First Basket of the Season

Okay...so I noticed that the last post I made on this blog was about a Frittata and this one is too. But we were so excited to have our basket we had to make something quick and easy tonight so we could enjoy them. Here is what we got this week. Salad Turnips Scallions Asparagus Spinach Salad Mix Spicy Salad Mix

  Fritatta

8 eggs 
1/2 cup half and half 
2 strips bacon 
1 bunch spinach 
3 scallions 
1 cup cheddar Jack Cheese 
Salt 
Pepper

 I diced up the bacon and started it in a non-stick pan. Right about the time it started to crisp up I added my chopped scallion. I cooked that a bit until the bacon was crisp and the onion was soft. Next I added my spinach (roughly chopped) and cook that until it had wilted down. In a separate bowl I wisked together the eggs and half and half. I let the spinach,onion, bacon mixture cool a bit and then added in my eggs. I then added salt and pepper.  Over medium heat I stirred it a while until the eggs started to cook and it began to look like scrambled eggs. I stirred in the cheese and then let it sit for a bit to brown and cook through. After it was cooked mostly through I slid the fritatta off onto a plate and then used the plate to flip the frittata over in my pan. Once the second side was browned, I added a bit of cheese on top and served with our salad greens. A fantastic way to use 3 of our basket items.

A super-fast fritatta.....did I spell that right????

    My wife and I don't usually get home from work until almost 6pm.  That is after a stop to pick up our son from daycare.  That really doesn't leave a lot of time for cooking, eating and family-fun-time before the start of Simon's bedtime routine at around 7:30, so I am ALWAYS looking for a quick recipe.  Tonight I found a good one, and with a few changes to speed things up...it was fantastic.

Spinach, Sausage and Potato Fritatta
Small bunch Fresh spinach
1 sweet italian sausage (casing removed)
1 russet potato
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
1 cup diced onion
8 eggs
1/2 cup whole milk
Salt and Pepper
Olive oil

     The first thing I did was start my sausage to browning.  Stirring it often to break up the large pieces.  While that was browning, I microwaved my potato for about 5-7 minutes until mostly soft.  I then removed the sausage from the frying pan and sauted my onion in a bit of olive oil.  Once it was translucent, I added my potatos and cooked them until they started to brown.  Next I added the spinach and the sausage back in and tossed until the spinach began to wilt. 
     While that was going on, I whisked my eggs and milk together until well mixed and poured it over the sausage, potato, spinach and onion mix in the saute pan.  I stirred it until I was sure that all the ingredients would not settle to the bottom of the pan.  At this point I stirred in my cheese and salt and pepper.  I then reduced the heat to medium and pulled back the edges of the Fritata to let the runny, top-part move into contact with the pan.  I kept doing this until the there wasn't any runny top part and the bottom was beginning to brown. 
     Here is the tricky part.  I like to slide the fritata off onto a plate and then use the plate to flip the fritata.  It can be tricky and can be avoided by using an oven safe saute pan and moving it to a 400 degree oven right after all the ingredients are added.  I prefer to flip and do it all on the stovetop.  Once the fritata is flipped, add a bit more cheddar cheese to the top and cook through.  Slide off onto a cutting board and cut into wedges.  Serve with a simple tossed salad.  Delicious.

RESULTS:   This was a really great tasting and really fast dinner.  The potatos are really the key as they add a bit more texture to the fritata.  By the way....this makes a HUGE fritata.  Enough for dinner for 3 plus enough leftovers for 3 lunches the next day.  Always a plus in my book! 

CSA season is over....BUT STILL COOKING!

Okay...I never really planned for this blog to be ONLY about our CSA basket and cooking with it.  I wanted it to be about all the adventures my family and I have with out weekly meals.  We are constantly trying to eat meals that are a little more interesting and a little healthier.  Last night, we tried a recipe that Wendi supplied me from her "REAL SIMPLE" magazine.  It was for a pizza-like flatbread.   Very simple, but incredibly delicious.  WE LOVED IT.  Here is the recipe.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND FETA FLATBREADS

dough
approx. 1 1/2 cup warm water
1 packet yeast
1 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 cups AP flour
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 TB olive oil

Topping
1/2 lb. ground turkey
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 clove garlic
1 cup roasted red peppers
1 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
Salt  and Pepper

    Much like my earlier pizza recipe you make the dough by dissolving the sugar in the warm water and then stirring in the yeast.  While that begins to foam.  Mix together the salt, flour and olive oil.  Once yeast appears active add slowly while mixing into the flour until a dough ball forms.  ONce it all comes together, continue to mix (knead) for about 5 minutes until smooth.  Place in a bowl with a bit of olive oil and cover.  Let rise in a warm place for about an hour. 
    If you have fresh peppers, roast them in your broiler or on a grill until charred all around.  Then place them in a zip top bag or bowl with a lid and seal.  Let cool.  This makes removing the skin and seeds a LOT easier.  I then cut the red pepers into about 1" x 1/4" strips. 
   In a saute pan, brown the ground turkey.  Season it with salt and pepper and cook it until no longer pink.  Add the oregano and set aside to cool. 
   Now add to the top of the dough the peppers, ground turkey mixture and feta cheese.  I made a mistake and bought feta with mediterranean herbs, but it was a "happy accident" as it turned out to be perfect.  Either type of feta will work fine.  Bake in a 425 degree oven until brown.  Remove from oven and sprinkly on the chopped parsley.  Cut and enjoy!
   Once dough has risen.  Oil a sheet pan flatten dough on it.  Press it thin to cover all the sheet tray.  I like to add a bit more oil to the top of the dough and let it rise again for about 15 minutes. 

     I am usually not much of a person for following a recipe, but this was really delicious.  Light, but extremely flavorful.  We thought about how it might be with some black olives, or capers, but I think they would have been overkill.  They just wouldn't be needed.  I guess sometimes simpler really is better.  We will definitely be having this one again!