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Sweet and Spicy Butternut Bisque

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F.O.O.D. Focus on the Organic Difference
vol. 9 December 14, 2018

By Christy Bassett for The Organic Food Guide and NOFA/Mass

During the darkest weeks of the year, when the memories of tender greens and fresh harvests begin to fade, I always crave a heartier vegetable to take their place.  This is good, because much of what we have to sustain us throughout the season is winter squash.  Each year I seem to discover another variety of this versatile storage crop that I fall in love with.  But I always come back to butternut.  It is naturally sweet and aromatic, but solid and strong.  It is the perfect stand-in veggie for almost any recipe.

This bisque includes an entire roasted hot pepper (I used a fully ripe ghost pepper), which makes for quite a spicy and savory flavor profile.  But feel free omit the pepper all together or substitute a few red pepper flakes for a milder, sweeter dish that the whole family can enjoy.

Locally grown butternut has a bright orange hue and strikingly aromatic center.

Sweet and Spicy Butternut Bisque

Ingredients:

3 cups organic butternut squash (about 2 small-medium)

4 cups organic chicken stock

½ cup raw organic cream

1 head organic garlic

3 small organic yellow onions

1 organic hot pepper

Dash of cinnamon

Dash of nutmeg

3 Tbs organic butter

1 tsp organic extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp sea salt

Roasted vegetables create a deeper flavor profile when used in recipes.

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Cut butternut squash in half, length-wise. Remove seeds and membrane.  Place cut side down on a baking sheet, pierce skin to allow steam to escape and bake in preheated oven until tender, about 1 hour.
  • While squash is cooking, you can also roast the garlic, onion and hot pepper. Cut the top 1/4 inch off the head of garlic as well as the onion.  Place these as well as the hot pepper on a square of aluminum foil.  Drizzle each with olive oil and wrap with surrounding foil. Place in a small baking dish and cook in preheated oven for 45 minutes.  After removing from the oven and cooling, gently separate garlic cloves from peel, onion from the skin and the hot pepper from the stem.
  • Once squash is roasted, remove from oven and allow to cool. Scoop pulp out of shell and place in a blender or food processor.  Add chicken stock, garlic cloves, onion, hot pepper, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt.  Blend until smooth and fully combined.  Add cream and blend again.
  • Heat on the stovetop until desired temperature is reached. Top with a drizzle of organic raw cream and swirl with a skewer for visual interest.  Enjoy!

Dragon’s Tonic with Boondocks Botanicals, Inc.

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F.O.O.D. Focus on the Organic Difference
vol. 8 December 7, 2018

Profile and recipe from Sammi-Jo Crosby of Boondocks Botanicals, Inc. of Hubbardston, MA
By Christy Bassett for The Organic Food Guide and NOFA/Mass

Sammi-Jo Crosby teaches us how to make our own “Dragon’s Tonic” (aka Fire Cider, but since that is a trademarked name, we can’t call it that.)  This spicy, acidic tonic is easy to make at home and is perfect for chasing away winter germs.  If you don’t have a stockpile of dried organic hot peppers or cured garlic, you can also purchase pre-made Dragon’s Tonic from Boondocks Botanicals Inc.  Find them on The Organic Food Guide, Etsy, Facebook or Instagram for more information.

Sammi-Jo Crosby of Boondocks Botanicals, Inc.

Are you a farmer, gardener, homesteader, consumer, landscaper or food activist?

I am all of these things except for a landscaper and food activist – although I am quite concerned about finding and consuming well-grown food.

What type of food to do grow, if any?  Do you sell it and where?

We grow a vegetable and herb garden every year for our family. We also raise our own meat birds and egg layers. Any extra is given away or traded with family, friends and neighbors. We do not sell food at this time.

Why do you love local food?

It tastes better! Truly and in all seriousness it does, and I also prefer knowing how it was grown, what it ate and how happy its life was; this goes for the plants too!

Why do you choose organic?

Organic is an important choice for me because I have seen and experienced the deadly effects chemical toxicity can have on the body. The fact that it is partly a choice to put these slow killers into our system is very troubling. I do all I can to prevent my family from taking any in. Therefore, we grow and care for all our vegetables, herbs and poultry as organically as possible.

Why do you love Massachusetts?

MA is home to me. My maternal great-grandparents came over from Finland way back and began farming the same land my uncle is working today. “Damn rocky hillside” and all. It’s in my blood.

Dragon’s Tonic (aka Fire Cider)

I typically make a big batch of this for the Fall and then again in the Spring for two reasons: to help combat the seasonal allergies/cold as well as to have on hand all year for cooking.

My favorite thing about this recipe is the flexibility! As long as an ingredient is fresh and spicy, throw it in the mix! My other favorite thing is most of the ingredients are grown right out in our garden, making it organic, easy (and inexpensive!) to put together.

Now, we’re going to end up straining all this at the end, so there’s no need to get hung up on keeping out onion skins or pepper seeds. This recipe can be completely made to taste, as long as you’ve got the bones of it. Amounts are set for a half gallon sized mason jar, so you can add or subtract as your container & taste allows.

Dragon’s Tonic in progress

Ingredients:

  • 4-6 organic Habanero peppers, sliced with seeds
  • 6-8 organic Cayenne peppers, sliced with seeds
  • ½ head organic Garlic, roughly chopped
  • 3 organic Onions, roughly chopped
  • Hand sized organic Ginger root, roughly chopped – no need to peel unless skin is wicked dirty
  • About 8” long organic Horseradish root, peeled and roughly chopped
  • About 8 pieces organic Turmeric root, peeled and roughly chopped
  • ¼ Cup Black peppercorns
  • Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, with the Mother – homemade or purchased
  • Local organic Honey, to taste

Directions:

  • Start with a clean mason jar & lid (I like using the half gallon size).
  • Place all the prepared ingredients in the jar
  • Cover completely with Apple Cider Vinegar, leave a little head space for future mixing & make sure to stir to eliminate air bubbles.
  • Screw on you jar lid
  • Let sit in a warm place out of direct light for 8 weeks, turning the jar every few days or so to mix up the concoction.
  • Once fully infused, strain out all the bits and reserve the liquid.
  • Warm up the honey & stir it in. I like mine a little more on the spicy side, so I’ll only add about a shy quarter cup to this recipe.

Use a shot a day of this tonic to fend off colds, flus and allergy symptoms with its infused immune, digestive and circulatory boosting properties. I also like to use it in the kitchen as a marinade base, adding in herbs as desired.