Tue, 02 Apr 2024 18:49:15 -0700WeeblyTue, 24 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.amysorganicgarden.com/recipes/roasted-okraTry it with your favorite aioli for a tasty snack!

1 pound okra
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Fresh thyme leaves, optional
Freshly ground pepper

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Rinse the okra, and drain on a kitchen towel. The okra should be dry. Trim away the stem ends and the tips, just the very ends, and then place the okra in a large bowl. Salt to taste, and toss with the olive oil until coated.

Lift the okra from the bowl, leaving behind any excess oil. Place on a sheet pan in one layer. Roast in the oven for 15 minutes (large okra might take a little longer), shaking the pan every five minutes. The okra should be lightly browned and tender, with a nice seared aroma. If you don’t want it to brown as much, set the oven at 400 degrees.

Remove from the heat, toss with fresh thyme, if desired, and freshly ground pepper. Transfer to a platter. Serve hot.]]>Tue, 24 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.amysorganicgarden.com/recipes/quick-pickled-okraFor eliminating gooeyness, refrigerate for two weeks before eating!

1 pound fresh okra
4 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
2 oregano sprigs
2 basil sprigs
2 dried bay leaves
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne, or to taste
2 cups white distilled vinegar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons kosher salt

Wash and dry the okra. Trim the tops and cut lengthwise into quarters.

Wash 2 (16-ounce) wide-mouth jars, lids and rims with hot, soapy water. Dry them with clean towels. In each jar, place 2 garlic cloves, 1 oregano sprig, 1 basil sprig, 1 bay leaf, ½ teaspoon black peppercorns, ½ teaspoon mustard seeds, ½ teaspoon red-pepper flakes, ¼ teaspoon fennel seeds and ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne. Divide the okra spears evenly among the jars.

Add the vinegar, sugar and salt plus 1 cup water to a medium pot and heat over high. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the salt and sugar dissolve completely.

Remove from the heat and add the liquid to the jars. Screw the lids and rims on tightly. Let the jars cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes, then refrigerate until ready to enjoy. Allow at least 4 hours for the seasoning to penetrate the okra. Quick-pickled okra can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. (A longer resting time means more flavor and less goo.)]]>Tue, 17 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.amysorganicgarden.com/recipes/feta-stuffed-peppers6 1-inch-thick slices day-old French bread, crust removed
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, grated
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 teaspoons chopped thyme
1 teaspoon chopped rosemary
1 ounce grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper
6 small sweet peppers, about 1 pound
6 ounces mild feta cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut bread into 1-inch cubes and pulse in food processor in batches to make coarse, soft crumbs. (It should yield about 3 cups.) Toss crumbs with olive oil and spread on a baking sheet. Bake, stirring frequently, until crisp and barely browned, about 15 minutes. Put baked crumbs in a bowl and add garlic, parsley, thyme, rosemary and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper and toss well to combine. Set aside.

Cut peppers in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Place in a low-sided baking dish in one layer. Season cut side lightly with salt. Fill each pepper half with ½ ounce crumbled feta and press in cheese with fingers. With a spoon divide the seasoned crumbs evenly among the pepper halves.

Bake for about 30 minutes, until crumbs are golden and cheese is softened. Serve warm from the baking dish.]]>Tue, 10 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.amysorganicgarden.com/recipes/onion-thyme-frittata3 cups finely chopped onion (slightly more than 1 pound onions)
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
8 eggs
Salt
freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons low-fat milk


Place the chopped onions in a bowl, cover with water and add the vinegar. Soak for one hour or longer. Drain, rinse and dry on paper towels. (Note: This step is optional, but the onions will be milder if you do it.)

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium heat in a 10-inch heavy nonstick skillet. Add the onions. Cook, stirring often, until tender, about five minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic and the thyme. Continue to cook, stirring often, until the onions are lightly colored but not browned, about five more minutes. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool slightly.

Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the salt (about ½ teaspoon), pepper, milk and onions. Clean and dry the pan. Return to the burner, and set on medium-high. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet. Drop a bit of egg into the pan; if it sizzles and cooks at once, the pan is ready. Pour in the egg mixture. Tilt the pan to distribute the eggs and filling evenly over the surface. Shake the pan gently, tilting it slightly with one hand while lifting up the edges of the frittata with the spatula in your other hand, to let the eggs run underneath during the first few minutes of cooking.

Turn the heat down to low, cover and cook 10 minutes, shaking the pan gently every once in a while. From time to time, remove the lid, tilt the pan and loosen the bottom of the frittata with a wooden spatula so that it doesn’t burn. It should turn a golden color. The eggs should be just about set; cook a few minutes longer if they’re not.

Meanwhile, heat the broiler. Uncover the pan, and place it under the broiler, not too close to the heat, for one to three minutes. Watch very carefully to make sure the top doesn’t burn (at most, it should brown very slightly and puff under the broiler). Remove from the heat, and shake the pan to make sure the frittata isn’t sticking. Allow it to cool for at least five minutes and for as long as 15 minutes. Loosen the edges with a wooden or plastic spatula. Carefully slide from the pan onto a large round platter. Cut into wedges or into smaller bite-size diamonds. Serve hot, warm, at room temperature or cold.]]>Tue, 03 Aug 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.amysorganicgarden.com/recipes/eggplant-caponataAn amazing dip or quick pasta sauce. Smear onto pizzas or eat with a spoon!!


1 1/2 pounds eggplant (1 large), cut into 1” cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, diced
3 large garlic cloves, minced
2 red bell peppers, diced
Salt to taste
1 pound ripe tomatoes, finely chopped, or 1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes (in puree)
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped Kalamata olives 
2 tablespoons plus a pinch of sugar
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
freshly ground pepper to taste


Preheat oven to 400. Cube the eggplant, toss with olive oil, and roast until golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet and add the onion and celery. Cook, stirring, until the onion softens, about 5 minutes, and add the garlic. Cook together for a minute, until the garlic begins to smell fragrant, and add the peppers and ½ teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring, until just about tender, about 8 minutes. Add another tablespoon of oil and the eggplant, and stir together for another 5 minutes, until the vegetables are tender. The eggplant will fall apart, which is fine. Season to taste.
Step 3
Add the tomatoes to the pan with about ½ teaspoon salt and a pinch of sugar. Cook, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan often, for 5 to 10 minutes, until the tomatoes have cooked down somewhat and they smell fragrant. Add the olives, remaining sugar, and vinegar. Turn the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, for 20 to 30 minutes, until the vegetables are thoroughly tender and the mixture is quite thick, sweet, and fragrant. Season to taste with salt and pepper and remove from the heat. Allow to cool to room temperature. If possible, cover and chill overnight. Serve at room temperature.]]>Tue, 20 Jul 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.amysorganicgarden.com/recipes/skillet-pepper-chicken-and-veggiesfrom-half-baked-harvest1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced or grated
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
zest and juice of 1 lemon
kosher salt and pepper
2 red bell peppers, sliced
1 zucchini or yellow summer squash, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes
3/4 cup white wine, Such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc

1. Toss the chicken with 2 tablespoons olive oil, garlic, paprika, onion powder, cayenne, parsley, basil, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Season generously with salt and pepper. 
2.  Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and chicken to the pan and sear on both sides until golden, about 5 minutes per side. Add the peppers and zucchini and cook another 5 minutes. Next add the tomatoes, shake the pan and cook for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium low and pour in the wine. Simmer the chicken for 10-15 minutes until cooked through. 4. Serve the chicken topped with feta. Drizzle any remaining pan sauce overtop, and top with basil. EAT!]]>Tue, 13 Jul 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.amysorganicgarden.com/recipes/grilled-eggplant-salad1 large eggplant or several small eggplant
1 plum tomato or handful of small tomatoes, diced
1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
Black pepper, to taste
Capers, for garnish, optional
Grilled pita bread, for serving


Heat grill to medium high. Prick the eggplant all over with a fork, put in on the grill and close the cover; cook, turning occasionally, until eggplant is very soft and skin is blistered, about 15 minutes. If you don’t have a grill handy, roasting the eggplant at 400 for about 20 minutes should do the trick!


When cool enough, scoop out the insides of the eggplant and coarsely chop. Transfer to a bowl and toss with tomatoes, vinegar, salt, oregano and garlic. Stir in oil and parsley; season with pepper and more salt if needed. Garnish with capers if you like them. Serve with warm pita bread.
]]>Tue, 13 Jul 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.amysorganicgarden.com/recipes/kates-no-frills-easy-freezer-sauceYou will need-
As many tomatoes as you want
A large pot
Blender or stick blender
Fine Sieve (or a strainer with smallish holes)
Large bowl
Freezer bags

Quarter Tomatoes and bring to a boil in large pot. (no need to core, just quarter and throw em in.) 
Turn down to a simmer and let reduce. Less simmering for a thin sauce, and longer for a thicker sauce. 
Once tomatoes have reached desired consistency, blend them up. Either in batches in a blender or right in the pot with a stick blender. 
Place a sieve over a large bowl and ladle sauce into it. Stirring the sauce with the ladle to help it through the strainer. This removes the skin and seeds. 
Pour strained sauce into freezer bags and store in freezer. Tip: let the sauce cool in the fridge overnight before putting in bags.

*This recipe is for a strictly tomato sauce, which can be used in any recipe at a later date. Use this same method and add onion, garlic, basil, squash and eggplant to the pot with the tomatoes, for a ready to go pasta sauce thats full of summer veg. ]]>Tue, 06 Jul 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.amysorganicgarden.com/recipes/japanese-eggplant-and-cucumber-stirfry2 long Japanese eggplants (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Salt
2 long English cucumbers (or the equivalent in weight of Japanese or Persian cucumbers)
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt (more to taste)
2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
2 tablespoons peanut or canola oil
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (to taste)
2 tablespoons minced scallions or chives

Trim off the calyx end of the eggplants. Cut in half lengthwise, then slice thin (about ¼ inch). Lightly salt, and toss in a colander. Allow to sit for 15 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients. Squeeze out excess water, then dry between sheets of paper towel.

Mean while, trim off the ends of the cucumbers. Cut in half lengthwise, then slice on the diagonal into ¼-inch thick slices.

Combine the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, salt and sesame oil in a small bowl. Place all of the ingredients near your wok or frying pan.

Heat a 14-inch flat-bottomed wok or 12-inch steel skillet over high heat until a drop of water evaporates within a second or two from the surface of the pan. Add the peanut or canola oil to the sides of the pan and tilt the pan to distribute. Add the eggplant. Stir-fry for three to four minutes until cooked through. Add the ginger and red pepper flakes, and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the cucumbers and scallions or chives. Stir-fry 30 seconds. Add the soy sauce mixture to the wok, and stir-fry one minute until the cucumber just begins to wilt. Remove from the heat and serve.]]>Tue, 06 Jul 2021 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.amysorganicgarden.com/recipes/eggplant-parm-bites1 large eggplant sliced into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste
Black pepper to taste
About 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, more for drizzling
5 garlic cloves
4 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
4 sprigs oregano
3 sprigs basil, plus 5 large leaves
5 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1/3 cup ricotta
2 ounces fresh mozzarella

Place the eggplant slices in a colander over a bowl. Season with ½ teaspoon salt. Let stand 20 minutes. Drain and pat slices dry with a paper towel. Season with pepper.

Working in batches, heat some of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat (you will need about ½ cup total for frying, less with a nonstick pan). Add as much eggplant to the skillet as fits comfortably in a single layer. Cook, without moving, until undersides are dark golden, about 4 minutes; flip and cook 3 to 4 minutes more. Transfer eggplant to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining oil and eggplant.

Let the skillet cool for a few minutes. Return it to medium heat and add 3 tablespoons oil. Smash and peel 4 garlic cloves and add them to the skillet; cook until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and oregano. Cook, breaking up the tomatoes with the back of a spatula, until tomatoes start to form a sauce, 15 minutes. Add the basil sprigs and 4 tablespoons Parmesan; simmer 5 minutes longer.

While the sauce simmers, in a small skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon oil. Mince 1 garlic clove and add to the skillet with the bread crumbs. Toast, stirring, until bread crumbs are just golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon Parmesan and a pinch of salt.

Arrange eggplant on a large platter. Spoon dollops of ricotta over the eggplant and top with sauce. Scatter bread crumbs over sauce. Top with mozzarella and garnish with torn basil leaves. Drizzle with oil and serve]]>