Lunchbox Liz

I've said it before and I'll say it again—Thanksgiving is simply the best. A day (or rather long weekend) for eating with loved ones and giving thanks. I've spend the past three days alternately cooking, eating, weaving, exercising, writing, and doing chores. It is has been lovely. We cranked up our woodstove for the first time to chase away the bitter cold temperatures that have descended in our neck of the woods. Jim set about building a ski-waxing bench with the extra time since there isn't enough snow yet to ski. It's been nice puttering around the house together, an activity we haven't had much time to do lately.
The biggest hit of our Thanksgiving was the pumpkin pie. The filling was made of a baked pie pumpkin gathered from the farm; eggs, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom; a cup of soymilk, and a teaspoon of zantham gum. I used the gluten-free crust from the baking class I took last spring. I'd give you the recipe, but I would feel guilty for sharing someone else's hard work. I hear the teacher is putting together a cookbook. Instead I'll leave you with a Lamb recipe from my high-school friend Kristina in her own hand. Her family is Greek and we used to spend holidays snitching baklava from their kitchen dodging her grandmother who often chased us from the kitchen with a carving knife. Anyway, we used to get a lamb from the farm each spring, but they have sold off her stock. I'm looking forward to finding a new source and giving this recipe a try.

Today's Lunch
Leg of Lamb

ok so here is the lamb recipe, although its only in my head so use your best judgment for measurements. (its soo amazingly easy, but yummy) leave yourself a day or too for marinating.

1 boneless leg of lamb (all tied up)
1 lemon
2+cups olive oil
salt and pepper
1+ head of garlic
a bunch of rosemary
a gallon size ziplock bag

ok first take your garlic, and peel and cut it into slivers. (the big cloves into thirds, the little ones not at all)
then take the rosemary off the sprigs and make a pile.
next take the lamb, and , as brutally as this is, jab it with a small knife to make incisions about 1/2 inch long all over it, I'm talking all sides of the lamb. about 3/4 of an inch between each cut. then, in those incisions, stuff a piece of garlic and some rosemary .
then salt and pepper the lamb, put it inside the ziplock bag, cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the bag, and then throw the lemon in the bag. then add the olive oil.
Zip the bag shut, and turn it over a few times.
then refrigerate at least overnight. i like to do 2 days. make sure you turn it over a couple of times.
the reason for the ziplock bag, instead of a pan, is it really engulfs the leg in the oil and juice and marinates the whole thing better than being in a pan. however, if your lamb is too big for a bag, use the pan, you just have to turn it more often.
then when ready to cook, cook it the way you like it. we either grill it, or bake it. (follow the instructions on the lamb package for temp of oven. ) it usually take about 1 1/2 hours.
remember, be careful not to overcook, lamb is best served med-rare
but if you accidentally overcook it, its still yummy!

so, try it out! let me know how it goes

One of the steady-Eddie, volunteers at the farm--bookkeeper and permaculture planner among other things--has started a blog about her and her husband's quest to eat local for a year. She includes recipes for seasonal, Colorado, cooking and resources for eating local. Check her out at http://lovelandlocal.blogspot.com.

And, speaking of seasonal produce we just got the squash for our winter share. All thirty-one pounds of it!

Once a month I get together with a group of women that until last February I didn't know. The group is sponsored by a local women's foundation. There are no rules except the commitment to meet on the first Tuesday of the month. What we have decided to do is meet in each other's homes and divvy up the cooking. The host plans an activity and we do a check-in with each other about how the month has been. It's been a pretty cool thing and I've learned a few new dishes. Today's lunch is from this month's meeting.
Oh, and the photo well that is my office mate Liz Good. We dressed up as good and evil and won the office costume contest for Halloween. We were joined in the competition by Barb in circulation who came as a drunk monk.

Today's Lunch
Ratatouille Crepes

16 entree crepes
1/3 cup cooking oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, sliced
3 Tbls flour
1 1# eggplant, diced
2 zucchini, thinly sliced
2 green (or red) peppers, seeded and cut into thin strips
1 29 oz can Italian-style tomatoes
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Tbls capers (optional)
1 cup grated Swiss cheese

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add garlic and onion and saute until onion is transparent. Meanwhile lightly flour the diced eggplant and sliced zucchini. Add the zucchini, eggplant and green pepper to onion and garlic. Stir to mix well and cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Add tomatoes, salt and pepper, and cook, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover and cook for 30 minutes longer or until mixture is thick. Add capers during last 15 minutes of cooking. Divide the mixture evenly among crepes and roll up or fold. Place in single layer in greased shallow baking dish. Top with grated swiss cheese. Dish can be covered and refrigerated at this point. Before serving bake, uncovered, in 350 oven for 20 minutes or until hot and cheese has melted.