Moving hiatus

Yes, those are my couches

The countdown has begun: we move in five days.

Along with all the joys of moving also comes all the stress of packing and coordinating.

And did I mention the four days with no internet access? And the lack of kitchen countertops and sink?

All this is to explain why I will be taking a week's hiatus from this blog. When I'm back and reconnected, it will be time for another CSA Share Ninja Rescue post, so please keep posting comments on what you're getting in your shares.

And don't forget to follow me on Facebook, as I will be trying to post some updates there during the hiatus.

See you next week!

Loaded oatmeal cookies: a recipe

Loaded oatmeal cookies

We've been talking CSA veg so much lately that I figured it was time for some cookies.

I love cookies like these, that somehow manage to imply that they are healthful because they are "loaded" with good things like flaxseed, wheat germ and fruit -- apparently we should just ignore that they also include two kinds of sugar and chocolate. Heck, some people who have made the recipe have even gone so far as to refer to them as "breakfast cookies." Really?

Not that there's anything wrong with cookies for breakfast, of course.

Regardless, I think they are just plain wicked. In fact, Mr. Ninj, cramming in his fifth or sixth last night, proclaimed them to be in a tie with the salty oaties for best cookie ever. (Gee, funny how the dandelion cookies didn't even make it out of the starting blocks for him...)

Wow. Them's fightin' words.

I think you should make both this weekend and let me know which one wins in your house.

RECIPE LINK: Loaded Oatmeal Cookies from Better Homes and Gardens

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday: fruit

Apples in the wee orchard!

CSA Share Ninja Rescue: leeks, arugula and radishes

Photo by Nathalie Dulex via stock.xchng

Welcome back to the CSA Share Ninja Rescue feature, where you tell me what items in your CSA share are making you scratch your head or lose your patience and I provide you with some help in the form of recipes or ideas.

To see how it works, check out the previous installments:

• Cabbage, kale and peas
• Beets, turnips and fava beans

Commenters from last week have asked for recipe ideas for leeks, arugula and radishes.

Leeks
If you haven't cooked with leeks very much, be warned: they are very, very dirty. But they are also easy to clean -- check out this great demo video from Gourmet.

• Eggs baked in cream from The Wednesday Chef: This makes a lovely brunch dish or light dinner
• Vichyssoise: Potato and leek soup -- a classic!
• Ham and leek bread pudding via The Ninj and Thomas Keller (sort of): No bourbon, but still amazing

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday: garden

The garden, the wee orchard and the Ninjette.

CSA Share Ninja Rescue: beets, turnips and fava beans

photo courtesy of Leroy Marylene via the stock.xchng

I think Monday will be the official post day for the CSA Share Ninja Rescue feature, where you tell me what items in your CSA share are making you scratch your head or lose your patience and I provide you with some help in the form of recipes or ideas.

Commenters from last week have asked for recipe ideas for beets, turnips and fava beans.

Beets
Think outside the (CSA) box with beets -- lighter color beets are just as flavorful and easier to work with, as they don't stain your hands! And if you get green leafy tops with your beets, substitute them for other greens in salads.

• Beets, apples and ginger with clemetine vinaigrette from Amanda Hesser by way of the Ninj: oranges or tangerines would be fine substitutes for clementines
• Roasted beet and butternut squash soup from Dinner with Julie: amazingly flavorful and a gorgeous color to boot!

Turnips
Try substituting turnips for any recipe that calls for other root vegetables such as carrots or parsnips.

Beefy cheesy noodle bake: a recipe

Beefy cheesy noodle bake

We just bought a new house!

Yes, I know that has nothing to do with beefy cheesy noodle bake, but it does explain why I went AWOL for a week.

Several blog-worthy notes about the new house that will benefit you:

1. It has a giant garden, which I just planted with local seedlings, so you will be getting more fresh-from-the-yarden recipes in real time
2. It has a wee orchard with apple, pear, cherry, peach and apricot trees, as well as blueberry and raspberry bushes, so you will see more on canning and preserving (or waging war against invasive bugs, depending on my success)
3. It is getting a kitchen facelift, so you will see  neato before and after pix and get to share in my DIY trials and tribulations

And now back to the beefy cheesy noodle bake... just look at it up there ... it's awesome, go make it.

(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday: new digs

Our new backyard in Jericho, Vermont ... so happy!

CSA Share Ninja Rescue: cabbage, kale and peas

Courtesy of Lousam of the NHL team via stock.xchng

Welcome to the first installment of the CSA Share Ninja Rescue, where you tell me what items in your CSA share are making you scratch your head or lose your patience and I provide you with some help in the form of recipes or ideas.

Commenters from last week were looking for recipe ideas for cabbage, kale and peas.

Peas:
If you have not received any peas in your share, just substitute frozen peas.

• Pea-camole from Simple Bites: Think guacamole but more like a veggie dip!
• Pea soup from Dorie Greenspan: Dorie makes this one as a winter soup with frozen peas, but it would be lovely with fresh peas as well. This is not sickly green like a split-pea soup but bright and fresh.
• Ham and cheese mac with peas from Cooking Light: A sing-songy name and a taste even your picky kid eaters will love.

Dandelion cookies: a recipe

Yep, dandelion cookies.

Yes. Dandelions.

Yes. From my lawn.

No. They are not gross.

No. We did not get sick.

OK, now that we have all the important questions out of the way...

Regular readers will know I've been into trying things I've never tried before over the past few weeks (e.g., fiddleheads, rhubarb). So when I stumbled across this recipe for cookies made with dandelions, I was game.

If the idea of eating an alleged weed off your front lawn makes you nervous, try to relax. Just wash the flowers really well in cool water and pinch the bottom of the bloom to release the yellow petals. There's a better explanation of what to do from the Splendid Table (and it's easy once you try it).

To be clear, these are only partially in the cookie family. They are almost more like a breakfast cookie or a tea biscuit -- cookie-like, but not nearly as sweet.