Welcome

This is my first blog which was inspired by joining The Produce Box, a local community supported agriculture group. With a weekly delivery of fresh produce, I have been challenged to create healthy nightly meals using ingredients I may not have purchased on my own.

Below is a compilation of weekly meals using the produce delivered by The Produce Box as well as some other recipes which have inspired me.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

October 26- November 1

This week we received:
  • pint of Raspberries
  • 3 Zucchinis
  • large head of Napa Cabbage
  • 6 apples
  • 4 Poblano Peppers
  • Fresh Rosemary
  • Add on of Romaine Lettuce
With my zucchinis, I will use my Grandmother's recipe for Zucchini "Apple" Pie.  I will also be baking later in the week a Sweet Potato Cake using the sweet potato from an earlier Box.

Zucchini Apple Pie
9" pie                                                                                                          
 
4 cups sliced, peeled, cored zucchini cooked til tender crisp             
2 T lemon juice                                                                                       
dash salt                                                                                                  
 
Mix together:
 
1 1/4 cup sugar                                                                                     
1 1/2 t cinnamon                                                                                    
1 1/2 t cream of tartar                                                                           
dash nutmeg                                                                                           
3 T flour                                                                                               
                                                                                                               
Add Zucchini
 
Mix well. It will be runny but that's ok. Dump the filling into a 9 inch crust and dot with butter. Add top crust and bake at 400* for 40 minutes


Sweet Potato Cake
2 1/2 self rising flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1 1/4 cups oil
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1/4 cup Hot water
1 1/2 cups peeled and grated sweet potatoes
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.  In another bowl mix oil and sugar; add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add water and sweet potatoes; mix well.  Add pecans and vanilla.  Add flour mixture; beat til smooth.  Pour into 3 9" layer pans or one 9x13 pan (greased and floured)
Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes.
Frost after cooling.

I used vanilla cake frosting and omitted the pecans because I didn't have any on hand.  This cake was moist and delicious.   I did not have self rising flour on hand but was able to make my own. (For every cup of self rising flour add 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.)


Wednesday, October 26-  I have left over beef stew and with my husband not home, I will try to invent tonight's leftovers.  I will add some cooked white rice to the stew.  A little something different than egg noodles.

Thursday, October 27-  Tonight I will use the add on of romaine lettuce to make Asian Lettuce Wraps.  I found this recipe on allrecipes.com but have adjusted the basic recipe with suggestions from other reviewers.
Asian Lettuce Wraps
  • 16 lettuce leaves
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
  • Asian chile pepper sauce (optional)
  • 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons Asian (dark) sesame oil
Sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 T soy
  • 2 T rice vinegar
  • 1 T chile paste
Mix ingredients and spoon desired amount over wrap before rolling.

Directions

  1. Rinse whole lettuce leaves and pat dry, being careful not tear them. Set aside.
  2. In a medium skillet over high heat, brown the ground beef in 1 tablespoon of oil, stirring often and reducing the heat to medium, if necessary. Drain, and set aside to cool. Cook the onion in the same pan, stirring frequently. Add the garlic, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, ginger, vinegar, and chile pepper sauce to the onions, and stir. Stir in chopped peanuts, green onions, sesame oil, and cooked beef; continue cooking until the onions just begin to wilt, about 2 minutes.
  3. Arrange lettuce leaves around the outer edge of a large serving platter, and pile meat mixture in the center. To serve, allow each person to spoon a portion of the meat into a lettuce leaf. Add desired amount of sauce. Wrap the lettuce around the meat like a burrito, and enjoy!
Nutritional Information
Servings Per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 388 Total Fat: 22.3g Cholesterol: 69mg Sodium: 580mg Total Carbs: 24.3g Dietary Fiber: 4.7g Protein: 23.4g

Friday, October 28-  I never made the Marinated Pork Tenderloin I had plans for last week.  Therefore, tonight I will bake the Marinated Pork Tenderloin and serve it along with green beans and mashed potatoes.  I found the pork recipe at allrecipes.com add altered the recipe based on other reviewers comments.
Marinated Pork Tenderloin

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 4 tablespoons sherry
  • 1/2 small onion minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 (3/4 pound) pork tenderloins (I will be using just 1)

Directions

  1. Place soy sauce, brown sugar, sherry, onion, cinnamon, olive oil, and garlic in a large resealable plastic bag. Seal, and shake to mix. Fork the tenderloin.  Then place pork in bag with marinade, seal, and refrigerate for 6 to 12 hours.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place pork in baking dish, reserve marinade.
  3. Bake pork for 50-60 minutes, or to desired doneness. Let rest 5-10 minutes covered in foil.  
  4. While meat rests, place reserved marinade in a saucepan and heat.  Add cornstarch to thicken, bring to boil and let simmer until sauce has thickened.
  5. Slice into medallions, and serve with gravy.
Saturday, October 29-  With my large head of Napa cabbage, I will make my cole slaw and serve it along with grilled cheeseburgers, fries and onion rings.
Cole Slaw
1 head of Cabbage shredded
1/4 pound shredded or julienne Carrots
1 Onion finely chopped
1/2 cup Mayonaise
1 tablespoon Vinegar
2 teaspoons Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Salt

Mix Mayo, Vinegar, Sugar & Salt in non-reactivate bowl. Add shredded Cabbage, Carrots and diced Onion. Mix well. Chill before serving.
Sunday, October 30-  I am thinking of making Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili tonight.  I will add the recipe later.
Monday, October 31-  Since it is Halloween and my children will be anxiously awaiting Trick or Treating, dinner must be simple and quick.  I will either throw together quesidillas and steak fajitas or opt for pizza take out.
Tuesday, November 1-I plan to make the Stuffed Peppers I have made a number of times now and we all enjoy, using the Poblano Peppers from my Box.
Stuffed Peppers  WW Pts: 7
  • 4 large peppers (8 banana peppers)
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped onion
  • 1/4 cup chopped celery
  • 1 (14 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 3/4 cups bread crumbs
  1. Cut off tops of peppers, and remove ribs and seeds. Chop edible portions of tops; set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add peppers, reduce heat, and simmer until tender but still firm, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat butter in a medium skillet. Saute reserved chopped pepper, onion and celery until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and garlic. Season with basil, oregano, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  3. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine egg, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, Worcestershire sauce and Parmesan. Mix in sausage, bread crumbs and 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture.
  4. Using a piping bag or sausage stuffer, fill each pepper with the meat mixture. Place in a 3 quart casserole dish, and pour remaining tomato sauce mixture over peppers.
  5. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 1 hour. (optional- last 15 minutes sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese)
Amount Per Serving
Calories:310 Total Fat: 24g  Dietary Fiber: 1.9g
 
 

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