Stuffed Squash

First recipe on tap was stuffed squash.  This recipe calls for acorn squash, but we had received delicata in our CSA, so I went with that.  It was delicious this way as well.  Plus, bonus that you can actually eat the skin as well.  This ended up making enough for us to have 1/2 each for dinner, half of a 1/2 each for lunch on Saturday.  That left one more 1/2, which I added to the roasted butternut squash I had in the fridge for some soup. I don't have a link to the recipe (can't remember where I got it originally), but it is yummy!  The recipe calls for fresh grated ginger, and no dairy - great for me!

  While you are checking out the stuffed squash recipe, peruse the other recipes on Summer's blog - she has some good ones in there!  I love her simple style and commitment to feeding her family in a natural way.  

CSA Journey

Wow...it has been a long time since the last post!  Frankly, I just didn't feel like adding to this space for a while.  I have been working on tons of knitting, but I'm trying to use my ravelry account more to post those projects.  All of the house renovation pictures have been put on facebook so the blog was ignored.  We recently joined a CSA, though, and I have been feeling a desire to document our food journey; this seems like the best place!  Even if there are no longer any readers out there to follow it, at least all of the recipes will be amassed in one place as future reference. 
So here goes!   Since we moved to VT I've been wanting to get in on the CSA craze.  CSA stands for community supported agriculture in which individuals, such as myself and Dale, buy "shares" in a farm, helping the farm to sustain itself, and in return, receiving farm produce, meat, etc. depending on the type of share.  Well, last fall we were just getting settled and so we never made a commitment.  Then, over the summer it seemed silly to join one since we were growing our own produce.  Finally this fall I happened to see a notice that there were still winter shares available at the Full Moon Farm, so we went ahead and joined.  Here's how this farm works (they each have their own method): we pick up our produce here in Burlington every other week throughout November and December, then once per month from Jan - Mar.   Last week was the first pick up and, unknown to me, it was pack your own box.  Basically all of the food is laid out along with the amount you can take, and then you add it to your loot!  For example, 1 head garlic, 4 leeks, 2 lbs. potatoes, etc.  I did not go prepared with bags, so I had to use extra plastic bags they had on hand.  Next time I'll be prepared!  It was fun to meet the individuals who are growing my food - Farmer Dave and Farmer Rachel - and to know that it is being grown organically and locally. Does it get any healthier than that?!?  As I loaded up my produce I chatted about recipes for collard greens with Farmer Rachel and shared the scales with those next in line.  

Our farmers

Here's what was in our first box:  Brussels sprouts beets red and white potatoes red and white onions garlic napa cabbage leeks fennel delicata squash collard greens swiss chard sweet potatoes spinach spicy mix lettuce dill/parsley broccoli This was a lot of produce.  So much so that we had to clean out our fridge to fit it all in (which was probably a good thing!); the collard greens took up a whole shelf they were that big!  The best part is that my dreaded weekly grocery store trip has been cut in half since I don't have to pick up much in the way of produce now!  I am so excited for this new cooking challenge, as in, here's what you have to cook with, now make dinner!  I will post what I'm making with the ingredients above and review the outcome.  A few of the recipes on tap are stuffed squash, chicken sausage/sweet onion/fennel pizza, and sweet potato quinoa.   Please feel free to chime in with your comments.  Have you made an awesome recipe with any of the above items??? Join us on our CSA journey!!

What I Ate Wednesday post...

For this WIAW post we will be concentrating on one particular recipe that I have become quite fond of:  Honey Whole Wheat Bread.  I found this recipe via summer harms.  She makes lots of yummy foods and always attempts to make them healthier.  This recipe is a bit crazy, though, in the fact that it uses three different types of flour:  all purpose, whole wheat and white whole wheat.  (I will risk sounding like a geek by mentioning that I have still a fourth type of flour in my cupboard:  bread flour.  There used to be a time when I thought that flour was flour.)  So anyway, I made this bread for the second time over the weekend and it tasted as good as I remembered.  I did exhibit some self-control and waited about 20 minutes before cutting into the bread in order to allow it to form a "crumb".  Mr. P and I enjoyed it with some butter (only the real deal for this bread) and then for some sandwiches. 

I've included some photos of the baking process.  Although they aren't as pretty as Summer's photos, I hope you enjoy the step by step pictures!

Just mixed dough

After first rising

After second rising

Cooling

Time to eat!

What I Ate Wednesday

Phew, I'm just getting this post in under the wire!  I figured I better throw up some pictures since I've been delinquent for a few weeks.  Will you forgive me if I don't link up the recipes at the moment?  How about this, send me a comment if you're interested in one of the items and then I'll do another post just with those recipes. 

(Yes, this is a secret ploy to get more comments...)

 America's Favorite Pork Chops (yes, they are called that, and no, they are not difficult to maket), green beans, Far East toasted almond rice pilaf

 Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins--made these with fresh rhubarb from a friend's garden!

 Fruit Salad with a special twist :)

Homemade grilled pizza--used Artisan Bread recipe, ham and pineapple.  Loving that combo!



What I Ate Wednesday

We now pause for a break from our normally scheduled programming of What I Ate Wednesday (because honestly, who wants to see pictures or hear about the chips & salsa + cereal that I ate for dinner this week??)...

Today I will be sharing with you a new recipe that has inspired me.  In an attempt to eat a more filling breakfast, I swapped out my normal Smart Balance for peanut butter the last few days.  It seems to have done the trick and tends to get me through to lunch without too many cravings.  However, the thought of eating peanut butter every morning, no matter how small the amount, just didn't seem too healthy.  (never mind the chips & salsa for dinner)  So I decided to branch out to almond butter.  I recently saw some naturally ground almond butter at the grocery store and, at least in my mind, that seems better than peanut butter???  Can anyone verify that?  So I splurged, because, mind you, all-natural peanut butter, despite having fewer ingredients, is most definitely more expensive than the ones jammed full of bad stuff!  Go figure! 

This morning was the trial run of the almond butter and I was super excited considering my almond kick of late--roasted almonds for snacking, almond milk for drinking...  Well, I'm sorry to say that I was severly disappointed.  It was totally chunky, not very spreadable and totally stick to your mouth!  However, I was still trying to rationalize my $5 purchase, and thought, "This isn't so bad." 

Then, in the afternoon I open my Google reader to find one of my favorite bloggers, Sheena of The Little Red House, posting a recipe for almond butter!  Wow!  This gal has awesome recipes and they always taste good...and are good for you!  (Can you say homemade fruit leather in apricot & strawberry, for example?)  Needless to say, I can't wait to try it out.  It seems so do-able and the pics look a lot more appetizing than what I put on my toast this morning. 

photo via The Little Red House, Sheena Jibson

Now, what to do with the original almond butter....

What I Ate Wednesday

Believe me when I say that things have been crazy around here!  Due to that fact I feel justified in the following two items:
1) I'm not posting much about what I ate
2) I'm not posting anything else at all these days

I do hope to be putting up some more of my recent knitting in the near future.  Maybe when I'm actually home for a weekend!

And now for my pathetic What I Ate Wednesday post...

Since I'm in the midst of my coaching season, and since we were on the road a few days last week, and since I wasn't home all day Saturday, you will have to make do with a post about one of my favorite sandwich joints.  The Shortstop Deli is located in Ithaca, NY, aka the home of Cornell University.  Any future students out there?  Well, this place is open 24/7 and boasts that they have been serving customers for the last 275555 consecutive hours!  Amazing!  Anyway, their food is great as well.  In an effort to avoid fast food, I took my tennis team there last Monday on our way home from a match with Ithaca High School.  Although there is a bit more of a wait and increase in price from Subway, I think it is well worth it.  The subs are made to order with little room for error as you fill out a form upon entering the establishment.  You circle all kinds of options such as bread, hot, cold, meat, types of cheese, fixings, etc.  This helps avoid the awkward shuffle in line as you follow an employee down the line answering a million questions about what you want on your sub.  Plus, there are just way more options.  Some of the athletes may or may not have complained about not getting to eat off of the McD's Dollar Menu, but I at least can rest assured that I did my part to encourage healthy (er) eating.  Jamie Oliver would be proud! 

Overdue--Easter, in Pictures

This was the first major holiday that Mr. P and I have hosted since being married.  It was fun!  We decided to go simple and I think it was a success.  Delicious food and no stress!  Thank goodness for my sweet husband, though, for tackling the ham while I got ready for church!  He's my main meat man!   

Baked Ham with Spiced Pineapple Glaze, recipe courtesy of Summer (of summerharms) via the Smithfield blog. 

Recipe was slightly altered--used bone-in ham for better flavor and for making ham bone soup afterward.  However, the best intentions remain that, intentions.  We did enjoy the ham but alas there was no soup mde afterward.  I finally gave up this week and disposed of my precious ham bone.  Enjoyed this recipe so much, though, that I'll have to make another ham at some point and then the soup!

Couronne, recipe via Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes (yes, that book again!)

 The table setting

 Brussel Sprout Leaf Salad (yes I said brussel sprouts) with a zesty lemon dressing, recipe courtesy of Giada D.

 Yum-o beans courtesy of my mom.  Simply cook beans, add some butter and almonds!

 Mashed potatoes via The Joy of Cooking.  I added some chives for extra zip.

 Honey and Cinnamon Glazed Carrots from the crockpot, recipe courtesy of A Year of Slow-Cooking

 Centerpiece: limes and roses.  Inspired by the cover of Woman's Day magazine (at least I think that was the one!)

Cake courtesy of my mom via the bakery.  A tasty end to the meal.  Aren't the foil-wrapped chocolate eggs such a cute addition?



What I Ate Wednesday

Back for round 2 of What I Ate Wednesday (WIAW).  I must say, this week was not too stellar, so be prepared to be unimpressed...

 

 

Chicken spiedie on Italian bread, corn on the cob, sliced strawberries

This was Saturday night's dinner.  It was quite nice out, so we broke out the grill for the second time this year and made chicken spiedies, a local specialty.  Basically the meat is marinated in a mixture of spices and served on Italian bread.  We also ate corn on the cob--I was so suprised that they had some at the store.  It actually tasted decent.  Mr. P and I both got one good ear and one so-so ear.  The meal was topped off with fresh strawberries.  Can you see how much we are willing spring to come??

Raspberry Tart

Do I sound incredibly unhealthy when I admit that the most delicious thing I ate all week was this raspberry tart?  We got these as our desserts (and no, we didn't share!) for Saturday night.  When Mr. P asked the lady at the store what was inside of them she said, "Yumminess" and we both wholeheartedly agree!  A light flaky crust, with chocolately-mousse and raspberry filling (and somehow dairy free!) and a fudgy chocolate topping.  I've been dreaming of this ever since.  Do you have a Wegmans near you?  If so, then head over and see if they have them at the patisserie!



 

Strawberries, mini pitas, roasted garlic hummus, carrots and a "cutie". 

And now you all get to see just how lazy I am when Mr. P is not around for dinner and I'm in the middle of my coaching season!  

P.S. Anyone want to join me on my WIAW posts? 





What I Ate Wednesday

Wow, life has taken me by storm lately!  I'm back to blogging, though, and I'm back with a new series!  Out in blog world there seems to be this trend called "What I Wore Wednesday".  I do love tuning in to what other bloggers are posting, but don't feel very convicted to post my own pics.  Instead, I'm going to take a different variation:  What I Ate Wednesday.  Now, despite the name, I will not be posting just what I ate on Wednesday.  Instead, I will be posting what I've eaten throughout the past week and when possible, link to recipes.  Guaranteed there will not be pics of every dinner eaten, but I will try to include a few different items each week. 

 

So here we begin:

 

 

 Friday night Easter treat:  Chick Cupcakes.  Let me just say they look a lot better than they tasted!

Blueberry muffins with streusel topping, from the Betty Crocker cookbook.  A-MA-ZING.  These are winners everytime.  They will be appearing more regularly around here as I am trying to use up my frozen blueberry reserve. 

 Pizza night!  My favorite!  This was a simple one--a bit o sauce, roasted red peppers, sauteed onions, Artisan Bread crust. 

Dale's pizza version--same as above + pepperoni and cheese!

 

 

P.S.  Does anyone want to join in on the WIAW (What I Ate Wednesday) fun? 

 

 

Stir-Fries & Pizza--Part II

**Due to the lengthy nature of yesterday's post, I am continuing today with Part II.  To read the first part, click here.**

Pizzas, mmmm....

However, I am unable to eat cheese, so many of the take out and restaurant versions are a no-go for me.  Therefore, I set out to make a tasty version for home. 

Here are my hints.
1. Crust--that would most definitely be the Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day version.  I've mentioned this before.  I am a total convert of this method.  Try it and you will be too.  From the book I will vary the recipe--either the boule or the pain d'epi, depending on what I have on hand. 
2. Since I use the AB in 5 version, it is necessary to:
-have a super hot oven, as in 500 degrees!  You must start ahead of time to get it up to temperature in time for cooking.
-use a baking stone.  This makes all the difference.  I love the crunchy crust.  Tastes like brick-oven from my electric one. 
3. Sauce--if you use this at all, don't put it on until you are 100% ready to start adding toppings and go straight to the oven.  Otherwise the dough gets soggy and starts adhering to your pizza peel.  I prefer to instead use sliced tomatoes, or canned diced tomatoes.  It's more "paste-y" as opposed to "sauce-y".
4. Toppings--these vary.  I've found that they taste the best when sauteed before going on the pizza.  But, lets get real, who wants to do that step when hungry?  This works best if the veggies are leftovers from a previous meal.  Last week our favorite combo was pineapple and pepperoni.  Or, in our case, whatever pork pieces you have around (i.e. shaved deli ham, sandwich salami, etc.).  Here's how Mr. P's version (avec fromage) turned out:

Delicious! 

What are your favorite toppings?

Stir-Fries & Pizza

These are two foods that, while I enjoy them, I'm not always sure how to make them very well.  I like ordering them in a restaurant, but when it comes to me making them, they seem to lack flavor.  My goal, starting last spring, was to search out recipes and learn to make them like a pro.  So here are my secrets.

Stir-Fries
Did any of you watch Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution last year?  If you didn't, you should check it out on hulu.com.  I thought it was awesome and totally got hooked on the idea of stir-fries.  I've found two options that I like to rotate through.  My meat preference is beef, although you can mix it up as you'd like.  I find that this is an easy way to get off of my chicken bandwagon. 

Option 1: Joy of Cooking's Beef and Vegetable Stir-Fry
First make the marinade.
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 T rice wine (I think I just use rice vinegar)
1 T water
1 T sugar
1 T cornstarch
2 t. sesame oil
Add your meat, making sure that it gets full coverage
1 lb boneless beef steak, cut into strips
Leave the meat in the marinade for at least 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, chop the following veggies....or your own preferred mixture.
1 onion
2 bell peppers; I like to mix it up for color
1 c. mushroom caps
4 scallions; cut at an angle for better presentation
In another bowl, mix up the following seasonings
2 t. minced fresh ginger
1 T minced garlic
Heat your skillet or wok with a small amount of oil.  Joy of Cooking calls for peanut oil, but that seems fattening to me, so I use canola or vegetable oil for their taste-less properties. 
Add the ginger mixture and let it hang out until you can smell the aromas.  Add the beef and cook until browned. 
Remove beef & ginger mixture to a plate.  Wipe out pan, add some more oil and add your veggies.  Stir fry them to your liking, whether that be "crisp tender" as stated by Joy of Cooking, or not. 
Add scallions.
Add meat mixture.
Add marinade (from earlier), adding 1/3 c. chicken stock/broth or water.
Let it all hang out until the beef is re-warmed. 

Serving options--over rice or Udon noodle.  There is also the option of eating them as is! 

Option 2: Julie's Quick and Easy Method
This is my go-to stir-fry option for a quick meal when I feel the need for lots of veggies!  For my latest version I used the following veggies:
2 bell peppers of various colors, sliced
mushrooms, sliced
snap peas
scallions
Sometimes I like to add
onion, chopped
mini corn on the cobs, quartered
Next I heat my pan (I am NOT the proud owner of a wok.  Maybe I should invest.)  Heat a neutral oil. (i.e. canola, veggie, etc.)  Stir fry the veggies to your liking.  Here's my favorite shortcut--sprinkle on ground ginger!  On my "quick and easy" nights I hate fussing with too much grating, peeling or chopping.  This seems to work decently well. 
While all of this is going on, I usually have my sliced beef cooking in another pan.  (See info on meat selection in "Option 1".)
When the veggies seem close to ready, I pour in:  House of Tsang Classic Stir-Fry Sauce.  This is my absolute favorite.  It adds so much flavor and can be used during cooking or after.  That's crucial for this house since I like things less-saucy than Mr. P.  I put the bottle on the table with the meal and he adds more as desired.   
Add the beef to the veggie mixture.  Mix all together.
Serve over basmati rice.  None of that instant stuff allowed. 
**Note on the sauce--I like to cook from scrach.  And, I am NOT a big condiment user.  I find that they are usually full of all kinds of things I can't identify.  As well as loaded with salt.  However, I make an exception here.  This one is awesome! 

Pizzas
Wow this post has gotten long.  I think I will save my pizza comments for later. 

To be continued...

Weekend Going-Ons

Although it may be Monday, my weekend is still going on.  That is, we had today off for President's Day, and tomorrow also.  A sort of mini Mid-Winter Recess, if you will.  Don't mind if I elaborate on what we've been up to!

On February 13, 2011, Mr. P and I had been married for precisely one whole year!  As we spent last weekend at my grandmother's funeral, we decided to celebrate this one with a little getaway.  We found ourselves in Ithaca, which we happen to enjoy frequenting time and again.  Not only was it our anniversary celebration and a long weekend, but it also happened to be the beginning of Ithaca Loves Teachers Week.  There was a lot of fun to be had there, so we lived it up with free wine tastings, restaurant discounts, and purchase discounts.  Our original plan had been to spend Saturday at the Chili Cookoff, but since the weather decided to interefere, we made do with the following:

Saturday

-Arrive in Ithaca; get registered for Teachers' Week

-Upon hearing the Chili Cookoff is postponed, make our way to Viva Cantina for lunch-we both had the taco trio-1 each of chicken, beef and pork!

-Beer tasting for Mr. P at the Ithaca Beer and Soda Company; root beer tasting for me (although I did sneak a taste of the Apricot Wheat and had to notice it wasn't bad for a beer!)

-Drove north to King Ferry and Long Point Wineries

-Almost turned back sooner due to high wind, snow drifts and snow fall

-Continued on to our place of respite and sustenance for the night:  the John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth Restaurant

We thoroughly enjoyed the Inn and our dinner.  The rooms were tastefully decorated to have old inn charm, but with modern conveniences such as a gas fireplace, jacuzzi tub, flat screen tv, and wireless internet.  The room was comfy and spacious. 

Our dinner was a three course Prix Fixe (prepared by the owners and CIA graduates), with an added "amuse bouche" and palate cleanser (raspberry sorbet with champagne!).  I had duck and Mr. P ate veal.  Our only complaint about the restaurant was that it was freeeeezing!  If it had been a tad warmer, I think I could have focused more on the delightfulness of the meal.  Otherwise the atmostphere was beautiful.  The building was a restored barn with beams across the ceiling and wonderful decorations.  The highlight of the evening for me was the dessert course--Pluot Tarte Tatin.  Quite delicious, but I do admit to needing to look up the definition of "pluot": turns out to be a cross between plum and apricot.    

Another fun point of the dinner was that we got to drink local wines with the meal.  I chose the chardonnay* from King Ferry which we had just taste-tested in the afternoon.  How nice to actually be familiar with the wine selections and be able to pick something you know you'll enjoy!  (*side note on chardonnay--I'm not usually a fan but this winery knows their stuff!)  

Sunday   
-Get up and rush to breakfast to find the restaurant door locked, no one in sight, and no one answering the phone
-Puzzled, pack up and set off for Ithaca
-End up at one of our favorite (and sentimental) local eateries:  Ithaca Bakery; chow down
-Short drive to Taughannock Falls for a frigid, but beautiful, winter walk
-Admire falls for a few short moments before returning back down the icy path
-Head out of the city with one more stop--Six Mile Creek Winery (at this point, you shouldn't be surprised by our winery-hopping) 
-Finally drive home

We definitely had an action-packed weekend!  Lots of fun celebrating our anniversary, plus great discounts and yummy food.  Doesn't get any better than that! 

 



Quick Chick and Noodle

This is what was for dinner the other night.  Well, actually two other nights, plus a lunch for Mr. P.  We are big on the leftovers here.  (Actually, Mr. P could eat them endlessly, me not so much, which works out great since I'm the one cooking!)

Wow, it doesn't look so appetizing there

I made this chicken noodle soup using Rachael Ray's recipe.  It is in her first "30 Minute Meals" cookbook, or you can find a similar version on foodnetwork.com here.  It was quite yummy and warming for a snowy night.  I served it with, yup you guessed it, Artisan Bread.  "Delish", as Rach would say.  

Main differences between the book recipe and the online one:   no parsnip, no bay leaves, no dill in book.  Although I think the addition of them would be great!  I used 3 chicken breasts diced which was quite a lot.  Mr. P liked all the meat, I would have liked a bit more broth.  Either way it smelled and tasted great! 

Largest Cauliflower Ever

While out of town last Saturday for a hike, Mr. P and I stumbled upon a new-to-us roadside farm stand.  They had all sorts of interesting produce, including the largest cauliflower ever! 

And it only cost $2.50!  What a steal!  As you can see, I bought one.  The task then became deciding what to do with this mammoth vegetable.  Here are some options I came up with:

Option 1:

Chop up into bite-size pieces.  Throw on a jelly roll pan with some EVOO, salt and pepper.  Toss.  Roast at 450 degrees until slightly golden.  I don't remember precisely how long this took, but it was under 30 minutes. 

I promise you this will be delicious.  We had this as a side dish with our dinner and took seconds.  And then ate it with our fingers out of the dish...it was that good. 

Option 2:

Calzones

Throw cauliflower into a crockpot along with chopped up onions, peppers, sausage, Italian seasoning and canned tomatoes (or spaghetti sauce).  Feel free to mix up the veggies with whatever you have and like.  Cook on low all day, or on high from lunch time til dinner.  At dinner time, use your favorite pizza dough ( I use Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day).  Roll out two orange-sized pieces.  Cover half with toppings, adding mozzarella cheese and pepperoni.  Fold over uncovered side.  Pinch edges together.  Bake in oven on a jelly roll pan (I line it with Silpat) according to bread directions until the calzone is browned. 

Mmm...mmm...mmm....we can't get enough of this either.  I will have made this recipe three times since September!  I have experimented with a few different concoctions.  Previously I've used broccoli, this time I'm using cauliflower.  I know it sounds weird, but you barely notice it and it is an easy way to get in more veggies.  Word to the wise:  if using spaghetti sauce instead of canned tomatoes, be sure to leave the juices in the crock when filling your calzone or else it will be too runny. 

Use the leftover filling for more calzones or to top spaghetti! 

Recipe adapted from Crockpot Meals with Vanessa