Autumn Snowfall

6:28 PM Adrian 0 Comments

Perhaps not in Iowa City, but up here at Echollective we experienced our first snow of the year!  It was quite beautiful, thick, and white; the snow clung to the ground for several hours but it has melted since.

Don't worry, we still have vegetables!  Fall CSA continues!  It is becoming time for us to try to cover and protect all our vegetables from the ice and snow, so we will be working hard for you in the upcoming weeks to procure you with as much of the Fall harvest as we can!

This week:

• Garlic
• Leeks
• Onions
• Kale or Collards Bunch
• Potatoes
• Sungold Cherry Tomatoes
• Heirloom Tomatoes or Roma Tomatoes
• Eggplant
• Sweet Peppers
• Jalapenos
• Pears/Apples
• Daikon Radishes
• Winter Squash
• Carrots
  ...and more!

Stay warm as the temps keep dropping!  Hope to see you at market!


Recipes

Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta (www.cookinglight.com)

Ingredients

• 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash $
• Cooking spray $
• 6 sweet hickory-smoked bacon slices (raw) $
• 1 cup thinly sliced shallots
• 8 ounces uncooked mini penne (tube-shaped pasta)
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour $
• 2 cups 2% reduced-fat milk
• 3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded sharp provolone cheese $
• 1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Combine 1/4 teaspoon salt, rosemary, and pepper. Place squash on a foil-lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt mixture. Bake at 425° for 45 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Increase oven temperature to 450°.
3. Cook the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 1 1/2 teaspoons drippings in pan; crumble bacon. Increase heat to medium-high. Add shallots to pan; sauté 8 minutes or until tender. Combine squash mixture, bacon, and shallots; set aside.
4. Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain well.
5. Combine flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly with a whisk; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add provolone, stirring until cheese melts. Add pasta to cheese mixture, tossing well to combine. Spoon pasta mixture into an 11 x 7-inch baking dish lightly coated with cooking spray; top with squash mixture. Sprinkle evenly with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until cheese melts and begins to brown.

Eggplant and Tofu Stirfry (www.realsimple.com)


Sungold Tomato Pesto Pizza (www.farmfreshfeasts.com)

Ingredients

Sun Gold Tomato Pesto Pizza

• 1/2 recipe above Sun Gold Tomato Pesto
• 1 pound pizza dough of your choice (see my Pizza Primer for a dough recipe, tips, tricks, and hints)
• 3/4 cup sliced fresh mozzarella
• 1/3 cup shredded Italian blend cheese
• Optional toppings:  1/2 cup chopped banana peppers, 1/4 cup sliced pepperoni, as many little fishies as you desire

Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.  If you've got a pizza stone, place it in the oven to preheat as well.  If not, use a cookie sheet.  On an oiled piece of parchment, stretch out your dough into the shape that floats your boat today.  Spread between 2/3 cup and 1 cup (160 ml to 240 ml) of Sun Gold tomato pesto across dough.  Top with sliced mozzarella and any optional toppings you choose.  Scatter shredded cheese over top.  Bake for 5 minutes, then shimmy out the parchment paper from under the crust, and bake an additional 3-8 minutes until the cheese is browned and bubbly.  Cool on a rack 5 minutes, then slice and serve.

Please tell us if you can't identify something on the market table, don't know what to do with a particular item, have a food allergy we should know about, or if you have other questions or comments. We love to hear from you!