Sunday, November 17, 2013

Produce Nov 14


$18

Grass fed beef neck bones
Swiss chard
Acorn squash
Zucchini
Tomatoes
Tomatillos
Peas
Green chilies
Jalapeño 
Bell pepper
Apples 
And a non edible loofa :)


Thursday, November 14, 2013

Savory Pumpkin, Refried Beans, and Veggie Whole Wheat Tortillas

3 Recipes in one post:


Completed recipe directions coming soon...

** Crock Pot Beans **

2 cups of dry beans made about 6-8 servings cooked. 

Co op:

2 cups dry Pinto Beans, rinsed and the bad ones picked out (ones that are really dark, almost black and any that float)
1 Bay Leaf
1 tbs Cumin Seeds
1tsp Kosher Salt

Farmers Market:
1/2 medium Yellow Onion, large 1" dice
1 large Garlic Clove, smashed

City of Tucson: 

Water to rinse, soak, then cook beans in

Directions:

After beans are rinsed soak them for at least 2 hrs before putting them in the crock pot with about 6-8 cups of water, onion, garlic, salt and spices. Turn on low and let cook for about 8-10hrs. I personally don't mind them cooking while I'm sleeping, because waking up to the delicious smell is sooo enjoyable. Haha. This could also work if you started them before leaving for work though. 

Anywho, the beans are soft enogh to mash by hand, but I like my immersion/stick blender. I don't add any oil, I just drain off excess water and purée about 3/4 of the beans then hand mash the remaining 1/4 so there is a little texture with a regular spoon. The beans hold their shape pretty well, but are super soft, so if you want beans for a salad or something, I wouldn't cook them as long. They are then ready to be eaten. The beans hold up well for a week (sometimes longer) if you make sure they're covered in the fridge. 

I'm totally making more, I love having them at the ready for grubbing. Yum. 

 
** Veggie Tortillas **

I use this recipe, but instead of all purpose flour I used whole wheat pastry flour (co-op), olive oil (co-op) instead of lard and instead of water I used hot puréed veggie stew with brown rice. I made the stew last week, but I wasn't impressed with it. It was full of good stuff like beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, and onion and I didn't want to just throw it out, so I puréed it up and saved it for just such an ocassion as this. I did experience a "Lesson learned" momen thought: rice should not be cooked in a pressure cooker, if you want traditional rice texture go with old school stove top or rice cooker :/ it comes out kinda gross otherwise. 

For this recipe, after the dough rested for the 15-30 minutes, I didn't need any extra flour on the counter to roll them out. It was cool :)

** Savory Pumpkin **
2-3 Servings 

I have soooo much pumpkin from breaking down the beast of a pumpkin my best friend have me after Halloween. I decided to roast about 2/3 of it and freeze it. I've been cooking with the remaining 1/3 from raw stage when I wanted it this week. Hence the pumpkin with tortillas and beans :)

Recipe:

2-2 1/2 cups raw pumpkin, cut into whatever shape you desire, aka whatever shape will cook at the speed you want to eat in. 
1 tbs Spice Mix *reference this post
1/2 cup Water

Co-Op
2 tbs Olive Oil

Farmers Market
1/2 medium Onion, medium dice
1-2 cloves Garlic, minced








Thursday, November 7, 2013

Produce Goodies this Week


$20 well spent. 

Oyster Mushrooms, LOCAL!!! Yay!!! 
Swiss Chard
Kale
Onions
Red Potatoes 
Sweet Potatoes
Pears
Apples

I also have a pumpkin a friend game me on Saturday to use this week and an eggplant and some beets left from last weeks shopping :)

So this is the week for roasted garlic goodness maybe with pumpkin, eggplant, and lentils...

Then Pasta with garlic butter, oyster mushrooms, and kale for sure!

Swiss Chard, maybe with a spicy beet and brown rice stuffing...

Rosemary Potatoes with pears... Or a potato pear soup with rosemary! 

I love food. Adventures for sure this week. Yay!










Acorn Squash and Parmesan Pasta



Makes 1-2 servings

Truthfully when I put this together and tried it hot from the pan, I wasn't impressed, HOWEVER when it cooled it was pretty darn tasty! I will stick with it as a cold pasta dish instead of a hot one because truthfully I ventured eating my serving only after a taste testing, very adventurous and willing to try my food friend, told me it was really good. Haha. They didn't lie, it was, but only once it cooled ;)

Co-Op

1/3 package Whole Wheat Pasta, cooked (any shape will work :)
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded or grated 
3tbs-4tbs Olive Oil
2 tbs Maple Syrup
Salt to taste


Farmers Market

1 Small Acorn Squash, baked (or microwaved) skins removed, deseeded, and chopped in 1/2-1" dice
*the squash might break apart like a baked potato, but that's ok. It's going to get thrown in some oil to crisp it up and help hold it together in bigger pieces :)
1 Clove Garlic, thinly sliced

In a medium sauce pan on medium high heat put in a 2 tbs olive oil along with garlic and diced acorn squash. Cook until squash is browned on both sides, about 4 minutes. Then add maple syrup, stirring until everything is coated, after it's coated turn off the heat. Finally to the pan, or the bowl you're going to serve pasta in, add hot squash, cooked pasta, additional 1-2tbs olive oil, Parmesan cheese, and salt to taste. 

Then cool, eat, and enjoy. 





Thursday, October 31, 2013

Garlic and Cream Cheese Goodness (seriously it kinda tasted like ranch dressing and it was good!)



Directions coming soon. 

2tbs olive oil 
2tbs Cream Cheese
1/2 cup whole milk 
4 cloves Garlic, minced
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 lb fingerling potatoes, cut lengthwise is half
3 cups chopped Chinese greens, torn into 2" pieces
1/2 large zucchini, medium dice
1 tbs dry dill
1 tsp crushed dry rosemary
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
1 package cooked whole wheat penne pasta, cooked
Salt to taste

Get a medium sauté pan on medium high heat going with olive oil, onions, garlic, zucchini and potatoes. Cook veggies until browned. Then add everything else, letting cream cheese melt down until you have a creamy sauce.  Add the creamy goodness to the cooked pasta and you're ready to eat. 

This combo of onion, garlic, dill, and cream cheese TOTALLY tasted like ranch! I've now made a version of this, like 3 times, just becaus it was so tasty. 

Enjoy. 



Peanut Sauce Goodness over Veggies


3-4 Servings 

I'm on a peanut kick, humor me :)

Recipe directions coming soon. 

Farmers Market

1 small Spaghetti Squash, cooked
1 small Eggplant, medium dice
1 medium Quince (Membrillo), cored and de-seeded, medium dice
1 medium Red Onion, medium dice
2 large Garlic Cloves, minced

Co-Op

2 tbs Peanut Butter (freshly ground yesterday, so it had the whipped effect still which means you could probably get away with 1tbs traditional pb)
1" squared piece of Thai Ginger (any ginger would work, Thai doesn't seem to be as potent though, so go with less at first if ginger scares ya), grated
2 tbs or add to taste Soy Sauce 
1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes

Traditional Grocery store

6 Sweet Peppers, or 1 Bell Pepper, medium dice

1 cup Water







Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Organic Toasted Coconut and Peanut Butter Cookies


These dear people are soooo dang tasty!! Thanks inspirational (not so good for us) Halloween candy for being the subject in a conversation that sparked the idea for these bad boys! 

Makes a dozen cookies

Co-Op

1/2 cup Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
1 cup Rolled Oats
1/4 cup Butter, softened 
1/4 cup Peanut Butter (I fresh ground it today and it has no added sugars, oils, or salt, compensate your recipe if you use a on that has these added)
1/3 cup  + 1 tbs Unrefined Cane Sugar
2tbs Maple Syrup (I have grade A, but either works)
1/2 cup + 1/4 cup dried Shredded Coconut (again, no added sugar, oil, or salt), dry toasted 
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Kosher Salt (I just bought the Real Salt brand, pink kosher salt, and I LOVE IT!! Fancy that it tastes great, less actual sodium, and has natural occurring iodine in it too ;)
1 tsp fresh Thai Ginger, grated (powder would work too, start with 1/4tsp and add to your taste preference)

Farmers' Market 
1 Egg

Cream together the butters and sugars, then add the egg and ginger. After the egg is mixed in, add in the dry ingredients. In another small bow mix the 1/4 cup of toasted coconut and 1 tbs sugar. Once dough forms, spoon out roughly a golf ball sized amount of dough. Roll it around on your hand until a ball forms then roll it around in the coconut/sugar mixture. Flatten them out a little on the cookie sheet. You can add more topping of coconut and sugar now it you have some left. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. 

A great likeness to one of my favorite candies as a kid, the chick-o-stick!! Mmmm. 

Happy Halloween!!