Don't throw those veggie tops away! On CBC's Weekend Morning Show

Don�t Throw It Away 2.0
This morning, on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Terry MacLeod, I presented the following recipes with items that many people throw out.

Last year, I encouraged cooks and people who love things from the garden and farmer�s markets to not throw radish leaves away. I have a couple of recipes for them on my blog. Now, I see people throwing carrot and beet tops away. These delicate leaves are delicious and so easy to make into many dishes.

Carrot Top Pesto

1 bunch carrot top greens, chopped (today from Almost Urban Farms at St. Norbert�s Farmer�s Market)
2-3 bunches basil (or chives, cilantro, etc.) (Fresh today from Reimer�s at St. Norbert�s Farmer�s Market)
3-5 cloves garlic
�- � cup parmesan reggianno or Padano
� cup walnuts (or almonds or pine nuts, or, pumpkin seeds)
1 (+/-) ground black pepper
Olive oil

In a food processor or blender, grind up garlic and nuts, and cheese if cut and not grated. Add chopped carrot greens and basil or other herbs and pepper. Drizzle in olive oil as it blends until a smooth paste or the consistency that you desire.

Use on pasta, fish, seafood, as a compound butter for steaks, in sauces, etc.

I�m serving it today on linguine from Nature�s Pasta.

Stuffed Beet Leaves

1 lb ground beef (or lamb) (I used Wildfire Farms ground beef, available at St. Norbert�s Farmer�s Market)

1-3 shallots, sliced
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped
1-2 tbs Turkish Baharat (or your favourite seasonings)
� finely chopped pepper (optional)
2 tbs chopped fresh dill
1 tbs good tomato paste (Available at Millad�s)
2 tbs pomegranate molasses (optional, available at Millad�s)
Salt, to taste
� cup bulgur (can use cooked rice, quinoa, etc.)
� cup stock (I used chicken stock that I make and freeze)
1 bunch beet leaves
Chicken stock for cooking

Preheat oven to 350F.

Saut� the shallots until soft and add the ground beef. After browned, add vegetables, seasonings and cook until soft. Add tomato paste and pomegranate molasses. Stir in the bulgur and add stock. Simmer until the bulgur is softened. Set filling aside.

Line a baking dish with a few beet leaves. Stack the beet leaves for stuffing. You can soften the rib by gently running your finger along it, to make rolling the leaves easier.

Fill each leaf with the meat filling and roll like a small burrito or dolma. Place each roll in the baking dish on top of the leaves. Add chicken stock to the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, or until soft.

Serve hot, cold, or warm. Top with yoghurt tahini sauce or a cream sauce with dill.

Enjoy!

Carrot Cake Smoothies

I had this recipe ready for you guys earlier this week, but decided it was probably a bad idea to post it on April Fool�s day. Then you�d be all like �Oh, it�s not actually a carrot cake smoothie, its cake�right?� I�m sorry. It�s really a smoothie, no jokes here. There is no cake.

But, also not a joke: this smoothie is really good! And it�s good for you! And, if you�re gonna be filling your Easter keister up with a ton of ham, potatoes, deviled eggs, Cadbury cream eggs, homemade ricotta, coconut cakes, lemon pies, and other pastel-inspired goodies (like I will), then a pre-feast smoothie might be in order.

This smoothie has all the makings of a good carrot cake, minus the cream cheese frosting, butter, eggs, and cake parts. Carrots, coconut, nuts, and spices get all whirled up in your blender with other good and creamy things like coconut milk, bananas, and dates. It�s almost a carrot cake shake, rather than smoothie.

If you�re feeling really festive, you can top it all off with toasted coconut and chopped nuts. And also� that remaining coconut milk? Go ahead and whip that into a smooth and fluffy whipped cream. It�s really like the icing on the cake�or the smoothie shake, if ya know what I�m sayin�.

Carrot Cake Smoothies

Serves 2

5 medium-large carrots, peeled and roughly chopped

1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 cup coconut milk (if you're using remaining for whipped cream, be sure to use a full fat version)

2 large dates, pitted

1/2 large banana

1/4 cup almonds or other nuts

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Pinch of fresh nutmeg and ground cloves

2 cups of ice

Toppings:

Toasted coconut

Chopped nuts

Whipped coconut cream

Place everything except ice and toppings in blender, and blend until smooth. Add ice, and blend until smooth. Pour into smoothie glasses or jars, and serve with toppings.