Miso & Cucumber

Sorry I don't post much anymore. Lack of food stuffs that are safe or that you know and lack of appliances make it hard. But, here's a snack you might enjoy - and it's healthy.

Miso (soybean paste) and cucumbers. You should be able to buy miso at any Asian grocery store or maybe even Trader Joes. This is a popular Japanese snack food, especially with beer. I suggest using the miso that isn't totally paste yet, but has some bean left in it.

Use large chunks of peeled cucumber, about 1" or more in length, add a small drop of miso on top (about 1/2 to 1 tsp) and enjoy. It is crunchy, salty, and very good on the health scale (except for the salt content.)

Next time I go to our favorite Japanese place, I'll try to remember to take a picture for you so you can see the pretty presentation.

Separate note: some friends also like to use the miso as a dip for carrots etc. However, I think the water content of the cucumber is better suited with miso.

CSA Week 16

You know, looking at our CSA box this week was very rainbow-y. We had

• red (tomatoes, hot peppers, parts of bell peppers, onions, some cherry tomatoes)
• orange (some tomatoes, some cherry tomatoes, some of the carrots)
• yellow (melons, two tomatoes, some cherry tomatoes)
• green (arugula, most of the bell and hot peppers, celery, one stripey tomato, the aptly named green beans)
• blue (Well, the potatoes are called blue potatoes, even if they're not a very brilliant blue.)
• purple (Carrots!)

Plus some white as well with the cauliflower, garlic, and white potatoes. Very, very colorful! I guess this week we get to taste the rainbow?

Wednesday Fun #52 - A Whole Year of WF!

Wow! It's been a whole year of posting something (mildly) entertaining every Wednesday. Woo-hoo! And to celebrate, I'm taking a month or so off from the WFs!

But don't be sad - the wondrous AllKnowingJen will be taking over for October and maybe a bit more. So be SURE to come back next week!

For today, however, I'd like to hear about what sort of WFs you enjoyed the most - Links? Questions about favorites? Name 3s? "Have you ever" questions?

What was fun for you?

CSA Week 15

Oh, goodness! I almost forgot to post our CSA picture today! But as I was cutting up the cauliflower for supper I remembered... so here you go!


According to our newsletter, brusselini, also known as sprout tops, are the tops of the Brussels Sprout plants which "are harvested so energy will go to increasing the size of the sprouts." Now you know something new for today, too!

Peaches with Cava and Lemon Verbena

Okay, I haven't actually tried this recipe. I'm posting it here because I want to try it, and this seemed like more fun than just bookmarking it. Colorado peaches are still in season, and my lemon verbena plant is currently sprawling across 3/4 of the front walk. Oh well. At least it smells nice when the poor people coming to my door have to wade through it. (If any of the Recipeeples in the T.C. want some lemon verbena for this, lemon cake, tea or potpourri, stop by! I have way more than I can use.)

Peaches with Cava and Lemon Verbena
10 (3-inch) lemon verbena leaves
1 (750-milliliter) bottle Cava or other sparkling wine
1/2 cup sugar
6 cups sliced peaches (about 2 pounds)
1/2 teaspoon minced lemon verbena leaves

Combine whole verbena leaves and sparkling wine in a large saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook until reduced to 1 cup (about 15 minutes). Remove and discard the whole leaves. Add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Add sliced peaches; bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Cover and chill. Stir in minced verbena leaves just before serving.

Wednesday Fun #51 - Fall Favorites

School's started, there's a nip in the air, and the leaves are beginning to change. That means I'm starting to drink hot tea again, and use the oven, and make soups and stews. Yum! How about you?

Now that the weather is a-changing, what sorts of food are you finding yourself craving?

Theme-a-lama-ding-dong!

Ok, gang, here it is, a list of monthly themes for Recipeeps 4 Us!

Thanks to all who gave suggestions and input. I took quite a few of those, rearranged a bit, and came up with this list. Since we're so close to the end of the year, I figured I'd just go ahead and do the rest of '08 and all of '09 besides. (Crockpot Favorites is first 'cuz now that we've got Pumpkin's dance class 5:30-6 once a week, and mine another day from 6:30-7:30, I'm looking for ideas! Plus, you know, cool fall weather + the yummy smells that fill the house + hey, look, I just got home & supper's already ready = awesome!)


2008

• October: Crockpot Favorites
• November: Thanksgiving Side Dishes
• December: Cookies & Sweet Treats for the Holidays

2009

• January: Healthy & Low-cal
• February: Chocolate
• March: Soups & Stews [Revised to Breakfast.]
  
• April: Quick Breads - banana, zucchini, cornbread, etc., not yeast-based ones
• May: Grilling
• June: Salads - fruit, veg, pasta, etc.
• July: Tex/Mex
• August: To-may-toe/To-mah-toe
• September: Apples for the Teacher
• October: Say CHEESE!
• November: Turkey - as a main or to use the leftovers
• December: Party Food - dips, appetizers, etc.

OF COURSE you're always welcome to post recipes / tips & hints / links / requests / whatever that don't necessarily fit that month's theme; these are just to kind of make us say, "Oh yeah, I've got a great recipe that fits that theme! I should post it!"

I'll try to start each month with a reminder of what the theme is, as well as a linked list to any previously posted recipes that would fit it. If I miss any, feel free to put them in the comments and I'll add 'em in.

(If you want to, you can take advantage of the "scheduled" option for a upcoming month's theme by putting in your recipe, then going down to "post options," which is to the left of the labels spot, and putting in a date/time that is in the desired month. But only if you want to.)

Ricotta pancakes

RICOTTA PANCAKES
3 eggs, separated
1/2 lb. Ricotta cheese
2/3 c. milk
1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
Dash of salt

Separate eggs. Combine dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine milk, egg yolks, and cheese. Mix into dry ingredients. Beat whites until stiff, then fold in. Cook on hot griddle as for any pancake, turning when bubbles. Serve with fresh fruit or preserves.

Ideas for Ricotta?

I made lasagna the other night and sent the husband to the store for some ricotta cheese. Well he came home with double the amount I usually use.  I don't really want to make lasagna again, so what else can I make with the ricotta? 

(I saw a recipe in the Joy of Cooking for a cheesecake... but it looked a little difficult) 

Any ideas? 

CSA Week 14

Better late than never, here's the pictures from this week's CSA box. Yay for ground cherries!

Ground cherries aka gooseberries

Wednesday Fun #50 - Savory Sweet Corn

According to one of our latest polls, more of you like sweet corn than tomatoes. So I ask you...

What's your FAVORITE way to eat sweet corn?

Boiled briefly, then with butter and salt? On the grill? Butter, salt & pepper? On a stick at the State Fair? Fresh and raw, husked out in the field? How do YOU like it?

CSA Week 13

Between these tomatoes & the ones from our own tomato plants, I think I'd better make marinara sauce again!

Wednesday Fun #49 - Themes, Take Two

Um, ok, so right.

Last week you were all on vacation? Labor Day weekend and/or Mai Tai kept you away from the computer? Your in-laws were visiting and doing all sorts of home improvement projects for you? The dog ate your computer? Must be! :)

WF #48 was really more administrivia than fun, but, to quote Dora, "We need your help!" Now's your second chance!

Name (at least) 3 possible monthly themes we could use over the next year.

(Bonus points if they relate in some way, 'cuz that's fun.)

P.S. So far we've had a few suggestions: side dishes that go with turkey, low-cal/healthy for January, September/Apples, October/Soups & Stews, November/Thanksgiving dishes, December/Cookies or Treats. What else can you come up with?