Are the vegetables starting to stack up and new supply coming in just days? We have two never fail recipes for using up a plethora of random vegetables in a hurry. 

A wonderful way to use up a lot of veggies at once. You may have to do multiple batches in the oven though, so make sure you have a bit of time in your evening if you want to make a big batch. 

Some great veggies to use for chips are: beets, potatoes, carrots, zucchini, eggplant, radishes, and turnips. Slice the veggies as thin as possible; using a mandolin or food processor is easiest for this process, but a knife works as well!  If using starchy veggies, soak in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes before baking. Toss the thinly sliced veggies lightly in high quality oil and salt. You may also add cayenne, dill, a splash of vinegar, or other herbs and spices to your liking. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes and flip, keeping an eye on the veggies until they reach perfect brown-ness. 

Bon Apetit! 

Veggie fritters are a nearly weekly meal for us come summer. They are satiating, versatile, and super easy. Vegetables we have used in fritters include (but not limited to): chard, kale, collards, onions, garlic, peppers, potatoes, beets, celeriac, carrots, zucchini, delicata, and cabbage. In the middle of winter, we will make fritters out of our storage vegetables (beets + potatoes + carrots + onion), in the spring and fall we tend to use more greens and roots (chard + carrot + radish + beets), and in the summer we throw it all in (peppers + onions + cilantro + zucchini + potatoes). We especially like them along side of homemade herb-y aioli! 

So how do you make them? 
Decide on three to five vegetable (or two or six, don't let me stifle you) and thinly slice or grate them all.

• Grate: carrots, beets, potatoes, celeriac, parsnip, onion, zucchini, squash
• Thinly slice spinach, peppers, kale, chard, collards, cabbage

Put them in a colander over a bowl or in the sink for about 30 minutes to let some of the juices seep out. Give the mixture a good smash every few minutes to push some of the liquid out. 

Mix the vegetables with herbs, salt, flour, and eggs until you have a consistency that will hold together in a frying pan. 

Shape the mixture into fritters/patties and place in a hot pan with about a 1/2 inch of high quality oil. 

Fry until desired "doneness." 

For a more complete and step by step recipe, check out this one from The Kitchn: How to Make Fritters Out of Any Vegetable. 

Are you gluten-free? Use potato or chickpea flour instead of wheat flour. 
Dairy-free? Do not use cheese. Dip in homemade aioli if you desire creaminess

On the farm, we are very big fans of condiments. At almost every meal, we pull out an array of krauts, pickled things, homemade aioli, fermented sauces, and more. One of my all time favorite sauces has to be chimichurri. So herby and delicious. Wonderful on roasted veggies, tacos, grilled meats, and more. Here are a few variations of the same wonderful thing: Chimichurri. 

Ingredients 

• 1 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 tbsp dried oregano or 2 tbsp fresh
• 1 tbsp crushed red pepper or few dashes hot sauce of choice
• Salt to taste I use 1 teaspoon

Directions: Place all items in food processor. Begin processing and slowly add oil until it reaches desired consistency. May need more or less than 1 cup. Easy peasy!

Ingredients 

• 1/4 cup shallot
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 jalapeno, cored
• 1 bunch fresh parsley leaves
• 1/2 bunch fresh mint leaves
• 3/4 to 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 radishes, shaved paper thin

Directions

1. Combine the shallot, garlic, and jalapeno in food processor. Pulse until roughly chopped. 
2. Add the parsley and mint. Process until minced. 
3. Turn food processor on and add the oil, red wine vinegar, and salt. 
4. Stir in shaved radishes. 

Amazing on grilled pork chops, steak, and portabello mushrooms. 
Adapted from The Original Dish Blog: http://www.theoriginaldish.com/2018/09/26/grilled-flank-steak-with-radish-chimichurri/

​Ingredients: 

• 1 lemon, juice
• 1 jalapeno, roughly chopped
• 3/4 cup fresh parsley roughly chopped
• 1/4 cup dill roughly chopped 
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• a splash about 1-2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Combine all in food processor. Add more oil if necessary. Taste for salt and pepper. 

Some of my favorite foods are the most fleeting; morels, asparagus, chanterelles, and of course, garlic scapes. I find myself consuming enough to make up for the entire year, and what doesn't go directly into my mouth or a pan goes into a jar for summer flavor during the winter. Garlic scapes are best when made simply. 

So, where to begin.

First of all, what the heck are scapes? 
Garlic is planted in the autumn (like a daffodil bulb) and sits in dormancy until spring. When it emerges, it sends up leaves to collect sunlight and to help grow the bulb under the earth. Once the bulb begins to form, the garlic will send up a stalk with a flower to reproduce. This is the scape. Since we typically plant garlic by the clove, we do not need the garlic to reproduce in this way. We snip the scape and the garlic is encouraged to put all of its energy into growing its root bulb now instead of putting its energy into reproducing. Thus, we get to enjoy the delicious bulbs and the delicious scapes in one season!

What does it taste like? 
Scapes are like a subtle garlic; not overpowering, but just the loveliest amount of sweet mellow garlic. 

Now what do I do with it? 

1. Eat it raw: you can chop garlic scapes very thin and use like a green onion; as a garnish on fried rice, burritos, etc. 
2. Saute it: Cook with olive oil, salt, and pepper for about one minute and top a crostini, or use in place of garlic in your favorite recipes. 
3. Grill it: Toss whole garlic scapes in olive oil and place on the bbq. Scapes cook quickly. Remove and sprinkle with salt, lemon juice, and parmesan. Serve as an appetizer or side. 
4. Pickle it: I love love love opening a jar of vinegar pickled garlic scapes in the winter. They make an awesome addition to any dish: salads, tacos, stir fries, etc. 
5. Blend it: Mix it with your favorite herbs, oil, salt, lemon juice, and blend into a pesto. 

Eating seasonally is exciting and inspiring. It invites adventure into the kitchen and reminds us of the life cycle of the things around us that we are consuming. Enjoy getting to know the garlic scape! It won't be around long. 

Ingredients

• 1/2 loaf sourdough bread
• 2 bunches garlic scapes roughly chopped
• 4 oz ricotta cheese
• 1/2 lemon
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil divided
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1-2 oz fresh mint chopped

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 and slice sourdough bread
• Bake bread for 10 minutes, flipping slices half way through until bread is crispy on the outside by soft and warm in the middle
• While the bread bakes, roughly chop the garlic scapes and set aside.  Chop the mint and make sure the lemon, ricotta, and salt are easily within reach
• Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a medium saute pan over.  Add garlic scapes, season with salt and pepper, and cook over medium to medium high heat for just under 1 minute.  
• Remove the bread from the oven and spread ricotta cheese on each slice
• Add a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice over the ricotta on each slice of bread.  Sprinkle with a little salt
• Pile the garlic scapes on each slice of bread and top generously with fresh mint

​
Recipe from Wanderings TIn My Kitchen: https://wanderingsinmykitchen.com/garlic-scape-and-ricotta-crostini/

"You want me to put lettuce on a bbq? Are you crazy?" 

"Yes!  (and yes, but that's besides the point)" 

Grilling romaine is the most simple and delicious way to prepare a salad. Its crispy, smokey, sweet, crunchy, tender. Its all the things you want in a salad and more. 

How to grill romaine: 

1. Cuts heads in half length-wise 
2. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, and sprinkle with salt 
3. Turn grill up to medium high
4. Char romaine on both sides. Do not walk away from your grill. Char takes about 2 to 3 minutes per side. 
5. Serve halves with your favorite dressing! 

Find a full recipes and description at the HeartBeet Food Blog Here.