Winter CSA Share #2, Tuesday, November 11th, 2014

 What You’re Getting: 
 

Standard Share

5 lbs Onions	8 lbs Winter Squash
5 lbs Potatoes	1/2 lb salad mix
5 lbs Carrots	1 stalk Brussels sprouts
1 green cabbage	2 lbs green tomatoes
1/2 lb kale	1 Long Pie Pumpkin

Family Share:

10 lbs Onions	10 lbs Winter Squash
10 lbs Potatoes	1 lb salad mix
10 lbs Carrots	2 stalks Brussels sprouts
1 green cabbage	2 lbs green tomatoes
1 lb kale	1 Long Pie Pumpkin

Farm News:

Winter CSA Share #2!

Well, we survived the snow storm just fine – We even enjoyed it, so much sledding! Our late fall kale however, did not. Sad day. Kale can take frosts, but apparently not a heavy snow load, which stripped all the leaves off the plants. We were able to get you kale as planned, but this kale is not very tender, so don’t use it for kale salad! Instead, chop it finely and add to soups or pasta sauce (Like the recipe included today) to add a nutritional kick.

            November is a busy month of end-of-the-year projects for us. Over-wintering crops need covering, the last of the storage crops need harvesting, buildings need to be buttoned up, equipment must be stored properly, spring greenhouse need seeding, firewood needs to be split and stacked – the list is never ending, always! Despite that, we love late fall. We miss our summer crew but appreciate the time we get to spend alone as a family, and look forward to seeing our extended families over the holiday.

We hope you enjoy all the many vegetables in your share – We are feeling particularly excited about Brussels sprouts, ourselves! Put that Long Pie pumpkin to work in a delicious holiday pie! We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families!

 Enjoy, and many thanks!

Christa, Mike, Lizzy and Nick

A few notes:

Long Pie pumpkin looks funny, like a giant orange zucchini, but is actually a heirloom pumpkin with great flavor and smooth flesh that makes WONDERFUL pies.

            For green tomatoes, try also: Fried Green Tomatoes! Find on our blog at www.bahnerfarm.blogspot.com or Google to find 1,000,00 recipes! I also like to add chopped green tomatoes to enchiladas.

Recipes:

Green Tomato Salsa

           

    2 Tablespoons lime juice

    1 finely chopped garlic clove

    Salt & Pepper (to taste)

    Pinch Garlic Powder

    Pinch Cumin

    Pinch Chili Powder

    1 Tb chopped fresh cilantro (Or use parsley if you hate cilantro)

    ¼ cup finely chopped onion

    2 Tablespoons finely chopped jalapeno

    1 ½ cups chopped green tomatoes

Remove the stems and cores of the green tomatoes.

    Chop all the ingredients and combine.

    Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

From: http://wonkywonderful.com/1/post/2013/09/green-tomato-salsa-verde-recipe.html

Delicious pasta sauce with Kale

    Olive oil for the pan

    1/3 cup roughly chopped red onion

    2 teaspoons finely minced garlic

    2 tablespoons tomato paste

    1 bunch chopped Kale

    1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes

    1/2 cup red wine

    1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

    1 tablespoon granulated sugar

    Salt and pepper to taste

Coat a large saute pan with olive oil.  Place the pan over medium heat with the onion and garlic.  Cook until the onions begin to brown, about 5 minutes.  Then add the tomato paste and cook for a few minutes.  It will likely become stuck to the bottom of the pan, and that's ok! Add the kale and cook until it wilts, about 3 minutes.  Pour in the wine and tomatoes and increase the heat to high.  Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce to low and simmer for about 20 minutes. 

Finish the sauce with the sugar and the cheese and then season to taste with salt and pepper.

Read more: http://www.momtastic.com/food/128950-kale-pasta-sauce/#ixzz3IggoHIWS

Caramelized Winter Squash

Always a huge hit at Thanksgiving!

2 medium butternut squash (4 to 5 pounds total)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Cut off and discard the ends of each butternut squash. Peel the squash, cut them in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds. Cut the squash into 1 1/4 to 1 1/2-inch cubes and place them on a baking sheet. Add the melted butter, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. With clean hands, toss all the ingredients together and spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast for 45 to 55 minutes, until the squash is tender and the glaze begins to caramelize. While roasting, turn the squash a few times with a spatula, to be sure it browns evenly. Taste for seasonings and serve hot.

1999, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, All Rights Reserved

“Pot-Stuck” Brussles sprouts

    1/2 pound medium-sized brussels sprouts, halved

    2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

    1/4 cup finely diced onion

    1/2 lemon

    Salt, to taste

    Bring a pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Blanch your brussels sprouts for 30 seconds, drain, and dry thoroughly.

    The key to getting a good char on your brussels sprouts is making sure they don't crowd. If you're working with a large pan (e.g. a 10-inch cast iron skillet), cook them all at once. If your pan is smaller, fry in two batches. Heat oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add one sprout, cut-side down; if it begins to sizzle immediately, add the rest. You want most of them to land cut-side down, but don't drive yourself crazy.

    Let your sprouts cook, untouched, for a minute or so, and then check them. If they're white or light brown on the bottom, let them cook a bit more. You want to wait to flip them until they are charred and almost black. Once they are, flip to the other side, and wait for side two to cook until crispy. Add salt, toss a few times, then move them all to the edge of the pan.

    Add your onion (or half of the onion, if you're working in batches) to the pan. If it looks very dry, add a touch more oil. If you're worried about them burning, turn the heat down a bit. Let them cook for a minute or two, stirring lightly, until they soften slightly.

    Toss onions and sprouts together; let them cook for 30 more seconds. Add a squeeze of lemon juice, allow everything to steam for a moment, and then you're done! Taste for salt. Fry your second batch now, if it's still waiting for you.

    Note: These taste great at any temperature, so don't stress about timing.

Adapted from Mollie Katzen's "The Heart of the Plate."  By Marian Bull

Roasted Cabbage and Apples with Italian Sausage

    1/2 head cabbage, thinly sliced

    1 medium onion, thinly sliced

    1 medium apple, sliced

    2 sprigs thyme

    1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

    2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

    Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

    1 lb sausage or your choice

    Crusty bread (for serving)

    Preheat oven to 400°. Toss cabbage, onion, apple, thyme sprigs, vinegar, 1 Tbsp. oil, and 1/4 cup water in a 13x9" baking dish; season with salt and pepper and roast, covered, until cabbage is wilted and softened, 35–45 minutes.

    Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook sausages until browned and cooked through, 10–12 minutes. Add to cabbage during last 10 minutes of cooking, tossing to coat. Serve with bread.

CSA Share #16, Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014

What You’re Getting: 

Standard Share:

0.5 lb tomatoes

1 bunch kale

0.5 lb leeks

1.5 lb onions

1.5 lb potatoes

1 red or green pepper

2 lbs carrots

 

Family Share:

1 lb tomatoes

1 bunch kale

1 lb leeks

2 lb onions

2.5 lb potatoes

2 red or green peppers

4 lbs carrots

Farm News:

Phew, we made it through the fair. We had an awesome weekend. It was great to see those of you who made it there! Now, on to the fall harvests for us. Carrots, beets, cabbages, turnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes and more will be dug up and stored for the long winter months. Firewood needs to be bucked and split. Greenhouse plastic needs to be replaced. Fields need to be put to bed with winter cover crops or mulch. A busy, fun time, racing to finish before the heavy frosts and snow!

If you’re interested in a Winter CSA Share, now is the time to register! Thanks to those of you who have already. If you have already signed up, expect a confirmation email this week.You can sign up online at www.bahnerfarm.com.

Fall is here and the CSA is drawing to a close, but we’re not done yet! The last share will be on October 7^th.

Enjoy, and many thanks!

Christa, Mike, Lizzy and Nicky

Recipes:

Leek and Tomato Quiche

This recipe calls for swiss cheese, but I think it’s tastier with feta or cheddar. Also, Hannaford carries some very decent organic whole wheat frozen pie crusts for those of you who (Like me) have given up on making your own pie crust.

2 tablespoons butter

2 cups sliced leeks

1 (9 inch) frozen pie crust, thawed

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1/4 cup grated Romano cheese

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

4 eggs

1 3/4 cups heavy cream

1 tomato, thinly sliced

salt and pepper to taste

    Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, and saute the leeks until tender. Spread evenly over the bottom of the pie crust.

    In a bowl, toss together the Swiss cheese, Romano cheese, and flour. Spread over the leeks.

     In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs and heavy cream. Pour over the cheese layer in the pie crust. Top with the tomato slices, and season with salt and pepper.

    Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce heat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C), and continue baking 30 minutes, until the crust is lightly browned and a knife inserted in the center of the quiche comes out clean.

From http://allrecipes.com/recipe/leek-and-cheese-quiche/

Caldo Verde Soup

    1/4 cup olive oil

    1 large onion, diced

    2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

    10 ounces chorizo or other spicy sauage, diced

    6 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

    8 cups cold water

    1 bunch kale, cut into very fine strips

    Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they are translucent. Add the garlic and half the chorizo and cook for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, cover everything with the water, bring to a boil and lower the heat, simmering until the potatoes are almost done, about 15 minutes.

When the soup is cool enough to handle, purée it in the food processor and return to the pot. Add the greens, bring everything back to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, ladle into bowls, and garnish with the remaining cubes of chorizo.

Potato-Carrot Pancakes

    1 lb potatoes, shredded                      

    1-2 large eggs, beaten

    1 lb carrots, shredded                      

    Salt and pepper to taste

    1 large onion, shredded                      

    Vegetable oil for frying

Combine shredded carrots and potatoes. Drain off excess liquid. Add onions, egg, salt and pepper. Heat a griddle or non-stick pan and coat with a thin film of vegetable oil. Take about 2 tablespoons of the potato mixture in the palm of your hand and flatten as best you can. Place the potato mixture on the griddle, flatten with a large spatula, and fry for a few minutes until golden. Flip the pancake over and brown the other side. Remove to paper towels to drain. Serve immediately. You can also freeze the potato pancakes and crisp them up in a 350-degree oven at a later time.

CSA Share #14, Tuesday, September 9th, 2014

What You’re Getting:

Standard Share:

1 pint cherry tomatoes

1 lb tomatoes

1 lb onions

2 lbs carrots

1 green bell pepper

1 bunch kale

1 head lettuce

 

Family Share:

1 pint cherry tomatoes

2 lbs tomatoes

2 lbs onions

3 lbs carrots

2 green bell pepper

1 bunch kale

1 bunch chard

2 heads lettuce

Farm News:

Ahh, this is more like it! I am loving these crisp, cool mornings and the cool, dry wind! Feels like fall, and it’s starting to look like it, too! The onions have all been harvested and are drying in the greenhouse, and in a few days we will bag them and store them in their cooler for winter. Then the winter squash will be brought in and laid out to cure. The list of things to plant, harvest, dry, bag, seed and more goes on and on and on in the fall. At the same time, the later, darker mornings make it easier to sleep just a little more… By September we all really need a just an extra half hour or so every night to help start making up for the sleepless, endless days of July and August!

Enjoy, and many thanks!

Christa, Mike, Lizzy and Nicky

Recipes:

Easy Mexican Rice

    1/2 cup chopped onion

    1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper

    1 large clove garlic, minced

    2 teaspoons canola oil

    1 cup cooked rice

    1 lb tomatoes, diced

    1 teaspoon chili powder

    1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1 1/2 cups beef broth

In a heavy skillet sauté onion, green bell pepper and garlic until onion is softened. Add rice to skillet and cook over medium-high heat until rice has browned. Add tomatoes, chili powder, salt, and beef broth. Bring to a boil; cover, lower heat, and simmer until liquid has been absorbed, about 20 minutes. Add additional salt to taste.

Gingered Carrot and Kale Ribbons

    8 large carrots (about 2 lbs), peeled

    1/4 cup vegetable oil

    2 medium onions, sliced into thin strips

    1/3 cup golden raisins, coarsely chopped

    2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

    2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger

    1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest; plus 1 tbsp lemon juice

    salt and pepper

    4 large kale leaves, thinly sliced

    Using a vegetable peeler, slice the carrots into long, thin ribbons.

    In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the raisins, garlic, ginger, lemon zest and 1/2 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the carrots, kale and 1/2 cup water and cook, stirring or turning with tongs, until softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Lettuce Salad with Bacon and Roquefort

Adapted from SALAD AS A MEAL by Patricia Wells

¾ cup chopped bacon

1 head lettuce, cut into chunks

6 ounces chilled blue cheese (preferably Roquefort), crumbled (1 1/2 cups)

Buttermilk-Lemon Zest Dressing (recipe follows)

Sea salt

Coarse, freshly ground black pepper

In a large, dry skillet, brown the bacon over moderate heat until crisp and golden, about 5 minutes.

In a large salad bowl, combine the lettuce, chives, bacon, and cheese.  Pour just enough dressing to lightly and evenly coat the ingredients.  Season with sea salt.  Divide the salad evenly among 4 plates.  Season generously with black pepper and serve.

BUTTERMILK-LEMON ZEST DRESSING

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/2 cup buttermilk, shaken to blend (Or make your own with ½ cup of milk and 2 tsp lemon juice)

Grated zest of 1 lemon, preferably organic

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

 In a jar, combine all the ingredients.  Cover with the lid and shake to blend. Let stand for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend.  (Store the dressing in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Shake to blend again before using.)

CSA Share # 10, Tuesday, August 12th, 2014

What You’re Getting: 

Standard Share:

1 bunch kale           

2 lb zucchini and summer squash

1 slicing cucumber

2 lbs Tomatoes

1 Eggplant

1 bunch carrots

1 bunch onion

Family Share:  

1 bunch kale

3 lb zucchini and summer squash

1 slicing cucumber

1 bunch chard

4 lbs Tomatoes

2 Eggplant

2 bunch carrots

2 bunch onion

Farm News:

What gorgeous weather we’ve been having and it is officially peak tomato season! Even more exciting is that melons are coming soon; maybe even some will be ripe starting next week!

Once again, if you like canning, or freezing veggies for the winter, this is the season to do it! We will let you know if and when we have surplus crops for bulk orders. Tomatoes should be available for canning later this month. Our cabbage is going fast but we still have some left. This will be the last week of availability. 40 lbs of cabbage makes 5 gallons of sauerkraut to keep your winter tasty. Usually $1.00/lb, right now you can get cabbage for $0.25/lb when you buy 20 lbs or more. This is for CSA Members only! Let us know if you’re interested.

Thanks!

Christa, Mike, Lizzy and Nicky

Recipes:

Bulgur Wheat Salad With Tomato and Eggplant

Ingredients

    1 cup bulgur wheat

    1 eggplant, thinly sliced

    5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

    1 pound cherry tomatoes, cut in half

    1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

    kosher salt and pepper

    1 cup basil leaves, torn

Directions

    Heat broiler.

    Cook the bulgur according to the package directions.

    Arrange the eggplant slices on 2 baking sheets. Brush both sides with a total of 3 tablespoons of the oil. Broil the eggplant, 1 sheet pan at a time, until brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

    Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in the tomatoes, vinegar, the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Fold in the basil.

    Transfer the bulgur to a large bowl and top with the eggplant and tomato mixture before serving.

Kale, Carrot and Avocado Salad

Ingredients:

    1 bunch kale, stemmed and finely chopped

    2 cups grated carrots

    1/2 avocado, peeled and pitted

    1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion

    2 tablespoons lemon or lime juice

    2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

    1/2 teaspoon reduced sodium soy sauce

Method:

Toss all ingredients together in a large bowl. Use your hands or the back of a large spoon to thoroughly mash avocado into kale. Set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to allow kale to soften.

CSA Share #8, Tuesday July 29th, 2014

Standard Shares:

1 lb green beans

1 pint mixed tomatoes

1.5 lbs zucchini and summer squash

½ lb pickling cucumbers

½ lb salad mix

1 bunch beets

1 bunch kale

small bag basil

Family Shares:

1 lb green beans

1 quart mixed tomatoes

3 lbs zucchini and summer squash

1 lb pickling cucumbers

½ lb salad mix

1 bunch beets

1 bunch kale

1 bunhc chard

1 cabbage

small bag basil

Farm News:

Well, things are growing wonderfully around here, getting tall and green and bushy and producing all sorts of things… red beets, green cucumbers, yellow squash, orange tomatoes and so much more.

Unfortunately for us, Mike managed to tear his bicep last week, and can’t use his arm for 6-8 weeks…. Of course they are the busiest 8 weeks of the season! He will be spending a lot more time with the kids for the next few months while Christa and our great crew juggle things around to fill the gap.

With 8 weeks until the Common Ground Country Fair, the season is flying by! Hope you’re enjoying it, too!

Thanks!

Christa, Mike, Lizzy and Nicky

Recipes

Simple Summer Zucchini with Tomatoes and Basil

1 pound zucchini or summer squash

2 tablespoon olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup diced tomatoes

1 cup basil leaves, roughly chopped

freshly ground pepper

salt

Cut the zucchini into 1/4-inch slices diagonally, or 1/4- inch cubes.

    Heat the olive oil over high heat in a large skillet. Cook the zucchini and garlic for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and basil. Continue to cook for 3 more minutes, or until the zucchini is tender.

    Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot or cold.

From: http://www.wolfgangpuck.com/recipes/side-dishes-and-vegetables/Zucchini-with-Basil-and-Tomatoes

Super Simple Cucumber Sandwiches

(Mike’s current favorite snack)

2 slices bread, toasted per your preference (We love the Maine Grain bread in the farmstand)

1 pickling cucumber, sliced thinly into sheets

Mayonnaise

Salt and pepper

Spread the warm toast with mayonnaise. Lay the sheets of thinly sliced cucumber over the prepared toast, and lightly add salt and pepper. Yum! A great snack in a hot day.

Crispy Kale with Lemon-Yogurt Dip

    1 bunch curly kale   

    1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

    2 garlic cloves, minced

    Salt and freshly ground pepper

    1 cup plain Greek yogurt

    1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

    2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

    Preheat the oven to 375°. In a bowl, toss the kale with all but 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and half of the garlic. Spread the kale on 2 baking sheets and roast in the upper and lower thirds of the oven for about 15 minutes, until crisp; shift the pans from top to bottom halfway through. Season the kale with salt and pepper and transfer to a large platter.

    In a small bowl, whisk the yogurt with the lemon zest and juice and the remaining garlic and 1 tablespoon of oil. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with the roasted kale.

From: http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/crispy-kale-with-lemon-yogurt-dip

CSA Share #4, Tuesday, July 1st, 2014

What You’re Getting:

Standard Shares:

1 bunch kale

1 head lettuce

1 bunch hakurei summer turnips

½ lb salad mix

1 bunch beets

1 bunch scallions

 

Family Shares:

1 bunch kale

1 bunch swiss chard

2 heads lettuce

2 bunches hakurei summer turnips

1 lb salad mix

1 bunch beets

1 bunch scallions

Farm News:

Happy 4^th of July! On July 4^th, 2010 we got married in the top field on a hot, muggy day. The farm has changed so much since then – new fields, greenhouses, the farmstand, the packing building, two babies and a whole bevy of apprentices. We are pretty proud of what we have accomplished here since we bought the farm in 2009 and we are looking forward to many, many long, hard, rewarding seasons to come.

We hope you’re enjoying these long summer days as much as we are. Plants are going crazy in this heat. We can’t wait for all the treats in store for us! The tomatoes are starting to ripen, and the cukes and zucchini are sizing up. Sugar snap peas next week!

Enjoy your veggies!

Christa, Mike, Lizzy and Nicky

Recipes:

Beet, Kale, Red Leaf Lettuce & Hakurei Salad with Grapefruit Vinaigrette

1 bunch kale

1 bunch red leaf lettuce

4-5 hakurei turnips

1 beet

2 carrots

1 grapefruit

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

sunflower seeds

Wash the vegetables. Remove the stems from the kale, and chop it into bite-sized pieces. Chop the lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Chop the turnips and beets into matchsticks (or whatever shape you desire; make sure to cut the beets fairly thinly). Peel the carrots, and cut them into long strips by hand or in a food processor.  If desired, remove the sections from 1/2 of the grapefruit and peel them.  In a small canning jar, combine: juice from 1/2 grapefruit (a little over 1/4 cup), 4 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper. Cover the jar and shake vigorously to combine.  To serve, place fresh ingredients on serving plates or bowls. Top with grapefruit vinaigrette and sunflower seeds.

Scallion Pancakes

This is one of my all-time favorites – a very simplified version of the amazing Korean scallion pancakes a friend used to make for us.

1 bunch scallions                     

1 t salt                                              

1 ½ cups flour                                    

4 eggs                                              

½ cup vegetable oil

½ cup water

red wine vinegar

soy sauce

lemon juice

            Remove the scallion roots and dice the whole bunch (use all the green, right up to the tips!).  In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. In a smaller bowl, combine the eggs, oil, and water, mixed thoroughly. Add the wet mixture to the flour mixture, and mix well, until there are little to no lumps. Stir in chopped scallions. Oil the surface of a large skillet or griddle, and heat until water flicked onto it pops and fizzles. Pour the batter on, about 1 cup per pancake, spreading the mixture out with your spatula to achieve a nice thin pancake. Fry until golden brown on each side.

Serve with a sauce made from ½ soy sauce, ¼ lemon juice, and ¼ red wine vinegar.

CSA Share #2, Tuesday June 17th, 2014

What You’re Getting:

Standard Share:

1 bunch kale

1 head lettuce

1 bunch hakurei summer turnips

1 bunch radishes

1 head pac choi

1 bunch baby carrots

1 kohlrabi

 

Family Share:

1 bunch kale

1 head napa cabbage

2 heads lettuce

2 bunches hakurei summer turnips

1 bunch radishes

2 heads pac choi

2 bunches baby carrots

2 kohlrabi

Farm News:

Happy Father’s Day! We hope you all got to spend a relaxing day with the Dads in your lives. Mike spent with day with the kids while I took our goods up to Bar Harbor for our weekly farmer’s market there.

Summer is here (almost, anyway!) and the plants are starting to respond to the warming soil with more growth and production. Our crew is out everyday working hard to get things seeded, transplanted, weeded and otherwise healthy for you. This year we have 4 apprentices, our biggest crew ever. With their help we’ve gotten all of the important planting projects in for 2014 and we’re moving into the time of year better known as weeding season with a good handle on things.

Enjoy! See you next week!

Christa, Mike, and Lizzy

Recipes:

How to eat: Kohlrabi (Light green bulb with long leaves)

Ok, last year we got way too carried away and gave our CSA WAY too much kohlrabi, so we promise to cut it way down for 2014… you’ll only be getting it twice.

Peel the touch skin to expose the crisp, juicy bulb beneath. SO good grated into coleslaw or sliced thin to dip in sauces… or just eat it whole, like an apple.

How to eat: Hakurei Summer Turnips

These are SO different from storage turnips that you may be used to. Juicy, tender and slightly sweet, they are meant to be eaten raw. The greens can also be used in salads!

Easy-Peasy Hakurei-Kohlrabi Tuna Pasta Salad

1 bulb kohlrabi

2 large hakurei turnips

2 cans chunk light tuna fish, drained

½ lb spaghetti, cooked

¼ lb salad mix

3 T mayonnaise

1 T rice vinegar (or balsamic, if you prefer)

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Peel kohlrabi and wash turnips. Dice finely. Combine vegetables in small mixing bowl with tuna, mayonnaise, vinegar, and ground black pepper to taste. If you don’t like mayo, try using an Italian salad dressing instead.

Arrange salad mix on two plates.  Place pasta over salad, and tuna mixture over pasta. Light and delicious!

  Kale, Radish and Avacado salad

    1 medium bunch kale (any type), shredded

    1 avocado, pitted and flesh removed

    1 lemon, juiced

    ½ medium onion, red or yellow, thinly sliced

    ½ bunch radishes, sliced thinly

    ½  tsp sea salt (optional)

   Seed and spice blend:

    1/4 cup sunflower seeds

    1/4 cup sesame seeds

    1 T nutritional yeast

    1 teaspoon chili powder

    1/2 tbsp ground cumin

    1/2 tbsp onion granules

In mixing bowl combine the kale, avocado and lemon juice. With your hands, press to cream the avocado until thoroughly mixed. Mix in the onions and some of the radishes, reserving a bit of the radishes for garnish.

Finish with sea salt as an option. Sprinkle with seed and spice blend.

Winter CSA Share #1, Tuesday October 29th, 2013

 

What You’re Getting: 

Standard:

1 bunch kale

1 bunch swiss chard

2 heads lettuce

2 lbs green tomatoes

Cauliflower and broccoli (Amount TBD)

5 lbs onions

5 lbs potatoes

5 lbs carrots

8 lbs winter squash

 

Family: 

2 bunches kale

1 bunch swiss chard

3 heads lettuce

4 lbs green tomatoes

Cauliflower and broccoli (Amount TBD)

10 lbs onions

10 lbs potatoes

8 lbs carrots

12 lbs winter squash

Farm News:

Hi all,

There’s a nip in the air, frost on the ground… time for the Winter CSA! We hope you’ll all enjoy your first share. Thanks to the relatively mild fall we’ve been having so far, the greens and other fresh stuff is hanging in there really well.  Mike and the farm crew are finishing up their fall tasks, harvesting the beets, carrots, cabbages, leeks, turnips for storage and planting the garlic for next summer. Christa and Lizzy are trying to get the farm and house organized before our new baby arrives in two weeks. Yipes! It’s a busy but fun time.

Enjoy!

Christa, Mike, and Lizzy

Sautéed Swiss Chard with Parmesan

1/2 cup dry white wine

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste

1 tablespoon minced garlic         

2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 small onion, diced         

salt to taste (optional)

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

    Heat olive oil  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.

Caldo Verde Soup

            From leitesculinaria.com

    1/4 cup olive oil

    1 large onion, diced

    2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

    10 ounces chorizo or other spicy sausage, diced

    6 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

    8 cups cold water

    1 bunch kale, cut into very fine strips

    Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until they are translucent. Add the garlic and half the chorizo and cook for 2 minutes. Add the potatoes, cover everything with the water, bring to a boil and lower the heat, simmering until the potatoes are almost done, about 15 minutes.

When the soup is cool enough to handle, purée it in the food processor and return to the pot. Add the greens, bring everything back to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, ladle into bowls, and garnish with the remaining cubes of chorizo.

Winter Squash with Apples

1 winter squash (Buttercup, butternut, etc)

1 lb chopped apple

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 tablespoon butter or margarine, softened

½ teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

      Heat oven to 400°F. Cut squash in half; remove seeds and fibers. Place squash halves, cut side up, in ungreased baking dish, 11x7x1 1/2 inches. Mix remaining ingredients; spoon into squash halves.

      Cover and bake 30 to 40 minutes or until squash is tender.