Winter Share #2, Tuesday, November 13th

Our pumpkins on display at the Common Ground Fair in September

What You’re Getting:

1 bunch kale                ½ lb salad mix

1 head cabbage            2 lb turnips

4 lb carrots                   2 lbs leeks

5 lbs potatoes               5 lbs onions

1 Long Pie pumpkin    8 lbs mixed winter squash

Farm News:

    Last week we spent 4 beautiful days on what we call our annual family “summer” vacation that is, 4 days on the island that Christa used to spend her childhood summers on. These days leaving the farm in the summer is unthinkable, so late fall is usually our get-away time. It’s always relaxing to get away from the farm and the endless to-do lists, but we also love coming back home!

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving next week. There are lots of things in the share this week to add to your family’s feast. Pumpkin pie, glazed carrots, mashed potatoes? Yum!

In keeping with the spirit of the holiday, we would like to let all of you know how incredibly thankful we are to have such wonderful support from our customers and friends. Thank you!

Christa, Lizzy, and Mike

Recipes:

Maple Glazed Carrots

2 pounds carrots, halved

4 slices bacon, each cut into 4 pieces

1 T fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme

    1/4 cup pure maple syrup

    Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

    Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack in lower third. Place carrots, bacon, and thyme in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet.

    Drizzle with syrup; season with salt and pepper. Toss well to combine.

    Bake until bottoms of carrots begin to caramelize and turn dark brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven, and toss carrots carefully. Return to oven, and bake until all sides are well browned, about 25 minutes more. Serve immediately.

(Originally from Martha Stewart, but edited heavily)

Mashed Potatoes with Leeks and Kale

1 bunch kale, chopped, about 4 to 6 cups chopped

3 medium leeks, trimmed, washed, and thinly sliced

4 tablespoons butter, divided

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

 2 1/2 pounds potatoes, russet or baking

 1 cup milk, light cream, or half-and-half

In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Saute the leeks over medium heat, stirring, until wilted. Add the kale and chicken broth. Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes, until greens are very tender. Add the salt, to taste, and the pepper. Add milk or cream; remove from heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, cut potatoes into quarters; rinse well. Put potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain well and transfer to a large bowl. Heat the kale and milk mixture until hot. Add to the drained potatoes and mash by hand or with an electric mixer until well blended.

Making pumpkin pie from a fresh pumpkin:

What is that weird, orange zucchini thing? It’s an heirloom pie pumpkin called Long Pie. It’s my favorite for pumpkin pies, with it’s smooth, flavorful flesh.

I don’t like to give a pumpkin pie recipe, since most people already have a favorite. However, I do like to give simple directions for turning that hard orange pumpkin into puree. Many recipes call for peeling and chopping the raw pumpkin, which can be a real pain. Here’s an easier way for lazy cooks like me:  Pre-heat your oven to 350. Halve your pumpkin lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds. Lay the two halves on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the pumpkins are very soft and easily poked with a fork. Let them cool, and then scoop the soft flesh out of the skin. Hand-mash or puree in a food processor, and voila! Pumpkin puree! Most pie recipes call for 2 cups, and you should get between 3 and 4 cups from your Long Pie pumpkin.