Recipes of the Week–July 28, 2014

21 Inventive Ways to Get Your Kale Fix from:www.yumsugar.com/Kale-Recipes-21362280#photo-32021277 
1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as canola or grapeseed
1 leek, thinly sliced and cleaned
12 shiitake mushrooms, stems removed, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon liquid aminos, such as Bragg's
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup grated daikon
1 tablespoon mirin
1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 large bunch kale, sliced into ribbons
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
12-1/2 ounce package garlic, onion, or seeded mochi, cut into 12 squares
 
Preheat the oven to 450°F.
Add olive oil to a large skillet set over medium heat. Sauté leek in olive oil until soft and translucent (about 3 minutes). Add shiitake mushrooms and continue cooking. Add liquid aminos to deglaze pan. Continue sautéing until mushrooms caramelize (8-10 minutes total). Add carrots, daikon, mirin, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, and toasted sesame oil, and sauté until carrots are soft (4-5 minutes). Add kale and sauté 4 minutes, or until tender and wilted. Remove from heat and toss with sesame seeds. Season to taste with additional soy sauce and vinegar.
Place mochi squares on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake until they puff up (follow directions on packaging). Remove from oven, slice open each puff horizontally, stuff with sautéed greens and serve.

Cool & Tangy Marinated Cucumbers
from: www.justapinch.com/recipes/side/vegetable/cool-tangy-marinated-cucumbers.html?p=2
 
3  cucumbers, peeled and sliced
1  small onion, peeled and sliced into rings
2 c  cold water
1/4 c     granulated sugar
1/4 c     apple cider vinegar
1/8 tsp celery salt
 
Layer slices of cucumbers and onion in a large bowl.
Combine remaining ingredients and blend thoroughly. Pour marinade over cucumbers.
Chill cucumbers at least 2 hours. Use slotted spoon or fork to serve chilled marinated cucumbers.

Corn-Tomato Lime Basil Salsa
1 cup raw corn kernels
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced tomato
1/2 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves
5-6 lime basil leaves, chopped fine + 1-2 leaves for garnish
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
Salt and pepper
1 cup white wine
 

In a medium bowl, combine all the ingredients and garnish with a sprig or two of lime basil.

Lemon Basil Ideas
www.motherearthliving.com/in-the-garden/love-your-basil-lemon-basil.aspx#axzz38ezlhGic

Lemon & Lime Basil pairs well with zucchini, corn, bell pepper, tomato, green beans, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, eggplant, squash, spinach, artichoke, fennel, onion, potato.  You can use lime or lemon basil with chicken, fish, fresh fruit.

Lemon Basil Vinaigrette:  in a small bowl, whisk 2 tablespoons lemon basil, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1-2 cloves of chopped garlic, and 2 teaspoons capers;
Use vinaigrette on fish, chicken or on your salad.