Recipes - Week of June 19th

Maruba Santoh –With Maruba you get two vegetables in one. The loose round vibrant chartreuse leaves provide a mild piquant mustardy flavor while the flat white stems impart a juicy crisp pac choi taste. (from Fedco Seed) Great in salad, stir fry & soups.

Sautéed Radishes with Greens

Never had cooked radishes before? They are delicious and easy to make and have a nice “bite”

Wash & dry the radishes and then slice them thinly. Heat some olive oil in a skillet and add the radish slices and sauté over medium high heat, stirring constantly. Cook only for about 1-2 minutes. Add the radish greens and other greens (Maruba, kale or other oriental greens) at the end until wilted. Season to taste with salt & pepper.

Using Garlic Scapes

• Use in place of a garlic clove – a nice way to have fresh garlic before the garlic bulbs are harvested
• Garnish roast or grill with meat & vegetable entrees
• Use in place of capers or chopped scallions
• Add to a bloody mary!
• Refrigerate, freeze or pickle; the brine or marinade is used to perfect salsas, dressings, vinaigrettes and sauces

Strawberry Cocktail – (from www.allrecipes.com)

• 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, hulled
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup sour melon liqueur
• 1/2 cup ice cubes
• 1 strawberry, or pineapple wedge for garnish

Place 1/2 cup of strawberries into the container of a blender, and puree. Pour in the pineapple juice, orange juice, melon liqueur and ice cubes. Blend just until slushy. Pour into a tall glass, and garnish with a whole strawberry.

Herb Teas (you can use all combined or any separate for tea) from: http://coffeetea.about.com

• 1/2 cup dried catnip
• 3/4 cup dried chamomile
• 1 cup dried lemon balm
• 1/4 cup dried mint

Mix the herbs thoroughly, and store in an air tight container. For a cup of tea, use 2 tsp in a cup of boiling water. Steep for 5 minutes and strain out the herbs.

Catnip - is a member of the mint family. Many know about its harmless “high” for cats. The cat is reacting to the smell of the leaves and many will bite, rub against it or roll in it. This act releases the volatile oil that is trapped in the leaves. The leaves can be air-dried and used to make a tea later or save to provoke your cat another day. Some cats are immune to its influence and about 80% of cats will react to it (this includes lions, pumas & leopards). It is reported that the tendency to like or ignore catnip is inherited.