Orzo Risotto with Swiss Chard and Fontina

From Food and Wine, September 1999

This faux risotto with earthy Swiss chard and melted cheese is an easy vegetarian dish. Adding a salad makes it into a meal.
SERVINGS: 4
Ingredients

2 1/2 cups chicken or vegetable stock or canned low-sodium broth
2 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups orzo (3/4 pound)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large shallot, thinly sliced
1 pound red Swiss chard, stems trimmed and finely chopped, & leaves coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons sherry vinegar, or good red wine vinegar
5 ounces Fontina cheese, cut into 1/4-inch dice (1 cup)
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (3 ounces)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
1. Bring the chicken stock and water to a simmer in a saucepan; keep warm over low heat.
2. Melt the butter in a medium nonstick saucepan. Add the orzo to the butter and cook over moderately high heat, stirring often, until the orzo is golden, about 8 minutes.
3. Add 1 cup of the hot stock mixture and cook, stirring gently, until all of the stock is absorbed. Gradually add more of the stock mixture, 1 cup at a time, and cook, stirring frequently, until the orzo is al dente and creamy but not soupy, about 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add the shallot and Swiss chard stems and cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the stems are tender and lightly browned, about 7 minutes.
5. Add the chard leaves and cook over moderately high heat, tossing, until the leaves are wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the vinegar. Stir the chard and the Fontina and Parmesan cheeses into the risotto, season with salt and pepper and serve.

Persimmon - Goat Cheese Wedges

These easy appetizers are fast healthy and can be made ahead of a holiday party or dinner.

TIME: 30 MIN SERVES: 12

ingredients
· 1/2 cup salted roasted almonds, very finely chopped
· 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
· 4 ounces fresh goat cheese, softened
· 4 Fuyu persimmons, peeled, and seeded if necessary
· Aged balsamic vinegar, for serving
·
directions
1. In a small bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of the almonds and the parsley with the goat cheese.
2. Divide the mixture into 6 equal pieces and roll each into a ball.
3. Slice each fuyu persimmon crosswise to 1/4 inch thick
4. Sandwich each goat cheese ball between 2 persimmon slices, pressing to flatten slightly.
5. Roll the edges in the remaining almonds and refrigerate until firm, at least 10 minutes or overnight.
6. Cut each round into quarters and transfer to a plate. Drizzle lightly with balsamic vinegar and serve.

P3 Fall Salad Recipe

Persimmon, Pomegranate and Pecan Salad = P3 salad
Santa Monica Farmer’s Market Cookbook

Makes 8 servings
1 pomegranate
4 ribs celery, preferably white inner ribs with leaves
2 small (or 1) large Fuyu persimmon
½ cup pecan or walnut pieces, toasted
1/2 pound mixed baby salad greens
about 1 Tablespoon olive oil or nut oil
1 lemon
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
½ c crumbled feta cheese (optional)
To remove the pomegranate kernels, make a cut near the blossom end of the fruit. Submerge the pomegranate in a bowl of water and beak the fruit into large pieces. Use your fingers to loosen all the kernels, then drain and reserve them. (The kernels will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days)
Use a vegetable peeler to peel the celery, then slice paper thin on the diagonal.
Place in a salad bowl along with the celery leaves.
Peel and core the persimmons. Cut vertically into quarters and the crosswise into thin slices. Add to the bowl along with the nuts, greens and as many pomegranate kernel as you like.
Grate the zest from the lemon in long thin strands in to the bowl.
Drizzle on the oil, squeeze in some lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
Toss well and sprinkle with feta cheese crumbles, serve immediately.
How to chose Fuyu persimmons: the deeper the color the sweeter and riper the fruit. The persimmon should be firm but not rock hard. Store them on the counter for up to 3 weeks. They are the most common non-astringent persimmon, but there is also the chocolate persimmon, from Penryn CA.
How to choose pomegranates: The best pomegranates are large and heavy for their size and have a fresh looking rind. Some splitting is okay but avoid the fruits with cracks that show signs of mold. Store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

Bundle of Veggies Recipe

Thsi recipe was shared by one of our Market Farmers John Clark.

8 ounces whole fresh mushrooms
8 ounces cherry tomatoes
1 cup sliced zucchini
1 tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
1 tablespoon butter or margarine, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt or salt-free seasoning blend
1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1
/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Dash pepper
Place mushrooms, tomatoes and zucchini on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Combine the remaining ingredients; drizzle over vegetables. Fold the foil around the vegetables and seal tightly. Grill, covered, over medium heat for 20-25 minutes or until tender. Yield: 6 servings.

Confetti Squash Recipe- as Demonstrated at Thursday's Farmers Market

Confetti Squash
Adapted from Cook’s Illustrated 7, 1995
The Seasonal Table, Chef Debb

Grating the various varieties of summer squash then draining off the excess moisture is important to making this dish. Grate the squash on the large side of a box grater or in your food processor. Then place it in a cotton or linen tea towel inside a colander. Before you stir fry squeeze the dish towel, then begin the stir fry.

Serves 4 as a side dish

INGREDIENTS

3 Tbsp olive oil
1+ lb of assorted summer squash, including petite pan, crooked neck, yellow and green zucchini, rinse, trimmed and then grated/shredded and squeezed dry
2 medium carrots, peeled and grated/shredded
2 medium cloves of garlic, minced
2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley or tarragon or basil or mint
table salt and fresh ground pepper

Heat the oil in a 10-12 inch skillet pan, preferably Teflon.
Add the grated squash, carrots and garlic.
Cook stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 6-7 minutes.
Stir in the herbs and salt and pepper to taste, and stir right away.

Our First Entry

One of the Market Vendors shared this with me a few Saturdays ago. I thought that the last line should have included CERTIFIED FARMERS MARKETS of course!

As you have heard, most of us will be getting a rebate check to stimulatethe economy.If we spend the money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.If we spend it on gasoline, it will go to the Arabs. If we purchase a computer, it will go to India.If we purchase fruits & vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras, &Guatemala.If we purchase a good car, it will go to Japan.If we purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.None of which will help the American Economy. We need to keep that moneyhere in America.The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it at Yard Sales since those are the only businesses left in the U.S.