Summer Garden Ratatouille

Adapted from Simply in Season, serves 4-6
Date made: 6/14/2011

2 onions, chopped*
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
2 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried rosemary
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried oregano
1 medium patty pan squash, chopped*
3 small yellow squash, chopped*
2 green peppers, sliced*
2 c heirloom tomatoes, chopped*
12 oz of pasta

Saute onions, garlic, and bay leafe in 3 Tbsp of olive oil for about 5 minutes.
Add patty pan squash and salt and herbs to pan.  Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until squash is soft, about 15-20 minutes.
In large soup pot of boiling water, start cooking pasta according to package directions.
Add yellow squash, green peppers, and tomatoes, and simmer until peppers and squash are tender, about 10 minutes.  Serve over pasta.

Great Green Vegetable Pasta

Adapted from Simply in Season, serves 4
Date made: 5/2/2011

1 c ricotta cheese
1/2 c milk*
1/3 c Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp dried basil
2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp salt
12 oz penne pasta
2 1/2 c broccoli florets*
1 1/2 c zucchini, sliced*
3/4 c green beans*
1/2 c peas*
1/4 c green onions*

Stir together ricotta cheese, milk, Parmesan cheese, garlic, basil, parsley, and salt and set aside.
In large soup pot of boiling water, start cooking pasta according to package directions.
Stir in broccoli 6 minutes before pasta is done.  Boil 3 minutes, and stir in zucchini and green beans.  Boil 2 minutes, and stir in peas and green onions.
Boil 1 minute, remove from heat.  Drain well, and return to soup pot.
Add ricotta cheese mixture to pasta and vegetables, and mix well.

Orechiette with Red Peppers, Swiss Chard, and Parmesan Cheese

Adapted from the New York Times, serves 4
Date made: 4/4/2011

1 bunch Swiss chard, washed and stems removed*
olive oil
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 c Parmesan cheese, grated
12 oz. package of orechiette
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tsp dried oregano

Begin heating a large pot of water while stemming and washing the chard.  Fill a bowl with ice water.  When the water comes to boil, add salt and chard.
Blanch chard for 1-2 minutes, and transfer to ice water.
Drain and squeeze excess water.  Chop chard into medium-fine pieces, and keep pot of water at a simmer.
Heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil over medium heat in large skillet and add red pepper.  Stir often until tender, about 5-10 minutes.
Add garlic and salt to taste, stirring for about a minute.
Then stir in chard and oregano, and reduce heat to low.
Bring water back to a boil, and add pasta.  Add about 1/2 c of water to pan and stir in Parmesan cheese.  Drain pasta, and toss with chard, pepper, and cheese mixture.


So, yeah.  I forgot that I was making a half recipe, so only use half a package of orechiette!!!  Also, next time I would add the cheese after mixing the pasta with the chard and peppers.  Otherwise, the cheese melts and coagulates the shard and peppers, and they didn't really distribute well.  Other than that, I think it was rather tasty!

Marinated Mushrooms

Adapted from several recipes I found online
Date made: ???

1/2 lb mushrooms, cleaned*
1 green onion, chopped finely*
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp parsley
1/4 c balsamic vinegar
juice of 1 orange*
1/4 c olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Saute mushrooms in about 1 Tbsp olive oil on medium heat until it starts to sweat.  Add balsamic vinegar and green onion, bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and let simmer until tender.
Add herbs, salt, pepper, and orange juice.  Pour mixture into a sterilized mason jar, seal, and allow to cool.  Refrigerate for several hours to a few days.


I don't remember exactly how I made this dish, but I think this is about right.  I might've added a clove of garlic as well.  I really just wanted something to do with the crap load of citrus I'd been getting at Hollygrove.  I got sick the week prior and the resulting sore throat was rather averse to acids for a while.

After the mushrooms marinated for several days I tossed it with a box of cooked penne and added some salt.  The mushrooms turned out pretty tasty, if I do say so myself.  I would probably something else to dress up the pasta though.