Family Dinner Plan: Kohlrabi is back

Remember I wrote about kohlrabi back in April? Mariquita Farms stuck some in our spring box and it was a new vegetable for us, one that we enjoyed quite a bit. Jonathan came in May to cook for a party at our house, and demonstrated a quick way to cook kohlrabi (or tokyo turnips):

Seared Kohlrabi (or Turnips) with Lemon Thyme

Try this with tokyo turnips, purple turnips (need to be peeled), or kohlrabi. All equally good this way.

3 kohlrabi or 1 bunch turnips

olive oil

10 branches lemon thyme

2 T butter

Peel (if necessary) the kohlrabi or turnips. Cut into wedges. Heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet and sprinkle some salt over the oil. Add the kohlrabi or turnips, cut side down and sear until deeply colored, maybe 4 minutes. Turn the kohlrabi or turnips to the second cut side and brown that side – it will take less time. Flip to the curved side and add a little water (maybe 1/3-1/2 c). The water should immediately start to boil and steam. Cover the pan to steam the veggies, maybe another 2 minutes. Remove cover and allow the water to boil off, then add the butter, lower the heat and stir to coat the kohlrabi (or turnips). Remove from heat and finish with the thyme. Check for seasoning before serving. Serve warm.

We are also up to our eyeballs in apples these days – I bought about 40 pounds from Mariquita for pies, sauce and eating. Plus, we receive a pound or two (or three) every week from Mariquita and Happy Child, and frankly, I cannot always keep up. Fortunately, I remembered this easy recipe for Pressure Cooker Apple Sauce and quickly reduced my stash (especially the slightly soft and wrinkly apples, see above photo).

Our box from Mariquita also contained Butternut Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon Radish, Romanesco Cauliflower, Gala Apples, Green Bell Peppers, Purple Kohlrabi, and a box of Tomatoes.

Here is my menu plan for the week of November 13:

Cookie of the week: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Sunday: Grilled marinated steak, sliced watermelon radishes and kohlrabi, butternut squash risotto, roasted cauliflower, sauteed chard, sliced tomatoes, applesauce

(Meatless) Monday: Pressure-cooker Bean and Pasta Soup, bread, kohlrabi sticks

Tuesday: Slow-cooker Curried Chicken with Ginger and Yogurt, rice, sliced tomatoes

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Pork Chops, Lime-Cilantro Sweet Potatoes, seared kohlrabi (see recipe above), green salad

Friday: Trashy TV and Takeout!

What is on your menu plan this week?