Spaetzle with Fresh Parsley
Simply dressed in butter and parsley, these little dumplings are supremely comforting.
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup milk
2 eggs
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch ground pepper
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Method:
1. Mix together flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Beat eggs well, and add alternately with the milk to the dry ingredients. Mix until smooth.
2. Transfer dough to a large plastic bag, cutting off one corner to leave an opening the size of a dime. Squeeze out small bits of dough through the open corner, pressing dough through a large holed sieve to create bite-sized dumplings.*
3. Once finished creating the spaetzle, it is time to quickly boil them. Drop a few at a time into a pot of simmering salted water. Cook 5 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
4. Sauté cooked spaetzle in butter or margarine. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top, and serve.
*We’ve had good luck crafting spaetzle by squeezing the dough either through the larger holes of a cheese grater or a metal colander. For either approach, spread out a large piece of parchment paper on a work surface, then, over the parchment, feed the dough through your selected sieve by squeezing it through the cut-corner of a gallon-sized plastic bag. Using a pair of kitchen shears, trim the dumplings into small, 1-inch pieces as they are fed through, letting them drop onto the parchment.
Baked Eggs with Crème Fraîche & Fresh Herbs
These oeufs en cocotte boast a wonderful balance between the rich crème fraîche and the bright parsley and chives.
Ingredients:
8 large eggs
1 cup Farm & Larder crème fraîche
Pinch nutmeg
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons snipped fresh chives
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. Season the crème fraîche with salt, freshly ground pepper and a pinch of nutmeg.
3. Place a heaped tablespoon of crème fraîche in the bottom of a small individual ramekin or custard cup*, followed by a sprinkling of parsley and chives. Crack an egg on top, add a second tablespoon of crème fraîche and sprinkle with an additional pinch each of salt, pepper and nutmeg. Repeat with remaining ramekins.
4. Place the ramekins in a baking dish and pour enough lukewarm water into the dish to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
5. Bake for 15 minutes or until the egg yolks are set to your liking. Finish each serving with additional chopped herbs.
*This dish can also be made in a large baking dish, or even in a few smaller baking dishes. Spread a thin layer of cheese and herbs on bottom, carefully crack eggs and space out evenly, then dollop additional cheese and add water as directed above.
Shaved Turnip & Pea Shoot Salad with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette
This salad celebrates the fresh flavors of spring with crisp turnips, tender pea shoots, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette.
Ingredients:
3-4 medium-sized turnips, peeled and thinly sliced
2 cups fresh pea shoots
¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
For the Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette:
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Method:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the ingredients for the lemon vinaigrette – olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the thinly sliced turnips, fresh pea shoots, sliced red onion, crumbled feta cheese, chopped mint leaves, and chopped parsley.
3. Drizzle the lemon vinaigrette over the salad ingredients in the bowl. Gently toss the salad until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
Baked Eggs with Smoked Salmon, Crème Fraîche & Fresh Herbs
These oeufs en cocotte boast a wonderful balance with rich crème fraîche, plus bright parsley and chives.
Ingredients:
8 large eggs
1 cup Farm & Larder crème fraîche
8 ounces smoked salmon, flaked
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
3 tablespoons snipped fresh chives
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. Season the crème fraîche with salt and freshly ground pepper.
3. Place a heaped tablespoon of crème fraîche in the bottom of a small individual ramekin or custard cup, followed by a sprinkling of parsley and chives. Crack an egg on top, add a second tablespoon of crème fraîche and sprinkle with an additional pinch each of salt and pepper. Repeat with remaining ramekins.
4. Place the ramekins in a baking dish and pour enough lukewarm water into the dish to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
5. Bake for 15 minutes or until the egg yolks are set to your liking. Finish each serving with a helping of smoked salmon and additional chopped herbs.
English Shelling Peas with Parsley Compound Butter & Mint
This beautiful spring side is accented by stewed pearl onions, fresh Romaine and bright mint.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups freshly-shelled English peas
6-8 pearl onions
½ cup chicken stock
1 cup thinly-sliced baby Romaine
3 tablespoons fresh mint
1 tablespoon Farm & Larder parsley compound butter, at room temperature
Method:
1. To peel onions, trim root ends of onion, and drop in a stockpot of cold water. Season with salt. Bring water to a boil, quickly blanching onions until just tender, about 1 minute. Strain and rinse onions with cold water. Gently squeeze the pointed, non-root tip of each onion, the tender flesh will pop right out.
2. Bring chicken broth to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add peas and onions and simmer until peas are heated through, and onions begin to soften, about 4 minutes.
3. Add in Romaine lettuce and fresh mint. Toss to coat with parsley compound butter. Season with salt as needed.
Fresh Pasta with Italian Sausage, Burst Tomatoes & Crème Fraîche
This simple pasta celebrates the best flavors of summer with juicy tomatoes, savory Italian sausage, fragrant basil, and a silky crème fraîche sauce that comes together in minutes.
Ingredients:
1 pound Lagana Foods fresh pasta
1 package Skagit River Ranch Italian sausage, casings removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups tomatoes, halved or chopped
2 green onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup Bella Luna Crème Fraîche
¼ cup Farm & Larder chicken stock
¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated Parmesan (optional)
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the fresh pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water before draining.
2. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it into bite-sized pieces, until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes.
3. Stir in the green onions and garlic; cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and cook just until they begin to soften and release their juices, about 3–4 minutes.
4. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the chicken stock and crème fraîche until smooth. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce. Toss in the cooked pasta and basil, stirring gently until everything is coated. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately with freshly grated Parmesan and plenty of toasted fig and walnut sourdough on the side.
Fresh Mafaldine Pasta with Sautéed Chanterelles
Also rich with chicken stock and herbs, this pasta beautifully captures the flavors of mellow, earthy mushrooms.
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh Mafaldine pasta
4 cups Porcini mushrooms, washed and patted dry
¼ cup chicken stock
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided in half
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ cup combined fresh chopped parsley, sage and thyme
2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
¼ cup grated Grana-style cheese
Method:
1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Drop in pasta noodles and cook until al dente, about 4 to 6 minutes. Drain and rinse, reserving ½ cup of the starchy cooking liquid.
2. Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter with the olive oil over medium heat, stirring to combine. Add the mushrooms and garlic and sauté 2-3 minutes until mushrooms are soft and tender and then add chicken stock and cook until reduced slightly, another 3-4 minutes. Add in fresh herbs and season generously with salt and pepper.
3. Add in the drained pasta and toss. Add in reserved 1 tablespoon of butter and grated cheese, and mix to distribute. If pasta seems dry, add in reserved cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time until adequately moist. To serve, add some grated Grana cheese, a squeeze of lemon juice, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs on top.
Moroccan Beet Salad
Kissed with freshly-squeezed orange juice, cilantro and mint, this salad will brighten up any spread.
Ingredients:
6 golden beets, tops removed
1 red onion, cut in half and thinly sliced
1 teaspoon olive oil
¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 teaspoon orange zest
2 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup fresh mint leaves, packed
¼ cup fresh cilantro leaves, packed
Method:
1. In a large pot bring enough water to cover beets to a boil. Add in beets and allow to simmer until beets are tender enough to be pierced with a fork, about 35-40 minutes. Remove from the pot and allow beets to cool completely. While running under cold water, remove the skins from the beets using a peeler. Cut beets into 2” pieces and set aside.
2. In a small bowl combine orange juice, olive oil, cumin and salt. Stir well and set aside.
3. In a large bowl add in beets, fresh mint, fresh cilantro, sliced onions and dressing and toss until everything is mixed together. Top with more fresh herbs and serve.
Pasta Salad with Smoked Salmon & Summer Greens
Tossed with a fresh lemon-dill vinaigrette, this pasta salad exudes the light, refreshing flavors of the season.
Ingredients:
1 pound Lagana Foods campanelle pasta
1 package Loki Fish Company smoked salmon, flaked into bite-size pieces
4 cups mixed summer greens, such as Mizuna and baby lettuces
Lemon-dill vinaigrette (see recipe)
2 tablespoons freshly-chopped parsley
2 teaspoons freshly-chopped mint
Olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Over medium-high heat, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Drop in pasta and cook until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and drizzle with a tablespoon of olive to avoid noodles sticking together. Let cool to room temperature, tossing occasionally.
2. Put pasta into a large mixing bowl, tossing with lemon-dill vinaigrette to coat, reserving about 2 tablespoons. Then add smoked salmon and parsley and gently toss.
3. On a large serving platter, arrange greens, then top with pasta salad and drizzle with remaining vinaigrette. Garnish with fresh mint.
Meyer Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette
This lovely vinaigrette is bright with lemon juice, sweet honey and fresh parsley.
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons freshly-squeezed Meyer lemon juice
1 teaspoon Meyer lemon zest
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon fresh parsley
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, pressed
¾ cup olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Whisk together lemon juice, zest, honey, parsley, mustard and garlic in a small bowl.
2. Add oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth. Use immediately, or chill for a later use. If chilled, allow vinaigrette to come to room temperature again, then whisk again to combine.