Green Beans Amandine

Adapted from Joy of Cooking, serves 4
Date made: 5/1/2011

1 lb green beans, trimmed*
1/4 c almonds
dash of vinegar
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper, to tasted

Bring water to a boil in medium pot.  Add green beans and cook until tender, 5-10 minutes.  Meanwhile, heat oil in small skillet over medium heat.
Add almonds and toast for 2-5 minutes.  Drain beans and add to almonds.  Add vinegar, salt, and pepper, and mix well.

Roasted Summer Vegetables

Adapted from Simply in Season, serves 4 (as main dish)
Date made: 5/1/2011

1 zucchini, chopped*
2 yellow squash, chopped*
1/4 lb shiitake mushrooms, cleaned*
1/2 medium onion, chopped*
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/8 tsp black pepper

Mix olive oil and herbs/spices together.  Toss with vegetables and mushrooms.  Spread evenly in a 9x13 baking dish and bake in preheated oven at 425°F.  Serve over rice or pasta.

Cucumber Salad

Adapted from Simply in Season, serves 4
Date made: 5/1/2011

3 c cucumbers, thinly sliced*
1 c onion, thinly sliced*
1/4 c sugar
1/4 c white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp dill

Place cucumbers and onion in a large bowl and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt.  Let stand for 1 hour, then drain.
Mix remaining ingredients together in a small saucepan.  Bring to boil, cook and stir until sugar is dissolved.  Pour over cucumbers and onion.
Cover and marinate in refrigerator for several hours.  Serve chilled.


YUM.  Need I say more?  Maybe next time I'll experiment a little more with seasonings, but I knew dill would be a safe bet.

Potato, Onion, and Mushroom Saute

Adapted from Coconut and Lime, serves 2
Date made: 4/30/2011

2 small red potatoes, diced*

1 c onion, diced*

1/2 lb shiitake mushrooms*

1 clove garlic, minced

2 Tbsp oil

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried sage leaves

1/2 tsp black pepper

Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add potatoes, garlic and onions. Saute, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes.Add salt, pepper and sage.

Continue to saute, stirring occasionally, for about 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are softened. Add mushrooms and saute an additional 5-10 minutes or until they have cooked down. Serve immediately.

Pickled Beets and Shredded Carrots

Adapted from Simply in Season, serves 2-4
Date made: 4/20/2011

2 c beets*
1 c carrots, shredded*
1/3 c white wine vinegar
1/3 c brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c beet juice (see below)

Scrub beets and leave on tails and 2-3 in of tops.  Place beets in pot and add water half-way up to beets.  Boil until fork-tender, 20-30 minutes.
Drain and set aside beet juice.  Run cold water over hot beets while sliding off skins with hands, and dice into small pieces.
Combine remaining ingredients except for the carrots into pot.  Add beets and bring to a boil.  Boil for 5 minutes and allow the sugar to dissolve.
Add carrots and allow to cool.  Keep refrigerated.

Pickled Radishes

Adapted from Hollygrove Market and Farm, serves 4
Date made: 4/20/2011

1/4 c white wine vinegar

1/4 c water

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 tsp salt 

1 bunch radishes, quartered*

Bring all ingredients except radishes to a boil.  Pour over radishes.  Allow to sit till room temperature.

Refrigerate for up to a week.

Pretty simple!  I forgot the bay leaf in HMF recipe, but it still turned out okay.  Reminded me of the ban chan served in Korean cuisine.

Buttered Beans and Potatoes

Adapted from Hollygrove Market and Farm, serves 4
Date made: 4/19/2011

3-4 red skinned potatoes, diced*

1 lb fresh fava beans, shelled*

1/4 c butter

1 c vegetable stock

1/4 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

Bring diced potatoes to a boil.  Cook until fork-tender.

In a small saucepan melt butter. Add fresh beans/peas and cook for 5 mins.

Add chicke stock, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring beans to a simmer.

Cook till beans/peas are done 10-15 minutes. Add potatoes.

Another vegetable I've never heard of! (Fava beans)  I definitely would cut back on the butter next time -- a 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) is plenty!

Turnip Sweet Potato Gratin

Adapted from The Chubby Vegetarian, serves 2
Date made: 4/17/2011

3 small sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced*

5 small turnips, peeled and thinly sliced*

2 oz Parmesan cheese

1 egg

1/4 c milk*

1 tsp dried thyme

2 cloves garlic

salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease 9-in loaf pan and start layering vegetables, alternating sweet potatoes and turnips between layers.

Sprinkle a little salt and pepper in every other layer.

Blend remaining ingredients in food processor until smooth. Pour mixture evenly over root vegetables. Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.

Uncover, drizzle with olive oil, and bake a 15 minutes longer.