Author: bloomingglenfarm

21 Sep Escarole Salad with Apple & Dates

Escarole is the star of this recipe.  It looks very similar to head lettuce but has a very different flavor profile.  It is one of our bitter greens and is full of amazing vitamins and minerals.  Combining the inner leaves of the escarole with some apple, sweet onion, dates, and shaved parmesan creates a fantastic combination of flavors and textures.

Escarole Salad

Ingredients:
1 head escarole
½ sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 apple, cored and thinly sliced
5-6 medjool dates, pit removed and chopped
¼ cup shaved parmesan (optional)

Dressing Ingredients:
¼ cup olive oil
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp maple syrup
2 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp sea salt
Pinch black pepper

• Remove outer leaves from escarole (about ¼ of the head). Save for another use or add to your veggie scrap freezer bag.
• Wash and dry remaining escarole leaves and chop. Place in a large bowl.
• Make dressing by placing all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine.
• Pour dressing on escarole and toss to coat.
• Add onion, apple, dates, and parmesan to bowl. You can either layer these on top and serve or toss everything together and serve that way.
• Enjoy immediately!

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

14 Sep Roasted Sweet Peppers with Garlic

When sweet peppers are in season, it is always a treat.  You can eat them raw or cook them.  They make a great addition to sheet pan meals, stir fries, grill packets, or kabobs.  When bulk sweet peppers are available from the farm, we like to make a big batch of roasted peppers.  Once roasted, we marinate them in oil and fresh garlic.  Roasted sweet peppers are a fantastic addition to any charcuterie platter, can be added to sandwiches or burgers, are a great addition to any salad, or can be used on top of your favorite protein.  They are incredibly versatile, but full of flavor no matter how you choose to enjoy them.

Roasted Sweet Peppers with Garlic

Ingredients:
sweet peppers
1-1 ½ garlic cloves
2 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil

• Wash sweet peppers.
• Preheat grill to medium high. Temperature should be around 450°F.

• Oil grill grates and then place whole peppers directly on the grates. Rotate peppers every 5 minutes.
• Grill until the skin is blistered and blackened on all sides. It should take about 15-20 minutes total depending on the size of the peppers.

• Remove from grill and place in a bowl. Cover with tight fitting lid or plastic wrap.  Allow to cool enough to handle.  May take about 30 or more minutes.
• Once you are able to handle the peppers, remove the skin, stem, and seeds. It is easiest to do this under running water in the sink.

• Slice peppers into ¼ -½ inch strips.
• Thinly slice garlic cloves.
• In a medium bowl, place roasted pepper slices and garlic. Top with oil.  Toss to coat.

• Cover, place in refrigerator, and allow to marinate at least 24 hours.
• Enjoy on your favorite sandwich, on a charcuterie board, or on a salad.

• You may also can the roasted peppers for long term storage.

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

07 Sep Arugula Salad with Sauteed Radish and Onion

It is always a treat to get fresh arugula from the farm.  Enjoy this week’s arugula with a simple dressing and sauteed French breakfast radishes.  It is a delicious combination of flavors.

Arugula Salad with Sauteed Radish and Onion

Ingredients:
½ lb arugula
1 bunch French breakfast radishes, bulbs only
1 sweet onion
2 Tbsp olive oil
¼ tsp sea salt
Pinch black pepper
½ tsp honey
Goat cheese (optional)

Dressing Ingredients:
3 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
1 Tbsp vinegar of choice
¼ tsp sea salt
Pinch black pepper
1 tsp honey

• Wash and dry arugula. Place in medium bowl.
• Chop radishes into small cubes (about ½ inch in size). Peel and cut onion into a similar size.
• Heat oil in medium pan on stovetop.
• Add onion and radish cubes. Cook on medium to low heat for 13-15 minutes, stirring often.

• Remove onion/radish mixture from heat. Add salt, pepper, and honey.  Toss to coat.
• In a small bowl, mix all dressing ingredients.
• Drizzle dressing over arugula. Toss to coat.
• Top arugula with cooked onion/radish mixture. If using goat cheese, add to top of salad.
• Serve immediately.
• Enjoy!

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

31 Aug Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs

The farm has been bursting with peppers- hot peppers, bell peppers, sweet peppers, and cubanelles.  This recipe came as an idea from my brother and is perfect for your Labor Day barbecue. The hot peppers are used in a marinade for the chicken, while the other peppers are chopped up with onions to add to the kabob. Cooked on your grill, these kabobs are simple to assemble, beautiful and delicious!

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients:
½ pound boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
½ fresh pineapple, peeled and sliced into cubes
2 sweet onions, peeled and cut into chunks
3 peppers (sweet, bell, or cubanelle), cut into 1-inch pieces

Marinade Ingredients:
½ cup pineapple juice
1 hot pepper, stem removed*
½ tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

*You can use any hot pepper.  The one you choose will dictate the level of “heat” in the marinade.

**If you really enjoy spice, you can even add some chunks of hot peppers to the kabobs.

• Prepare all kabob ingredients as listed above.
• In a blender, combine marinade ingredients. Blend until fully combined.
• Place chicken cubes in glass dish or bowl. Pour marinade over top and toss to coat.  Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.  You can even marinate overnight.
• You will need skewers. If using metal skewers, you don’t need to do anything extra.  If you are using wooden skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least an hour before cooking kabobs.
• After chicken is done marinating, assemble kabobs. Place a few pieces of chicken, some pineapple cubes, pepper pieces, and onion chunks on each kabob.
• Preheat grill.
• Once grill is hot, turn it down to low. It should be about 300-350°F.
• Oil grill grates and then place kabobs in a single layer. Cook for about 20-25 minutes, rotating about every 5 minutes.

• After about 20 minutes, test a piece of chicken to make sure it is cooked through. Once chicken is done, remove kabobs from grill.
• You can serve the kabobs as is or with a side of rice.
• Enjoy!

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

24 Aug Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Whipped Ricotta Toast

It’s tomato season and these tasty fruits are abundant, whether it’s heirlooms, beefsteaks, plum tomatoes or the sweetest little cherry tomatoes!  For this dish, cherry tomatoes are the star.  Roasting and then adding them to the top of a sourdough toast with some basil-flavored whipped ricotta creates an amazing dish that is full of flavor.

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes and Whipped Ricotta Toast

Ingredients:
1 quart cherry tomatoes
½ medium onion (sweet, red, or yellow), chopped
2 Tbsp olive oil
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
1 batch whipped ricotta (Whipped Ricotta with Grilled Vegetables – Blooming Glen Farm)
1 batch balsamic glaze (Grilled Eggplant with Balsamic Glaze – Blooming Glen Farm)
A few slices of NORD bread, toasted

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Place tomatoes and onion in baking dish.
• Drizzle on oil and add salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
• Bake for 35-40 minutes.
• While the tomatoes are roasting, make a batch of whipped ricotta using basil as the fresh herb. You can also make a batch of balsamic glaze or use your favorite store-bought brand.
• Assemble the toasts. Top each slice of toast with a layer of whipped ricotta.  Then scoop on some of the roasted tomato mixture.  Drizzle on the balsamic glaze.
• Enjoy!

*You can also use the roasted tomato mixture on top of spiralized summer squash or your favorite protein.

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

17 Aug Peach and Ground Cherry Crisp

Husk cherries, also commonly referred to as ground cherries or husk tomatoes, are small golden orange fruits wrapped in a crinkly, paper-like husk. They look a little bit like small tomatillos. Ground cherries (Physalis pruinosa) belong to the family of nightshade plants that includes eggplants and tomatoes. Their flavor is mild yet sweet- with hints of ripe tomatoes, pineapple, and butterscotch, which means they work as well in sweet dishes as they do savory.

You can eat them raw just as a snack, cook them down to make a tasty jam, or add them to your favorite dessert.  This recipe combines the ground cherries with delicious local peaches in a wonderful crisp.  Add a scoop of ice cream from oWowCow and you have a sweet treat that will please everyone.

Peach and Ground Cherry Crisp

Ingredients:
6 cups peaches, peeled and sliced (about 6 peaches total)
2 cups ground cherries, husked (about 1 quart before husking)
1 Tbsp lemon juice
½ cup sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch, tapioca flour, or arrowroot starch
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
2 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup flour (you can use a gluten free flour blend if you prefer)
½ cup brown sugar or coconut sugar
1 stick salted butter, room temperature (plus a little bit extra to grease baking dish with)
1 tsp vanilla

• Coat an 8 x 8 inch baking dish with butter. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Mix fruit in a large bowl.
• Pour on lemon juice and toss to coat the fruit.
• In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Add to fruit and mix well.
• Add fruit mixture to baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, and brown sugar.
• Add butter and mix well.
• Add vanilla and make sure everything is well combined.
• Using your hands, crumble the oat mixture on top of the fruit.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.
• Enjoy!

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

02 Aug Summer Squash Fries

Summer squash is abundant this time of year. There are so many amazing ways to enjoy squash- raw, roasted, grilled, pickled, or even baked into some incredible desserts.  This recipe showcases the summer squash as a “fry”- a great way to serve these vegetables in a way that pleases even the youngest crowd.

Summer Squash Fries

Ingredients:
2 medium sized summer squash, any variety (around 2 pounds)
1 egg
¾ cup bread crumbs
¼ cup flour
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¾ tsp garlic powder
¾ tsp onion powder
½ tsp paprika

• Cut ends off of summer squash. Cut in half lengthwise and then in half again.  Cut into strips about 3 inches long and ½ inch wide.  Pat dry.
• Whisk egg in one bowl. In another bowl, combine bread crumbs, flour, and seasonings.
• Dip each summer squash strip into the egg and then into the bread crumb mixture.
• Follow instructions for cooking based on the options below.
• Serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Blooming Glen Farm ketchup or a homemade marinara using fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic, and herbs would make great options.

OVEN METHOD-

• Spray baking sheet with oil and place strips in single layer on the sheet. Leave space between each strip.
• Bake at 425°F for 20 minutes. Flip halfway through baking time.

AIR FRYER METHOD-

• Place in air fryer in single layer. Spray with oil.
• Cook for 6-8 minutes at 380°F.

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

27 Jul Veggie Cream Cheese

Veggie cream cheese is a simple and versatile recipe. It is a fun and tasty way to use whatever the harvest is that week, and the flavors can easily change with the seasons and be customized to your preference. It can be spread on your favorite bagel or slice of bread (top with a slice of fresh tomato!), used on crackers, or even paired with fresh vegetables as a dip.

Veggie Cream Cheese

Ingredients:
8 oz cream cheese, softened*
1 large clove garlic, minced
½ torpedo onion bulb, finely chopped
1 Tbsp fresh herbs, finely chopped (chives, basil, parsley, cilantro, dill, etc.)
1 cucumber
A few slices of NORD bread
Optional add ins- carrots, radishes, scallions, celery, peppers, garlic scapes, etc., finely chopped

• Mix cream cheese in stand mixer or in medium bowl with a hand mixer.
• Add garlic, onion, and herbs. Mix well.
• Scrape the sides and mix again until well combined.
• If adding additional ingredients, do that now, mixing until everything is evenly distributed.
• Store in the fridge until ready to use. Best used within a week.
• Serve with sliced cucumbers or on top of a few slices of NORD bread. Enjoy!

*You can substitute with a dairy free option.

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

20 Jul Braised Romano Beans

Romano beans are a type of wide and flat snap bean that originated in Italy. They are intended to be eaten whole and are typically cooked before eating- a slow-braise is the perfect method so they can soak up the flavors you pair them with. Combined with juicy fresh tomatoes, fresh garlic, and torpedo onion, this side dish is simple but full of flavor.

Braised Romano Beans

Ingredients:
1 Quart Romano beans*
2-3 Tbsp olive oil
1 torpedo onion, chopped (use entire onion- stem and bulb)
2-3 cloves fresh garlic, crushed
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp smoked paprika
2 Tbsp water

• Clean Romano beans and trim ends. Cut into 1 ½- 2 inch pieces and place in a medium bowl (or leave whole if that is your preference).
• On stovetop, heat olive oil in sauté pan over medium heat.
• Add onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Add garlic and cook for another minute.
• Reduce heat to low and add in tomatoes. Stir to combine and cook for about 5 minutes.
• Add beans, spices, and water. Mix all ingredients together.  Cover and cook for 15 minutes.  You may cook longer if you want a more tender bean.  We like the beans to still be a little crunchy.
• If the sauce becomes dry at all, just add another tablespoon or two of water. Keep an eye on this as the beans cook.
• Remove from heat and serve immediately. Enjoy!

*You can substitute string beans for the Romano beans in this recipe.  I would recommend leaving them whole instead of cutting them.  The recommended cook time may vary, so check more often.

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com