Beet, Orange, and Apple Salad

Inspiration:
Tim's newfound love of beets and allrecipes.com

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds beets
• 2 cups shredded beet greens
• 1 large orange
• 2 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored
• and sliced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon raspberry vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons unsalted sunflower seeds, toasted

Instructions:

1. Wash and dry beet roots and greens. Shred greens to measure 2 cups and set aside.
2. Place beets in a sauce pan with enough water to cover. Bring to boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender. Drain and allow to cool.
3. Trim and peel off skins; cut into 8 wedges.
4. Peel and section orange. In a bowl, combine orange sections, beets and apples.
5. Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and garlic. Pour over beet mixture and toss well.
6. Arrange 1/2 cup beet greens on 4 salad plates. Top with beet mixture, sprinkle with sunflower seeds and serve.

Notes: Loved this recipe. It's not for beginners--kind of time consuming--but it's delicious. Next time I'll double the dressing recipe and keep the salad ingredients the same. I may also add in an extra orange.

Tim's Rating: 9/10
Liz's Rating: 9/10

Fusilli Alla Crazy Bastard

Inspiration:
Food & Wine
I was looking for a recipe to use up some Swiss chard, and who could resist a recipe with the name "Fusilli Alla Crazy Bastard"?


Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup walnut halves
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound fusilli pasta
• 3 garlic cloves, sliced
• 1/2 pound beet greens, rinsed and coarsely chopped
• Pinch of crushed red pepper
• 1/2 pound soft goat cheese, thickly sliced
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. On a rimmed baking sheet, toast the walnuts for 7 minutes, until lightly browned; let cool slightly. Coarsely chop and transfer to a bowl.
2. Raise the oven temperature to 450°. On the rimmed baking sheet, toss the cherry tomatoes with 1 teaspoon of the olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Roast the tomatoes for about 10 minutes, until browned in spots.
3. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the fusilli. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until golden, 2 minutes. Add the roasted tomatoes, beet greens and crushed red pepper and cook, crushing the tomatoes slightly, until the greens are just wilted, 3 minutes.
4. Drain the fusilli, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta, the reserved cooking water and the sliced goat cheese to the skillet and cook over moderate heat, tossing to coat the pasta. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the pasta to a bowl, garnish with the chopped toasted walnuts, top with the Parmigiano-Reggiano and serve immediately.

Notes: Make this recipe if you really, really, really love goat cheese. Otherwise adapt it. The goat cheese flavor was a bit overwhelming. I did like the combination of walnuts, pasta, goat cheese, and chard, and the roasted tomatoes were delicious.

Liz's Rating: 8/10
Tim's Rating: 7/10

Chard Salad with Bacon, Beets, and Maple Mustard Vinaigrette

Inspiration:
Beets and chard from our garden
as well as
a recipe shared by Beth Jones, Executive Chef of the University of Minnesota Campus Club


Ingredients:

• 8 small, or 4 large beets, boiled or roasted, peeled, and cut into 1-inch dice
• 1 large bunch rainbow chard, well washed, leaves torn and stems finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 T Dijon mustard
• 2 T good-quality maple syrup
• 2 T cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 6 slices bacon, chopped and cooked until crispy

Instructions:

1. Toss the chard leaves, stems, and diced beets in a large bowl.
2. In a small bowl, mix the garlic, Dijon, maple syrup, vinegar and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
   
3. Drizzle over the salad and sprinkle with the bacon. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes:
By mid July you are sure to find the bacon, beets, chard and garlic for this salad at a local famers market. When you buy chard and beets, look for a variety of colors. If you buy beets with the tops still attached, wash the leaves and stems and add them to the salad.


My Notes:
This was the perfect recipe to bring to my Community Garden's pot luck. Both the beets and the chard were grown in my garden! I served bacon on the side as many of my friends either are vegetarian, vegan, or avoid pork. You could also add blue cheese, which would really complement the flavors.


Liz's Rating: 9/10
Tim's Rating: 8/10

Sausage Risotto with Mustard Greens

Inspiration:
Bon Appétit

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch dandelion greens, Swiss chard, or mustard greens (12 ounces), tough bottom stems removed, leaves cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, divided
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 large garlic clove, finely chopped
• 6 ounces mild Italian sausage (about 1 1/2 links), casings removed
• 2 cups arborio rice (13 to 14 ounces)
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 5 cups low-salt chicken broth
• 3/4 cup (packed) freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for serving

Instructions:

1. Cook greens in boiling salted water just until wilted, about 1 minute. Drain; cool.

2. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large saucepan over medium heat; add onion and garlic. Sauté until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add sausage; sauté until brown, breaking up with spoon, about 3 minutes.
   

3. Add rice; stir 1 minute. Add wine; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until wine is almost absorbed. Add 1 cup broth. Stir until broth is almost absorbed. Add remaining 4 cups broth by 1/2 cupfuls, allowing broth to be absorbed before adding more. Mix in greens after 10 minutes. Cook until rice is tender and mixture is creamy, 25 minutes total. Mix in cheese and remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Season with salt and pepper.

4. Serve risotto, passing additional cheese.

Notes: Tim stirred. He says stirring is his best kitchen task, and as we all know, risotto needs some good stirring!

Vegetarian Option: Replace sausage with additional greens or mushrooms and use vegetable broth.

Tim's Rating: 9.5/10
Liz's Rating: 9.5/10

Romanian Bean Soup with Bacon and Chard (Ciorba de Fasole)

Inspiration:
The Amazing Race's third pit stop: Romania
and this recipe for Ciorba de Fasole.


Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound dry haricot, pinto or butter beans
  
• 6 pieces of bacon, sliced into 1-inch widths
  
• 2 litres water
  
• 1 bunch Swiss chard
  
• 2 egg yolks
  
• 1/2 cup sour cream
  
• 1 T vinegar
  
• salt and pepper
  
• small bunch dill
• crusty bread, for serving
  

Instructions:

1. Soak the beans in cold water for 3-4 hours.

2. At the end of the soaking time, cube the bacon. Drain the beans and put them in the saucepan with the bacon. (Make sure there will be plenty of room for the beans to expand.) Pour the water over. Bring to the boil, skim, and turn the heat down. Simmer the beans for 1 1/2 - 2 hours, until soft. More time may be needed...keep checking the beans.

3. Shred the lettuce or other greenery and stir into the soup when the beans are soft. Cook for another 10-15 minutes.

4. Mash the beans a little to thicken the soup. Mix egg yolks, cream and vinegar together, and stir into the hot soup. Season. Chop the dill finely and scatter it over the soup.

5. Serve with bread.
   

Notes: When I started to make this, I thought, oh it's just another bean and bacon soup. But I knew I was wrong as soon as I stirred in the sour cream, egg yolk, and vinegar. I really enjoyed the chard with the other flavors. It's an interesting recipe, and I am glad I tried it.


Vegetarian Option: Omit the bacon.


Liz's Rating: 8/10
Tim's Rating: TBD

African Pineapple Peanut Stew

Inspiration:
Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home Even though I own this cookbook, I didn't notice the recipe until I saw it on Food alla Puttanesca!


Ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped onions
  
• 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
  
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  
• 1 bunch kale or Swiss chard (4 cups sliced)
  
• 2 cups undrained canned crushed pineapple (20-ounce can)
  
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
  
• 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce (we used Sriracha), plus more to taste
  
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  
• salt to taste
  
• crushed skinless peanuts, to garnish
  
• chopped cilantro, to garnish
• hot brown or white rice, couscous, or quinoa
  

Instructions:

1. In a covered saucepan, sauté the onions and garlic in the oil for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are lightly browned. While the onions sauté, wash the kale or Swiss chard. Remove and discard the large stems. Slice the leaves crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices.
2. Add the pineapple and its juice to the onions and bring to a simmer. Stir in the kale or chard, cover, and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring a couple of times, until just tender. Mix in the peanut butter, hot sauce, and cilantro and simmer for 5 minutes. Add salt to taste, and serve over rice, garnishing with peanuts and additional cilantro.

Nutritional Information per 8 ounce serving: 225 calories, 7.4g protein, 12g fat, 25.7g carbohydrate, 169mg sodium, 0mg cholesterol.

My Notes: A great vegan recipe. I loved the contrast of textures with the crunchy peanuts and the stew and rice.


Tim's Rating: 9/10 "Weird but good" (Yes, this is Tim's second "weird" comment in a row.)
Liz's Rating: 9/10

Spaghetti with Swiss Chard and Garlic Chips

Inspiration:
Smitten Kitchen
and
Gourmet

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 head garlic, cloves peeled and thinly sliced lengthwise
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup dried currants
• 2 pounds green Swiss chard, stems and center ribs finely chopped and leaves coarsely chopped separately
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, cut into slivers
• 6 ounces feta, crumbled (1 1/2 cups)

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, then cook garlic, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer garlic with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.

2. Cook onion in oil remaining in skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add currants and cook, stirring, until plumped, about 1 minute.

3. Stir chard stems into onion mixture with water and 3/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Cook, covered, over medium-high heat until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in chard leaves and cook, covered, until stems and leaves are tender, about 5 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, cook spaghetti in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (2 tablespoons salt for 5 quarts water) until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta-cooking water and drain spaghetti.

5. Toss spaghetti with chard, olives, and 1/2 cup cooking water, adding more cooking water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with feta and garlic chips.

Notes:
This made a lot. I should have cut it in half. It's really good!

Liz's Rating: 9/10
Tim's Rating: n/a

Moosewood Restaurant's Swiss Chard Rolls With Low-Fat Cheese Filling

Inspiration:
Moosewood Restaurant Low-Fat Favorites: Flavorful Recipes for Healthful Meals
(thanks Helen for lending it to me!)
as well as swiss chard, tomatoes, leeks, and basil from our CSA


Ingredients:

• 12 large Swiss chard leaves
• 2 leeks, well-rinsed and minced (about 1 1/2 cups)
  
• 1 t. olive oil
  
• dash of salt
  
• 3 scallions, minced
  
• 1 1/2 pounds 1% cottage cheese (about 3 cups)
  
• 2 T. chopped fresh basil
  
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
  
• 2 large tomatoes, sliced (optional)
  
• 1 c. tomato juice
• nonfat sour cream or yogurt

Instructions:

1. Remove and discard the stems and any tough ribs of the Swiss chard. Blanch the leaves in boiling water for 3 or 4 minutes, until pliable. Set aside.
2. To prepare the cheese filling, saute the leeks in oil for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with salt, cover and continue to cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until tender and bright green, stirring often to prevent sticking. Remove from the heat. Add the scallions, cottage cheese, basil and salt and pepper to taste and mix well.
   
3. Preheat oven to 350.
   
4. Prepare a 9 x 12-inch nonreactive baking dish with a very light coating of oil or cooking spray. Cover the bottom with the tomato slices, if using, and set aside.
   
5. Place about 1/4 cup of the filling in the center of each Swiss chard leaf. Fold the sides of each leaf toward the center, and then roll it up from the stem end to the tip to form a neat little package. Place the rolls, seam side down, in the baking dish, pour the tomato juice over them, and voer tightly with aluminum foil.
   
6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until heated through.
   
7. Serve the rolls with some pan juices spooned over the top and, in desired, garnish with a dollop of nonfat sour cream or yogurt.
   

Recipe Notes:
Serves 4 to 6
Preparation time: 30 to 40 minutes
Baking time: 30 to 40 minutes
Per 8-oz. serving: 125 calories, 15.9g protein, 2.1 g fat, 11.3 g carbohydrates, 1.9 g total dietary fiber

My Notes:
This was really good! I loved the combination of flavors. We had a lot of juice at the bottom of the pan, to the point I served it in soup bowls. The pan juice was absolutely delicious. If you are using the optional sliced tomatoes, either be prepared for yummy juice or maybe cut the tomato juice down a bit. This would be a nice recipe to make in winter, although I would rather omit the tomatoes then than have to use winter tomatoes.

Tim's Rating: 8/10
Liz's Rating: 8.5/10

Curried Red Lentil and Swiss Chard Stew with Garbanzo Beans

Inspiration:
A recipe from Bon Appétit Magazine


Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 5 teaspoons curry powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
  
• 1 large bunch or 2 small bunches Swiss chard, tough stalks removed, coarsely chopped (about 12 cups)
• 1 pound red lentils (about 2 1/4 cups)
• 1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained
• Plain yogurt

Instructions:

1. Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté until golden, about 13 minutes. Mix in curry and cayenne. Add broth and chard. Increase heat; bring to boil. Add lentils and garbanzos; reduce heat to medium.
2. Cover; simmer until lentils are tender, stirring twice, about 10 minutes. Divide stew among bowls. Top with yogurt.

Notes: Serves 4-6

Tim's Rating: 9/10
Liz's Rating: 9/10

Ribollita

(not my photo)

Inspiration:
Cold-Weather Cooking

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, minced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 carrots, peeled and minced
• 4 ribs celery, minced
• 1 cup minced fresh parsley
• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 2 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 3 small zucchini, thinly sliced
• 1 small head green cabbage, shredded
• 1 can (28 ounces) plum tomatoes, undrained
• 8 ounces beet greens or Swiss chard, trimmed and coarsely chopped
• 10 ounces fresh or frozen spinach, coarsely chopped
• 2 1/2 quarts chicken (or vegetable) broth
• 2 cups red wine
• 1 cup canned cannellini beans, drained
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 8 slices (each 1 inch thick) stale French or Italian bread
• 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Garnishes: olive oil, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, minced scallions

Instructions:

1. The day before serving, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large stockpot.
   
2. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, parsley, and thyme. Saute 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Add the potatoes, zucchini, cabbage, tomatoes, beet greens, and spinach; toss to combine with the other vegetables.
4. Stir in the chicken (or vegetable) broth and red wine.
5. Simmer the soup uncovered until the vegetables are very tender, 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.
6. Fifteen minutes before the soup is done, stir in cannellini beans and season to taste with salt and pepper.
7. Ladle one-third of the soup into a clean stockpot. Cover with 4 slices of the bread and 3/4 cup Parmesan. Cover the bread layer with another third of the soup. Make a layer of the remaining bread and 3/4 cup Parmesan. Cover with the remaining soup. Refrigerate overnight.
8. About 30 minutes before serving, reheat the soup over medium heat, stirring frequently, until hot.
   
9. Ladle the soup into large soup bowls and garnish each serving with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan and scallions. Serve at once.
   

Tim's Rating: 9/10
Liz's Rating: 10/10