Summer Share Seven July 5th 2016
SUMMER SHARE SEVEN JULY 5TH 2016
Important information:
- Tree fruit shares begin this week with sweet cherries.
- Park School members: Please if able avoid 3:00-3:30 for pick up as summer camp has begun.
- Thank you for the great share box returns!
Farm News from Jane
Happy Independence Day! Because we had such a great crew this morning we were able to harvest almost all of the produce before lunch! Thanks everyone! We were even able to harvest two varieties of peas. For anyone familiar with pea picking the process is a bit slow as it takes time to find them on the vine! The yield was good on the shelling peas. The snow peas which were the last to be planted actually caught up to earlier plantings but as the vines are smaller the “set” is light. They are very sweet and crisp however and are great raw, steamed or in a stir fry. We also have a different summer squash this season, patty pan. We have not grown it in a few years but are glad we did this season. The cucumber beetles have been devouring not only the cucumber and melons but the green and yellow zucchini as well. We have to rely on Mother Nature’s beneficial insects like ladybugs to keep the population in control. The do this by eating the beetle’s eggs. This season the dry weather has created a huge population of these yellow striped pests. But we will have summer squash to enjoy regardless of their attempts to eat “our” share!
This week begins sweet cherries and I’d like to remind you that the tree fruits are “low spray” and not organic. We connect with the growers and orchards on the Lake Ontario fruit belt. Please do be sure to give them a good wash. This season’s dry weather they are not encountering some of the disease issues that usually occur during a wet season. They are one of my personal favorites; can’t wait to try them.
We hope that everyone pauses a moment to give a humble word of gratitude to those men and women who went before us those years leading up to July 4th 1776 and every year since, allowing us to experience so much liberty and freedom.
There’s a new moon tonight but don’t go looking for it. But the first slice tomorrow will be stunning if it’s clear. Cloudy is fine if its’ bringing rain however. Let the heaven’s rejoice! Enjoy your peas and greens, Jane
Produce: Summer squash: zucchini, yellow and/or patty pan Scallions Golden Beets Celery Swiss chard
Shelling peas Snow peas Head lettuce Garlic
Produce tips:
– SHELLING PEAS are the ones that look like a small “tubes” and do need to be shelled.
– SNOW PEAS are the flat ones that are edible pods. Taste and enjoy them raw before you pick out a recipe!
– GOLDEN BEETS are milder than the red varieties. They are quite nice raw sliced paper thin with vinaigrette.
– CELERY grown local like ours has a much stronger flavor. You may want to use it in a stir fry or salad as oppose to eating it raw with a dip.
Recipes
CHINESE-STYLE SNOW PEAS
1 tablespoon vegetable oil; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger or 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger; 2 cups fresh snow peas, stemmed and stringed; 1 5-ounce can water chestnuts, sliced and drained; 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced; 1 cup thinly sliced fresh mushrooms; 1 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon; 1/3 cup boiling water; 1 teaspoon cornstarch; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 tablespoon dry sherry; Freshly ground pepper to taste
In a wok or skillet, heat oil over high heat. Reduce heat and add garlic; stir-fry 1 minute. Add ginger, peas, water chestnuts, and celery. Stir-fry 2 minutes. Add mushrooms, instant chicken bouillon, and boiling water; stir to mix; cover, and simmer over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Combine cornstarch, soy sauce, sherry, and pepper. Stir into vegetables and stir-fry, uncovered, over high heat until sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Taste for seasoning.
Serve immediately; serves 6 to 8
LEAF LETTUCE AND MANDARIN SALAD
1 bunch leaf lettuce, washed and torn into bite-size pieces; 2 cups thinly sliced celery; 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley; 4 green onions, thinly sliced, including some greens; 2 11-ounce cans mandarin oranges, drained;
Dressing: 2 tablespoons sugar; 2 tablespoons tarragon vinegar; 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt; freshly ground pepper to taste; 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco pepper sauce
Garnish: 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds
Combine lettuce, celery, parsley. Green onions and mandarin oranges in salad bowl. Combine dressing ingredients, mixing well. Toss salad with dressing just before serving. Sprinkle almonds over top. Serves 8 to 10
LAYERED SALAD
Layered salad is pretty self-explanatory; the idea of layering whatever veggies over greens and topping with cheese or even julienne strips of meat garnish with olives or hard boiled eggs. So be creative and if you’re also entertaining start with a glass bowl. Start with your greens then layer with shelled raw peas, zucchini, and celery if it’s on hand, and green onions. Add a layer of Swiss cheese or meat julienned or finely chopped. Sprinkle with 2 tsp of sugar. Mix together 1/4 cup mayo, 1/4 cup sour cream and 1 T. of horseradish if desired until well blended. Spread evenly over the top. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of Romano cheese. Cover and chill overnight. Serve with the following Vinaigrette dressing if desired. 1/2 cup olive or vegetable oil 3 T. wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp. salt. Pepper to taste (freshly ground is always a nice touch), and 1/2 tsp. of dry mustard. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend well. Serve over layered salad. Garnish with black olives and sieved hard-boiled eggs. You may always substitute yogurt for some of the mayo or sour cream if you’re watching your fat intake.
BRAISED CELERY HEARTS
1 bunch celery; 1 cup chicken stock; 1 tbsp whole wheat flour; 1 tbsp water; salt to taste; 1/8 tsp pepper; 2 tbsp dry whole grain bread crumbs; 1 tbsp unhulled sesame seeds
Remove some of the tops and leaves. Cut remaining hearts in half lengthwise. Put into a skillet, add the stock, cover tightly and cook until celery is tender (approximately 20 minutes). Preheat oven to 350°F. Take out the celery and place in a buttered shallow baking dish. Make paste of flour and water and stir into the juices in the skillet. Add salt and pepper and cook until sauce is slightly thick. Pour sauce over celery in the casserole, top with crumbs and sesame seeds and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Yield: 4 servings
GARDEN PEAS
4 lettuce leaves, shredded; 1 cup shelled fresh peas; 1/6 cup sliced green onions; 1/2 teaspoon sugar; Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1/8 cup heavy cream; 1/2 teaspoon cream-style horseradish; 1/2 tablespoon minced fresh parsley; 1 tablespoon real butter, melted
Place moist lettuce leaves in bottom of l0-inch skillet or heavy saucepan. Sprinkle peas over lettuce and top with green onions, sugar, sprinkle of salt, and pepper. Cover and simmer 10 to 12 minutes or until peas are tender. Raise heat and reduce any moisture from pan, being careful not to scorch peas. Remove lettuce if desired. Whip cream; add horseradish and parsley. Fold in butter and mix with peas. Serve immediately. Serves 3
CURRY SAUCED PEAS
Sauté 1 pound snow peas in oil. Add Curry Sauce (recipe follows). Stir and continue cooking until sauce is smooth and thick. Do not overcook delicate peas.
Curry Sauce
2 tbsp butter or margarine; 1/2 tsp. salt; 1/4 tsp. curry powder; 1/4 tsp. onion powder; 3 tbsp flour; 1 tbsp nonfat dry milk; 1 1/2 tbsp warm water; 1/2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
Melt butter; remove from heat. Add salt, curry and onion powders; stir to dissolve. Add flour; stir until moistened. Gradually stir in milk and water. Stir in cheese
STIR-FRIED SNOW PEAS WITH SWISS CHARD
1 pound snow peas; 1/2 pound Swiss chard; 3 tbsp oil; 2 bunching onions, chopped; sea salt
Trim and string the snow peas. Wash the Swiss chard in a bowl of cold water, then remove and shake off the excess water. Heat a large skillet or a wok. Add the oil, swirl it around, then add the onions and snow peas. Stir-fry the peas for 1 minute, then add the chard and a pinch of salt and stir-fry until the leaves are tender and bright green. Serve right away.
CHEESE-TOPPED SUMMER SQUASH
1 patty pan, crookneck or zucchini; 1/2 cup boiling water; 1 tsp. butter; pinch of seasoning salt; 2 tbsp grated cheddar cheese
Cut squash in half. (Cut patty pan crosswise; crookneck or zucchini lengthwise.) Cook in boiling, salted water about 10 minutes or just until barely tender. Drain. Arrange in flat baking dish. With fork pierce centers of squash several times. Melt butter and add salt. Spoon over squash halves. Pierce again so seasoned butter will be absorbed. Bake in 350°F oven or grill about 20 minutes. Top with cheese and bake 10 minutes longer, or until cheese is melted. Makes 2 servings.
MARINATED BEET AND SUMMER SQUASH SALAD
2 Medium-size beets, cooked, peeled and thinly sliced; 4 bunching onions, thinly sliced; 1/4 Cup olive oil; 3 Tbsp tarragon vinegar; 1/2 Tbsp sugar; 2 Small yellow summer squash (or zucchini, or a combination), cut into 1/4-inch slices; 1 Tbsp minced dill; 3/4 Cup sour cream; Salt and black pepper; 2 Scallions, each with 3 in. green top, coarsely chopped
Directions: Toss together the beets and onions with 2T olive oil, 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1/2 tablespoon sugar. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. In another bowl toss together the squash slices, the remainder of the oil and vinegar, and the dill. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Just prior to serving, drain the squash and toss all the vegetables together with the sour cream. Season to taste with salt and pepper, adding additional sugar and vinegar if desired for a more distinctive sweet-and-sour taste. Yield: enough to serve 3
SHAVED SUMMER SQUASH SALAD
Roast 3 T. whole almonds and coarsely crush. Meanwhile, trim the ends off 1 lb. summer squash (a mix of green and yellow). Using a vegetable peeler, thinly slice the squash lengthwise into strips and transfer to a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together 2 ½ ^T. extra-virgin olive oil, 2T. fresh lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, and kosher salt to taste. Pour dressing over squash. Let stand a few minutes, then add a few handfuls of baby arugula. Shave a little Pecorino over the squash and toss. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with crushed almonds.
Serves 4; Recipe from Bon appétit magazine.
PESTO- TOPPED GRILLED SUMMER SQUASH
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil; 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese; 1 clove garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons lemon juice; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 2 medium summer squash (about 1 pound), sliced diagonally 1/4 inch thick; Canola or olive oil cooking spray
Preheat grill to medium-high. Combine basil, pine nuts, oil, Parmesan, garlic, lemon juice and salt in a small bowl. Coat both sides of squash slices with cooking spray. Grill the squash until browned and tender, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Serve topped with the pesto. Makes 4 servings.
ORANGE-GINGER BEETS
1/2 pound beets, cooked; 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger; 1/2 tsp grated orange rind or 1/4 tsp ground ginger; 1/3 cup orange juice; Salt and freshly ground pepper; 1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice to taste; 1/2 tbsp cornstarch; 1/2 tbsp butter or margarine; 1 tsp sugar; Grated orange rind for garnish
Cut cooked beets in julienne strips; set aside. In small bowl mix orange rind and juice, lemon juice, cornstarch, sugar, ginger, salt, and pepper to taste. Melt butter or margarine in saucepan; add orange juice mixture. Stir over medium heat until mixture boils; reduce heat. Add beets and return to boil again. Remove and serve with sprinkling of grated orange rind for an extra touch. Serves 2
ORANGE BORSCHT
4 medium-size beets peeled and coarsely grated; 5 cups beef stock; salt; freshly ground black pepper to taste; 2 cups tomato juice; 2 1/2 cups orange juice; yogurt; chopped chives
Bring grated beets to a boil in beef stock which has been seasoned to taste with salt and pepper. Turn down heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Add tomato juice. Puree mixture in electric blender, then add orange juice, mixing well to combine. Refrigerate for several hours. Serve with a dollop of yogurt and chopped chives. Yield: approx.10 cups
SWISS CHARD PIZZA
First chop the chard leaves and stems separately. Then microwave them separately as the stems will take a bit longer. Knead dough into pan. Massage oil onto dough. Spread on the chopped chard leaves then cover with chopped onion, 4 garlic cloves, oregano, chopped stems and grated parmesan cheese. Cover with another layer of dough which you have rolled out to approximate size. Vent the cover with holes to allow extra moisture to escape. Bake for 25 minutes at 325.
ASIAN-STYLE CHARD
1 bunch Swiss chard, cleaned; 1 tablespoon peanut oil; 1 tablespoon minced garlic scapes; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; freshly ground black pepper
Cut off and discard thick stem ends of chard. Cut out ribs; chop ribs into 2-inch pieces; set aside in a pile. Stack the leaves in small piles; coarsely chop them. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high flame. Add ribs; toss and cook 1 1/2 minutes. Add leaves and garlic; continue to cook, tossing often, until chard begins to wilt, 2-3 minutes. Stir in soy sauce; cook until chard is tender, 1-3 minutes longer. Add pepper to taste. Serve immediately; serves two