1 jalapeño, halved (seeds and ribs removed if desired – use gloves or scrape out with a knife)
Dressing: 1 T fresh chives, chopped
pinch cayenne
pinch red pepper flakes
1/2 smoked paprika
1/2 t sweet paprika
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
1 T lemon juice
1/2 T dijon mustard
1/4 C mayo
3/4 C Greek yogurt
2 T olive oil
6 cloves roasted garlic, mashed
Instructions
Cut the top off a head of garlic. Drizzle with olive oil and wrap with tinfoil. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes. Let cool. Squeeze pulp from skin. Mash.
Toss potatoes with 3/4 t salt and 1 1/2 T olive oil. On two baking sheets, roast at 350F for 45-60 minutes, or until potatoes are crispy outside and tender inside (different types of potatoes may vary the amount of cooking time needed). Rotate the baking sheets halfway through to ensure that both pans are ready around the same time.
Place jalapeño cut side down on a baking sheet. Toss beans with remaining olive oil and 1/4 t salt and sprinkle around jalapeño. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
Let beans, potatoes, and jalapeños cool completely in the fridge. Chop jalapeño into small pieces.
Whisk dressing ingredients together.
Toss potatoes, beans, jalapeño, and dressing together.
As a kid, I remember my mom making Zucchini Bread. She called it “Zoo Bread”. I wonder if she thought that if we didn’t hear the word “zucchini” we might eat it. We did. However, I don’t remember feeling fooled… I think we might have known what was in it. We liked it because it was good.
Today I’m making Roasted Stuffed Squash. But, if it helps anyone in your home to eat them without a fuss, you are welcome to call them “Zoo Boats”.
Or maybe if someone thinks they don’t like squash, but gets to help scoop out the middle, they will be so proud of themselves that they will insist on eating some. Insist.
I used leftover rice. Quinoa would also be delicious (and would add more protein). Adding Italian sausage or ground beef would be great too.
This is kinda like a switcheroo on the classic Stuffed Pepper or Stuffed Tomato. Hey! Why not get creative and make a few different kinds of stuffed items – Peppers, Tomatoes, and Squash! Everyone could have their favorite.
Unfortunately, now I’m craving Zoo Bread. Guess that’s what I’ll be making later on today.
Happy Eating!
Roasted Stuffed Squash
Recipe Type: Main, Side, Vegetable, Vegetarian
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 2-4
Roasted squash is stuffed with rice, peppers, and onions, then it’s topped with basil. It tastes like summer.
Ingredients
1 medium or large summer squash, sliced lengthwise, center scooped out
1 T olive oil, divided
to taste salt
to taste pepper
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 C (heaping) cooked rice
1 large tomato (about 1 C), chopped
pinch red pepper flakes
1 t fresh oregano, chopped
1 t fresh basil, chopped
1 t fresh thyme, chopped
1 t fresh sage, chopped
1 T lemon juice
1/4 parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 C gruyère, grated
fresh basil, chopped (for topping)
Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350F.
Scoop out center of squash. Rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast for 15 minutes (or until tender).
Heat a pan, when it’s hot, add remaining oil. When oil is hot, add onion and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add rice, herbs, seasonings, and tomato. Cook over medium to medium-low heat for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat. Add lemon juice and parmesan to rice mixture. Stir and taste. Adjust seasoning if desired. Spoon rice mixture into squash. Top with gruyère and return to oven for about 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Serve topped with fresh basil. (Could serve whole, or cut in pieces to serve more.)
Notes
Cooking time is actually about 15 minutes because rice mixture cooks while squash roasts. You could save the scooped out portion and add it to the rice mixture, or save it to add to some soup or a pasta sauce! Recipe has since been adapted to include fresh herbs rather than dried. If using dried oregano, basil, thyme, and sage, reduce to 1/4 t of each.
Right now I can’t stop thinking about the fava beans that we’re going to have with this Polenta for dinner. I’ve been waiting for fava beans since last year.
But this post isn’t about fava beans. So let’s talk about polenta, shall we?
I will admit that when I make polenta, I have a really hard time not eating more than I need to. And it’s one of the few times when I’m happy to jump up and put the leftovers into the fridge, because it means I can sneak some out of the pot and lick the spoon (which I will accidentally forget to thump on the side of the container, leaving a good amount there for me to eat). Yes. Guilty. I love polenta.
When I read that we were getting Savory in this week’s Abundant Harvest Organics box, I was intrigued. I think it is a new herb for me (or, it could be one that I hadn’t known how to use in the past, so maybe it just got dried and is sitting in the back of the cupboard in a jar). I must say, I think I like it.
I like that it goes with A LOT! I went to the Flavor Bible for help and was pleasantly surprised by how many things I could pair it with. Things like basil, fava beans, chicken, cheese, eggs, legumes, meats, rice, salads, tomatoes, and polenta.
When I saw “polenta” I knew what I needed to do. And I knew that it needed to have some tomato on top and that the tomato needed to be slightly roasted.
And so it did. And so it was.
Happy Eating!!
Polenta with Tomatoes and Savory
Recipe Type: Side, Vegetable, Vegetarian
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
Ingredients
3 C water
1 C milk
3/4 C cornmeal
1 C cheese, grated (parmesan and gruyère), a bit reserved for topping
1/2 to 1 t salt
pepper
1/2 to 1 T savory, finely chopped
4 slices of tomato (could also cut them into small pieces, as a slice is more difficult to eat)
Instructions
Bring water and milk to a boil. Turn heat to medium-low. Add cornmeal, a bit at a time, whisking to combine. Whisk occasionally as it thickens, about 3-4 minutes.
Remove from heat and whisk in cheese, salt, pepper, and savory.
Pour into individual ramekins (or small oven proof bowls). Top with a slice of tomato, a bit more cheese, and a savory leaf.
Broil for 5-10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and tomato has softened. (I used a countertop convection oven. In the regular oven, keep the door open and an eye on it so it doesn’t burn – cooking time may be shorter.)
Notes
I served this with some Chicken Braised with Tomato and Red Wine, and some Fava Beans with Butter and Savory. It could also be served for breakfast, along with a fried egg and some whole wheat toast. If you don’t like cornmeal, substitute with mashed potatoes, then broil as directed. To re-heat, cover ramekins with foil let stand on the counter for about 15 minutes. Then set in the oven as it pre-heats to 350F. Bake for about 45 minutes, then uncover, top with a little more cheese, and bake 15 minutes more.
Today I made dip. It’s not your average Spinach-Artichoke Dip. No way. It’s made with artichokes, walnuts, spinach, and beet greens. There’s a little cheese too. Cheese is always a good addition to dip in my books. I’m totally a fan of creamy dips and sauces. But this time, I exchanged the mayo for balsamic vinegar…
Really, I use the term “dip” loosely. It’s more of a “scoop”, but I don’t know if that works…
If you didn’t blend it, this could be a side dish of wilted greens that you eat with a fork. I’d be ok with that serving option. Or maybe you might want to add some of the water from a pot of cooking pasta and make it into a pasta dish? Be my guest! But, my plan is to scoop it out of a bowl with a cracker or some French bread and call it dinner. Yes, dinner. Or snack, appetizer, lunch, breakfast (alongside a fried egg? Sure, I think so.)…
I’ll admit that it’s not quite as pretty as one of those creamy Spinach-Artichoke dips. It’s the balsamic that gives it the dark color. Totally worth it.
Something I didn’t do that I’m regretting: I didn’t add bacon. That would have been a good addition. Great, now not only am I hungry, but I’m hungry for bacon…
1-2 C cheese, grated (mixture of parmesan and gruyère)
crackers, bread, or bagel chips for serving
Instructions
Heat skillet. Add oil. When oil is hot, add artichokes, shallot, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and sugar. Cook for 3-5 minutes, over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
Add garlic and walnuts. Cook 2 minutes, over medium heat, stirring often.
Add vinegar and reduce down for 3-4 minutes (or less!).
Stir in dijon. Add beet greens and wilt down for 2 minutes, (to help greens wilt down: using tongs, pick up greens and bits from the bottom and turn over). Add spinach and wilt down for 2 minutes, or until all greens are wilted.
Using the chopper attachment of a hand blender (or a food processor), working in batches (if needed), blend the dip to desired consistency.