Recipes

 

October 26, 2009

Volume 5

Carrot Slaw

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds carrots, approximately 12 to 15 medium
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup canned, crushed pineapple, drained thoroughly of all liquid
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • Pinch celery seed and/or caraway seed, optional

Directions

Wash the carrots and peel, if necessary. Using a vegetable peeler, cut the carrots into wide noodle-shaped strips.

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, salt, sugar, pineapple, raisins, curry powder, garlic, and celery seed and/or caraway seed, if using. Add the carrots and toss to combine. Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1 hour to serve cold.

Shaved Carrot and Pear Salad with Curry Vinaigrette

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pound large carrots, trimmed and peeled (about 8 carrots)
  • 2 firm pears
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon curry powder
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Using a vegetable peeler cut the carrots lengthwise into thin ribbons or slices. Quarter, core, and stem the pears. Using a knife, slice into very thin strips. Place the carrot and pear slices in a large bowl with the chopped parsley.

In a blender combine the white wine, curry powder, honey, salt, and pepper and blend to combine. With the machine running add the olive oil. Pour the dressing over the carrots and pears. Toss to combine and serve immediately.

Corn Chowder

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 6 cups canned vegetable stock
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 6 ears corn
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Heat the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme and cook until the vegetables are good and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Dust the vegetables with flour and stir to coat everything well. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Add the cream and the potatoes, bring to a boil and boil hard for about 7 minutes, until the potatoes break down (this will help to thicken the soup and give it a good texture).

Cut the corn kernels off the cob and add to the soup. Season with salt and pepper and simmer until the corn is soft, about 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the parsley and give it another little drink of olive oil. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

Sweet Potato Corn Bread

INGREDIENTS

·  2 cups all-purpose flour

·  2 cups cornmeal

·  1/2 cup sugar

·  7 teaspoons baking powder

·  2 teaspoons salt

·  4 egg, beaten

·  3/4 cup milk

·  1/3 cup vegetable oil

·  2 2/3 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes

 

DIRECTIONS

1.  In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the eggs, milk, oil and sweet potatoes. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan.

2.  Bake at 425 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cut into squares. Serve warm.

 

Avocado Corn Relish

INGREDIENTS

·  1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

·  1 tablespoon olive oil

·  2 tablespoons red or green onion, chopped

·  1/2 teaspoon salt

·  Several dashes hot pepper sauce

·  1 large avocados

·  1 1/2 cups corn kernels

DIRECTIONS

1.  In medium bowl, stir together vinegar, oil, onion, salt and pepper sauce. Cut avocados in half, remove pit, and peel. Cut into chunks. Add to dressing, tossing gently to coat. Add corn and toss to mix. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

 

AVOCADO, ASIAGO & PROSCIUTTO PIZZA

Ingredients

· 1 (10-ounce) thin or whole wheat Pizza Crust or seasoned Flat Bread Crust

· 1 1/2 to 2 ounces Prosciutto, thinly sliced

· 3 ounces Asiago Cheese, crumbled

· 2 tablespoons Fresh Basil or Italian Parsley, chopped

· 2 Chilean Hass Avocados

· Red Pepper Flakes

Directions

 

Preheat oven to 425°. Place pizza crust on baking sheet. Arrange prosciutto slices evenly over crust. Sprinkle with Asiago and basil. Bake until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Cut avocados in half, remove pit and peel. Cut into slices and arrange over top of pizza. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes.

GRILLED PORTABELLAS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS & AVOCADOS

Ingredients

· 4 large Portabella Mushrooms, stem removed

· 1 medium Red Onion, peeled and sliced thin

· 1 tablespoon Olive Oil

· 1/2 teaspoon Salt and Pepper

· 1 Chilean Hass Avocado

· 4 large Hamburger Buns

Directions

Broil or grill mushrooms on both sides until just tender, about 5 minutes per side. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Cook onions in olive oil over medium heat until very tender, stirring occasionally, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Cut avocado in half, remove the pit, and peel and cut into slices.

Toast buns. Top bun bottom with grilled portabella, 1/4 of the onion and avocado slices. Top with bun top.

Sweet Sweet Potato Casserole

INGREDIENTS

·  5 large sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered

·  3/4 cup packed brown sugar

·  2/3 cup whole milk

·  2 tablespoons butter, melted

·  1/4 cup all-purpose flour

·  1 1/3 cups pecans

·  1 cup flaked coconut

DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.

2.  Boil the sweet potatoes in a large saucepan approximately 10 minutes, or until tender.

3.  In a large bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, brown sugar, milk, butter and flour. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish. Sprinkle with pecans and coconut.

4.  Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven.

 

Sweet Potato Pie

INGREDIENTS

·  2 cups mashed sweet potatoes

·  1/4 pound butter, softened

·  2 eggs, separated

·  1 cup packed brown sugar

·  1/4 teaspoon salt

·  1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

·  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

·  1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

·  1/2 cup evaporated milk

·  1/4 cup white sugar

·  1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

DIRECTIONS

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

2.  In a mixing bowl, combine the sweet potatoes, butter, egg yolks, brown sugar, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and evaporated milk. Mix together well.

3.  Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; add 1/4 cup sugar and fold into sweet potato mixture.

4.  Pour into pie shell and bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 10 minutes. Reduce heat and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes or until firm.

 

Sweet Potatoes 'n' Pears

INGREDIENTS

·  9 cups cubed peeled sweet potatoes

·  4 cups water

·  2 steamed pears

·  1/3 cup packed brown sugar

·  1/4 cup butter, softened

·  1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1.  Place the sweet potatoes in a shallow 3-qt. microwave-safe dish; add water. Cover and microwave on high for 18-20 minutes or until tender. Drain and place in a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients; beat until combined.

Smothered Collard Greens and Cabbage

INGREDIENTS

·  1/2 pound bacon, chopped

·  1/2 large onion, chopped

·  5 leaves collard greens - rinsed, trimmed and chopped

·  salt and ground black pepper to taste

·  1 teaspoon greens seasoning, divided

·  1 head cabbage, chopped

·  1 pinch white sugar

DIRECTIONS

1.  Fry the bacon with the onion in a large skillet over medium heat until the bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes. Stir in the chopped collard greens, sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of the greens seasoning; cook and stir for 5 minutes.

2.  Add in the darker chopped cabbage leaves, and cook and stir until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining cabbage; season with salt, black pepper, sugar, and the remaining greens seasoning. Stir well; cover and cook until tender, stirring occasionally so that the greens do not scorch, about 10 minutes.

 

Collard-Kielbasa Soup

INGREDIENTS

·  1 quart water

·  2 (16 ounce) packages kielbasa sausage, sliced into 1/2 inch pieces

·  4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

·  2 pounds frozen, chopped collard greens, thawed

·  3 (14.5 ounce) cans great Northern beans

·  1/4 cup diced bacon

·  1 clove garlic, minced

·  1 small onion, diced

·  1 green bell pepper, diced

·  salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1.  Place water and kielbasa into a soup pot, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in diced potatoes, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes more. Add greens and beans, simmer for 20 minutes longer.

2.  While the greens and beans are cooking, place a saute pan over medium heat. Stir in the bacon, and cook to melt out some of the fat. Sir in the garlic, onions, and bell pepper; cook until the bacon is almost crisp. Drain off as much grease as you can, and add the mixture to the simmering soup, and cook an additional 15 to 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

 

Radish Salad With Parsley & Chopped Eggs

INGREDIENTS

·  2 medium shallots, minced

·  2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

·  3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

·  Salt and pepper, to taste

·  1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

·  4 cups thinly sliced radishes

·  1 cup Italian flat-leaf parsley (whole leaves, washed, patted dry, stems discarded), lightly packed

·  4 large hard-cooked eggs, in small dice

DIRECTIONS

1.  Whisk shallots, mustard and vinegar with a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper in a 2-cup measuring cup. Gradually whisk in oil in a slow, steady stream to form a thick dressing. (Can be covered and held at room temperature several hours.)

2.  Place radishes, parsley and chopped eggs in a medium bowl. (Can be covered and refrigerated for several hours.)

3.  When ready, toss with dressing, adjust salt, pepper and vinegar to taste, and serve.

 

Radish Dip

INGREDIENTS

·  4 cloves garlic, peeled

·  6 radishes, quartered

·  2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

DIRECTIONS

1.  Place garlic in the container of a food processor, and pulse until finely minced. Add radishes, and mince. Add cream cheese, and mix until well blended. Transfer to a serving dish, and chill until serving.

 

Radish Top Soup

INGREDIENTS

·  2 tablespoons butter

·  1 large onion, diced

·  2 medium potatoes, sliced

·  4 cups raw radish greens

·  4 cups chicken broth

·  1/3 cup heavy cream

·  5 radishes, sliced

DIRECTIONS

1.  Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and saute until tender. Mix in the potatoes and radish greens, coating them with the butter. Pour in chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.

2.  Allow the soup mixture to cool slightly, and transfer to a blender. Blend until smooth.

3.  Return the mixture to the saucepan. Mix in the heavy cream. Cook and stir until well blended. Serve with radish slices.

 

Sweet and Buttery Turnips

INGREDIENTS

·  2 pounds turnips, peeled and cubed

·  1/2 cup butter

·  1 cup sour cream

·  1/2 cup half-and-half cream

·  1 cup brown sugar

·  1 pinch ground nutmeg

·  salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1.  Place turnips into saucepan and fill with enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil, and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Add butter to the hot turnips and mash with a potato masher or whisk. Once the butter has melted in, stir in the sour cream, half-and-half, brown sugar, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Mash to your desired consistency. I always undermash for a chunkier outcome. Cover and keep in a warm oven until ready to serve.

 

Bacon Turnip Mash

INGREDIENTS

·  2 pounds turnip

·  2 tablespoons butter

·  1 pinch salt

·  1 pinch ground black pepper

·  1 dash garlic powder

·  1/2 pound bacon - cooked and crumbled

·  2 tablespoons rendered bacon fat

DIRECTIONS

1.  Peel and cube the turnip. Cook in a saucepan in salted water until very tender. Drain then mash with the butter or margarine, salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Set aside.

2.  In a skillet fry the bacon until nice and crispy. Remove from the skillet and crumble. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon grease.

3.  To the skillet with the 2 tablespoons of bacon grease add the mashed turnip and crumpled bacon. Stir and heat to the desired temperature before serving.