Sunday, January 10, 2010

Starting the Year Off Locally

Zeb and I are always looking for ways to support our local businesses. I suppose it stems from his alternative upbringing and my French one (Thank you O wonderful parents!). To start 2010 off right, we signed up for 3 months of Farmhouse Delivery.

This week the brightly colored delivery van dropped off our first shipment: Louisiana shallots, sweet potatoes, Marrs oranges, green cabbage, broccoli, leaf lettuce, mixed Asian greens, curly parsley, white icicle radishes, and cherry tomatoes. They came in a large plastic container which we will set out next time to be reused by Farmhouse Delivery.


Although we received an email with a list of what to expect, we also knew the items could change. This was a valid concern this week due to the holidays and abnormally cold Texan weather. I eagerly waited for the delivery Friday morning. Zeb was good and only texted once to ask if it came. I was pleasantly surprised by the contents. It was packed full of great smelling vegetables plus fresh eggs and goat cheese which Zeb ordered to surprise me :)

After rearranging the fridge to fit the new food, I plopped down on the couch with several recipe books. Zeb wanted to use his new tagine, but winter vegetable don't mix well with Moroccan cooking. I'm still not sure what we'll cook, but I am willing to bet the cabbage is used in a Polish dish.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Winter Vegetable Ragout*

The goose was good, the potatoes were great, but the winter vegetables were superb!

Caution: This recipe serves 12!
Preheat oven to 350 (later change to 425)

4 lg carrots
1 butternut squash - peeled & cut into 3/4" cubes
2 med. turnips - peeled & cut into 3/4" cubes
2 med onions - cut into 1" pieces
1/4 C olive oil
Salt (we used Himalayan)
Fresh ground pepper
3/4C Madeira
1 lg tomato
2 tsp fresh thyme

In a large roasting pan, toss carrots, squash, turnips, and onions with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for about 25 minutes until they begin to soften but are not browned.

Stir in
Madeira and tomatoes. Roast for another 25 minutes, stirring once, until the Madeira has evaporated and the veggies are golden.

Turn oven up to 425. Add the thyme. Roast for 20-25 minutes more, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are lightly caramelized.

The dish can rest at room temperature up to 6 hours. Reheat before serving.

*Adapted from foodandwine.com

Friday, January 8, 2010

Happy Christmas!

We had a Victorian feast at the K-D household this Christmas! As usual, we had an abundance of food and leftovers.
1st course

Fresh Blue Point Oysters
Lobster Bisque
2nd course
Roasted Goose with Chestnut Sage Stuffing
Winter Vegetable Ragout
Potatoes a la Maitre d'Hotel
3rd course
Assorted Cheeses and Breads
Mixed Nuts
4th course
Buch de Noel