This is a salad for all the meat and potato lovers in your life, but it is light enough for those who prefer smaller portions of red meat. It’s the perfect meal for couples who enjoy cooking together, since some of the steps require you to be in the kitchen and the other half is prepared on the grill. Complete this stay-home, date-night meal with your favorite red wine and maybe a chocolate dessert.
Sausage and Eggplant Lasagna Rollups
Lasagna and eggplant parmesan are two of my favorite Italian dishes and this meal is the perfect blend of both. Ready in just a little over 30 minutes, it’s a fast take on lasagna that’s perfect for a busy weeknight meal. It’s excellent made with homemade marinara using farm-fresh tomatoes.
Sweet Potato and Kale Breakfast Hash
Vegetables and sunny-side-up eggs are my favorite breakfast combination. My Sweet Potato and Kale Breakfast Hash includes sausage in the mix for a hardy breakfast that will fuel you up for a busy day. This is also an easy dish to make for brunch, and leftovers are great warmed up and topped with a freshly fried egg on weekday mornings. Enjoy with a glass of milk or a cup of joe.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Frozen corn from last season’s harvest is a special treat to enjoy this time of year. It shines in my Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup, which also features delicate squash. A perfect blend of winter and summer produce to enjoy this time of year when drastic weather changes leave you sporting flip-flops one day and snow boots the next. This colorful bowl of produce will surely brighten your day regardless of the weather you are experiencing.
Pasta with Sausage and Butternut Squash Sauce
This velvety, butternut squash sauce is nutritious with a taste of decadence. Enjoy this guilt— free, creamy sauce topped with a little sausage or substitute toasted pecans for a vegetarian meal. Roasting the squash in advance makes this a quick meal to throw together for family or friends. When I have a lot of butternut squash in my CSA share, I like to roast up several batches to freeze for later use. Simply follow step one below and scoop the inside flesh from the squash. Store squash in zip-top bags and freezer until ready for use. Defrost squash in the refrigerator the day before preparing this recipe and you’ll have a homemade meal with farm-fresh ingredients on your table in less than 15 minutes.
Massaged Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Massages are the ultimate way to relax and unwind. Kale responses similarly to the human body after a massage as its tough leaves chill out and become smooth and soft. It sounds a little silly to massage kale, but it is worth the extra work to transform this hardy vegetable into a more delicate leafy green.
Green Salad with Strawberry Champagne Vinaigrette
I was inspired to create this simple salad when I received some beautiful green leaf lettuce in my winter CSA. What a delightful surprise to receive fresh, locally grown lettuce on a cold winter day. With homemade strawberry jam also in my CSA, I used this treasured treat to create a Strawberry Champaign Vinaigrette. The dressing makes this side salad taste like summer, and when strawberries are in season I plan to toss some on top. For now, I’ll use this pantry staple to enjoy the preserved flavors as I fondly reflect on last summer.
Butternut Squash Burgers
Butternut squash adds a touch of sweetness to this vegetarian burger as it compliments the nutty chickpeas, toasted walnuts, fried sage leaves and blue cheese. This hardy burger pairs well with a simple side salad.
Winter Vegetable Tacos
These vegetarian tacos, featuring winter squash, are comfort food you can feel good about devouring. I use butternut squash, but any winter squash would work well paired with Tex-Mex spices and heart-healthy beans. Enjoy as a meal or serve as tapas for your next gathering. Leftovers are excellent the next day or could be transformed into a delicious salad served over your favorite leafy greens with a few crushed tortilla chips for a little crunch.
Broccoli Cheese Curd Frittatas
Cheese curds are delicious nuggets of freshly made cheddar cheese that actually squeak in your mouth, when you eat them soon after they are produced. There are cheese factories throughout Wisconsin where you can find warm cheese curds made daily. All cheddar cheeses actually begin as curds before they are formed into blocks or wheels and aged.
Mushroom and Butternut Squash Soup
Mushrooms, butternut squash and thyme were made to be eaten together and this winter soup captures their earthy flavors in every velvety bite. You can warm up with this bowl of soup on a cold day by the fire while reading a good book.
Roasted Acorn Squash with Quinoa and Greens
Winter squash and greens are two of my seasonal favorites and this dish includes them both for a hearty vegetarian meal. Roasted Acorn Squash and Quinoa with Greens also makes an elegant side dish served with roasted pork tenderloin and a simple salad.
