LEF (Com)Post

Serves 4

This sesame dressing sets off the flavor of crispy radishes in a new and exotic way.

1½ cups thinly sliced radishes
½ cup tahini (roasted sesame paste)
5 scallions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons dry sherry
2 tablespoons lemon juice
¼ teaspoon each salt and sweetener
¼ cup water

optional: 1/3 cup chopped or sliced almonds; 1 cup cubed chicken meat

DIRECTIONS:

1. Place radishes in a bowl.
2. For the dressing: stir the rest of the ingredients into the tahini; it will be a thick paste. Thin dressing to a creamy consistency with the water.
3.  Combine radishes with dressing and toss. Taste for seasoning. Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired.
4. Serve on lettuce.
5. For a main-dish salad, mix in the almonds and chicken

With Halloween at our doorstep, we are reminded that nature’s energy is once again turning inward and our popular summer crops are spent, slowly returning back to the soil. In our culture all too often we promote endless youth and growth, and avoid acknowledging the darker, dying and decomposing aspects of life, which actually hold the key to continued fertility. It’s time to remove all the stakes and twine used for trellising this year’s tomato crop; the last of the green beans will be picked this week; the Mexican corn is a reminder of summer days past; and many of the fields will be put to rest for the winter by seeding them with a legume-rich winter cover crop of purple vetch, bell-beans, peas and wheat.

I can’t deny how I wish I could stretch out the abundance of (and increased income associated with) popular summer crops over a longer period. On the other hand, I am seeing a nice transition to our favorite cool-weather crops: the broccoli, romanesco cauliflower, butternut squash, Brussels sprouts and turnips will round out the last shares of the season. Happy Halloween!

Serves 6

Side dishes perhaps implies a dish that is less important, but a sensational side can make a beautiful plate that is satisfying and delicious. Side dishes, I salute you!

2 3/4 cups stock of choice
8 ounces Italian farro or grain of choice
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup coarsely chopped Swiss chard
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons snipped fresh basil
freshly ground black pepper to taste

1. Bring stock, farro, butter, and salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients.
3. Sometimes I like to season the salad with a sprinkle of olive oil and a generous squeeze of lemon to make it pop!

Makes 4 cups

Serve alongside grilled meats, poultry, or fish.

1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup raisins
2 tablespoons sweetener of choice
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 sweet pepper, diced
3 cups corn kernels *
3 scallion, thinly sliced

1. In a large non-aluminum saucepan, combine vinegar, raisins, sweetener, chili powder, salt and cayenne. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil for 2 minutes.
2. Add the sweet pepper and cook until pepper is crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and stir in corn and scallions. Cool to room temperature. Store the relish in the refrigerator.

* Please note: if you are using the Mexican Corn from your box, due to its starchiness it would be best to boil it separately for at least 10 – 15 minutes, then let it cool before cutting it off the cob and adding it to the dish … or, add the raw kernels to the fry pan first, and cook them for 5 – 10 mins in a small amount of oil before adding the other ingredients.

Serves 6

Here, tomatillos stand in for the ripe red tomatoes that are the usual base for this cold summer soup from Spain. Toasted walnuts take the place of the bread that thickens the soup. Green tomatillos make an interesting substitute for the tomatoes.

1 pound tomatillos, papery husks removed
1 yellow onion, sliced
2 jalapenos, halved and seeded
1/4 cup walnuts
1 sweet pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
1 English cucumber, peeled and coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
sea salt and ground black pepper to taste
cayenne pepper to taste
1 jicama, peeled and diced

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet.

2. Place tomatillos, onion slices, and jalapenos on prepared baking sheet. Roast until tomatillos and onions are lightly browned and softened, and the jalapenos are blackened and blistered, 18-20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

3. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Spred walnuts on another ungreased baking sheet and toast until fragrant and just beginning to brown, 5-7 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

4. Place cooled vegetables and nuts in a blender or food processor along with the sweet pepper, cucumber, garlic, olive oil, lime juice, and parsley. Process until smooth. Transfer to a non-aluminum bowl and season with sea salt, black pepper and cayenne. Cover and chill for a t least 2-3 hours.

5. Ladle into chilled bowls and garnish each serving with a spoonful of diced jicama.  Serve immediately.

Serves 6

On a night when you prefer to eat lightly, make a spinach salad your main course, accompanied by a slice or two of crusty bread. On another occasion, replace the spinach with arugula.

1 1/2 pounds red boiling potatoes (about 6 medium)
6 eggs
sea salt to taste
1 1/2 pounds spinach leaves, tough stems removed
1 red onion, thinly sliced
12 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/2 inch wide pieces
3 tablespoons red wine or sherry vinegar, or to taste
1/2 cup olive oil, plus extra if needed
ground pepper to taste

1. Place potatoes and eggs in a large pot with water to cover. Place over medium-high heat, bring to a simmer, and adjust heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Using a slotted spoon, remove eggs after 8 minutes and run under cold water until cool. Add salt to the water and continue cooking potatoes until easily pierced with knife, 10-12 minutes. Drain and let cool. Peel if desired. Halve each potato lengthwise and cut crosswise into 1/4 inch thick slices. Peel hard-boiled eggs and cut into quarters lengthwise.

2. In a bowl, combine the spinach and red onion. Add the sliced potato.

3. Put bacon in a cold frying pan and place over medium heat. Cook until the bacon begins to crisp and has rendered much of its fat, 5-7 minutes. Remove bacon with a slotted spoon and add the salad. Remove frying pan from the heat. Pour off nearly all the bacon fat from the pan and discard or reserve for another use. In the same warm frying pan, away from the heat, whisk in the vinegar, and then the olive oil, scraping any brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan. Taste and season with salt and pepper. Add the dressing to the salad and toss well. If needed, drizzle a bit more olive oil. Toss again, taste, and adjust seasonings.

4. Transfer the salad to a large serving platter. Arrange egg wedges around the edge and serve at once.

1 pound tomatillos, papery husks removed, rinsed
1 white onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, peeled
2 jalapenos, halved and seeded
olive oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup cilantro leaves
1/2 lime, juiced

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Cut tomatillos in half and put on parchment-lined baking sheet with the onion, garlic, and jalapenos. Rub with a little olive oil and season with sea salt and pepper. Roast for about 15 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
3. Transfer roasted vegetables and their juices to a food processor or blender. Add cumin, salt, cilantro, and lime juice and pulse until well combined. Taste and adjust if necessary.

Serves 12

A comforting soup that is both savory and sweet. Perfect for late summer/early fall when Asian pears and apples are still in season. This tasty soup is high in fiber and carotenes. Use a roasted vegetable stock to add depth of flavor and richness to this soup (see next recipe for roasted vegetable stock).

1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted, divided
1 large kabocha squash, halved and seeded*
1 medium butternut squash, halved and seeded
1 yellow onion, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
1 teaspoon minced ginger, or to taste
2 Asian pears, cored and chopped
1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped
8 cups stock (optional recipe below)
lemon juice to taste
1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds, for garnish

*You can use all butternut squash in the recipe if you don’t have any kabocha.

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a small bowl, whisk the allspice, cinnamon, salt, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg with 1 tablespoon of the melted coconut oil. Brush inside flesh of squash with spice mixture, reserving any remaining. Arrange squash cut side down on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 30 minutes or until very soft. Remove from oven and let cool.

3. While squash is roasting, heat remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and the reserved spice mixture in an 8-quart pot over medium heat. Add onions and a pinch of salt and cook until onions turn a light golden brown. Add the shallots, saute for a few minutes, then add ginger, pears, and apples. Continue to cook until the fruit begins to soften, about 5-7 minutes. As the mixture begins to stick to the bottom of the pan, deglaze with 1 cup of the broth. Add 3 more cups of broth and simmer gently.

4. When squash has cooled, scoop out the flesh into the onion-fruit mixture. Mash squash mixture with the back of a wooden spoon and add 4 more cups of stock. Gently simmer another 15 minutes. Ladle the soup into a blender in batches and puree until smooth. Taste and balance with lemon and salt if needed. Add more stock if necessary to thin the soup. Garnish with toasted pumpkin seeds.

I wanted to share this recipe with you — it makes a wonderful base for the squash soup, and it is worth the time it takes to make it! Roasting vegetables imparts a deep flavor to this stock. It produces a darker stock that can be used in heartier soups and stews, or as base for other dishes.

6 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
3 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
4 large parsnips, coarsely chopped
2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
2 medium leeks, sliced
8 cloves garlic
1/4 teaspoon black peppercorns
10 sprigs parsley
6 sprigs thyme
4 fresh sage leaves
2 bay leaves
3 3/4 quarts water

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Spread vegetables evenly on a large baking sheet.
3. Roast, stirring every 10 minutes, until browned, about 30-40 minutes.
4. Transfer roasted vegetables to a large stock pot and add remaining ingredients. Bring to a simmer and cook for 40 minutes.
5. Strain stock, pressing out as much liquid as possible.
6. Cool and refrigerate or freeze.