Caramelized Onions

The interesting part of this time of year is the availability of sweet onions at every farmers market, not to mention Vidalia onions at the grocery store. Now, in general, I am not an onion person. I cannot eat raw onions at all. I try, but it just makes me sick. But if you take a sweet onion and cook it long and slow over low heat, it becomes food candy. I adore caramelized onions and am especially fond of balsamic caramelized onions.

Yedterday, I woke up at 4:30 am and couldn't get back to sleep. I needed to make some breakfast for the week so I could get back on track after our vacation. I knew I didn't have a lot in my kitchen to work with, but I did remember I had a large sweet onion. While I didn't have bacon, I did have ham, so I decided to make a modified quiche lorainne.

Ham Quiche with Balsamic Onions

1 large candy onion*
2 Tbsp Olive oil
1-2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
6 thin slices smoked ham
6 large eggs**
1 1/2 cups milk
2 oz asiago/fontina cheese blend
Salt and pepper, go taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Thinly and evenly slice the onion. Heat oil over medium heat. Add onions ND cook, stirring until the onions become translucent. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking, stirring occassionally, until onions begin to turn golden brown. Cook, stirring frequently, until desired color.at the last couple minutes, add balsamic vinegar and finish cooking. This step deglazes the pan.

Chop the ham to small pieces (about 1/4 - inch dice). Add ham to the onions an cook until heated. Take this mixture ND place in the prepared baking dish.

In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until smooth. Continue beating as you slowly add the milk. The result should be a very smooth pale yellow. Season with salt and pepper. Pour eggs mixture over onion mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Note, when using strong cheeses, you need less, otherwise, they will overwhelm the other flavors.

Bake at 350 about 40-45 minutes until top is golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to set 5 minutes before serving. Makes 8 servings.

Note: I am in the habit of making crust less quiches. But I always regret not putting quiches like this in a crust. The savory crust is a nice contrast to the sweet onions. Consider using a crust for this recipe.

Beet greens and Quinoa

I decided to do something a bit different with my quiche this week.  At the farmers market, they had beets with the most beautiful green tops I have seen in a long time.  Beet greens are my preferred green because they have a unique flavor that is very subtle, but nice.  I have wanted to try and come up with a crust for my quiches because sometimes they come out quite liquid-y depending on what vegetables are in the quiche.  I believe the reason you have a crust is to absorb some of that off-liquid.  So, this morning, I decided to try and make a crust out of quinoa.  The reason that I chose quinoa is because the grain stays compact and has 4 grams protein per serving.  These are useful qualities for a person who has had gastric surgery.  You have to put together the crust and bake it.  Then once done baking, you fill the crust with your fillings and bake the quiche.  Today's quiche will have caramelized candy onions, Michigan ham and beet greens and stems.  To finish the flavor profile off, I have a nice aged Swiss cheese.

Beet Green and Ham Quiche with Quinoa Crust

Quinoa Crust

• 1 1/2 cups cooked quinoa
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1 large farm-fresh egg*

Filling 

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 medium candy onion**, sliced
• 1 small bunch of beet greens and stems**
• 1 cup Michigan ham, diced
• 2 oz aged Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
• 5 farm-fresh eggs*
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1 tsp garlic powder (I didn't have fresh garlic)
• Salt & Pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400F.  To make crust, cook quinoa as directed (I chose to use the microwave).  Beat egg; then mix quinoa, cheese and eggs completely.  Press into the bottom of prepared pie plate.  Bake for 15 minutes or until edges brown. Remove from oven.

Reduce oven to 350F.

Thinly slice the onions, set aside.  Wash and dry the beet greens and stems.  Separate stems from leaves.  Cut stems into 1/2" pieces.  Stack leaves and roll up; cut into 1/2" pieces.  Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add onions and mix well.  Cook until just translucent, then reduce the heat to med-low.  Cook, stirring frequently, until onions begin to caramelize.  Add stems and ham to pan and continue cooking until stems start to become soft.  Add leaves and mix well.  Cover and cook until greens just begin to wilt (about 5 minutes).  Cover and set aside allowing mixture to steam for about 10 minutes.

 In a medium bowl, beat eggs.  Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper.  Pour in milk and beat until completely smooth.

To assemble, place fillings into crust.  Layer with thinly sliced Swiss.  Pour egg mixture over fillings.  Bake for 30 minutes or until knife, inserted into center, comes out clean.  Allow to set for 5 minutes before serving.

*CSA ingredients
**Farmers market ingredients

Nutritional information (1/6 quiche):
Calories                                 279
Total Fat                                  14
Cholesterol                            194
Carbohydrates                         21
    Fiber                                      3
    Sugar                                     2
Protein                                     18

Beans and Ham

Happy July 4th, our nation's birthday!  And it is so beautiful outside today!  Currently 75 and sunny, a perfect day for a picnic!  So, today's menu includes ribs with my homemade bbq sauce and and new try at beans.  I was looking for a baked bean recipe, but the one I came across that gave me a start was a stovetop version.  I, of course, had to improvise with ingredients, but they turned out quite yummy.  This is a spicy version of Navy Beans with Ham.

Spicy Beans with Ham

• 2 small candy cane onions, chopped**
• 2 green garlic, minced**
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups Michigan ham, chopped
• 1 (14.5 oz) can Original Rotel tomatoes, with juice
• 2 (15-oz) cans Navy beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup sorghum*
• 1 Tbsp spicy brown mustard
• 1 Tbsp cider vinegar
• 1/8 tsp fresh-ground pepper

Heat oil over medium heat.  Add chopped onions and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.  Add garlic and ham and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes more.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well.  Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the liquid reduces by half. 

*CSA ingredients
**Farmers market ingredients

Gearing Up For CSA!

I know it's been forever since I have regularly posted here.  You should know that a lot has happened in the last year.  I started my first year as assistant professor of accounting at Saginaw Valley State University and it was so much more than I could have asked for.  Not only did I have a successful year teaching, but I managed to get a paper submitted for publication and was written up in the Interior newsletter.  They only highlight a couple professors/staff member a month, so I am humbled by this and happy that this wonderful honor will appear in my PPC folder for my first year of being faculty.  I have been to India and a meeting in New Orleans.  I have worked on important committees and just had a really great year.

Last week, they replaced my left knee, so I am in the process of recuperating from that.  It is going very, very well. I am already graduated from walker to cane.  My range of motion is already better than it was before surgery.  I couldn't be happier with my progress.

I did cook the other morning, making a quiche, but did not get a photograph of the finished quiche.  But I don't think that means I shouldn't post the recipe, so I will do that now.  Mom had spinach, mushrooms and onions in the refrigerator, as well as a selections of meats.  I chose ham for my protein and used sharp cheddar for the cheese.  Mom helped a lot because I am still restricted in my movements, but I put it all together for them to bake.  Here's the recipe:

Cheddar Ham Spinach Quiche

• 5 large farm fresh eggs*
• 1 1/4 cup 1/2% milk
• 1 1/2 cups baby spinach, torn
• 4 oz thinly sliced ham, torn
• 1/2 cup button mushrooms, chopped
• 1/4 cup onion, diced
• 1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded
• 1/2 tsp freeze-dried basil
• 1/8 tsp garlic powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Dice onions and mushrooms and saute them until onions begin to become translucent. Tear spinach and ham and put in bottom of prepared baking pan (9" round baking pan).  Sprinkle with mushrooms and onions.  Then sprinkle with cheddar cheese.  In a medium bowl, beat eggs; add milk and continue to beat until mixed well.  Add seasonings; pour carefully over the filling.  Bake in a preheated 350F oven for 35 minutes or until knife inserted into center comes out clean.  Allow to set for 5 minutes before serving.


I didn't mention that my egg CSA has started.  Each week, I will received 1 dozen farm-fresh eggs.  It was interesting that the range of sizes were great within the dozen and some were white while others were brown.  It doesn't matter that there is such a difference, but I found it fascinating because the eggs that I received from my CSA in Cleveland were always uniform in size and the same color.  I am guessing that the farm we received them from in Cleveland was a much bigger farm that my current CSA.

So, now, it is time for me to give a shout-out to my new CSA.  I finally decided to go with Middleton Farm CSA out of Coleman, MI.  I have gotten to know them over the last year because I bought much of my meat from them each week when I went to the farmers market last summer.  I purchased the egg CSA, which started at the beginning of may and a quarter share of the Harvest Share CSA, which will start sometime in June.  I think the beginning is up in the air because of the cold wet weather we have been having this spring.  However, they did send an email last week saying that they were starting planting, so hopefully, we will start close to the scheduled time.  This group also offers several meat CSA plans, which, at some point I should be able to afford.  But for now, I will continue to buy my meats from them at the market as needed.  Oh, the interesting thing about how they do their Harvest Share CSA is that you go to the market and they hand you the proper size container for your share.  You then can fill that container with whatever you would like from the produce available that week.  Both my mom and I really like this idea as we will get what we want and will use.  I hope I am brave enough to try different things as they are available (one of the reasons I was attracted to CSAs in the first place), however, I will enjoy being able to control the amount of greens and items like turnips that I receive.

Middleton Farms CSA delivers in Midland and Mt. Pleasant and has pick up at the Midland Farmer's Market as well.  The shares include being able to go to the farm to pick up additional items as well.  It looks to be the beginning of a great relationship!  For information on the CSA, you can go to their website: http://www.middletonfarmcsa.com/.

*CSA ingredients

Farmers' Market Finds

Mom and I went down to the Midland Farmers' Market this morning and I was surprised how the produce selection has expanded.  It took everything in me not to just buy all of the beautiful vegetables available this morning, but since I head out on Wednesday next week, I resisted.  But there was everything from beets to zucchini and yellow squash to eggplant to cucumbers to tomatoes and so on.  Yes, did you see that they had almost everything for ratatouille?  Oh, I so wanted to get everything and make a batch, but then I would have to leave it for Mom and Dad to eat and that wouldn't be fair.  I settled for beets with beautiful beet greens and blueberries.  Mom got tomatoes, pickle cukes, rhubarb and cherries.

When we got home, I quizzed them on whether they would like to try quiche with the beet greens.  Mom said she usually gave the greens to Lyn (she's actually never tried them before!).  They agreed to try it, so I cooked up the greens, cut up one of the riper tomatoes and then added ham and sharp cheddar.  They thoroughly enjoyed the quiche for lunch and we have leftovers for breakfasts.

Beet Green with Ham Quiche

• 1 Tbsp oil
• 1 small bunch beet greens with stems*
• 1 medium tomato*
• 6 oz Michigan picnic ham
• 3 oz extra sharp cheddar
• 5 large eggs
• 1 1/4 cup milk
• salt, pepper, dried basil, garlic powder

Wash beet greens, dry and cut off stems.  Cut stems into thin slices; set aside.  Cut beet leaves into bite-sized pieces; set aside.  In a large skillet, heat oil.  Add stems and cook until they start to soften, about 5 minutes.  Add leaves and cook, stirring, until the leaves begin to wilt.  Cut tomato into thin wedges and arrange in bottom of prepared pan (I used a round cake pan this time).  Sprinkle greens evenly over the tomatoes.  Finely dice the ham and cheddar and sprinkle evenly over the vegetables.  In a medium bowl, whip eggs with milk and seasonings until smooth and slightly bubbly.  Pour over the fillings.  Bake in preheated 350F oven for approx 35 minutes, or until a knife, inserted into the center, comes out clean.  Allow to stand 5 minutes before serving.

*Farmers' Market ingredients

Ham Hocks and Beans

In the last couple shares, we have received beans and ham hocks. Given how cold it has been this week, I decided it was time to make some bean soup. I will admit that sometimes I am a lazy cook. I don't use dried beans often because of the time it takes to cook them. In the end, I always wonder why I have such an aversion to making them because they are so much better than canned. Making good bean soup takes a couple days to do right, and it tastes better after it has sat a while, so patience is needed. I promise, in the end, it is so worth the wait!

 Bean with Ham Soup 

 Make stock:

•  1 1-lb ham hock*
•  1/2 1b ham, cut in chunks
•  1 large sweet onion*, quartered
•  3 medium carrots *, cut into 2" pieces
•  1 small bunch greens*

 Place all ingredients in Crockpot. Add 5 cups water. Cover and cook overnight on HIGH. In the morning, remove and discard vegetables. Remove ham hock and ham pieces; cool, shred and set aside. Cool remaining stock and skim fat.

Note: Using ham and/or a ham hock to make stock gives rich flavor, but remember that they are salty, so you should not need to salt your stock.

 Cook beans:

•  1-1/2 lb dried beans*
•  water

 In a colander, sort beans to remove stories and debris. Rinse well and place in a large bowl. Cover with water to 2" above beans. Soak overnight. In morning, drain beans and discard soaking water. Rinse beans, drain and put in a large Dutch oven. Cover with cold water to 2" above beans. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and cook 60-90 minutes or until beans are cooked. Drain and discard cooking liquid.

 Note: Different beans take different times to cook. Make sure you test frequently so as to not overcook. Beans are done when they can easily be squished between your fingers or with a fork. Also it is important to cook at a simmer as boiling will disrupt the beans. 

Making soup:    

• shredded ham from stock*
• Ham stock*
• cooked beans*
• additional stock (chicken, vegetable, etc)*, as needed
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tsp dry) 
• 1Tbsp dry marjoram
• 1 bay leaf 
• fresh ground pepper, to taste

Combine all ingredients in Crockpot. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve with a nice cornbread.    

Note: If you've ever made bean soup, you know that it tastes better the next day, so make a big batch to enjoy through the week! 

*CSA ingredients