Recipe Reviewed: French Onion Soup with Braised Short Ribs

BEST French Onion Soup ever!  I’ve wanted to make French Onion Soup with the CSA onions.  I’ve also been looking to use the short ribs I got from our CSA beef share.  Perfect match!
 
This recipe takes time, but it not hard.  Great for a day you are home doing household chores that require lots of breaks – folding laundry, cleaning up the toys, monitoring homework, etc.  I did not use a leek – find them expensive and don’t really like them.  I roughly chopped up about ½ cup of celeriac (from our winter share) and used that to make the broth instead.
 
No short ribs?  While they added texture and flavor and made the soup a whole meal – this recipe would work great as a traditional French Onion Soup.
 
French Onion Soup with Braised Short Ribs

Recipe Reviewed: Mole-Topped Sweet Potatoes

I buy most of my spices in bulk.  I was recently filling up my crushed red pepper jar and realized I was adding crushed red pepper to cinnamon.  YIKES!  Then I realized that mixture could come in handy, and several days later I stumble upon this recipe.  That combination worked perfectly here.
 
I have a friend who is trying to cut down on the amount of time she spends in the kitchen, but still cook from scratch.  This is the perfect recipe to achieve that goal.  It takes some time to cut the sweet potatoes into wedges, but due to their size you only roast those 20 minutes.  During those 20 minutes you are making the Mole.  Delicious dinner done in under an hour!
 
Mole-Topped Sweet Potatoes

Recipe Reviewed: Balsamic Roasted Fingerling Potato Wedges

Delicious and easy!
 
It was a quick process to get these potatoes into the oven.  The vinegar at the end turns the potatoes a beautiful color.  I’ll make this easy side dish again.

Balsamic Roasted Fingerling Potato Wedges

Recipe Reviewed: Beef Tagine with Butternut Squash

Recently, I was refilling my spice jars.  My crushed red pepper and cinnamon are in the same type of jar.  Thinking I was refilling my crushed red pepper, I dropped several tablespoons of crushed red pepper into my cinnamon.  Oh NO!  Then I realized this combination might come in handy.  The combo was perfect for this recipe.  I just used a 1 ½ t of the combination instead of cinnamon and crushed red pepper separately.
 
We loved this recipe!
 
Beef Tagine with Butternut Squash

Winter Share Box Two of 2013

We got...
 
Beets, Butternut Squash, Cabbage, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Fingerling Potatoes, and Onions
 
My plans...
 
Beets – I always struggle with beets, but I’m looking forward to trying this Harvest Vegetable Galette with Greens and Goat Cheese.
 
Butternut Squash – I love tagines and this one sounds simple enough for a weeknight dinner.
Beef Tagine with Squash
 
Cabbage – This recipe has become a staple in our house – SautéedCabbage with Scallions and Garlic.
 
Carrots – We had these Indian Chicken Wraps recently.  Carrots add color and texture to these delicious wraps.
 
Sweet Potatoes – I don’t have a recipe suggestion right now because I can’t wait to just bake them up and smoother them in butter.
 
Fingerling Potatoes – This side dish looks quick and yummy, Balsamic Roasted Fingerling Potato Wedges.
 
Onions – I’m just happy to have a supply of onions from the farm.

Week Sixteen of 2012

We got...

 Acorn Squash, Broccoli, Carrots, Corn, Green Beans, Potatoes, Radish, Red Onions, Salad Mix, Savoy Cabbage, Spinach, Tomatoes, Cilantro

 
Fruit: Pears
 
My plans...
 
Acorn Squash – doesn’t this just sound yummy, Garam MasalaScallops over Acorn Squash?
 
Broccoli – I’m always looking for new pasta dishes, especially if they use our CSA vegetables.  This month’s Everyday Food has a Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan Croutons that I’ll have to try.
 
Carrots, Onions, Cilantro – These Indian Chicken Wraps look like they’d make a great weeknight meal.
 
Green Beans – Braised Green Beans, what a great side dish with fall approaching.
 
Potatoes – These Smashed Potatoes look comforting.
 
Savoy Cabbage – This Sautéed Savoy Cabbage with Scallionsand Garlic would be a warm and welcome side dish.
 
Spinach – I know it’s a second scallop dish, but Scallopswith Spinach and Paprika Syrup has my mouth watering.  I’m thinking of substituting the scallops with shrimp or just making the spinach as a side.

Recipe Reviewed: Broccoli Rabe with Pine Nuts and Raisins

I enjoyed this recipe.  It was really simple and the pine nuts add a nice bit of crunch and the raisins add an element of sweet to accompany the bitter greens.
 
I served mine with pasta.
 
I replaced the raisins with grapes I had frozen.  Years ago on The Splendid Table I heard a tip to freeze your grapes when they are about to age (you know, when the kids didn’t go through them fast enough).  The suggestion was to cook them with greens to contrast the bitterness with sweetness.  It works great!
 
Broccoli Rabe with Pine Nuts and Raisins