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Souper Bowl Sunday ['11] ~ Week 8

October 31, 2011 by 1 Comment

This weekend was sort of crazy weather-wise. When I went out to get my coffee on Saturday morning, I was walking through a lot of slush and it was sleeting. Winter has come a little early this year, and I’ll have to say I’m not ready for it yet. I love Fall, and I feel like Fall gets shorter every year. And that’s a bummer. Because I feel like it’s either 110 degrees or 10 degrees! And my perfect temperature is 60-65 degrees. I guess I need to move, lol! Here in the city we didn’t really get any snow, but friends & family in the suburbs got upward of 6 inches.

French Onion Soup is one of my favorite comfort foods. It’s the perfect soup to warm you up on a cold day. I wanted to try a different type of Onions Soup, so I came up with a Four Onion Soup. I added a few new flavors in there, and I was pretty happy with how it came out.

  • 2 medium Red Onions, sliced
  • 2 medium Sweet Onions, sliced
  • 4 Shallots, sliced
  • 3 Leeks,  cut into chunks
  • 4 Garlic cloves, whole
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 stick of Butter
  • 3 tablespoons Corn Starch
  • 32 oz + 4 oz Beef Broth
  • 2 tablespoons Brandy
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
  • 1 teaspoon (or add at the end to taste) salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Bread Cubes, toasted
  • Gruyere Cheese
  • Sharp Provolone

Chop up your Leeks, Red Onions, Sweet Onions and Shallots.


I love to caramelize my onions in the crock pot. I love to do it low and slow. I feel like they really get a chance to caramelize and the flavor is exceptional. I usually put the onions in the crock pot the night before I need them. I put a stick of butter in a crock pot and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Add the onions and the garlic cloves.

Let it go! I stir occasionally so that it doesn’t burn. Just make sure that your crock pot isn’t too big, otherwise it will burn. I let them cook down and caramelize until they are a nice mahogany color. From start to finish, they are probably in the crock pot for about twenty hours or so. You can cook yours as long as you’d like though. You can prepare them stove top if that is your preference.

Pour 32 oz of Beef Broth into a Dutch Oven. Bring to a boil. Mix the corn starch with the 4 oz of Beef Broth and add it into the other Broth. It will thicken. Once it’s thickened, add in the caramelized onions and all of their juices. Add in the brandy,  salt, pepper and thyme.

I let it cook (on low) for a little while to let all of the flavors marry. It’s your decision how long you let it go. I probably let mine go for about an hour, but that’s definitely not necessary.

When you’re ready to eat, ladle some of the soup into a crock.

Sprinkle some grated Gruyere Cheese over the soup.


Add in your toasted bread cubes.

Top with some good Sharp Provolone cheese. I love to use the slices.

Throw under the broiler for about 4 minutes or until bubbly!

I was very happy with how this came out. I really liked the flavors that the different onions brought to the soup. In the past I’ve always just used sweet onions, but I really love the four different onions together. This soup definitely warmed me up. And who doesn’t love all of that ooey gooey cheese?!

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Week 25: The end is finally here

October 26, 2011 by 2 Comments

IT’S THE LAST WEEK!! Yes, I’m jumping for joy! At one point it honestly seemed as if this day would never come. I’m kind of sad because I really wanted to like this whole experience. But I just didn’t. It got to be more of a hassle than it was worth, especially since week after week we were piling at least half of our share into the Swap Box and barely getting anything in return. So it ended up being a huge waste of money. For what I paid I could’ve gotten organic produce (that I pick) delivered right to my door.  Oh well, lesson learned. It’s time to close this chapter.

This last week is just like the others – more stuff in the Swap Box: Romaine Lettuce, Kale, Green Cabbage and Cilantro.   Mr. Curly Fry was able to get two more Leeks out of the Swap Box. But that’s it.

No major plans for this stuff. I still have a ton of Potatoes left that I really need to use. I cut up the Green Peppers (from last week) and the Mixed Peppers. I cut some into strips and some into small pieces and threw them in the freezer. I figured it’ll be nice to have them later on when I need them.

I plan to incorporate the Leeks into this week’s Souper Bowl Sunday recipe in some way.


  • 1 Head Green Romaine Lettuce - Certified Organic – Bellview Organics
  • 1 Leek – Certified Organic – Certified Organic – Coyote Run Organics
  • 1 Bunch Tatsoi – Certified Organic – Hillside Organics
  • 1 Bag Mixed Sweet Peppers – Certified Organic – Maple Lawn Organics
  • 1 Bag Russet Potatoes – Certified Organic – Bellview Organics
  • 1 Bunch Green Kale – Certified Organic – Eagle View Acres
  • 1 Head Green Cabbage – Certified Organic – Green Valley Organics
  • 1 Bunch Cilantro – Certified Organic – Noble Herbs

  • 1 Bag Heirloom Cranberries – Organically Grown – Paradise Hill Farm – Tabernacle, NJ
  • 1 Jar Red Raspberry Jam – Certified Organic – Oakview Acres

I still have last week’s Cranberries so I think I’ll combine them and make Cranberry Sauce. Does anyone have a tried & true recipe?

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Week 24: What’s in the Box?

October 19, 2011 by 2 Comments

Week 24. ONLY ONE MORE WEEK TO GO! I don’t think  you understand how happy this makes me.

More stuff in the Swap Box: Arugula, Beets, Butternut Squash, and Turnips.   Mr. Curly Fry was able to get two bags of Sweet Potatoes out of the Swap Box.  So now I have quite a few of those and need to find something to make besides Candied Sweet Potatoes. Any ideas?

No major plans for anything else. I used the Leeks from the last box in the Creamy Tortellini Soup that I made this past weekend.


  • 1 Bunch Arugula – Certified Organic – Echo Valley Organics
  • 1 Bunch Tatsoi – Certified Organic – Hillside Organics
  • 1 Head Green Butterhead Lettuce – Certified Organic – Maple Lawn Organics
  • 1 Bag Gold or White Beets – Certified Organic – Windy Hollow Organics
  • 1 Butternut Squash – Certified Organic – Misty Meadow Acres
  • 2 Green Bell Peppers – Certified Organic – Eagle View Organics
  • 1 Head Broccoli – Certified Organic – Plum Hill Organics or Pine Hill Organics
  • 1 Bunch Purple Top or Scarlet Turnips – Certified Organic – Maple Lawn Organics
  • 1 Bunch Celery – Certified Organic – Coyote Run Organics

Sweet Potatoes

 

Green Peppers

 

Broccoli

  • 1 Bag Rome Apples – Certified Organic – Kauffman’s Fruit Farm
  • 1 Bag Heirloom Cranberries – Organically Grown – Paradise Hill Farm (Tabernacle, NJ)

Rome Apples

 

Cranberries!

Okay – this is my first time dealing with Cranberries. What is your favorite thing to make with them?!

Filed Under: CSA, Fruit, Vegetables, What's in the Box? ·

Week 23: What’s in the Box?

October 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Week 23. Only TWO more weeks to go! I’m so happy it’s almost over!

More stuff in the Swap Box: Romaine Lettuce, Spaghetti Squash, Cilantro and Radishes.  The only thing I was able to get out of the Swap Box was more Potatoes.

I used the Tatsoi from last week in a Shrimp Scampi dish that I make, and I loved the flavor it brought to the dish. I’ll probably use this week’s Tatsoi when I stuff a beef tenderloin – yum!

No major plans for anything else. I usually use Leeks in soup, so I’ll probably wash, cut up and freeze these leeks for when I need them for a recipe.


  • 2 Leeks – Certified Organic – Coyote Run Organics
  • 1 Bunch Tatsoi – Certified Organic – Hillside Organics
  • 1 Head Green Romaine Lettuce – Certified Organic – Bellview Organics
  • 1 Spaghetti Squash – Certified Organic – Elm Tree Organics
  • 1 Pint Mixed Cherry Tomatoes – Certified Organic – Farmdale Organics
  • 1 Bunch Cilantro – Certified Organic – Noble Herbs
  • 1 Bunch French Breakfast Radishes – Certified Organic – Outback Farm
  • 1 Head Broccoli – Certified Organic – Plum Hill Organics
  • 1 Bag Russet Potatoes – Certified Organic – Bellview Organics

Leeks

Broccoli

Russet Potatoes

  • 1 Bag Golden Delicious Apples – Certified Organic – Oyler’s Organic Farms
  • 1 Bag Red Delicious Apples – Certified Organic – Oyler’s Organic Farms

Golden Delicious

Red Delicious

More Apples. *sigh*

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Week 22: What’s in the [Swap] Box?

October 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Week 22. More stuff in the Swap Box: Green Cabbage, Butternut Squash, Radishes, and Cajun Peppers.  The only thing I was able to get out of the Swap Box was more Sweet Potatoes.


  • 1 Bunch Pink Beauty Radishes – Certified Organic – Friend’s Road Organics
  • 1 Head Green Cabbage – Certified Organic – Green Valley Organics
  • 1 Bunch Tatsoi – Certified Organic – Hillside Organics
  • 1 Bag Sweet Onions – Certified Organic – Soaring Eagle Acres
  • 1 Butternut Squash – Certified Organic – Soaring Eagle Acres
  • 1 Bag Cajun Peppers – Certified Organic – Friend’s Road Organics
  • 1 Head Green Leaf Lettuce – Certified Organic – Green Valley Organics
  • 1 Bag Sweet Potatoes – Certified Organic - Eagle View Acres

Sweet Potatoes

More Onions

Tatsoi

  • 1 Jar Organic Applesauce – Certified Organic – Bowman’s Mountain
  • 1 Bag Apples – Certified Organic – Oyler’s Organic Farms

 Apples are coming out of my ears

 I’m going to say it. I’m really tired of Apples.  And it’s only October. But there have been way too many Apples from my Fruit Share. I like Apples. I do. But not when they’re shoved down my throat week after week.

 

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Week 21: What’s in the [Swap] Box?

September 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Week 21. Needless to say, more stuff in the Swap Box: Collard Greens. Squash. Acorn Squash. Radishes.  And there was nothing in the Swap Box, so I couldn’t get anything in return for all of the stuff I put in there. Bummer. I’m the prime example of someone who should not be a member of a CSA. Money wasted. Lesson learned.


  • 1 Bunch Collard Greens – Certified Organic – Autumn Blend Organics
  • 1 Head Green Romaine Lettuce – Certified Organic – Bellview Organics
  • 2 Delicata Squash  – Certified Organic – Echo Valley Organics
  • 1 Bag Candy Onions – Certified Organic – Echo Valley Organics
  • 1 Green Acorn Squash – Certified Organic – Elm Tree Organics
  • 1 Bunch Baby Orange Carrots  – Certified Organic – Elm Tree Organics
  • 1 Bag Red Potatoes – Certified Organic – Green Valley Organics
  • 1 Bunch French Breakfast Radishes – Certified Organic – Outback Farm

When they said Baby Carrots, they meant it!

 

Romaine Lettuce


Red Potatoes

Red Onions

  • 1 Bag Gala Apples- IPM – Kauffman’s Fruit Farm

  • 1 Bag Golden Supreme Apples – Certified Organic – Oyler’s Organic Farm

Gala – great snacking Apples!

 

More Golden Supreme

Apples, Apples, Apples. I’m swimming in Apples. I still have a few left from last week. And I even made an Apple Pie. There will be a post on that another day though.

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Week 20: What’s in the Box?

September 21, 2011 by 1 Comment

So here we are at Week 20. There’s 5 more weeks to go after this. I think I can make it…

Needless to say, more stuff in the Swap Box: Red Romaine Lettuce, Eggplants, Green Leaf Lettuce, and Kale. I don’t like Red Romaine, Eggplant, or Kale. The Green Leaf Lettuce is going in there because it’s usually pretty small and not enough for a salad. So there’s no point in keeping it. The only thing I was able to get from the Swap Box was some more onions. That’s it. *sigh*

I am interested to see what these Cured Candy Onions are. I love Sweet Potatoes! MORE Tomatoes?! Spaghetti Squash…I have absolutely no idea what to do with that. I guess I’ll have to look up some recipes.

What do you make with Spaghetti Squash?


  • 1 Bag Cured Candy Onions – Certified Organic – Crystal Springs Farm
  • 1 Bunch Red Romaine Lettuce – Certified Organic – Healthy Harvest Organics
  • 1 Bag Beauregard Sweet Potatoes – Certified Organic – Meadow Valley Organics
  • 2 Italian Eggplants – Certified Organic – Soaring Eagle Acres
  • 1 Spaghetti Squash – Certified Organic – Elm Tree Organics
  • 1 Head Green Leaf Lettuce – Certified Organic – Green Valley Organics
  • 1 Pint Mixed Cherry Tomatoes – Certified Organic – Farmdale Organics
  • 1 Bunch Lacinato Kale – Certified Organic – Farmdale Organics

Sweet Potatoes

Spaghetti Squash

  • 1 Bag Smokehouse Apples- IPM – Cherry Hill Orchards

     

  • 1 Bag Golden Supreme Apples – Certified Organic – Oyler’s Organic Farm



Apples, Apples, Apples. I made some Scalloped Apples in the Crock pot.  They turned out pretty good. Mr. Curly Fry was talking about Apple Pie, so maybe I’ll make one of those this weekend with all of these apples.

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Week 19: What’s in the [Swap] Box?

September 14, 2011 by 2 Comments

As we’re getting closer and closer to Fall, there is a lot of stuff that I don’t like and/or want.  Last week I finally used up all of my Tomatoes. Stay tuned for a post showing you how I used them! And just when I finally used up all of the Tomatoes, now there are more. *sigh* I have no idea what I’ll do with these.

The Green Kale, Italian Eggplant, Collard Greens, Romaine Lettuce and Bok Choy all went into the Swap Box. The only thing I was able to get in return were some Potatoes, so that kind of sucked. But they are Purple Potatoes so I can make Sunny Anderson’s Baked Purple Mash again! Yum!

So as you can see, there really isn’t much to say this week. I have plans for that Green Acorn Squash – on Friday you’ll see what I was up to!

  • 1 Bunch Green Kale – Certified Organic – Echo Valley Organics *SWAP BOX*
  • 1 Green Acorn Squash – Certified Organic – Riverview Organics
  • 1 Pint Mixed Cherry Tomatoes – Certified Organic – Farmdale Organics
  • 1 Bag Red Tomatoes – Certified Organic – White Swan Acres
  • 1 Italian Eggplant – Certified Organic – Farmdale Organics *SWAP BOX*
  • 1 Bunch Collard Greens – Certified Organic – Autumn Blend Organics *SWAP BOX*
  • 1 Head Large Bok Choy – Certified Organic – Scarecrow Hill Organics *SWAP BOX*
  • 1 Head Green Romaine Lettuce – Certified Organic – Bellview Organics *SWAP BOX*
  • 1 Bunch Italian Parsley – Certified Organic – Noble Herbs

More Tomatoes

 

Italian Parsley

 

Acorn Squash

Potatoes from Swap Box

  •  1 Bag Pears – IPM – Kauffman’s  Fruit Farm
  • 1 Bag Apples – Certified Organic – Oyler’s Organic Farm

Pears

Last week’s Peaches were pretty good! They tasted much better than the ones I got the week before. This week we got Pears. They are okay, but I don’t really love Pears. I may try using them with some proteins this week and see how that turns out.

Apples

The Apples from last week were pretty good. There were quite a few bruises on them, but I guess it happens. These are looking a little rough as well!  It’s supposed to be cooler this weekend and it sounds like the perfect time to make some homemade Applesauce! I can peel the ugly skin off of these Apples, lol!

 Do you like your applesauce smooth or chunky?

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Week 18: What’s in the Box?

September 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

So this week we got some Corn on the Cob, so I was happy about that. I just hope that all of the rain this month hasn’t totally messed it up. I know that last week’s Peaches really weren’t that good. And you know I had a ton of them.  I ended up peeling them and cutting them into slices and putting them in the freezer. They will probably work best for Smoothies. They certainly weren’t the type to just snack on. That was disappointing since that’s what I had been doing with the other ones we got that were good. Oh well.

There’s really not much more to report. Tomatoes. Again. And a few other things that we do not like/want. I have an obscene amount of tomatoes at home. I think that today I’m going to try roasting the tomatoes and then making a sauce out of them. Because I have nothing else to do with 4 pints of Cherry Tomatoes and 5 huge Tomatoes! I just don’t want them to go bad.  So I think roasting them with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar will be a fun experiment! And that Oregano will come in handy for the sauce! I bet Mr. Curly Fry won’t have a problem with me opening up a bottle of red wine so I can add some to the sauce. Because then he can drink the rest of it. I don’t like red wine…it gives me a headache! (Oh man…I sound old, lol!)

We didn’t get anything out of the Swap Box for what we put in. All that was in there was the stuff that I didn’t want (Rainbow Chard and Red Romaine Lettuce) and Corn on the Cob. But the six ears of Corn on the Cob that we got will be plenty for us. I didn’t want twelve! So we couldn’t take advantage of the Swap Box this week.

  • 6 Ears Sweet Corn - Certified Organic – Farmdale Organics
  • 1 Head Red Romaine Lettuce – Certified Organic – Healthy Harvest Organics *SWAP BOX
  • 2 Red Tomatoes – Certified Organic – White Swan Acres
  • 1 Pint Mixed Cherry Tomatoes – Certified Organic – Farmdale Organics
  • 1 Bunch Tatsoi (Japanese Spinach) – Certified Organic – Hillside Organics
  • 1 Bag Mixed Sweet Peppers – Certified Organic – Maple Lawn Organics
  • 1 Bunch Rainbow Chard – Certified Organic – Meadow Valley Organics *SWAP BOX
  • 1 Bunch Oregano – Certified Organic – Noble Herbs

Corn on the Cob

Mixed Sweet Peppers

Fresh Oregano

 

  • 1 Bag Peaches – IPM – Three Springs Fruit Farm
  • 1 Bag Apples – IPM – Three Springs Fruit Farm

Apples make me think of Fall. And I love Fall. It’s one of my favorite seasons and unfortunately it doesn’t last long enough! It seems that every year summer gets longer and winter starts way too early. I love everything about Fall. The cool, crisp air. Turning the air conditioning off and opening the windows. Pumpkins. Apples. Football. Souper Bowl Sunday. I can’t believe it starts next week!

Apples

Peaches

Since Fall is almost here…what are you looking forward to the most?


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Week 17: What’s in the Box?

August 31, 2011 by 5 Comments

*sigh* This is going to be short. Because so is the list of things I’m keeping this week. I’m literally counting down the weeks until this is over. I think there’s what, 8 weeks left? Something like that. And I’m sure the selection isn’t going to get much better, unfortunately.

There’s not much more to say. Tomatoes. Onions. Garlic. Again. And a few other things that we do not like/want.

I’m interested to see what this Tatsoi (Japanese Spinach) is all about. But aside from that…boring.

  • 1 Bunch Rainbow Chard – Certified Organic – Meadow Valley Organics **SWAP BOX**
  • 1 Bag Garlic – Certified Organic – Friends Road Organics
  • 1 Bunch Cilantro – Certified Organic – Noble Herbs **SWAP BOX**
  • 1 Italian Eggplant – Certified Organic – Soaring Eagle Acres **SWAP BOX**
  • 1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes – Certified Organic – White Swan Acres
  • 1 Bag Sweet Onions – Certified Organic – Sweetaire Farm
  • 1 Bag Red Tomatoes – Certified Organic – Green Valley Organics
  • 1 Bunch Tatsoi (Japanese Spinach) – Certified Organic – Hillside Organics

 

  • 1 Bag Peaches – Organically Grown – Kissel Hill Fruit Farm
  • 1 ‘Lil Sweetie Cantaloupe – Certified Organic – The Back 40 Ranch **SWAP BOX** 

Yay! Peaches!

Boo! Cantaloupe! Although someone before us didn’t want their Peaches, so since we didn’t take the Cantaloupe they gave us those Peaches! Score.

What would you make with all of those Peaches?!


Filed Under: CSA, Fruit, Vegetables, What's in the Box? · Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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