Spoons Across America: Plenty of GREEN Produce to Try for Spring

Monday, May 10, 2010

Plenty of GREEN Produce to Try for Spring

Local Greenmarket Farmers Markets and Community Gardens are overflowing with tons of delicious GREEN produce. May and June bring plenty of greens including arugula, asparagus, spinach, and delicious herbs like green onions, parsley and thyme to local Greenmarket Farmers Markets and Community Gardens throughout New York City. Spring is a great time to try out a variety of herbs either mixed in with salads, or in seasoning veggies, meats or fish! Each fresh herb has a unique taste and adds healthy flavor to any dish.

Planning a trip to your local market or garden is a great way to celebrate spring.

Here is a link to help you find your local Greenmarket Farmers Market..http://www.grownyc.org/ourmarkets; and here is a link to help find your Community Garden: http://www.greenthumbnyc.org/

After heading to your local Market or Garden to round up some fresh asparagus..try out this delicious and refreshing recipe for Steamed Asparagus with Shallot Dressing from Chef Bobo's Good Food Cookbook by Robert W. Surles.

Ingredients:
1 pound asparagus spears, peeled and woody stems trimmed
1/4 cup water
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil or canola oil
1 sprig fresh dill, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Fine sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Procedure:
1. Place the asparagus in a nonstick skillet. Add water. Heat over high heat until the water begins to boil. Reduce heat to low and steam, covered, until asparagus is tender, about 5 minutes.
2. For dressing, in a small bowl combine the shallot, oil, dill, lemon juice, and mustard. Stir in 1 teaspoon of the cooking liquid.
3. Place the asparagus on a serving plate. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle dressing over asparagus.

Makes 4 Servings.

If you head to your local Market or Garden, I'm sure that you'll find a plethora of new and exciting produce to try. Don't be afraid to ask the farmer for suggestions on how to prepare your findings.

After a trip to your local Market or Garden, or after you try some new vegetables, herbs, or recipes...come back here to share with us by posting a comment!

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RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Chef Bobo's Tomato, Garlic, and Oregano Crostini

1 loaf unsliced crusty Italian bread or baguette-style French bread, cut diagonally into ½-inch-thick slices
¼ cup olive oil or olive oil-flavored nonstick cooking spray
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 Beefsteak tomatoes, halved
1 clove garlic, smashed
½ cup chopped fresh oregano
1 chopped Beefsteak tomato

1. Preheat the over to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper foil.

2. Arrange bread on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly brush bread with a little olive oil or spray with cooking spray. Lightly sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the bread.

3. Bake, turning once, until crisp and lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool, Rub each piece of toasted bread with garlic, then rub with a cut side of a tomato. Sprinkle with oregano and chopped tomatoes.

Seasonal Suggestion: During tomato season you can often find different tomatoes of different varieties, colors, and sizes. Experiment with the flavors of yellow cherry tomatoes, heirloom varieties, sweet 100s and others.

Makes: 18 crostini

Recipe from "Chef Bobo's Good Food Cookbook" by Robert Surles

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Chef Bobo's Carrot and Ginger Soup

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cut chopped shallots
2 bay leaves
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 medium carrots, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon turbinado sugar or regular sugar
2 teaspoons ground white pepper
4 cups vegetable stock
1 teaspoon ground ginger

1. Drizzle the oil in a heavy 3-quart soup pot and swirl it around until the oil coast the entire surface. Heat over high heat until hot.

2. Add the onion, shallots, bay leaves, and garlic. Cook and stir until tender, but not brown.

3. Add the carrots, fresh ginger, salt, sugar, and pepper. Stir in the vegetable stock. Bring to a bowl. Reduce heat to simmering and cook until carrots are tender, about 45 minutes. Remove soup pot from heat. Cool for 15 minutes.

4. Ladle soup into a blender a little at a time and blend in small batches until pureed. (Be very careful because hot liquids in a blender can be explosive when you turn on the blender.) Once all the soup is blended, return soup to pot. Or use an immersion blender to blend the soup right in the soup pot.

5. Serve hot or chill and serve cold. Top each serving with a sprinkling of ground ginger.

Makes 4-6 Servings
Recipe from "Chef Bobo's Good Food Cookbook" by Robert Surles

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Chef Bobo's Vegetarian Summer Rolls

1 seedless cucumber
12 10-inch round rice papers*
1 bunch fresh basil
1 bunch fresh mint
1 ½ cups cooked rice
1 ½ cups shredded carrot
1 2/3 cups shredded daikon **
2 cups hoisin sauce

Quarter the cucumber lengthwise, then cut each quarter into 3 long pieces. Trim to 4-inch lengths.

Fill a bowl with very hot water and lay out a large cotton towel or napkin that has been sprinkled with water. Place 1 rice paper in the hot water and let it soften for 15 seconds or so, until it is flexible and nearly transparent. Lay it on the towel. Working in the center of the rice paper, place 2 basil leaves and 2 mint leaves, then top with 2 tablespoons of rice, pressing down slightly. Add about 1 tablespoon shredded carrot, 1 tablespoon shredded daikon, and 1 piece of cucumber. Top with 1 tablespoon of hoisin sauce.

To wrap the summer roll, fold 2 sides of rice paper over filling, then roll into an egg roll shape. Serve the remaining hoisin sauce on the side for dipping.

*Note: Rice papers can be found at Asian groceries or specialty food stores. They are about 10 inches in diameter and are translucent, papery, and made from rice flour. In order to use the rice papers, they need to be soaked in hot water, but don’t leave them soaking in the water for too long or they get gummy. They are very sticky and need to be placed on cotton towels that have been sprinkled lightly with water.

** Note: Daikon is a long white Asian radish. If you can’t find these at your local market or farm, you can substitute with regular red radishes.

Seasonal Suggestion: Add or substitute vegetables depending on what is in season and/or available at your local market, farm or farmers market. Try chives, sautéed mushrooms, sprouts, red peppers, etc. Be careful not to add too much to the rolls, or the rice papers will rip and fall apart.

Makes: 12 Summer Rolls
Recipe from "Chef Bobo's Good Food Cookbook" by Robert Surles

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: 4th of July Berries and Cream

Spoons Across America founder, Julia Jordan, shares her recipe for a simple taste of summer. She recommends that you "sit back; enjoy the lush creamy texture and the bursts of berry flavors. It’s as close to perfection as summer gets."

4 Cups Market Fresh Berries
Blueberries
Raspberries
Strawberries, hulled and cut into quarters
1/3 Cup Sugar – optional
1 Cup Heavy or Whipping Cream from your local dairy
1 teaspoon Vanilla – optional
1 Tablespoon Confectioners or superfine sugar – optional
1 bunch Mint or Verbena or Lemon Thyme Leave

Lightly rinse berries. Drain.
Reserve 1 cup berries for garnish.
Toss remaining berries with sugar. Set aside.
Whisk heavy cream, until soft peaks form*. (7-10 minutes)
Fold vanilla and/or sugar into the whipped cream, optional.

Place berries in individual parfaits or glass bowls. Top with whipped cream or alternate layers of berries and cream.
Garnish with whole berries and sprigs of mint.

*Note: Place stainless steel mixing bowl and whisk in freezer, or whisk cream over a double boiler filled with ice water.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas with Radishes

This was one of our first Greenmarket dinners of the season! We enjoyed this fresh side dish with fresh lamb sausage from the Greenmarket and bread from our local bakery. It also goes well with grilled chicken or fish, or add shrimp or scallops for a complete main course!

1 Tbsp. Olive oil
1 Tbsp. butter
1 lb. Sugar Snap Peas (trimmed)
1 bunch radishes (thinly sliced)
1 tsp. fresh mint (minced)
1 tsp. fresh chives
salt and pepper to taste

Heat the oil and butter in a medium sauté pan. Add peas and cook for 3-4 minutes, until heated through and tender, but still slightly crispy. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the radishes and sauté until warm (1-2 minutes). Add mint and chives and toss to coat.

Serves: 4-6

Monday, May 10, 2010

Plenty of GREEN Produce to Try for Spring

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RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Chef Bobo's Tomato, Garlic, and Oregano Crostini

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Chef Bobo's Carrot and Ginger Soup

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Chef Bobo's Vegetarian Summer Rolls

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: 4th of July Berries and Cream

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas with Radishes

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