What's In Season, February (Northern California) ~ Yummy Leeks + Recipe!

Happy Seasonal/Local Shopping and Happy Valentines Day, all you lovelies!!  ♥

Leeks are alliums like onions and garlic. Instead of forming a tight bulb like the onion, the leek produces a long cylinder of bundled leaf sheaths.

The white and light green parts of the leek and most often used, since the dark green part has much less flavor and can be starchy. The tender delicious part of the stalks is for adding flavor to soups or stocks.

*Recipe via -- cannelle et vanille ~ 

I'm sure by now all you bloggers know of her. She is amazing and her beautiful, delicious recipes makes my family jump for joy each and every time I cook something created by her. Oh and did I mention all her recipes are gluten-free. :)

Lemony Fennel, Baby Pink Turnip and Watercress Soup

Serves 3 to 4

2 Tbs olive oil
1 baby leek or 1/2 leek, white part only, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 medium fennel bulb, diced
3 baby pink or white turnips
1 medium russet potato, peeled and diced
3 cups chicken stock
1 cup packed watercress leaves (tough stems removed)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp lemon zest
Grated pink turnips, garnish
Yogurt, garnish
Amaranth sprouts (or any other green), garnish
Extra virgin olive oil, garnish

In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced leek, garlic, and fennel. Add a pinch of salt and cook for 3 minutes or until soft and translucent. Do not brown them.

Add the turnips, potato, and chicken stock. Bring to a light simmer, cover the pot and cook for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add the watercress and cook for 1 more minute.

Season with salt and pepper. Add the lemon zest. Puree the soup in a blender. You can strain it if you like or leave it a bit chunky.

Garnish with grated pink turnips, yogurt, sprouts and olive oil.

Above photo is from cannelle et vanille and is copyrighted to Aran Goyoaga.

Northern California ~

Vegetables

•arugula

•asparagus

•beets
•bok choy
•broccoli
•brussels sprouts
•cabbage
•cardoons
•carrots
•cauliflower
•chard
•chicory
•collards

•dandelion greens

•endive
•fava greens
•fennel
•garlic

•herbs
•horseradish
•kale
•kohlrabi
•lambsquarters
•leeks
•lettuces
•mushrooms
•mustard greens

•nettles
•onions
•parsnips
•pea shoots
•radish
•rutabaga
•scallions
•spinach

•sunchokes
•turnips

Fruits and Nuts

.
•avocados

•cheirmoyas
•grapefruit
•guavas
•kumquats
•lemons
•limes
•mandarins
•oranges (various citrus)
•pears
•persimmons
•pomelos

(Blog Photos Courtesy Of Jupiter Images)