Hearty Mushroom and Oat Groat Soup

Whole Grain Naked OatsIt’s a great time of year to get your natural source of vitamin D in mushrooms. Snuggle up with a warm cup of this soup!

1/2 ounce dried mushrooms, rehydrated
3/4 cup boiling water
1/4 cup olive oil
3 medium leeks, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound mixed fresh mushrooms
6 cups vegetable stock or canned low-sodium broth
1/2 cup oat groats, soaked overnight and drained
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1 medium parsnip, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon minced thyme
1/2 teaspoon minced rosemary
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons minced parsley

In a heatproof bowl, soak the dried mushrooms in the boiling water until softened, about 20 minutes. Remove the mushrooms and reserve the liquid separately. Thinly slice the mushrooms.

Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot. Add the leeks and garlic and cook over moderately low heat, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Thinly slice the fresh mushrooms and add them and the reconstituted mushrooms to the pot. Cook, stirring, until the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes. Add the reserved mushroom liquid and the stock, oat groats, carrots, parsnip, balsamic vinegar, thyme and rosemary and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook over moderately low heat until the oat groats are tender, about 35 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and stir in the parsley. Serve piping hot.

Recipe adapted from foodandwine.com.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Moroccan Winter Squash & Carrot Stew Over Quinoa

squash at the farm store

As the weather gets cooler, it’s time to warm up with hearty stews.

Time to hunker down and enjoy slower days and heartier meals. This vegetarian dinner is full of warm spices that will complement your winter evenings well. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Stew
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 teaspoons Hungarian sweet paprika
1 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Pinch saffron
1 cup water
1 14-1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups (1/2 pound) butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 cups carrots, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes

Quinoa
1 cup quinoa
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup finely chopped peeled carrot
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
2 cups water
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint, divided

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; sauté until soft, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; stir 1 minute. Mix in paprika and the rest of the spices. Add 1 cup water, tomatoes, and lemon juice. Bring to boil. Add squash and carrots. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)

Rinse quinoa and drain. This step is not necessary but can reduce the bitter taste of quinoa. Melt butter with oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and carrot. Cover; cook until vegetables begin to brown, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, salt, and turmeric; sauté 1 minute. Add quinoa; stir 1 minute. Add 2 cups water. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; simmer until liquid is absorbed and quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes.

Rewarm stew. Stir in half of cilantro and half of mint. Spoon quinoa onto platter, forming well in center. Spoon stew into well. Sprinkle remaining herbs over. Happy Winter!

Recipe adapted from epicurious.com.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Coconut Chocolate Cookies

It’s the holidays and you’ll probably find yourself in the kitchen a lot. We hope that this recipe adds a little more sweetness to the season.

Soft White Wheat Flour

We think our soft white wheat flour works best in this yummy recipe, but feel free to try our hard red wheat flour or triticale flour too, for a slightly different consistency.

2/3 cup shaved unsweetened coconut
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups Nash’s soft white wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt, plus extra for sprinkling
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350° F. Spread coconut in a thin, even layer on a baking sheet. Place it in the oven and bake until light brown, toasty, and aromatic, about 5-8 minutes.

Melt butter in a heavy bottom saucepan over low heat. Allow to cool pan for a few minutes. Stir together flour, salt, and baking soda in a medium-sized bowl.

Beat brown sugar and melted butter together in a large bowl until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until the mixture lightens in color, about 5 minutes. Add flour mixture to brown sugar mixture, a third at a time, until it forms a dark brown, homogeneous mass. Add the chocolate chips and toasted coconut and stir until just combined.

Place dough in the fridge for 20 minutes. You can skip this step if you are in a hurry, but resting the dough in the fridge will help your cookies bake more evenly.

Lightly butter a baking sheet and scoop heaping tablespoons of dough onto it, leaving large spaces between each cookie so they have room to spread out. Just before putting into the oven, sprinkle with salt. Bake until golden brown, about 8-10 minutes. After you take them out of the oven, leave them on the baking sheet to set for 2 minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool. The cookies are very soft when they first come out, but they will firm up quickly. Do not stack cookies until fully cooled. You can store the dough in an airtight container for up to a week, if you want to cook in batches.

Recipe adapted from Good and Cheap by Leanne Brown.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Savory Onion Potato Pie

Alaska Bloom Potatoes

1 tablespoon butter
2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
3 eggs
3/4 cup skim milk
3-4 medium-sized potatoes, unpeeled, cubed, cooked
3 1/2 ounces Gruyere or Swiss cheese, grated
1/2 teaspoon salt
Black pepper to taste
Sprinkle of grated nutmeg

Melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add onions and sauté, stirring often, until slightly browned, but not quite transparent, approximately 10-15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

Beat eggs and milk together. Stir in cooked potatoes, grated cheese, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Pour into a deep 9-1/2” pie plate and bake for 30 minutes or until golden on top and fully set. Serves 6.

Variations: For a really deep and full flavor, substitute smoked provolone for all or part of the cheese.

Recipe from www.breezywillowfarm.com.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Creamy Kale Salad

Nash's Red Kale, 2 bunches1 ripe avocado, halved, seed removed
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
3 tablespoons walnut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 bunch kale (8 ounces), stemmed and coarsely chopped
1 small red beet, peeled and thinly sliced
1 sweet, crisp apple, cored and cut into thin wedges
1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped

Combine avocado, vinegar, mustard and oil in a food processor. Pulse until smooth (it will be thick). Season with salt and pepper. Combine kale, beets, apple and walnuts in a large bowl. Toss with avocado dressing and season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

We thank Whole Living, January/February 2011 edition, for this recipe.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Green Goddess Dressing

lettuce in the field

This dressing is super on green salads, but also on wraps and anywhere else that could use some tasty green sauce.

3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1/2 cup green onions (white and green parts)
1/2 cup fresh basil
1 clove garlic, crushed or minced (just make sure it gets chopped when you puree it with the blender!)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt

Puree all ingredients together in a blender. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 4 or 5 days. Shake before each use.

We thank 100daysofrealfood.com for this recipe.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Spicy Miso Cabbage Salad

green cabbages

1 medium-sized cabbage (red, green, or mix), finely chopped
1/2 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
A few drops sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon brown miso paste
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup peanuts, roughly chopped
1/2 cup scallions or chives, finely chopped

Toss the finely chopped cabbage and salt in a large bowl. Place something heavy like a pot (any size that will fit into the bowl) on top of the cabbage and leave for a couple of hours.

Combine the olive oil, sesame oil, rice vinegar, brown miso paste, and red pepper flakes in a small jar and beat with a fork until combined. The miso takes some time to fully dissolve. You can add water to thin to any consistency desired. Taste the dressing and make necessary adjustments before adding to the salad (keep in mind that the cabbage has been salted).

Once the cabbage has wilted a little, toss with the miso dressing and scallions or chives and serve or cover and place in the fridge. It will get better as it marinates. Sprinkle the peanuts on top before serving.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Parsnip, Mushroom and Leek Gratin

parsnips n pumpkins

Potatoes aren’t the only root vegetable that works well as a gratin.

1 1 /2 pound parsnips
1 tablespoon butter plus more for buttering dish
2 tablespoons olive oil
4-5 ounces mixed fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
3 leeks, white and light green parts, cleaned and sliced lengthwise
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1/3 cup dry white wine
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 3/4 cup heavy cream
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Slice parsnips about 1/4 inch thick on an extreme angle so as to get the largest slices possible. Butter a 12 x 8 inch baking dish and preheat the oven to 400 ° F.

In a medium skillet, over medium high heat, warm the butter and olive oil. Add mushrooms and leeks along with a pinch of salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until they release all their liquid and begin to brown. Add thyme and white wine and cook, stirring, until wine evaporates. Set aside.

Begin to layer the ingredients into the dish beginning with a single layer of parsnip slices, followed by salt and pepper, followed by half of the leek/mushroom mixture and half the Parmesan. Repeat with parsnips, more salt and pepper, the remaining leek/mushroom mixture, and most of the remaining Parmesan, reserving a little for the top.

The final layer should consist of the remaining parsnips. Pour the cream over and push down with the back of a spoon to submerge everything as much as possible. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan on top and cover. Bake for half an hour and check for tenderness. When the parsnips are nearly tender, uncover and continue to bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes or until the top begins to brown and all the cream has been absorbed. Let sit for about 10 minutes before cutting and serving. Serves 6 to 8.

Recipe from TheKitchn.com.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Cheesy Kale and Quinoa Casserole

green curly kale

The recipe calls for green kale, but you can try red kale, too. Which kale is your favorite for casseroles?

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch green kale, stems removed and leaves torn into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1 cup cooked quinoa
Zest of 1 lemon
1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese, divided
Salt and red pepper flakes, to taste

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease a 2-3 quart baking dish with olive oil or butter and set aside.

Add the olive oil to a large skillet set over medium-low heat. When hot, add in the onion and cook until tender and starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add in the kale and vegetable broth. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 6-8 minutes, until the kale has wilted down and the broth has evaporated. Remove from the heat.

Put the vegetable mixture in a large bowl, along with the quinoa, lemon zest, cannellini beans, Greek yogurt and 1 cup of the cheddar. Mix until well combined. Season with salt and red pepper flakes to taste.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese. Bake for about 10-13 minutes, until heated through and the cheese is melted.

Recipe adapted from OhMyVeggies.com.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on

Chicken on a Bed of Mizuna

mizuna1 egg white, slightly beaten
1 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce, divided
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, finely chopped
2 teaspoons canola oil, divided
1/3 cup carrots, finely chopped
1/3 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
1/3 cup water chestnuts, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon chile paste
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 bunch mizuna, trimmed
1/4 cup green onions, finely chopped

In a bowl, mix the egg white with 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce, minced garlic and chicken. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Heat 1 teaspoon canola oil in a wok or heavy skillet over high heat. Add the chilled chicken mixture and cook, stirring frequently for 4-6 minutes. Transfer cooked chicken to a serving plate and set aside.

Heat the other teaspoon of canola oil in the wok on high and add the carrots, onions and water chestnuts; cook for 1 minute.

Add the remaining soy sauce, chile paste, lime juice and mizuna and cook, stirring often until mizuna is wilted. Return chicken to the wok and heat through. Garnish with green onions and serve.

Have you tried this recipe? Tell us how it turned out!

Posted on