This dead-simple recipe goes into the category of "dishes that cause you to eat more of a given vegetable than you would have thought possible." One good-sized head of cauliflower will probably cover two people. Don't blame me if there's not enough; I warned you.
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This is a really delicious alternative to your typical lasagna, even if you have no reason to avoid pasta. By using a vegetable peeler, you get extremely thin slices of zucchini that don't require pre-cooking. Salting them beforehand and letting them sit for a little while draws off some moisture; opt for a thicker tomato sauce for this one to avoid too much runnyness.
This dish is perfect for the end of summer, when all the bounty of the season is still available, but evenings are beginning to cool and a big, hot bowl of dinner is something to be welcomed. Shell beans are really just immature dry beans, and can be cooked like dry beans that have been soaked. There is a bit of a spectrum between the "shell" and the "dry" stages for beans, and just how long they take to cook can vary a lot based on just where they are on that line. So we recommend cooking the beans separately from the rest of the vegetables in this dish in order to make sure the beans get cooked all the way through without endangering the rest to overcooking.
This is adapted from Shannon Hayes' great book Long Way on a Little, which is about making the most of local and organic meat - if you're a meat-eater, I can't recommend it enough. We roast a chicken every week or so, and this is a great recipe for leftovers, especially in the summer when you may not want to make soup. Of course, you could cook up some chicken (or turkey) especially for the purpose - it's good enough to warrant that. This tastes best if it has a chance to sit for half an hour or so to let the juices mingle. Serves 4 as a main dish
1-2 heads of garlic (yes, heads - stay with me) 4 medium fresh tomatoes, diced 1/2 cup diced olives (we use a Greek mix, kalamatas or green olives would work well also) 3 cups diced leftover chicken 1 zucchini or summer squash, diced 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, parsley, basil or a mix (or 2 tsp dried Italian herbs) 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar or lemon juice salt to taste 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese (optional) Peel the garlic and blanch in boiling water for about 5 minutes, until tender. This tames the bite and makes it sweet and nutty. Combine everything except cheese in a salad bowl and mix together. Let sit in the fridge for half an hour, stirring once or twice. The tomatoes and zucchini should release enough juice to make a nice dressing; if it seems dry, add some olive oil. Enjoy! June is what we call "mandatory salad season" - we eat a salad with or for at least two out of three meals a day. Usually a pile of mixed salad green and pea shoots with a dash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar is plenty, but sometimes one craves a bit more. This dressing is a great use for big bunch of cilantro, especially before the tomatoes come in and you can't make salsa yet.
Pea shoots make a fun, springy alternative to the usual basil pesto. You can bulk this up with spinach or stay simple. In addition to pasta, pesto is also great with potatoes - try tossing with roasted ones or mixing into mashed - or spread on good bread as a kind of bruchetta.
This is our new go-to for evenings when it's suddenly six o'clock (which happens to us pretty regularly once the season gets into swing). It's quick, light but filling, yummy, and packs a lot of vegetables.
This is a nice way to use radishes if you find them too strong on their own, because the dressing and the creaminess of the chickpeas tames their bite. This recipe came to us from our friend Kestrel. It's an unusual combination of flavors, but so good!
This recipe makes a great taco filling, a side to rice and beans, or a salad to go with grilled fish or meats. It takes quick pickled onions and adds two root-cellar staples: cabbage and carrots. Change the seasoning to complement your recipe - you could use bay leaves and peppercorns or herbs de provence instead of the spices listed here, for example.
Some variation of this is a fall and winter staple in our house – this is the current version. It’s very adaptable – adjust to the proportions and ingredients that suit you. It's a wonderful side with roast chicken. Or, to make a meal of it, add some sausage (we like the kielbasa from Pine Woods Farm or pepperoni from VT Smoke & Cure), or sauté some onion and chickpeas and put them on top. Put it on a bed of greens (arugula or kale work well), with a mustard vinaigrette, and you've got one great dinner.
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