cucumber Tag

08 Jul

Posted at 10:46h in Recipes by
9 Likes

Cucumbers are a refreshing and welcome addition to our CSA shares!  There are so many amazing things you can make with cucumbers.  Simply slice them up and enjoy or use them in various recipes.  This week I have two wonderful recipes to share with you.  The first one is a family recipe for our cucumber salad.  It is a salad that has been passed on for generations, but I’m not sure a recipe was ever written down.  The second is an easy refrigerator pickle that can be ready in as little as 24 hours!

Cucumber Salad
Ingredients
5 Kirby cucumbers or 3 regular cucumbers
2 medium sweet onions or regular onions
6 Tbsp white vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp honey
¼ tsp black pepper
¾ tsp garlic powder

  • Peel cucumbers. Thinly slice to about 1/16” or 1/8” on mandolin.  Place in large bowl.
  • Use the bulbs of the onions only. Cut bulb in half and then slice on mandolin (same thickness as cucumbers).  Place in bowl with cucumbers.
  • In small bowl, combine vinegar, oil, salt, honey, pepper, and garlic powder. Whisk well.
  • Pour dressing over cucumbers and onions. Mix well to coat.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Refrigerator Pickles
Fresh cucumbers + dill + garlic = the perfect blend for crisp, delicious pickles.  This recipe is easy and does not require canning.  Feel free to cut in half if you only want to make one quart jar. 

Ingredients
6-8 Kirby cucumbers (you can use other cucumbers, these are just my favorites for this recipe)
3 cups water
1 cup white vinegar
3 Tbsp honey
3 ½ Tbsp sea salt
5 tsp dried dill or 4-6 sprigs of fresh dill (I prefer fresh dill but sometimes only have dried on hand)
4 cloves fresh garlic

  • Clean two quart jars and lids.
  • Cut cucumbers into spears or rounds. Pack into jars.  The number of cucumbers needed varies depending on their size.  Cucumbers should be tightly packed.

  • Slice garlic and add 2 cloves per jar.
  • Add 2 ½ tsp dried dill to each jar or 2-3 sprigs of fresh dill to each jar.
  • In a medium saucepan, combine water, vinegar, honey, and sea salt. Bring to a boil and mix well.  Allow to simmer until honey and salt are dissolved.  Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
  • Pour liquid into each jar. Fill to the top.  Place lid on and gently flip upside down to mix.
  • Refrigerate for at least 24 hours.
  • Keep refrigerated. Best if eaten within 1 month.

**Optional: Add ½ tsp red pepper flakes to each jar or add fresh sliced jalapenos to give your pickles some spice.

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

18 Jul

Posted at 14:47h in Recipes by
5 Likes

With all the summer veggies coming in I had to make some fresh spring rolls with them! You can add in whatever else you have on hand like fresh herbs or sliced avocado.

Enjoy with my delicious tahini dipping sauce on the side:)

Ingredients for Spring rolls

1 pack rice paper
Bunch of carrots
1 cucumber
1 zucchini
1 red pepper
1 mango
Pea shoots
Scallions
Fresh mint or cilantro

Cut carrots, pepper and mango into thin strips. Slice cucumber and zucchini vertically as thin as you can (I used a mandolin). Dice scallions. Add water to a large plate to use for soaking the rice paper. When the rice paper becomes soft remove from water and add vegetables and mango to center of the paper. Tuck in sides and roll up until everything is secure inside. Continue for rest of rolls.

Ingredients for Tahini dipping sauce

1/4 cup tahini
2 Tbsp coconut aminos
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 clove garlic, grated
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper
Red pepper flakes(if you like spice)

Whisk all ingredients together and serve with spring rolls. Enjoy!!

Recipe and Photos by Olivia Edgar. Olivia’s passion for food and cooking finds focus on recipes using plant based, organic ingredients which make people feel their absolute best. She is a graduate of The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and now meal preps for clients and small events. Olivia is newly married, and when she’s not cooking and sharing her recipes and holistic approaches on her Instagram account, you can find her working on their fixer-upper in Telford.