Summer Share Fourteen August 14th 2017
Important information:
- Please keep your box returns coming…
- We’ve had a few members and “wanna be” members asking about winter shares. Summer share members do get the first opportunity for winter shares before we open up enrollment to new members. We’ll be sending out the information regarding winter share and annual memberships in the next month.
Farm News from Jane
Another gorgeous Monday harvest this morning… The Monday crew certainly has appreciated the beautiful Mondays we’ve had. Thursdays on the other hand have been more rainy than not but as is it a packing day and not a harvest one we’re still happy to have rainy Thursdays! The day length is changing and it is a bit sad to have to “wait” for the sun to come up to “get to work”! But by October I’m sure that I’ll be happy with the shorter work days.
This week’s harvest of sweet corn I’m told should be greater than last week’s. I’m sure no one will complain about more sweet corn. Our family really enjoys the sweet corn season while it lasts. Even though it hasn’t been a terribly hot summer the corn is just as sweet as ever. The cherry tomatoes received a haircut today as they continue to grow up and over the trellis lines. What a good problem to have such lush plants loaded with fruit. Some of the varieties we end up “hunting” for treasure as the vines are so thick! We all enjoyed quite a few of the Sungold variety as they split just looking at them. But oh are they sweet. Most worker share members agree that they are their favorite. All the different cherry tomatoes varieties have a subtle difference in flavor. I especially like the Black Cherry and the red grape varieties they are more balanced in their acid to sugar ratio. We planted more kale, collards and cauliflower today as well as lettuce. It’s always hard for me to envision them fully mature by the time the cold weather comes even though I know that the days pass by so quickly. This cooler summer should be a boon to the cabbage family of crucifer crops. They are not especially fond of the hot days of summer. But we sure won’t complain if the next two months continues warm and moist!
We are past the halfway point of summer shares but the best is yet to come. The boxes are getting heavier and there will be loads of different veggies to come. Although there is a short hiatus from summer squ7ash we do have a second planting that is beginning to blossom for those of you who can’t get enough! The cucumbers however are finished after this week.
Although it is only mid August it is probably time to peek at the spaghetti squash which is the first winter squash to mature. I always hope for them to be ready when we still have tomatoes as a fresh marinara with cherry tomatoes and sweet onions (and a few peppers perhaps) are exquisite on a bed of spaghetti squash. And there is rumor of cantaloupes that need to be placed on paper plates to protect them from them wet ground. Sounds like a great job for the little guys…
There is always a job for everyone to be included. What fun it is to be part of the “team”. Community is like family without the genes; a common goal, the ability to share a task or yourself; what a wonderful opportunity to be blessed. We sure are! Until next week; enjoy your rainbow of colorful veggies, Jane
Produce: Adirondack red potatoes Walla Walla onions Garlic Dragon Tongue beans Sweet Carmen Peppers Cucumber Head lettuce Red beets Sweet corn Cherry tomatoes
Fruit Share: Donut peaches Yellow plums Apricots
Produce tips:
– Dragon tongue beams are another heirloom variety that is beautiful, very tasty and nutritious. Sadly they lose their purple striped when cooked! Prepare as you would any string bean. Snap off both ends and steam, boil, or sauté. If you are fond of roasted beans they might hold up well to that preparation as well.
– The Adirondack red potatoes are more tubular in shape and are a creamy pink texture on the inside. They make a great mashed potato.
-The lone cucumber is the last of the season. The wet weather has caused the vines to wither prematurely in the second planting.
– If your cherry tomatoes make it past the first two days they can be kept in the refrigerator. Cherry tomatoes unlike traditional tomatoes can be refrigerated without a great change in flavor or structure. It is best to allow them to come to room temperature before eating to enjoy their fullest flavor.
– The peppers this week are an Italian sweet frying pepper of the corno di toro or bull’s horn type called Carmen. They can also be left on the plant to ripen to a red stage. They are noted to be the best tasting Italian sweet pepper.
Garlic does not need to be refrigerated but it will store much better in a cool and dark environment.
Recipes
PRIZEWINNER GREEN BEANS WITH TOMATOES AND GARLIC
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1pound green beans, ends clipped, beans cut in half; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 sprig rosemary, leaves torn off the stem; about 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges; 1/2 cup sliced onions (peeling is optional); 2 teaspoons dried oregano; salt to taste or 2 tablespoons salted butter; 1/2 teaspoon dried ground thyme
Heat olive oil in deep pan over medium heat. Add garlic and pepper flakes; sauté until fragrant. Add onions; sauté until translucent, 3-5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water, the dried spices, and green beans. Stir, cover, and steam-cook beans until nearly done, 10-15 minutes. Stir in the rosemary and tomatoes. Cook very briefly, until tomatoes are warmed through and beans are done. Season with salt, or, if you prefer, melt salted butter over the beans before serving. This recipe won a prize in the 2002 Food for Thought Recipe Contest in Madison, Wisconsin.
Makes 4 servings; Recipe from Mora Rosenbloom
CAPRESE SKEWERS
15 small fresh mozzarella balls; 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes; 3 tablespoons basil-flavored olive oil; salt and pepper; 1 bunch of basil; 30 short bamboo skewers or toothpicks
Halve the mozzarella balls and the tomatoes. Toss with basil oil; add salt and pepper to taste. Tear the basil into bite size leaves. Skewer a piece of mozzarella, a piece of basil, and a tomato half onto a skewer or toothpick; repeat with remaining ingredients and skewers. Arrange skewers in concentric circles on a platter. Or forget the skewers and just make a salad with said ingredients. Makes 6 appetizer serving
PRIZEWINNER GREEN BEANS WITH TOMATOES AND GARLIC
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1pound green beans, ends clipped, beans cut in half; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1 sprig rosemary, leaves torn off the stem; about 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes; 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges; 1/2 cup sliced onions (peeling is optional); 2 teaspoons dried oregano; salt to taste or 2 tablespoons salted butter; 1/2 teaspoon dried ground thyme
Heat olive oil in deep pan over medium heat. Add garlic and pepper flakes; sauté until fragrant. Add onions; sauté until translucent, 3-5 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water, the dried spices, and green beans. Stir, cover, and steam-cook beans until nearly done, 10-15 minutes. Stir in the rosemary and tomatoes. Cook very briefly, until tomatoes are warmed through and beans are done. Season with salt, or, if you prefer, melt salted butter over the beans before serving. This recipe won a prize in the 2002 Food for Thought Recipe Contest in Madison, Wisconsin.
Makes 4 servings; Recipe from Mora Rosenbloom
FRESH TOMATO AND FETA SAUCE FOR PASTA
1/2 pound angel hair pasta; fresh, great-tasting tomatoes, enough to make 2 cups chopped tomatoes or 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes; 2 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice; 1/4 cup olive oil; salt and pepper; feta cheese
Boil pasta in large quantity of salted water until just tender. Meanwhile, chop tomatoes and place in bowl. (If you’re using paste, or Roma-type, tomatoes, you may first cut a shallow X in the bottom of each, dip the tomatoes in the boiling pasta water 10-20 seconds, and remove skins.) Place lemon juice in a large bowl; whisk in oil and add salt and pepper to taste. Rinse and drain pasta; toss with oil mixture. Transfer pasta to a large, shallow platter and top with chopped tomatoes. Crumble feta on top, as much or as little as you like. Serve at room temperature. This recipe came from a sister’s friend. You can vary the amounts to serve any number of people. Makes 3-4 servings.
BEET BURGERS
4 fresh medium beets; 2 sprigs fresh basil, chopped; 1/2 medium onion, chopped; 2 eggs, beaten; Salt and ground black pepper, to taste; 1/4-2/3 c flour; Olive oil; Mozzarella slices; Burger buns
Trim beet tops and root. Shred beets in food processor; transfer to bowl. Add basil, onions, eggs, salt and pepper; mix. Mix in just enough flour to make mixture stick together. Form into 4-inch patties about 1 /2-inch thick. (Don’t make too thick or centers won’t cook well.) Heat 1/4 inch of olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Fry patties 2-3 minutes on one side, until crispy. Turn, place mozzarella slice on top and fry 2-3 minutes more, until crispy. Place hot on bun; serve immediately. Makes 6-8 servings
ROASTED BEET SALAD
6-8 small beets, scrubbed, tops trimmed to 1 inch; 4 tbsp white wine vinegar; olive oil; 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil; salt and pepper to taste; 4 cups baby salad greens; 1/4 cup pecans; 1/2 small sweet onion, thinly sliced; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese
Heat outdoor or indoor grill. Place beets on heavy foil; drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap tightly; grill until beets can be easily pierced with a fork, about 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, toast pecans in a dry pan on the grill, tossing frequently. Finely chop the nuts. When beets are cooled a bit, use a paper towel to remove the peel, stems, and tails. Cut beets into quarters. Combine mustard and vinegar in a bowl. Whisk in olive oil until thickened. Add salt and pepper. Toss salad greens in a bowl with a little dressing. Portion the greens onto 2-4 plates. Top with beets, onions, blue cheese, and pecans. Drizzle with as much more dressing as you like. Makes 2·4 servings. Recipe from Jenny Bonde and Rink DaVee, Shooting Star Farm
MEXICAN GRILLED CORN
2 tbsp low-fat mayonnaise; 2 tbsp nonfat plain yogurt; 11/2 teaspoon chili powder; 4 ears corn, husked; 4 tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan cheese; 1 lime, quartered
Preheat grill to medium-high. Combine mayonnaise, yogurt and chili powder in a small bowl. Grill corn, turning occasionally, until marked and tender, 8 to 12 minutes total. Spread each ear with 1 tablespoon of the sauce and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon Parmesan. Serve with lime wedges.
BAKED CORN WITH ONIONS
2 cups fresh corn kernels; 1 cup thinly sliced onions; 1/2 tsp curry powder; salt and pepper to taste; 1/2 stick butter; 1/4 cup heavy cream
Alternate corn and onions in layers in a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with curry powder and salt and pepper. Cut butter in slices over the top. Pour on cream. Bake at 3750 for 35-45 minutes, or until top is browned. Serves 2-3
CARAMELIZED ONION QUESADILLAS
4 tablespoons (l/2 stick) butter; 1 large onion, thinly sliced; 1 tablespoon light brown sugar; 1/4 teaspoon white wine vinegar; 4 flour tortillas, 10 inches in diameter; 1l/2 cups grated smoked Gouda cheese; Freshly ground black pepper
In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the onion, brown sugar, and vinegar and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove from the heat. Cool to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the tortillas on a work surface. Sprinkle cheese over half of each tortilla, dividing it evenly. Sprinkle the sautéed onion over the cheese. Season to taste with pepper. Fold the other half of each tortilla over the cheese mixture. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and brush the tortillas with some of it. Brush a heavy, large skillet with some of the remaining melted butter. Place over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook the quesadillas just until brown spots appear, brushing the skillet with butter between batches, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer the quesadillas to a heavy, large baking sheet. Bake for about 5 minutes, until the tortillas are golden and the cheese melts. Transfer the quesadillas to a work surface. Cut each into 6 wedges. Arrange on a platter and serve hot. Serves 4-6; Recipe from The Big Book of Vegetarian
PESTO
1 cup basil;1 small garlic clove, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese; 1 Tbsp pine nuts or almonds; 1/4 cup olive oil; salt to taste
Blend all ingredients in food processor or blender until fully blended and smooth. You can also substitute any kind of basil or parsley or spinach for the basil.
ROASTED GARLIC DIP
1 head of garlic, 1/2 T plus 1/4 cup olive oil, divided, freshly ground black pepper, 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Heat oven to 275 or 300 degrees. Cut 1-l/2 inch off the top of garlic head to expose the tips of the cloves. Lay garlic head cut side up in small baking dish. Drizzle 1/2 T of oil over the top; sprinkle on some pepper. Roast until soft, fragrant, and lightly browned, about 45 minutes. Cool completely. Squeeze cloves form the base and use a fork to dislodge the flesh from the skin. Mash garlic with a fork on small plate. Stir in Parmesan cheese, additional 1/4 olive oil, and pepper to taste. Serve with baguette or crusty bread. Makes 2-4 appetizer servings. I love this recipe and I made a large batch and refrigerated it and used it as a condiment on potatoes and other veggies after we had enjoyed our fill as an appetizer. Recipe from Family Health Cookbook published by the American Health Association
BUTTERMILK GARLIC DRESSING
1-2 medium garlic cloves; 4 tablespoons minced leeks; 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar; 1/2 cup buttermilk; 1/3 cup sour cream; large pinch sugar; 1/2 cup olive oil
Mince garlic; mash to a paste with fork or back of knife. Whisk garlic, leeks, vinegar, buttermilk, sour cream, and sugar in bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper to taste. Makes almost 11/2 cups
Recipe from MACSAC
GINGER PLUM GELATO
3 cups whole, unpeeled, pitted plums, ground fresh ginger to taste, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 2 tablespoons water, 2 cups whole milk, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup white sugar, 4 egg yolks, beaten, 1 cup heavy whipping cream. Place plums, ginger and water in a large skillet; cook, uncovered, over medium heat until tender. Place in a food processor; cover and process until blended. Set aside. In a small saucepan, heat milk to 175°; stir in sugar until dissolved. Whisk a small amount of the hot mixture into egg yolks. Return all to the pan, whisking constantly. Cook over low heat until mixture is just thick enough to coat a metal spoon and a thermometer reads at least 160°, stirring constantly. Do not allow to boil. Remove from heat immediately. Quickly transfer to a large bowl; place bowl in a pan of ice water. Stir gently and occasionally for 2 minutes. Stir in cream. Pour plums into the mixture by straining through a colander to catch the skins. Add cinnamon and liqueur if desired. Press plastic wrap onto bowl of custard. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. Fill cylinder of ice cream freezer two-thirds full; freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions. Refrigerate any remaining mixture until ready to freeze.) Transfer ice cream to freezer containers, allowing headspace for expansion. Freeze 2-4 hours or until firm. Repeat with any remaining gelato mixture. Yield: 1 quart. 8 Servings Prep: 25 min. + chilling Process: 20 min. + freezing
BEETS, ORANGES (OR PEACHES), AND RASPBERRY SAUCE
1 pound beets, scrubbed; 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar; 1-2 oranges or peaches; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1 teaspoon grated gingerroot (optional); 1/2 teaspoon salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place beets (in their skins) in a baking dish and cover with foil. Roast beets until tender, about 35-55 minutes, depending on their size. When cool, peel, slice thinly, and place them in a bowl. Peel the oranges (or peaches) and cut in half. Place flat sides down on cutting board and slice each into about 4 wedges. Remove seeds from orange slices. Add to beets. Make vinaigrette out of the remaining ingredients: mash garlic with the salt, add vinegar, and whisk in olive oil. Stir in grated gingerroot, if using. Toss with beets and oranges. You can serve this immediately, but it’s best if allowed to chill and mellow. This dish was inspired by recipes in Mollie Katzen’s Vegetable Heaven and Renee Shepherd’s Recipes from a Kitchen Garden; Makes 4-6 servings.
PEACH UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter; 11/2 cups packed brown sugar; 2 tablespoons thawed apple juice concentrate; 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted; 3 cups sliced peeled peaches (about 2 pounds); 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 11/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour; 11/2 teaspoons baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup buttermilk
Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a l0-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-low heat, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Add % cup of the brown sugar and the apple juice and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar melts, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Sprinkle the sliced almonds over the brown sugar mixture. Arrange the peach slices in a spoke pattern on top of the almonds, working from the center of the skillet to the edge. In a large bowl, combine the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and 3 cups brown sugar. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamed, about 4 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla and beat well. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour mixture; mix well after each addition. Spoon the batter evenly over the peaches. Bake for about 45 minutes, until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, and then invert onto a serving plate. Serves 8; Recipe from The Big Book of Vegetarian
ROASTED CHEESE-STUFFED GREEN PEPPERS
Bell peppers; low-fat cheese
Using tongs or long-handled fork, hold whole pepper over open flame, turning occasionally, until skin blisters all around. Cool and peel off skin. Open pepper from top carefully; remove seeds and core. Fill with low-fat cheese, and pop in low oven until cheese melts and conforms to shape of pepper. Chill overnight. Slice pepper; serve with other vegetables or use in a sandwich. Makes any number of servings.
HOW SWEET IT IS CORN AND PEPPER SALAD
4 ears sweet com; 1 green bell pepper, diced; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 1/4 cup diced red onion; 2 tablespoons slivered basil; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 1/2 cup olive oil; salt and pepper
Husk com and boil or grill until crisp-tender. Cool and slice off the kernels. Place com in bowl with sweet peppers, onions; and basil. Whisk balsamic vinegar and mustard in a small bowl, then slowly whisk in olive oil a little at a time. Toss with the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Makes 4 servings.