Trecce dell’orto with Field Greens and Seasonal Vegetables
Trecce dell’orto (braids of the garden) is an Italian semolina colored by and flavored with spinach, carrots, basil and beets. I’m having this as a warm dinner salad with sautéed squash, cippoline onions, garlic, tomatoes, saffron and fresh herbs..
Wash, dry and refrigerate fresh field greens an hour or so before assembly.
Cook trecce del’orto until just under done. Drain (don’t rinse), dress with a little olive oil and set aside to cool slightly.
Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat for 10-15 minutes – we will want to cook the vegetables quickly so as to maintain their flavor and nutritional value.
While the pan is heating, prepare the rest of the ingredients – squash, onions, garlic, tomatoes, bell pepper, porcini mushrooms, herbs and spices.
Sauté mustard seeds and red pepper flakes in olive oil, stirring continuously until they begin to release their oils, about 2 minutes.
Add all the vegetables and sauté until slightly brown around the edges. Add the garlic and herbs and cook another minute. Deglaze with a little vermouth, then add saffron, capers and S&P to taste.
Stir in the reserved pasta and a dollop of fresh cream, stir and remove from heat.
To serve, mound chilled greens on a dinner plate and dress with aged balsamic vinegar. Top with warm pasta and vegetables and dress with shaved manchego cheese.
This post is part of Food Renegade’s Fight Back Fridays
Buyer Beware
Beyond the Bean: The Heroes and Charlatans of the Natural and Organic Soy Foods Industry
New Survey Finds a Number of ‘Organic’ Soy Food Brands Importing Beans from China — “Silk” Soy Milk Abandons Organic Ingredients Altogether 
“Health conscious shoppers should no longer associate Silk with organic, and should seek the green USDA Certified Organic seal when purchasing soy products… The good news in this report is that consumers can easily find, normally without paying any premium, organic soy foods that truly meet their expectations.”
