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Archive for the ‘Recipes’ Category

This glass carboy is filled with wine that Ryan’s Grandfather made.

He made a lot of wine in his day, but this particular batch is very special because it was made the same year that Ryan was born. As if making your own wine isn’t neat enough, he grew his own grapes right in the backyard of his city home. We were talking last night about how cool it is when someone picks one thing and does it until it’s perfected. Maybe that’s how Ryan’s Grandfather was with wine, I know that’s how my Grandfather was with green beans.

Green beans may seem banal to some people, but I grew up in a family that really treasured the little veggies. That’s because my Grandfather was very proud of the crisp green beans that he spent so much time growing. In the summer we had communal dinners at our family’s Camp. Cousins, aunts, uncles, and our Grandparents would gather together after our long days in the sun to share classic barbeque foods. And, we would all hope that my Grandfather had brought up with him some of those famous green beans he grew.

Well, he’s not around anymore, but I won’t soon forget how amazing his green beans were — especially when they were prepared with love in our Camp’s kitchen. So, I thought it only appropriate that I bring some green beans to Thanksgiving this year. They’re not grown with his careful attention, but I’ll pick out the very best beans that I can find, and, following this recipe, I think I might be able to do them justice.

Does your family have any special foods or recipes?

xx.

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Creamy, Cheesy Potato Soup!

- In a medium sauce pan, saute two cloves of minced garlic & one stalk of scallions (use onion if you have one) in a bit of canola oil for a couple of minutes.

- Add four chopped potatoes & saute for a few more minutes.

- Add 3 cups of vegetable broth, salt, other spices if you have them, & after letting it come to a boil, cover it & reduce heat to a simmer.

- Allow to cook for 20 or 25 minutes until potatoes have become very soft.

- Add about a handful of fresh cilantro, stir, let it cool for a minute or two.

- Transfer soup into a blender & blend until creamy.

- Transfer back into sauce pan, turn heat on low, add grated or small chunks of cheese, stir until cheese is melted.

This is another super yummy soup (soups are such a perfect meal for locavores — big batches last forever and are easy on the go) that we figured out last year and I wanted to pass along again. The best part about this one is that it’s really easy and it has very few ingredients.

I haven’t been posting our recipes this year because we haven’t stepped out of our comfort zone as much. We’re not as dedicated to the local cause as we were last summer so we’re not forced to be creative like we were then. I’ll try to come up with something new for you soon!

Until then, happy eating!

xx. Julia

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You-Will-Not-Be-Sorry-You-Made-This Tomato Soup

  • 2 large tomatoes
  • 3/4 cup canola oil
  • Sea salt to taste
  • 1 stalk celery, diced
  • 1 small carrot, diced
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 1/4 cups veggie broth
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Cut the tomatoes into large chunks and spread onto a baking sheet.

Season with salt and drizzle with 1/4 cup of the canola oil then roast in the oven until caramelized (about 15 minutes).

While they bake, heat the remaining canola oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.

Add the celery, carrot, onion and garlic, cook until softened (about 10 minutes).

Add the roasted tomatoes, veggie broth, and butter. Simmer until vegetables are very tender (about 15 to 20 minutes).

Add basil. Puree in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

This is my absolute most favourite local recipe ever (that I’ve had so far). I figured it out last year and it has stuck in my brain as the epitome of a rainy summer’s day dinner.

We’re having a friend over tonight and I can’t wait to share it with her.

Happy eating, everyone!

xx. Julia

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In a moment of weakness, Ryan and I decided to make a fried snack — onion rings.

We had been lounging in the park and reading, when a familiar smell wafted our way. We live on the ocean, so seafood restaurants dominate the coastline. It was probably one of these that scent the smell of fried clams our way on a stiff wind.

On the walk home, we decided that we needed something fried. In an effort to remain local, we made our own onion rings. It was incredibly easy and quite satisfying. Much advised.

We couldn’t help but indulge in this greasy mess. We’re healthy most of the time…

ONION RINGS:

1/2 an onion

1 egg

1/2 cup-ish of flour

1/3 cup of cooking oil

- In a saucepan, pour the oil and heat on medium heat.

- Slice the onion into rings.

- Crack the egg into a small bowl and scramble.

- Pour flour into a second small bowl.

- Coat an onion ring first in flour, then in egg, then drop into the oil. Do this in waves for all of the onions. Once the first group of onion rings has finished frying, transfer it to paper towels or a cloth to cool and replace it with more onion rings until all of your onion rings have been fried.

Enjoy  your greasy treat!

xx. Julia

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On most mornings, I have an incredibly hard time starting my day. I’m one of those wake-up-at-the-last-minute-so-I-can-run-around-the-house-to-get-my-daily-exercise type of people. And thus, my breakfast is rushed.

It’s because of this that I have gained such a fond appreciation of cereals. They’re quick, they’re simple, they’re filling if you top them with fruit and maybe pair it with a yogurt or some such business.

Here’s our local version of it…

HOMEMADE GRANOLA:

4 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup canola oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract (non-local — 80% rule)

1 teaspoon almond extract (non-local — 80% rule)

1/2 teaspoon salt

– Preheat oven to 325 degrees

– Mix the wet ingredients in a large bowl

– Pour in the salt and oats, then mix thoroughly using a rubber spatula

– Spread the mixture out on a shallow baking sheet

– Bake for 10 minutes

– Remove from oven and mix the granola around

– Bake for another 10 minutes

– Remove and let cool! It will get crunchier as it cools. Store in an airtight container and use within 2 weeks. Freeze for longer storage.

- Add dried fruit or nuts if you want! We added dehydrated strawberries to ours :)

Hope this helps ease your way into the day!

xx. Julia

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Who says you can’t have sweets when you’re living on a locavore diet? Not this girl!

MAPLE SYRUP COOKIES:

1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups organic all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, combine butter and brown sugar.

3. Add the egg, maple syrup, and vanilla. Sift together the baking soda, salt, and flour. Add gradually until well combined.

4. Use a spoon to form 2-inch balls. Roll in sugar (we didn’t do this). Use a fork to press a cross hatch pattern into the cookies.

5. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on wire rack.

So clearly this recipe does have a bit of sugar, vanilla extract, and baking soda, so it is not an entirely local dessert. However, compared to any other cookie recipe that I’ve stumbled upon, this is remarkably close to home. Those were my only three exceptions and they accounted for much less than 20% of the whole recipe.

Our rule is that our diet has to be 80% local. Last year we did incredibly well — I would say maybe 95% New England grown foods. This year we’ve dipped quite a bit, but we’re still probably hovering right around the 80% line. If you’re not too strict, this is a great sweet-tooth satisfier!

Dig in!

xx. Julia

(Click photo for recipe source!)

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BROCCOLI + CHEESE SOUP:

  • A couple of glugs of olive oil
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 2 cloves of minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 2 cups Vegetable Stock
  • 1 ½ cups broccoli florets
  • 1 potato, cubed
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • Two chunks of butter (my measuring skills are so exact!)
  • Salt to taste
  1. Add the olive oil, garlic, and carrots to a large pot. Stir until carrots are tender (about 10 minutes).
  2. Add flour and mix. Add stock and whisk.
  3. Add the broccoli and potato.
  4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. Stir in milk. Once the soup has warmed up a little, add the cheese and butter.
  6. Let it all melt together for a couple of minutes while stirring occasionally, and you’re done!

Enjoy!

xx. Julia

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