Beer Can Chicken and Easy Potatoes

I commented on the gorgeous day today and suggested grilling instead of the earlier plan of braised kale and spaghetti (from Bon Appetit...it's only postponed). Mr. T came up with Beer Can Chicken. For anyone who doesn't know, this involves shoving an opened can of beer into a whole chicken and then grilling it. We've never done it before but always wondered how it would turn out. Well, it was freaking delicious. Some of the best chicken I've ever had. It was ridiculously moist, as I believe I said after shoving 3 bites into my mouth in rapid fire. Mr. T used the recipe from "How To Grill" by Stephen Raichlen but I'm sure there are lots of variations out there on the interwebs.

To go with the delicious chicken, we had two super easy sides. A few days ago, I made cole slaw by putting CSA cabbage in the food processor and mixing it with Paul Newman Ginger Sesame dressing. It's obviously very easy and a nice low cal side. I take it for lunch a lot and sometimes put some chopped nuts on top. (When I don't have CSA cabbage, I just buy a bag of pre-shredded cole slaw mix.) Because it was leftover, it was a little mushy, but not too bad. I also decided to use the small thing of potatoes we got from the CSA weeks ago. They were small potatoes that looked sort of like new potatoes, but as Mr. T pointed out, they tasted more like Yukon Golds. I cut them into 8s and tossed them with olive oil, salt, pepper, and some fresh rosemary. Then I just wrapped them into some foil packets and tossed them on the grill for about 35 minutes. Easy peasy. They actually were delicious and my only regret is that I didn't make more!

Sippel CSA Report 9/26/09

Wow, this was big week! SO much food! I'll try to remember it all since I actually picked it up this time.

-bag of potatoes
-2 butternut squash
-2 cantaloupe
-bunch of turnips (he said they're kinda sweet and can even be eaten raw)
-rainbow chard (their chard is SO pretty)
-sage (as he said, to go with the butternut squash)
-some peppers as desired (I got Mr. T some ridiculously hot looking tiny things that he practically squealed about)

I know there was some other stuff but I'm clearly missing it. I had two very full and heavy bags of produce. We're starting to plan what to do with all of this!

Sippel CSA Report 9/19/09

no more tomatoes. :(

I am getting so bad about remembering everything!
-bag of mixed greens
-several melons
-celery
-radishes
-several eggplants

I know there was more than that but I can't remember what and I'm too lazy to get up and look in the kitchen. :)

Sippel CSA Report 9/12/09

This week felt a little lighter than normal. Still a lot of veggies though!

-bag of mixed greens (yay!)
-2 melons (choice)
-2 lbs of tomatoes
-2 eggplants
-green beans
-head of garlic

Roasting tomatoes

In an effort to eat all these tomatoes, I found recipes for tomato tarts. One of them suggested drying them in the oven before you make the tart and lots of the reviews raved about the tomatoes, so I've been making those. They are SO good. I cut them into wedges and scoop out the seeds. I put them on a baking sheet with some olive oil, garlic, fresh thyme and salt. I cook at 350 for about an hour and half. I start checking them and removing the ones that look done and keep cooking the bigger ones. Seriously, these are awesome. I eat them plain but they'd be great in dishes, on sandwiches, in salads, etc.

Here's a link to the original recipe:
Oven-Dried Tomato Tart with Goat Cheese and Black Olives

I've never actually made the whole recipe. :)

Sippel CSA Report 9/5/09

More tomatoes! :)

We got:
-5 lbs of tomatoes (all different kinds)
-a bag of arugula(?) or something else
-a bag of potatoes
-little yellow squash
-tomatilloes
-flat leaf parsley
-watermelon
-2 red onions

maybe something else but not sure.