the very best stuffing

No one makes Thanksgiving stuffing like mom. I always make it using an entire loaf of bread and love it when no one else eats any: more for me! Easy to make the day before and toss in the over right before the meal.

1 loaf gluten free bread (I use Canyon Bread), cut into cubes
3 tablespoons butter
2 medium onions, cut into small dice
4 large stalks celery, cut into small dice
2 tablespoons of Bell's Seasoning
2 large eggs, beaten
2 cups homemade chicken stock
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Make the stock if there isn't any on hand.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Spread the bread cubes on a large baking sheet in an even layer and bake until quite crisp, about 60 minutes.

Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the onions and celery and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes or the vegetables are very soft. Add the Bell's Seasoning and cook for 2 more minutes.

In a large bowl, fold together the toasted bread cubes with the cooked onions and celery.

Beat the eggs in a medium bowl with the broth, salt, and a generous quantity of fresh black pepper. Pour in the bowl and stir into the bread.

Grease baking dish with butter or olive oil. Spread bread mixture in the baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Cool the dressing for 10 minutes before serving.

– Adapted from The Kitchn and my mom

ez cranberry curd

Thanksgiving always brings a new dessert challenge, and this year's was a hit. And it can be made in one pot. Other options we came up with include:
cranberry lime
strawberry rhubarb
raspberry lemon

12 ounces cranberries
1 cup sugar
 About 1/2 cup juice and peel (orange part only) of 1 orange
1 stick softened butter
2 eggs plus 2 egg yolks

Use vegetable peeler to remove slices of peel from orange. Heat cranberries, sugar, orange juice and peel in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until cranberries have popped and softened, about 10-15 minutes.

Remove peels from cranberries. Use immersion blender to break down cranberries as much as possible. (For smooth curd press cooking liquid through medium mesh sieve into a bowl.)

Whisk the butter into the warm liquid in the pot.

Put eggs and egg yolks into a bowl and beat lightly. Slowly whisk a cup of warm cranberry liquid into the eggs to temper, then add the tempered mix back to the pot and whisk together. Cook over low heat until nearly bubbling and thickened, about 10 minutes. Pour into overproof dish. If using immediately, let cool to room temperature. If working ahead, cool to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap (press wrap against curd) and refrigerate. (Curd may be cooked up to 1 day ahead.)

When ready to eat, bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes to set curd.

– Adapted from NYT Cooking

shiny asian veggies over crispy tofu

I think the delicious flavors in this come from the combo of the shiitake mushrooms, ginger, soy sauce and sesame seed oil.

5 turnips
1 eggplant
1 container of shiitake mushrooms
5 scallions
1 extra firm tofu
1 inch of ginger
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon garlic chili paste
1 glug sesame seed oil
olive oil
cornstarch

Chop turnips into small pieces, and toss in sesame seed oil. Heat pan on high with olive oil and begin sauteing until brown. Roughly chop ginger into smallish pieces. Chop eggplant and mushrooms and coat in sesame seed oil. Chop scallions into small pieces.

Add ginger to the pan, then the mushrooms and eggplant. And cook until the eggplant is cooked.

Combine soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, chili paste, and a tablespoon of cornstarch, and stir into the vegetables.

Drain and squeeze out extra water from tofu. Slice along the short side for 6 half inch thick slices. Pat cornstarch onto both sides of each slice. Heat a non-stick pan with olive oil and sesame seed oil and fry the tofu slices until lightly browned and crispy on each side.

Serve the vegetables over the tofu slices.

greeny curry soup

This soup is delicious and uses a bunch of farm share veggies. We threw garlic scapes in the first batch and they added additional depth to the flavor.

1/3 cup store-bought green curry paste
1 (13.5-ounce) can coconut milk
3 cups water
Sea salt and cracked black pepper
1 pound broccoli florets, chopped
2 cups spinach leaves
1 cup cilantro leaves
15 or so garlic scapes (optional)
3 scallions, chopped

Place the curry paste in a medium saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add the coconut milk, water, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Add the broccoli, cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the broccoli is tender.

Remove from the heat and add the spinach leaves and half the cilantro.

Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until as smooth as possible (will still be a bit chunky). Divide among serving bowls and top with the remaining cilantro and scallions, as well as some finishing salt.

Adapted from Epicurious.com

rainbow lentils

This had both the taste and color of the rainbow: beautiful oranges, greens and yellows and tasted like the Caribbean, India, Africa, and Asia all rolled into one. We get a ton of mustard greens from our CSA every week, so this is a great way to use a bunch up.

1 bunch mustard greens
1 cup red lentils
1 large sweet potato
4 cups water, vegetable or chicken stock
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp dried ginger
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon Jamaican curry powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
salt and white pepper to taste
1 squeeze fresh lime juice

Wash greens and remove stems. Chop onion and mince garlic and ginger. Chop sweet potato into 1 inch pieces.

Heat olive oil over medium low heat. Saute onions, garlic, and ginger until onion is softened and translucent. Add dry spices, mix, then add water or stock, stirring to get any bits off the bottom of the pan. Add lentils and sweet potatoes, bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Stir in greens, and cook for an additional 10 minutes.

Season to taste with salt, pepper, and lime juice.

Adapted from Early Morning Farm

slow cooker chicken enchilada dip

So easy! So delicious!

3 blocks cream cheese
2-3 c. rotisserie chicken
1 can chopped/diced green chiles
1 1/2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese (1 and a 1/2 bags)
1 1/2 c. salsa verde (we used Whole Foods brand)
1-2 tbsp. chopped green onions
1 tomato, diced

Shred chicken. Combine all ingredients, except green onions and tomato, in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 1 1/2 hours, or until everything’s melted. Stir. If cheese browns against side of slow cooker, scrape down and stir in. May need to cook a little longer if cream cheese is not fully melted. Once cheese is completely melted turn slow cooker to warm and cover dip with green onions and diced tomatoes. Serve directly from slow cooker to keep warm.