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RECIPES

​Fresh Tomato Sauce

8/31/2020

 
You can make this on repeat all summer! No tomato paste required. 

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced or thinly sliced (to taste)
3 pounds ripe tomatoes, quartered if you have a food mill, peeled, seeded, and diced if you don’t
1/8 teaspoon sugar
2 sprigs of fresh basil, or 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
Salt
1 tablespoon slivered fresh basil
Freshly ground pepper

In a wide, nonstick frying pan, or in a 3-quart saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat and add the garlic. Cook, stirring, just until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, sugar, basil or thyme sprig, and salt (begin with ½ teaspoon and add more later), and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring often, until thick. Pulpy tomatoes like romas will usually take 20 to 30 minutes. However, if the tomatoes are very juicy, it will take longer for them to cook down. The longer you cook the sauce, the sweeter it will be. You can speed up the process by turning up the heat, but stir often so the sauce doesn’t scorch. Towards the end of cooking, stir in the slivered fresh basil and some freshly ground pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings.

If using quartered tomatoes, put through the medium blade of a food mill. If you used peeled seeded tomatoes but want a sauce with a smooth, even texture, remove the basil sprigs and discard. Pulse the sauce in a food processor fitted with the steel blade.

Tomatoes Niçoise

8/31/2020

 
If anchovies aren’t your thing, just omit them. 

1 small shallot or sweet onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, grated
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 anchovy fillets, finely chopped 
2 tablespoons roughly chopped black niçoise or oil-cured olives, plus whole olives for garnish
6 small red tomatoes
12 cherry tomatoes in assorted colors
1 tablespoon small capers, rinsed
12 basil leaves


Make the vinaigrette: Put the shallot in a small bowl. Add garlic, salt and pepper and cover with red wine vinegar. Macerate 10 minutes, then whisk in olive oil, chopped anchovy and chopped olives.

Cut each tomato crosswise into 2 thick slices. Place slices on a platter in one layer and season with salt and pepper. Season cherry tomatoes with salt and dress with vinaigrette. Spoon cherry tomatoes and vinaigrette evenly over tomato slices.

Top each tomato slice with a sprinkle of capers. Garnish with basil leaves and whole olives. Serve at cool room temperature.

Beet and Cucumber Relish

7/13/2020

 
This relish would be best made with yellow beets, if possible. That way it will keep the colors separate. Made with red beets, it will be just as delicious, but will be all red.

3 medium beets
Salt and pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup finely diced red onion
4 tablespoons lime juice, plus more for finishing
1 teaspoon grated ginger
2 medium cucumbers, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes
2 tablespoons roughly chopped dill
2 tablespoons roughly chopped mint
2 tablespoons finely cut chives

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place beets in a baking dish with an inch of water. Tightly cover baking dish and roast for 1 hour or so, until beets are soft enough to yield to a fork and skins easily rub off. Peel beets, let them cool, then dice into ½-inch cubes. Alternatively, peel and dice raw beets, then simmer in salted water for 20 to 30 minutes, until tender. (Beets may be cooked up to a day in advance.)

Put onions, ginger and lime juice in a mixing bowl with a big pinch of salt. Let macerate for 10 minutes or so, then add beets and cucumber to bowl. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss to coat well with juices. Leave to marinate, tossing occasionally, for at least 10 minutes and up to 30 minutes. Add fresh herbs and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve on top of fish, chicken, or just as a side dish.

Cucumber and Tonic

7/13/2020

 
1/2 cucumber, preferably hothouse
4 thin slices of lime
2 sprigs mint
Tonic or soda water, to taste
Peychaud's bitters, to taste (optional)


Using a vegetable peeler, peel the cucumber lengthwise until you have long, wide ribbons.

Place a few slices of lime and mint leaves in the bottom of a Collins glass, or other tall glass, and, using a wooden spoon, lightly muddle them to release the juices in the lime and oils in the mint. Add a few strips of cucumber and fill the glass with ice (crushed, if you’ve got it).

Top with tonic water and a few dashes of bitters, if using.

Farmers Market Gyros

7/13/2020

 
Eggplant can easily be subbed for the squash here, or use both! 

Tzatziki:
1 5.3 ounce container Greek Yogurt
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 cucumber, peeled and shredded 
1 tablespoon minced Italian parsley 
Pinch of salt 

Gyros:
4 pita pockets 
2 to 3 summer squash, ends trimmed and sliced lengthwise  
Olive oil 
Salt
2 cucumbers, peeled and diced 
1 pint of cherry tomatoes, halved
Juice from 1 lemon
Salt
Pinch of crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon minced Italian parsley
1 teaspoon minced mint 

Tzatziki: 
To a medium bowl, add the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, shredded cucumbers, Italian parsley and salt. Mix until combined. Transfer to the fridge while you make the rest of the gyros. 

Gyros:
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Place the pita on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven to warm the pita. 
To a small bowl, combined the diced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, lemon juice, a few pinches of salt, crushed red pepper, Italian parsley and mint. 
Using a grill or grill pan, bring the heat to medium-high. Brush the squash with a bit of olive oil. Cook on each side for about 2 to 3 minutes, until the squash has softened slightly and you begin to see grill marks. Transfer to a plate and sprinkle with a few pinches of salt.
To assemble the gyros, grab the tzatziki from the fridge. Add a dollop to the center of the pita and spread it around into an even layer. Add a few slices of squash, top with a few spoonfuls of tomato and cucumber salad. Add more fresh herbs if desired. 

Herb and Onion Pilaf

7/13/2020

 
Use any and ALL herbs that you have!! Dill, basil, mint, parsley, cilantro, anything! 

2 tablespoons neutral oil (like grapeseed or corn)
3 green parts of spring onion, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 1/2 cups rice, preferably basmati
2 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken stock or water, or more as needed
Salt
black pepper
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 cups chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 cup chopped fresh chives
3/4 cup chopped fresh mint
Zest of 1 lemon


Put the oil in a deep skillet or large saucepan over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes.

Add the rice and cook, stirring, until glossy, about 1 minute. Add the stock or water and a good sprinkling of salt and pepper and bring to a boil.

Turn the heat down to low, cover and cook until the rice is tender and the liquid is almost entirely absorbed, about 15 minutes. Uncover, remove from the heat and stir in the herbs. Replace the lid and let rest off the heat for at least 10 minutes or up to 20 minutes. Uncover and stir in the lemon zest; taste and adjust the seasoning. Fluff the pilaf with a fork, and serve warm or at room temperature with a drizzle of soy sauce.

One Pot Creamy Zucchini Pasta with Gremolata

7/13/2020

 
Since this recipe cooks the noodles with the stock for the sauce, it is extra important to stir while cooking the pasta! If you have already made a batch of pesto, use it in place of the gremolata, which is just a cheese-less pesto! 


Ingredients
2 3/4 cups vegetable stock
12 ounces medium pasta shells
2 medium zucchini (about 14 ounces total), trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
4 ounces softened cream cheese
1 large garlic clove, finely chopped


For the gremolata:
1/3 packed cup thinly sliced basil
Kosher salt and black pepper
3 tablespoons chopped roasted salted almonds
3 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley


Preparation
In a large, deep 12-inch skillet, bring stock to a boil over high heat. Once stock boils, stir in pasta, zucchini, cream cheese, garlic and half the basil; season generously with salt and pepper and reduce the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring frequently, until pasta is tender and liquid is reduced until thickened and creamy, 12 to 13 minutes, adding a splash of water during the last few minutes of cooking if needed to moisten. Season to taste with salt and pepper.


Meanwhile, prepare the gremolata: Chop almonds and parsley with remaining basil until finely chopped and combined; season with salt and pepper.


Divide pasta among shallow bowls. Top with gremolata and serve immediately.

Cucumber and Dill Salad

7/13/2020

 
Ingredients
4-5 small cucumbers, peeled if desired 
1 large spring onion
3-4 dill sprigs 
1/3 cup sour cream (regular or vegan)
salt
pepper

Slice cucumbers and spring onions (green and white parts!), then finely chop dill.
Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, add salt and pepper to taste. Add sour cream and mix gently, taste and add more salt if needed.

Garlic Scape Pesto

6/2/2020

 
​Part of the joy of CSA abundance is storing for the off season. This pesto can be frozen into ice cube trays, then stored in a plastic bag to pop into soups and pastas all winter! It can also be altered to use up extra arugula, kale, or herbs.

Ingredients
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
3/4 cup coarsely chopped garlic scapes
Juice and zest of 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon salt
A few generous grinds of black pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation
Combine the scapes, sunflower seeds, lemon juice and zest, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse about 20 times, until fairly well combined. Pour in the olive oil slowly through the feed tube while the motor is running. When the oil is incorporated, transfer the pesto to a bowl and stir in the grated cheese. If you plan to freeze the pesto, wait to add the cheese until after you've defrosted it.

Deviled Kale Caesar Salad

6/2/2020

 
​From Salad Samurai by Terry Hope Romero (slightly adapted)

Ingredients
Deviled Caesar Dressing 
½ cup unroasted cashews
½ cup hot water
1 roasted red pepper
2 tsps sweet paprika (I have used smoked for a deeper flavor!)
½ tsp cayenne pepper
2 TBSP freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 TBSP olive oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled
2 tsp white miso
1 TBSP Dijon mustard (whole grain works as well)

Kale Salad
6 cups kale (of any kind!) destemmed and torn into bite size pieces
2 cups croutons (homemade or store bought)
½ cup thinly sliced red onions massaged with 1 TBSP fresh lime juice and a pinch of salt

Preparation 
Soak the cashews I the hot water for 30 minutes, until tender. Pulse the cashews and soaking water in a blender along with the rest of the dressing ingredients until smooth. Cover and chill the dressing for at least 10 minutes. 

When ready to serve, toast the dressing with the kale and croutons in a large bowl until completely coated. Transfer to serving plates and garnish with the pickled onions, and a sprinkling of paprika.

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​Sandy Point Rd, Charles City, Virginia 23030 • phone: 804.896.6446 • email: 
amy@amysorganicgarden.com


  • Home
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    • A CSA Garden Share
    • USDA Organic
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    • What We Grow
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  • RECIPES
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