Poor rutabagas - so misunderstood! So ignored and under-appreciated! Not around here though. They have always been a big favorite of ours, and this is the perfect time of year to enjoy them. They are a very easy vegetable to grow, though here they don't seem to become quite as large as the ones we can buy in the store - you want to harvest them at about softball size, so that they don't become fibrous. We are out of the ones we grew last fall, because though they keep quite a long time, we have ... Read More about Rutabaga Cheddar Mash
Vegetables
Margherita Roasted Potatoes
I'm working to get the last of our summer produce "put up" before it's too late. Kind of a bummer to have to interrupt my taking photos of pretty leaves and pinning things in Pinterest to can more tomatoes, but tomatoes won't wait! I try to also find as many ways as I can for us to enjoy the veggies we have while they are still fresh. Canned tomatoes are very welcome in January, but right now I want to enjoy them straight off the vine, and all the ones I can cram into meals now, are ones I don't ... Read More about Margherita Roasted Potatoes
Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Zucchini
Full of fresh late summer veggies! I keep telling myself I have to stop putting zucchini recipes on here this summer, but then, the next thing I know, there is a plate of some sort of new zucchini thing sitting in front of my camera. It's like the zucchini are taking over everything - my garden, my mind, my blog, and most especially my dinner! I tell you - they are insidious! But today, I could not be more glad, because this is an absolutely fantastic meal. Ready in no time, it can be vegetarian ... Read More about Quinoa and Black Bean Stuffed Zucchini
Fresh Corn Fritters
Here in Upstate NY, this is really the best time of year for sweet corn. Nothing really compares to that first early corn that we crave so much after a long winter without it, but for the absolute best stuff, August and early September are when you find varieties that have the most flavor. Later varieties usually have ears that stay tender and sweet, even as they get huge - those are perfect for getting in the freezer for wintertime soups and side dishes. Just blanch them for a couple ... Read More about Fresh Corn Fritters
Kale Walnut Pesto
One thing that enjoys a cool summer is kale. Man, do we have kale! Usually, we have a lot of kale early in the summer, and then again in the fall, but this summer the spring kale never tried to go to seed, so it is still going strong. Every morning, when I go down to tend to the chickens, I make a detour through the garden to grab a handful of kale for my breakfast smoothie. Often we have it for dinner as well, and we are still overloaded. So, I wanted to find a way to use up a lot of kale ... Read More about Kale Walnut Pesto
Creamy Vegan Zucchini Dill Soup
We are still on a zucchini kick around here. Nothing wrong with that as far as I can see. It's a good year for squash, with plenty of rain and nice sunny days in between. The tomatoes are wishing it were a little warmer, but squash doesn't mind that is has been cooler than normal. It makes the plants produce a little longer as well, because in warmer weather production speeds up which tends to wear the plants out more quickly. Not a problem this year. I have never understood the idea of getting ... Read More about Creamy Vegan Zucchini Dill Soup
Zucchini and Black Bean Quesadillas
I know a lot of people complain about how prolifically zucchini grows, and I might even make a joke about it every so often here on the blog, but honestly we do love it. You still might want to lock your car doors if you stop by and leave your car in our driveway for very long, though. Zucchini have minds of their own, and have been know to form little squads that somehow make their way to the back seats of the unwary visitor. And this is the time of year when people leave their dogs tied on the ... Read More about Zucchini and Black Bean Quesadillas
Greens & Nectarines Protein Smoothie
Breakfast has always been kind of a problem for me. As is the case with all good Moms, mine wanted us to all have a nutritious breakfast before going off to school. Sometimes that meant eggs, which I liked, but often it meant oatmeal which I didn't like at all. To my way of thinking, Mom giving us oatmeal was a terrible injustice, since she wouldn't touch it herself. My aversion to breakfast, which persists to this day, was not Mom's fault though. It just comes too early for me - I really only ... Read More about Greens & Nectarines Protein Smoothie
Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Brown Butter
It is a sad day when I finally have to buy Brussels sprouts in the store. We have finally run through all the of the ones we grew in the garden, along with nearly everything else left from last fall's harvest. We used up the last of the onions a week or so ago, and the potatoes were all gone awhile before that. This dish also used up our remaining shallots. If you grow a garden, you should definitely make room for some shallots because nothing makes you feel quite so much like a millionaire as ... Read More about Brussels Sprouts with Shallots and Brown Butter
Carrots with Rosemary and Thyme
Are you like me? Have you so overindulged yourself over the past 2 weeks, that the idea of another cookie or rich whatever-it-is seems just too much? Not that the holidays weren't magnificent, because they definitely were. Friends, family, food, gifts, food, good times, togetherness, food. All wonderful in their abundance. But - enough, already. I need some veggies. Since we are in the middle of big winter storm, the garden is, of course, out of the question. So rummaging in the fridge, I ... Read More about Carrots with Rosemary and Thyme
Brussels Sprouts with Peppered Bacon
I know that there are plenty of dedicated Brussels Sprouts haters out there. I can see you, curling your lip and shuddering. But - don't go yet! If you are haunted by childhood memories of slimy little grey-green orbs of mushy sprouts - stay right here, and hear what I say - you have been mistreated by whoever tried to get you to eat them. Those Brussels sprouts? Those were your Mama's Brussels sprouts! Today, we are going to cook fresh Brussels sprouts and there is simply no comparison at all. ... Read More about Brussels Sprouts with Peppered Bacon
Tomato Jalapeno Jam
This was inspired by Mark Bittman’s recipe in the New York Times back some time ago. We found his version a bit too sweet for us, but liked it enough that I decided to see if I could alter it sufficiently to suit our taste. It’s not like I have a shortage of tomatoes for experimenting. In order to achieve a truly jam like consistency, you can’t reduce the sugar very much, because sugar is what gives jams and jellies their texture. Without it, this will just end up as a spicy tomato sauce. So ... Read More about Tomato Jalapeno Jam