Greens Greens and more Greens

Decided to do something a little different with the braising greens last night that I thought I would share....I rendered some bacon to use for sauteing (can use oil/butter instead) and sauteed garlic, half a lemon sliced into thin slices, red pepper flakes. After 2 minutes, I added the greens and cooked for 2 minutes, added salt/pepper and 1/2 tbsp of sugar. I used about a cup-cup 1/2 of chicken stock, covered and cooked for 20 minutes on med-med/low. Came out real nice with a lemon-y kick. I added bacon in after and tossed it with some olive oil. Nice side.

Summer Reading

Also wanted to mention 2 cookbooks that I have used and love....Plenty (amazing veg recepies) and Tender, father's day gift and my new veg torah.

Would love other rec's.....

Early Summer Greenery

We got some of those fresh Garlic Scapes last week and I used them in a pesto with a little different twist. I used about 6 scapes, 1/3 cup of Pistachios, 1/3 cup of parm, some salt and pepper and oil to make my pesto. I grilled some chicken and just tossed it in the pesto....Also got some real nice Broccoli. I sauteed some garlic in a pan with oil and added the Broccoli to put some color in it. I took last nights white wine and used the last of it to braise the Broccoli for about 10 minutes. I zested some orange and lemon and tossed it at the end then sprinkled some red pepper flakes because I like it hot!

Turnip Greens and Beans

I've had trouble finding a good, yummy way to cook turnip greens and we get a lot of them with our farm share! This is a modified recipe from cooks.com. My whole family likes this one.

2-3 bunches turnip greens (the fresher, the better)
2 strips bacon
2 hard-boiled eggs
1/3 c. minced green pepper
1/3 c. chopped onion
1 can white beans, rinsed and drained (Great Northern or black-eyed peas)
2-3 tsp. fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp. sugar (1 packet of Splenda works too!)
1/4 tsp. black pepper
salt to taste

Wash turnip greens thoroughly. Trim off coarse stems. In a large frying pan or dutch oven with a lid, fry bacon until crisp and remove it from fat. Chop/crumble and save for later. (Meanwhile hard-boil your eggs if you don't already have them.) Add onion and green pepper to bacon fat and saute until limp. If you used a lower fat bacon like canadian or turkey bacon, you will need to add some olive oil to your pan for sauteeing the veggies. Coarsely chop turnip greens and add to onions and green pepper. Stir to mix well. Cover tightly and cook 10-15 minutes or until tender. Add beans, black pepper, sugar, and lemon juice. Toss lightly and salt to taste. Turn into serving dish and garnish with crumbled bacon and slices of hard-boiled egg. Approx. 4 servings.