Roasted Beet Salsa

I’m back with another great farmer’s market recipe! This one involves a vegetable that has become a staple in my house ever since I married my husband. I didn’t grow up eating beets. The only time my mom would serve them was on Pesach, in her “vinaigrette salad” (a combination of beets, potatoes, carrots and onions). On the other hand, beets were a staple on my husband’s Shabbos table each and every week. My mother in law serves them up cubed, shredded or sliced and it’s always gobbled up to the very last drop. I have adopted my husband’s love for beets and my kids are growing to love them too!

When I first started making beets, I would boil them like my mother does. But then I learned that the best way to really bring out their flavor is to roast them. My favorite part is that I don’t have to use any pots! I wrap each beet in foil and roast them at 400 degrees until my whole house smells like the sweet purple vegetable.

I serve beets in many different ways, but we always fall back on the most simple preparation – diced with some oil, lemon juice and salt. I also like to slice them into circles and lay them out as a bed for salmon. Sometimes, I alternate the slices with yellow (golden) beets and place them on a bed of arugula sprinkled with pomegranate seeds and orange segments.

I hope this post has inspired you not to leave beets just for Pesach cooking. They are a flavorful and healthy root vegetable that can be eaten raw, boiled or roasted and prepared in a variety of ways. You can even eat the greens that grow from the beets (although some stores remove them). Try them sauteed in olive oil with some fresh garlic!

Other beet recipes on BIB:

Israeli couscous with thyme & honey roasted carrots, parsnips and beets
Roasted beet & orange salad

 

Roasted Beet Salsa

2 medium beets
1/2 red onion, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
2 tbsp fresh parsley
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp honey
juice of 1/2 lime
kosher salt, to taste

Method:

Wrap the beets in foil and roast at 400 degrees until fork tender. Let cool and using gloves, gently pull the skin off the beets. Cut the beets into a small dice and add to a bowl. Add onions, jalapeno, parsley, olive oil, honey, lime and salt. Serve over fish.

1 year ago: gefilte fish patties in tomato sauce

Post a Comment

Linguini Lasagna

With the nine days* upon us, we’re all looking for a quick fix dairy dinner that doesn’t require oven time. At least here in Brooklyn, where the weather has been stifling hot and humid.  A nice big salad would make for the perfect meal, but I’ve got kids to feed, and salad is just not gonna cut it. My kids adore lasagna, but all that prep and cooking time is too much on these long summer days. My solution? a one-pot pasta dinner with all the lasagna components. The best part is, you can customize it to include all your favorite lasagna fillings. I knew I did well when I served this up and my daughter’s first words were “this tastes like Bubby’s lasagna!” Use store-bought marinara to save on prep time, or prepare your own original recipe.

What recipes are you serving up during the Nine Days? On my menu this week:

Monday: baked ziti and greek salad
Tuesday: crispy beer battered fish tacos from The Shiksa
Wednesday: light eggplant parmesan (no breading)
Thursday: quesadillas with assorted fillings

For more great Nine Days menu ideas, check out last years post.

*The Nine Days is a mourning period over the destruction of the Holy Temple. During this time, observant Jews abstain from eating meat and drinking wine as well as other joyous activities.

 

Linguini Lasagna

1 box linguini pasta, cooked al dente (see package instructions)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 cups chopped spinach (if frozen, thaw and squeeze out water)
salt and pepper, to taste
1 jar marinara sauce
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1 tsp sugar, optional
1 8oz. container cottage cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Method:

Heat up oil in a skillet and add garlic. Saute until fragrant, but not browned. Add spinach and saute for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add marinara sauce, basil, oregano and sugar and bring to a boil. With tongs, toss the linguini into the sauce and stir in cottage cheese and mozzarella. Serve immediately.

Variation: For a fun twist on traditional lasagna, break a few lasagna sheets into pieces. Cook until al dente. Use in place of linguini and mix with remaining ingredients.

1 year ago: spinach stuffed mushrooms

Post a Comment

Corn Flake Crunch Ice Cream

I am so excited to be a part of this all new kosher recipe linkup! Each month, the linkup will feature another theme. This month it is frozen desserts. Check out the other great frozen dessert recipes below!

I don’t have an ice cream machine, so when I thought about what frozen dessert to post, I kept coming back to one of my most popular posts, my peanut butter fudge ice cream pie. What makes that recipe so great is the combination of peanut butter and chocolate. Who doesn’t love that decadent pairing? My brother reminded me about another ice cream recipe that my mom used to make that also uses peanut butter and chocolate. Mixed with crunchy clusters of corn flakes and slivered almonds, this recipe is sure to become your next favorite dessert! Feel free to use store bought ice cream or you can make your own.

Corn Flake Crunch Ice Cream
adapted from “The Balabuste’s Choice”

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
4.5 oz. (1/2 bag) chocolate chips
1/2 cup slivered almonds
2 cups Corn Flakes
1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream, softened

Method:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Spread the slivered almonds out on a baking sheet and bake until toasted and brown, about 10 minutes. Set aside. Add peanut butter and chocolate chips to a pot and stir over medium heat until melted. Stir in slivered almonds and corn flakes. Pour the softened ice cream into a 9×13 pan and fold in the cornflake mixture. Freeze for several hours.

You may serve this in scoops or cut into squares and garnish with chocolate syrup and slivered almonds.

1 year ago: fruit skewers with dipping sauce

Post a Comment

Snap Pea, Corn & Red Currant Salad


Sometimes, you don’t have to think up a recipe, it just writes itself. When I came home from Kelder’s Farm with these delicious farm fresh ingredients, I knew I had to eat them exactly how I picked them – raw. No red currant jelly or snap pea stir fry. Just a simple recipe to bring out the freshness of the ingredients.


With no cooking involved, this salad comes together in no time. Because the produce is farm fresh and in season, it’s naturally sweet, so you don’t need much to bring out the flavors. I seasoned it simply with oil, lemon, salt and pepper and the results were light and refreshing. The tart currants are the perfect balance to the sweet corn and the raw peas add a brightness to the salad. With it’s beautiful colors and crispy sweet taste, this salad makes the perfect addition to any summer meal!

Snap Pea, Corn & Red Currant Salad

16 oz. sugar snap peas
1 cup fresh corn
1/2 cup red currants*
1 small red onion, diced
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Method:

Trim the ends of the snap peas and cut them on the diagonal. Add the snap peas, corn, currants, and onion to a bowl. Season with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Variation: If you don’t have red currants available, you may substitute with raspberries or pomegranate seeds.

1 year ago: sushi salad II

Post a Comment

Kelder’s Farm

I can’t say enough about Kelder’s Farm. This place makes me want to live in the country. And on a farm. And grow my own vegetables. There is so much to do in this place, it’s a whole day affair. We happened to be upstate for the weekend, but in my humble opinion, it’s worth the drive from anywhere!

Kelder’s Farm is a 200 year old family farm in the scenic Rondout Valley. In operation since 1836, the farm offers educational tours, homegrown produce, hayrides, and so much more. It houses a petting zoo, greenhouse, Farmer’s Market, as well as many other fun and exciting activities for kids and adults alike.

THE PETTING ZOO

At the Kelder’s Farm petting zoo, you’ll find cows, goats, sheeps, pigs, chickens, as well as a donkey and an alpaca. You can purchase bags of food to feed the animals or learn to milk a cow. The petting zoo is my husband’s favorite part of the farm. He loves to feed and pet the animals while my kids watch in amazement. The goat actually grabbed the entire bag of feed and ate the paper bag!

Always remember to wash your hands after feeding or touching the animals (the farm has a large sink and soap dispenser near the petting zoo).

ACTIVITIES

There are loads of fun activities for the kids to enjoy, not to mention great photo opportunities! My kids love to hop aboard the tractors and train, but you can also go for a hay ride, play mini golf, jump on a huge jumping pillow, or run through corn mazes.

THE MARKET

Kelder’s Farm boasts an amazing market with gourmet products like jams, honey, cake mixes, spices and sauces of all kinds. They even make their own bug spray. If you don’t want to pick your own produce, you can buy it all at the market too. They also carry an assortment of kosher products including candies, drinks and ice creams. Animal feed and supplies are also available at the market.

Not only does the market carry delicious gourmet food items, it also houses an assortment of antique appliances and supplies. Every corner is filled with another unique and interesting item to look at and admire.

FLOWER PICKING

The farm grows an array of beautiful flowers which you can pick yourselves. My kids had lots of fun choosing their favorites and cutting them from the ground!

U-PICK

Obviously my favorite part about Kelder’s Farm is the U-Pick fields where you can pick your own seasonal fruits and vegetables. There is nothing like eating something you have picked from the ground with your own hands. It gives you a whole new appreciation for the food that you eat.

We picked blueberries, red currants, beets, swiss chard, and peas. Unfortunately, the corn was not ready for picking, but they brought in some from a nearby farm so we bought some too. I can’t wait to share with you all the great recipes I came up with using my farm fresh ingredients.

Recipes coming soon:

Snap pea, corn and red currant salad
Sauteed swiss chard with shallots and raisins
Roasted beet salsa
Corn soup

The following produce is available for picking this summer:

July: blueberries, beets, greens, carrots, beans, broccoli, onions, squash, cucumbers, red currants, beans, and herbs.

August/September: corn, tomatoes, black raspberries, apples, grapes, herbs, melons, beets, eggplant, greens, carrots, beans broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, squash, kohlrabi, garlic, potatoes.

Also on premises at Kelder’s Farm is a picnic area and restrooms. These are my only gripes about the place. The picnic area oversees some beautiful lush greenery, however, your meal will be disturbed by tons of flies all over your food! The “restrooms” are portable toilets but it is a farm after all, so chalk it up and let it be part of the adventure!

Kelder’s Farm & U-Pick
5755 Rt 209
Kerhonkson, NY
Phone: Phone (845) 626-7137
http://www.kelderfarm.com
keldersfarm@aol.com

1 year ago: blueberry corn pancakes

Post a Comment