We will finally have vegetables in our bag!
Some lettuce and Swiss chard will accompany your eggs home this week. Swiss chard is a nutritional powerhouse -- an excellent source of vitamins K, A,
and C, as well as a good source of magnesium, potassium, iron, calcium and dietary
fiber. One cup of chopped Swiss chard has just 35 calories. Health wise, chard
can help with blood sugar regulation, which provides benefits
diets of individuals diagnosed with diabetes. With its very good supply
of calcium and its excellent supply of magnesium and vitamin K, chard is also a
healthy boost for your bones. Swiss chard does not ship well, so you typically will not find it in grocery stores.
The young tender leaves are the most flavorful and make a colorful addition to salads. Cut out the midrib of larger leaves before cooking or chopping into salads. Chop large leaves to cook down like spinach, or use in casseroles, soups, and pasta.
The young tender leaves are the most flavorful and make a colorful addition to salads. Cut out the midrib of larger leaves before cooking or chopping into salads. Chop large leaves to cook down like spinach, or use in casseroles, soups, and pasta.
How Store
Swiss Chard
Do not wash Swiss chard before storing as the exposure to
water encourages spoilage. Place chard in a plastic storage bag and wrap tightly. Place in refrigerator where it will keep
fresh for up to a week. When ready to eat, rinse Swiss chard under cold running water. Do not soak
chard as this will result in the loss of water-soluble nutrients.
Remove any area of the leaves that may be brown, slimy, or have holes
If you have large batches of chard, or won’t be able to
use it this week, you can freeze it. In the fall, once it is plentiful, we chop the leaves in the food processor and store in 1 cup portion small freezer
bags, which is perfect for the family favorite: Crust-less Swiss Chard with Cheddar
and Bacon Quiche
Prep Time:
12 MinutesCook Time: 35 Minutes
Ingredients:
· 1 cup chopped Swiss chard · 1 cup chopped yellow sweet onion
· A splash of olive oil
· 6-12 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (or the whole package)
· 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese
· 5 large eggs beaten
· Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation
1. Heat oven to
350 degrees2. Nonstick spray a 9-ince pie plate
3. In a large skillet, heat olive oil
4. Cook onion until tender
5. Add chopped chard leaves and continue cooking, stirring until the chard is wilted
6. Toss with salt and crumbled bacon
7. Stir in the cheese and beaten eggs
8. Pour into the prepared pie plate
9. Bake for about 35 minutes, until the quiche is firm and lightly browned around the edges
*Amount of onion and Swiss chard can vary but it is important that they are proportional
