The Purloined Recipe

1 1/2 pounds fresh black-eyed peas, rinsed, drained
8 to 12 ounces bacon, diced
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped red and green bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups water
1 can (approx. 14.5 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, or chili-seasoned tomatoes
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried leaf oregano

Put rinsed fresh black-eyed peas in a 4 to 6-quart slow cooker.

Cook bacon in a large skillet until softened; add onions, peppers, and celery and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute longer. Add the vegetable mixture to the slow cooker along with the water. Cover and cook on low for 2 hours, or until peas are tender. Add remaining ingredients and continue cooking for 1  hour longer.

black eyed peas, garlic, onions, peppers, side dishes, tomatoes

Adapted from http://noteatingoutinny.com

The great thing about this soup is that you can flavor it with whatever type of curry blend you prefer. There’s a whole world to choose from, spice-wise, when you use the word, “curry.” Just as it’s perfectly fine to swap different types of curries in this soup, so it is with the squash.

makes about 6 servings

about 2 lb butternut squash (or substitute with acorn squash, delicata squash, pumpkin, etc.)
1 large onion, chopped
1 ripe tomato, chopped
1 small clove garlic, minced
2 cups vegetable stock
1 can coconut milk
2 teaspoons curry powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, or more, to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
2-3 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice the squash in half and scoop out the seeds and pulp with a spoon. Save for another use or discard. Spread about 1 tablespoon vegetable oil on the bottom of a roasting tray and place the squash halves cut side-down on the tray. Roast for about 30 minutes, or until the flesh feels soft when poked and it has shrunken away from the skins a bit. Flip over and let cool. Once cool enough to handle, scoop out all the flesh and reserve in a bowl.

Meanwhile, heat a heavy-bottomed pot with another tablespoon or so of vegetable oil and sweat the onions over medium-low heat. Season with salt and pepper and cook until translucent, about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the curry powder, optional cayenne, chopped tomato and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, another 4-5 minutes. Add the roasted squash, coconut milk and vegetable stock. Stir to combine thoroughly and bring just to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, covered, for about 20 minutes or so. Using a hand blender, puree the soup to a smooth consistency (this can also be done by transferring the soup in batches to a food processor or blender). Taste for seasoning. Add additional stock or coconut milk if it’s too thick to your liking. Once the soup is to preferred taste and consistency, stir in the lemon juice to taste and serve.

garlic, onions, soups, squash - winter, tomatoes

From CSA member – Janice Gruneberg

3 medium tomatoes cut into fourths
5 medium chopped tomatillos, cut in half (remove paper skins)
1 large onions, cut into 1-inch-thick wedges
4 cloved chopped garlic
1 bunch cilantro
2 dried hot chile peppers
other hot peppers you have in season
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp table salt

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Spray a large nonstick baking pan with nonstick spray.

Combine the tomatoes, tomatillos, fresh hot peppers and onion in a large bowl; spray with olive-oil nonstick spray. Spread the vegetables in the baking pan. Roast until the vegetables are tender and lightly browned, about 45 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let the vegetables cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

Transfer the vegetables, in batches, to a food processor. Add the garlic, cilantro, chile pepper, vinegar, and salt; pulse until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl and cool.

chiles, cilantro, garlic, onions, sauces, tomatillos, tomatoes

Adapted from Justin Melnick, executive chef of Tomasso Trattoria

Serves 6

When beets are on the menu at Tomasso Trattoria, the staff is likely to be eating beet greens. They’re nutritious and delicious, here blanched and sauteed, then topped with a lemon vinaigrette, chopped tomato, and toasted almonds.

• Greens from 2 bunches beets
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 red onion, very thinly sliced
• 1 ripe tomato, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted until golden

1. Rinse the greens thoroughly in several changes of water.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the greens. Blanch 1 minute. Drain and rinse with cold water. With your hands, squeeze out the excess liquid. Chop the greens coarsely.

3. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. When it is hot, add the greens, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes or until the greens are tender but still bright colored.

4. Transfer the greens to a bowl.

5. In a small bowl, whisk the lemon juice, salt, pepper, and remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Pour the mixture over the greens and toss well. Add the onion, tomato, and almonds. Toss again. Taste for seasoning and add more salt and pepper if you like. Adapted from Justin Melnick, executive chef of Tomasso Trattoria

beets, garlic, onions, other greens, salads, tomatoes

from www.101cookbooks.com

5 tomatoes, cored (if necessary) and quartered
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and quartered
3 medium yellow onions, peeled, quartered
extra-virgin olive oil
5 plump cloves of garlic, unpeeled
fine-grain sea salt
2 – 3 cups light vegetable stock or water
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

Preheat the oven to 375F degrees and position 2 racks in the middle of the oven. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper, alternately you can just rub them down with a thin glaze of olive oil.

Arrange the tomatoes, skin side down, on a baking sheet. Coat the bell pepper and onions with olive oil and put them on the other baking sheet along with the garlic, place the pepper skin side down as well. Give both sheets a light showering of salt, then bake until the tomatoes start to collapse and the onions start to brown and caramelize, about 45 minutes. Turn the onions if they start getting overly dark on the bottom .Check on the garlic as well, once the cloves are golden and oozy inside, pull them from the oven.

Peel the garlic, dump all of the roasted vegetables into a big, high-sided bowl, and puree with a hand blender. Alternately, use a conventional blender or food processor and work in batches. Blend in a cup of the stock, and keep adding the rest 1/2 cup at a time until the soup is the desired consistency. I like a little chunk and texture to this soup particularly if the weather has a bit of a chill, but smooth or chunky is your call. Add the paprika and a bit more salt if needed – adjusting to your taste.

Serves 4.

garlic, onions, peppers, soups, tomatoes

Excerpted with permission from Farmer John’s Cookbook: the Real Dirt On Vegetables: Seasonal Recipes and Stories from a Community Farm by Farmer John Peterson and Angelic Organics (Gibbs Smith, Publisher). www.AngelicOrganics.com/cookbook

This version is moist and refreshing. It has lots of juicy tomatoes and dressing, as well as lots of fresh green parsley and mint. Don’t worry if you don’t have exact quantities; as long as you remember to keep things in balance by cutting back the mint (and perhaps the onion), it won’t matter if you use a little less of the other ingredients. You may also make this a drier Tabbouleh by using a larger proportion of bulgur.

Serves 6

1 cup hot water
½ cup bulgur
3 cups chopped fresh parsley
2 tomatoes, seeded, finely diced (about 2 cups)
½-1 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
½ cup finely diced onion (about 1 medium onion)
2 large scallions, halved lengthwise, thinly sliced
2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons) plus more to taste
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ground allspice

1. Combine the water and bulgur in a large bowl. Cover and set aside until the bulgur has completely absorbed the water, 30 minutes to 1 hour. (If after 1 hour the grains are plump and there is still water in the bowl, strain the bulgur and squeeze out any excess water.)
2. Stir the parsley, tomatoes, mint to taste, onions, and scallions into the plumped bulgur. Add the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and allspice; toss until thoroughly combined. Add lemon juice to taste (this salad should be lemony but not unpleasantly tart).
3. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes to let the flavors develop. Serve at room temperature.

mint, onions, parsley, Recipes By Ingredient, salads, side dishes, The Recipes, tomatoes

4 servings, 2 cups each

Dressing:

1/4 c. tomato juice
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3c. chopped green pepper
Coarse-ground black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced

Salad:

6 c. mixed salad greens
2 c. diced tomatoes
1 c. diced cucumber
½ c. thinly sliced basil
1/3c. crumbled Feta cheese
1/4 c. sliced green onions
15-oz. can cannellini or
other white beans, rinsed

Combine dressing ingredients with a whisk. Salad: combine greens and
remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Add dressing mixture, tossing gently to combine. Serve immediately.

basil, cucumbers, garlic, lettuce, onions, Recipes By Ingredient, salad dressings, salads, The Recipes, tomatoes

From Molly Beverly

3 Tablespoons good quality olive oil
6 fat cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
3 pounds fresh, vine ripe tomatoes, coarsely chopped
black pepper, freshly ground
kosher salt to taste
Several basil leaves, finely cut

In a large skillet heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and reduce heat. Gently simmer until lightly golden. (WATCH IT!) Add tomatoes, stir and turn fire to high.

Add salt and pepper and stir regularly, until tomatoes are well reduced and liquids are slightly thickened. (You are reducing the liquid, be careful not to burn.

When tomatoes start sticking, you are done.) Add basil. Stir. Taste. Adjust seasoning.

I served these tonight over cheddar mashed garden potatoes. Slice potatoes and boil in plenty of salted water until tender. Drain. Add a generous portion of grated cheese. Mash and allow cheese to melt.

Taste and add salt if necessary.

basil, entrees, garlic, potatoes, Recipes By Ingredient, sauces, The Recipes, tomatoes

from Kate & Mike O’Connor-Masse, Chino Valley Farms

2 pints (1 ½ lbs) Romas, diced
1/3 cup chopped sweet red onion
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
Salt & pepper, to your taste
Shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

Sliced baguette or Italian bread, lightly toasted.

Combine Romas, onion, garlic, basil, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper.

Spoon tomato mixture onto toasted bread slices, or over mozzarella, if used. Mozzarella is optional, but it does prevent the topping from soaking the bread. Serve immediately.

appetizers, basil, garlic, onions, Recipes By Ingredient, The Recipes, tomatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 2-pound squash, peel, cubed\ – 6 Cups
1 14 1/2-oz can diced tomatoes, drained
2 tablespoons dry Sherry
2 1/2 C(or more) canned vegetable broth
2/3 cup nonfat milk
2 Tbs chopped fresh thyme or 2 tsp dried
Nonfat plain yogurt, Fresh thyme sprigs

Other varieties of sweet yellow-fleshed winter squash-such as acorn squash-are perfect for this soup.

Heat olive oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add butternut squash and sauté until beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and Sherry. Boil until almost all liquid evaporates, about 30 seconds.

Stir in 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until squash it very tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Puree soup in blender in batches until smooth. Return soup to same saucepan. Stir in milk and chopped thyme. Bring to simmer.

Season soup to taste with salt and pepper.

(Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Bring soup to simmer before serving, thinning with more broth, if desired.)

Ladle soup into bowls. Top with dollop of yogurt. Garnish with thyme sprigs.

onions, Recipes By Ingredient, soups, squash - winter, The Recipes, thyme, tomatoes