HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!
This year was a bit unusual because of the extremely well-balanced weather this year (not too hot, not too cold, not too wet, not too dry), which makes the job of the farmer much easier. After living here for 30 years, we have never had such a wonderful season of balance. The days, weeks, and months passed by almost effortlessly with fairly smooth and focused attention. Our “seasoned” crew on the farm seemed to know what and how to do the work as the season wound down with a sense of equilibrium through great effort and good intention. As a result, great abundance for the entire season culminated in this bountiful and final share of the year filled with all of our winter storage and autumn deliciousness.
We are grateful for the gentle weather and the kind and loving Mother Earth. An important part of this fall equanimity is creating delicious, simple salads, soups, stews, hot dishes, and baked goods that warm our house and our insides. We are pleased to have so many people choose this Thanksgiving Share of local, seasonal vegetables, and through celebrating this contemplative season, we hope you too will find a balance of nutrition, flavor, and connection. We are especially thankful to all of our farm crew, the men and women, who have shared the hard work this season. So many people have helped in so many ways, and it’s been an enjoyable fall with the mild weather and good rainfall. This is such a wonderful time of year to feel nurtured and valued by each other in the sharing of meals together.
The vegetables for this bountiful distribution have been compiled into 2 BOXES, so please make sure that you take 1 BIG box and 1 LITTLE box. Some sites (the Farm, the AA Farmers Market, and at the Washtenaw Food Hub) will also have 2 jars of the Brinery’s Storm Cloud Zapper on the side, so check that you get your 2 jars. Agricole and Pure Pastures members will have the sauerkraut in your box. You may want to bring your own containers or bags, if you don’t want to haul these boxes home to keep. You can also return them at anytime to the Farm, the Washtenaw Food Hub, or the Ann Arbor Farmers Market throughout the rest of 2024. Most of the following items can be stored for long-term (especially the root vegetables) or preserved very simply, so please note storage or simple cooking tips listed below, or on our website. **Also, if you’re having trouble identifying any unfamiliar produce, please look for “Veggie ID” on our website under CSA INFO or RECIPES tabs.
Thank you for buying locally and seasonally. We are proud to share this collaborative Thanksgiving offering with thanks to our friends’ additions from the Brinery and Second Spring Farm. We wish you a safe, healthy, and enjoyable Thanksgiving!
–Deb, Richard & the 2024 Tantre Farm Crew
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. BLACK FRIDAY PLANT WALK at Tantre Farm – Nov. 29 from 11 AM – 1 PM: Plant walks are excellent learning opportunities for those with beginning to intermediate foraging skills, and for anyone wishing to increase their knowledge of the local flora with local foraging expert, Rachel Mifsud from “Will Forage for Food”. Our discussion will include information about identification, methods of harvest, preparation, and use. We will explore the area and choose around 20-25 edible, medicinal, or otherwise useful plants and mushrooms to focus on. Kids under 12 are free with paid adult. Walks are almost never cancelled due to weather (one time in 13 years), so dress accordingly. We will be mostly on trails, no need to dress for bushwhacking. You may want to bring a notebook, camera, and water. No other gear is required. Unlimited class size, drop-ins welcome, and cost is $25, and all are welcome. To register ahead of time or to find more information, just go to this site https://willforageforfood.square.site/product/edible-and-medicinal-plant-walks/129?cs=true&cst=custom
2. IMMUNE BOOSTER CSA STARTING AGAIN ON DECEMBER 7: As some of you may know, we took a break this past June from our weekly Immune Booster CSA this year, while we were finishing up our Summer and Fall CSA’s this year. This is a collaborative CSA, so it includes produce and value-added products from several local farms and food businesses with a weekly changing menu, so you can opt in or out of it each time it is offered. If you are not already on our Mailing List to be informed about this weekly changing menu, please email us back with IMMUNE BOOSTER CSA in the Subject Line, and we will add you. We will be offering this share box again at the beginning of December after the Thanksgiving holiday time has passed!
3. NEW ITEMS AT WASHTENAW FOOD HUB’S SUNFLOWER FARM MARKET: Over the next few months we will continue adding new items gradually to the Hub Market. This Saturday Harvest Kitchen will be supplying more quiche, mac n cheese, lasagna, brownies, muffins, and a couple of beautiful looking salads. Fluffy Bottom will have yogurt, feta cheese, and different kinds of fresh and hard cheeses. Zingerman’s Bakehouse will be providing 4 different varieties of bread and baguettes. Zingerman’s Creamery has cream cheese and pimento cheese spreads available, as well as PawPaw Gelato as a fun new variety to try. The Brinery has replenished their sauerkraut jars, beet kvass, and well-loved, spicy pickled carrots. We also brought in some tortilla chips from Detroit’s 313 Urban and kettle corn from PopDaddy. For those looking for more Thanksgiving snacks we have Food for Thought’s Garden Salsa and Hummus Goodness’ Classic Hummus. To help make your stuffing or turkey soup taste better Zoup’s vegetarian or chicken broths would be delicious or Smiling Jim’s Seasoning packets. Salads would be pleasantly flavored with a few Drench’s salad dressings. We even are trying out some RoosRoast Cold Brews and Kapnick’s apple ciders for new beverages. If you are picking up at the Washtenaw Food Hub on Saturday, hope you plan on taking some extra time to walk around the Sunflower Farm Market to see if we can help replenish your pantry before your Thanksgiving meal. We will continue to be open from 9 AM-12 PM every Saturday and 4 PM-7 PM every Wednesday night throughout the rest of the year.
4. CONTINUOUS TANTRE PRODUCE: Please feel free to give us a call or e-mail throughout the fall, winter, and spring, if you are interested in a refill of any of the following produce. We are planning on being at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market on Wed., Nov. 27, for any last minute Thanksgiving purchases. We will continue coming to the Ann Arbor Farmers Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout December, as much as the weather allows us. If you have “liked” us on Tantre Farm’s Facebook page or Instagram, you will know when we are coming, since we will try to keep you updated. Also, throughout the fall and winter, we will continue delivering our produce into Ann Arbor to the People’s Food Coop, Argus Farm Stop on Liberty and Packard and Vestagaard Farm Market in Ann Arbor, and Agricole Farm Stop in Chelsea. Thank you for your support!
5. SUMMER CSA 2025 & SAFE LISTS: Registration for the Summer CSA of 2025 will open in January, so watch for that email and make sure that tantrefarm@hotmail.com and info@tantrefarm.com are on your SAFE LISTS, so you don’t miss any emails through your email security systems. Several members end up with Tantre Farm emails in their spam folders, so don’t forget to check routinely there as well.
WHAT IS PART OF YOUR SHARE?
INSIDE BOX #1 (2-bushel -Big box)
BEETS: You will receive a net bag of Purple Top Turnips (described below), Red Ace Beets (round, smooth, deep red roots with sweet flavor), and Golden Beets (orange skin with rich gold interior; mild, sweet flavor when cooked).
-How to use: roots good in juices, soups, stews, roasted, boiled, steamed, excellent grated raw into salads or baked goods.
-How to store: store unwashed in plastic bags in hydrator drawer of refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS: You will receive a stalk of tiny, green cabbage-like sprouts with mildly pungent, mustard-like flavor. These sprouts are very easy to break off and often store better while still on the stalk until ready for use.
-How to use: Boil or steam for 5-10 minutes without overcooking, so they are still bright green; toss with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper, or a pat of butter; excellent roasted or stir-fried.
-How to store: Refrigerate for up to a week or more unwashed in a plastic bag in hydrator drawer.
CAULIFLOWER (Romanesco): lime green, spiraled heads with pointed, spiraled pinnacles; crisp and mild; vary in size from small to medium.
-How to use: raw for salads and dips, steamed, sautéed, or excellent roasted.
-How to store: sweetest and best when used within a week when stored in the refrigerator, but probably cook this sooner than later.
“Second Spring Farm’s” CELERIAC: also called Celery Root, rather ugly, knobby, brown vegetable skin with white flesh when peeled; taste is like a cross between strong celery and parsley; can range anywhere in size from an apple to a small cantaloupe; high in carbohydrates, vitamin C, phosphorus, and potassium. Thanks to Reid (former 2003 Tantre intern and farmer) for providing this organic produce from “Second Spring Farm” from Cedar, MI. http://www.secondspringfarm.net/
-How to use: can be eaten raw in slaws or salads or cooked in soups, stews, purees; can also be baked, boiled, or sautéed; after peeling should be soaked in lemon juice to prevent discoloration of the flesh.
-How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag for up to a month; may also be dried and used as a seasoning.
GARLIC: You will receive a net bag of Onions (described below) mixed with Garlic (a bulb of several papery white cloves; believed to help in fighting infections, cancer prevention, bolstering the immune system, lowering blood pressure and preventing heart disease, used as an expectorant or decongestant, and at least some people believe that it can ward off vampires and insects).
-How to use: excellent minced raw in salad dressings, sautéed and added to stir-fries, meats, vegetables, soups, stews.
-How to store: store for several months in a cool, dark, dry, well-ventilated place in a basket or a paper bag; if cloves begin to get soft or moldy, break off bad part, chop, and pack into small jar filled with olive oil, then refrigerate (great gift idea) or freeze.
ONIONS: You will receive Garlic (described above) and Onions mixed in a net bag. The onions are “Second Spring Farm’s” Patterson (medium-large, blocky bulbs with dark yellow skin and thin necks; excellent storage onion) and “Tantre Farm’s” Redwing (the ultimate red storage onion; globe-shaped bulbs are 3–4 inches across, moderately pungent, very firm).
-How to use: good in French onion soup, great for salads, soups, stirfries, sandwiches, slices, grilled.
-How to store: can last for 3 to 6 months if kept in a cold, dark place in a basket or paper bag. If any onion segments start to go soft, just cut out the bad part, chop up the rest of the onion and freeze in bags.
POTATOES: You will receive a net bag of Carola (yellow potato from Germany; smooth, creamy texture that is good for baking or frying) and a net bag of AmaRosa Red Fingerling (small, oblong potatoes with smooth, ruby red skin and speckled red flesh; have a firm texture, nutty, earthy flavor, and are high in nutrients like potassium, vitamin C, and dietary fiber: good for roasting, potato salads, and pair well with fresh herbs, garlic, and olive oil)
-How to store: keep in cool, dark place in paper bag; ideal temperature is 38-45 degrees with high humidity (80-90%). A basement or very cool closet will work.
PIE PUMPKINS: bright orange skin with dry, sweet flesh; the traditional American pumpkin was used by the New England settlers and Native Americans several hundred years ago
-How to use: excellent for pies, muffins, cookies, cakes, breads, etc.
-How to store: store whole pumpkins at room temperature up to a month or for 2 to 3 months in moderately cool conditions (45-60 degrees with 60-75% humidity)
“Second Spring Farm’s” ORGANIC SWEET POTATOES: edible roots related to the morning-glory family that have dark red or orange skin with a vivid orange, moist, sweet flesh; high in vitamins A & C. Thanks to our former intern (2003)-turned-farmer, Reid Johnston, owner of Second Spring Farm from Cedar, MI.
-How to use: prepare like potatoes–baked, boiled, sautéed, fried; can be made into pies, waffles, pancakes, breads, and cookies.
-How to store: store in a cool, dark place like winter squash. Note: Do not store in plastic or in fridge, unless cooked.
PURPLE TOP TURNIPS: You will receive in the net bag with the Beets. This traditional variety is the preferred standard of market farmers and backyard gardeners for over 100 years; has smooth, round roots with white below the soil line and bright purple above with a somewhat spicy flavor that works well in braises and stews; large, lobed greens
-How to use: greens good in salads and soups and can be steamed or sautéed with leeks; roots can be roasted, steamed, or sautéed.
-How to store: remove greens from turnip root and store separately in plastic bag in refrigerator for up to 3 days; roots can last up to 1-2 weeks in refrigerator.
WINTER SQUASH: You will receive most of the following varieties: Acorn (small, green ribbed squash with pale yellow flesh; great stuffed with rice, breading, or soups), Starry Night Acorn (a delicious acorn that stores through the holidays; unique, pixelated color pattern with attractive speckled dark green and yellow-colored skin, smooth creamy texture and sweet flavor), Chirimen (a traditional kabocha, Japanese Yokohama-type squash; bronze-orange skin with flesh deep orange, moist, sweet), Butternut (light, tan-colored skin; small seed cavities with thick, cylindrical necks; bright orange, moist, sweet flesh; longest storage potential of all squash), Sunshine Kabocha (red-orange, flat-round fruit with dry, sweet, bright orange flesh; excellent for baking, mashing, and pies), Spaghetti (3-5-pounds, golden yellow, oblong, smooth, medium size with “spaghetti” (stringy) flesh; bake like squash or boil and fork out the flesh, topping the “spaghetti” flesh with your favorite sauce; mildly sweet), Black Forest Kabocha (smaller size kabocha; dark green, flat-round fruits; buttercup size with no button on end; orange flesh is medium-dry and sweet), and a few other Kabocha varieties from Second Spring Farm in Cedar, MI.
-How to use: bake, roast, boil or steam chunks, or until tender, mash cooked squash with butter; puree cooked squash for creamy soup, or add uncooked chunks to soups or stews; add small amounts to yeast breads, muffins, cookies, pies, oatmeal, etc.
-How to store: Keep for several months (depending on the variety) at 45-60 degrees with 60-75% humidity; will also store at room temperature. **Here is a great link, which offers good advice for storing winter squash: https://bonnieplants.com/library/how-to-store-winter-squash/
INSIDE BOX #2 (3/4-bushel -Little Box – your regular-size Summer or Ex Fall share box)
RAINBOW CARROTS: You will receive a bag of Tantre Farm’s Bolero (excellent long-term, storage carrot with medium-long, thick, blunt, orange roots) and Second Spring Farm’s Purple Haze (bright purplish-red roots with bright orange interior and a sweet flavor; cooking will cause the color to fade. Thanks to our former intern (2003)-turned-farmer, Reid Johnston, owner of Second Spring Farm from Cedar, MI. http://www.secondspringfarm.net/). A carrot is a root, whose skin color can be white, red, purple, or yellow, but more commonly known for their bright orange color; high in all kinds of various nutrients based on their color.
-How to use: can be used raw as carrot sticks, grated in salads or juiced; steamed or sautéed, in stews, soups, casseroles, stir-fries
-How to store: refrigerate dry and unwashed roots in plastic bag for up to 2 weeks
FRESH HERBS: Please keep in mind that these herbs have been through some freezing temperatures and have bounced back, but may not be in supreme “summer” shape though the delicious oils and aromas are still intact. All will receive Sage (an aromatic herb from an evergreen shrub in the mint family with long, narrow, grayish-green leaves; a musky aroma and a warm and spicy taste; perfect for Thanksgiving stews, breads, butters, and teas, roasted in vegetables), Parsley (curly or flat, dark green leaves; high in vitamins A and C, and other minerals, such as iron; especially good in omelets, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soups, pasta and vegetable dishes, as well as, sauces), AND Rosemary (pine needle-like leaves used with potatoes, bread doughs, risottos, mixed vegetables, and meat dishes, as well as in sweet dishes such as lemonade, creams, custards, and syrups).
-How to store: Place in plastic bag and store in refrigerator up to a week or put herb bunch in jar with 2 inches of water. Rosemary and Sage will dry very easily by hanging upside down in a well-ventilated and dark area for a week or two. Then break off leaves into a jar and store long-term for up to a year. Parsley can be chopped and frozen in a freezer bag for long-term storage.
KALE CROWN: You will receive a luscious cluster of leaves from the kale top of Green Curly (well-ruffled, curly green leaves on green stems; this variety makes a good, roasted “kale chip” and kale salad). These bitter greens are remarkably sweeter after several frosts!
-How to use: Boil or steam until color brightens; great in omelets, quiches, lasagna, casseroles, soups, stews, salads, and smoothies.
-How to store: Refrigerate unwashed in plastic bag for 1 to 2 weeks.
LETTUCE MIX (Wildfire): a beautiful bag of dark reds and vibrant greens including Green and Red Oakleaf, Green and Red Romaine, and Redleaf lettuces; your lettuce has been rinsed once, but needs washing.
-How to use: raw in salads, sandwiches, or (believe it or not!) use in soups.
-How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag for 3-5 days.
RADISHES: You will receive either Purple Bacchus (stunning, purple, round radish with white inner flesh; good flavor and not too hot) OR Cherriette (smooth, bright red roots with short green, edible tops and a sweet/hot taste).
-How to use: raw, roasted, used in soups, sliced in salads, sandwiches, or stir-fries, grated in slaws; radish greens (excellent source of vitamins A, C, and the B’s); delicious in soups or stir-fries.
-How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag/damp towel for 1-2 weeks.
PURPLE DAIKON RADISHES (K-N Bravo): looks like an overgrown carrot with internal color ranging from pale purple to white with purple streaks; sweet with a mild kick.
-How to use: excellent julienned, sliced, used in a salad or tossed with your favorite vinaigrette; good eaten fresh, cooked, or pickled
-How to store: store dry and unwashed in plastic bag in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks; can last for 2-4 months if stored in cold, moist conditions like beets.
WATERMELON RADISHES: an heirloom Chinese variety of Daikon radishes; large, round root with unique dark magenta flesh and light green/white skin along with a remarkably sweet, delicious taste.
-How to use: cooking does minimize the intensity of their color, but can be braised or roasted like a turnip, or mashed like a rutabaga; color is vibrant when served raw in a salad or in a veggie plate with some dip; can also be pickled.
-How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag/damp towel for 1-2 weeks.
SPINACH: You will receive a dinner-plate rosette of crisp, dark green leaves; good source of vitamins A and C; delicious flavor when juiced, and especially good in salads, since the flavor of the leaves sweetens with the frosts.
-How to use: toss in fresh salad, add to sandwiches, sauté, steam, braise, or add to crepes, quiche, lasagna, and soups
-How to store: refrigerate with a damp towel/bag for up to 1 week
WHITE HAKUREI TURNIPS and GREENS: round, smooth small roots with sweet, fruity flavor and a crisp, tender texture with greens attached. Both roots (good source of potassium, and calcium, and delicious raw!) and greens (good source of Vitamins A & C) are edible. Enjoy those greens!
-How to use: greens good in salads and soups and can be steamed or sautéed with onions; roots can be roasted, steamed, or sautéed.
-How to store: remove greens from turnip root and store separately in plastic bag in refrigerator for up to 3 days; roots can last up to 1-2 weeks in refrigerator.
ON THE SIDE (at the Farm, Washtenaw Food Hub, & the Ann Arbor Farmers Market distribution)
“The Brinery’s” SAUERKRAUT: We are pleased to offer TWO jars of the Brinery’s “Storm Cloud Zapper” (beets, cabbage, ginger), so if you’re splitting the share each of you can have a 16-oz jar or you can give one away as a gift if you don’t eat them both! This sauerkraut is raw, unpasteurized, and traditionally fermented. This Brinery kraut is a cornerstone of health, both mentally and physically. Steeped in the ancient art and necessity of fermentation, every jar carries the culture onward. Filled with flavor and beneficial bacteria, your microbiome will thank you! The Brinery is a local foods business at the Washtenaw Food Hub, specializing in naturally fermented local vegetables and operated by former Tantré farmer, David Klingenberger. For more information, please visit www.thebrinery.com.
-How to use: use as a condiment with any dish, especially meat dishes, salads, roasted veggies, or sandwiches.
-How to store: Must be REFRIGERATED up to 1 year or longer depending on how you like the flavor, since it will get stronger with more age. *NOTE: These fermented products have NOT been canned, so store in refrigerator.
***
Sauerkraut Background & Recipes:
www.timesunion.com/living/article/Sauerkraut-on-New-Year-s-a-Pennsylvania-tradition-561496.php
RECIPES
TANTRÉ FARM SLAW (A simple, easy salad!) Serves 4.
2 medium beets, grated
3 large carrots (any color), grated
1 watermelon radish, grated
1-2 white salad turnips, grated
sesame or sunflower seeds, toasted
2 tsp. olive oil
2 tsp. lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
Grate vegetables into a bowl. Chop onion, if desired, and add to bowl. Toast sesame or sunflower seeds. Add when cooled. Add olive oil and lemon juice as a salad dressing to suit your taste. Be careful of too much liquid. The tartness of the lemon should be prominent. Serve immediately or marinate for a few hours in the refrigerator. Variations: Add shredded cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, daikon radish, chopped parsley, etc.
DAIKON WITH TAHINI DRESSING (excerpted from Farmer John’s Cookbook: The Real Dirt On Vegetables by Farmer John Peterson & Angelic Organics)
4 inches daikon, cut into matchstick-size strips
3/4 cup thinly sliced red or purple radishes
1 medium carrot, grated (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cup tahini
4 scallions, thinly sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
1 tablespoon dry sherry or vermouth
dash salt sugar
1/4 cup chopped almonds (optional)
Combine daikon, red or purple radish, and carrots in a medium bowl. Whisk the tahini, scallions, lemon juice, sherry, salt, and sugar to taste in a small bowl until well combined. Thin the dressing with a few tablespoons of water until the mixture is a smooth paste. Toss the dressing with radishes until well combined. Garnish with almonds if desired.
MAPLE SAGE DRESSING
2 large shallots
6 cloves garlic
4 Tbsp chopped, fresh sage
1 oz lemon juice
3 oz red wine vinegar
3 oz maple syrup
1 sprig rosemary
Salt and pepper, to taste
Blend all ingredients together. Drizzle in 2 cups of oil and about 3 ounces of water, as needed, to adjust consistency. Serve with lettuce mix or spinach salad or over steamed potatoes.
LEAFY SALAD WITH PARSLEY-GARLIC VINAIGRETTE Serves 6-8
8-10 cups assorted salad greens (lettuce mix, kale, spinach)
For the vinaigrette:
1 bunch parsley
2 garlic cloves
2 Tbsp stone ground mustard
2 Tbsp tamari or shoyu
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper, or to taste
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Rinse the salad greens, tear them into bite-size pieces and set aside. Chop the parsley and mince or press the garlic and place in a large salad bowl. Mix in the mustard, tamari, pepper and oil. Add the greens to the bowl just before serving. Toss gently from the bottom to coat evenly with the dressing. Serve immediately.
SAUTEED HAKUREI TURNIPS AND BRAISED GREENS Serves 6-8
1 bunch Hakurei Turnips with greens
1 lb greens (such as spinach, kale, or arugula)
2 tsp oil, divide
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup water, apple juice or white wine
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Cut the greens from the turnips. Wash and tear all the greens into large pieces and remove the stems. Cut the turnips into bite sized pieces. Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a saute pan over medium-high heat. Saute the turnips and onion stirring or tossing occasionally until they are crispy outside and tender inside. Season with salt and pepper and remove to a warm plate. In the same pan, heat the remaining oil over medium heat. Add the washed and wet greens, and add to pan in batches. Stir and mix as they wilt. Add the wine or other liquid and cook until it is mostly evaporated. Lay the greens on a plate and arrange the warm turnips on top.
TOASTED CAULIFLOWER (from “Good Deal with Dave Lieberman”)
1-2 heads cauliflower
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup canned chicken broth or water
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling cauliflower
1 tsp dried oregano
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
6 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
2 Tbsp chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 cup coarsely shredded Parmesan or pecorino
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Break apart the cauliflower into large florets and cut off the thicker stems. Set the cauliflower pieces stem side down in a 13×9-inch baking dish. Pour the wine and broth into the dish and drizzle olive oil over the cauliflower. Sprinkle with the oregano, and salt and pepper, to taste. Scatter the garlic over everything. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake until tender, about 30 minutes. The florets should fall apart if you poke them with your finger. Meanwhile, stir the bread crumbs, chopped parsley, and 1 tablespoon olive oil together in a small bowl. When the cauliflower is tender, sprinkle the bread crumb mix and the cheese over the florets and put the dish, uncovered, back in oven until the topping is browned, about 15 minutes. Serve hot or at room temperature.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND CAULIFLOWER WITH ORANGE (from Bon Appetit, December 2004)
1 cauliflower (about 2 lbs), cut into 1-inch florets
1 lb fresh Brussels sprouts, thawed and patted dry, halved if large
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup minced onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbsp grated orange peel
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley
Orange slices
Additional chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl; toss to coat. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.) Spread vegetables on large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in oven until lightly browned and almost tender, stirring once, about 12 minutes. Pour orange juice over. Roast until vegetables are tender and juices evaporate, about 8 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped parsley. Transfer to serving dish; garnish with orange slices and chopped parsley.
WINTER VEGETABLE CHOWDER (from 366 Simply Delicious Dairy Free Recipes by Robin Robertson) Serves 6
1 tsp canola oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
1/2 cup turnip, chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 cup winter squash, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup sweet red or green pepper, chopped
1 tsp garlic, minced
3 cups vegetable stock or water
1/2 tsp minced fresh thyme, or 2 Tbsp parsley, chopped
2 cups kale (or spinach)
1 cup unsweetened soymilk or regular milk
Salt and pepper, to taste
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook onions, celery, turnip, and carrot for 5 minutes. Add sweet potato, squash, bell pepper, garlic, stock or water, and herbs. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Boil greens in lightly salted water for 3-5 minutes. Drain and set aside. Puree soup in a blender (or use a stick blender in saucepan) until smooth. Return to saucepan. Stir in the soymilk, cooked greens, and salt and pepper to taste. Slowly heat the soup, being very careful not to boil. Serve.
THAI PUMPKIN CUSTARD
1 cup coconut cream (not coconut “milk”)
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup palm sugar (or refined white sugar, but not fine grain raw honey)
1/4 tsp salt
1 medium pumpkin, seeded, with lid cut out at top
Blend together coconut cream, eggs, sugar, and salt. Pour into cleaned out pumpkin shell within 1/2-inch of top rim. Set pumpkin in 2-inches of water in glass pan or casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 or more minutes. The custard should be firm and pumpkin is soft and edible, but still firm enough to hold up. Cool. Slice and serve. Bake lid too (which takes less time) and serve on top for presentation.
SPICY COCONUT PUMPKIN (from Farmer John’s Cookbook by John Peterson and Angelic Organics) Serves 3-4
3 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
1 Tbsp minced fresh ginger
2-3 tsp curry powder
1 tsp finely chopped jalapeno or Serrano pepper
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1 1/2 lbs pie pumpkin (about 1/2 medium or 1 small pie pumpkin), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1 Tbsp raisins
1 tsp maple syrup or brown sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 bunch kale
Heat the butter and oil in a heavy pan over medium heat. Add the onion; saute until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Add the ginger; cook for 3 more minutes. Stir in the curry powder, jalapeno, cloves, and cardamom; cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the pumpkin chunks, coconut milk, raisins, and maple syrup. Cover; cook over low heat until the pumpkin is tender, about 30 minutes. Uncover; if the sauce is thin, let the coconut milk boil away until the mixture thickens to your liking. Season with salt and pepper to taste. For a hearty meal, enjoy this over a bed of basmati rice accompanied by kale and chutney.
ITALIAN POTATOES WITH ONION AND ROSEMARY (from www.gardenguides.com) Serves 4
4 potatoes (about 4 potatoes), scrubbed, and thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
1 large onion, peeled and thinly sliced (about 1 3/4 cup)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 Tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Cook the potatoes in a microwave oven at full power for 7-8 minutes, until fork-tender. (You can also boil the potatoes for 30-35 minutes in 4 cups of water to which 2 teaspoons of salt have been added.) Set the potatoes aside until cool enough to handle. Preheat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. In the hot skillet, combine the onion, garlic, and wine. Stir to combine thoroughly and cook for about 15 minutes, until the onion is very soft. Add the potatoes, parsley, and rosemary. Mix well and mash with the back of a wooden spoon to form a large pancake. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Raise the heat to medium and cook for about 15 minutes, until the potatoes are browned and somewhat crusty underneath. Position a plate upside down over the pan, flip the pancake out onto the plate so that the cooked side is up, and then slide it back into the pan. Cook for about 15 minutes more, until the second side is crusty. Serve hot.
QUICK PICKLED WATERMELON RADISH (https://omnivorescookbook.com/pickled-watermelon-radish/)
1 watermelon radish, peeled and shredded
1/4 cup apple vinegar (or rice vinegar)
2 tablespoons maple syrup (or sugar)
Combine apple cider vinegar and maple syrup in a large bowl. Mix well. Add radish and toss. Let sit for 10 minutes in the fridge. Add a pinch of salt onto the radish and toss again right before serving. Store the rest of the radish in an airtight jar for up to a week.
SPINACH AND GARLIC FRITTATA (adapted from dakotagarlic.com)
3 Tbsp olive oil
10 eggs
1 cup (1/2 lb) chopped raw spinach
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp chopped parsley or basil
1/4 cup finely chopped garlic
Salt and pepper, to taste
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl mix all ingredients except oil and scapes. Heat oil in a 10-inch ovenproof skillet on the stove. Add the scapes and saute until tender on medium heat for about five minutes. Pour egg mixture in skillet with garlic and cook over low for three minutes. Place in oven and bake uncovered for 10 minutes or until top is set. Cut into wedges and serve.
BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP (from Martha Stewart Living)
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, light sesame oil, or olive oil
2 leeks, white and light green parts only, chopped
Pinch of sea salt
1 Tbsp peeled and minced fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 small handful celery leaves
1 2-inch cinnamon stick
3 whole cloves
3 lbs butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and chopped
1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice
4 cups broth or water
Freshly ground pepper, ground cinnamon, and minced parsley for garnish
In a heavy 3- to 4-quart stockpot, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the leeks and a pinch of salt. Stir, reduce heat to low, add ginger and garlic, cover, and cook gently for 15 minutes. Make a bouquet garni by tying together, or wrapping in cheesecloth, the celery leaves, sage, cinnamon stick and cloves. Add the bouquet garni to the pot. Then add the squash, apple cider/juice, and broth. Reduce heat to as low as possible and simmer, covered, 30 to 40 minutes, until the squash crushes easily when pressed with a wooden spoon. Remove the bouquet garni and pass the soup through a food mill, or puree it in a blender. Season with pepper and garnish with a pinch of cinnamon and a sprinkle of parsley.