Avocados!!!

OMG Avocados!  And by avocados I mean the 116 or so cases of avocados (2900 lbs.) Fair Foods picked up in the past week.  Not only did we have a lot of them, but they were good!  And by good, as those who have tried them can vouch, I mean great!  I have only seen Fair Foods get avocados a few times ever, and they are often very close to the edge (and admittedly some will already be over the edge or “Guacamole yesterday” as Jason likes to say).  But these, oh man..  I have had mine since Friday and they are still bright green inside and boy did they make some awesome guacamole (thank you Jason!)

If you don’t feel like taking the time to guac, avocados are also great sliced on sandwiches, in salads, or by themselves for a healthy snack. Brown avocados are still good for you – rub them on your hair and skin to nourish and moisturize! Read more here

http://www.divavillage.com/article_archive.php?id=24670

Guacamole:

6 Avocados

1 Yellow Onion

1 Large Lime

2 Tomatoes

2-3 Cloves Garlic

1/4 (or less) Bunch Cilantro

Pepper/salt to taste

Guacamole is very easy! Fair Foods has had all of the above items in abundance this month except maybe cilantro, which goes for about 75 cents a bunch at Haymarket. Everyone has their own style, but here’s how I make mine:

First finely dice the onion and throw it in a bowl, then crush or finely chop the garlic and stir it up with the onion. Chop up the tomatoes and throw them in, then squeeze the juice from about half the lime into the mix and stir .

Then slice the avocados in half and pop out the pit, and scrape the innards into the bowl with a spoon. Some avocados will cut brown in some spots, but you can scoop around the brown spots and use the green and yellow flesh. After throwing all the avocado in the bowl, mash it up to a paste with a fork, then stir the whole thing together with a spoon. If it’s too thick, squeeze in the rest of the lime or some more tomato juice. If it’s too chunky, add another avocado! Then chop the cilantro finely and mix it in. Too much cilantro can overpower the taste of the dish, so I use just a little at first. Add salt/pepper and other seasoning (garlic powder, chili powder or chopped jalapeno if you want some spice) to taste. Enjoy!

Salad with Chipotle Hummus

Photos and Recipe by Melody Polakow

 

With all the greens, tomatoes and onions we get in our $2 Produce Bags, I’ve been eating a lot of salad!   One of my favorite “dressings’ is acutally hummus and other bean based spreads.  They add a lot of flavor and nutrition to the salad compared to traditional dressings.

If you have a food processor, it is super easy and cheap to make your own hummus!  I’ve made a couple changes to traditional hummus by using peanut butter instead of tahini.  Just make sure you don’t use peanut butter that has sugar.  Natural Peanut Butter will have oil on top and a quick tip is to store the bottle up side down before you open it which will make it easier to stir.  You can cook your own beans/chickpeas or used canned.  If you use canned, you can heat them up in the microwave first so they’ll be hot.  If you don’t like heat, you can omit the Chipotle and add some Chili Powder.

Chipotle Hummus

• 2 large cloves garlic
• 1 t Tony’s creole seasoning
• ¼ t cumin
• ¼ t coriander
• 2 c HOT chickpeas (reserve ½ c cooking liquid)
• 1-2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce or 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 4 T tahini or peanut butter
• 2-4 T chickpea cooking liquid as needed or Olive Oil if you aren’t watching  your calories
• Juice of 2 limes ( around 3 T )
• ¼ c chopped cilantro (optional)
• Salt/pepper to taste

Method:

1. Pulse garlic and tony’s in food processor until garlic paste is formed
2. add the rest of the ingredients and puree until totally smooth
3. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more lime juice if needed.

Another way I love eating hummus is rolled up in greens.  You can use Collards, Lettuce, Kale or Chard.

 

Simple Cilantro Chutney

Photos and Recipe by Melody Polakow

If you find yourself with an abundance of cilantro from your $2 produce bag, this is a great way use it up!  This will keep in the fridge for at least 2 weeks and freezes really well.  Add a couple tablespoons to beans, rice, veggies, hummus or anywhere you’d like a little zing.  It’s great in chili!

Cilantro Chutney

• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 habanero pepper (or jalapeno for milder heat)
• 1 large onion, rough chop
• 4 cups packed cilantro (washed very well)
• ½ teaspoon toasted cumin seeds
• ½ teaspoon roasted coriander powder
• 1 tablespoon Tony’s Creole Seasoning
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Method:

Process garlic in food processor first so it is very broken up, and then add the rest of the ingredients (except the oil) and pulse until very well combines.   Place in a glass container and add the oil. Stir and refrigerate.

I topped my  homemade 3 Ingredient Veggie Burger with this and it was really good.  Here’s a link to the burger recipe

Drink your greens!

 

Here’s a simple way to get more greens into your diet! Drink them!

Photo and Recipe by Melody Polakow

For a basic green smoothie you need:

1 frozen banana

2 cups greens (baby spinach, lettuce) or 1 cup baby collards/kale

1 cup water, non-dairy milk or milk

Blend until smooth. Make sure to add the liquid to the blender first!

You can add any other fruit you have on hand as well.  Frozen pineapple is great!

The other day I was chatting with some people about green smoothies in South Boston.  We got some papayas in our $2 bag that week and one of the women was really excited to try the green smoothie for her and her granddaughter!

Roasting Veggies

Photos and Recipes by Melody Polakow

Roasting is a simple way to bring out the wonderful flavors of your vegetables.  Is is a simple technique that works with almost every veggie out there!

Toss (or spray with cooking spray) with a bit of olive or other oil and season with salt/pepper or your favorite seasonings. I always add some garlic powder!   Heat your oven to 400 and place veggies in a single layer on a sheet pan. Roast for 15 minutes, turn veggies over with a spatula and roast for another 15 minutes.

Fun Flavors:

•  Soy Sauce, Toasted Sesame Oil and 5 Spice Powder
• Use a couple tablespoons of Italian Dressing in place of the oil/spices
• Old Bay Seasoning
• Chili Powder, Garlic
• Italian Seasoning, Garlic
• Wing Sauce and Garlic Powder

Roasted Veggies are great to have on hand for use in sandwiches and salads.  They are a delicious addition to soups and stews and pasta.  Add a bit of protein or some cooked beans, serve over brown rice, polenta or mashed potatoes.

 

 

Eggplant and Veggie Stew Recipe

Photo and Recipe by Melody Polakow

This simple stew can be served over brown rice, over whole grain pasta or even eaten as is.  It is even better the next day and freezes well. You can add some cooked chickpeas or other beans for a hearty, stick to your ribs meal.

Eggplant and Vegetable Stew:

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• large onion, diced
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large carrot, diced
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• Generous pinch salt/pepper
• 1 medium size eggplant, cut into cubes
• 2 cups tomatoes (canned or fresh)
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1-2 cups water as needed
• Salt/pepper to taste
• Fresh herbs (basil, parsley) if available for garnish

Method:

1. Heat a large, heavy bottomed pan to medium heat, add the onion, garlic, carrot, celery, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper
2. Cook for 10 minutes, then add the eggplant, tomatoes and vinegar and another pinch of salt/pepper. Cover and cook for 25 minutes more, adding water as needed.
3. Taste and adjust seaonings; add fresh herbs if you are using them