GREAT IDEAS-Using our Abundant Produce

Melissa L.

Using our Abundant Produce
(Ideas Taken from September RS Activity Night)

 

Citrus(lemons, oranges, limes...)

                lemons: juice and freeze in ice cubes

                                -use for baked chicken or fish

                                -use in smoothies

                                -use in place of vinegar in recipes

                               
                                -lemon curd

                                -lemon sauce

                                 -can make for freezer with sweet rice flour/tapioca starch

                                lemon salad dressings

                                marmalade

                                lemon basil sorbet

                                lemon gumdrops

                               

Oranges: fresh juice. peeled, if whole drink immediately.

                peels, lemon or orange: lemon sugar or orange sugar in place of zest.

                                - dry (in this climate with low oven?)

                                -blend into powder with sugar. To bake with in place of zest. (easier to prep).

                orange peel- use a halved orange rind as a planter for growing produce.  The whole planter can go into the ground! (Bev Bertino's idea)

               

Herbs(Green Onions, Rosemary, Italian Basil, Thai Basil, Oregano,...)

                Green onions : eggs, stir fry

            Rosemary:

                                potatoes

                                roast beef/pork/chicken

                                 simply salt/pepper, and rosemary

                                homemade bread, especially rosemary  french bread

                                *google "how to prepare fresh rosemary," ehow* has very helpful page

                                  -potato wedges and rosemary/garlic; steak with rosemary/garlic... yum!

               Oregano:

                                fresh in salads

                                 fresh leaf whole with mozzarella and tomato on top

                                cooked in spaghetti, eggs  

 

                Italian Basil

                                spaghetti sauce

                                quinoa chicken stir fry

 

                Thai Basil               

                                quinoa chicken stir fry

                                lemon basil sorbet

                                Thai curry

 

Mango/Papaya/Guava

                salads- want ideas for throwing these foods in salads(green salad or fruit)

                 smoothies and popsicles

                 mango- pure puree popsicles, or mango and evaporated milk

                waffle/pancake syrup

                sauce or freezer jam   -bagel and cream cheese, bread and jam, muffin...

                salsa, chutney, salad dressings         

                jello 

                                guava and yogurt gelatin

                                http://www.thequeenguava.com/recipes/yogurt_gelatin.html  

                                                site completely for guava recipes!

                puree for baking in muffins/cakes?

                               

Avocado

                -what does it act like? creamy, smooth

                                add to homemade smoothies, shakes, homemade ice cream

                                pie(recipe), truffles, fudge, mousse

                                                http://voices.yahoo.com/avocado-fudge-6661514.html

                black bean/tomato/avocado/corn(Mom's recipe)

                guacamole- can freeze

                slices- freeze dredged in lemon juice . Use immediately out of freezer

                smashed fresh and spread on homemade bread!

                               

Not-so-good produce, spoiling, or partly eaten...

                kids/babies partly eat apples, bananas... oranges dry, flavorless, over ripe, or moldy;  peaches or                                                    pears hard yet bruised or spoiling...

                oranges - peel and juice whole. Drink fresh. Add OJ conc for more flavor. Sugar if desired

                apples partly eaten-

                                - instruct children to place apples on counter when they're done with them.

                                -keep partly eaten apples from home school lunch- child empties contents of bag at home.

                                slice and cook remaining apple in microwave w/brown sugar and raisins

                                for larger batches-

                                -place partly eaten apples in fridge for up to a few days, to bake with a few at a time. Bake apple                     crisp or a batch of applesauce. Probably need to use other unused apples to make batch worthwhile. (Target the apples that are starting to spoil or are too soft to like to eat)

                bananas partly eaten-

                                -keep in peel, tuck over peel and place in fridge. Only outside tip browns! Good for later eating!

                fruit not fully ripened but spoiling- cut out spoiled spots, slice or puree the rest; add lemon juice or orange                 juice to prevent browning, and freeze for smoothies.

                leftovers

                Janne S. "catch-all chili"

                                -kids love it. Tends to look funny : ) but tastes good! 

                                -any leftover thing: salad become limp; blended up; apples, even bananas...