9/17/2011 Basket - Fig & Pear Pizza

Fig & Pear Pizza

Uses: Fig, pear

Sometimes when I don't know how to use an ingredient, I put it on a pizza. For tonight's pizza I used the crust recipe that I posted about here: http://utahbountifulbasketsrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/07/722011-basket-dueling-pizzas.html

I brushed the crust with garlic infused olive oil and topped the entire pizza with mozzarella cheese and caramelized onions. One half of the pizza, I added goat cheese and figs and on the other half, blue cheese and pears. Then cook the pizza as directed in the previous post.

9/17/2011 Basket - Candied Yash

Candied Yash

Uses: Sweet potatoes, onion

We had sweet potato and onion and I wanted breakfast so I made a hash. Chop 1 onion and 3 sweet potatoes and cook in olive oil with garlic. Once the onion is translucent and the sweet potato starts browning, add some candied bacon.

Candied bacon is made by cutting up a bunch of bacon, rubbing it with brown sugar, and cooking it in a skillet.

Once the sweet potatoes, onions, and bacon have been combined, you can top with mini marshmallows if desired.

The dish is based on the idea of candied yams, hence the name, "Candied Yash."

9/17/2011 Basket

We picked up the basket at the Provo Town Square Mall.

We got:

4 onions

4 Bartlett pears

5 apples

3 Asian pears

4 plums

2 avocados

1 carton figs

2 bunches broccoli

8 bananas

5 sweet potatoes

1 bag of grapes

7 mini cucumbers

9/10/2011 Basket - Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet Potato Fries

Uses: Sweet potato

I followed Guy Fieri's recipe pretty closely except I did not sprinkle with malt vinegar. That crap is nasty.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/sweet-potato-fries-with-malt-vinegar-recipe/index.html

I've made sweet potato fries a few times now and I think this is the best attempt. The double frying really helps to make the outside crispy while the inside is still cooked. Were I to make it again I might put a little less cumin in the spice mix (maybe using 3/4 t. instead of 1 t.). Other than that it was really quite good.

9/10/2011 Basket - Southwest Egg Rolls

Southwest Egg Rolls

Uses: Spinach

There's no set recipe for this, but I'll tell you what we did as best I recollect.

Cook 1 chopped onion, 1/2 can pinto beans (drained), and 1 chopped chicken breast in a frying pan with olive oil. Season with cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, chili powder, lime juice, and cilantro. Add 1 diced tomato.

Brush the edges of each egg roll wrapper with an egg wash. In each egg roll wrapper, place a spinach leaf and a large spoonful of the chicken mixture. Top with grated cheddar cheese and roll the egg roll tightly.

Fry the egg roll in 350 degree oil for 2-3 minutes until the outside is crispy and brown. Serve with guacamole and sour cream.

9/10/2011 Basket - Bacon-wrapped Figs with Goat Cheese

Bacon-wrapped Figs with Goat Cheese

Uses: Figs

We basically used this recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/figs-with-goat-cheese-pecans-and-bacon/detail.aspx

We decided that the goat cheese we had (covered and infused with blueberries) did not work very well with this recipe as it made the dish overly sweet. With an herb goat cheese, this would taste a lot better.

9/10/2011 Basket

We got this week's basket at the Provo Town Square Mall again.

This week we got:

1 head green leaf lettuce

1 bunch spinach

1 head cauliflower

5 sweet potatoes

2 bags Thompson seedless grapes

7 bananas

6 peaches

12 bosc pears

12 figs

1 bag green beans

On a side note, we are running out of ideas for what to do with all these pears! If you have any ideas, please comment and let us know.

9/3/2011 Basket - Bananas Foster French Toast

Lately we've been doing a poor job of finishing our bananas before they turn black. And there's only so much banana bread/muffins that a person can eat.

Bananas Foster French Toast

Uses: Banana

I followed this recipe from Paula Deen:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paulas-home-cooking/bananas-foster-french-toast-recipe/index.html

I omitted the rum extract because I didn't have any, and I used "nut topping" instead of pecans.

9/3/2011 Basket - Banana Spring Rolls

This recipe is inspired by the Banana Spring Rolls served at P.F. Chang's. It's not exactly the same - I didn't have fresh berries or the pineapple coconut ice cream, but the idea is similar.

Banana Spring Rolls

Uses: Banana

You'll need egg roll or spring roll wrappers for this one.

Heat a small pan of oil to 350 degrees.

Cut banana in half by length, and again by width. Place 1/4 banana in the center of each wrapper and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll up each wrapper tightly (brushing the edges with egg wash), and fry them for 2-3 minutes each.

Cut in half and serve with ice cream, sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar.

9/3/2011 Basket - Mango Lassi

Mango Lassi

Uses: Mango

Lassi is an Indian yogurt drink and it is pretty good stuff! It basically tastes like a yogurt-y smoothie. Mango is one of the most classic flavors, but you can also do strawberry or any other fruit you want. Find the recipe here.

9/3/2011 Basket - Balti Butter Chicken

Balti Butter Chicken

Uses: Tomato

Mix the following ingredients in a large bowl:

2/3 C. plain yogurt

1/2 C. ground almonds

1 t. chili powder

1/4 t. crushed bay leaves

1/4 t. ground cloves

1/4 t. ground cinnamon

1 t. garam masala

4 green cardamom pods

1 t. grated ginger

1 t. grated garlic

2 large tomatoes, diced

Add 6 C. of chopped raw chicken and mix together. Set aside.

Melt 6 T. butter and 1T. oil together in a frying pan and add 2 medium onions, sliced. Fry onions for three minutes.

Add chicken/spice/yogurt/tomato mixture to the cooking onions. Stir-fry for 7-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked.

Stir in 1 T. chopped cilantro, mix well. Add 4 T. cream, mix, and garnish with 1 T. chopped cilantro and cilantro sprigs.

Serve over rice.

9/3/2011 Basket - Pina Colada Salad

Pina Colada Salad

Uses: Green leaf lettuce

Toast coconut and almonds in a saute pan on the stove. Toss with green leaf lettuce, pineapple tidbits, mandarin oranges, coconut, almonds, and pina colada dressing (see recipe below).

Pina Colada Dressing

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup pina colada drink mix

1 1/2 cups sour cream

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

The dressing for this salad is SO delicious, I could just eat it with a spoon (I may or may not have done that). Also, toasting the coconut is key--you want it to just start getting a nice light brown color. It will smell amazing and taste even better!

9/3/2011 Basket

We picked up our basket this morning at the Provo Town Square Mall. The pick-up time is supposed to be 7:15, but I guess the truck was late, since we didn't get our basket until 7:40.

We got:

5 nectarines

8 bosc pears

7 bananas

2 mangoes

5 tomatoes

1 bag Thompson seedless grapes

2 heads of cauliflower

1 bunch spinach

1 head green leaf lettuce

1 bunch of celery

15 potatoes

8 plums

8/27/2011 Basket - BBQ Chicken Salad Wrap

BBQ Chicken Salad Wrap

Uses: Tomato, lettuce, corn

This wrap is based on the Cafe Zupas BBQ Chicken Salad. Basically you take tomatoes, ranch-tossed lettuce, black beans, red onion, cooked corn, chicken, and cheese and wrap it up in a tortilla. It's really good.