07-01-08 Emeral Gai Lan Thinning

Gai Lan (AKA Chinese broccoli) is a lot like spinach, but with more body. It is easier to grow, can be grown in all seasons (unlike spinach, only does well in cold weather), and has a much longer harvesting period than spinach. I sowed mine on May 24. You can start to enjoy them in just about 40 days. They will be producing for a long time. It is time to thin the field. I gathered all the thinning and made a Quiche pie, it was delicious! Here is the rough recipe:

Ingredients: 1 lb. Gai Lan thinning, 1/3 C chopped sweet onion. 3 eggs, 1 8oz. package of cream cheese, 1/2 C. heavy cream, 1/4 C. sour cream, and 1/2 C. cheddar cheese, 1/2 t. salt, 1/4 t. pepper, 1 sprig of fresh thyme, 1 t. caper and one fresh green garlic(optional), head and part of the green stem. One ready-made pie crust.

Method: Blanch Gai Lan in boiling water, rinse with cold water, drain well and cut into 1" long pieces; Add chopped onion, cream cheese (break cream cheese into bite size pieces). Mix heavy cream, sour cream together, beat in eggs add all other ingredients. Fill the pie crust with the vegetable and cream cheese, pour liquid over the crust. Bake at Three hundred fifty degrees for 55 minutes.








Enjoy!