Simply Satisfying Recipes
Ward off the continuing chill this week with an easy, weeknight-ready supper inspired by the hearty flavors of Italy: Fresh rigatoni pasta tossed with beautiful baby kale, organic Italian sausage, locally-crafted Asiago Pressa cheese and dash of Porcini salt, plus rustic Italian bread and a fun Spanish red wine to go alongside salad-ready winter greens and side-dish-worthy produce like carrots, parsnips and leeks. Farm-fresh eggs, Cara Cara oranges, and lemon-kissed amaretti cookies add to the appeal to this comforting box, as does an herb selection that includes ultra-fragrant basil and dill—enjoy!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Rigatoni with Italian Sausage, Sautéed Kale and Porcini Salt
Also tossed with garlic, onions and a topping of Asiago Pressa cheese, this pasta is incredibly satisfying.
Radicchio Salad with Cara Cara & Blood Oranges
This lovely salad from Ina Garten is sure to brighten up even the gloomiest gray day.
Roasted Parsnips & Carrots with Shallots
This recipe works well with any number of root vegetables—use whatever you have in your crisper!
Buttery Braised Leeks
Accented with a squeeze of lemon, these sublime leeks are also a worthy side dish.
Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
A simple, easy and incredibly flavorful salad vinaigrette to add to your arsenal!
Pan-Braised Radishes & Greens
Pan-braising radishes mellows their spice, lending tender texture to this side dish.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch radishes with greens*
1 shallot, minced
4 teaspoons butter
Water
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
¼ cup fresh parsley or tarragon, chopped
Method:
1. Trim greens from radishes, leaving a bit of the green stem intact. Place greens and radishes in a large bowl of cold water and let soak for at least five minutes. Remove greens and set in a colander to drain. Dry off radishes and slice in half.
2. In a large sauté pan, melt three teaspoons of the butter and sweat the minced shallots over medium heat for a minute or so. Add radishes to the pan, season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pour in water to almost cover the radishes. Bring to a simmer, partially cover the pan, and cook until the radishes are knife tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. Remove lid and add the greens to the pan. Cover and cook for a minute or two more, until the greens have somewhat wilted. Transfer greens and radishes to a large serving bowl, leaving juices remaining in pan.
3. Bring juices to a simmer, and reduce until no more than a quarter cup remains. Add a teaspoon more of butter and stir to incorporate it with the juices.
4. Finely chop the herbs and add it to the bowl. Pour reduced juices over top and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper as necessary.
*Feel free to use a mixture of this week’s trio of radishes for a beautiful array of color!
Marching Towards Spring Recipes
From the valiant and vivid purple crocuses peeping out of the soil to the first of the spring crops, the month of March is giving us some most welcome glimpses of the changing seasons. Thus, this week’s box is full of such winter favorites as beets, Kakai hulless squash and parsnips, while including the tender pea shoots, baby carrots, green onions and leeks that nod to the approaching spring. Rounding out this bright lineup, you’ll also find farm-fresh eggs, Pain au Levain bread, a silky, smooth Washington red wine, graham crackers in fun animal shapes and a beautiful hunk of farmstead cheddar cheese from Duvall’s own Cherry Valley Dairy. Enjoy!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Crispy Parsnip Chips
These lightly-salted baked chips are a wonderful afternoon snack.
Roasted Golden Beet & Carrot Dip
This beautiful spread is delicious with crostini or pita crisps!
Beet, Carrot & Pomegranate Salad
This colorful salad is sure to brighten up your table!
Balsamic-Glazed Root Vegetables
An herb-packed marinade infuses fresh flavor into late fall staples like carrots, squash and parsnips.
Buttery Braised Leeks
Accented with just a squeeze of lemon, these sublime leeks are a worthy side dish.
Honey-Glazed Baby Carrots
The inherent sweetness of fresh baby carrots is further enhanced in this glazed side dish from local chef John Sundstrom’s Lark: Cooking Against the Grain.