This week’s share:

acorn squash

cabbage

daikon radish

kohlrabi

leek

red onions

rutabaga

There really isn’t a downtime when running a CSA.  Right now we are planning what we’re going to grow from seed, how to rotate the crops, which areas need more compost, etc.

So, while today is the last CSA Pickup day of this season, we are not sad that it’s over, because it isn’t over, it is just cycling.  And every stage of this cycle has been completely awesome.  Some of it is stressful, sure, just like in any career.  But it has been the best job we’ve ever had! 

ABOUT THE SURVEY:  It is attached to the email accompanying this newsletter.  Thank you for taking the time to complete it.  We need to know your opinions so we can make improvements.  We appreciate your opinions!

Freezer Coleslaw

1 medium head cabbage

salt

1/2 cup vinegar

1/3 cup cold water

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

1/2 teaspoon mustard seed

1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

1 small carrot grated

1/2 green pepper, grated

1/2 small onion, grated

Cut cabbage into wedges and sprinkle with salt; let stand for 1 hour.

Combine vinegar, cold water, sugar, celery seed, mustard seed, lemon pepper and seasoned salt; bring to a boil. Let cool.

Grate carrot, green pepper, onion, and cabbage. Mix with cooled vinegar mixture, mixing well. Freeze coleslaw in individual containers.

Colcannon

1 pound cabbage

1 pound potatoes

2 leeks

1 cup milk

salt and pepper to taste

1 pinch ground mace

1/2 cup butter

In a large saucepan, boil cabbage until tender; remove and chop or blend well. Set aside and keep warm. Boil potatoes until tender. Remove from heat and drain.

Chop leeks, green parts as well as white, and simmer them in just enough milk to cover, until they are soft.

Season and mash potatoes well. Stir in cooked leeks and milk. Blend in the kale or cabbage and heat until the whole is a pale green fluff. Make a well in the center and pour in the melted butter. Mix well.

Thank you for the opportunity to grow your food.   It has been a pleasure!

~ Kathy

This week’s share:

acorn squash

celeriac

daikon radish

kohlrabi

leek

storage onions

popcorn

rutabaga

sunflower head

watermelon

This week we put up four more low tunnels (the special blanket that protects from cold).  The spinach, lettuce, and radishes are covered.  They won’t grow much, but they will stay just like they are until it warms up in the spring.  We feel badly that we haven’t had much lettuce to offer.

This past weekend we also put up a type of greenhouse that utilizes the sun’s energy to keep it warm.  It’s called a high tunnel and we hope this helps us offer certain vegetables earlier in the season.  Others who use high tunnels have told us that their tomatoes are phenomenal.  That’s good news, as we know we had a poor offering of tomatoes. 

ABOUT THE SURVEY:  It is still being completed…our apologies for the delay.  Thank you for taking the time to complete it.  We need to know what you liked and didn’t like so we can make improvements.  We appreciate your opinions!

Just a reminder, after today, there is one week left for our full-share CSA members. 

For some of you (the half-share folks) today is your last pickup.  Thank you for entrusting us to grow your food.    It has been a pleasure getting to know you!

Sunflower Seeds

Cover unshelled seeds with salted water, using 1/4 to 1/2 cup of salt per two quarts of water. Soak seeds in the salt solution overnight. Drain off the water the next morning and pat the seeds dry to remove excess moisture. (You can also roast the seeds unsalted, by simply skipping the soaking process).
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the sunflower seeds evenly on a cookie sheet or shallow pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. The seeds will often develop a small crack down the center as they roast. Test after each stirring to see if the seeds are completely roasted by tasting. After roasting, remove seeds from the oven and allow them to cool completely. Then store the seeds in an airtight container for future snacking.

Variations call for mixing a teaspoon of melted butter with a cup of seeds while they are still warm from the oven; these are for immediate eating. Some also experiment with different seasonings, such as barbecue, Cajun, and taco.

Have a delicious week! ~ Kathy

This week’s share:

acorn squash

Brussels sprouts

daikon radish

eggplant

green pepper

kohlrabi

Florence long red onion

leek

red cabbage

rutabaga

sunflower head

watermelon

This weather – it’s incredible and we love working in it.  Some of the plants are confused.  Things are a little backwards - The lettuce and Brussels Sprouts are slowing down, and the eggplant and peppers are growing better than they did in August.   

The rutabaga and kohlrabi are on the large side, which means they could be woody.  Usually if you peel away enough of the outer layer, you will find the tender parts worth eating.  We didn’t want to compost them if they still had a good amount of tasty parts.

We put a special blanket over the eggplants and peppers when it got near freezing.  The blankets were left on during this heat wave, and we are so pleased that some of the eggplant blossoms turned into food for you. 

The watermelon is the last of what was taken from the field.  We ate one and it was delicious.  We hope you have the same experience.

SURVEY TIME.  The final touches are being put on the questions for the survey.  It will be emailed to you within the next few days.  Please return it next week when you pickup your produce, or before. We tried to make this as short and

simple as we could, because we know you’re busy and we value your time.  Thank you for taking the time to do this.  We appreciate it, and will let you know the results of the survey.

Just a reminder, after today, there are two weeks left for our CSA.  For some of you (the half-share folks) next week is your last week.

Cranberry Acorn Squash

½ cup raw fresh cranberries

1 small apple, cored, chopped into small pieces

¼ cup currants

½ cup orange juice or apple cider

1 ½ tbs honey or maple syrup

1 tbs melted butter

pinch salt

2 acorn squash, cut in half, seeds removed

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine cranberries, apples, currants, orange juice, honey, butter, and salt in a saucepan.  Heat until berries are just tender.  Place squash in ovenproof dish.  Fill cavities with fruit.  Cover dish and bake until squash is tender, about 35-45 minutes.  Makes 4 servings.

Brussels Sprouts with Grapes
From allrecipes.com 

2 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed and scored

2 cups water

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup olive oil

4 cloves garlic, crushed

2 bunches green onions, chopped

1 cup seedless red grapes, halved

4 tablespoons butter

Place the Brussels sprouts, water and salt in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil 10 minutes, or until sprouts are tender but firm.

Over medium low heat in a large saucepan, mix the olive oil, garlic and green onions. Slowly cook and stir 5 minutes, until the green onions are soft. Mix in the Brussels sprouts, grapes and butter. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.

Hope your week is awesome! ~ Kathy

Pickup Today on the


FRONT PORCH

Be prepared to carry a pumpkin, a watermelon, and your bag of food!

This week’s share:

acorn squash

brussels sprouts

gourds

red, yellow, or bronze onion

popcorn

pumpkin

rutabaga

summer squash

tomato

watermelon

Can you help us out?

Tell everyone how we’ve been doing

at localharvest.org

Have we told you how much we are enjoying growing food for you? We are so thankful that you have entrusted us with the all-important job of feeding you. We hope you have been satisfied, as well! In only five short weeks we will be done for the season. It has gone so fast – we are not ready to be done with 80 degree days.

As we are thinking ahead to next season, we want to know your thoughts and advise on how to make our CSA the best experience you could have. One of the hardest aspects of this profession is knowing that everyone’s tastes and preferences are not all the same. Would you share your thoughts with us? In a few weeks you will receive a survey. You can fill it out anonymously, and please do not worry about hurting our feelings. We are new at this, and we know there are things we can do better. But we need your input in order to improve, so don’t be shy!

In farm-related news, we have picked some of the popcorn for this week’s share. It isn’t ready to pop yet, as it needs more time to dry. Store the ears in a warm, dry, well-ventilated location. Once or twice a week, shell a few kernels and try popping them. When the test kernels are popping well and tasting good, shell and store the rest of the kernels. If the popcorn is "chewy" or the popped kernels are jagged, it is too wet and needs to continue drying.

Store the kernels in sealed, airtight containers. If stored properly, popcorn should retain its popping quality for several years. Unshelled corn should be stored at temperatures near 32F and high relative humidity. The storage location should also be rodent proof.

If stored popcorn fails to pop, it may be too dry. Add 1 tablespoon of water to a quart of popcorn. Cover and shake at frequent intervals until the popcorn has absorbed the water. After 3 or 4 days, test pop a few kernels to see if it is ready. Add more water and repeat the process until the popcorn pops well.

Stuffed Acorn Squash Supreme
1 (6 ounce) package broccoli and cheese flavored rice mix
1 pound turkey breakfast sausage
1 med acorn squash, halved and seeded
1/2 cup chopped apple
2 teaspoons crushed coriander seed
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Prepare rice mix according to package directions; cover, and set aside.
Place squash halves cut side down onto a plate. Cook the squash in a microwave oven for 5 minutes on High, until tender but firm.
In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook sausage until evenly browned; drain, and set aside.
In a large bowl, mix together the prepared rice, sausage, apple, and coriander. Stuff each squash half with the mixture.
Cover stuffed squash halves with plastic wrap, and heat in the microwave until squash is cooked through and soft, about 5 minutes. Remove plastic, and top stuffed squash with cheese. Continue to cook until cheese is melted, about 1 minute.

Jasmine’s Brussels Sprouts

3 cups water
1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces bacon, diced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add Brussels sprouts, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes. They should still be slightly firm. Drain, and rinse with cold water. Slice the sprouts in half, and set aside.

Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and pancetta; cook and stir for about 5 minutes, until garlic is lightly browned. Add the remaining olive oil and Brussels sprouts. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring until the sprouts are well coated with the flavor. Season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5 more minutes before serving.

Have a super week! ~ Kathy

Pickup Today on the

FRONT PORCH

Be prepared to carry a pumpkin, a watermelon, and your bag of food!

This week’s share:

acorn squash

brussels sprouts

gourds

red, yellow, or bronze onion

popcorn

pumpkin

rutabaga

summer squash

tomato

watermelon

Can you help us out?

Tell everyone how we’ve been doing

at localharvest.org

H

ave we told you how much we are enjoying growing food for you?  We are so thankful that you have entrusted us with the all-important job of feeding you.  We hope you have been satisfied, as well!  In only five short weeks we will be done for the season.  It seems to have gone so fast.
As we are thinking ahead to next season, we want to know your thoughts and advise on how to make our CSA the best experience you could have.  In a few weeks you will receive a survey, which you can fill out anonymously if you would like.   We are new at this, and we know there are things we can do better.  We need your input in order to improve, so don’t be shy!

In farm-related news, we have picked some of the popcorn for this week’s share.  It isn’t ready to pop yet, as it needs more time to dry. Store the ears in a warm, dry, well-ventilated location. Once or twice a week, shell a few kernels and try popping them. When the test kernels are popping well and tasting good, shell and store the rest of the kernels. If the popcorn is "chewy" or the popped kernels are jagged, it is too wet and needs to continue drying.

Store the kernels in sealed, airtight containers. If stored properly, popcorn should retain its popping quality for several years. Unshelled corn should be stored at temperatures near 32F and high relative humidity. The storage location should also be rodent proof.

If stored popcorn fails to pop, it may be too dry. Add 1 tablespoon of water to a quart of popcorn. Cover and shake at frequent intervals until the popcorn has absorbed the water. After 3 or 4 days, test pop a few kernels to see if it is ready. Add more water and repeat the process until the popcorn pops well.

Stuffed Acorn Squash Supreme

1 (6 ounce) package broccoli and cheese flavored rice mix

1 pound turkey breakfast sausage

1 med acorn squash, halved and seeded

1/2 cup chopped apple

2 teaspoons crushed coriander seed

1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Prepare rice mix according to package directions; cover, and set aside.

Place squash halves cut side down onto a plate. Cook the squash in a microwave oven for 5 minutes on High, until tender but firm.

In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook sausage until evenly browned; drain, and set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the prepared rice, sausage, apple, and coriander. Stuff each squash half with the mixture.

Cover stuffed squash halves with plastic wrap, and heat in the microwave until squash is cooked through and soft, about 5 minutes. Remove plastic, and top stuffed squash with cheese. Continue to cook until cheese is melted, about 1 minute.

Jasmine’s Brussels Sprouts

3 cups water

1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

8 ounces bacon, diced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add Brussels sprouts, and cook for 5 to 7 minutes. They should still be slightly firm. Drain, and rinse with cold water. Slice the sprouts in half, and set aside.

Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and pancetta; cook and stir for about 5 minutes, until garlic is lightly browned. Add the remaining olive oil and Brussels sprouts. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring until the sprouts are well coated with the flavor. Season with salt and pepper, and cook for 5 more minutes before serving.

Have a super week!  ~ Kathy

There's a change today:

Pickup Today on the FRONT PORCH

This week’s share:

broccoli

chard

cucumbers

wax, purple & green beans

sweet peppers or hot peppers

kale

thyme ?

musk melon

rutabaga

summer squash

tomato

This Past Week…

We planted more lettuce, radish, and carrots. We also replanted the buckwheat that we planted previously. That got washed away with the rains, so we’ll try it again. Buckwheat helps keep the weeds down, is good erosion control, and also adds nutrients to the soil for the next crop next year.

Thyme and marjoram were grown from seed, and now that both are mature, this amateur doesn’t know which one is which. If you know what your mystery herb is, please let us know!

The muskmelons have ripened, and are so ripe that you can chose to take one if you wish. They really should be eaten right away.

Much of your produce has been washed, but we want to remind you to wash your food before you eat it.

Some of the broccoli has a disease that kills the plants. Some of the plants are just getting it, and we sorted through the side shoots as best as we could. If you see any that are turning black or grey, this is a sign of the mosaic disease. Just throw that piece away.

Summer squash…are you tired of it yet? It just keeps on coming, so if you want more of it, feel free to take some. The kids have had their fill of it at my house.

Until next week, enjoy life!

~ Kathy


Enchiladas

(using spinach, kale, chard, etc.)

1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup sliced green onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch greens
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
10 (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 (19 ounce) can enchilada sauce

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion; cook for a few minutes until fragrant, but not brown. Stir in spinach, and cook for about 5 more minutes. Remove from the heat, and mix in ricotta cheese, sour cream, and 1 cup of Monterey Jack cheese.

In a skillet over medium heat, warm tortillas one at a time until flexible, about 15 seconds. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the spinach mixture onto the center of each tortilla. Roll up, and place seam side down in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour enchilada sauce over the top, and sprinkle with the remaining cup of Monterey Jack.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until sauce is bubbling and cheese is lightly browned at the edges.



R and R Pudding
(Rice and Rutabaga!)

1 cup water
1/2 cup long-grain white rice
1 pound rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 dash ground nutmeg
2 eggs, separated

Place the water into a saucepan, add the rice, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir once, cover, reduce heat to low; and simmer until all moisture is absorbed and rice is tender, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the rutabaga into a large pot, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook until the rutabaga are tender and can be pierced with a fork, about 10 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 2 quart casserole dish.

Drain the rutabaga, and place into a mixing bowl. Add the milk, butter, sugar, salt, pepper, and ground nutmeg. Beat or mash the rutabaga until smooth. Stir in the cooked rice, and beat in the egg yolks.

Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold gently into the rutabaga mixture. Spoon mixture into prepared casserole dish.

Bake in preheated oven until top is lightly browned, about 1 hour.

This week’s share:brocolli
carrots
chard
cucumber
fennel
wax, purple & green beans
kale
kohlrabi
lettuce
rutabaga
squash blossoms
wee tomatoes
This is IMPORTANT:

Pickup next week will be on Sunday, August 1 from noon until ? We we will be out of town that week. If this will not work out for you, please let me know and we will work something out. Thank you for your understanding.

This Past Week…

We hope everyone has escaped unscathed from the storms. The gardens faired well, thankfully. The “road” that was mulched in the spring was washed away, as was the buckwheat that was planted last week. On the positive side, it made pulling weeds a whole lot easier!

It seems the tomatoes and carrots did not like all the wetness, as many of them have cracked. There are still plenty of smaller ones that hopefully will develop into ripe and tasty treats for us.

We should be having peppers by now. Some of the plants have flowered and are fruiting, which means we can look forward to their appearance in our shares soon!

We are planting our fall crops this week – lettuce, radish, carrots, and onions. Also, we are putting some of the beds “to bed” for the winter.

These beds are covered with compost or leaves, followed by a layer of cardboard, and then by a final layer of straw. This will help next spring be a whole lot easier than this past spring.

Our main worry is the weeds. We cannot outdo them, we cannot keep ahead of them. We can only keep at them, much like doing laundry, right? But still, we worry.

A Tip from one of our members:

“I have been blanching most of the vegetables I can't eat fresh in boiling water for 2 minutes and the shocking them in ice water. They can be frozen in plastic bags for later feasting when the snow flies. Beets are especially good this way, and so is the chard and kale.”

~Thank you Mary Jo!

Summer Squash is Healthy for You!


Summer squash has fiber, vitamin C, and folate, which prevent cancers, heart disease, and asthma.

Summer Squash also grows extraordinarily quick. In order to harvest it when it is most tender, sweet and juicy, it must not be too large. Since there are large quantities of it, we’ve included several recipes to help you take advantage of its benefits.

The old standby for our family is to slice it and saute it in olive oil, adding onions and garlic until it is translucent. Try this same combination on the grill and see how you like it!


Cream Cheese Summer Squash From Allrecipes.com

(My whole family loved this one!)

• 3 yellow squash, cubed

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, cubed

• 1 tablespoon dried basil leaves

• salt to taste

In a glass serving dish, combine the squash pieces and garlic. Season with salt, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for 5 to 8 minutes on high, or until tender. Stir after every 3 to 4 minutes.

Sprinkle the cream cheese over the top, and return to the microwave, uncovered for about 1 minute, or until the cheese is melted. Stir until the cheese is smooth and blended into the squash. Let set for a minute or two before serving.



Summer Squash Pizza from kraftrecipes.com

1 Ready-to-use baked pizza crust (12 inch)

2 large Plum tomatoes, sliced

3 Tbsp. KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing and Marinade, divided

1 Zucchini, thinly sliced

1 Yellow squash, thinly sliced

1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil

Heat oven to 450ºF. Place pizza crust on baking sheet. Arrange tomatoes over crust; brush with 1 Tbsp. dressing. Heat remaining dressing in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add zucchini and yellow squash; cook and stir 4 to 5 min. or until crisp-tender. Arrange over tomatoes; top with cheeses. Bake 10 to 12 min. or until crust is golden brown and mozzarella is melted.

Squash Blossom Frittata

3-4 blossoms

1-2 baby squash

4 eggs

Dash of milk

2 green onions

Asiago cheese

Chopped parsley and snipped chives (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

1. Pick 3 to 4 blossoms per person and 1 or 2 baby yellow or green summer squash. Rinse blossoms well and drain on paper towels.

2. Beat 4 eggs with a little milk. Add fresh chopped parsley and snipped chives, if desired. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. In a non-stick pan, saute a little butter and cook 2 green onion and thinly sliced baby squash just until soft. Then quickly saute the blossoms for about 30 seconds and remove from pan.

4. Pour egg mix into pan, sprinkle and arrange the onions, squash and blossoms on top and cook over low to medium heat until almost set. Sprinkle with Asiago cheese and put under the broiler until lightly puffed and browned.

Stuffed Squash Blossoms

• 18 squash blossoms, stamen removed

Cheese Filling

• 3 ounces goat (feta) cheese

• 3 ounces cream cheese

• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• Salt and pepper to taste

Beer Batter:

• 1/8 cup cornstarch

• 1/2 cup flour

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/4 teaspoon celery salt

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 egg, beaten

• 1/2 cup cold flat beer

• Vegetable oil for frying

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Grated Parmesan cheese and sliced chives for garnish

Gently swish the squash blossoms in cold water to clean. Carefully twirl to remove most of the water, then drain thoroughly on paper towels. Set aside.

Beat goat cheese, cream cheese, red pepper flakes, oregano, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper until blended. Gently fill each blossom with about 2 teaspoons of the cheese filling. Refrigerate while making batter.

In a heavy skillet, heat 2 inches of oil to 375 F over medium heat.

While oil is heating, whisk together cornstarch, flour, salt, pepper, celery salt, baking soda, baking powder, egg, and beer until combined.

Carefully dip a stuffed blossom into the batter, covering the entire flower, and ease into the hot oil. Brown on one side, then turn to brown the other. Cook only a few at a time so they are not crowded. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining stuffed squash blossoms.

Sprinkle stuffed squash blossoms with salt and pepper to taste and garnish with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan cheese and chopped chives.

Sweet Fried Squash Blossoms

Just batter, fry, and dust with confectioners sugar. They come out kind of like weird, delicious funnel cake.

Braised Fennel

Ingredients:

• 2 medium fennel bulbs

• 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tablespoon chopped fennel fronds

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• ¼ cup dry white wine

• ½ cup homemade or low sodium chicken stock

Trim fennel bulbs from stalks, reserving some fronds to chop for garnish. Cut bulbs lengthwise into 1/3-1/2” slices. Do not trim root end, so the slices stay together.

Heat a 10-12” sauté pan until hot. Add the oil and wait until the oil shimmers before adding the fennel.

Season with some salt and pepper and sear fennel to caramelize, turning once. The fennel should be a rich golden brown.

Add the wine and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze.

When the wine has reduced to a syrup, add the chicken stock and put the lid on the pan.

Braise over very low heat for about ten to fifteen minutes, or until the fennel is very tender.

Before serving, garnish with chopped fennel fronds.


Fresh Fennel Bulb Salad

1 large or 2 small fennel bulbs

2 tbs white wine or red wine vinegar

1 tsp Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper

2 tbs frozen OJ concentrate, partially thawed

2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil

Remove fronds from the bulb. Cut away the root and slice fennel into very thin pieces, or grate it. Make dressing by combining vinegar, mustarad, ¼ tsp salt, and OJ in a bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Pour over fennel and allow to marinate at room temperature 20 minutes or longer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes 3-4 side dishes.

Sautéed Fennel with Parmesan From Rouxbe.com

• 2 medium fennel

• 1 clove garlic

• 1 small shallot

• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

• sea salt (to taste)

• 1/2 lemon (juice of)

• Parmesan cheese (to taste)

To start, cut the top and bottom off of the fennel. Then cut it in half widthwise, and then in half again. Remove the core, so that the fennel falls apart. Slice the fennel into about 1/4 - inch strips.

Slice the garlic and thinly slice the shallot lengthwise.

To cook the fennel, gather the olive oil and lemon. Preheat a large fry pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the olive oil, followed by the fennel and a good pinch of salt. Toss to combine and let cook for a few minutes. As the fennel cooks and starts to color, toss occasionally until it starts to caramelize.

Then add the shallots, stir together and continue to cook until the fennel softens a bit more, about 3 to 5 minutes.

If the pan seems to be getting too brown before it has cooked through, just add a touch of water.

Once the fennel has caramelized and softened, but still has a bit of crunch, add the garlic and let cook for another 30 seconds or so.

Then turn off the heat and deglaze with the lemon juice. Grate some fresh parmesan cheese over top and toss. Taste for seasoning and top with more a bit more Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve immediately.

Sautéed fennel goes well with many meat, fish and pasta dishes.

Don’t forget:

the SWAP BOX

starts today!

Cheers to a great week!

~Kathy

This week’s share:


Chioggia beets
carrots
cauliflower
chard
cucumber
green beans
kale
kohlrabi
lettuce
rutabaga

This is IMPORTANT:


Pickup the first week of August will be on Sunday, August 1 from noon until ? because we will be going on vacation that week. If this will not work out for you, please let me know and we will work something out. Thank you for your understanding.

This Past Week…


So many things are starting to show up in the garden. The eggplant is getting larger, the pepper plants are blossoming (so slowly!) and there have been two ripe tomatoes.

There have been a few squash, a few purple beans, some melons & pumpkins forming, and a sunflower opened up.

I’m having problems with the broccoli. Two weeks ago I had four heads that were the size of a baseball. This week there were just a handful of sideshoots. I’m not sure what’s happening, but keep your fingers crossed for some broccoli quick!

There is purple cauliflower in your share this week. However, I was short one, so if you didn’t get any cauliflower this week, please let me know. There are a few more coming along and I’ll make sure to get you one.

If you would like to view previous newsletters, I post them on the blog at:


columbusurbanfarm.blogspot.com

A Tip from one of our members:


“we haven't been wasting any of the veggies. Whatever doesn't get eaten or gets wilty we put into a gallon ziploc baggie in the freezer. When I have a ham bone or rotisserie chicken bones I add it to the ziploc and use the contents to make a wicked broth for soup.” I love this idea!


Swap Box
Starting next week, I will have a separate cooler labeled SWAP BOX. If there is something in your bag you don’t like, you can swap it with something someone else has placed in the box.

Recipe Section


Sauteed Chard with Parmesan from Allrecipes.com

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 tablespoon minced garlic

• 1/2 small red onion, diced

• 1 bunch Swiss chard, stems and center ribs cut out and chopped together, leaves coarsely chopped separately

• 1/2 cup dry white wine

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

• 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• salt to taste (optional)

Melt butter and olive oil together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the garlic and onion, and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the chard stems and the white wine. Simmer until the stems begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir in the chard leaves, and cook until wilted. Finally, stir in lemon juice and Parmesan cheese; season to taste with salt if needed. Nutritional Information



Spice Asian Green Beans
From the Willly Street Co-op Reader, July 2010

1 lb of green beans

1 tsp toasted sesame oil

1 tsp peanut oil

1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled & minced

1/16 tsp red pepper flakes

½ tbs soy sauce

2 tbs water

1 tsp sesame seeds, toasted

Cut off the ends of the green beans, unless they are very fresh and thin. Lightly steam the beans while frying the garlic and ginger in the oils over low heat. You want the garlic to turn a golden color and become very aromatic – at this point you can add the red pepper flakes, green beans, soy sauce and the water. Cover and cook everything together over high heat for a few minutes until the water evaporates and the beans look shiny from the oil. Shake the pan and stir occasionally while cooking. Garnish with sesame seeds and enjoy! Yields 4 cups.

Enjoy your week! ~ Kathy

Week #6

This week’s share:

cilantro
Chioggia beets
Carrots
chard
cucumber
cilantro
green beans
kale
red leaf lettuce
rutabaga

This Past Week…

We noticed the muskmelons and the pumpkins forming. The purple beans are blossoming, as are the blue potatoes. We also saw the formation of a patty-pan squash. We are anxiously waiting for these items to ripen so we can share them with you .

We were able to purchase some basil plants from an area farmer, so hopefully we will have basil for you soon!

We are happy that the cucumbers are arriving a little early. There was just enough for everyone to have one today. But next week there will be many more. Start getting ready for cucumber season!

Just a note about washing – some of the produce is soaked or sprayed, but the reason we do this is to cool it down so it lasts longer for you. Please make sure you wash your food before eating.

Cooking Tips for Rutabaga:

• Scrub vigorously with a vegetable brush. For maximum nutrition, do not peel.
• Rutabaga can be grated into raw salads. Try a winter slaw combining grated rutabaga, celeriac, carrot, diakon radish, and apple with chopped parsley and a lemon/oil dressing.
• Steam 1-inch chunks for 30-35 minutes, or until tender. Mash and serve with butter and a sprinkling of black pepper. Mash with other vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes.
• Bake 1-inch chunks brushed with butter or oil for 40-50 minutes, or nestle alongside roasting meats.
• Make rutabaga chips: Deep-fry 1/8 inch-thick slices in very hot vegetable oil until golden brown. Do not crowd pan while frying. Drain on paper towel, sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve.


Storage tips:


• Rutabaga will store adequately at room temperature for up to 1 week, or refrigerated in dehydrator drawer for up to 1 month.

• For longer-term storage, rutabagas may be packed in moist sand and kept in a cool, but not freezing location.

Rutabaga Caserole

by LaDOnna at allrecipes.com

• 4 rutabagas
• 4 carrots
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup milk (optional)

Directions

1. Peel rutabagas and cut into large cubes. Place in cold salted water, and bring to a boil. When fork tender, drain.

2. Mash rutabagas with grated carrots, sugar, and butter.

3. Place in oven at low temperature to keep warm. Cover so that the dish will not dry out. If it does, stir in a little milk.


Chili Roasted Rutabaga by MACSAC


2 tbs vegetable oil

11/2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic salt

½ tsp sugar

½ tsp paprika

¼ tsp cayenne

1 ½ lbs rutabaga



Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl. Peel rutabagas and cut them into chunks that are about 2 inches long and ½-1 inch wide. Toss with spice mix. Transfer to large baking sheet, spreading pieces out evenly. Bake until tender and somewhat browned, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes. Makes 4-6 servings.



Cilantro Cream Sauce over Chicken

6-8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cooked & kept warm.
2 cups loosely packed fresh cilantro
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1 cup of water
2 tsp granulated chicken flavor bouillon
3 tbs butter
3 tbs flour
Ground black pepper to taste

Place cilantro, evaporated milk, water and bouillon in blender. Blend until smooth.

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Stir in flour, stirring constantly until smooth. Stir in cilantro mixture. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and thickens slightly. Season to taste with pepper, and pour over chicken.

Patty-pan Squash:

A Peek at the Muskmelons:

A view of the lettuce and carrots: