Week 18
This week's box is exciting. Spinach!!! Delicata Squash!!! Leeks!!! I don't like to get too enthusiastic about delicata because there are so many delicious squashes out there and sometimes I feel like people only want delicatas. But, to be fair, they are pretty darn good and easy to cut and cook. One of our neighbors, who once told me that delicata squash changed her life, was chomping at the bit for one this year. She had eaten a grilled cheese sandwich with butternut squash and quince compote at a restaurant and wanted to make her own version with delicata. She used roasted rings of delicata, hot pepper jelly and gruyere cheese. Sounds delicious. I think some grilled onions (I love onions and gruyere together) or maybe some arugula or spinach would be good on it too. I look forward to making my own version soon. Last year when we visited Omaha I had an open faced sandwich with roasted squash, gravy and sharp cheddar. Although I haven't tried to replicate it, it was great.
Kelly is in Omaha this weekend tossing the football with his nephews and taking afternoon naps. After enjoying my trip last week, I am so happy he gets a chance to get away and relax as well. Besides, it is fun to have the house and farm to myself for a few days. Hopefully all of you who pick up on Monday show up tomorrow but not at the same time!
I had originally planned to give you some sort of root vegetable (turnip, rutabaga, diakon radish) but I think we will hold off until next week for a root veggie extravaganza! Now that is exciting, right? I know, root veggies don't elicit the same excitement as that first cucumber or first cherry tomato but they have their place in fall soups, mashes and stews.
Carrots
Spinach
Leeks - You could use your leeks with potatoes or cauliflower in a soup, roast with your squash or bake with chicken. They are easy to use and have a mellow onion flavor. I have not tried the recipe below but I like chick pea pancakes and thought they looked interesting. They also call for winter squash.
Delicata Squash- You could roast your squash with the leeks and poblanos for a delicious enchilada or quesadilla filling. They are good baked, roasted or steamed.
Poblano Peppers - These spicy peppers can be roasted and used with steak in tacos, chopped up and used in chili or in the classic Mexican dish chile rellenos.
Potatoes
Broccoli
Lettuce - Large Only
Cauliflower - I know, you were begining to wonder if we grew any this year. We lost a lot of our spring transplants during one of the heat spells earlier in the year but that planting has come and gone. I really don't understand why we aren't knee deep in the stuff at this point. Last year there was more cauliflower than we could fit in our walk-in and we planted a little extra this year. Over the next two or three weeks everyone will get a head. We had been holding off until we had a harvest large enough to get everyone in the same week but at this point it seems best to get the ball rolling.
Chickpea Pancakes with Leeks and Squash
Showing posts with label Delicata Squash Recipe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Delicata Squash Recipe. Show all posts
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Monday, October 8, 2012
Week 18
We have had some patchy frost the past four nights. The cold, sunny mornings remind me of New England. Hope you all are cooking up some fabulous fall food.
Delicata Squash - Delicata is one of the squashes we cook the most often. It tastes great, it is a nice size and is easy to prep and cook. You can eat the skin. One of our customers told us that the delicata squash changed her life. It is hard not to love this squash!
Carrots
Beets
Rutabagas - Not to be confused with a turnip, the rutabaga looks similar but is sweet and yummy.
Cauliflower
Lettuce
Cherry Tomatoes
Radishes - Large Share Only
Italian Frying Peppers - Large Share Only
You will get the best caramelization if you use a metal cookie sheet and only put a single layer of squash or rutas on it. All the ideas below assume you are setting your oven around 375 or 400.
Yikes, what do I do with a rutabaga?
Five Easy Ways to Use a Rutabaga
The first thing you need to do with a rutabaga is cut off the top and peel it.
1. Raw - Try a little raw and see if you like it. You can shred it and use it in salads for a bit of crunch.
2. Mashed - Cube and boil until tender. Mash and season the way you would with potatoes. You can also do half potatoes and half rutabagas for a milder flavor.
3. In Sweets - Use instead of carrots in muffins or carrot cake.
4. With other hearty fall dishes that call for root veggies - Add to beef stew, pot roast, chicken and dumplings, chowder or shepherd's pie.
5. Roast - Cube and roast by themselves or with other root veggies.
Five Easy Ways to Use Delicata Squash
1. Roasted Rings - Cut the end of the squash and scoop/scrape out the seeds. Cut squash into 1/2 inch rings. Toss with oil, salt and pepper and roast in a single layer on a cookie sheet until lightly browned and soft. Turning once during the cooking process will result in a more even caramelization but isn't necessary.
2. In Salads - Cut squash in half and scoop out the seeds (save them). Cube the squash and toss with oil, salt and pepper and roast. While the squash is cooking spread out the seeds on a small oiled cookie sheet. Pop those in the oven as well. They will be done well before the squash. Remove both seeds and squash when cooked. Let cool a bit and then put them in a salad and dress with a balsamic vinaigrette.
3. In a Quesadilla - Roast cubes of squash but add a bit of cumin to the oil, salt and pepper mixture. When finished squeeze a half of lime over them and use them with some sautéed onions and cheese in a quesadilla.
4. "Fries" Make Delicata fries by cutting in half to make to long boat shaped pieces. Clean out the seeds and cut into long wedges. If your squash is large you may want to cut your boat in half before you do this step. Toss with oil, salt, pepper, garlic and a a pinch of red pepper flakes. Roast until golden brown and cooked through.
5. Stuffed Boats - Cut the delicate in half and scrape out the seeds. Brush with oil or butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. If you roast these face down the flesh will stay a little moister but check on them to make sure they aren't getting too dark on the spot that touches the cookie sheet. A glass or ceramic dish might be the best choice. Cook until soft. The squash can then be stuffed. I like sautéed onions, garlic, carrots, kale and a little dried fruit mixed with some sort of rice, orzo or grain. Kelly prefers to skip the dried fruit, add some browned sausage and use rice. Add a little Parmesan to the top and brown briefly under the broiler.
Have a great week.
We have had some patchy frost the past four nights. The cold, sunny mornings remind me of New England. Hope you all are cooking up some fabulous fall food.
Delicata Squash - Delicata is one of the squashes we cook the most often. It tastes great, it is a nice size and is easy to prep and cook. You can eat the skin. One of our customers told us that the delicata squash changed her life. It is hard not to love this squash!
Carrots
Beets
Rutabagas - Not to be confused with a turnip, the rutabaga looks similar but is sweet and yummy.
Cauliflower
Lettuce
Cherry Tomatoes
Radishes - Large Share Only
Italian Frying Peppers - Large Share Only
You will get the best caramelization if you use a metal cookie sheet and only put a single layer of squash or rutas on it. All the ideas below assume you are setting your oven around 375 or 400.
Yikes, what do I do with a rutabaga?
Five Easy Ways to Use a Rutabaga
The first thing you need to do with a rutabaga is cut off the top and peel it.
1. Raw - Try a little raw and see if you like it. You can shred it and use it in salads for a bit of crunch.
2. Mashed - Cube and boil until tender. Mash and season the way you would with potatoes. You can also do half potatoes and half rutabagas for a milder flavor.
3. In Sweets - Use instead of carrots in muffins or carrot cake.
4. With other hearty fall dishes that call for root veggies - Add to beef stew, pot roast, chicken and dumplings, chowder or shepherd's pie.
5. Roast - Cube and roast by themselves or with other root veggies.
Five Easy Ways to Use Delicata Squash
1. Roasted Rings - Cut the end of the squash and scoop/scrape out the seeds. Cut squash into 1/2 inch rings. Toss with oil, salt and pepper and roast in a single layer on a cookie sheet until lightly browned and soft. Turning once during the cooking process will result in a more even caramelization but isn't necessary.
2. In Salads - Cut squash in half and scoop out the seeds (save them). Cube the squash and toss with oil, salt and pepper and roast. While the squash is cooking spread out the seeds on a small oiled cookie sheet. Pop those in the oven as well. They will be done well before the squash. Remove both seeds and squash when cooked. Let cool a bit and then put them in a salad and dress with a balsamic vinaigrette.
3. In a Quesadilla - Roast cubes of squash but add a bit of cumin to the oil, salt and pepper mixture. When finished squeeze a half of lime over them and use them with some sautéed onions and cheese in a quesadilla.
4. "Fries" Make Delicata fries by cutting in half to make to long boat shaped pieces. Clean out the seeds and cut into long wedges. If your squash is large you may want to cut your boat in half before you do this step. Toss with oil, salt, pepper, garlic and a a pinch of red pepper flakes. Roast until golden brown and cooked through.
5. Stuffed Boats - Cut the delicate in half and scrape out the seeds. Brush with oil or butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper. If you roast these face down the flesh will stay a little moister but check on them to make sure they aren't getting too dark on the spot that touches the cookie sheet. A glass or ceramic dish might be the best choice. Cook until soft. The squash can then be stuffed. I like sautéed onions, garlic, carrots, kale and a little dried fruit mixed with some sort of rice, orzo or grain. Kelly prefers to skip the dried fruit, add some browned sausage and use rice. Add a little Parmesan to the top and brown briefly under the broiler.
Have a great week.
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