Filed under: Organic Nutrition | Tags: community supported agriculture, CSA, dinner, Farm Box, food, greek yogurt, healthy sandwich, kale chips, mashed sweet potatoes, produce, red bell peppers, roasted red pepper dressing, salad dressing, sandwich, simple recipes, soup, tomato soup, vegetarian, veggies
As I mentioned in my previous post “Organic Girl”, I participate in something called a Farm Box through a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA). Because I receive my box once a week sometimes I find that by the end of the week I still have a good amount of produce to get through. Don’t worry! Here are some tips for using up those veggies before they go bad…
Make a sandwich!
Today I fried an egg, stripped a kale leaf, sliced beef steak tomato & shallot, spread some of my special sauce (a tiny bit of melted butter, greek yogurt, hot sauce, salt & pepper, minced garlic) on two pieces of toast and boom! a delicious and healthy sandwich providing your body with carbs, fats, proteins, and vitamins!
Tomatoes? Make tomato soup!
-Heat oven to 450 degrees
-Roast 3-5 tomatoes (quartered), garlic (wrapped in foil), onions (quartered), along with whatever vegetables you choose (suggestions: red bell peppers, carrots, squash, etc) in olive oil/salt & pepper for 20-30 minutes on a foil wrapped baking sheet for easy clean up!
-Meanwhile heat 3-4 cups of water to a slow simmer with a herb of your choice.
-Once the veggies are soft, add them to the flavored water, add spices and let simmer for 15-20 minutes, blend and enjoy!
Kale? Make kale chips!
-Heat oven to 400 degrees
-Strip kale leaves from the ribs by starting at the bottom and sliding your closed hand up the stock.
-Rip or chop leaves into 1-2 inch pieces
-In a large bowl drizzle leaves with olive oil/salt & pepper and toss thoroughly
-Spread and separate the kale evenly on a parchment lined baking sheet
-Roast for 15-20 minutes until greens are crisp & enjoy!
-To store: line a tupperware with paper towel to absorb excess oil and store in a dry place (keep in mind they DO NOT last as long as normal potato chips, duh!)
Sweet potatoes? Make mashed sweet potatoes!
-Heat oven to 375 degrees
-Place sweet potatoes directly onto oven rack and roast for about an hour or until fork tender.
-Using a kitchen towel, cut potatoes in half and scoop out the pulp
-add a little melted butter (not margarine or a butter substitute but real, natural BUTTER) , salt & pepper (cayenne and nutmeg for some extra POW).
-blend ingredients with a potato ricer, potato masher or hand mixer and enjoy!
Red bell peppers? Roast in the oven for a healthy and simple salad dressing!
-Turn the broiler on in your oven
-Broil peppers for 7 minutes to start turning them every minute or so until skins are blackened
-Meanwhile saute finely chopped shallots (or any onions on hand) in olive oil with salt & pepper
-Once peppers are cool enough to handle, rub the skins off using a clean kitchen towel, gut & chop.
-Combine peppers, herbs of your choice, spices, and sauteed onions in a blender.
-While blender is running add about a 1/2 cup of extra virgin olive oil or until you have reached a desired consistency.
-Enjoy this dressing on salads, sandwiches, fish, chicken, beef, lamb, pasta, you name it!
Onions? Chop up and add to salads and omelets throughout the next week =)
I hope these recipes bring health and vibrancy to your week!
