Classic Red Beans & Rice

Slow-simmered with chicken stock, herbs and spices, these luscious red beans get an extra-flavorful kick from Andouille sausage.

Ingredients:
1 pound Rosita red beans
1 pound Andouille sausage, sautéed and sliced
¼ cup olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1-2 sweet red peppers, seeded and cut into ½-inch pieces
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
½ cup celery, cut into ¼-inch cubes
4 cups chicken stock, plus 2 cups water
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (if desired)
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
¼ teaspoon dried sage
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped parsley
Cooked long-grain jasmine rice, for serving
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:
1. Rinse and sort beans, and then soak in a large pot of water overnight.

2. In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onion, red pepper, garlic, and celery in olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Rinse soaked beans, then transfer to a large pot with 4 cups chicken stock and 2 cups water. Stir sautéed vegetables into beans. Season with cayenne pepper (if using), paprika, thyme, sage, bay leaf and parsley. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer gently for 2½ hours until the beans are just tender.

3. Stir sausage into beans, and continue to simmer for 30 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the rice. Once the beans and sausage mixture is ready, serve them over the steamed jasmine rice.

A Taste of Tex-Mex Recipes

This week’s sunny forecast is well complemented by an equally bright lineup of Tex-Mex and summer favorites: Enjoy spicy chorizo sausage, Peruvian Mayocoba beans, spicy jalapeño peppers from Skagit County and locally-crafted, hand-pressed tortillas for taco night, as well as crunchy snap peas, cilantro, green cabbage, mixed summer squash, baby fennel, and more finds from the garden to incorporate into summery sides. Also found in your box: Farm-fresh eggs, garlic scapes and a sweet market bouquet of blooms. Here’s to good weather—and great eating!

Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:

How-To: Cook Mayocoba Beans
You can enjoy these beans straight out of the pot, or save and prepare them refried-style later!

Cabbage Slaw with Fennel & Cilantro
This light, fresh dish is fantastic on tacos, pulled pork sandwiches or simply served as a summery side.

Chorizo Frittata
This savory-spicy frittata is delicious served for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner!

Beet & Snap Pea Salad
This colorful salad is perfectly complemented by a lemon-honey vinaigrette.

Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette
This lovely vinaigrette is bright with lemon juice, sweet honey and fresh parsley.

Pan-Braised Radishes & Greens
Pan-roasting radish mellows its spice, lending tender texture to this side dish.

Smoky Southwestern Beans

You can enjoy these beans straight out of the pot, or save and prepare them refried-style later.

Ingredients:
2 cups dried beans, such as Mayocoba, Pinto, black or other bean of your choosing
1 small onion
2-3 tablespoons bacon drippings (or butter or lard)
1-2 teaspoons salt (plus more to taste)
2-3 quarts water
Pinch of Mexican oregano (optional)

Method:
1. Sort through the beans and discard any rocks or shriveled beans. Rinse and drain well.

2. Add beans to a pot and cover with 2-3 quarts of water, or so the water level is 2 inches above the beans. Add the roughly chopped onion and 2-3 tablespoons of bacon drippings (or butter or lard).

3. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and partially cover. Let simmer for 1½-2 hours. Ensure that the water level is well above the beans by adding more water as they cook if necessary.

4. Start tasting them after 1½ hours. If they are hard or grainy they need a little more time. Once cooked add 1 teaspoon of salt and a pinch of Mexican oregano and simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Give a final taste for seasoning, adding more salt if necessary. Either serve immediately, or store for future use.

Summery Salads Recipes

The time is ripe—for just about everything! From broccolini, beets and French breakfast radishes to Rainier cherries, sugar snap peas and a host of beautiful herbs and greens, this week’s box is a display of early summer splendor. The refreshing lineup of produce is also complemented by such salad-ready provisions as Italian Corona beans, imported orzo pasta, edible blooms and sun-dried tomato-kissed Pomodoro bread, as well Cherry Valley Dairy butter and a fleur de sel chocolate bar to end things on a sweet note. Enjoy!

Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:

Summery Orzo & Corona Bean Salad with Arugula
This orzo salad is always a hit; feel free to swap your favorite summer produce in!

Beet & Snap Pea Salad
This colorful salad is perfectly complemented by a lemon-honey vinaigrette.

Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette
This lovely vinaigrette is bright with lemon juice, sweet honey and fresh parsley.

Garden Greens with Chopped Eggs
This fresh salad is a lovely use for beautiful summer greens.

Grilled Cherry Salsa
This flavorful salsa is excellent on top of pork tenderloin, or served with grilled bread.

Buttered Radishes
These dipped radishes make for a wonderful starter or snack!

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