Vegetable Ratatouille

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From following me, you know there are two things I care deeply about: food waste and making healthy living and eating approachable and accessible. Living in NYC has its absolute perks, but often times I feel this nostalgia for nature or anything not growing from concrete. With that, I miss the accessibility to farms. Sure, we have a ton of great farmers market’s in NYC, but often times I am traveling during the weekend or shopping at hours of the day when they are not open. I’ve heard of CSA deliveries and all that jazz, but I also never know the exact weeks I will be here in need of groceries and can’t find myself able to commit to a full season of produce. Along with the constant desire for more organic and locally grown fruits and vegetables, I am always finding ways to waste as minimal amount of food as possible. Scraps in the fridge that most people would throw out? You better believe those are being tossed into a bowl and called “lunch” in this apartment. While I feel I am not alone in that mentality or act (or at least I hope not), there are unfortunately many people who wouldn’t eat certain produce because of a small imperfection. Bruise on an apple? Some may toss it. Me? That is getting chopped up, placed in my instant pot, and immediately repurposed into my fall apple butter that goes so perfectly with just about every breakfast.

These two reasons are why I was so excited to learn about Misfits Market, a recent Philadelphia grown company that focuses on their two-pronged mission: end the food waste problem globally and provide affordable, healthy food options to consumers. To do so, they offer boxes of local and organic produce that may not be seen as “perfect” (hence, the “Misfits” name), but would have otherwise been thrown out and wasted. I mean, its as if they were meant for me and my needs. Speaking of needs - you can actually choose which day you prefer to receive your delivery! Perfect for us "insanely busy" New York folk. Currently, Misfits Market sources high-quality produce from local organic farms across the Northeast and I am so excited to announce that as of today, they offer shipping to NYC (along with PA, NJ, DE, CT, and MD). With that news, you are also now able to receive 25% off your first order by using code “FRECKLED25”. To do so, order here! While this experience differs from your typical grocery shopping in that you do not get to pick out every single item individually, it encourages what I love most: having fun in the kitchen and stepping outside of your comfort zone. Sure, one time you may receive your favorite produce that you use every week, but another time you may receive something you’ve never even heard of before. That’s where the fun begins! In order to help you get creative using your Misfits’ produce, I put together a recipe featuring a lot of my recent box’s ingredients that can easily be swapped out for any vegetables provided. I hope you enjoy your kitchen’s new best friend!

Ingredients

• Roma tomatoes (6)

• Zucchini (1)

• Butternut squash (1/2)

• Eggplant (1)

• Bell peppers (2)

• Avocado oil

• Olive oil

• Za’atar seasoning

• Rosemary

• Oregano

• Salt & pepper

Directions:

1. Make the tomato sauce:

   1. Slice 3 roma tomatoes in half and place in a blender with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, rosemary, oregano, and salt & pepper

   2. Blend on high for ~30 seconds – 1 minute, or until the tomato is finely chopped and makes a sauce like texture

   3. Slice the zucchini, eggplant, remaining roma tomatoes, bell peppers, and peeled butternut squash into thin circular disks

   4. In a braiser, or a circular baking dish, place the tomato sauce at the base and then layer with the sliced vegetables aligning them in the same order beginning on the outside and working your way into the middle of the dish

   5. Top the vegetables with avocado oil, za’atar seasoning, and salt & pepper

   6. Bake at 425 degrees, covered, for 40 minutes

   7. Remove from the oven and serve hot alongside a protein

* To make the dish pictured below, serve alongside baked chicken drumsticks that are seasoned with avocado oil, za’atar seasoning, and salt & pepper and baked in the oven at 425 degrees for ~30 minutes.This post is sponsored in collaboration with Misfits Market