herbs Tag

27 Oct

Posted at 10:22h in Recipes by
12 Likes

With the beautiful bounty we have received from the farm this week, I wanted to create an easy recipe for vegetable broth and a simple soup.  These recipes showcase the amazing celery, carrots, onions, broccoli, and fresh herbs from this week’s share, and the parts of the veggie you might typically discard are utilized in the broth- like kale ribs, beet greens and onion peels.

Slow Cooker Vegetable Broth

Ingredients:
2 onions- cut into 1/8ths with skin on
1 head garlic- chopped in half with skin on
4 carrots with tops- rough chopped
4 celery stalks with leaves- rough chopped
8 cups chopped veggie scraps (kale ribs, beet greens, turnip tops, onion peels, etc.)
3 Tbsp fresh herbs of choice- rough chopped
1 ½ tsp sea salt
¾ tsp black pepper
8-12 cups water (fill slow cooker almost to top)

  • Prep all ingredients and place in slow cooker.
  • Pour in water to within an inch of the top of the slow cooker.
  • Cook on high for 6 hours.
  • Toss strained vegetables.  Freeze or refrigerate broth.
  • This recipe makes about 8 cups of broth.

Easy Vegetable Soup

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 onions, peeled and chopped
4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1 bunch carrots, chopped
4 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
1 head broccoli with stalks, chopped
½ lb mushrooms, chopped
2 Tbsp fresh herbs, finely chopped
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
8-10 cups vegetable broth

  • Heat oil in large saucepan.
  • Add onion and sauté on medium heat for 4 minutes.
  • Add garlic and sauté for 2 minutes.
  • Add carrots, celery, broccoli, mushrooms, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  • Add broth and simmer covered for 30 minutes.
  • Serve as is or with cooked pasta or rice.
  • Enjoy!

 

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio, Blooming Glen Farm CSA Coach.  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

15 Sep

Posted at 11:51h in Recipes by
6 Likes

As we navigate through the month of September, we begin to see a shift in the harvest.  The last of the cherry tomatoes are being picked and the summer squash has been replaced by spaghetti squash.  Just as the farm shifts to the autumn bounty, at home we are shifting to new schedules and routines with the kids going back to school.

It’s the back to school shift that inspired this recipe.  It is one that can be made in advance and quickly cooked for a fast, but nutritious dinner.  For those kids (or adults) that hate to eat their greens, this recipe is a great way to disguise them.  These meatloaf muffins can be served alongside some roasted potatoes or a mix of roasted or grilled vegetables.

Meatloaf Muffins

Ingredients:
2 cups greens, roughly chopped and inner rib removed (kale, collards, Swiss chard, etc.)
1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
2-3 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp fresh herbs or 2 tsp dried herbs (chives, parsley, etc.)
2 lbs ground beef or turkey
2 eggs
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)
1 cup breadcrumbs

Glaze-
½ cup ketchup
1 ½ tsp spicy mustard
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp garlic powder

  • Bring a medium pot of water to a boil.
  • Place greens in water for 60 seconds and then remove with a slotted spoon.

  • Allow the greens to cool and squeeze excess liquid out.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Combine greens, onion, garlic, and fresh or dried herbs in food processor. Pulse to chop.  Scrape sides and pulse again.  Continue to do this until all ingredients are well combined and finely chopped.
  • Place meat, eggs, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce (if using) in large bowl. Add onion/greens mixture.  Mix well.  You can use a spoon, but I find it easier to just use my hands.
  • Add half of the breadcrumbs. Mix well.  Add the other half of breadcrumbs and mix well.
  • Grease muffin pan. Divide meat mixture into 12 servings and press into each muffin mold.  I found that a large ice cream scoop worked well for this job.
  • Place muffin pan on a cookie sheet in oven. This will catch any oil or grease that may run over and will save you clean up afterwards.
  • Bake for 20 minutes.

  • While muffins are cooking, make the glaze by mixing ketchup, mustard, and spices.
  • After the 20 minutes are up, remove the meatloafs from the oven and put the glaze on top of each muffin.
  • Return the muffin pan to the oven and bake an additional 10 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and serve while hot. Pairs well with roasted potatoes, mashed potatoes, or roasted/grilled vegetables.
  • Enjoy!

TO FREEZE- Before cooking, place muffin pan in freezer for a few hours.  Remove uncooked meatloaf muffins and place in plastic bag.  Return to freezer.  When ready to use, place frozen muffins in muffin pan and place in fridge to defrost overnight.  Cook as directed in above recipe.

 

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

11 Aug

Posted at 15:23h in Recipes by
6 Likes

This colorful bean salad is a great make-ahead dish for the summer days when you don’t want to cook.  It pairs well with grilled protein, is a great side dish for barbecues, and is always a hit at picnics.  This week’s harvest gives us the bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, onion, garlic, and fresh herbs needed for this recipe.

Summer Bean Salad

Ingredients:
4 cups beans, cooked and drained (kidney, black beans, chickpeas, white beans, etc.)*
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1 cup onion, diced (red, yellow or sweet onion)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp fresh herbs, finely chopped

Dressing:
8 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
4 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
½ tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

  • Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl.
  • Mix together dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk until well combined and then pour over salad.
  • Toss to coat.
  • Enjoy!
  • Refrigerate any leftovers. This salad will keep for a few days in the fridge.

*You can use any variety of beans.  If you are using canned beans, drain and rinse them before adding to salad.  If you are using dried beans, they should be cooked and cooled before adding to salad.

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

22 Jul

Posted at 10:25h in Recipes by
7 Likes

New potatoes are freshly harvested from the ground and are uncured.  Leaving their thin skins on adds color, flavor and nutritional value to culinary dishes.  Combining these potatoes with butter, spices, and fresh herbs in a casserole make a great side dish.

Herb Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients:
1 lb new potatoes
2 fresh torpedo onions (bulb only- reserve tops for another recipe or broth)
6 Tbsp salted butter, divided
½ cup flour (for gluten free options- use an all purpose blend or cassava flour)
1 tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¾ tsp paprika
2 Tbsp + 1 tsp minced fresh herbs (dill, thyme, rosemary, sage, etc.)
2-3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
¼ cup parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
2 cups milk (dairy or nondairy)

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Thinly slice potatoes. I used a mandolin set on 1/8 inch setting.

  • Thinly slice onions.
  • Use 1 Tbsp butter to grease baking dish. I used a 6 x 10 inch pan.
  • In the baking dish, layer half of the potatoes and then half of the onions.

  • Cut butter into thin slices and place 3 Tbsp on top of the onions.
  • In a medium bowl, mix flour, sea salt, black pepper, paprika, 2 Tbsp fresh herbs, garlic, and parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast.
  • Sprinkle half of the flour mixture into the baking dish on top of the onions and butter.
  • Layer the rest of the potatoes, then the rest of the onions, then the rest of the butter (2 Tbsp), and finally the remaining flour mixture.

  • Slowly add milk to the dish.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
  • Broil for 3-5 minutes to crisp top. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
  • Top with remaining 1 tsp fresh herbs and a few sprinkles of paprika before serving.

Notes:
*To make dairy free- use vegan butter, nutritional yeast, and dairy free milk.
*Can prepare in advance and refrigerate before cooking.
*Leftovers reheat really well.

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

08 Jul

Posted at 10:17h in Recipes by
13 Likes

bg_blog lentil potato chard salad 2This versatile summer salad is not only packed with flavor & nutrition, but also uses several recent share ingredients.  We’ve talked about the healthy stuff in potatoes & Swiss chard here before; combining them with lentils, a good source of both plant-based protein & iron, allows this salad to stand in as a hearty side or a main dish.  Roasting the potatoes & chard brings a smokey flavor & unique texture that contrasts perfectly with the raw ingredients. Note: this is a good time to roast some other veggies (beets & kohlrabi, fennel, peppers, eggplant, turnips, etc.) while you have the oven on!

Try serving this salad on top a bed of chopped spring greens, with a side of grilled string beans & your favorite protein, or topped with a fried farm-fresh egg.

Roasted Potato & Chard Salad with Lentils
bg_blog lentil potato chard saladIngredients
1 cup black, green or brown lentils (black pictured)
6 potatoes (~1-1/2 lb), cut into cubes
3+ cups Swiss chard, roughly chopped
Salt & pepper
Grapeseed or other high-heat cooking oil
3 spring onion bulbs (~1/3 cup), finely diced
1 fennel bulb (~1/3 cup), finely diced — or try celery
1-2 clove green (or other) garlic, minced
3 TBS lemon juice
2 TBS Dijon mustard
1 TBS olive oil
1/2 cup fresh herbs, finely chopped (optional)

Method
Preheat oven to 400-degrees.

In a medium pan, bring lentils, water, and ~1/2 teaspoon salt to boil. Simmer the lentils until tender, ~20 minutes. Drain and put aside

Meanwhile, toss potatoes with a little grapeseed oil & a sprinkle of salt & pepper, then place on a single layer on a cookie sheet. Roast until tender & lightly browned, ~20 minutes. Repeat with Swiss chard, roast until wilted & drying, but not crispy, ~10 mins.

In a large bowl, combine the onion, fennel or celery, garlic & lemon juice, then allow to sit for a few minutes. Whisk in mustard & olive oil. Season to taste with salt & pepper.

Add lentils, potatoes & herbs to the bowl & toss to combine. Serve warm or chill until ready to serve.

gfg_head shot mPost and photos by Mikaela D. Martin: Blooming Glen CSA member since 2005, board-certified health counselor, and co-founder of Guidance for Growing, an integrative wellness practice in Souderton. Read more about healthy eating and living on her site, http://guidanceforgrowing.com!

17 Jul

Posted at 08:15h in Recipes by
11 Likes

Tabbouleh Salad ingredientsTabbouleh (also tabouli) is a classic Middle Eastern salad made from whole grains and highlighted by the fresh herbs, cucumbers, and tomatoes that are in season right now. The whole grains in tabbouleh come from bulgur, which is made from whole hard wheat (wheat berries) that’s been parboiled, dried, and then cracked.

This whole wheat is very different than the wheat-based products we often buy at the grocery store:  When wheat is refined and processed — primarily into wheat flour — nearly all of its nutritional value is stripped away.  In fact, “more than half of wheat’s B vitamins, 90 percent of the vitamin E, and virtually all of the fiber” are lost.  When wheat is refined, its nutritious bran and germ are removed and we’re left only with a starch that’s digested as a simple sugar, causing our blood sugar levels to spike as if we’d eaten candy!

Healthy whole wheat like bulgur, on the other hand, is a complex carbohydrate that offers a unique combination of minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, all of which work in concert together to protect our cardiovascular health, prevent Type 2 Diabetes, promote digestive health, and help fight off cancer.  Once cooked, bulgur has a mild, nutty flavor that adds a fantastic chewy, meaty texture to foods. Mix it into a salad, stirfry, chili, spaghetti sauce, taco filling, or use it as a base for a grain salad (such as this Asian Bulgur and Edamame Salad), stuffed peppers, breakfast porridge, or savory side dish.

In addition to whole wheat, tabbouleh takes advantage of the cucumber bounty we’ve been enjoying with our share.  Cucumbers aren’t commonly thought of for their nutrition, but they actually are a good source of vitamin A, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese, and a very good source of potassium and vitamins C and K.  Thanks to the phytonutrients in cucumbers, they also bring our bodies anti-inflammatory, antioxident, and anti-cancer benefits, too.

The important key to accessing all this great stuff, however, is consuming the skin. (Some might remember that this is true for many of the vegetables we eat — we’ve talked about potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, and eggplant here before 🙂 )  If you’re just getting used to eating the skin on cucumbers, try peeling only half of the skin off at first, then move up to keeping it all intact.

Tabbouleh a naturally versatile and adaptable dish, so feel free to play around with the grain-herb-veggie ratio.  You might prefer an herb-based salad, or you might choose to go heavy on the cucumbers, since they’re so abundant right now (as I did in the salad pictured). You could even make this recipe gluten-free by substituting bulgur for another healthy whole grain, such as quinoa. Tabbouleh pairs great with hummus, baba ganoush, and pita.

Tabbouleh

Tabbouleh

Ingredients
2 cups boiling water
1-1/4 cup bulgur wheat (use quinoa for a gluten-free version)
1 cup parsley, chopped
1/2 cup mint, chopped
1/4 cup minced onion
1+ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered or chopped
1+ cup cucumbers, diced

Dressing
1/4 cup olive oil
juice from 1/2 lemon, more to taste
1 tsp salt, more to taste
pinch of pepper
pinch allspice

Method
Place bulgur in a bowl and pour boiling water over top. Let stand for 20-30 minutes, until softened, but still chewy.  Drain off any excess liquid, and fluff. If using quinoa, prepare per package instructions. Add herbs and veggies to bulgur and gently stir. Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Add dressing to bulgur, gently stirring until dressing coats salad well. Adjust seasonings to taste.  Serve chilled.

Post Sources
Harvard School of Public Health
Nutrition Data (Bulgur)
Nutrition Data (Cucumber)
WH Foods (Cucumber)

Post and photos by Mikaela D. Martin: Blooming Glen CSA member since 2005, board-certified health counselor, and co-founder of Guidance for Growing, an integrative wellness practice in Souderton. Read more about healthy eating and living on her site, http://guidanceforgrowing.com!

06 Sep

Posted at 21:13h in Recipes by
5 Likes

Wet weather aside, I’m welcoming the cooler temperatures of late because they have allowed me to reacquaint myself with my kitchen. It seems like I’ve taken a hiatus recently from actually cooking. Instead of cooking meals, I’ve been favoring anything fresh I can throw into the same bowl. Now that it’s not 100 degrees in my kitchen, I’m a bit more excited to prepare a real dinner.

And what better way to celebrate my reintroduction to cooking than with juicy pork chops, fragrant herbs, and creamy swiss chard? This meal is easy, quick, and heavenly. It’s got all the advantages of a one-pot meal, but all the elegance of a steak house entree. The perfect end to a day spent working in the rain. (I could barely manage to squeeze in the photo shoot before scarfing it down).

Herbed Pork Chops with Dijon Swiss Chard

Rub both sides of 2 pork chops with salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped sage and thyme (both can be found in the Discovery Garden during your CSA pick-up, or at our farmstand at market).

Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When butter is melted, add pork chops. Sear chops, about 4 minutes per side, until there is a nice crust of fried herbs and meat is just cooked through. Remove from pan and cover with foil to keep warm.

Using the same pan, reduce heat to medium and add  1/2 yellow onion, chopped. Cook until translucent. Add 3/4 pound swiss chard, stems removed and leaves roughly chopped. When chard has partially wilted, stir in 3 tablespoons dijon mustard and 1/4 cup half-and-half or whole milk. Continue cooking the chard until it is fully wilted and the sauce has thickened a bit.

Top a mound of chard with a pork chop and drizzle any remaining sauce from the pan on top. Fluffy homemade biscuits drizzled in local honey make a divine addition to the meal, but it would go equally well with some crusty bread or steamed rice. (Serves 2)

Text and photography by Kate Darlington – Blooming Glen Farm second year intern, fresh food enthusiast, and budding food blogger. She also writes for the Digging Deep Campaign as well as for her personal blog, Growing Things.

06 Jul

Posted at 02:35h in Recipes by
5 Likes

I’m sure you are as excited as we are to have the first batch of this season’s potatoes make its way into your CSA share. Fresh out of the dirt, these pink little nuggets have a flavorful, earthy goodness that is hard to beat. One important thing to note about this week’s variety–Dark Red Norland–is that they are a “new” potato and have not been cured, so the skin is really delicate. This is great because you don’t have to peel them, but it also means they will look a little tattered from tumbling in our root washer.

I still think they are mighty pretty : )

Dark Red Norland

The first thing I usually want to do when potatoes come into season (besides mashing them with a pound of butter) is make a simple cold potato salad. Since I’m looking for a new way to incorporate more fresh herbs into my dishes, I concocted this “fancy” version of potato salad with four kinds of herbs and those delicious yellow wax beans you have the choice of picking this week. I encourage you to eat this one warm or at room temperature. The flavors seem to develop much better. ENJOY!

Herb Potato Salad with Yellow Wax Beans
*This recipe actually uses 7 items from this weeks share!

-Cut 2 pounds of new potatoes into bit size cubes and bring them to a boil in a large pot of salted water. Boil for 10 minutes or until “fork tender”.

-In the meantime, chop:

1 sweet onion
1 bunch of celery (about 5 stalks)
a handful each of chives, parsley, dill, and french tarragon

-Cut the stems off of a half-quart (or 1/2 pound) of  fresh yellow wax beans (green beans can also be used). Blanch them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes and then transfer immediately into a bowl of ice water. Chop into bit-size bits. [***I actually just threw them in with the potatoes that were already boiling on the stove and it turned out just great!]

-Drain the cooked potatoes and toss in the beans, veggies and herbs.

-Pour in a simple vinaigrette made with 3 tablespoons of red or white wine vinegar, 6 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 teaspoons of dijon mustard, and salt to taste.

Recipe and photos by Jana Smart- Blooming Glen Farm employee and frequent creator of creative recipes using farm fresh seasonal ingredients. Check out more of her recipes on her food blog http://www.agrarianeats.blogspot.com/