Monthly Archives: July 2011

The Thursday Stash (Numero 1)

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Ashley| 1 Comment

Corn and Onion

Although it’s technically a little late, I wanted to introduce you to a new bi-weekly feature called The Thursday Stash.

Zucchini

I realized that although I talk about my CSA box and, more often than not, cook recipes with vegetables from my CSA boxes, I don’t ever really share the excitement with all of you.  Because it really is extremely exciting for me.  Every two weeks I grab my grocery bag, walk on up the street, head into a stranger’s backyard, and load up with a goody-bag of veggie delight.  It’s like the spy mission James Bond would go on if he was a vegetarian and really liked local, organic produce.

Beets

I’ve said it before, but my Wednesday veggie pickup feels like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one hearty vegetable package.  And, sure, the newsletter tells me what to expect, but I’m always surprised when I open up my box.  Maybe I will myself to forget what I’m supposed to expect, or maybe I’m a quick reader with a short memory; either way, I’m always delightfully excited by the unveiling.

So what is this “The Thursday Stash” business?

Well, I’ve decided that I’ll follow up my Wednesday pickups with a Thursday run-down.  So you get to see what treats I’ve gotten.  And maybe pose some suggestions on how to use them if you’ve got any ideas.  I’m aaaalways open to food suggestions.

Green Beans

So, there you go.  I’ve got onions, corn, green and yellow zucchini, beets, green beans, potatoes, and two fabulous heirloom tomatoes.

Potatoes

I’m still brainstorming ideas on how to use all of the bounty… although since the two beautiful heirlooms were about to cross over from perfectly ripe to overripe I made sure to use half of each today (they were HUGE).  I’ll share what they became soon.

Tomatoes

 

P.S.  Doesn’t this red tomato look just like an angry old man???  I love it.

Angry Face

So there you go, folks.  The first installment of The Thursday Stash has graced your lovely screens.  Expect the next in two weeks.  In the meantime, we’ll get to some kitchen experimenting with this summery stash!

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Summer Shoestring Fries

Posted on July 10, 2011 by Ashley| 6 Comments

Fries

All I have to say is: Ahh it finally feels like summer!  And I know that it might seem a little late to say that (especially because I’m already halfway through my summer job), but this weekend I finally did my big “one thing of the summer that’s going to suck.”  Maybe that sounds a little harsh, but this was one of those requirements that sticks around in the back of your mind even in your most relaxing moments.  When I lay in the sun at the pool, I couldn’t help but think that maybe I should be studying instead.  So I finally took the CSET (California Subject Examination for Teachers) test this past Saturday and I am finally feeling free as a bird.

Fries

Of course, I wont know how I did for another month, but it’s nice to be in this blissful in-between time.  Everything is out of my hands for a month, so I can just sit back, relax, and forget about the test.  And that is exactly what I have been doing for the past 29 hours.

In the meantime, I think that I’m going to load up on this tasty summer food.  After my “new potatoes” post, I kind feel like the crazy potato girl, so don’t roll your eyes… but whatever, everybody loves fries!  And you cannot deny that they’re one of the best additions to an afternoon barbecue or lazy evening at home.

Season

I love really crunchy desiccated fries, so I made sure to julienne the potatoes on my mandolin so that they were uniformly tiny.  Then I baked the hell out of them for quite a while.  Le boyfriend likes his fries to taste more like their natural form, so he takes them out earlier than I do.  Either way, it’s oh-so easy to bake homemade fries.  You can play around with spices too.  Maybe make curry fries, or spicy fries.  Hmm, I wonder if sweet fries might be in my future?  Has anybody ever tried that before?

Anyways, go slice up some potatoes and experiment!  Maybe bring these over to your next barbecue or just serve them alongside some lazy summer food.  I promise that you’ll like them better than the fries you buy in the frozen section of the supermarket.  Not to mention the fact that they take about as long as those babies to cook!  It’s a win-win situation!

Now go enjoy your lovely summer!  I’ll be basking in it right alongside you :)

Tasty

Shoestring Fries
Recipe Type: Snack
Author: Ashley @ The Drunk Squash
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 45 mins
Total time: 50 mins
Perfect addition to a summer barbecue! Easily customized to your liking, these shoestring fries are easy and delicious.
Ingredients
  • 2 medium red potatoes
  • black pepper
  • sea salt
  • cayenne pepper
  • garlic powder
  • olive oil
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. Slice your potatoes and then toss them with your spices and olive oil.
  3. Place them in the oven and keep a watch on them. When they’re cooked to your liking, pull them out and chow down.
Notes

I love crunchy fries, so I left mine in for a loong time. Just watch the potatoes until they’re to your liking.

Also, to make your potato slices cook at a regular rate, use a mandolin to slice them all the same size.

 

With Falafel Burgers

With Falafel Burgers!

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Posted in CSA, Dinner, Lunch, Recipe, Snack

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4th of July Strawberry Pie

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Ashley| 4 Comments
hand Pies

Happy late Fourth of July folks.  Yesterday I headed to a friend’s house and enjoyed some lovely company as well as some tasty veggie dogs.  I’m usually not a big processed soy faux-meat fan, but there’s just something about eating food straight from the grill and loaded up with ketchup and mustard.  Especially on the Fourth.

Filling

To prepare for the festivities I ran out and bought some puff pastry and some strawberries.  Earlier last week I saw this recipe for Cherry Hand Pies on Tracey’s Culinary Adventures, and was stuck with the idea as a perfect treat.  I looove me some pie and the idea of bringing it on the go made me swoon.  No bothering with slicing or plates or forks for me, just a delicious handheld single pie.  It’s the sophisticated cousin to the poptarts of my childhood.  Oh and not to mention the fact that having a set size makes my inner food-hog very satisfied.  No waffling between big and small slices or trying to hide the fork from the (always stealing bites of my food) boyfriend…

In short, the hand pie is a perfect dessert.

So, not wanting to be one who shows up empty handed to a party, I hauled ass to the grocery store and bought a package of puff pastry and a quart of strawberries.  I liked that Tracey made her hand pies with cherries, but I was really feeling in the mood for fresh strawberries.  They were calling out to me from the berry stand.

Precooked Pie

I ended up following the recipe almost exactly.  I changed the cherries out for strawberries and just ended up cooking the entire quart.  It was more than I needed, but I froze the extra filling for another day (mini pie?  crumble?  ice cream mix-in?).  Also, oh by the way, I was amazed at how quick and easy the whole process was.  The only time I found myself nail-biting was during the “chill for 30 minutes in the fridge” moments.  And the only suggestion I have for the other impatient cooks out there is to put on a good show or pull out your current book.  The time goes by fast as long as you aren’t in a hurry to get to a barbecue.

4th of July Strawberry Pie
Print
Recipe type: Dessert
Author: very slightly adapted from Tracey’s Culinary Adventures
Prep time: 40 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Total time: 1 hour 10 mins
Serves: 12
The perfect dessert for a summer barbecue, they’re handheld and simple, yet oh so delightful.
What Do You Need?
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cold water
  • 1 quart sliced strawberries
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 lb puff pastry
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 tbsp water
Make it Happen
  1. Combine the cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Add the strawberries, sugar, vanilla, and salt to a saucepan and heat on medium.
  3. You want to cook them for about five minutes until they get juicy, then add the cornstarch mixture.
  4. Bring to a boil, making sure to stir pretty consistently.
  5. When it reaches a boil, take off the heat and let cool to room temperature (I popped the pan in the freezer for a few hot seconds to speed the process up).
  6. Unfold your puff pastry (there should be two sheets in a package) and cut each sheet into 6 equal rectangular shapes (they’ll be adorably miniature).
  7. Place a spoonful of filling into the center area of each rectangle and fold over until you make a nice little pocket. Seal the edges with a fork’s tines and slice steam vents in the top of each mini pie.
  8. Beat the egg white and tablespoon of water together and then wash over the top of each hand pie. Then let sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  9. Preheat oven to 375F.
  10. Bake the pies for 30 or so minutes. You’ll know they’re done when they’ve puffed up and turned a nice golden brown color. Also the aroma in the kitchen will be driving you wild.
  11. Cool and devour!
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Pies

And, oh by the way, these babies were kind of a hit.  You’ll amaze your friends into thinking you’re some kind of genius baker.  And I guess making such a tasty yet easy dessert does make you some kind of a genius baker.  I give them two thumbs up, you should definitely try them next time you’ve got a barbecue to attend or an extra quart of strawberries.

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Posted in Baking, Dessert, Recipe

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