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Please visit our new blog for recipes and more about specific CSA foods:  beetsandpotatoes.blogspot.com

Below you find vegetarian recipes using vegetables and staples provided by the Spiritual Food CSA.

For more recipe ideas, a CSA member recommended this site:  www.allrecipes.com


Soups

Salads
Rice

Bread

Carrots

Jerusalem Artichoke

Vegetables

Kohlrabies

Sweet Potatoes

Cakes & Cookies Spreads Juices & Drinks
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Soups
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Beet Soup - From Nourishing Traditions

6 medium beets
4 T butter
1 qt. filtered water
sea salt or fish sauce (Nam Pla) and pepper
2 T. finely chopped chives
cream fraiche or sour cream

This easy soup brings out the exquisite sweet flavor of beets. Use water, not stock. Peel beets, chop coarsely, and sauté very gently in butter for 1/2 hour or until tender. Add water, bring to a boil and skim. Simmer about 15 minutes. Puree soup with a handheld blender. Season to taste, ladle into heated bowls and serve with cream fraiche or sour cream and chives.
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Chilled Soup - From Christy Stebbins, CSA member in Sandy Spring

Today I put my turnips, beets, a couple scallions and scapes into chicken broth to simmer. I threw in a few caraway and celery seeds. Once cooked and cooled, I threw it all in the blender with some fresh dill and parsley and a little yogurt. Then into the fridge to chill. Great summer dinner with a chunk of the Dakota bread.

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Norwegian Spinach Soup

2 pounds fresh spinach, chopped, or 2 packages chopped frozen spinach
1 ½ quarts hot beef bouillon
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
2 hard-cooked eggs, sliced


Cook spinach in hot bouillon for 10 minutes. Drain, reserving the liquid. Melt butter and stir in flour. When blended and smooth, add hot liquid, a little at a time, stirring until smooth. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Add spinach, salt, pepper and nutmeg and mix thoroughly. Simmer covered for 5 minutes. Serve with hard-cooked egg slices floating on top of each bowl of soup.
Serves 4 to 6.


House & Garden
February 1964
Nika Standen Hazelton (Found on www.epicurious.com. Search "spinach" for more recipes.)
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Chilled Crème De Crecy - from New Recipes from Moosewood Restaurant

Serves 4 to 6

A brilliantly orange first course or summer luncheon soup.

2 tbs butter
1/3 cup chopped scallion bulbs (white part only)
1 tsp grated fresh ginger root (1/2 tsp powdered ginger)
½ tsp ground cinnamon
4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
3 tbs gated orange peel
3 cups water
salt and black pepper to taste
1 ½ cups orange juice
½ cup heavy cream
2 tsp fresh lemon juice

Gently sauté the scallions, ginger, and cinnamon in butter for several minutes. Stir in the carrots and the orange peel and sauté 3 – 4 minutes more. Add the water, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer covered until carrots are just tender. Puree the carrot mixture with the orange juice, cream, and lemon juice. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

Chill several hours before serving.
 

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Cakes & Cookies
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Zucchini Cakes - From Nourishing Traditions

4 c grated zucchini, washed, trimmed, and grated
1T sea salt
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 c. whole grain bread crumbs
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
1/4 t. cayenne pepper
sea salt and pepper
4 T. butter
4 T. olive oil

Mix zucchini with salt and let stand 1/2 hour. Rinse well with filtered water and squeeze dry in a tea towel. Mix with eggs, onion, bread crumbs, cheese, and cayenne pepper and season to taste with salt and pepper. Form into cakes and sauté a few at a time in butter and olive oil. May be frozen. Great for breakfast.

Variation: You can get creative with this recipe if you don't have some of the ingredients on hand. I made these the other day and only had 1 c. of bread crumbs, so I mixed in 1 c. of chopped walnuts and pecans. I also didn't have any parmesan cheese but had about a 1/2 c of pesto, so I used that. They were DELICIOUS. —Jill
Nienhiser
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Chocolate Zucchini Cake - From Susan Klise

2 1/2 c. unbleached flour mixed with:
1/2 c. cocoa
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. soda
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
Set aside.
Heat together 3/4 c. butter with 2 c. sugar or a little less.
Add 3 eggs, one at a time, beating well each time.


With a spoon stir in :
2 t. vanilla
2 t. grated orange rind
2 c. coarsely grated zucchini, pressed dry.

Alternately stir the dry ingredients and 1/2 c. milk slowly into the zucchini mixture.
Add 1 c. chopped pecans (or walnuts).
Pour batter into a greased, floured 10" tube or bundt pan.
Bake in a 350 degree oven about 1 hour, or until a toothpick comes out
clean.
Cool in pan 15 minutes and then turn out onto serving tray.
Drizzle with glaze if desired: Glaze: 2 c. powdered sugar, 3 T. milk, 1 t. vanilla. ENJOY!!!!

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Pancakes - Cornucopia Baking Mix

2 cups baking mix
1 cup milk (for thinner pancakes, add more milk)
1-2 eggs

Stir ingredients until blended. Pour by ¼ cupfuls onto hot, lightly greased fry pan or griddle. Cook until edges are dry. Turn and continue cooking until golden brown. (yields 12-14 pancakes.

For blueberry pancakes fold 1 cup fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) bluebe
rries into batter.
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Chocolate or Carob Chip Cookies - Cornucopia Baking Mix

2 ½ cups baking mix
½ cup butter, melted
1/4 cup applesauce
2/3 cups naturally sweetened chocolate chips, or carob chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup water

Stir baking mix before measuring. Combine baking mix, butter and applesauce. Add water, a little bit at a time until the dough is firm but moist enough to work with. Fold in chips. Fill a round measuring tablespoon with the dough, pressing spoon against the side of the bowl to firmly pack
with dough and place round tablespoons of dough on greased or non-stick cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes or until slightly brown around the
edges. Cool for several minutes before removing from pan.

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Raisin Walnut Carrot Muffins - Cornucopia Baking Mix

2 ½ cups baking mix
1 cup All-Bran cereal
1 ½ cups Dole Pine-Orange-Banana juice or other citrus blend juice
¼ cup applesauce
3 tablespoons organic canola or other light oil
1 egg
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 ½ Tablespoon baking soda
1 medium sized carrot, shredded
½ cup raisins
½ cup chopped walnuts
Combine All-Bran cereal and juice and let stand for 5-10 minutes, until cereal is thoroughly soaked. Grease a 12-cup muffin tin and preheat oven to 400 degrees. Add applesauce, oil, egg, vinegar, baking soda and cinnamon to cereal/juice mix and beat with an electric or rotary beater. Stir baking mix before measuring. Stir in baking mix until just blended. Fold in shredded carrots, raisins and walnuts. Fill muffin cups about ¾ full and bake for 20 minutes.

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Chocolate Walnut Brownies - Cornucopia Baking Mix

2 ½ cups baking mix
1 cup Turbinado sugar or Sucanat
½ cup baking cocoa
1/3 cup organic canola oil
3/4 cups applesauce
1 tablespoon water
3/4 cups chopped walnuts

Lightly grease and flour a large baking pan and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir baking mix before measuring. Combine dry ingredients. Stir in oil, applesauce and water and thoroughly mix. Batter will be stiff. Fold in walnuts. Spread batter evenly in baking pan and bake for 30 minutes. Do not
over bake. Brownies should be moist and chew
y.
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Coffee Cake - Cornucopia Baking Mix

2 cups baking mix
1 teaspoon non-aluminum baking powder
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
2 tablespoons Sucanat or Turbinado Sugar
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup applesauce
1 egg
½ cup milk

Combine baking mix, baking powder, nutmeg and Sucanat or Turbinado sugar. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until mixture is quite fine. Combine the egg with milk and beat gently. Add the liquid and the applesauce all at once and stir together with a fork. Spread evenly in greased 8-inch pan. For topping: Mix together with a fork, ¼ cup of Sucanat or Turbinado sugar, 2 tablespoons of baking mix, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of nutmeg and
1 tablespoon of butter until crumbly. Sprinkle topping on the batter. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes.

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Date Pecan Cake - Cornucopia Baking Mix

Follow the coffee cake recipe that accompanied the Cornucopia Baking Mix. Substitute pear spread for the apple sauce, add chopped dates to the batter, and sprinkle pecans (yes, shelling again) on the top before baking. Wow! Delicious.
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Zucchini Bread - Cornucopia Baking Mix

2 ½ cups baking mix
½ cup Turbinado sugar or Sucanat
1 cup quick or rolled oats
1 cup olive oil
2 cups shredded raw zucchini
½ cup organic applesauce
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup shopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 1 two-pound or 2 one-pound loaf pans. (Also works very nicely in a bundt pan). Stir baking mix before measuring. Combine mix and oats. In small bowl beat applesauce, sugar and oil together and add to dry ingredients. Add cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and walnuts and blend by hand. Add zucchini to other ingredients. Beat mixture thoroughly. Pour into pan(s). Bake for one hour.

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Carrot Applesauce Cake - from New Recipes from Moosewood Restaurant

This cake has the moistness and spice of a fruitcake, but you won’t have to wait a month to eat it.

2 cups unbleached white flour (up to 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour may be substituted)
½ cup rolled oats
1 1/2  tsp baking powder
11/2 tsp baking soda
1 tbs cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1 cup raisins or dried currants
*
4 eggs
¾ cup vegetable oil
11/4 cups brown sugar, honey and/or maple syrup
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
12/3 cups unsweetened applesauce
3 cups finely grated carrots
*
sesame seeds
powdered sugar (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

Oil a 10-inch bundt or tube pan or a 9x13-inch baking pan. Sprinkle the sesame seeds on the bottom and partway up the sides of the oiled pan. Set the pan aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl. Stir in the oil, sweetener(s), vanilla, applesauce, and carrots and mix well. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, stir until just mixed, and pour the batter into the pan.

Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. When done, allow the cake to sit in the pan for at least 15 minutes. Then invert it onto a plate and dust it lightly with powdered sugar.

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Salads
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Healthful Salads - From Jill Nienhiser

I'm a big fan of Sally Fallon's book "Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats." In her chapter on salads she notes that commercial salad dressing is full of additives, preservatives, and rancid oils. In the case of fat-free dressing, she notes that many of the vitamins and minerals in the salad vegetables are fat-soluble. In other words, they can only be absorbed in the presence of fat! So unless something else in your meal contains adequate fat, all those precious vitamins are going right down the toilet. Fat and cholesterol are very important...don't let the propaganda of the "diet dictocrats" scare you from eating the healthy fats that have nourished humans for millions of years (including saturated animal fat, tropical oils, olive oil, marine oils, butter, and cream).

For healthy salads, start with biodynamically or organically grown lettuces (not iceberg--it's pretty abysmal from a vitamin standpoint...use Romaine, green leaf, red leaf, Bibb, and other darker lettuces). Tender young spinach can be used on occasion but avoid over consumption of raw spinach because of the presence of oxalic acid which is neutralized by brief cooking (oxalic acid inhibits the absorption of iron from food).

Next, add a variety of colorful, crunchy raw vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, celery, red onion, bell peppers, red cabbage, jicama, radishes, tomatoes. A mix of colors indicates the presence of a variety of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and other nutrients. Some leaves of cilantro, ribbons of basil, or other fresh herbs can add a nice change of pace, and contribute various nutrients. Edible flowers such as nasturtiums offer a peppery bite and elegant touch for company.

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Additional healthful fats and proteins may be added in the form of hard-cooked egg, shredded raw milk cheese, sliced avocado, properly soaked and dried nuts or seeds, crumbled bacon, or shaved roast beef, chicken, turkey or ham from pasture-fed animals. Properly prepared and stored walnuts in particular add important Omega-3 fatty acids. Slices of crisp tart apples or pears are a nice addition, too. With enough added fats and proteins, the salad can become a complete meal.

Now for the all important healthful dressing. You really should make your own! Basic dressing are quick and easy, and ensure that you will be able to absorb the nutrients in the vegetables. Start with a high quality oil. Cold pressed extra virgin olive oil is a good choice, unfiltered if you can find it (Fresh Fields and Rick's Wine & Gourmet sell Frantoia brand, a heavenly unfiltered olive oil from Italy. Shoppers sells an inexpensive filtered oil that's more budget friendly.). Occasional use of expeller-pressed walnut oil provides variety. Addition of a tablespoon or so of expeller-pressed flax oil that has been kept refrigerated in an opaque bottle adds omega-3 fatty acids. Other expeller-pressed oils such as sunflower or safflower may be used. If it's warm enough, you could use coconut oil (liquid above 76°F). Do not use commercial canola or vegetable oils. They have been
extracted at high temperatures using various chemical solvents, and do not provide the phytochemicals and good fats of olive oil. They have been bleached and deodorized to mask their unappealing color and rancidity.

Acids such as raw vinegar or citrus juice (lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit) add a pleasant tang and contribute their own nutrients. Here are two simple, fast, healthy dressings (many more are provided in Nourishing Traditions) with some additional variations:

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Oil & Lemon
Drizzle salad with olive oil. Squeeze a large lemon wedge or two over salad. Sprinkle with unrefined sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Toss. Delicious, healthful and really fast!

Oil & Vinegar (Basic Vinaigrette)
Put about ½ cup oil in a bottle with a tight fitting lid so you can shake it. Add about ½ cup raw red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar. Add about 1tsp dijon mustard (this adds zing and helps the dressing stay blended). Shake well and toss with salad.

Variations
Garlic Vinaigrette: add a few cloves of raw minced garlic pulverized with unrefined sea salt using the side of a large knife. This is delicious!
Bleu Cheese: Blend the garlic vinaigrette with crumbled raw milk bleu cheese
Creamy dressing: Blend the basic or garlic vinaigrette with sour cream or mayonnaise to desired consistency.
South of the border: Use olive oil and lime juice, and add a little crushed cumin seed and chili powder, or fresh salsa.
Other: Add fresh herbs and/or use other vinegars or flavored vinegars.
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Middle Eastern Carrot Salad - from New Recipes from Moosewood Restaurant

Serves 4 to 6

An easy, light and refreshing salad, sparkling with lemon and mint. Maple syrup gives it an interesting twist.

4 cups grated carrots
3 tbs fresh lemon juice
3 tbs vegetable oil
½ tsp ground coriander seeds
¼ tsp salt
2 tsp chopped fresh mint (1/2 tsp dried)
1 tbs chopped fresh parsley
1 to 2 tsp honey, sugar, or maple syrup

Mix all the ingredients together and chill at least one hour before serving.
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Some Tridoshic Salad Combination (This means that it is beneficial with all three types of doshas defined by ayurveda).

Lettuce, sprouts, carrots, and beets

Lettuce, sprouts, carrots, and spinach

Cucumber, sprouts, carrots, and radish

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Carrot Raisin Salad - from The Ayurvedic Cookbook by Amadea Morningstar and Urmila Desai

Preparation time: 20 minutes
Serves: 4-5

5-6 large carrots (4 cups grated)
½ cup raisins
½ cup boiling water
2 tbs rice vinegar
1 tbs dry dill weed
¼ tsp sea salt
1 tbs apple concentrate
¼ cup sunflower oil
2 tbs mayonnaise (for Vata only)

Pour the boiling water over the raisins in a small heatproof bowl. Let soak for 10 minutes. Go on to wash, peel and grate the carrots. (You do not have to peal the carrots, but the dish will be sweater and less bitter if you do.) Mix up the dressing in a small bowl, stirring the dill, salt and apple concentrate into the vinegar before adding the oil. Drain the raisins, discarding the water. Stir them into the salad. Add the mayonnaise if you are serving an all Vata group. Otherwise serve the mayonnaise on the side as a garnish for Vata.
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Perfect Brown Rice by Gail Naftalin

Wash 2 ¼ cups rice in a strainer under cold running water.

Toast the rice in a dry pot over medium/low heat until all water is evaporated and rice is smelling toasty.

Add 4 cups boiling water.  Stir gently, only once! Bring back to boil for 5 minutes, cover and turn heat to the lowest setting, cook 46 minutes, turn off heat and let rice sit 15 minutes before opening and fluffing with a fork.

Optional:  you can toast the rice in just a drop of oil (corn, sesame or olive are good), or add a pinch of salt.
For augmented amounts, rice to water 3:5-3/8, 4:7-1/4
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Basic Brown Rice
(Unsoaked Rice)
Serves 6-8
From Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon

2 cups long-grain brown rice
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cardamom pods
4 cups vegetable stock
½ teaspoon sea salt

In a heavy flameproof casserole, melt butter and olive oil.  Open cardamom pods and add seeds to the casserole.  Sauté rice in butter and oil, stirring constantly, until rice begins to turn milky.  Pour in liquid, add salt and bring to a rolling boil.  Boil, uncovered, for about 10 minutes until water has reduced to the level of the rice.  Reduce flame to lowest heat, cover tightly and cook for at least 1 ½ hours or as long as 3 hours.  Do not remove lid during cooking.
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Brown rice, tofu and eggs (from THE PREGNANCY COOKBOOK)

1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 1-inch piece gingerroot, peeled and finely chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
6 ounces snow peas, strings removed and sliced into thirds
4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced, white and green parts separated
2 tablespoons tamari
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar
3 cups cooked brown rice
10 ounces tofu, roughly chopped
2 eggs, well beaten
Pepper to taste

1. Heat the peanut oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the
gingerroot, and saute it, stirring it often, until it is fragrant. Add
the red bell pepper and saute it, stirring it often, until it begins to
soften. Add the snow peas and the white part of the scallions, and saute them until the snow peas turn bright green. Add the tamari, sesame oil and sugar.
2. Add the rice and stir the ingredients well. Add the tofu, and
continue to stir the ingredients until they are mixed.
3. Add the eggs, and stir them until they have set. Stir in the green
part of the scallions. Season the dish with the pepper.
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Greek rice pudding with lemon (from Mollie Katzen's "Still Life with
Menu Cookbook")
1 2/3 cups water
1 cup uncooked rice
1 tablespoon butter (optional)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs well beaten
1/3 cup (packed) brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon freshly grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
cinnamon

1. Combine water, rice, optional butter, and salt in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a very quiet simmer, cover and cook until the rice is tender. This will take approximately 20 minutes.
2. Remove the rice from the stove, and beat in the eggs. Continue to beat well for a minute or so.
3. Stir in the sugar, lemon rind and juice, and vanilla. Transfer to a bowl.
4. Sprinkle the top generously with cinnamon, and cool to room
temperature. Then cover tightly and refrigerate until cold. Serve cold
or at room temperature.

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Bread
Sour Dough Bread
Cut the bread in little pieces (about 1 inch). Toast the bread at 450 degrees for about 10 - 15 minutes. This will turn the bread crispy, to a cracker-consistency. Eat it as a snack with cream cheese, jam, olive spread, butter, sardines with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, or any other of your favorite spreads.
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Vegetables
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Eastern European Vegetable Stew

Submitted by Brooke Carroll from the Moosewood Daily Special Cookbook.
Mix and match veggies depending on what you have. Good cold, too.


2 T. oil
3 c. chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, pressed
1 c. diced potatoes

1 c. diced carrots
1 c. diced parsnips
2 c. diced turnip or rutabaga
2 c. peeled & diced beets
6 c. water or broth
2 t. salt
2 bay leaves
1 T. minced fresh thyme and/or dill (tsp. dried)
1/4 c. cider vinegar (balsamic also works)
5 c. rinsed & chopped beet greens or chard or spinach
salt & pepper to taste
Sour cream or yogurt topping


In soup pot, heat oil & add onions and garlic. Cover & sauté on medium for about 7 minutes, stir frequently until the onions are soft. Add next ingredients through herbs. Cover and bring to a boil; then cook on medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Add the vinegar and greens. Gently simmer 5 to 10 minutes until greens are tender. Add salt and pepper.
Find and discard bay leaves. Serve garnished with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt.

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Catherine's Garden Vegetable Stew - From Catherine Kane

2 carrots (thinly sliced)
3 handful herbs (parsley and sweet basil) - chopped
2 spring onions/leeks - chopped
2 tab olive oil
3-6 cloves garlic, chopped or strained
4 c. tomatoes in juice (canned is fine) - optional
4-6 cups broth
2-3 cups zucchini (any color)
1 c. eggplant, if available
1-2 peppers, hot or mild, in strips
3-4 garlic scapes, chopped finely
1 c. kernel corn
1 medium potato, cubed
14 oz. chick peas/garbanzo beans
1 c. brown rice
Grated hard cheese (I used parmigiano-reggiano)


Sauté carrots, herbs, onions and garlic in olive oil for about 5 minutes, until onions are translucent.
Bring tomatoes and broth to a boil.
Add sautéed vegetables and zucchini, eggplant, peppers, garlic scapes, and corn.
Reduce temperature and simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add potato, chick peas, rice; cover lightly and cook another 15 minutes, stirring once or twice. Add more broth, if necessary.
Serve with grated cheese to taste and nice brown bread, if you have it. This makes a lot, especially for a single person, but it uses so many of the CSA veggies that it seemed like a good idea. Keeps well in the refrigerator and can even be eaten cold.

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Sauerkraut - From Nourishing Traditions

1 medium cabbage, cored and shredded
1T caraway seeds (optional)
1T sea salt
4T whey* (if not available, use an additional 1T salt)

In a bowl, mix cabbage with caraway seeds, sea salt, and whey. Pound with a wooden pounder or a meat hammer for about 10 minutes to release juices. Place in a quart-sized, wide-mouth mason jar and press down firmly with a pounder or meat hammer until juices come to the top of the cabbage. The top of the cabbage should be at least 1 inch below the top of the jar. Cover tightly and keep at room temperature for about 3 days before transferring to cold storage. The sauerkraut may be eaten immediately, but it improves with age.

*Whey is easily made by placing 1 qt of plain yogurt in a strainer lined with a cheesecloth, placed over a bowl. Let it set overnight and the next morning, the whey will have separated from the yogurt and dripped into the bowl. Put it in a covered glass jar in the fridge and it will keep approximately 6 months. The remaining yogurt solids or "yogurt cheese" makes a delicious spread as is or mixed with a little salt, garlic, olive oil, herbs, pepper, etc. It will keep about 1 month in the fridge.

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Health benefits of sweet potato
(From Rebecca Wood's The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia, page 333)
"Higher in sugar than potatoes, sweet potatoes are also an excellent
source of carotenoid antioxidants; they also contain calcium. They are
high in vitamins A and C, with a fair amount of thiamine. In Oriental medicine, sweet potatoes are valued for nourishing the spleen-pancreas, stomach, and large intestine meridians; for quenching thirst; and for lubricating dry conditions. Sweet potatoes are also valued for building the kidneys; over consumption, however may cause abdominal swelling and indigestion. Sweet potatoes reduce pitta and vata."

Use
" Cooking converts most of the sweet potato's starches and softens it
into a sweet and soft, or dry vegetable, depending on the variety. While candied yams are a classic holiday dish, sweet potatoes can be eaten throughout the year; they can be substituted for squash or carrots in soups, salads, pilafs and baked goods. Sweet potato pie is a southern classic."
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Sweet Potato Quesadillas (From MOOSEWOOD RESTAURANT COOKS AT HOME)
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cups grated peeled sweet potato (about 3 potatoes)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
generous pinch of cayenne
salt and ground pepper to taste
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

8 tortillas (8- to 10-inch)
fresh or commercial Mexican-style tomato salsa sour cream Saute the onions and garlic in the vegetable oil until the onions are translucent. Add the grated sweet potatoes, oregano, chili powder, cumin, and cayenne and cook, covered, for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. When the sweet potato is tender, add salt and pepper to taste and remove the filling from the heat. Spread one-eighth of the filling and 2 tablespoons of the cheese on each tortilla. Cook the filled tortillas by following the procedure for Simple Quesadillas (below) Serve immediately, topped with salsa and sour cream. 
Per Quesadilla; 486 calories, 12.8grams protein, 19.5 g fat, 66.7 g
carbohydrate, 275 mg sodium, 24 mg cholesterol.
Filling prep time: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 4
Menu: When served with a green salad, these make a delectable meal.
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Simple Quesadilla preparation
Lightly oil a heavy skillet. Warm the skillet on medium heat. Sprinkle
or spread the filling ingredients on one half of each tortilla, leaving
a 1/2 inch border along the edge. Don't pile it on too thick or the
filling will ooze into the skillet; about 1/2 inch deep is good. Fold
the plain half of the tortilla over the filling. Place the quesadillas
(as many as you're cooking or as many as will fit) in the heated skillet
and cook each side for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the
filling is hot. Add more oil to the skillet if necessary, and cook the
remaining quesadillas.
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Indian Cauliflower - From Christy Stebbins, CSA member in Sandy Spring

For lovers of Indian cuisine, here's a cauliflower recipe. I made a roux with 3 Tbs. oil, a large onion, garlic, ginger, 2 cups tomato puree and a 1/4 cup yogurt. I added a couple Tbs. of tandoori spice and extra chili powder (if you want to add heat). Next I chopped up one cauliflower and 1-2
peeled potatoes (you could substitute chick peas). I also added several sprigs of fresh coriander and 1/4 LB of the greens, both finely chopped. Then it simmered for 35 minutes. I recommend you let it cool a bit before eating. Extra yogurt is good added at th
e end.
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Cabbage - From Jill Nienhiser

Cabbage is great as coleslaw, added to soups, or made into sauerkraut.
For coleslaw, shred 1 small head green cabbage into a bowl with 1 or 2 grated carrots (a food processor makes quick work of this). You may want to add some sliced green onion or diced bell pepper. In a small bowl, mix ½ cup mayonnaise, 3 T cider vinegar, 1 T sugar, 1 tsp celery seeds, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss with cabbage mixture.

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Simple Beets - From Jill Nienhiser

Scrub beets and trim tops and tails. Peel and slice about 1/8" thick. Boil until fork-tender. Drain and toss with butter, salt, and pepper. If beets have greens attached, pull leaves off stalks, rinse thoroughly, and steam. Chop coarsely, toss with butter, salt, and pepper, and serve with beets.

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Garlic Scapes - From Jill Nienhiser

You can use garlic scapes like scallions, but they are kind of strong raw. Best sautéed first. Try stir-frying them with spinach or chard. Try them in the chilled soup recipe above.

Found this on the Web regarding scapes: "The most distinctive of the three main hard neck types is 'Rocambole' Garlic. This garlic is similar to common garlic, but has two important differences. First, unlike common garlic, it throws up a flowering stem, called a 'scape'. ....The tall flowering scape, for reasons of its own, makes a twisting loop as it unfurls its 'flower' head (which contains not flowers, but tiny little bulbils). Thus its alternative name, 'serpent garlic'. Clipping the flower stalk off early on significantly improves bulb size."

So, the scapes are provided for us to use like scallions now, and the clipping of the scapes helps improve the size of the garlic bulbs we'll get later.

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Swiss Chard - from Jill Nienhiser

Swiss chard can be cooked as you would cook spinach, kale, or collards. It is not as bitter as some greens. Rinse thoroughly in several changes of water to remove sand, grit, and dirt, but do not spin dry. Place in a covered saucepan over low flame (water clinging to leaves is sufficient to steam it) for several minutes, until wilted but not too mushy. Use a wooden spoon to press out excess water, chop coarsely, and toss with butter and sea salt.
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Homemade Cole Slaw (can be used with regular cabbage or Kohlrabi)

shred the cabbage or kohlrabi shred 3-4 carrots for the sauce, I mix some mayonaise (or soy mayo) with some balsamic vinegar and a touch of honey. Then swirl into the slaw. It's very yummy and easy.
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Mixed Asian Green Stir Fry with Tofu - from Catherine Kane

1-½ Tablespoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoon dry sherry or mirin
1 teaspoon oriental sesame oil
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1/8 teaspoon crushed hot Thai pepper
3-½ cups thinly sliced greens
3 green onions, cut into one-inch pieces
10 ounces extra-firm tofu, drained, cut into three-quarter-inch pieces


1. Combine first four ingredients in small bowl; mix well.
2. Heat vegetable oil until very hot in heavy large wok or skillet over high heat. Add garlic, ginger, and crushed Thai pepper. Stir-fry until aromatic, about thirty seconds.
3. Add bok choy and green onions and stir-fry about three minutes.
4. Add tofu and lightly stir-fry until tofu is just heated through, about two minutes.
5. Add soy mixture and stir-fry until liquid boils and thickens, about one minute.
I press the tofu before cooking to drain more of the water, and then cook it for 3-4 more minutes than suggested so that it has a firm texture, but other than that, this was yummy.

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Carrots

Sweetened Carrots - from The Ayurvedic Cookbook by Amadea Morningstar and Urmila Desai

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Serves: 5-6

4 cups sliced carrots (4 medium carrots)
1 tbs sunflower oil
½ tsp mustard seeds
½ tsp turmeric
1/8 tsp hing
½ tsp sea salt (or less)
1 tsp coriander powder
¼ hot green pepper, chopped (optional)
3 tbs water
1 tsp maple syrup

Wash and slice carrots. In heavy skillet heat oil and add mustard seeds. When they pop, add turmeric, hing, carrots, salt, coriander, and pepper. Cook uncovered over medium heat, stirring frequently for 20to 3 minutes. Add water and maple syrup; cover and cook for 5 minutes more over low heat.

Comments: Good side dish with GINGERED ADUKI BEANS (p.106).

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Curried Parsnips and Carrots - from The Ayurvedic Cookbook by Amadea Morningstar and Urmila Desai

Preparation time: 25 minutes
Serves: 4-5

6 medium parsnips (11/2 pounds)
3 medium carrots (1/2 pound)
2 tbs sunflower oil or ghee
1 tsp black mustard seeds
1/8 tsp hing
½ tsp turmeric
¼ cup water
¼ - 1 cup plain yogurt (the lesser amount for Pitta and Kapha)
¼ cup additional water
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp cinnamon
½ tsp curry powder, mild
1 tsp coriander powder
Shredded unsweetened coconut as garnish
Fresh coriander leaves, chopped, as garnish

Wash vegetables and dice into ½ to 1-inch pieces. Heat oil or ghee in large skillet; add mustard seeds and hing. When mustard seeds pop, add turmeric, ¼ cup water, parsnips and carrots. Stir well. Cover and cook on medium heat for 15 minutes. Add yogurt, rest of water, and rest of spices. Cook another 5 minutes, covered, over low heat. Garnish with coconut and fresh coriander leaves.

Comments: This goes well with rice, barley, or cracked wheat. This recipe also makes a good vegetable side dish, if you omit the yogurt and additional water.

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Curried Potato Patties with Carrots - from The Ayurvedic Cookbook by Amadea Morningstar and Urmila Desai

Preparation time: 1 hour
Serves: 8

6 large or 8 small red potatoes
2 large carrots (2 cups grated)
11/2 tbs sunflower oil
1 tbs black mustard seeds
1 tbs curry powder
 
1 to 11/2 tsp sea salt (to taste, the lesser amount for Kapha)
2/3 cup green onions, finely chopped
½ cup fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped (optional)

Put water in large pot to boil for the potatoes. Wash the potatoes well and leave on their skins. Put them in the water to boil until tender, about ½ hour. While they are cooking, wash and finely grate carrots. Wash and finely chop the green onions. Put the oil in a large skillet and add the mustard seeds. When they pop, add the grated carrot and cook just long enough to wilt them slightly. Stir in the Curry powder and sea salt. When the potatoes are done, drain them and let them cool enough to handle them. Mash them well, with a fork or your hands, and stir or mash in the rest of the ingredients, including the uncooked green onion and coriander leaves. Form the mixture into patties and cook on a skillet, browning them 1 – 2 minutes on each side. Serve hot.

Comments: This goes well with Cucumber raita (p.224), and a vegetable side dish. Garnish with extra ghee for Vata.

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Jerusalem Artichoke
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About Jerusalem Artichoke

Health benefits of  Jerusalem artichoke (sunchoke)

(From Rebecca Wood's The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia, page 170)
"Jerusalem artichokes are a superiour source of inulin, a natural fructose that is medicinal for diabetics. This sweet tuber relieves asthmatic conditions, treats constipation, and nourishes the lungs. Dr.
K. M. Nadkarni, Ayurvedic author of the Indian Materia Medica, considers Jerusalem artichokes an aphrodiasic and an enhancer of semen production. It balances pitta and kapha, and may be used in moderation for vata. Jerusalem artichoke also contains vitamins A and B-complex, potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. Unlike most root vegetables, it contains no starch."

Use
"Jerusalem artichokes may be sauteed, baked, pickled, or served raw in salads. They do not can or freeze well, and if overcooked (more than 12 minutes) they toughen and become rubbery. As with a potato, peeling them is optional, Although most people can easily digest Jerusalem artichokes, some people experience digestive discomfort."

Preparation: Scrub the sunchokes clean with a vegetable brush. Since much of their nutrients are stored just under the skin, it's best not to peel them. Once cut, sunchokes discolor quickly, so it's best to cut them close to serving time, or cut and immerse them in water with lemon or vinegar to prevent oxidation. Cooking them with the skins on may cause a darkening of the skins because of their high iron content.

Raw:

Slice sunchokes and enjoy the crunch they add to your salad.
Slice and serve them along with crudites and dips.
Shred them into a slaw. Dice them into a chopped salad.
Slice, dice, or shred and marinate in a little extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice or rice vinegar
Coarsely chop sunchokes and add to the blender when preparing raw soups.

Stir Fry: Slice, dice, or shred and stir fry along with other fresh vegetables in a little extra virgin olive oil. They will become softened in about 4 to 6 minutes. For a tender crisp texture, stir fry about 2 to 4 minutes.

Baked: Sunchokes can be baked whole or sliced. Toss them in a bowl with a little extra virgin olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Set the oven temperature at 375 and bake 30 to 45 minutes for whole, and 20 to 25 minutes for sliced, turning them half way through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Steamed: Coarsely chop the Jerusalem artichokes and put them into a steamer basket. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Continue at high heat and steam for 5 to 8 minutes. Test for softness. Remove and season to taste or mash like potatoes.

Boiled: Sunchokes can be boiled whole or cut as desired. Bring a covered saucepan of water to a boil over high heat. Add sunchokes and boil for 10 to 15 minutes for whole, and 5 to 8 minutes for cut up. Season as desired or mash like potatoes. As you can see, Jerusalem artichokes can be enjoyed with any meal, adding a special taste and texture to the palate. Below is a reci