Herbed Goat Cheese, Roasted Beet, and Watercress Salad


Adapted from a November 1994 Gourmet recipe. Serves 4. I have had this recipe in and out of the newsletter this week. It calls for goat cheese, but you really should use fresh goat cheese and save the Lake's Edge for a special treat.

1 bunch watercress, coarse stems discarded
2 medium beets, scrubbed and trimmed
1 small red onion sliced thin

For vinaigrette:
.5 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1/8 teaspoon dried tarragon, crumbled
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

For herbed goat cheese
3/8 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon, crumbled
3/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 ounces soft goat cheese, cut into 4 1/2-inch rounds and chilled, covered

Roasted Beets
Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap beets tightly in foil and roast in middle of oven 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until tender. Unwrap beets carefully and cool until they can be handled. Discard stems and peel beets. Beets may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Cut each beet into 8 wedges and cover.

Vinaigrette
In a blender blend together mustard, vinegar, tarragon, salt, and pepper. With motor running add oil in a stream and blend until emulsified. Vinaigrette may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Herbed goat cheese:
In a bowl stir together bread crumbs, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Cut each cheese round in half crosswise. Coat each piece of cheese evenly with crumb mixture, pressing gently, and transfer to a baking sheet. Goat cheese may be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead and chilled, covered loosely. Let cheese come to room temperature before proceeding.
Preheat broiler. Broil goat cheese about 2 inches from heat until crumbs are lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

In a bowl toss watercress and onion with half of vinaigrette. Arrange watercress mixture, beets, and goat cheese on 8 salad plates and drizzle remaining vinaigrette over beets.

Published in Salads

Cheddar Chutney Grilled Cheese with Green Apple and Watercress


From the Rebar Modern Food Cookbook by Audrey Alsterberg & Wanda Urbanowitz
This is a grown up grilled cheese sandwich which will be great on the multigrain bread from Elmore Mtn.

Multigrain Bread
Butter
Aged cheddar cheese slices
Tart Apple
Watercress, washed, tough stems removed
Onion Chutney

First make the onion chutney below. Then assemble and grill the sandwiches.

Onion Chutney (makes enough for 4 sandwiches)
1 TB butter
2 yellow onions
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp hot red pepper flakes
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp brown sugar
4 TB apple cider
1/4 tsp cracked pepper

Heat Butter in a pan over medium heat and add onions. Stir until translucent. Add salt, chile flakes and coriander and continue to cook for 15 mins. Add remaining ingredients and cook until onions are very soft and creamy.

For each sandwich, butter both sides of two slices of bread. On the unbuttered side of one of the slices, spread dijon mustard and then layer with chutney, apple slices, cheddar and watercress. Heat a griddle and cook sandwiches on both sides until the cheese is melted and bread is crispy and golden.

Published in Sandwiches
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Simple Beet Salad with Onions

Simple Beet Salad with Onions


I love these oh so simple James Beard recipes that just beg for creativity. I'd probably be inclined to cook the beets a bit as in the above recipe.

Grate scrubbed beets or cut into julienne: toss with chopped scallions and a vinaigrette you make or from a bottle in your fridge. Add toasted nuts and/or a sharp cheese (blue, parmesan, feta). Serve alone or on a bed of mesclun or lettuce.

Published in Salads
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Spinach-Rice Casserole

Spinach-Rice Casserole


Straight from the Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen, 1977. I love this recipe. It's basic but oh so good. When greens are abundant as they are now, I make it a lot. It packs in the greens and brown rice. You can modify the recipe by skipping the cheese & eggs and making it vegan. It's hearty and healthy and the brown rice gives it a great chewy texture. Serves 4 - 6.

4 cups cooked brown rice (2 cups dry makes approx 6 cups cooked rice)
2 lbs. raw, chopped spinach (amount doesn't have to be exact)
(or a combo of spinach bok choy, mustard greens, turnip greens, swiss chard, kale)
2 cloves minced garlic
3 tablespoons butter (or 2 tablespoons olive oil)

4 beaten eggs (or egg substitute)
1 cup milk (skim or whole OK)
1 1/2 cups grated cheddar (less than this works great too)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
2 tablespoons tamari (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt (or more, to taste)
a few dashes each - nutmeg, cayenne (I like a little more than a dash of cayenne)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
paprika

Saute onions and garlic with the salt in butter (or oil). When onions are soft, add spinach or greens. Cook 2 minutes.

Combine the onion/greens mixture with the brown rice, eggs, milk, cheese, parsley, tamari, nutmeg, cayenne, sunflower seeds, paprika. Spread into buttered casserole and sprinkle on top.
Bake, covered, 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes. I like it best when it is a little browned on top.

Published in Dinner

Mesclun Greens Salad with Goat Cheese and Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette


This is my own concoction - what I'd make with the share as soon as I got through the door with it. The dressing is fantastic - one that I keep in a jar in the fridge always. I can't wait to make it with Cranberry Bob's Balsamic!

Mesclun Greens & Arugula (and/or head lettuce leaves)
Beet Slivers (either roasted or boiled and sliced up)
Radishes or Sweet Salad turnips sliced thin
Toasted walnuts or pecans

Add the above to a bowl in whatever amounts appeal to you, toss with the dressing below, crumble the goat cheese on top and serve.

Published in Salads

Shepherd's Pie with Carmelized Onions and Cheddar Smash


From Cooking with Shelburne Farms.

For the Carmelized Onions
1.5 TB Olive Oil
1 lb Onions (about 3 medium), thinly sliced crosswise into rounds
1 tsp kosher salt

For the Potato Smash
1.5 lbs potatoes, scrubbed but not peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks
2 garlic cloves, smashed with the flat of a knife
1/2 tsp kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/4 stick butter, cut into 4 pieces

For the Lamb Filling
1/2 TB olive oil
2 medium carrots, scrubbed trimmed and finely diced (about 1.5 cups)
1 lb ground lamb
3/4 tsp fresh thyme minced
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 TB flour
1/2 TB tomato paste (or ketchup)
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup grated cheddar

Make the carmelized onions (up to one week ahead):
Heat oil in a heavy bottomed skillet over medium hear. Add onions and turn heat down to medium low. Sprinkle onions with salt and cook, stirring frequently to make sure they brown evenly, for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and soft. Set aside.

Make the smashed potatoes (up to 24 hours ahead):
Place a colander in a pot large enough to accommodate it, fill pot with water to bottom of colander, add potatoes and garlic cloves and sprinkle them with salt. Cover, set over high heat, and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat to active simmer and steam for 25-30 minutes until they break apart easily when poked. Remove colander from pot, pour water from pot, return potatoes and garlic to the pot. Cover with a clean dish towel and let potatoes dry out for about 5 minutes (but do not let them cool before mashing). Add the butter to the pot and use a potato masher to smash the potatoes and garlic until blended, but not smooth. Set aside.

Make the meat filling and finish pie:
In a large skillet set over med-high heat, heat olive oil until hot. Add diced carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add lamb, thyme, and salt and cook, stirring occasionally for 8-10 minutes until the meat is no longer pink. Pour off the fat and discard. Sprinkle flour over the meat and cook for 1 minute, stirring. Then stir in the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes longer. Pour in the stock, along with half of the carmelized onions. Increase the heat to high and simmer until gravy thickens slightly.

Spread lamb into a shallow casserole or baking pan. Spread potatoes on top. Distribute the remaining carmelized onions over the potatoes, and then sprinkle the cheddar in top. Bake until top is golden and crusty, about 20 minutes.

Published in Dinner
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Chloe's Pete's Greens Pasta

Chloe's Pete's Greens Pasta


Chloe is a Good Eats CSA member and wanted to share a recipe for pasta that she has been making with the greens from Good Eats. You could use pac choi, swiss chard or beet greens here.

Ingredients
Olive oil
Chopped garlic (at least 6-8 large cloves or more depending on taste)
anchovies or anchovy paste (or 20 kalamata olives)
1 lb Pasta
1-3 bunches of greens, stemmed if necessary and chopped
Grated parmesan or pecorino cheese or both

Boil a large pot of salted water for the pasta. Add pasta and follow cooking times given for the pasta. During the the last 3-5 minutes add chopped greens to the pasta water.
Drain pasta and greens and combine with the garlic/anchovy (or kalamata) oil. Combine. Serve with grated cheese on top.
Variations -add 1-3 fresh tomatoes to the simmering garlic mixture, or other vegetables. Or add just a few spoonfuls of your favorite marinara. Add fresh basil. Or try adding an egg and some milk or cream to the hot pasta. mmmm.


Published in Pastas
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Fennel And Kale Pasta

Fennel And Kale Pasta


Sweet fennel and bitter greens work beautifully together. Swiss Chard or other cooking green will work great as well.

1⁄2 c olive oil
1 onion, minced
1 medium fennel bulb fronds removed, halved and thinly sliced
salt and pepper
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 lb spaghetti
up to 3 lb kale or other cooking green washed and chopped
1 c grated parmesan

1. Heat oil in a large braising pan or skillet with a cover. Add onion; sauté over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in fennel; sauté until golden, about 10 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat until fennel is tender, about 8 minutes longer. Stir in vinegar; simmer to blend flavors, 1 minute longer. Adjust seasonings.

2. Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and the pasta; return to boil. Add kale; continue to cook until pasta is al dente, about 7 minutes.

3. Drain pasta and greens; toss with fennel mixture and cheese. Transfer portions to warm pasta bowls. Garnish with reserved minced fennel fronds. Serve immediately with more cheese passed separately.

Published in Pastas
Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Scallion Pesto

Scallion Pesto


Try making some scallion pesto and using it with different dishes this week. It could be used as a pasta sauce (blend in some tasty hard crumbled cheese), but would also be nice on fish, or mixed with mayo for a sandwich spread. Using less oil will result in a thicker pesto, one that can be formed as a garnish. Using more oil will result in a more sauce like pesto. I had some this week mixed with blue cheese on pasta. It was pretty darn good.

One big bunch of scallions – trimmed to remove the white bottoms (you only want the less assertive greens here)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
juice of 1-2 limes
1 clove of garlic
1/4 - 1 cup of sunflower oil (or any mild tasting oil)
Salt to taste

Chop the green onions roughly and toss into the blender along with the nuts, the garlic and the lime juice. Turn on the motor and drizzle in the oil until the desired consistency is reached. Season to taste with salt

Variations
try it with olive oil and lemon
try it with different nuts
mix it with sour cream for veggie dip
toss it on hot pasta
keep it thick and spread on toasted crusty bread sandwiches
toss it with simply steamed new potatoes
use it for a 10 minute dinner as a coating for simply broiled white fish fillets

Tuesday, 30 November 1999 00:00

Basil Cream Pasta

Basil Cream Pasta


A very rich and decadent creamed pesto adapted from the Horn of the Moon cookbook. This will probably work just as well with half the cream of you are counting calories. I have a hard time sticking to recipes and I would have to add some sauteed peppers and zucchini from this week's share to this recipe.

1/2 cup olive oil
4 large cloves garlic (or a bunch or garlic scapes!)
3 cups basil leaves
2 cups cream
1.25 cups Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp salt
dash of black pepper
1 lb fresh fettuccini

Start your pasta water boiling and prepare your pasta, cooking to al dente.

Meanwhile, put 1/4 cup of oil with the garlic in a blender. Run on low speed , slowly adding the basil leaves and the rest of the oil alternately until you have a fine basil paste. Set a small saucepan over low heat. Add the cream, basil paste, and 3/4 cup Parmesan along with salt and pepper. Heat until the sauce is just hot.

After draining the freshly cooked pasta, pour sauce over the pasta, toss well and serve garnished with the remaining parmesan.

Published in Pastas
Page 13 of 14
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