CSA | #02 pattypan & armenian cucumbers

Did you know that those cute little spaceship squash are actually called pattypan squash? And did you know that Armenian cucumbers exist and that they are gigantic and look more like a gourd? Oh and did you know that fancy dehydrated mushrooms create a lovely mushroom broth when hydrated? I didn't. Hopefully we continue to learn knew things everyday.

A few weeks ago I read an article in the NY Times concluding that the secret to consistent pleasure is buying for others. Surely this is no surprise. I don't enjoy cooking for myself. In fact, I rarely cook anything special when I'm alone. There are many days I eat muesli for dinner. Luckily Janean came over for dinner this week or else I may have let these pattypan squash from my CSA go to waste.

M E N U

PATTYPAN WITH CHANTERELLE & KALE

pattypan squash, chanterelle, kale, farro

ARMENIAN CUCUMBER SALAD

armenian cucumbers, tomatoes, mint, lemon vinaigrette

MELON

sliced melon, mint, served with peppermint tea

Pattypan Squash with Chanterelle, Kale, & Farro

for two

inspired by WHISKED

ingredients:

• 3 medium pattypan squashes

• 1/2 cup dried chanterelle mushrooms

• 1 1/2 cups boiling water

• 3 leaves of kale

• 1/2 cup dried farro

• 2 1/2 cups water

• some evoo | salt | pepper

directions: 

step 1:   place dried mushrooms in a small Pyrex bowl, pour boiling water to cover; let sit about 15 minutes. when done drain mushrooms through a sieve and save the broth for the farro. coarsely chop mushrooms, set aside.

step 2: in a pot on stove bring 1 cup farro, 1 1/2 cups water, 1 cup mushroom broth, some salt, and some evoo to boil and then let simmer about 25 minutes

step 3: while the farro is cooking, slice pattypans about 1/4" thick

step 4: wash and coarsely chop kale 

step 5: in a large skillet saute pattypans in evoo, salt, and pepper for about 15 minutes making sure to flip sides halfway. until golden. 

step 6: while pattypans and farro are cooking, saute the chopped mushrooms in a separate skillet for about 5 minutes 

step 7: when pattypans are becoming golden, add the mushrooms, kale, more evoo, perhaps more salt and pepper to the pattypan skillet. let cook about 5 or so minutes more. 

step 8: top the farro with the pattypan dish to serve!

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Armenian Cucumber Salad

ingredients: 

• 1 large Armenian cucumber, sliced into rounds

• a handful of mint, coarsely chopped

• a handful of grape tomatoes, halved

• lemon juice of half a lemon

• some evoo | salt | pepper

directions: 

combine all ingredients in a bowl, toss, serve cooled