Veggie Opinions Wanted, Low Glycemic Challenge, and Nut Butter
Yes, more on the veggies, but I swear I have a cookie recipe waiting in the wings for my next post! Ooops, sorry, I said low glycemic in this post; I will save the cookie talk for now.
First up, I received my second CSA, and would love some opinions, ideas, and even links to your favorite recipes for using a few items in the box. In addition to the staples that will likely be used up in my salads (assorted lettuce, carrots, etc.), I received:
- Beets: 4 modestly sized ones (is it just me, or do the roots look kind of like alien fingers?)
- Leeks: 3 seriously jumbo ones
- Mandarins: 3 lbs – they must have had some leftovers from the citrus share!
- Green Chard: 1 boisterous bunch
Last week’s beets were done roasted and balsamic style, so I am thinking of a different route this time. And with the size of those leeks, I think I will have time for a few leek inspired meals! The one mandarin I have sampled was alas a touch dry, I am hoping the others are nice and juicy. Any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions on how to use up this wonderful produce?
Now, speaking of healthy food, my good bloggy friend Meghan is hosting her 5 Days Low Glycemic Eating group supported challenge beginning on Sunday. Click on the banner below to head to more information about this program. She has to be the cutest nutritionist ever!
Finally, what is your favorite nut butter? I spotted this deal on Amazon for Justin’s Nut Butter, which seems to be all the rage lately. If you do the subscribe and save (remember, you can cancel anytime and you still get to keep the discount!) and coupon code, on top of the already discounted price, it does come out to 50% off, trust me. I was scoping it out to purchase, but not sure if I should take the plunge.
To put it in perspective, the 1 lb containers of Organic Chocolate PB come out to $3.87 each, with the 1 lb containers of Natural Chocolate Almond Butter at $5.57 each. Oh, and subscribe and save gives you that really good shipping so the goodness arrives right away. What do you think, have any of you tried Justin’s? Worth it? I still want to hear what your other favs are too? I seem to be getting those nut butter cravings. In addition to said chocolate varieties, I also have my eye on these ones …
I mean, cinnamon and peanut butter – heaven, right?
I know, so many questions, so little time. But I promise that you will all be rewarded with some more recipes to come. I think the CSA was just what I needed to realize I had my mojo all along. And just so you know – we polished off every last veggie from CSA #1 before #2 arrived. Yeah, I am pretty proud of all that green intake.
All this veggie talk has me suddenly craving some chocolate …
14 thoughts on “Veggie Opinions Wanted, Low Glycemic Challenge, and Nut Butter”
What a lovely CSA box of goodies. =)
Roasted beets are always delicious. Be sure to use your beet greens too. They are delicious sauteed with a little garlic and olive oil.
Leek, Chard, and potato soup would be another great dish you could make with those goodies. =)
I love, love, love leeks in soup. For creamy potato, sautee the leeks and some garlic in olive oil, add a quart of chicken stock, toss in about 2 potatoes in small cubes, peeled or not. Cook about 20 minutes until soft, pull out however much you want to keep it chunky, hit the rest with a stick blender, toss your chunks back in, season, and…yum.
For my cream of mushroom, though, you’d have to email me. 😉
Yay for root veggies! I made a leek risotto not so long ago that I loved (with sun-dried tomatoes…mmmm). Also – a roasted beet salad with blue cheese – really good. You’ll have to let us know what you do with them!
Wow! That is a great CSA. I recently saw a great recipe for beet risotto that looked interesting. I have used leeks in a great soup and also an apple and leek filing for chicken.
Those mandarine’s would be atop my lunch salad! Yum
OMG seeing your CSA box reminds me of our 5 glorious yrs of our CSA share in san diego and that the leeks would stench up the fridge unless i triple baggied them 🙂
beets. Roast with EVOO or coconut oil til tender and enjoy. That’s how I love them. So simple but so good. Cut in dice sized wedges chunks. Dash of ginger or S & P too. Basic but perfect.
Leeks donate them to someone who enjoys being stinky, that’s what i always did 🙂 you know i hate garlic and onions!
nitey 🙂
xox
Your goodies look great! And yes, Meghan is indeed a cutie! I’m doing the Low Glycemic, too. 🙂
Re: Justin’s, I tried one of those “single-serve” packs when in Florida (just the plain, not flavored). It was really good–but then again, with my dietary restrictions, just finding some all-natural almond butter made me ecstatic!
Alisa,
This is a great recipe for to use your Swiss Chard. I love it. I omit the parm because of dairy issues and I replace the flour with splet.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/white-bean-and-chicken-chili-recipe/index.html
For your beets, have you ever made Borcht? (not sure on the spelling) My mom and grandma made it all the time when I was growing up and now I make it. I can share that recipe with you too but i will have to write it up. Let me know.
Do you have a mandolin? A shaved raw beet salad with slivers of orange would be delicious. I’d add avocado and maybe pistachios? A mustard vinaigrette would go well.
Oh, and cook those alien finger beet greens, honey. Don’t let them go to waste. 🙂
I love roasted beets and wilted beet greens served with goat cheese over quinoa or any grain really. yum. beets and goat cheese are always so great together.
I am really jealous of that loot! YUM! For the dry mandarins, I would make a fruit salad with some juicier fruits along with the zest, juice and fruit of some of the mandarins. Or you could roast the beats with the mandarin zest and juice too. Those leeks would be really good in that potato gratin you did a while back. HMMM can I come over for dinner?
The nut butter with cinnamon sounds really good, a must try!
ha I barely have time to figure out how to use my stash! I wonder if I’ll get something like yours next week, cause mine was totally different…I just love these csa’s!!
I personally hate the tops of swiss chard 🙂 But, take the stems, parboil them for about 3-5 minutes. Drain and run cold water over them. Put them in an oven-proof dish, pour a bit of melted butter and some shredded Parmesan on them and broil until the Parmesan melts. Enjoy!
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