PCC Winter Farro Salad
Fall favorites: Brussels sprouts, yams and kabocha squash
PCC Taste | November 2012
Embrace chilly November evenings: they're your perfect excuse to putter about the kitchen and create all manner of cozy comfort dishes. Here are three seasonal delights we can't wait to simmer, braise, bake and stew all winter long. Too tired to cook? Try these treasures in our deli.
Brussels Sprouts
These little gems are members of the mighty crucifer family (notice how they resemble tiny cabbages) and taste great cooked with bacon and fall fruit such as apples and pears. Like their cruciferous brethren, Brussels sprouts boast off-the-charts levels of vitamin K and vitamin C and help the body prevent cancer by helping us eliminate toxins, reduce inflammation and protect cells from damage.
Look for: firm, compact, blemish-free heads no larger than an inch in diameter, with clean stem ends
Store: unwashed and tightly wrapped in your refrigerator's produce drawers for up to four days
Enjoy: sautéed or roasted. Avoid overcooking and you'll also avoid their trademark pungent scent.
- Tuscan Brussels Sprouts with White Beans, Pasta and Hazelnuts
- Pan-seared Brussels Sprouts with Apples, Bacon, Shallots and Rosemary
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Lemon-Garlic Sauce
Yams & Sweet Potatoes
Some of us only eat these treasures at Thanksgiving, and what a shame! Sweet potatoes and yams offer hearty satisfaction any time. Pierce with a fork, wrap in foil, and bake in a 400° F oven for about 45 minutes and you've got yourself a sweet, creamy snack to enjoy when you need an energy boost during the week. Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes are one of nature's top sources of beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin C.
Look for: small to medium-size sweet potatoes, which are sweet and creamy, with firm, smooth and even-toned skin
Store in: a cool, dry place, such as a pantry, for up to two weeks
Enjoy: baked, stewed, steamed, boiled, and in soups and desserts. Add cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves for extra flavor and nutrition.
Kabocha Squash
This petite green squash with its sweet, smooth, bright orange interior is a mainstay of Japanese wintertime cuisine. Small wonder, since it's at its best slowly stewed in broth and wine on the stovetop, filling the kitchen with its delicate aroma. Pair it with a flatiron steak and fresh chanterelles sautéed in butter: amazing! It also offers a delicate, pumpkin-like flavor stuffed inside ravioli. And yes, that telltale bright orange means it offers plenty of vitamin C and vitamin A during those dark winter months.
Look for: squash with a smooth, deep green rind
Store in: a cool, dark place, like a pantry
Enjoy: roasted, simmered, baked or steamed
- Kabocha Squash with Ginger Dressing
- Try this recipe from blogger Fuji Mama: Simmered Kabocha Squash (Kabocha Nimono)
Delightful deli dishes
PCC Roasted Brussels Sprouts
PCC Roasted Yams and Kale
Chilly days make the comfort foods of our deli oh-so delightful. Don't miss these seasonal specialties.
Key ingredient: winter squash — Satisfy your whole-grain craving with our Winter Farro Salad, replete with butternut squash, mushrooms and leafy greens. Dig into our Three Sisters Salad, a hearty medley of butternut squash, kidney beans and sweet corn. Check our hot food bar for our heavenly Butternut Squash and Cauliflower Risotto.
Key ingredient: Brussels sprouts — Try our deceptively simple Roasted Brussels Sprouts, prepared with apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper, and tossed with basil olive oil.
Key ingredient: Yams? Yum! — Get your yam/sweet potato fix with our decadent Maple-glazed Sweet Potato Bake, bubbly Yam and Celery Root Gratin, beloved Mashed Yams and Goat Cheese, and antioxidant-rich Roasted Yams and Kale.
New in the PCC Deli!
Several times each year, our deli staff gathers for a recipe throwdown to sample their latest creations. The winners join our beloved classics in our deli lineup. Here's a list of what to look forward to this winter.
- Caldo Gallego (ham and white bean soup with collard greens)
- Moroccan Sweet Potato Salad (declared "out of this world" by Leon, our deli merchandiser)
- Autumn Orzo with Butternut Squash