Week Nine Summer Share July 14th 2015

Important information:

• There are no tree fruit shares this week. Due to the large volume of rain there are no cherries available and the early apricots that would normally be available were affected by the late freeze in May. We hope have fruit for next week. We will apply this week’s allotment towards the rest of the fruit season.
• Thank you for your kind support to our son Andrew who shared with you all that he will be leaving the farm as of August 1^st. A few members have voiced concerns whether this will affect summer shares for this season. It will not. We do not plan to offer winter egg shares. There will be meats available throughout the rest of summer share season.

Farm News from Jane

Well the sad news is out; Andrew and his family are moving back to Kentucky. Thanks for your support and encouragement for them; it is a wonderful opportunity for him and his family. Life in a college town is diverse and rich. We of course are very sad to see him go. We will miss all the fun and diversity that he and his family have added to the family operation. When Andrew joined us four years ago he has been instrumental in providing us all with all the wonderful rotationally grazed pork, chicken, turkey and eggs. We will continue to have meats available until our supply is gone. We should have plenty until the snow flies!

The extremes in weather this spring have caused a “gap” in tree fruit availability; that is the nature of farming especially here in WNY. Tree fruit is especially susceptible to extreme spring conditions. When there are hot spells the tree buds begin to open and blossom. Then when we have freezing temperature (especially twenty eight degrees) the buds/blossoms are damaged. We vegetable farmers at least, can control the planting dates. Fruit trees are exposed to the harshest of conditions.  The orchard men had a difficult season two years ago when they lost most of their summer tree fruits. We hope that the rest of the summer’s bounty is unaffected for them.

But vegetable production is going well. Although last week’s share was a bit light this week we have lots to fill the box. The summer squash is so prolific that we could fill the box up with squash alone!!! But not to worry we’ll try to keep it to a modicum. This week is the last of the bunching onions. The Walla Walla’s, the earliest variety of sweet onions are about the size of a hard ball and will continue to grow with the weather conditions we’ve been experiencing. We will begin pulling them next week. This week we have the first of the string beans. Lots of green beans for shares and the yellow beans are close at their heels for harvest next week. Once beans begin we should have some to share each week into September. The earliest planted sweet corn has tasseled out and is only a few weeks away from harvest! The frequent showers have the sweet corn looking great this season. And rumor has it that someone pulled up some tiny new red potatoes last weekend; I wish I could say that it was me. I’m about ready for some new potatoes but I think that we’ll let them grow a few more weeks so there are more to share. Lots of summer goodness in store so eat up and keep the refrigerator cleaned out for the weeks to come. Enjoy the sunshine, Jane

 

Produce:  Green Beans   Bunching onions Cylindrical beets Swiss chard

Cabbage   Zucchini   Yellow squash    Head Lettuce

 

Produce Tips:

– Cabbage should be refrigerated.

– Summer squash should be bagged before refrigerating to keep them from dehydrating.

 

Recipes

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

 

SUMMER SQUASH SOUP SMYRNA

2 Medium-size summer squash or zucchini; 3 Cups plain yogurt; 4 Tablespoons each lemon juice and vinegar;  3 Tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 Tablespoons curry powder; 3 Cups tomato juice; Salt and black pepper; 6 Tablespoons minced fresh celery leaves

Seed and chop the squash. Simmer until tender in enough water to barely cover. Drain well, then puree. In a large bowl, beat the yogurt until smooth, then mix in the lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil and curry; stir in the squash and tomato juice. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper, and refrigerate, covered, for 4 hours. Serve cold, garnished with minced celery leaves. Serves 6 to 8

 

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 inches green top, coarsely chopped

Directions: Toss together the beets and onions with 1/8 cup 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

 

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

 

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 inches green top, coarsely chopped

Directions: Toss together the beets and onions with 1/8 cup 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. Makes 3 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

 

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.

Makes 2-4 servings; recipe from MACSAC

SWISS CHARD CASSEROLE

1 bunch Swiss chard; 1/2 can condensed cream of chicken soup; 1/2 tsp. salt; 1/8 tsp. pepper; 3/4 c. herb-seasoned croutons; 2 tbsp melted butter

Cut stalks from washed chard in 1″ pieces. Cook in boiling salted water in large kettle 5 minutes (1/2 tsp. salt to 2 c. water). Tear leaves, add to kettle and continue cooking until tender. Drain thoroughly. Combine with undiluted soup, salt and pepper in greased 1-qt. casserole. Toss croutons in melted butter. Sprinkle on top of chard. Bake in moderate oven (350°) 25 minutes. Makes 3 servings

 

GREEN BEANS WITH LEMON VINAIGRETTE

2 tsp minced fresh parsley; 2 Tbsp lemon juice; 1 Tbsp plain, unsweetened yogurt; 2 tsp chopped chives or green onion with green top; Salt and black pepper, to taste; 1/3 c canola oil; 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed

Combine parsley, juice, yogurt, chives, salt, pepper, and oil in jar with tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously. Chill. Blanch green beans 4 minutes; plunge in ice water to stop cooking. Drain. Toss green beans with vinaigrette. Makes 6 servings

 

SOUTHERN STIR-FRY GREEN BEANS

1 1/2 lb fresh green beans, trimmed; 2 Tbsp olive oil; 3 cloves garlic, chopped; 1 c chopped pecans; 2 Tbsp packed brown sugar

Heat olive oil in pan over medium heat. Sauté garlic 1 minute. Add green beans; cover, reduce to medium-low and cook 8 minutes, until tender, stirring occasionally. Add pecans and brown sugar; toss. Serve at once. Makes 6 servings

 

SWISS CHEESE, EGG AND GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

1 lb. fresh beans; 2 tablespoons butter; 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour; 1/2 cup milk; 1/2 onion, grated; 1/2 tablespoon honey; 1/3 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon pepper; 1 1/2 cups yogurt; 4 hard-cooked eggs, sliced; 1/2 lb. Swiss cheese, slivered or grated; 1/4 cup wheat germ; 1 tablespoon oil

Cook green beans according to preferred method. Drain if necessary. In a saucepan, melt butter, add flour, stirring until blended, and then add milk. Continue to cook, stirring until thickened. Add grated onion, honey, seasonings and yogurt. Mix until smooth. Remove from heat. Preheat oven to 350°F. Make a layer of green beans in a casserole, then a layer of sliced hard-cooked eggs and then a layer of cheese. Pour sauce over top, poking casserole with a fork to be sure sauce seeps down into all the layers. Sprinkle with wheat germ which has been mixed with a little oil. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted. Be careful not to overcook because eggs left too long in the oven can become rubbery. Serve hot. Yield: 4 to 6 servings

 

FRUITED CABBAGE SLAW

1/2 pound green cabbage, shredded (about 3 cups); 1 cup shredded carrots; 1 cup pineapple tidbits; 1/2 cup raisins; 1 red apple, cored and cubed; 1 cup plain yogurt; 1 tsp cider vinegar; 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp celery seed; 1 banana, sliced

In a large bowl, combine cabbage, carrots, pineapple, raisins, and apple; set aside. Mix together yogurt, vinegar, sugar, salt, and celery seed. Pour over cabbage mixture and toss until well mixed. Refrigerate 1 hour or more. Just before serving, add sliced banana and toss. Serves 6 to 8

 

INDONESIAN CURRIED CABBAGE

1 large cabbage; 1 large bay leaf; 3 whole cloves; 1 clove garlic; 2 cups beef broth; 3 tbs. grated onion; 4 tbs. butter; 1 tbs. curry powder; 6 tbs. flour; salt and cayenne pepper; 2 cups milk; 1/2 cup grated Gouda cheese

Shred cabbage. Rinse in a colander with lukewarm water. Make a bouquet garni of bay leaf, whole cloves and garlic. Place cabbage, broth and bouquet garni (in a spice bag if available) in a large kettle. Bring to boil. Cook gently 10 minutes, or until cabbage is tender. Melt butter in another saucepan. Add curry powder and cook gently 1 minute. Remove pan from heat. Stir in flour and season to taste with salt and cayenne. Carefully blend in milk. Return to heat and stir constantly until sauce boils. Drain cabbage well and discard spices. Combine cabbage and sauce. Pour into buttered casserole. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake in 475°F oven 15 minutes or until top bubbles and is nicely browned.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

 

STIR-FRIED CABBAGE

2 tbsp oil; 1 medium-size onion, sliced; 8 cups coarsely shredded cabbage; 1 tsp celery seed; 1 tsp paprika; 1 tsp coriander 1/4 tsp salt. Heat oil to medium-hot in large skillet or wok. Stir-fry onion in oil for a minute or two, then add cabbage and seasonings. Stir-fry for 5 to 10 minutes until cabbage is tender but firm. Pan may be covered briefly toward the end of the cooking process to hasten tenderizing. Serve immediately. Yield: 4 servings