From the Garden this Week…
From the Garden this Week…
Cauliflower, Red or Green Leaf Lettuce, White Daikon Radishes, Sprouting Broccoli Spears, Arugula or Spring Mix, Parsnips, Cilantro and a Mystery Share Item
Coming Soon…Savoy Cabbage, Celery, Brussels Sprouts
Using your Produce… by Julie Moreno
We have parsnips coming this week and though they may be unfamiliar, these are a sweet root vegetable that is a great substitute for potatoes. The larger parsnips will develop a woody center that you will want to remove. I usually peel the whole parsnip, cut it in half separating the thinner bottom from the thicker top. Then I cut the top portion into quarters and cut out the center of each spear. Most of the medium and smaller sizes can just be cut into coins for cooking. I like to roast them and included a recipe with cumin and this week’s cilantro. Of course, you could switch things up and change the spices. I would suggest, rosemary, finishing with parsley and lemon zest, or for a sweeter option, maple syrup and cinnamon. Parsnips can also be boiled and mashed with butter, potatoes, carrots, turnips or rutabagas.
Roasted Parsnips with Cumin and Cilantro
4-5 parsnips, peeled and chopped, remove the woody center of any large parsnip
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ cup chopped cilantro
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Toss the parsnips with the oil, salt, pepper and ground cumin. Place on a rimmed baking sheets and cook in the oven until lightly browned and tender, about 30-35 minutes. While the vegetables are cooking, chop the cilantro. Remove the parsnips from the oven and sprinkle with the cilantro and serve.
Saturday, January 26, 2019
Come to our Winter Garden Work Day
Please bring some friends to help keep our garden growing
We will be enjoying nature while we work:
*Clearing out weeds and old plants and preparing new beds for spring planting…
*Picking up brush and loading a trailer for transport to Central Valley Ag Grinders…
*Cleaning and Repairing the Chicken Houses…
Sprouting Broccoli and Daikon… I have a Rice Bowl Recipe this week that is perfect for using up our vegetables. To me this is a leftover recipe, where I would combine leftovers to make the rice bowl. You could also add cooked chicken or fish if you had it. I envision a meal cooked earlier in the week creating leftover rice, leftover steamed broccoli and leftover tahini dressing. Then you are just combining the leftovers with the daikon radish and avocado, when you make this new dish. Anything, that makes our jobs of cooking a little easier, is a winner for me.
Warm Rice Bowl with Tahini-Ginger Dressing, Avocado, Broccoli & Pickled Daikon
Dressing:
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon tahini
1 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce
1 teaspoon rice vinegar
½ teaspoon sirracha or other hot sauce
1 teaspoon honey
1 garlic clove, pressed or finely chopped
1-2 teaspoons grated ginger
½ teaspoon salt
Rice Bowl:
1 cup raw brown rice, prepared according to package directions
½ pound sprouting broccoli spears, cut into bite size pieces
1 small or ½ large daikon radish
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Cook the brown rice. Combine the dressing ingredients and set aside. In a large pot, heat 1-2 cups of water to boiling, and then add the broccoli spears. Cook for 2 minutes then remove the broccoli from the pot and set aside. Grate the daikon radish on a box grater and combine with 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar, and set aside. Prepare the rice bowls, by portioning the brown rice. Arrange the avocado slices, the pickled daikon and broccoli spears over top of the rice, drizzle with the dressing and sesame seeds.
Metaphors for the Soul…by Cindi… Elizabeth Elliott is quoted as having said, “Don’t dig up in doubt what you have planted in faith.” These are encouraging words in the dead of winter! When our hopes and dreams show little to no growth above ground, it is easy to begin to doubt and despair about whether the seeds are still alive. I find it particularly fascinating that the world famous California Sequoia Tree produces seeds that actually require the presence of fire in order to germinate! Have you been feeling a little scorched in your life recently? Are there some plans that seem to have gone up in smoke? It is tempting to become discouraged and stop nurturing seeds that we planted with hope and faith. It is tempting to even dig them up to take a look at what is happening. But Master Gardeners tell me to not disturb the soil but wait patiently and continue to nurture what has been planted. I love what the Apostle Paul said in Romans 5:3-5 when we encounter obstacles in life. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.”
