Persephone Farm

Sustainably Grown Vegetables & Flowers – Indianola, Washington

salad

Broccoli Picnic-Friendly recipes for the Fourth of July

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Fresh broccoli

This week, along with the first tomatoes of the season, CSA subscribers got plenty of beautiful broccoli in their baskets. Here’s some delicious ways to enjoy the broccoli bounty. Happy Fourth!

GRILLED BROCCOLI

Ingredients
1 bunch broccoli, cut into 8 large spears 2 lemons, quartered 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling kosher salt and black pepper

Directions
Heat grill to medium. In a large bowl, toss the broccoli and lemons with the oil and season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Grill, turning occasionally, until tender and lightly charred, 10 to 15 minutes.
Squeeze the lemons over the broccoli and drizzle with additional oil.

BROCCOLI AND BLEU CHEESE SALAD

Ingredients
1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets (6 cups) ¼ cup buttermilk 2 tablespoons sour cream 2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled 1 scallion, sliced ½ teaspoon red wine vinegar kosher salt and black pepper ½ cup toasted walnuts

Directions
Fill a large saucepan with 1 inch of water and fit with a steamer basket. Bring the water to a boil. Place the broccoli in the basket, cover, and steam until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Rinse with cold water to cool.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the buttermilk, sour cream, blue cheese, scallion, vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Drizzle the broccoli with the dressing and sprinkle with the walnuts.

PERFECT(LY EASY) BROCCOLI DIP

Ingredients

1 cup sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons minced onion
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh dill
2 teaspoons seasoned salt

Gently stir all ingredients together and chill until ready to eat.

Kale Spring Green

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Kale magazine
All Hail The Kale
Rebecca in her spring green sweater and kale
Rebecca and kale

Persephone Farm kale and our “chief kale evangelist”, Rebecca Slattery, were featured in the January/February cover article of Edible Seattle. If you’re on the ferry this month check out the big brochure rack if you’re lucky you might find the back issue free for the taking. Written by friend of the farm, Abra Bennett, the article “All Hail The Kale” expounds on the history, benefits and popularity of this versatile veg. Plus it includes Agate Pass Cafe’s chef and owner Marty Bracken’s recipe for Kale Apple Salad with maple vinaigrette (Rebecca’s favorite kale salad.)

Arugula, Zucchini and Fennel Salad

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Source: La Tartine Gourmande (Check out the lovely photos of this elegant salad)

1 bulb fennel
1 medium-sized zucchini
1 cup fresh arugula
1 Tablespoon fresh dill
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
3 Tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 Tablespoon pine nuts
1/4 cup fresh feta, crumbled

Instructions:

  • Wash the fennel and the zucchini.
  • Remove the hard part of the fennel (the core).
  • Slice both vegetables paper thin (use a good knife or a mandoline).
  • Chop the dill.
  • Toast the pine nuts (in a frying pan, with no oil, for about 3 to 4 mns, or until golden.)
  • Place the vegetables in a bowl.
  • Mix together the lemon juice and oil.
  • Toss with the vegetables and season with salt and pepper.
  • Cover with a plastic film, and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
  • Wash the arugula and dry it.

First Presentation:

  • Take individual serving plates.
  • Take a ring mold and use long strips of zucchini to line the inside of the mold.
  • Mix together the fennel, zucchini and the arugula.
  • Divide the greens between the plates, by placing them in the middle of the mold.
  • Remove the mold carefully.
  • Decorate with crumbled feta, pine nuts and more dill.

Second presentation:
Much simpler as you will toss all of the ingredients together and divide them between plates.

Zucchine a Fiammifero (Matchstick Zucchini Salad)

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Source: Carol Field Italy in Small Bites

8 small fresh zucchini, or 1-2 large ones
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons finely minced fresh rosemary
1 1/2 tablespoons finely minced fresh sage leaves
1 tablespoon lemon juice or red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

  1. Bring a deep pot of water to a boil. Set the zucchini in a steamer basket, place it over the pot, cover, and steam for a very few minutes, so that the zucchini are cooked but still slightly crisp and al dente. Remove, and allow to cool.
  2. Warm the 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small sauté pan over very low heat, and add the garlic; let it sweat so that the flavor of garlic infuses the oil. Add the minced rosemary and sage and let them wilt in the oil for a minute or two.
  3. Cut the cooled zucchini into strips the size of kitchen matches, and place them in a salad bowl. Whisk together the lemon juice or vinegar, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt, pepper, and the garlic-infused oil with the herbs. Toss carefully with the zucchini because it is very fragile. Serve at room temperature.

Zucchini Salad with Red Onion

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Simple and delicious!

Source: Martha Stewart

1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 small red onion, very thinly sliced
4 small zucchini (about 1 1/2 pounds total)

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar and oil; season with salt and pepper. Stir in onion, and let stand 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, using a vegetable peeler, slice zucchini into paper-thin ribbons, avoiding seeds. Add to bowl with dressing, season with salt and pepper; toss to combine.