CSA Week Sixteen

This week in my CSA I received:

-One leek
-Parsley
-Collard Greens
-Beets
-Radishes
-Sweet potatoes
-Green bell peppers
-Apples
-Bosc pears
-Eggs
-Wildflowers

The night before, my friend roasted the beets for a tasty beet salad with toasted walnuts and goat cheese.  Last night, I still had a few things left over from the week before, so I made eggplant, caramelized onion, and tomato pasta, and sprinkled it with the parsley.

If you are looking for a hearty soup with sweet potatoes, try this Sweet and Spicy Lentil Soup.  Swap out the swiss chard for collards, and add the leek in with part of the onion, and you got yourself a meal.

Want to try a delicious dessert?  Try this Apple Cake.  I made it last weekend, and besides the peeling and chopping, the recipe is pretty simple.  Plus, you can sneak it in for breakfast and not feel too guilty.

And if you are feeling ambitious this weekend, try this Butternut Squash Ravioli.  Not going to lie - it is time-consuming, but you do feel kind of proud at the end: I made homemade ravioli - ta da!

Roasted Carrots and Potatoes

Sometimes I forget how freaking delicious simple roasted vegetables are.  On Sunday I finally got my act in gear and made something.  Granted, it was just roasted potatoes and carrots, but hey, there was peeling involved!  This recipe is from Jamie's Food Revolution, just minus the parsnips, and with his directions, it creates beautifully caramelized carrots and crispy-exterior potatoes with ultra-creamy insides.  It just doesn't really get any better.

The Best Thing I Had In My Mouth - The Standard Biergarten Pretzel

This past weekend, after a leisurely walk across the High Line, we made a stop at The Standard Hotel Biergarten.  It was a perfect time to go.  It was an overcast, potentially rainy day, and it was unusually empty at the Biergarten, making it less scene-y and more chill.  What I love about this Biergarten is its location directly under the the old subway tracks of the High Line, the employees' t-shirts, and the ping pong tables (not that I really play).  We grabbed a tall table, played some ping pong, drank some German beer, and had a snack...er meal, as mine was a ginormous salty pretzel with mustard.  And yes, I ate most of it, I left a little and shared so I wouldn't look like the pig that I am when it comes to bread and mustard.  It was a great accompaniment with a beer.  Later I got home and took a nap, I can't imagine why.

If you are looking for a restaurant to try in Soho, check out Cafe Habana.  And if you are looking for a little detox (or a big one), check out my BluePrint Cleanse review.

CSA Week Fifteen

I have been such a lazy bum when it comes to cooking these days.  I have been pretty busy at work, etc., etc..  So hopefully I can get back on track with cooking this week.  Here is what I got from my CSA last week:

-Kohlrabi
-Kale
-Lettuce
-Carrots
-Potatoes
-Eggplant
-Jalapenos
-Onions
-Pears
-Plums
-Eggs
-Marigolds and one sunflower

On Wednesday I made tacos, story of my life.  And on Sunday I roasted a ton of veggies, and I might make a cannelloni bean and kale soup this week.

The best Thing I Had in My Mouth - Carrot-Ginger Muffin

You know what the best part about having a friend in pastry school is?  All her extra goodies.  My friend Shari loaded me up with ciabatta bread, olive focaccia, creme anglais, homemade marshmallows, and these carrot-ginger muffins.  These muffins were absolutely to-die-for.  They were so moist, and the texture and flavor were great.  I loved the combination of fresh shreds of carrot, chunks of ginger, and toppings of coconut, oats, and brown sugar.  Seriously, how can you go wrong?  I can't wait for her to graduate and start her own thing.

CSA Week Fourteen

Wow, it's finally fall, or at least it looks like it in this picture.  This week in my CSA I got:

-Eggplant
-Collard greens
-Beets
-Fennel
-Peppers
-Garlic
-Carrots
-Sweet potato leaves
-Spaghetti squash
-Apples
-Eggs

I have no idea what I will be making this week, but my CSA group emailed us a little about sweet potato leaves:

The sweet potato is one of the world's most cultivated crops, and is grown all over the world, but especially in Asia and the Pacific. The leaves are high in protein. Chinese herbalist lore says that the leaves can improve the respiratory and renal system function. Like spinach, chard and other greens, sweet potatoes leaves are highly versatile. Here is a recipe for stir-fried sweet potato leaves:
Ingredients: One bunch of sweet potato leaves; 1-2 hot dried red chilies (optional); 1-2 cloves of garlic
Salt, soy sauce, pepper to taste
Method

1. Fill a pot with water and put it on the stove over high heat. The pot should be large enough to hold the leaves, and there should be enough water to cover the leaves.
2. Strip the leaves from the branches. The thin stems that attach the leaves to the branch are tender enough to eat, so there is no need to remove only the leaves. Wash and drain the leaves.
3. Mince 1-2 cloves of garlic.
4. Chop the chilies fine, and combine with the garlic.
5. When the water comes to a boil, turn off the heat and carefully add the sweet potato leaves. After 2 minutes, remove and rinse with cold water. Chop the leaves. (This step was recommended by the cookbook to remove traces of natural slime from the leaves.)
6. In a large skillet or wok, heat some vegetable oil over high heat. When it is hot, add the garlic and chilies. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring often.

Add the greens, then stir-fry the mixture until the greens are tender, about 2 or 3 minutes. Add salt, pepper, soy sauce, or other flavorings to taste.

If you are looking for a fall pasta dish, try this pasta with brocoli rabe, toasted garlic, and bread crumbs - soooo good.  Or how about chocolate ice cream for dessert?

In Honor of NYC Fashion Week...

Photographs by Amy Moss.  Check out her Eat Drink Chic blog here.

I present McFancy (McDonald's dressed up in Haute Couture), created by Amy Moss.  Doesn't it look way more appetizing?

Peach Skillet Upside-Down Cake

This weekend I whipped up Rick Bayless' Peach Skillet Upside-Down Cake for a little fiesta I threw.  I love how rustic the cake looked, and it is a great way to use some of the season's last stone fruit.  I recommend using a non-stick skillet, but not a cast iron.  Don't forget you are going to have to flip the cake, so the cast iron might be too heavy.  You can use other fruit besides peaches, such as pineapple, apple, pear, nectarines, mango, or fresh or frozen raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, or pitted cherries.

The Best Thing I Had In My Mouth - Ortega Taco Kit

I love Ortega's crunchy tacos, and their seasoning mix, and their taco sauce.  I don't care that they aren't soft, corn tortillas from the local bodega.  Long live the Ortega crunchy taco kit.  Best thing in my mouth this weekend.

CSA Week Thirteen

Here is what I got in my CSA this week:

-Fennel
-Corn
-Potatoes
-Eggplant
-Tomato
-Red peppers
-Jalapenos
-Summer squash
-Red onion
-Peaches
-Plums
-Green beans
-Eggs

This week I made this eggplant, tomato, and caramelized onion pasta.  It makes for really great leftovers.  My friend froze some of the corn for soups this winter.  We made some Mexican rice with the peppers and onion.  I also made a peach upside-down cake too (more on that later).

The plums go great on top of vanilla ice cream.  And the green beans are perfect for Parmigiano Gremolata, but doesn't this green bean salad with fennel and fried almonds look good too?

The Best Thing I Had in My Mouth - Arby's Curly Fries

There is nothing like going back to the Midwest and finding treasures like Arby's awaiting you at the Minneapolis Airport.  AMAZING.  I couldn't help but stop and pick up some curly fries.  These are one of my favorite French fries in the world.  And they were piping hot too!  The best thing I had in my mouth the whole week!

Sorry about the lazing bum posting, but I have been tired.  Who knew a three-day weekend could actually exhaust someone more?

Oh Chipotle...

You get me every time!  Check out their Back to the Start video.

Loving This

I'm kinda loving this Irving Farm Coffee packaging.  Just saying.

CSA Week Twelve

I can't believe today is September 1st.  Where did the summer go?  Here is what I got in my CSA yesterday:

-Swiss chard
-Eggplant
-Green and red peppers
-Corn
-Cucumbers
-Summer squash
-Tomatoes
-Peaches
-Nectarines
-Eggs
-Marigolds

Last night I made penne with eggplant and tomato.  It was so good and easy, you should definitely try it.  I love most recipes on Alexandra's Kitchen!  Doesn't this tomato, ricotta, and grilled bread look good too?

Definitely making fajitas tonight with peppers, Swiss chard, maybe some squash, and with some Mexican corn on the cob.  These charred corn tacos look pretty good too.

Hope to share my peach ice cream recipe soon too!