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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Farmer's Pie

Any season is a great season for fresh vegetables!  I adapted the Farmer's Pie recipe from Gourmet and came up with the recipe below.... substitute any of your favorite vegetables or whatever is in season.

For filling:
  • 1 1/2 pounds yellow squash, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 bunch scallions, chopped, keeping greens separate
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup petite green peas
  • 1 bunch broccoli, cut into bite size pieces
  • 1 container baby yellow tomatoes, seeded and drained
  • 1 cup of whole baby brussel sprouts
  • 1 1/2 cups coarsely grated Havarti or Muenster cheese (4 1/2 ounces)
  • 1 cup chopped basil
  • 1 tablespoon cornmeal (not stone-ground)
  • 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and chopped

For crust: (my homemade crust recipe for double 9" pie)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup + 2 Tbsp crisco
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup cold water

Preparation

Make filling:
  1. Place a heavy baking sheet on middle rack of oven, then preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Toss squash with 1 teaspoon salt, then drain in a colander 30 minutes. Pat squash dry.
  3. Cook scallions (except greens) and garlic in oil with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, 4 to 6 minutes. Add squash and broccoli, peas and brussel sprouts, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are crisp-tender, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in tomatoes.
  4. Transfer to a large bowl, then toss with cheese, basil, cornmeal, and scallion greens. Season with salt and pepper. 

Make crust and bake pie:  (Do this step earlier - crust will roll better if chilled in frig about an hour, then set out 10-15 mins to warm a tad bit)
  • Using pastry blender or 2 knives, blend crisco and salt into flour to roughly pea-size lumps. Add cold water, 1 Tbsp at a time, until dough forms.  Using hands, pack dough loosely.
  • Gather dough into a ball and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap. I prefer to 1/2 before chilling.
  • Halve dough and roll out 1 piece on a well-floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 13-inch round. Transfer to a 9-inch glass pie plate, leaving overhang. 
  • Spread eggs evenly in crust and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add vegetable filling, mounding slightly in middle.
  • Roll out remaining dough in same manner and place over filling. Trim, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Press edges of crust together. Fold overhang under and crimp edge all around.
  • Brush crust with additional milk, then cut 3 steam vents.
  • Bake until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool at least 15 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Veggie Slow-cooker Chili

Slow Cooker Chili

    2 Tbsp. oil 6 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup chopped white onion (optional - 1 lb. ground turkey) Red pepper flakes, to taste 1 Tbsp. chili powder 2 1/2 tsp. cumin 1 tsp. oregano 1 bay leaf 28-oz. can diced Mexican-style tomatoes 1 Tbsp. soy sauce 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock 6 oz. tomato paste 1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar 28 oz. black beans, drained and rinsed 16 oz. pinto beans, drained and rinsed 16 oz. kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the garlic, onion, ground turkey if using, and red pepper flakes until the onion is soft. Add the chili powder and cumin and cook for an additional 2 minutes, or until fragrant.
• Place in a slow cooker with the remaining ingredients, stirring to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Makes 6 to 8 servings