

To add some fresh crunch to your summer days, chop up some romaine for a fresh salad, use the gorgeous large leaves as a bed for most any dish, or use the large crisp leaves to make spring rolls without the rice paper!

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Swiss Chard and Bacon Pasta

red chard bunched

Ah, the vibrant beauty of chard.

1 pound linguine
12 ounces bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch slices
1 large red onion, halved, sliced (about 6 cups)
2 large bunches Swiss chard, stemmed, chopped (about 12 cups)
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook linguine in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1 cup cooking liquid.

Meanwhile, cook bacon in heavy large pot over medium heat until beginning to crisp, about 10 minutes. Let cool on paper towels. Drain all but 2 tablespoons bacon drippings from skillet. Add onions to drippings and sauté over medium-high heat until softened, about 7 minutes. Add Swiss chard and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add pasta cooking liquid to skillet. Toss until chard is wilted and tender, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle vinegar over and cook 1 minute more.

Add linguine and oil to sauce in pot and toss to coat. Transfer to large bowl. Sprinkle with bacon and cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

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Kia’s Crock Pot Favas & Chicken

fava beans

Fava beans are fun and delicious!

Slow-cooked favas are tender and pair effortlessly with anything else you want to toss in the pot. Skip the meat and add extra veggies and lots of herbs for a vegetarian meal.

1-2 cups shucked fava beans
Approx. 2 pounds chicken thighs/drumsticks/breast, or other meat
2 cups fresh or canned salsa
4 cups chopped celery, onions, peppers, zukes, carrots, potatoes, etc.
Approx. two cups water
Salt and pepper
Fresh or dried oregano, thyme, basil, cilantro, rosemary, etc.

Put all ingredients in crock pot with salt/pepper/herbs as desired. Cover and cook on medium heat overnight or 6-8 hours. Add a fresh bunch of roughly chopped spinach/kale/chard the last 30 min of cooking, as desired. Serve hot over rice/quinoa/pasta/shredded cabbage etc.

Fava Tip: Approx 1 pound fresh favas = 1 cup shucked beans.

We thank Nash’s own Kia for this recipe.

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Lemon Tahini Kale Salad

lacinato kale

Kale didn’t earn its reputation as a superfood for nothin’!

1 bunch kale, stemmed and chopped
2 pinches salt (more to taste)
1/3 cup tahini
1 small lemon
1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
2 tablespoons warm water (more if needed to thin)
1-2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes

Salt the kale and massage with your hands. Let the prepped kale sit while you prepare the dressing. Combine tahini, juice from lemon, soy sauce or tamari, and water and mix well with fork. Add more water to thin as desired. Mince garlic and add to dressing along with sesame seeds and red pepper flakes. Pour 3/4 of dressing over kale, mix, and add more if necessary, or reserve for a vegetable sauté or salad dressing for later use.

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Simply Baked Artichokes

Artichoke

Nash’s artichokes don’t have any choke, so all of the delicious heart is available for the eating.

This recipe is easy, yet so delicious. Serve with an aioli dip, butter, or mayonnaise for a lovely summer appetizer.

6 medium artichokes
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt

Chop the stem of the artichoke at the tip of the globe. Cut the artichokes in half, and then cut off the tougher tips of the leaves.  Oil a baking sheet or baking dish large enough to fit the 12 halves. Place the artichokes flat side down. Drizzle the rest of the oil over top of the halved artichokes and sprinkle with salt. Place in a 400°F oven for 20-30 minutes, depending on how large the artichokes are. You should be able to pierce the base with a fork when they are ready.

They can be eaten as is, by holding the tips of the leaves and biting into the delicious heart. Nash’s artichokes don’t have any choke, so all of the delicious heart is available for the eating.

We thank Virginia Newman for this recipe.

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Basic Aioli

Two Garlic Bulbs

Aioli is also known as garlic sauce.

4 cloves garlic, peeled, chopped fine
2 egg yolks
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon cold water
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Put garlic and salt to a mortar bowl and grind slowly with the pestle, moving in one direction only,. You can also use a food processor, then transfer the mixture back to a medium-sized bowl. Whisk in the mustard first, then the egg yolks.

Add half the oil as you whisk very slowly or the oil will not emulsify and your sauce will not thicken. Once it is incorporated, add the water and the lemon juice, whisking or stirring constantly. Then slowly add the rest of the oil. The mixture will thicken as you continue to blend it. It should be slightly thinner than commercial mayonnaise. If it becomes too thick you can add a bit more warm water, one teaspoon at a time.

We thank gourmetsleuth.com for this recipe.

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Simple Sautéed Fava Beans

fava beans

Fava beans are fun and delicious!

3-4 pounds fava beans
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
Juice from 1/2 lemon
Pinch of salt

Shell the fava beans from the larger pods. Bring 2 cups water to boil, and cook the fava beans for 2 minutes, strain, and rinse with cold water. Pierce the outer shell of the bean with your fingernail, and slip the bright green beans out of this second layer into a bowl.

Heat oil in sauté pan over medium heat. Add beans, and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add diced garlic and sauté for 2-3 more minutes. The beans should be just browned. Remove from heat, add lemon and salt. Serve as a side dish or atop a salad.

We thank Virginia Newman for this recipe.

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Spinach Salad with Pickled Onions and Fresh Strawberries

Strawberries in pints without hulls

They’re here, they’re here! It’s STRAWBERRY season at last!

Dressing
1 red onion, sliced thinly
Red wine vinegar
Pinch of salt, plus more to taste
Pinch of sugar

Salad
2 bunches Nash’s spinach, stems removed and cut into 1/2-inch ribbons
Juice of 1 lemon
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and fresh black pepper, to taste
Handful of fresh sliced strawberries
Toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds (optional)

In a bowl, place the red onion slices and cover with the vinegar. Add the salt and sugar and toss. Leave for 30 minutes in the refrigerator, covered. This step can be prepared up to one week ahead of time.

Place the spinach in a large serving bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the dressing ingredients. Whisk together until fully incorporated and pour over the greens (pour in 3/4 of the dressing and then toss, and then add the rest if needed).

After that time, add about half of the pickled red onions (the rest will stay for beyond 1 week in the fridge) and the sliced fresh strawberries. Serve immediately with extra fresh pepper, if desired, or sprinkle with toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds.

We thank Virginia Newman for this original recipe.

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Strawberry-Avocado Salad

Strawberries

One serving of strawberries gives you half your day’s dose of Vitamin C, plus antioxidants and fiber. Eat up!

1/4 cup finely diced fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
5 cups mixed baby lettuces
3 cups quartered fresh strawberries
1 avocado, sliced
3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

Stir together diced strawberries, shallot, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Let stand 15 minutes. Slightly mash with a whisk. Whisk in oil and tarragon; reserve 2 tablespoons of the dressing mixture.

Add lettuces and quartered strawberries to dressing mixture; toss to combine. Transfer to a platter or individual plates; top with avocado slices and pine nuts. Drizzle with reserved dressing.

We thank www.cookinglight.com for this delicious recipe.

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Basic Oat Crumble Topping for Fruit Crisp

Nash's rolled oats

Nash’s naked oats – grown and rolled here on the farm!

This crumble will cover a 9×13 pan of your favorite fruit crisp.

1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup flour
1 cup packed light brown sugar
Spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger
Pinch of salt
Nuts (optional)
1 cup (two sticks) unsalted butter

Mix the dry ingredients then cut the butter into pieces and work it into the mixed ingredients with your fingers gently until it resembles coarse crumbs. Work in the nuts, if using. Sprinkle the crumbles on any fruit evenly. Strawberries and apples or pears make a nice combination. Bake at 375 as directed for the pie or crumble you’re making. (Usually bake this topping in the range of 45 minutes.)

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