Onion Soup with Madeira

Onion soup with toasted, cheesy bread or croutons was traditionally served after midnight at Parisian restaurants to please crowds coming out of the opera or theaters. This particular recipe comes from the Ducastaing Restaurant, which was a famous Parisian hang out for actors, writers, and performers.


It never fails that this time of year I crave the comfort and warmth of soups, especially onion soup topped with gooey, yummy melted cheese on toasted bread. I make this version throughout the holidays. It is a tradition in France to have a large pot of onion soup heating on the stove to serve after midnight on Christmas eve, or after a long evening of dancing and food festivities. It is such a convivial way to start the new year. This soup gets better as you reheat it and it's simple to double or even triple the recipe for a larger crowd. It will keep for 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

I particularly love the taste of Madeira, which adds a definite sweetness. You may use a dry sherry or port, or even dry white wine instead of Madeira.


Serves 6 - 8

For the Soup:
4 oz. Butter or ½ cup Cooking Oil
3 - 4 Onions, thinly sliced
½ cup Whole Wheat Flour
½ cup Dry Madeira
8 cups Vegetable Stock or Broth
1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
1 Tbsp Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Pepper to taste
Large pinch of Dried Thyme
Large pinch of Ground Mace

For the Garnish:

1½ cup Grated Gruyère
1 Egg Yolk
2 Tbsp Butter
6 - 8 slices toasted Whole-Wheat Bread

Heat the butter in a large saucepan or casserole (Le Creuset is best). Sauté the onions until translucent (about 6 minutes), allowing them to turn slightly golden and caramelized.

Sprinkle in the flour and stir well. Stir in the Madeira and stock or broth. Boil for 20 minutes, then add the cheese, salt, pepper, thyme and mace. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the garnish. Blend the cheese, egg yolk, and butter to a paste. Spread a little on each slice of toast and brown under the broiler (griller) . Serve the soup in individual tureens, floating one slice of cheesy toast on each bowl.



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Roasted Chestnuts

This recipe is tucked inside a drawer or in the back of a recipe box or dog-eared in a magazine in almost every kitchen. Chances are, it hasn't been tried yet. This is the next best thing to the chestnut vendor on the street.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Cut an X across the round side of each chestnut, otherwise they will explode. Arrange on a cookie sheet and roast until the skins pull back from the cuts and the nutmeats are soft. Time depends on the chestnut, but at least 15-20 minutes. Remove the nuts from the oven, mound in a dishtowel, wrap them up and squeeze, let sit for a few minutes. Open a bottle of beaujolais and pour a glass, (or a cup of wassail), peel the skin off the first chestnut and enjoy.

Marge's Wassail

While wassail is quick to prepare, made hours in advance it will fill the home with a wonderful aroma.

Ingredients:

2 quarts sweet apple cider
2 c orange juice
1 c lemon juice
1 1/2 c unsweetened pineapple juice
1 stick cinnamon
12 whole cloves
sugar or honey to taste

Stir all ingredients in a large pot. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Do not boil or it will thicken. Strain to remove cloves. Serve hot with or without rum or brandy.  Garnish with a thin fresh orange slice cut on the round.

Hot Buttered Rum

If you dare to make this hot buttered rum, there will never be another in your life.  Splurge and enjoy. This recipe serves many and without the rum it is a treat for the under 21 crowd as well.

1/2 lb Organic Brown Sugar
1/2 lb Organic Powdered Sugar
1/2 lb Organic Butter (unsalted and room temp)
1/2 quart good quality Organic Vanilla Ice Cream (softened)
1 tsp Nutmeg

Blend all ingredients until smoth. Freeze to chill and harden. Use 1-2 Tb. per cup. Add hot water and 1 oz of rum to make 1 cup.

Keep in the freezer until all is gone.

Wild Rice Soup

Wild rice soup was the signature dish of a Minneapolis department store's restaurant.  After moving back to the west coast I missed it so much I recreated my own version.  This recipe makes ~ 6 cups.

6 Tb butter

1 Tb minced onion

1/2 c flour

3 cups warm chicken broth 

2 cups cooked wild rice *

1/2 c finely grated carrots

3 Tb chopped slivered almonds

1/2 tsp salt

1 c half and half

2 Tb dry sherry

minced parsley and or chives

Melt butter in a saucepan on med heat; saute onion until tender, do not brown. Blend in flour, gradually add broth no more than 1/2 c at a time. Do not add more broth until absorbed. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil; boil 1 minute. Stir in rice, carrots, almonds and salt; simmer ~ 5 minutes. Blend in half and half and sherry; heat to serving temperature. Garnish with herbs.

*1 c wild rice

  1 tsp salt

  4 c water

Rinse wild rice under running water using a stainer. Place rice in a heavy saucepan with salt and water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until kernals are open and tender but not mushy (45-55 minutes) Drain excess liquid.

Canton's Pomegranate Salsa

The boise co-op deli's cranberry salsa is unrivaled, but with pomegranates in season, this is a nice alternative and so fast and easy to make.

Ingredients:

The seeds from 1 large pomegranate or 2 medium (add more for a sweeter salsa)
1 large red onion chopped
1/2 c chopped cilantro
1/4 c rice vinegar
salt to taste
1 or 2 habenero, serrano or jalapena peppers (adjust to taste-2 makes a hot batch)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, cover, let sit in the fridge for at least 3 hours.

Peg's Shrimp Bisque Appetizer

My friend Peg makes this soup every Christmas Eve for friends. It is so good that everyone always wants more. This recipe serves 6 3/4 cup servings so make several batches in advance if serving as a main course.

Ingredients:

1 Tb extra virgin olive oil
1 medium red bell pepper chopped
1/2 c yellow onion chopped
1/2 lb raw shrimp cleaned and cut in pieces. (Save a few cleaned whole shrimp with tails on for garnish)
2 cups fat free or reduced fat half & half
1 c tomato sauce (sodium free)
1/4 tsp hot sauce (+ or - to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp butter
1/4 c freshly grated parmesean or pecorino

Heat olive oil in a sauce pan.  Add red pepper and onion, saute on low heat until soft, 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add shrimp, (may include the whole shrimp or saute on the side), half and half, tomato sauce, hot sauce and salt and pepper.
Bring to a just a boil, reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Add butter.
Reserve whole shrimp. Let soup mixture cool to room temperature. Put small amount of soup into a blender, (too hot or too much will explode in the blender and will scald... be careful). Process at high speed 10-15 seconds until no large pieces remain. There should be small pieces of shrimp for texture. Again, this is a taste preference. Transfer soup to a clean saucepan. Repeat with blender mixture until done.
Reheat soup on low heat.
Transfer to soup bowls, sprinkle with cheese, garnish with whole shrimp. Enjoy.

Holiday Biscotti

Everyone loves biscotti and we all have our favorite recipes. The original recipe is the traditonal hazelnut or almond biscotti that begs to be dipped in bittersweet chocolate prior to dunking in a hot cup of coffee. Here, cranberries and pistachios are added for a festive cookie.

Preheat oven @325

1 stick unsalted butter (1/4 lb.)
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 eggs lightly beaten
1 tb. orange zest (fine)
3 3/4 cup of flour (or 3 c flour and 3/4 c fine cormeal for even extra crunch and nutty flavor)
1 tb. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 -2 tsp anise
1/2-3/4 c dried cranberries
1/2-3/4 c shelled pistachios

Cream butter and sugar, beat in cranberries and pistachios, add eggs, vanilla and zest.
Combine flour, baking powder and salt and add to the wet ingredients.
Place dough on a floured surface or a roul 'pat, cut in half and form into 2 logs ~2 1/2 inch in diameter.
Place apart on a buttered baking sheet. Bake 45-60 minutes, cool slightly. Use a serrated knife and cut 1/2 inch diagonal slices. Place the cookies flat on your cookie sheet and bake for another 10-15 minutes.

The baking time is personal.

Gluten-Free Pie Crust

Adapted from Glutenfreegirl.com

Makes 1 pie crust

1 cup White Rice Flour                   

½ cup Sorghum Flour                  
½ cup Potato Starch                   
3 Tbsp Sweet Rice Flour                   
3 tsp Sugar                                         
¼ tsp Salt
1 tsp Cinnamon
8 Tbsp Cold Butter
1 large Egg
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
¼ cup Ice-Cold Water


Mix together all dry ingredients. Cut the butter into 1/2-inch thick pieces and meld it into the dry ingredients with a fork until the mixture crumbles into pea-sized pieces. Make a well in the center and drop the egg and apple cider vinegar in, then stir them in gently with a fork, from the center out. Once they are incorporated, slowly drizzle the ice-cold water into the mixture, a little at a time. You do not want the dough to be too wet. Add water only if dough seems too dry.


Sandwich the dough between two pieces of parchment paper and spread the dough outward, equally in all directions, until it is a thick, round cake of dough, about the size of a pie plate. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or ideally, overnight. Take the dough out of the refrigerator at least 20 minutes before you want to work with it.

Leave the dough in the parchment paper “sandwich” and roll it out as thinly as you can, then remove the top sheet of parchment. Lay pie plate on top of the dough, then flip the whole thing over. The dough should sag into the pie plate. You may crimp the edges at this point. If some of the dough falls off the sides, simply re-attach the pieces to the crust by pressing in with your fingers.

If your recipe calls for a pre-baked crust, place it in a 350-degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes. Otherwise, fill and bake according to your pie recipe.

Dinner in a Pumpkin

By Boise Co-op member Brandy Wilson

I’d like to share this recipe for Dinner in a Pumpkin. It was inspired by an all-beef version, but I changed it significantly when I went to this vegetarian take on the recipe. It’s safe to say that this is my own creation!

This is a great way for people on limited diets to have an outrageously beautiful centerpiece for a holiday meal. Fits gluten-free, Candida-restricted, and allergy-free dietary limitations. If any of these no-fun diets have you perturbed this holiday season, the fun will come bouncing back in with one or two of these sweet and savory beauties on the table!

Serves 8


2 small Pie Pumpkins (8-inch diameter)

1 can Black Beans

1 can Kidney Beans

1 can Great Northern Beans

1 can Pinto Beans

1 can Diced Tomatoes (16 ounce)

1 can Tomato Sauce (8 ounce)

2 Anaheim Peppers, chopped

1 Bell Pepper, chopped

1 Onion, chopped

1/3 cup Green Olives, chopped

1/2 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

3 teaspoons chopped garlic

1 Tablespoon Oregano

1 Tablespoon Basil

2 teaspoons Cumin

2 teaspoons Chipotle Pepper Powder

Cut a circle out of the top of the pumpkin, slicing at an angle so the lid will sit neatly back on top. Scoop out the guts, and don’t forget to clean and roast those pumpkin seeds for another treat. Set the pumpkins in a roasting pan.

In a mixing bowl, combine all other ingredients. Spoon the chili mixture into the pumpkins, and set the pumpkin lids back on top. If you prefer, you can sauté the onions and peppers ahead of time. They are also fine just thrown in.

For thick-walled pumpkins, bake at 375 degrees for 2 to 2 ½ hours (pumpkins like “sugar pie” and “Casper” tend to fall into this category). For thinner-walled pumpkins, or if you are only doing one pumpkin, bake at 350 degrees for 1 ½ to 2 hours (such as the Cinderella coach pumpkin, “Rouge vif d’Etampes”). If unsure, allow an extra half-hour for baking. The pumpkins hold well in a warm oven.

Bake until the pumpkin is easily pierced with a fork and the chili is bubbly. To serve, scoop the chili with some of the pumpkin flesh into bowls.


Enjoy!
Brandy Wilson

Cornbread Stuffing with Curried Apples and Cranberries

By Sylvie Ryan and Caitlyn Davies

This stuffing is so delicious served as a side. I typically use a good quality packaged corn bread such as Bob's Mill. I also included a Gluten-Free version, Caitlyn's Gluten-Free Corn Bread recipe follows.

Serves 6-8

1 prepared Corn bread, cut into 1-inch cubes

4-5 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 cup Celery, diced

1 cup Red Onion, thinly sliced

2 large Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored and diced

1 tsp dried Thyme

1-2 tsp Curry Powder, (make sure it is gluten-free if this applies)

½ tsp ground Cinnamon

1 cup fresh Cranberries, chopped

1 cup Vegetable Broth, more as needed

2 Tbsp Pure maple Syrup

Salt and freshly-ground Pepper


Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Toast the cornbread cubes on a lightly greased baking sheet for about 20 minutes. When they are nicely toasted, remove the baking sheet from the oven, set aside and allow cubes to cool.

Heat 2 Tbsp of the olive oil in a large skillet, stir in the thyme, curry, and cinnamon. Add the celery, onion and apples; cook on medium heat until softened, about 10-15 minutes. Remove the skillet and set aside to cool.

When cooled, add the cranberries. Stir in the toasted cornbread, mix well. Add a little more olive oil, then the broth, pouring it in a little at a time, gently stirring to combine. Add the maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper to taste.




Caitlyn's Gluten-free Corn Bread

This corn bread is absolutely delicious. It is the perfect gluten-free treat and works so well for many recipes.


1 cup Corn Flour

1 cup Rice Flour

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Salt

¼ cup Sugar or Maple syrup

1 large Egg

1 cup Milk, Rice Milk or Coconut Milk

½ cup Coconut Oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients and set aside. Mix wet ingredients together thoroughly and then gently add them to dry ingredients. Immediately after mixing, our into an 8” round baking pan and place in the oven for 45 to 65 minutes. You know it is done when a toothpick pocked in the middle comes out clean. Be aware, gluten-free baked dishes will not brown the way other baked goods do, so that it is not a good indication of doneness.


Notes and Substitutions:
You may make this recipe using a mini muffin pan. It works great, just make sure you use a good non-stick spray.
For a more savory cornbread, add a little cheese and a pitch of chili pepper flakes.
If you desire a smoother, richer corn bread, stir a 4-ounce jar of unsweetened applesauce into the batter after mixing all the other ingredients.
Vegans may substitute 1 Tbsp arrowroot or ground flax seed for the egg.

Raw Winter Squash Salad!

This winter squash salad looks like carrot salad and is just as good to eat. It is a great winter alternative to tossed lettuce salads. Fresh and fruity, mixed with apples, it taste good too. Serves 4-8.

2 Tbsp fresh Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp Apple Juice Concentrate

1 Tbsp Water

Freshly ground Pepper

3-4 Tbsp Cold -pressed Extra virgin Olive Oil

1 LB. Meaty Winter Squash, such as Butternut or Acorn

2 small Apples

2 Tbsp Sunflower Seeds (you may soak the seeds, just cover with water and soak for two hours)


Whisk lemon juice, apple juice, water, pepper, olive oil together to make a vinaigrette.

Seed, peel and grate the winter squash (about 3 cups Grated). Seed and grate the apples (about 1 cup). You may peel the apple if you wish.

Toss the squash and apple with the salad dressing. Sprinkle with sunflower seeds. Serve.

—Adapted from a recipe by Jennifer McGavin

Bretzels: Soft Pretzels

By Sylvie Ryan, our Culinary Educator

These soft pretzels are my favorite snacks! They remind me so much of my childhood and were always such a special treat. This dough is perfect for about 12 large to medium size pretzels, but as you get better at rolling them they can make as many as 20. You may also shape them into small hoagies, just bake them for an additional 5 minutes. These hoagies make great little sandwiches for party appetizers. They also are a great new and unique way to serve hot dogs. Give it a try, I guarantee you will love them!


Makes 12

4 Tbsp Active Dry Yeast

1 tsp Sugar

1 ¼ warm Water (110 degrees)

5 cups Flour

½ cup Sugar

1 ½ tsp Salt

2 Tbsp Butter

½ cup Baking Soda

4 cups Hot Water

1 Egg beaten, mixed with a splash of water for brushing

¼ Kosher Salt, for topping


In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10-15 minutes.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, ½ cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the butter and yeast mixture. Mix and form a dough. If the mixture is too dry add water, a tablespoon at a time.. Knead the dough until smooth, it will take about 5-8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat the dough with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until double in size, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In large bowl, dissolve baking soda in hot water.

When risen turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal balls. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is shaped, dip each pretzel into the baking soda solution and place on a greased baking sheet. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with kosher salt.

Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes or until golden brown.


***I like to top the pretzels with grated Swiss cheese 5 minutes before the baking is done.***

Serve with your favorite mustard.

RAW Linguine Zucchini in Nutty Pesto Sauce

By Liz Allred
Serves: 4

Pesto Ingredients:
¼ cup pine nuts
2 tablespoons flax or olive oil
½ cup fresh basil
1 clove of garlic
lemon juice (as needed)

Blend all ingredients together, adding a bit of lemon juice as needed to achieve consistency desired.


Pasta Ingredients:
2 zucchini, seeds removed
1 avocado, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped

Using a knife, cut the zucchini into thirds crosswise, but don't cut all the way through. With a vegetable peeler, peel thin slices of the zucchini- because it is cut into thirds, the pieces will be thinner and more like linguine.


Assembly:
In a bowl, toss the zucchini linguine with the pesto sauce until well coated. Then add the chopped avocado and tomato and toss until mixed well.

Gluten-Free Croque Monsieur

By Sylvie Ryan, the Boise Co-op's Culinary Educator

1 cup hot Coconut Milk
1 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Gluten-Free Baking Flour
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
Pinch Nutmeg
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
2-1/2 cups grated Gruyere Cheese
10 slices Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread
Dijon Mustard
5 slices Prosciutto or Ham, nitrate-free

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat coconut milk in a small saucepan, but turn off heat before milk gets foamy.

In separate saucepan, melt the butter over low heat and add the flour, stirring with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes to make a roux. Slowly add in the hot coconut milk, whisking constantly until the sauce is thickened. Remove from heat and whisk in the salt, pepper, nutmeg, the parmesan, and 1/2 cup of the Gruyere. Mix the cheese sauce well and set aside.

Toast the bread slices in the oven for 5 minutes on a baking sheet. Turn over the slices and toast in the oven for another 2-3 minutes, or as preferred.

Lightly spread half the toasted bread slices with the mustard and add a slice of ham to each. Top with half of the remaining Gruyere. Top with the other slice of toasted bread and slather the tops of the sandwiches with the cheese sauce. Sprinkle the remaining Gruyere on top and bake the sandwiches for 5 minutes. Turn on the broiler and broil the sandwiches for 3-5 minutes, until the top of the sandwich is bubbly and lightly browned.

Makes 5 sandwiches.

Sylvie's Roasted Vegetable Gazpacho

An Original Recipe by Sylvie Ryan, the Boise Co-op's Culinary Educator

Serves 10

5 Red Bell Peppers, halved and seeded

4 lbs. Plum or Roma Tomatoes, whole and washed

4 medium Red Onions, peeled and roughly sliced

6 Garlic Cloves, peeled and crushed

1 Tbsp. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

½ cup Water

3-4 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar

1 Tsp Hot Sauce (you may use Tabasco)

Salt and Pepper to taste


Turn on the broiler. Cut the peppers in half, discard the seeds. Place them on a baking sheet open side turned down. Place the baking sheet as low as possible. When they are ready, they will look quite dark, place in a bowl and cover. Let rest for a few minutes. The skin will separate from the flesh, this will help the peeling process. Carefully peel the peppers. Set aside.

Set the oven to 425 degrees and move the rack to the middle position. Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet and roast them for about 15 minutes. You will know they are ready when the skin has started to crack. In a large bowl mix the onions and garlic together, season with salt and pepper and drizzle with about 1 Tbsp of olive oil. Place in the oven along with the tomatoes and roast for about 15-20 minutes. Put in a bowl and cover. When the skin has separated from the flesh, peel the tomatoes.

Purée the red peppers, tomatoes, onion and garlic mixture together in a food processor, adding a little bit of water at the time. You want to obtain a fairly chunky soup, but make sure that it does not become too liquid. You may need to this in sections so to not overflow the food processor. Place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours. I suggest that you wait for the soup to be thoroughly chilled before adding the vinegar, hot sauce and adjust the seasoning. You may garnish the soup with fresh herbs, olive oil, or cubed cucumber. Bon appétit!

Grandma Hélène's Green Beans

From Sylvie Ryan, the Boise Co-op's Culinary Educator


My grand mother made this recipe for larger family gatherings. It accompanies roasted chicken very well, but would be a good plate companion for any roasted meat dish. It is so quick and easy to make and the flavors of slowly cooked onions with garlic and tomatoes are delicious and very fresh.

Serves 8-10

2 Lbs. String Beans (You may use Green Beans cut in half)

1- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Large Yellow Onion, minced

4-5 Garlic Cloves, crushed and minced

1 Large Tomato, cubed

½ cup Vegetable Broth

Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper to taste



Wash and trim the beans. Set aside.

In a large skillet heat the oil over medium heat and add the onions. Sauté the onions until tender, but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and tomatoes and cook for an additional 5 minutes, lower the heat if needed, the mixture has to simmer. Add the vegetable broth, the beans, salt and pepper, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust the seasoning and serve. Bon appétit!

Arugula Pear Salad

3 ripe Pears

juice of 2 Lemons

1/3 cup dried Cranberries

1/3 cup Pecans, toasted and chopped

1/2 cup Apple Cider

1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1/3 cup Honey

1/4 cup extra-virgin Olive oil

1 bag (6 ounces) Arugula

Black pepper and sea salt



Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Cut the pears into slices, about 6 slices per pear, removing the cores and seeds.

Whisk the apple cider, vinegar, lemon juice, honey and 1 tbsp olive oil in a bowl.

Toss the pears with the mixture and arrange them core side up in a baking dish.

Bake the pears, basting every 5-10 minutes with the apple sauce mixture, until tender, about 40-50 minutes. Remove and let cool to warm or room temp.

Whisk together the remaining olive oil and 1/2 cup of the basting liquid. Toss with the arugula with the dressing, pecans and cranberries and divide among 6 plates. Top each salad with 3 pear slices, season with salt and pepper.

Black Quinoa Salad

 2/3 cup Black Quinoa

 1 Avocado

 Lemon Juice

 2 Oranges

1 tablespoon chopped Parsley

1 bunch Golden Beets, peeled and diced


For the vinaigrette:

1 teaspoon Gluten-free Honey Dijon Mustard

2 tablespoons White Wine Vinegar

6 tablespoons Olive Oil

• Rinse the quinoa under cold water and drain. Add to a pot with twice the same amount of water (2 x 2/3 cup water). Add salt and bring to a boil. Simmer and cover. Cook for 15 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed. Stop the heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and let cool.

• To prepare the vinaigrette, in a small bowl, combine the honey mustard with the white wine vinegar. Add the oil and emulsify with a fork. Season with pepper (note that I don’t add more salt here because the quinoa is already seasoned with salt from cooking).

• Dice avocado. Drizzle with lemon juice to prevent oxidation.

• Peel the oranges and using a sharp knife, remove the white membranes of the oranges; cut it in slices.

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and dress with the vinaigrette.

Raw Strawberry Pie

2 cups Nuts of your liking (I like to use almonds or cashews or a combination of the two)

3/4 cup pitted Dates

Pinch of Salt

2 containers of Strawberries, sliced (approx 4-5 cups)

6 Dates soaked in warm water for about 10 minutes

1 teaspoons Lemon Juice

1 tablespoon Agave Nectar


Put 6 dates in a bowl with enough warm water to cover, and set aside.

Put the nuts, pinch of salt and pitted dates in a blender and blend until well broken down and sticky enough to press together. Press into a 9 inch pie tin along the bottom and sides. Put in the refrigerator to cool while preparing the filling.

Wash and slice your strawberries, set aside. Drain the soaking dates, drop into a blender along with 1 cup of the sliced strawberries, lemon juice and agave nectar and blend until smooth and set aside.

Layer the remaining strawberries in the pie crust and then top those with the blended strawberry mixture. Refrigerate for an hour or more and then slice and ENJOY!

Pink Bean, Quinoa, and Spinach Soup

1-1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

8 baby carrots, quartered lengthwise

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 natural, salt-free vegetable bouillon cubes

One 14- to 16-ounce can diced tomatoes

2 teaspoons good-quality curry powder

Pinch of cinnamon

Pinch of ground nutmeg

1/2 cup quinoa

2 cups pink beans, cooked-drained-rinsed (Boise Coop Bulk Aisle)

5 to 6 ounces baby spinach leaves, well rinsed

Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste


Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the onion and sauté over medium-low heat until translucent. Add the carrots and garlic, and continue to sauté until all are golden, about 5 minutes.

Add 6 cups water, followed by the bouillon cubes, tomatoes, quinoa, beans, and spices. Bring to a rapid simmer, then cover and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender.

Add the spinach and cover. Cook for just a minute or two, until it is wilted, then stir in. Adjust the consistency with a little more water if the soup is too dense; season with salt and pepper and serve.


This recipe has been brought to you by the Boise Coop Promotional Team!!

Beet and Cabbage Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons Sherry Wine Vinegar

• 2 teaspoons Gluten-Free Dijon Mustard

• 10 tablespoons Safflower Oil

• 3 large raw Beets, peeled, coarsely grated

• 1/4 cup distilled White Vinegar

• 1 tablespoon Wheat-Free Tamari

• 1 tablespoon Sugar

• 6 cups very thinly sliced Green Cabbage

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Mint

Preparation:

Whisk vinegar, mustard, wheat-free tamari, and sugar in another large bowl. Gradually whisk in oil, then mix in beets. Mix in cabbage and mint. Season with salt and pepper. Let salads stand 30 minutes and up to 2 hours at room temperature, tossing occasionally.

Thai Heavenly Pineapple Fried Rice (Vegetarian)

1 small can Pineapple Chunks, drained, OR 1 whole pineapple (see instructions below)

3 cups cooked rice, preferably several days old (Tip: if fresh, leave for an hour or more in the refrigerator uncovered)

3-4 Tbsp. Vegetable Stock for stir-frying

2 Shallots, thinly sliced

3 cloves Garlic, finely chopped or pressed

1 red or green Chili, thinly sliced (reduce or leave out if you prefer very mild fried rice)

1 Egg (vegans can omit)*

½ cup frozen Peas

Optional: 1 small Carrot, grated (about 1/4 cup)

½ cup raw unsalted whole Cashews

3 Green Onions, finely sliced

1/3 cup fresh Coriander



Stir-Fry Sauce:

3 Tbps. Wheat-free Tamari

2 tsp. Curry Powder



Mix 1 Tbsp. oil with the rice, using your fingers to separate any chunks into grains. Set aside.

In a cup, stir the wheat-free tamari with the curry powder.

Drizzle 1-2 Tbsp. oil in a wok/large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add shallots, garlic, and chili, stir-frying until fragrant (1 minute). Whenever the wok/pan becomes dry, add a little stock (1/2 to 1 Tbsp. at a time to keep the pan sizzling).

Crack egg (if using) into wok and stir quickly to cook.

Add the carrot, peas, cashews. Stir-fry 1 minute in the same way, adding more stock if needed.

Now add the rice, pineapple chunks, and currents. Drizzle the tamari mixed with curry powder over and gently stir-fry to combine over medium-high to high heat until the rice "dances" (begins to make popping sounds) - about 3 minutes. Tip: Avoid adding any more stock from here on, or your rice will turn out soggy. The wok/pan should be hot and dry.

Remove from heat. Do a taste-test for saltiness, adding a few shakes of salt or up to 2 Tbsp. More tamari, as needed. (If you happen to over-salt the dish, add a squeeze or two of lime juice.)

To serve, top with spring onions and coriander, and ENJOY!
Serves 2 - 4

*Note: Vegans may omit the egg without losing the flavor or nutrients of this great dish (cashews provide the main protein source).

Daikon Radish And Ginger Salad

2 thumbs Ginger, minced

1 teaspoon Sesame Oil

2 teaspoons Organic Canola Oil

1 tablespoon Rice Wine Vinegar

3 tablespoons Wheat-Free Tamari

1 large Daikon Radish, peeled and thinly sliced

2 medium Carrots, grated

3 Green Onions, white and tender green parts, thinly sliced

In a large bowl, whisk together the ginger, oils, vinegar and soy sauce. Prep the daikon by peeling it, cutting it into 2-inch chunks, then slicing it into matchsticks. Toss all the vegetables in the bowl with the vinaigrette, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Baby Lima Soup with Chipotle Broth

1 pound dried Baby Lima Beans, picked over and rinsed

10 cups Water

1 head Garlic, top lobbed off to expose the cloves and loose skins removed

2 tablespoons Olive Oil or Clarified Butter

1 Onion, halved top to bottom and sliced into thin crescents

1 to 2 Chipotles in adobo sauce

2 teaspoons fine-grain Sea Salt

Squeeze of Lime juice (optional)

Pick over the beans, looking carefully for any pebbles or dirt clumps; baby limas seem to be magnets for dirt. Rinse the beans, then combine them with the water and garlic in a heavy soup pot. You might think putting a whole head of unpeeled garlic in the pot is strange, but just go with it. Bring the beans to an active simmer and cook for 30 to 40 minutes, until just a touch al dente and not mushy or falling apart. Test their doneness by tasting; you really can't tell any other way.

Heat the olive oil (or butter) in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, add the onion, chipotles, and 2 teaspoons of the adobo sauce, and sauté over medium high heat for 3 to 4 minutes, just until the onion starts to soften. You can always add more adobo sauce later for a spicier soup; just don't overdo it on the front end.

Add the salt and the onion-chipotle mix to the pot of beans and simmer gently for about 5 minutes to blend the flavors. The broth should be thin, so add more water if needed. Add more salt and more adobo a bit at a time if the flavors aren't popping. Finish with a squeeze of lime if you like. I usually remove the garlic head at this point or serve around it.

Serves 6.

Pear-Beet Salad with Lemon-Ginger Dressing

A colorful, hearty, juicy salad! Quick, easy, and oh so yummy! This salad contains about 250 calories!

• 2 Pears, chopped
• 1 small Beet, grated
• Juice of 1/2 small Lemon
• 2 tablespoons fresh grated Ginger (more or less if this amount doesn't suit your tastes)
• 1-2 tablespoons chopped raw Walnuts/Pecans (optional)

 In a small to medium-sized bowl, toss all of the above ingredients--that's it! Chop, toss, and eat!
(Feel free to substitute apples for pears in this recipe.)

Soupe du Jour

A note from Sylvie:

I find that I have strange combinations of leftover vegetables and fresh herbs in my fridge at times. I love the challenge of trying to use them, and even though it is a trial and error process, it can sometimes turn out to become a delicious and original new recipe. I decided to use Tahini sauce in this soup. I remembered my friend Moshit, from Janjou Patisserie, mentioned using it as a creamy thickener in one of her soup recipe. I was intrigued and decided to give it a try. I really loved the tanginess and texture it added. It also made this “leftover” soup taste unusual and somewhat exotic!


In my fridge:

1-2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 Yellow Onion, minced

2 small Shallots, minced

2 Leeks (white parts), finely chopped

1 Red Pepper, cubed

1 Fennel Bulb, finely chopped

1 medium Yam, peeled and cubed

1 cup Watercress, chopped

1 cup Spinach, chopped

1 cup Parsley, finely chopped

1 ½ Tbsp Roasted Tahini Sauce


In my pantry:

1 Tbsp Low-sodium Tamari Sauce

1 15 oz can Garbanzo Beans

6 cups Organic Vegetable Broth


I also used:

2 Garlic cloves, crushed and minced

¼ tsp Turmeric

½ tsp Cayenne Pepper (If you like it spicy)

½ tsp Pepper Flakes

In a large pot sauté the onion for 5 minutes, or until tender. Add the leeks, shallots and garlic, and cook for another 10 minutes over medium-low heat. Add the yam, red pepper, fennel bulb, spices, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.

Pour the broth over the mixture and add the tamari sauce,garbanzo bean, spinach, and watercress. Simmer covered for 20-25 minutes. Turm off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Right before serving stir in the tahini sauce. Voilà!

The Cook's Pantry, Part 3: The Freezer!

By Sylvie Ryan, Boise Co-op Culinary Educator

My mother is quite the expert when it comes to freezing hand-picked fresh fruits, garden vegetables, homemade pie crust, leftovers and such. She owns a trunk freezer, and we never ran out of bread, meat, fish, herbs, and homemade stock. I learned a lot from her techniques, but was never willing to invest in such a large item (and didn’t have the room for it, either). My home freezer section is quite small, but I always know it contains staples I can rely on. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy vegetables and fruits from the garden in the middle of winter.

Some of the things you’ll always find in my freezer include:

• Loaf Breads, pre-sliced so I can use only what I need.
• Naan Bread or Pita Bread, which make quick and delicious individual pizzas.
• Corn or Whole Wheat Tortillas, which I use a lot in Mexican casseroles, quesadillas and other Latin fare.
• Edaname, which makes a wonderful and healthy snack. 
• Homemade Stock, whether chicken, fish or vegetable. A great trick is to freeze them in ice cube trays so you can use them as needed in recipes. 
• Pesto, in small containers. I make a lot of pesto in the summer and love using it all year long on pizza, pasta and soups. 
• Lunch size containers of leftovers,. When I make soups, lasagna or any casserole, I save enough for at least one individual portion for a cheap, easy, and quick lunch. 
• Frozen garden peas, as I often make Potage Saint Germain, a pea soup. 
• Frozen berries for scones, muffin or cobblers. 
• Handpicked cherries and Italian plums. My friends have a small orchard and these freeze very well and allow me to enjoy fruit pie in the winter. 
• Homemade pie crust. I always make extra pie crust and reserve some that I roll out and line in a pie dish, I then put it in a freezer bag and it keeps for 2-3 month. It makes for a quick, improvised dessert. 

Freezer Storage Tips

I would say that the most important step is to write the date on your packages or containers before freezing them. Some items get freezer burned faster than others. The type of package matters as well. Invest in some good quality, heavy duty freezer bags, as they make a difference. I reuse mine numerous times. Her are some guidelines regarding freezer storage of items:

Pie crust: 2 months

Bread: 3 months

Tortillas: 3 months

Fresh fruits: about 6 months to a year

Meats: typically 6 months to a year

Stocks: 6 months to a year

Soups: 4 months

Casseroles: 2 to 3 months

Chicken: 1 year

Fish: 6 months

Most vegetables: 8 months to a year

Jicama Orange Salad

• 4 Oranges

• ¼ teaspoon Ancho Chili Powder

• Kosher Salt and freshly ground Pepper

• 3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Juice of 1 Lime

• 1 medium Jicama, peeled and diced

• 3 Scallions, chopped

• 2 Tablespoons fresh Cilantro

• Seeds of ½ Pomegranate


Peel and segment the oranges with a paring knife. Squeeze the empty membranes over a large bowl to release the juices.

Whisk the chili powder, salt and pepper to taste, the olive oil and lime juice into the orange juice. Toss in the orange segments and jicama. Before serving, add the scallions, cilantro and pomegranate seeds.

Mexican Brownies

By Liz Allred


• 2 sticks Unsalted Butter, plus more for greasing

• 2 cups Sugar

• 4 large Eggs

• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

• 2/3 cup good-quality Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

• 1 cup all-purpose Flour

• 1 teaspoon ground Mexican Cinnamon (canela)

• ¼ teaspoon pequen Chili Powder or Cayenne Pepper

• ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt

• ½ teaspoon Baking Powder

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides. Press the paper into the corners of the pan and lightly grease the paper with butter.

Melt the 2 sticks of butter in a nonstick saucepan over medium-low heat; do not boil. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Add the sugar, eggs and vanilla to the saucepan and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Add the cocoa, flour, cinnamon, chili powder, salt and baking powder and mix until smooth.

Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out fudgy, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack, then use the parchment paper to lift out the brownies before slicing.

Apple and Spelt Berry Salad

By Liz Allred


1 cup cooked Spelt Berries (cooking instructions below)

2 or 3 Granny Smith or Green Apples, cored and sliced

2 stalks of Celery, sliced

¼ to ½ cup dried Cherries or Cranberries or Raisins

1/3 cup plain Yogurt or Mayonnaise

2 tablespoons Cream Cheese, Ricotta or small curd Cottage Cheese (to thicken it a bit)

2 tablespoons fresh Lime or Lemon juice

2 tablespoons Honey orAgave Nectar

½ to 1 teaspoon Apple Pie Spice, to taste (apple pie spice is a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice)


1. To cook the spelt berries, boil 1-1/2 cups water, then add 1/2 cup uncooked spelt berries. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for about an hour and a half, until tender. Drain any remaining liquid and cool before adding to the salad. (A tip: make a larger batch and put some in the freezer for a future salad).

2. Make the dressing by whisking together or blending until smooth the yogurt or mayo, the cream cheese, lime juice, and honey. Add some apple pie spice. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

3. In a large bowl toss the sliced apples, celery, spelt berries and dried cherries with the dressing until everything is coated. Serve immediately or chill first in the refrigerator and then serve.

Teff Polenta

1-3/4 cups Water

2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil

7 cloves Garlic, sliced thick

1 cup Onions, coarsely chopped

1 cup Green Peppers, coarsely chopped

2/3 cup Teff grain, uncooked

1/2 teaspoon Salt

2 cups Plum Tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 cup fresh Basil, coarsely chopped

Grated Parmesan (garnish)


In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil.

In a 10-inch frying pan add the oil and warm over medium heat. Saute garlic and onion, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add peppers, and saute for 3 minutes or until peppers are bright green. Stir in the teff grain. Turn off the heat.

Add the boiling water and salt to the frying heat. Set heat to medium and simmer for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and basil.

Cover and continue simmering for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the water is absorbed. The polenta is done when the teff is no longer crunchy.

Place polenta on a 9 inch pie plate. Garnish with grated parmesan. Allow to cool at least 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

Serves 4 -6

Fried Sunchoke Chips with Rosemary Salt

Ingredients:

2 lbs. Unpeeled Sunchokes (also called Jerusalem Artichokes) *scrubbed

Organic Canola Oil (for frying)

1 Tbsp Celtic sea salt

1½ teaspoons minced fresh Rosemary


Fill large bowl with cold water. Slice sunchokes into thin rounds (about 1/16 inch thick), immediately dropping into bowl of water to prevent browning. Rinse and drain 3 x. Pat very dry with paper towels. Piour enough oil into large deep skillet to reach depth of ½ inch. Heat oil to 375 degrees. Mix 1 tablespoon salt and rosemary in small bowl. Using fingertips, blend well, rubbing salt and rosemary together. Working in batches, fry sunchoke slices until golden brown, stirring occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes. Using skimmer, transfer chips to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle chips with some rosemary salt. Chips can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temp.



Sunchoke Dip

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp lemon juice

1-1/2 lbs Jerusalem artichokes

Salt

1 to 2 tbsps minced fresh jalapeño chilies

Blue or red corn chips (or a combination)

3 Tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, peeled


Preparation: Peel Jerusalem artichokes & rinse. In a 5- to 6-quart pan over high heat, bring 2 quarts water to a boil. Add Jerusalem artichokes & cook this until tender when pierced, about 12 mins. Drain. Step #5 In a mixer or food processor/blender, garlic, whirl Jerusalem artichokes, lemon juice, and  oil until smoothly puréed; scrape container sides as needed. Add chilies & salt to taste. Scrape into a bowl. Enjoy with Sunchoke Chips!!

Sautéed Kale with Smoked Paprika

By Liz Allred

Kale tends to collect dirt in the leaf wrinkles, so rinse carefully before using. To prep, cut the leaf away from the center rib and stem of each leaf. Discard stems and center ribs.


Ingredients:

1 lb fresh kale, carefully rinsed, stems and center ribs cut away and discarded, leaves coarsely chopped

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (also sold as Pimenton), sweet or hot

Pinch of dried crushed red pepper

Salt

Directions: Bring a large pot (4 qts) of water to a boil. Add a Tablespoon of salt to the water. Add the chopped kale. Cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside. Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan on medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the smoked paprika and crushed red pepper. Add the kale and sauté for several more minutes. Sprinkle on more salt and smoked paprika to taste.

Serves 4.

Baby Bok Choy with Cashews

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1 cup chopped Green Onions, including green ends

3 cloves Garlic, chopped

1 pound Baby Bok Choy, rinsed, larger leaves separated from base, base trimmed but still present, holding the smaller leaves together

½ teaspoon Dark Sesame Oil

 Salt

½ cup chopped, roasted, salted Cashews

Directions: Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan on medium high heat. Add onions, then garlic, then bok choy. Sprinkle with sesame oil and salt. Cover, and let the baby bok choy cook down for approximately 3 minutes. (Like spinach, when cooked, the bok choy will wilt a bit.) Remove cover. Lower heat to low. Stir and let cook for a minute or two longer, until the bok choy is just cooked. Gently mix in cashews.

Serves 4.

Amaranth Salad with Garbanzo Beans

1 cup cooked Garbanzo Beans
1 cup organic Corn
1 whole Avocado, sliced and peeled
1 cup organic whole Amaranth, rinsed and cooked
1 teaspoon Grape Seed Oil
½ cup chopped organic Peppers, red or yellow or both
2 ripe organic Roma Tomatoes, seeded and sliced. (Grape tomatoes could also work)
½ organic Red Onion, (or green onion is good, too), finely diced
1 handful organic Cilantro
1 handful organic Parsley
1 handful organic Mint (optional, but very nice in the warmer months)
2 tablespoons organic Lemon Juice
1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
 1/4 cup Toasted Sesame Oil
2 tablespoons Lemon Rind (optional)
Dash Sea Salt or Himalayan Crystal Salt (very mineral-rich)
Dash non-irradiated Cayenne Pepper


Wash your hands thoroughly-always, but especially for this one.

Boil up 2 cups of water and a dash of salt. Cook the amaranth through: put it in a large bowl, with the grape seed oil and cover with 1 cup of boiling water. Leave the mixture for 40 min, fluffing with a fork to separate the grains from time to time.

If you have missed any slicing or chopping of herbs or veggies, now id the time to catch up.

Before adding the remaining salad ingredients, rub the cooked grains in your hands to remove any lumps. The grains will retain a little crunch.

Toss everything together and season with a dash of cayenne pepper.

Serves 2, with leftovers for lunch.

Mediterranean Bruschetta Topping

From Co-op Member Elizabeth Dickey

Thank you, Elizabeth!

Ingredient amounts should be viewed as guidelines that may be varied according to taste.  Chopped Italian parsley and /or hot pepper flakes may be added.

14.5 oz jar  Artichoke Hearts in water, drained

½ cup  Brine cured olives, pitted – I used Kalamata

1 clove  Garlic, minced

1/3 cup  Fresh basil leaves, torn

1/3 cup  Extra Virgin Olive Oil

¼ cup   Balsamic Vinegar

2 - 14.5 cans Diced Tomatoes, drained  (I used 1 can Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes with Basil and Garlic, plus 1 can Muir Glen Organic Fire-Roasted Diced Tomatoes)

¼ cup  Capers, drained


Combine first six ingredients (Artichokes through Balsamic Vinegar) in a food processor.  Pulse until it becomes a coarse puree.

Transfer ingredients into a non-metallic bowl.  Stir in diced tomatoes and capers.

Ready to eat right away, or may be allowed to sit to allow the flavors to meld.

Organic Edemame Salad

To prepare the beans:
Rinse beans well. Soak overnight for shorter cooking time.  Bring to a boil 2 cups of beans in 6 cups of water and simmer for 60-90 minutes. (150 minutes unsoaked)

Dressing:
5 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 limes, zest and juice
2 tsp cumin
1 tablespoon chipotle
2 tablespoons of wheat-free Tamari
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tsp pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
Wisk all ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

Veggies:
1 pound frozen shelled edemame (thaw)
3 cups frozen corn kernels (thaw)
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
4 green onions, thinly sliced
2 cups Organic Turtle Black Beans
1 red bell pepper, diced

Mix prepared veggies in a bowl, pour dressing over veggies and mix well. Serve chilled or immediately. Garnish with fresh sliced lime and a sprig of cilantro.

Green Rice and Grilled Asparagus Salad

1 pound Asparagus - trimmed
1/4 cup Olive Oil
1 Yellow Pepper - seeded and cut in half
1 Red Pepper - seeded and cut in half
¼ cup Orange Juice - plus more if needed
1 clove Garlic - chopped
2 Tablespoons fresh grated Ginger
2 Tablespoons Honey
½ Orange - the zest only
1 Orange - segmented and cut up
¼ teaspoon Wasabi Powder
1 cup Jade Rice
¾ teaspoon Salt
1/3 cup Mixed Nuts, optional

Heat the grill to medium.

Cover and grill the asparagus until lightly browned and crisp tender. Grill the peppers until the skin is blackened all over, about 7 minutes.

Cut the asparagus and the peppers into bite-size pieces.

In food processor or blender, combine the olive oil, orange juice, garlic, ginger, orange zest, honey, and wasabi powder. Process until smooth. Set the dressing aside.

Cook the rice according to the directions below. Add the salt to the rice.

Transfer the cooked rice to large bowl and toss in asparagus and peppers.Pour the dressing over hot rice add veggies and stir.

Preparation and Cooking Instructions for Jade Rice:
Bring  1 ½ cups water or stock to a boil. Add 1 cup of Jade Rice, 2 Tbsp butter or olive oil (optional), and stir. Cover tightly and return to boil. Reduce heat and simmer. Cook for 18-22 minutes. Let rest covered for 5-7 minutes until rice is tender and most grains are slightly split. Drain excess liquid if necessary. Hold in steam table for serving or chill for later service. Reheat by sautéing with any of your favorite herbs, spices and vegetables.

Black Garbanzo Bean Salad

3 cups cooked Black Garbanzo Beans
1 Red Pepper, diced
1 Orange Pepper, diced
1 bunch Cilantro (remove stems, chop leaves)
15 sliced Cherry Tomatoes, halved
½ chopped Red Onion

Dressing
½ cup Balsamic Vinegar
Juice from 1-1/2 Limes
½ cup Canola Oil
Chopped Chili Peppers (optional)
Salt and Pepper

Mix all dressing ingredients and refrigerate.

Combine all salad ingredients, toss with dressing.

Black Beluga Lentil Soup Recipe

Black Beluga Lentils look like caviar when cooked and are delicious as a side dish. They are excellent in soups and salads, and are higher in amino acids than French, green, or red lentils. Their mild flavor combines readily with other ingredients in soups and grain salads and they hold their small round shape. 

These tiny lentils are indigenous to Syria and have been eaten for over 8,000 years.  Lentils are the seed of a small shrub and have been a staple food for many South Asian cultures. They have a mild, earthly flavor and soft texture.  They're delicious in chilled vegetable salads, or mixrf with bread crumbs, minced onion and garlic to stuff roasted red peppers or eggplant. They cook in about 30 minutes without soaking.


Ingredients:
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
2 cups yellow Onions, medium dice
1 cup Celery, medium dice
1 cup Carrots, medium dice
3 cups total of yellow, green and red bell peppers, medium dice
1 Jalapeño minced (no seeds)
2 tablespoons Garlic, minced
4 quarts Vegetable Stock
2 cups Tomatoes, chopped (fresh or canned)
¾ pounds black Beluga lentils (optional brown or French lentils)
1 Bay Leaf
1 tablespoon dry Thyme
2 pounds yellow Finn Potatoes, large dice
2 dashes Hot Pepper Sauce
1/8 cup Italian Parsley, chopped
1/8 cup Fresh chopped herbs, such as oregano, sage, rosemary & chives
1 ounce White Wine Vinegar
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
In a two gallon stockpot over medium heat, add olive oil and onions, celery, carrots, peppers and jalapeño. Sweat vegetables approximately seven minutes until onions turn translucent. Add fresh garlic, cook for one minute. Add vegetable stock, tomatoes, black Beluga lentils, thyme and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Simmer until lentils are tender. Add potatoes, tabasco, Italian parsley, fresh herbs, white wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer until potatoes are tender.

A delicious, hearty and comforting soup on a cold winter night.

Artichoke and Clam Dip

2 cans (3.5 oz)  Geomar Pacific Clams, drained

1 can (14 oz.)  Artichoke Hearts, drained

½ cup Mayonnaise

½ cup Cream Cheese

½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese + extra for topping

¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

1 small can of Diced Green Chilis

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 F.  Place artichoke hearts and clams in blender or food processor and process until almost smooth or desired consistency.  Place all ingredients together in a bowl and blend well by hand.  Place mixture into ovenproof dish.  Sprinkle extra parmesan cheese on top and place in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes until browned and bubbly.  Serve with pita chips and cucumber rounds.  Enjoy!

This recipe has been brought to you by the Boise Co-op Promotional Team!!

Black Garbanzo Tabouli

1 cup fine grain Bulgur

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

1 pint cherry tomatoes halved and drained

½ cup of thinly sliced green onion

2 pinches of cumin

Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 bunch finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

10-15 mint leaves chopped

½ cup black garbanzo beans

1. Place the bulgur in a fine sieve, rinse under cold running water, squeeze dry, and soak in the lemon juice for 45 minutes. Use a fork to fluff the bulgur.

2. In a bowl, combine the black garbanzos, tomatoes, green onion, cumin, and a few pinches of salt and pepper. Drizzle on the olive oil and toss. Fold in the bulgur, parsley, and mint and mix well. Refrigerate, stirring occasionally.

3. Taste and correct the flavors with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

 

Rachel's Veggie Nut Burgers

By Co-op Member Rachel Batten
Thanks, Rachel!


2 cups Rolled Oats
1 cup finely chopped Nuts ( I used Walnuts)
1 3/4 cup Soy Milk or Almond Milk or Dairy Milk
1 Onion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce or Bragg's Liquid Aminos
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Dried Sage
1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
1/4 tsp Dried Marjoram
Optional:
1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 cup Chopped Mushrooms

Mix ingredients and let sit for 30 minutes. Form 6 or 8 patties and cook on a griddle over med/low heat, until browned on both sides (about 20 minutes). 


I served them with salsa and avocado, but of course they would be good with the traditional burger condiments. 

Manhattan Clam Chowder

• 2 Bacon slices, cut into ½ -inch squares (Available @ Co-op Meat Department in bulk!!)
• 1/3 cup chopped Onion
• 3 tablespoons diced Green Bell Pepper
• 3 tablespoons diced celery
• 2/3 cup diced peeled Boiling Potato (1 small)
• 1 cup (8 oz.) canned diced Tomatoes, including juice
• 3 cans (3.5 oz) Geomar clams (save liquid-set aside)
• 2 tablespoons chopped, Fresh Flat Leaf Parsley

Cook bacon in a 2-3 qt. Heavy sauce pan over moderate heat, stirring until golden, about 5 minutes.  Reduce heat to moderately low, then add onion, bell pepper, and celery and cook, stirring until softened, about 5 minutes.  Stir in potato, clam juice, and tomatoes (with juice), and simmer, covered for ten minutes. Stir in clams and simmer for another 5 to 7 minutes, covered.  Stir in parsley and salt and pepper to taste. 

 

Raw Cacao Pudding

By Liz Allred

Note: The Goji Powder, Raw Cacao and Maca Powder are available in our Raw Food section on Aisle 7. 

1 Avocado (diced)
3 Dates (pitted and diced)
5-6 Tbsp Raw Cocoa Powder
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla Extract (or 1 Vanilla Bean w/ seeds scraped out)
1/3 cup Goji Powder
¼ cup Coconut Oil
1 Tbsp Maca Root Powder (or other powdered herbs you prefer)
¼ cup Water (add more if needed to thin pudding)

Blend all ingredients into blender or food processor. Add water last, slowly pouring in until you reach desired consistency.  Refrigerate overnight in air tight container for a thicker pudding.  Enjoy!!

Organic Purple Barley

Note: Adapted from The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics, by Jessica Porter. Umeboshi (plum) vinegar can be found at the Boise Co-op.

Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes plus chilling time for the salad
Servings: 6 to 8


2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard

Pinch plus 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt, divided

1 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar 

1 Tbsp Umeboshi Plum Vinegar

1 Tbsp Minced Shallot

1/4 cup Olive Oil

5 cups Water

2 cups Pearl or Hulled Barley

2 Bay Leaves

2 Tbsp chopped Fresh Oregano (or 2 teaspoons dried and crumbled)

1/3 cup pitted and chopped Kalamata Olives

1/3 cup drained Capers

1/2 cup toasted Pine Nuts

1/4 cup finely chopped Green Onions



1. To make the dressing, combine the lemon juice, mustard, pinch sea salt, vinegar, shallot and olive oil in a medium bowl and set aside.

2. To prepare the salad, bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the barley with the remaining salt and bay leaves. Simmer until the barley is tender and all of the water is absorbed, 45 minutes to 1 hour total cooking time. Remove from heat and cool.

3. Place the barley in a large bowl, and stir in the dressing and oregano. Cover and chill for about 2 hours or until ready to serve. Before serving, gently stir in the olives, capers, pine nuts and green onions.

Each of 8 servings: 311 calories; 6 grams protein; 42 grams carbohydrates; 9 grams fiber; 14 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 561 mg. sodium.

Clam Chowder with Baby Shrimp and Bay Scallops

By Boise Co-op Member Jan Johnson
Thank you, Jan!

We’ve discovered that this chowder tastes much best on the 2nd day, so make it a day ahead for company. The base for this recipe came from Browny’s Restaurant in Seattle, Washington. Over the years we have “tweaked” it into our own by adding additional ingredients. This is our traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

6 Slices Bacon – Chopped in small pieces

2 Med-sized carrots, thinly sliced

2 Stalks celery, thinly sliced

1 Small onion, chopped

¼ Small green pepper, chopped fine (can omit without compromising flavor)

3 Cloves garlic, minced

1 ½ Lbs thin-skinned red or Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed & cut into small cubes (leave skins on)

2 (8 oz) bottles clam juice

8 Cans (6 ½ oz) chopped or minced clams and juice – do not drain

1 Can whole baby clams and juice – do not drain

¼-½ Lb Salad shrimp

¼-½ Lb Small Bay scallops

1 Bay leaf

½ Tsp (or more to taste) liquid hot pepper (Tabasco)

½-¾ Tsp freshly ground black pepper (depending on taste)

1½ Tsp Worcestershire

¾ Tsp Thyme leaves- crushed

¼ Tsp Basil

1 Quart Whipping Cream

Salt to taste

Place bacon in a heavy 8-10 qt. kettle over medium heat; cook, stirring constantly until bacon is somewhat crisp. With slotted spoon, lift out bacon & drain on paper towels. Discard all but 2 Tbs of drippings.

Add carrots, celery, onion, green pepper, and garlic to kettle & cook, stirring often until onion & celery are very soft.

Add cubed potatoes to veggie mixture. Pour in clam juice; bring to a boil, reduce heat to low. Cover & cook until potatoes are soft, but not mush – apprx 15 minutes.

Stir in clams & their liquid, bacon, remaining seasonings and cream then heat until steaming. Very lightly saute’ scallops, then add shrimp & scallops to chowder. Simmer gently together to blend flavors, stirring frequently

Serve with hard rolls, Harvest Bread, or home-baked rolls. YUMMMMMM!

Raine's Nachos with Chorizo, Refried Beans, and Raw Cheese

By one of the Boise Co-op's favorite members, Raine Saunders, who generously offered to let us re-post it from her awesome website Agriculture Society. Please check it out: It's a goldmine of great info. 

Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever stop trying to top myself with the most irresistible healthy fast-food. I haven’t really eaten fast food in years, but I used to eat it a lot when I was a young adult.

I couldn’t help myself…I’d been craving chorizo all day and when I got to the store tonight, I was on a mission to find some good, local fare. I scored a nice package of it from the butcher counter and kept thinking of the frozen lamb and chicken I had at home, which was going to have to wait for another night since it wouldn’t be thawed out in time for dinner (I was thinking Paella).

But I had to do something amazing with that chorizo. So I went home and looked around on the Internet for inspiration. I thought about frying it up with some butter and garlic and some onions and bell peppers, maybe some home-made red sauce. That sounded good…but that wasn’t quite what I craved. Then I found this great recipe by Emeril for chorizo nachos. Oh my gosh, yes…that was it!

These were amazing and they disappeared fast…here’s our version of this recipe…it was SO worth it!

Ingredients:

• 3 Chorizos, pan fried in garlic and cumin
• 2-3 cloves of Garlic
• Sprouted Corn Tortillas, cut into fourths and fried in coconut oil or tallow (we used about 10)
• 1-2 cups of soaked and cooked Beans of your choice, then refried in 2-3 tablespoons of bacon drippings, Salt to taste
• 2 cups of Monterey Jack Cheese (we used raw cheese)
• Sliced yellow or white Onion
• Sour Cream
• Salsa (we used local salsa), or fresh Tomatoes or homemade Pico de Gallo (those weren’t in season for us)
• Salt
• Cumin
• Chili Powder
• Butter

For recipes like this, I don’t really measure, I just add spices and seasonings until I like the way it tastes. This made just enough for two adults and one child.

  

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large pan or skillet, heat some butter and add minced garlic to sautee. Cook the chorizo with garlic and add cumin, stirring and turning periodically, over medium-high heat until the sausage is browned and the fat is rendered.

3. While chorizo is cooking, in another pan melt coconut oil on medium heat. Place the quartered tortillas in the pan and allow them to fry about 1 minute on each side, turning with tongs. Take out of the pan with tongs and place on a plate with a paper towel to soak up the extra oil. Set chips aside when done frying.

 4. Heat beans up in a pan on medium-low heat and add bacon drippings (we store ours in the refrigerator, so they are hardened). Allow them to melt a bit by stirring them. Add chili powder and a bit of cumin into the beans (I just added to taste).

5. When the drippings have melted into the beans, mash them into the beans and mix them thoroughly. Add a bit of water if beans are thickening, as you will want to be able to pour them easily on the nachos when they are ready to go in the oven. Turn down to low heat.

6. Grate the cheese and slice up the onions and set aside.

7. Remove chorizo from pan when cooked through and drain on paper towels. Cut chorizo into small bits to top on nachos.

8. Get an oven plate or large oven-safe dish and place chips on the bottom. Add layers of beans, chorizo, and cheese. You can also alternate layers of chips, beans, chips, chorizo, cheese. I think they cook better with the main ingredients on top. Add sliced onions after cheese. Place in oven and heat until cheese melts – approximately 10 minutes.

9. Serve and enjoy!

John J's Spicy Fettuccini with Bay Scallops

By Co-op Member John Jacobsen
Thanks, John!

• 8 oz. Roasted Garlic Fettuccini
• 1 ½ pounds Bay Scallops
• 3 tablespoons Flour
• 1 – 1 ½ teaspoons Tex-Mex Dry Rub (to taste)-- Recipe is below
• ½ pound fresh Asparagus, cut into 1-inch lengths
• ½ cup Sundried tomatoes, julienne cut
• ¼ cup Pine Nuts
• 3 tablespoons Basil Pesto
• Olive oil

 Rinse and drain scallops. In plastic bag, combine flour and Tex-Mex rub; add scallops and shake to coat. While cooking fettuccini in large pan of boiling water, heat olive oil in skillet. Sauté asparagus about one minute; add scallops and continue cooking another 4 minutes (approx.), stirring frequently. Add sundried tomatoes, pine nuts and pesto; cook about one more minute or until scallops are done and all ingredients are heated through. Drain pasta and mix into scallop mixture.


TEX MEX DRY RUB

• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons Oregano
• 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons Cumin
• 1 tablespoon +1 teaspoon Coriander
• 2 teaspoons Black Pepper
• 2 teaspoons Salt

Store in airtight container for up to 6 months.

This is good on grilled fish and chicken and in marinades.

Isabel's Avocado Sandwich

By Boise Co-op Member Isabel Holt
Thank you, Isabel!

• One small Avocado
• One tablespoon finely chopped Onion
• Pinch of Rubbed Sage
• One to two teaspoons Lemon or Lime Juice
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Two slices lightly toasted Bread (I like Classic Rye from Co-op)
• Two bread slice-sized Cheddar Cheese
• One large Roma Tomato, sliced

Mash avocado and combine with onion, sage, juice and salt/pepper. Spread mixture on toasted bread slices, add cheddar cheese to each and top with tomato slices. Run under the broiler for a minute or so(I like to lower the broiler rack to allow cheese to melt completely without burning the bread.)

Serve with - you guessed it! - Tabasco! and maybe chips.

These are easy, quick and can even be reheated.

Isabel's Sate Noodles

By Boise Co-op Member Isabel Holt
Thank you, Isabel!

• Two generous tablespoons Peanut Butter*
• One to two tablespoons Ketchup, to taste
• One slice Ginger, chopped fine
• One small Onion, chopped fine
• A pinch of Flaked Red Pepper
• One half to one tablespoon Lemon or Lime Juice, to taste
• Noodles for two people (I like somen* )

INSTRUCTIONS:

Combine peanut butter, ketchup, ginger, onion, red pepper and juice.

Cook noodles according to package directions, saving cooking water. Add enough of the cooking water to to peanut butter mixture to make a light sauce. Toss with noodles and serve, offering Tabasco sauce, if wanted.

Tofu cubes, stir fried veggies, cooked chicken or cooked shrimp may be added.


*I use Adams peanut butter, available from the Co-op and your choice of noodles from the Co-op.

Here's a tip for keeping fresh ginger around: Put whole or cut up ginger in a small jar and top off with sake. This will keep in the refrigerator for months. Top off if sake level falls below ginger. The sake is also a nice flavoring ingredient.

The Best Tasting Vegan Bolognese You've Ever Had!!!

Submitted by Boise Co-op Member Mindy Block. Thanks, Mindy!!!

When I was a meat eater, pasta with a traditional bolognese was my favorite food. This vegan version is even better! The sauce is rich and flavorful. I serve it over quinoa rotelle which really holds the sauce and stands up better to the flavors than rice noodles. The quinoa packs a balanced amino acid profile and combines with the soy to create a light and energizing protein. I like to serve this dish with a side of sauteed greens like beet greens, spinach or chard with shallots and a little salt and pepper. Serves 4 people.


Difficulty level: Easy
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/2 Medium Onion (whatever you have around) 1/4 inch dice

8 Brown Crimini Mushrooms, sliced

2 large Garlic Cloves, minced

Kosher Salt

Freshly Ground Pepper

Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes

1 tsp. Dried Oregano (organic really makes a difference here)

1 cup Low-Sodium Organic Vegetable Broth

1/2 cup Organic Almond Milk

1 (15 ounce) can Organic Tomato Sauce

2 cups Frozen Meatless Crumbles (I like ones made from mushrooms as they complement the mushrooms in the recipe)

8 ounces of Quinoa Rotelle


Directions:

1. Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and add olive oil.

2. Add onions and cook 5 minutes until they become translucent.

3 Add mushrooms, stir to coat in oil and leave them alone for 4 minutes. Add garlic and stir once to coat, leave another 2 minutes.

4. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, few turns of peppermill, red pepper flakes, 1/2 tsp. oregano and the meatless crumbles. Stir to combine and cook 3 minutes.

5. Add vegetable broth, stir and cook until the liquid almost disappears.

6. Add almond milk, stir and cook until liquid almost disappears.

7. Add tomato sauce, reseason with dash of salt, pepper and rest of the oregano. Allow sauce to come to a simmer, reduce heat to low. Let the sauce cook at low heat while you cook the pasta.

8. Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil. Add a palm full of kosher salt before adding your noodles to the pot. Add noodles and cook 9-10 minutes.

9. Drain pasta and add to sauce. Toss gently to combine.

Multi-Color Bell Pepper Tatin

By Sylvie Ryan, Boise Co-op Culinary Educator

Editor's Note: Sylvie prepared this dish for her French Bistro class, and it's one of the best things I've ever eaten in my entire life! I've played with it at home and it takes well to all kinds of creative modifications. For instance, I think everything is better with caramelized onions, so I usually add some between the peppers and the olive tapenade. This is a GORGEOUS tart that will knock the socks right off your dinner guests, and is great for all us hungry vegetarians!  ~Linda


Serves 4-6

Preparation: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 1 hour 

• 1 Ball of Pizza Dough
• 6 Bell Peppers (2 Green, 2 Red, 2 Yellow or Orange)
• 4-5 oz Black Olive Tapenade
• 4 Tbsp Grated Parmesan
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 3 tsp Fresh Thyme, chopped
• Salt and Pepper 

Turn on the oven grill or broiler. Cut the peppers in half, discard the seeds. Place them on a baking sheet, open side turned down. Place the baking sheet as low as possible, you want to roast the peppers, not burn them. When they are cooked, place them in a bowl and cover. Let rest for a few minutes. The skin will separate from the flesh, which will help the peeling process. Carefully peel the peppers.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a pie dish with parchment paper, spray or brush with olive oil. Arrange the peppers in a star shape, alternating the colors. Cover with the tapenade and the Parmesan cheese and thyme. Drizzle most of the olive oil, reserve some for the garnish.

Spread the pizza dough, large enough so that it will cover the vegetable. Tuck the side in, then, with a fork, pick the dough so that the steam can escape.

Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before reversing onto a plate. Top with the remaining olive oil, add some thyme to garnish.

Grapefruit, Avocado and Kumquat Salad

Original recipe and photo from pickycook.com, via our friends at OrganicGrown.com. Thanks to Robin Latham and Robin Zimmerman for submitting this fabulous salad to our blog!

4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 to 2 Tbsp. Lemon and Lime Juice (mixed together)

1 tsp. Lemon and Lime Zest (mixed together)

Pinch of Salt

Freshly Ground Pepper

2 large Grapefruit, peeled and seeded, sectioned into wedges with the outer membranes removed

2 Avocados

Mixed Baby Greens

2 or 3 Kumquats, sliced very thin


Whisk olive oil, zest and juice together. Add salt and pepper to taste and set aside. Cut the avocados in half, remove the seeds and carefully peel off the skin. Cut each half into 4 - 6 thick slices.

Toss grapefruit sections and avocado (gently) in some of vinaigrette. Toss the greens with the rest of the vinaigrette. Place mixed greens on a plate, arrange the grapefruit and avocado on top of the greens and scatter kumquats on top.

Mindy's Smooth and Creamy Vegan Minestrone

By Boise Co-op Member Mindy Block.
Thank you, Mindy!!!

Organic and Vegan!
Difficulty Level: Easy Sneezy!
I love creamy soups, this one is simple, filling, inexpensive and super yummy.

Ingredients:

1 Organic Red Onion, chopped to a medium dice

2 Organic Leeks, white part only, sliced 1/4 inch moons

4 stalks Organic Celery chopped to a medium dice

2 Organic medium Yukon Gold or Red Potatoes, peeled and chopped to a medium dice

1 (12 ounce) can of Organic Diced Tomatoes

2 Organic Zucchini, chopped to a medium dice

2 cups Organic Navy Beans, soaked overnight and rinsed

4 Tbsp Olive Oil

3/4 cup Millet

Salt and Pepper


In a large soup pot, place the onion, leeks, zucchini, potatoes, celery, tomatoes, olive oil and navy beans and cover with water about 1 inch above veggies. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 2 hours. Add millet and continue simmering another 20 minutes. Turn off heat, add salt and pepper. I use 2 Tbsp of sea salt and and 1 tsp. pepper. Let the mixture cool for a half hour.

Get out your blender and blend the soup in batche,s placing blended soup in a large bowl as you scoop out from the pot. I leave about 1/4 of the soup unblended for a little texture; it's an individual preference thing. When ready to serve I reheat, check seasoning and serve with toasted sprouted grain bread slices topped with vegan margarine. Two people can eat this healthful, warming yet light meal for days.

Cooked Cabbage

By Co-op Member Julie Apperson
Thank you, Julie!

2 Tbsp. Butter

1 Tbsp. Canola Oil

8 Cups Green Cabbage

1 Tbsp. Brown Sugar

3-4 Garlic Cloves

1 Tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar

Salt and Pepper


In large skillet heat butter and oil over medium heat, add cabbage, garlic, and brown sugar to pan. Saute until cabbage is limp ( about 5 minutes) Reduce heat to medium/ low and stir in vinegar. Cook about 15 minutes.

Jenny's Blue Salad

This is my favorite quick, easy and inexpensive go- to salad recipe. Everyone in the family likes it, even my 1 ½ year old. It is simple to make, just a few ingredients, all available at the Co-op, and it's pretty delicious too! This salad pairs well with pasta dishes, artisan breads, and grilled meat or vegetables.
-- Jen Barnett, Accounts Payable Manager

1 heart of Romaine Lettuce
1 organic Roma Tomato
2 oz. Blue Cheese crumbled
1-1/2 to 2 oz Newman's Own Oil and Vinegar Salad Dressing
Coarse Salt
Black Pepper

To prepare: Rinse and dry lettuce, thinly shred and add to bowl. Thinly slice 1 Roma tomato and then halve, add to bowl. Top salad with 2 oz. crumbled Blue cheese. Drizzle 1/12 to 2 oz. Newman's Own Oil & Vinegar dressing, over top of salad. Add a pinch of coarse salt and a pinch of ground black pepper. Toss salad, serve and enjoy.

 

Drew's Freestyle Ham

Drew Case from our Tech Department is famous for his Freestyle Ham recipe-- and for good reason. Deceptive in its simplicity, Drew's Freestyle Ham requires just one ingredient. Drew refuses to disclose the temperature and timing required to bake his ham, as he feels that imposing such restrictions would remove the "freestyle" element for which this recipe is renowned. However, please feel free to email him with any and all questions you might have about his Freestyle Ham, or any other topic in the entire world that you'd like to discuss. He can be reached at drew_c@boisecoop.com.

Drew's Freestyle Ham

Ingredients:

Ham

Instructions:

1. Buy Ham (at the Boise Co-op)

2. Bake Ham

3. Eat Ham


Thank you, Drew, for the effort you put forth in compiling this information, and the willingness to share it with the world.

Liz's Spicy Mustard Green and Miso Salad Dressing

This delicious dressing is vinegar free!

2 cups packed Mustard Greens, coarsely chopped
1 small Avocado
1/4 cup Chickpea Miso
1 small fresh Garlic Clove
1-12 to 2 cups Water
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Lemon Juice (to taste)

Optional: 1 Tbsp Olive or Flax Oil

Place all ingredients with 1-1/2 cups of the water in a high-powered blender, and blend until totally smooth, adding the additional 1/2 cup water as needed to reach the desired consistency. Take care to scrape the sides of the blender.

Store in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator.

Makes about 2-1/2 cups

Divit's Tapanade Party

Divit Cardoza, Manager of the Co-op Wine Shop, is a multi-faceted, Renaissance kind of guy. When he's not making fabulous art or extolling the virtues of the grape, he's probably in the kitchen whipping up something ridiculously tasty. Divit co-taught our Cocktails and Tapandes Class during the holidays, and was kind enough to let us reprint a few of his super-quick and easy creations.

White Bean Tapenade
2-3 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 Small Carrot, diced fine
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Fresh Thyme
1 can White Beans, drained
2 Tbsp White Wine
Salt & Pepper to taste
Optional: Bacon, Pancetta or Proscutto

Sautee garlic and carrots in olive oil. Add thyme, beans and white wine, simmer. Mash lightly with a
fork or potato masher.
 
 
Red Pepper Tapenade
1 Clove Garlic
¼ c Blanched Almonds
3 Whole Roasted, Peeled Red Peppers
2-3 Tbsp Fresh Basil
Salt and Cayenne Pepper to taste

Pulse ingredients in order in a small food processor.


Green Olive Tapenade
1 Garlic Clove
1¼ c Anchovy-Stuffed Green Olives
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
2 oz Fresh Chevre
1 tsp Minced Fresh Oregano
Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Pulse all ingredients in small food processor.


Ahi Tuna Tapenade
4-6 oz Sashimi Grade Tuna
2 Tbsp Crème Fraiche
Wasabi to taste
Sushi Ginger
Smoky Sesame Oil or Black Sesame Seeds for garnish

Dice tuna fine. Mix wasabi and crème fraiche to taste. Either mix ginger in with tuna or use as a garnish. Combine seasoned crème fraiche with tuna just enough to hold together.