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Spring Greens Salad from American Farmland Trust

Welcome to The Seasoned Franciscan. Sisters and their partners in mission—including affiliates, prayer partners and staff—share these recipes hoping to provide you with new ways of looking at the food around you. Being mindful of the food we eat is integral to making lasting change throughout the world. We focus these recipes on five themes: eating seasonally, exploring our heritages, pursuing meatless meals, foraging or using food scraps and embracing indigenous and ethnic foods.

New recipes are shared on a regular basis and can be submitted to the FSPA Eco Pact Team at ecopact@fspa.org.

Spring Greens Salad from American Farmland Trust

Ingredients: 
Salad: 
2 C uncooked quinoa
3 C green beans
2 C cherry tomatoes, halved
1 green apple, sliced thinly
½ currants, raisins or dried cranberries

Candied Cashews:  
1 C raw cashews  
¼ C natural maple syrup
1/8 tsp cinnamon
4 dashes nutmeg
1 dashes cayenne
Pinch of salt

Dressing:
1 C raw cashews
½ C tahini paste
2 T honey
Zest and juice of 2 lemons
2 shallots (1-2 T), finely diced 
4 dashes cayenne
½ - ¼ C water

Instructions:

  • Place 4 C water and 2 C quinoa in a large pot.  Bring to a boil and then simmer until quinoa is cooked and water is absorbed (12-15 minutes).
  • Wash and trim green beans.  Microwave for 2 minutes on high to soften. Or blanch the green beans for 3 minutes
  • Combine all ingredients for the candied nuts in an oven-sage glass dish and bake at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes, stirring half way through.  Remove from oven and let cool.  After a few minutes, stir the nuts to prevent sticking.
  • Place all ingredients except water in a food processor or blender and blend.  Add water gradually until the texture is smooth and creamy.  This can also be done by hand with a whisk or in a large jar.  Pour all or part of the dressing over the quinoa and combine.  Add other salad ingredients, top with candied nuts.  Serve over a bed of lettuce or baby spring or fall spinach pictured in above photo from Bonnie Plants who provide seeds, plants and lots of garden guidance!

If you would like to be notified when we share new recipes, be sure to scroll to the bottom, provide your email address, check the box confirming you are not a robot, click on a few photos to prove it and click subscribe! You will then receive an email after each new post. Remember, we're always looking for new recipes, so keep sending them to ecopact@fspa.org!

Story: 

A family recipe for her Mom’s Spinach Salad in the spring American Farmland Trust newsletter features spring greens we'll see soon in gardens and Farmer's Markets.   It was contributed by Stephanie Castle who manages the New York Women for the land program for American Farmland Trust.   AFT is one of the first U.S. organizations to collaborate with experts in many "fields" to address both the needs of farmers and the environment.

Learn more about American Farmland Trust, one of the first organizations to combine the needs of farmers with the needs of the environment.  AFT is a leader in sustainable farm policy, research and consideration for the environment.  Their most memorable slogan “No Farms, no Food” has added “no Future”.  In the late 1970’s AFT began it work with the problem of urban development and dwindling farmland.  They began to apply conservation tools to retain farmland and support farmers.  Early members were talented leaders in farming, agriculture and policy.  One was Father A.J. McKnight, a civil rights leader who saw the connection between farms, food, and social justice.  AFT has worked with farmers, legislators, the USDA and scientists on practices that build soil health, reduce erosion, improve water quality, reduce need for fertilizers and atmospheric carbon.  Their work and that of the many organizations who followed them continues to help the environment and help farmers succeed, increase productivity, income and care for their mental health.

Besides putting farmland in legal trusts for future generations, American Farmland Trust has become one of our most trusted advocates for farms, food and the future of Mother earth and her human and more than human inhabitants.

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Vicki Lopez-Kaley – I am an affiliate with FSPA and a member of the Eco Pact Team. For me the kitchen and garden are about slowing down and being creative. Sharing stories and connecting with others and the earth through food can bring great meaning and pleasure.

Isabel “Iggy” Bauer – I served as an AmeriCorps Service Member with FSPA. Sustainable food is one of my passions and I have a vision of bringing local food, gardens and green spaces to urban areas in support of human health and happiness.

The FSPA Eco Pact Team – We are a cooperative group of sisters, affiliates and partners in mission focused on making an impact on integral ecology through the lens of Laudato Si’. Since beginning our mission in the summer of 2021, Eco Pact has brought forward many changes, including initiating effective recycling practices at St. Rose Convent. Connect with us at ecopact@fspa.org.

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