Today is the official first day of fall and it calls out to prepare a dish with fall colors.  This dish was inspired by our neighbors who raised healthy basil plants this summer, and had dried the bounty in a dehydrator. They graciously shared a baggie with me and that was the inspiration for this dish: Basil Carrots.

Basil Carrots

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 8 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound organic carrots
• 4 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp dried basil
• 1 orange, juiced

Instructions

 

• Cut carrots into one- or two-inch slices
• Place in a pan with water almost to cover and cook for eight to nine minutes until semi-soft when touched with a fork
  
• Drain excess water
• Add butter, honey, dried basil, and juice of one orange
  
• Mix together

Maybe its some long lost connection to my Italian roots (Pace – my maiden name is originally an Italian surname) but I adore Gorgonzola – actually crave it.  So, this beet recipe that uses this yummy of all cheeses fulfills healthy and cheesy cravings.  Beets are in my CSA right now.  It’s one of those veggies that the more you get used to cooking it – the easier it becomes.  A couple of options for preparation are:

1.     Wash and place unpeeled beets in a 350 degree oven with 1 inch of water, covering with foil for one hour. Peeling easily comes off after cooling.

2.    Wash, peel, cut into 1 – 2 inch slices and place in boiling water for about 30 Minutes.
This recipe uses the 2nd method. 
 Buon Appetito!

Beet- Gorgonzola salad

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

• 4-5 Medium-sized beets peeled and cut into 2" cubes
• ½ cup Chopped walnuts
• 3 tbsp Walnuts, coarsely-chopped
• ½ tsp Salt
• ¼ cup Frozen orange juice
• ¼ cup Balsamic vinegar
• 4 oz Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

Instructions

 

• Place beets in saucepan & cover with water. Cook for 25 minutes.
  
• Place walnuts in skillet, reach toasting point, and stir in maple syrup until evenly-coated
  
• Whisk together remaining ingredients
  
• Pour beets into bowl, add nuts and dressing. Place in refrigerator until cool and add crumbled Gorgonzola.