RECIPE: Fried Rice

I made this recipe up using left-over cooked brown and jasmine rice.  The below ingredient amounts are estimates, so feel free to use more or less of the veggies as needed or based on what you have on hand.  I used shrimp but it's easy enough to make this vegetarian by omitting the shrimp.  This is a great, super simple way to use up lots of CSA veggies!

canola oil
2 cloves garlic sliced
fresh ginger
diced peppers
chopped broccoli
zucchini or summer squash diced
1 lb. shrimp
lemongrass
1+ cup of cooked rice
edamame
sliced scallions
sesame oil
soy sauce

Heat canola oil over medium heat and saute garlic and ginger for 5 minutes.  Add pepper, zucchini/summer squash and broccoli, and saute for 3 minutes.  Add shrimp if using along with lemongrass (I don't cut it, I just throw it in whole).  Once shrimp is nearly pink, add cooked rice, scallions, edamame and a few dashes of sesame oil and soy sauce.  Add more sesame oil/soy sauce according to taste.  Enjoy!

RECIPE: Easiest Roasted Vegetables

Preheat oven to 350.  Cut vegetables into your desired size and coat in oil, salt and pepper.  Spread on a cookie sheet and bake, checking after 20 minutes, stir if necessary, and cook for 20-30 minutes more.

RECIPE: Easy Vegetable Soup

This soup is perfect when you have veggies in your fridge but CSA pickup day is tomorrow!  Throw it all in a pot and make a delicious and nutritious soup.

Ingredients:

- At least one onion, chopped (more are better)

- All your other CSA veggies chopped into bite-size pieces, including summer/winter squash, carrots, hearty greens, kohlrabi, cauliflower, celery, …

In a large pot, heat 4T olive oil on medium-high heat.  Add chopped onions (and carrots and celery, if using) and some salt and allow them to cook till light brown.  Add other vegetables that you think taste better browned, like squash, kohlrabi, cauliflower, and allow them to brown in the pot.  After they are brown, add at least 8 cups water, or more if the pot and amount of veggies will accommodate it. Add the rest of the veggies (like the hearty greens: kale, collard greens, etc).  Bring to boil and reduce to simmer. Cook for 30-60 minutes depending on size of veggies. Veggies will be tender when soup is done. Add salt and pepper to taste.

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RECIPE: Ratatouille

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup tomato puree. (I used Muir Glen tomato sauce)

2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided

1/2 onion, thinly sliced then cut in half. It's ok if the pieces come apart. I used a mandolin for all the vegetables, to get thin even slices.

1 small eggplant, sliced. Cut slices in half, if needed. Or you can use a smaller Italian eggplant, if available.

2 small zucchini, sliced thinly

3-4 roma tomatoes, sliced thinly.

2 small yellow squashes, sliced thinly

2 red peppers, sliced thinly. I cut my pepper in half, sliced it thinly, then used 1-4 pieces when layering.

1-2 tsp. thyme- you will sprinkle over the top

1-2 tsp. basil

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Pour tomato sauce in the bottom of a round, oval or square baking dish. I used a round one to create the spiraled effect, but any type of dish would work. My dish measures 10 1/2 inches across

Add the minced garlic and one tablespoon of olive oil into the tomato sauce. Stir to blend and season with salt, pepper, and a small sprinkling of basil (approx. 1/2 tsp.)

Wash all of your vegetables, and dry thoroughly. Trim ends.

Using a mandoline, adjustable-blade slicer, or a very sharp knife cut the onion, eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, tomatoes, and peppers approximately 1/16-inch thick.

In your palm or on your cutting board, layer your vegetables in a pattern. This was my pattern, eggplant, tomato, onion, yellow squash, red pepper, zucchini, tomato, eggplant...repeat.

Once I had a sizeable stack, I placed it on its side in my dish. The purple side of the eggplant should be up. I started on the outside of the dish and worked my way in.

Cut a piece of parchment paper to the size of your baking dish and tuck in the paper around the edges. This will help seal in steam.

Bake for 35-45 minutes.

Notes

We sometimes top with mozzarella cheese and call it dinner! You can also use a hard cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano. Spoon over cous cous, rice, or quinoa for a heartier meal.

RECIPE: Zucchini and Fresh Corn Farmers' Market Salad with Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette

This no-cook, raw salad gets its spunk from a garlicky-lemon basil vinaigrette and chunks of goat cheese that lightly marinate the thin squash peels and freshly shucked corn kernels.

SERVES 2

Ingredients

1 small or medium zucchini

1 small or medium yellow squash

1 ear of corn, shucked and cleaned, with the kernels cut off the cob

1 ounce goat cheese

Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette (recipe below)

Red pepper flakes

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

A few leaves of fresh torn basil

*optional: A few tablespoons of toasted pine nuts

For the Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette

½ cup good olive oil

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 clove minced fresh garlic

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

For the Salad

With a wide vegetable peeler, peel the zucchini and squash lengthwise into long ribbons (discarding the middle — you'll know when you get to it, because the squash will get too thin and watery.) Place the ribbons in a good sized bowl or plate, alternating so you can see equal amounts of green and yellow. Add the corn kernels and about 2 tablespoons of vinaigrette. Toss. Add salt, freshly ground pepper and chili flakes to taste. Add the goat cheese and garnish with fresh torn basil.

For the Lemon-Basil Vinaigrette

Add all of the ingredients to a small jar with a lid and shake well. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.

Note: You'll have vinaigrette left over to use on other salads, or make this one again!

Crispy Summer Squash Pancakes

INGREDIENTS

·        2 medium yellow squash, grated on the medium holes of a box grater and squeezed dry

·        2 scallions, thinly sliced

·        1 jalapeño, thinly sliced

·        1 large egg, beaten

·        1/2 cup all-purpose flour

·        2 teaspoons baking powder

·        Kosher salt

·        Pepper

·        6 tablespoons canola oil

·        Lemon wedges and sour cream, for serving

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE

1.    In a medium bowl, combine the squash with the scallions, jalapeño, egg, flour and baking powder and season with salt and pepper. Mix gently just to combine.

2.    In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil. Spoon 3 heaping 1/3-cup mounds of the batter into the skillet and press lightly to flatten them. Cook over moderate heat until golden, about 
3 minutes. Flip the pancakes, add 1 tablespoon of the oil 
and cook until golden and crisp, 
2 minutes longer. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining oil and batter. Serve the pancakes hot with lemon wedges and sour cream.

Serve for breakfast with cream cheese, cucumbers and smoked salmon or under a runny, fried egg!