Today's tea

For  2+ quarts

microwave 1 qt water with 3 tea + 1 black cherry herbal bags 6 minutes
squeezed tea bags
heaping 1/3 c turbinado
added ice to hot tea

Nice strength.  Cherry noticeable but not too strong.  Still very sweet.

Cornbread

1 c whole grain cornmeal
1+ tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 egg
~1 tbsp sour cream & water to make 1/2 c
pat of butter

400 degrees - preheat oiled pan
swirl pat of butter in hot pan before adding batter

25 minutes

Good, but seemed to be missing a little something.  Just because no milk? Maybe needed a tad more salt? Is sea salt more "delicate?" more sour cream? Maybe tasting lack of oil?  I didn't use as much in the pan as usual.

Mom's Tea

2 cups of sugar per gallon of tea

Lentil, Sweet Potato, & Romaine Soup

Food photography - not my forte!

What to do with all that romaine lettuce?  Apparently you can use it just like any other green. So, soup using what's on hand ...

• 1 can Campbell's French onion soup + 1 can water (not sure why it was in the pantry, but since it was there it seemed good for a quick base)
• 1/2 cup green lentils
• 1 small sweet potato, diced small
• Outer leaves and towards-the-core parts of two heads romaine, chopped
• 1/2 can tomato sauce
• 1/2 c or so of leftover sauteed Brussels sprouts with red onion
• Some previously chopped celery and shredded carrots 

Cooked in crockpot on high for about 4 hours.  Probably would have been better to add the lettuce in later than at the first ... but I wanted a put-it-on-and-go-to-bed dish.  Next time, cook it on low so it gets done closer to breakfast! 

Made about 6 cups.

Crockpot Lamb Stew

Measurements are estimates:

• Oil
• 1 lb lamb stew meat
• chopped onion ~1 1/2 c
• minced roasted garlic, 1 tsp
• Worcester sauce
• beer -  splash
• salt   pepper   allspice    bay leaf
• 2 c chicken broth
• chopped carrots ~1 1/2 c
• chopped sweet potato
• chopped potatoes, 2 small red
• some chopped celery
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• a couple of radishes, chopped

Method:

1. brown the meat in 1T oil, set aside
2. add oil if needed and saute onion, garlic - salt & pepper, Worcester sauce
3. de-glaze pan with beer and broth
4. allspice, bay leaf (2 small)
5. add everything to crock pot

Started on low 30 min? - added water since I couldn't see liquid and switched to high 1-2 hrs - switched back to low.  Total cook time, just under 6 hours.

In retrospect - the extra water - and maybe some of the broth - was probably a mistake (have to check crock pot instructions to see if it's OK to start without liquid up to top of veggies).  Needs more seasoning.

Made a lot.  Almost twice the butternut squash stew.

Lamb and Butternut Squash Stew

How I made it this time - measurements are estimates:

• Oil
• 1 lb lamb stew meat
• chopped onion ~1 1/2 c
• minced roasted garlic, 1 tsp
• Worcester sauce, a couple of splashes
• beer - 1/2 bottle
• salt   pepper   allspice   poultry seasoning   bay leaf
• 1 c chicken broth
• chopped carrots ~1 1/2 c
• 1 butternut squash, peeled & diced 
• 1 can diced tomatoes

Method:

1. Brown the meat in 1T oil, set aside
2. Add oil if needed and saute onion, garlic - salt & pepper, Worcester sauce
3. De-glaze pan with beer and broth
4. Pinch of allspice, dash of poultry seasoning, bay leaf
5. Return meat to pan
6. Stir in carrots
7. Add tomatoes 
8. Stir in butternut squash

Cooked about 60-90 minutes.
Squash was a bit overcooked - should have added in later.  On the other hand, the dissolving squash makes for a nice thick stew. 

Broccoli Raab & Cauliflower Casserole

Using this as an inspiration ...

http://thehealthyfoodie.com/crispy-cheesy-baked-rice-casserole/

blanched cauliflower

blanched broccoli raab

1 3/4 c cooked brown rice

some cooked quinoa

2 eggs

1 1/2 oz mild shredded cheddar

Preheat cast iron skillet in oven @ 375.

Layer - rice on bottom, broccoli raab, cauliflower

Mix eggs, cheese, and quinoa and pour over veggies

Bake 30 minutes

Maybe needs more liquid with the quinoa in with the eggs?  Next time mix everything together?

CSA 3

Farmer 5:

·       red chard

·       broccoli

·       butternut squash

·       cabbage

·       romaine, 3 sm

My 5:

·       green onions, lg 4

·       sweet potatoes, 5

·       carrots, 4

·       red potatoes, 6

·       snap peas, basket

Additional from pickup:

·       mango, 1

·       strawberries, basket

·       tangerines, 3

CSA 2

Farmer 5:

·       spinach, handful

·       broccoli raab, handful

·       red chard, bunch

·       baby bok choy, 5

·       radishes, bunch less some

My 5:

·       carrots, 4

·       brussel sprouts, basketful

·       spaghetti squash, 1

·       acorn squash, 1

·       cauliflower, sm head

Additional from pickup:

·       grapefruit, 1

·       tangerines, 3 

From the store:

·       strawberries, quart

·       basil

·       mint

   

Winter 2014 CSA 1

Farmer 5:

• collards
• kale
• sweet potatoes, 5
• celery
• fennel

My 5:

• carrots, 4
• parsnips and rutabagas, 2 each
• pearl onions, basket
• cabbage
• leeks, 2

Additional:

• avocados, 2
• blood oranges, 8
• Meyer lemons, 4
• boneless rib-eye