Buttercup squash, Japanese style
from From Asparagus to Zucchini
Bring several inches water to boil in a saucepan; cube and add one squash, leaving the skin on. Add more water to cover if needed. Bring to boil again, reduce heat and add ½ cup soy sauce and ¼ cup honey or brown sugar. Cook until squash is tender, 10 – 15 minutes. Drain. Makes 4 – 6 servings.
Simple kale & potato soup
adapted from Chez Panisse Vegetables
Remove stems from kale and wash the leaves, and cut them into very thin pieces. Peel potatoes and chop very fine. Bring water or stock to a boil with the salt. Add chopped potatoes, return to a boil, and cook for 2 minutes covered. Add kale and cook 2 minutes more or until kale and potatoes are tender to your preference. Taste for seasoning. If desired, serve with sliced garlic sausage heated briefly in the soup. Serves 4 to 6.
Note: The proportion of kale to potatoes in this soup is not terribly important. Nor do you need to chop the potatoes; but if you slice them, they will need to cook longer before you can add the kale.
Braised mustard greens with bacon
adapted from The Joy of Cooking
This is a recipe in the southern tradition of long, slowly cooked greens. It would also be tasty with collard greens, which we will be giving out later this year, so hold onto the recipe if you like it!
Wash one bunch mustards and chop into approximately 1-inch pieces. In a large pot, cook 6 (or so) slices chopped bacon until crisp. Add the greens to the pan, along with one chopped onion. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the greens are coated with fat. Cover greens with water and season with salt to taste. Bring to a boil. Cover the pot, reduce heat, and simmer gently until the greens are tender, 1 hour or longer. Stir occasionally and add water if they threaten to scorch. When greens are done, increase heat to medium-high and, stirring often, boil off nearly all the cooking liquid. Add 1 or 2 dashes cider or red wine vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve very hot with cooked polenta, a simple pasta dish, or other grain-based main dish. (You can also skip the bacon and use butter or olive oil in its place.)
