Photo Courtesy of Terry Walters
There are so many advantages to investing your time and money into a CSA. I am sure each of you have a particular reason that resonates most with you. However, there is something very different when you are given particular items instead of picking out what you would like for that week from the market. Combine that with any time constraints and all of a sudden a fridge full of fresh produce is hard to transform into something satisfying. What I try to remember when I am in the middle of my week is that with fresh sustainably grown produce the simpler the better.
So…how can the food we receive in our shares translate to a simple, delicious breakfast, lunch or even food you would eat on a road trip? Here are some ideas.
Dressings and Dips
They are able to complement any fresh green or lightly sautéed green. Combine that with legumes or grains that you have prepared in larger portions, and you have a quick, satisfying meal.
Simple Dressings: Both of these recipes for dressings are from Clean Food by Terry Walters. Compare the ingredients and notice how with only one or two ingredients, such as a different fruit juice, you can have a new dressing.
Apricot Vinaigrette
1 garlic clove, minced
1 small shallot, minced
Juice of 2 Meyer lemons
1⁄4 cup apricot juice
1⁄4 cup balsamic vinegar
1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon maple mustard
2 tablespoons maple syrup
Pinch of sea salt
Pomegranate Vinaigrette
1 garlic clove, minced
1 shallot, minced
1⁄3 cup pomegranate juice
1⁄2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon zesty honey mustard
Sea salt
Simple Dips: There are so many recipes for dips, but here are a few ideas from Clean Food. Try dipping your radishes, peas or I am even going to try to julienne my baby kohlrabi to create a dish reminscent of cole slaw.
Lemony Artichoke Dip
Green Goddess Dip
Satisfying Breakfast Ideas
photo courtesy of Progressive Pioneer
Green Smoothies: Progressive Pioneer is a wonderful blog to get great ideas forsimple yet delicious recipes. For a variation to this recipe try blending any variety of frozen or fresh fruit with some beet greens, green amaranth leaf, or Buttercrunch lettuce. If you are using fresh fruit you may want to add ice cubes or frozen plain yogurt to achieve the consistency of a smoothie.
Salad for breakfast? Although I do not initially crave it, a fresh salad has always kept me satisfied throughout the morning. Experiment with different greens for your salads. Try beet greens (which are a little sweeter), cranberries, sunflower seeds and a little oil and vinegar. Or mix in a bit of your dandelion greens with some of the Buttercrunch lettuce. Adding any type of legume, nut, seed, or hard boiled egg makes it a little more filling.
Photo Courtesy of The Star
Food On-The-Go
Whether it is a road trip or lunch here are some alternatives to soup, salads and sandwiches.
photo courtesy of Simple Organic
Summer Rolls: Follow the link for a vegetarian recipe for summer rolls. Terry Walters also has delicious ideas for fresh rolls in her book like "Summer Rolls with Lemon Basil Pesto" or "Pad Thai Summer Rolls with Tamarind Dipping Sauce". My favorite part about her recipes is that her sauces do not use sugar.
Wraps: Create a delicious wrap by spreading cream cheese or any dip onto a tortilla and then adding any combo of fresh lettuce, herbs, greens, and any other favorites you have like green apple slices, meat, peppers, julienned carrots, etc.
Email me at produce@zoegarden.com with how you use your share when you don't have a lot of time.
Wishing you a quick, nourishing meal when you need one,
Jessica
What was with all of the mention of Clean Food? Not an intentional plug because there are so many books on the market for cooking with fresh ingredients, but Terry Walters has crafted a book that is rooted in seasonal recipes that offer options without sugar, eggs, dairy, wheat or meat, but are flexible enough to include those items if you choose.
One thing I like to do for breakfast with my share is to make quiche. I pull the leafs off the stems of the greens, then chop the stems and saute them in butter with some of my shallot & onion scapes and young garlic. Then I chop the leafs into small pieces and mix them in to the saute just until wilted. I add 4 eggs per quiche (usually I make three at a time and eat them all week for breakfast) and some cheese. You don't need cream or milk or butter that most quiche recipes call for because the water in the greens is enough to keep it moist. You can pour it into a crust or just into a baking dish without a crust. With a crust, bake at 350 for about 45 minutes. Without a crust it takes less time.
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