Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Local High..lights

I think of all the produce at the farmer's market as the best representation of how a vegetable or fruit should really taste. An apple from the farmer's market sends the taste buds on a nostalgic journey into the tastes of fall, of being a kid in a sweet Thunder Cats Halloween costume, of caramel coated apples on a stick....In stark contrast with store bought gigantic red 'delicious' wax coated freaks of nature that mildly taste of apple.
With this rant in place, I can now jump into my intention, each week to pick and ingredient straight from the FM, and highlight it in one week's cooking extravaganza. This week...Broccoli Rabe...
Best when... bottom is peeled of it's hard parts, and then saute it, broil it dump olive oil all over it , one can be pretty creative with this versatile veggie.

I made...Broccoli Rabe and Vegan Tofurkey Sausage (I will be making my own damn vegan sausage soon, Jessie and I are working out the kinks)

Easy, saute the crap out of the sausage, with garlic, mushroom, salt, pepper. Add BR towards the end, until bright green, add some coarsely chopped parsley. Finish with salt, and freshly ground pepper.


VEGAN MEATLOAF PATTIES!

I never really cook from recipes, I see them more as suggestions. That said, I will attempt at quantifying ingredients so bear with me....

1 Gimmelean sausage style log
3/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 onion, sauteed
spices (I put salt, pepper, and whatever herbs I have lying around, or whatever seasoning I have closest to me in the cabinet)

Mix that jam together, form into patties and bake at 425 for 12 min. Then, smother with ketchup/BBQ sauce and put into broiler for about 5 min. watch them! broiling=burning stuff really easy.