GREEN FARMS
Winter Minestrone
Cooking Light
Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/4 cups cubed peeled acorn or butternut squash (about 1 medium)
3/4 cup diced zucchini
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup diced fennel
1 cup water
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
5 tablespoons no-salt-added tomato paste
1/4 cup uncooked ditalini (very short tube-shaped pasta)
2 1/2 cups chopped Swiss chard
1/2 cup rinsed and drained canned Great Northern Beans
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons grated Asiago cheese
Directions
Heat oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion, basil, oregano, and garlic to pan; sauté 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add squash and next 3 ingredients (through fennel); sauté 5 minutes. Stir in 1 cup water, broth, and tomato paste; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in pasta; cook 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add chard; cook 3 minutes. Add beans; cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in pepper. Serve with cheese.
Squash Sauté
Bon Appétit / June 2013
Ingredients
2 pounds yellow squash and/or zucchini, cut into matchsticks
1 teaspoon kosher salt plus more
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Place squash in a colander set in the sink or over a large bowl and toss with 1 teaspoon salt. Let squash stand 10 minutes, then squeeze well to remove as much excess moisture as possible (do not rinse).
Meanwhile, toast almonds in a large dry skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate; let cool.
Heat oil in same skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, until fragrant but not browned, about 2 minutes. Add squash and cook, tossing occasionally, until crisptender, about 5 minutes. Fold in Parmesan and season with salt and pepper. Fold in almonds.
Penne with Butternut Squash
Foodnetwork/ Giada
Ingredients
Vegetable oil cooking spray
1 (2-pound) butternut or kobucha squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1 onion, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
Olive oil, for drizzling
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound penne pasta
1 cup (8 ounces) goat cheese, crumbled
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted (see Cook's Note)
1 packed cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan
Directions
Put an oven rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Spray a baking sheet, liberally, with vegetable oil cooking spray. Set aside.
Mix the squash and onion together and arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bake for to 40 to 45 minutes until the vegetables are golden and cooked through. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool slightly.
While the squash mixture is cooling, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 2 cups of the pasta water. Put the pasta, goat cheese and 1 cup of pasta water in a large serving bowl. Toss until the cheese has melted and forms a creamy sauce. Add the squash and onion mixture, the walnuts and the basil. Toss well and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with Parmesan and serve.
To toast the walnuts, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven until lightly toasted, about 6 to 8 minutes Cool completely before using.
Roasted Brussel Sprouts, Butternut and Apple
Elaine Louise/ Cooking New York Times
Ingredients
For the brussels sprouts:
1 ½ cups brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved
2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1inch asymmetrical chunks
2 cups (about 1 large) Honeycrisp, Cortland, or Granny Smith apple, cored and cut into 1inch asymmetrical chunks
1 shallot, cut crosswise into 1/4inch slices
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 fresh sage leaves
Salt and freshly ground pepper
½ tablespoon maple syrup
For the walnuts: (purchased candied walnuts may be substituted)
6 cups vegetable oil
6 ounces walnut halves
2 cups confectioners' sugar
kosher salt
Directions
Step 1 Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large, shallow, baking dish, toss the brussels sprouts, butternut squash, apple and shallot with olive oil and sage leaves. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bake without stirring until vegetables and apple are wrinkled, slightly brown, and the edges of the squash are beginning to crisp, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Meanwhile, prepare the walnuts. Step 2 For the walnuts: Place a deep fryer or highsided saucepan over high heat, and add vegetable or canola oil to come no closer than 3 inches from the top of the pot; when walnuts are added the oil will bubble and rise. Heat to 375 degrees. If using a saucepan, reduce heat to very low to hold temperature. Step 3 In a medium pot over high heat, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add walnuts and boil for 10 seconds. Drain well and immediately toss with confectioners’ sugar. Spread flat on a baking sheet and allow to dry for a few minutes. Step 4 Have baking sheet lined with paper towels nearby. Working in batches if necessary, add walnuts to oil and stir once or twice. Fry until amberbrown, about 30 seconds. Using a wire skimmer or heatproof slotted spoon, remove walnuts from oil, and transfer to paper towels. Sprinkle lightly with salt and allow to cool for 5 minutes before handling. May be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. Step 5 To serve: Remove vegetables from oven, drizzle with maple syrup and sprinkle with 2 to 3 tablespoons of halved or roughly crumbled walnut pieces. Serve, if desired, with walnut bread
Tips on Leeks: How to Store: Cut off and discard the dark green tops but keep the roots intact. Stow unwashed and tightly wrapped in the refrigerator up to 5 days. How to Prepare: Cut off the dark green leaves an inch or so above the white part of the stalk and discard the greens (they’re bitter and tough). Trim and discard the roots. Halve the remaining stalk lengthwise, then cut into pieces of the desired size. Fill a bowl with cold water, add the cut leeks, and swish them around a few times. With your hands loosely cupped, lift the leeks out of the bowl and place them on a plate or work surface. (The grit will remain behind in the bowl.) Discard the water and grit. Fill the bowl with fresh water and repeat until the water is clear.
Ingredients
All-purpose flour, for dusting
1/2 pound frozen puff pastry, thawed
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 medium leeks, white and tender green—halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise and rinsed well
1 teaspoon finely chopped thyme
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 pound Gruyère cheese, coarsely shredded (2 cups)
3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 475°. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to a 13-inch square. Fold the corners in and lightly roll the pastry into a rough round. Transfer to a baking sheet; refrigerate.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil until shimmering. Add the leeks and thyme, season with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes.
Sprinkle half of the cheese over the pastry, leaving a 1-inch border. Spread the leeks over the cheese. Cover with the prosciutto; sprinkle on the remaining cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold up the tart edge to form a rim and bake for 20 minutes, until golden and bubbling. Blot any excess fat with a paper towel. Cut the tart into wedges.
Sausage-Stuffed Acorn Squash with Molasses Glaze
Bon Appétit/ November 1996
Ingredients
4 small acorn squash
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
2 large green onions, thinly sliced
1 pound bulk breakfast sausage
1 cup fresh white breadcrumbs
1/2 cup canned beef broth
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut two 3/4-inch-thick slices from center of each acorn squash for a total of 8 slices (reserve ends of squash for another use). Scoop out seeds and fibers from center slices and discard. Arrange squash rings in single layer in 15x10x2-inch baking dish. Melt butter in heavy medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bell pepper and green onions; sauté until tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl; cool. Mix in sausage, breadcrumbs, broth, pepper and salt. Mound sausage mixture in center of squash rings, using about 1/3 cup for each. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Brush sausage and squash with half of molasses. Bake 15 minutes. Brush with remaining molasses and bake until squash are tender and sausage is cooked through, about 25 minutes
Broccoli Cheese Soup
Ree Drummond/ Foodnetwork
Ingredients
4 heads broccoli, cut into 1-inch florets
Olive oil, for drizzling
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
1 whole onion, diced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
2 cups half-and-half
Pinch nutmeg
3 cups grated cheese (mild Cheddar, sharp Cheddar, Jack, etc.), plus more for garnish, optional
1 cup chicken broth, optional
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Remove 2 cups of the broccoli florets, cut in half, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet cut-side down and bake until the florets begin to crisp and turn slightly brown, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle the flour on top. Stir to combine and cook until the flour is absorbed and smells lightly toasted, 1 minute or so. Add the milk and half-and half. Add the nutmeg, then the broccoli, a small dash of salt and plenty of black pepper. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the broccoli is tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Stir in the cheese and allow to melt.
Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve the soup as is, mash with a potato masher to break up the broccoli a bit, or transfer to a blender in two batches and puree completely. (If you puree in a blender, return the soup to the heat to heat back up. Splash in some chicken broth if needed for thinning.) Garnish with the toasted broccoli or grated cheese and serve.
From Food Network Kitchens; after further testing and to ensure the best results this recipe has been altered from what was in the actual episode.
When blending hot liquids, first let cool for 5 minutes or so, then transfer to a blender, filling only halfway. Put the lid on, leaving one corner open; this will prevent the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to catch splatters and pulse until smooth.
Parsely Sauce/ Chimichurri
Foodnetwork
Ingredients
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
2 jalapenos, roughly chopped
4 cloves garlic
4 bay leaves
1/2 cup freshly chopped Italian parsley
1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro
1/2 cup freshly chopped oregano
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
Directions
In a blender, combine vinegar, jalapeno, garlic, and bay leaves puree until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and add the herbs. Whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Mix well and set aside.
Leek and Gruyère Tart
by Laura Chenel
Food and Wine
