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I recently discovered that I love leeks! I used them one night this week for dinner and the recipe I used called for only the white and pale green parts. Is there any use for the darker green parts? I feel wasteful throwing them all away and they fill up my garbage, but I don't know what to use them for. I would like all suggestions for cooking leeks in any way, actually. Thanks.

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I use the leek tops for making broth--either veggie or chicken. They lose texture in the freezer if I'm not going to use them right away, but I've found the flavor to still be fine.

I've never found much use for them. I sometimes add a little of the top to leek soup for some interesting color, but that's about it.

Coincidentally, I've gotten so many spring onions, green onions, and garlic in my CSA box that I'm making a onion soup tonight with some broth and white wine (no recipe, just winging it). Currently, I'm slowly caramelizing a large onion with some serrano ham scraps.

With the thumb joint of my right hand deteriorating, and arthritis setting in on top of some carpel tunnel, I'd been finding it too painful to mash things with a fork (like eggs for egg or tuna salad). Inspiration struck one day (don't you love it when the light bulb finally goes off??;->>) and I grabbed the pastry cutter I inherited from my grandma. Works great even if I've let the eggs get cold.

So, I am a huge trader joes fan AND I happen to be a huge dairy fanatic. Has anyone tried the low fat goat cheese available at Trader Joes? The color is a little different than its full fat sister, but I am curious about the taste... Please let me know if you have tried it.

sarahrcross:
I just picked up some of the TJ's reduced-fat chevre last week, and I love it! I can't tell the difference between that and their regular chevre, actually. It's tangy and fantastic, and made a wonderful beet/apple/endive/chevre salad.

TJ's low fat french feta is also very good...

Oh YAY! Thanks for the reply. I will e sure to pick some up next time I am by there...

I love culinary coincidences--I also just noticed the low-fat Feta at TJ's and picked up some up this weekend to try in a lentil salad recipe. I saw the lo-fat goat cheese at the same time and was also curious about its quality. Glad to hear that both are nice substitutes!

Re: leek tops - get a compost bin! Chuck them away and do something useful with them at the same time!