Weekly Farm Notes :: January 27th, 2016

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Hello,

Well, what a change in weather from last week! It is nice to have a little dose of winter but I don’t like it enough to cancel market!

Just a reminder – if you are on social media, please tag any pictures you post with #tanthillfarm so we can see what you create with our produce!

See you tomorrow at market!

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January 27th Produce

Here are the items you can expect at Market {M} or in the CSA share {CSA}:

  • Tender Collards {M/CSA}: I have been experimenting with a Collard Green Relish lately based on this recipe. I used the entire leaf and not just the stem, although you can certainly just use the stems if you are using the rest of the plant elsewhere. I am planning to post this recipe next week so keep an out for it!
  • Rainbow Swiss Chard {M/CSA}: A couple ideas: 1) chard may seem too “earthy” in flavor to include in a smoothie but when paired with berries, banana, ginger, and mint, it’s a great way to enjoy these greens raw! 2) Don’t throw away these beautiful stems! Check out this recipe for Picked Chard Stems for a wonderful condiment for rice and other grains!
  • Red Russian, Siberian & Toscano Kale {M/CSA}: if you feel like you are in a kale rut, check out these 10 Creative Recipes with Kale. They have everything from kale guacamole to kale brownies!
  • Spicy Asian Mustard Greens {M}: look no further than our newest recipe for Mustard Greens Soup with Poblanos and Almonds! It’s quick, flavorful and can work for just about any dietary restriction. We hope you give it a try!
  • Kohlrabi {CSA}: if you want to get your fermenting on this week, here are some options: Natural-Fermented Kohlrabi, Kohlrabi Kraut, and Dilly Kohlrabi Pickles. As always, don’t throw away the leaves! Check out our post on Kohlrabi Greens Furikake for a little inspiration!
  • Awesome Asian Salad Mix {CSA}: I am really excited to try the mix this week, which contains spinach, chickweed and curly green and red kale. Have you tried chickweed before? It is valued both as food and medicine (they are so intertwined, right?!). It is high in Vitamin C and calcium and has been used to treat diseases of inflammation such as dermatitis or gastritis. Check out more information here.
  • Thyme {CSA}: this recipe for Walnut-Thyme Honey sounds like an easy and flavorful way to use this herb. Imagine how great the walnuts taste after soaking in honey for a month…yum.

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Alice O’Dea Article

Have you read Alice O’Dea’s recent article? Don’t overlook tomato sauce – it can be so much more than spaghetti sauce!

Mustard Greens Soup with Poblanos and Almonds

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Hello,

The combination of mustard greens, poblanos and almonds may seem like a strange mix at first but I urge you to give it a try. The toasty, roasty almonds and poblanos provide depth whereas the greens compliment with a bright, fresh flavor.

This recipe is lightly adapted from this one by Rick Bayless. He doesn’t puree all of the soup as I recommend below, but instead leaves about half of the ingredients roughly chopped and mixed into the rest. I like to puree all of the soup for simplicity and then get some textural contrast from the garnishes.

Enjoy!

Mustard Greens Soup with Poblano and Almonds
makes about 6 cups / 4-6 servings

Recipe note: you can use other greens in place of mustard greens – arugula, kale, collards, Swiss chard or even chickweed, dead nettle or henbit.

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup slivered almonds, plus a few extra for garnish if you wish
  • 2 medium fresh poblano chiles
  • 1 medium (about 1/2 pound) Yukon Gold potato, cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 bunch (about 8 ounces) mustard greens, de-stemmed and roughly chopped
  • 2-1/2 to 3 cups vegetable stock or water, plus a little more if needed
  • 1-1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Juice of half a lime
  • Garnishes: I suggest a mix of something fatty (diced hard-boiled eggs, avocado) plus something crunchy (tortilla chips, extra almonds) but you could also use diced tofu, mushrooms, chicken or shrimp.

Directions:

  • Toast almonds in a 12″ traditional skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until fragrant and lightly brown, about 4-6 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Adjust oven rack to the upper third of the oven and heat the broiler on high. Remove the stem end and seeds from the poblanos and cut into quarters lengthwise (you may need to cut them into smaller pieces to ensure they lay flat). Place on a foil lined sheet pan and broil until the skin is black and blistered, about 5-8 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to cool and peel skin from the peppers. Add to a blender jar and set aside.
  • Bring a large saucepan of heavily salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the almonds, potatoes, and garlic and boil for about 5 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Add the mustard greens and cook until wilted but still bright green, about 1-2 minutes longer. Using a slotted spoon, scoop almonds, potatoes, garlic and greens into a blender jar and set aside.
  • Add 2-1/2 cups of stock or water, salt and lime juice to the blender and puree on high until completely smooth, about 1-2 minutes. Add more stock or water to reach desire consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  • If you plan to serve immediately, transfer to an empty saucepan and heat gently over medium-low until warm. Top with garnish of choice and serve.

 

Weekly Farm Notes :: January 20th, 2016

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Hello,

The bad weather forecasted for tomorrow has delayed the start of our Deep Winter CSA until this Saturday. We will be at the Brainerd Market from 11am to noon so please let us know if that doesn’t work and we can find an alternate plan.

We aren’t sure yet if we will make it to the market tomorrow to sell other produce but wanted to send out the list below just in case. Let’s all cross our fingers that it isn’t as bad as predicted!

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January 20th Produce

Here are the items you can expect at Market {M} or in the CSA share {CSA}:

  • Tender Collards {CSA}: if you don’t have time or energy to eat your greens fresh, check out this great idea for Super Green Veggie Powder! You dehydrate your greens along with onions, bell peppers, celery and parsley (or whatever you have on hand) and then process it into a powder. Use on eggs, with potatoes or add to a green smoothie!
  • Rainbow & Ford Hook Swiss Chard {CSA}: Swiss Chard Pancakes? I support anything in pancake form (especially when you make the batter in a blender!).
  • Red Russian & Toscano Kale {M/CSA}: I think kale plus this lovely Ginger Carrot Dressing would make an amazing salad. Bonus – you might be able to find fresh turmeric at market so you can swap it for the dried version.
  • Spigarello Broccoli Rabe {CSA}: the dark, cold days of winter lead me to bake more often than usual, and this Savory Quick Bread recipe is one I come back to again and again. It is fairly basic – flour, eggs, olive oil and yogurt – flavored with broccoli rabe and sun-dried tomatoes. Try our version or make your own!
  • Green Mild Mustard Greens {CSA}: prepare these Quick Pickled Mustard Greens to serve with any number of other items. This would be a great addition to rice and fried eggs!
  • Large Leaf Spicy Arugula {M}: my mother-in-law raves about this Farro Salad recipe, and for good reason. It sounds delicious! Ps – make sure to pick up some mint for the salad too!
  • Wasabi Arugula {M}: this White Bean, Potato and Arugula Soup sounds like a lovely warming soup to serve during these cold winter days. You can use your rosemary in this recipe too!
  • Mint & Peppermint {M}: use this in the farro salad mentioned above or simply freeze the mint leaves in an ice cube tray covered with water (maybe to use when its warm again!).
  • Rosemary {CSA}: use this in the white bean soup mentioned above or simply steep rosemary and lemon peel in white distilled vinegar for a fragrant household cleaner!

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Alice O’Dea Article

Have you read Alice O’Dea’s recent article? She discusses the new dietary guidelines and gives a quick recipe for tomato sauce (no reason to buy the stuff in jars when it’s this simple to make at home!).

Savory Quickbread with Broccoli Rabe & Sun-dried Tomatoes

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Hello,

The Deep Winter CSA starts in just a few short days – yay! We are expecting broccoli rabe in this weeks share so wanted to provide one idea of what you can do with it. The recipe below is highly adaptable – the basics are flour, baking powder, salt, eggs, olive oil and yogurt along with up to 1-1/2 cups of add-ins. Lactose intolerant? Leave out the cheese. Only have collard greens on hand? Use those instead and add bacon and blue cheese. Craving something sweet? Use grated carrots, raisins and sweet spices for the add-ins. This is a recipe I come back to time and time again and hope you find it useful as well.

Did you know that broccoli rabe is not related to broccoli, but instead a close relative to the turnip? It makes sense then that the flavor is more pungent than regular broccoli, although cooking helps to tame the flavor. You may see broccoli-like buds in some varieties but the variety we grow, Spigarello, is grown just for the leaves. Check out this link for more information!

This recipe is adapted from David Lebovitz‘s Bacon and Blue Cheese Cake from The Sweet Life in Paris.

Savory Quickbread with Broccoli Rabe and Sun-dried Tomatoes
makes one 9″ loaf

Recipe notes: although I haven’t tried it, I would assume this recipe would freeze well tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and stored in a zipper-lock bag.

Ingredients:

  • 1-1/2 cups spelt or all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 4 large eggs, room temp
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup plain whole-milk or Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons freshly minced parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon lightly packed lemon zest
  • 1/2 packed cup cooked broccoli rabe (be sure to squeeze out excess liquid)
  • 1/4 packed cup (2 ounces) sun-dried tomatoes, rinsed, dried and finely chopped
  • 2/3 cups (2 ounces) grated aged cheese, such as Parmesan

Directions:

  • Adjust oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 350 degrees.
  • Grease a 9″ loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray or butter and line the bottom with parchment paper (it makes it so much easier to get out of the pan later!).
  • In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a separate large mixing bowl, thoroughly whisk together the eggs, olive oil, yogurt, parsley, oregano and lemon zest. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until just combined. Fold in the broccoli rabe, sun-dried tomatoes and cheese. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and cook until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, about 35-40 minutes (if you have a thermometer, the internal temperature should be around 205 degrees).
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan. Remove from the pan and allow to cool completely before slicing. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

 

Deep Winter CSA Starts Next Week!

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Hello!

We won’t be at market tonight but are looking forward to the Deep Winter CSA starting next week (Jan 20th)! As always, the contents of the first share will depend on what is ready, but we anticipate the following items:

  • Kale
  • Tender Collards
  • Swiss Chard
  • Spigarello Broccoli Rabe

If you want to plan ahead, check out our Recipe page for ideas. Don’t forget, you can always buy extra produce and receive an extra 10% as a shareholder. This is great to keep in mind if you want to buy extra for preserving. We have a number of posts that focus on preserving the harvest:

See you at market next week!

 

Easy Kale Salad with Russian Dressing

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Hi!

Here is a kale salad that is tasty, quick to prepare and can be kept in the refrigerator for days without wilting (you can’t say that about many dressed salads!). It is flavorful enough to eat on its own or you can add any number of items – tofu, beans, hard boiled eggs, cheese, more veggies – and make it the base to a full meal. Check out our Essentials for a Satisfying Salad post for more ideas.

Enjoy!

Easy Kale Salad with Russian Dressing
makes about 4 side dish servings or 2 main dish servings

Recipe note: 1) I would consider this a lightly dressed salad. I think it is just enough to evenly coat the greens and add flavor without weighing them down. Increase the dressing ingredients by 50% if you like a lot of dressing or are planning to add more ingredients; 2) I used a mix of sweet pickle and pickled garlic juice but I think just about any pickle or fermented vegetable juice could work well – add a little at a time and taste as you go; 3) if you don’t have scallions, use finely chopped shallot, onion or a little minced garlic; 4) this was adapted from the Maximum Flavor cookbook.

Ingredients:

  • 6 ounces (about 30 small leaves) of Toscano kale, destemmed and thinly sliced
  • 1 large carrot, grated on the large holes of a box grater
  • 2 tablespoons mayo
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons pickle juice (see recipe note)
  • 1 scallion, white and light green parts, finely chopped (see recipe note)
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried horseradish or fresh horseradish to taste
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

  • Add the kale and carrots to a medium mixing bowl.
  • Whisk the remaining ingredients together in a small mixing bowl until combined. Dip a piece of kale into the mix and taste for seasoning. Adjust as needed.
  • Pour the dressing over the kale and massage the greens for about a minute, or until they are slightly wilted and softened. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving.

Henbit & Dead Nettle Pistou

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Hello!

Have you guys tried the henbit and dead nettle that Mark & Gina brought to market last week (check out our Instagram account for a side by side picture)? They are both considered “weeds” and often treated as such but given they are nutrient dense and medicinal, we think they deserve a place at your table.

I didn’t have any experience with either plant so I started by trying them raw. I found dead nettle to be a bit more interesting but both have an earthy flavor with hints of celery, parsley and a bit of bitterness. Try them for yourself – you might taste something much different!

You can definitely toss either in a salad, wrap or smoothie but I was looking for something to add to a bean stew I made today and came up with the recipe below. Pistou is just a fancy word for pesto without nuts. It is typically made with basil, similar to pesto, but I used henbit and dead nettle in its place. It packs a lot of flavor so a little goes a long way! Use it with anything rich – stews, fried food, cheese.

Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Henbit & Dead Nettle Pistou
makes 1/2 cup

Recipe notes: 1) I purchased a pre-shredded, extra aged cheese from Sequatchie Cove Creamery last week and used it in place of Parmesan and it turned out great – play around and try different cheeses; 2) I started the recipe using a mortar and pestle (as shown in the picture) but I didn’t have the patience so I transferred everything to a food processor.

Ingredients:

  • 2 small or 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1 cup very loosely packed henbit leaves
  • 1 cup very loosely packed dead nettle leaves
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan or other aged cheese of choice (see note)

Directions:

  • In a small food processor, add the garlic, henbit, dead nettle and oil. Process until mostly pureed but with a little texture left. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the cheese. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Weekly Farm Notes :: January 6th, 2016

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Hello,

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season filled with everything you love most.

We are looking forward to the start of the Deep Winter CSA session! The first pick-up will start either next week or the week after. Look for an email with more details soon.

Hope to see you at market tomorrow!

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January 6th Produce

Here are the items you can expect at Market:

  • Tender Collards: I love these Collard Green Falafel. They don’t take long to throw together and are a unique way to use your greens. Serve with hummus, pita and olives for a tasty meal.
  • Rainbow & Ford Hook Swiss Chard: Callaloo is a Caribbean dish traditionally made with amaranth greens (which are also called callaloo). The stew is quick and flavorful and while we don’t have the greens, Swiss chard makes a great substitute. Here is a recipe worth trying.
  • Siberian, Red Russian & Toscano Kale: if you need a little detox in your life after the holidays (hand raised), give this Vegan Detox Smoothie a try!
  • Spicy Large Leaf Arugula: cooking tames the spiciness of these greens. Check out the recipe below for a super simple, yet satisfying pasta dish with sauteed arugula. There are many ways to make this dish your own – use different nuts or cheese and add any additional seasoning you like.
  • Spicy Asian Mustard Greens: I love 1) Indian food and 2) finding ways to use whatever greens are left over in my refrigerator. This Indian Mustard Green Sauce with Potatoes fulfills both of these loves. I hope you like it as much as I do!
  • Wasabi Arugula: if you are in the mood for a salad, don’t let this spicy arugula scare you away! The trick is to balance it with other flavors, like this recipe for Fresh Fig and Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese. The sweetness from the figs and the tangy, rich flavors from the cheese are a great compliment to the arugula. Check out The Essentials Elements to a Satisfying Salad post to come up with your own salad!
  • Chickweed: if you haven’t tried this nutrient dense, medicinal “weed” before, now is your chance! It can be eaten raw or cooked briefly, in which case it will be similar to spinach. Check out our Chickweed Power Salad recipe for a great way to make it into a meal!
  • Henbit: this edible “weed” is part of the mint family but it tastes more like raw kale. It is high in iron, vitamins and fiber and can be used in salads, smoothies or wraps.
  • Dead Nettle: another edible “weed”, is very similar to Henbit (see a comparison between the two on this link). It is called “dead” because it won’t sting you like the infamous stinging nettle! One blogger notes the fuzzy texture is not great for eating raw and prefers adding it to smoothies.
  • Parsley: use the parsley in the pasta recipe below!
  • Lemon Balm: shrubs are a fun way to preserve fruit and herbs. Here is a quick Lemon Balm Shrub recipe which can be enjoyed on its own or used in a cocktail.
  • Leaf Celery: gremolata is an Italian condiment usually consisting of chopped parsley, lemon zest and garlic. Swap out the parsley for leaf celery and you will have an easy, delicious topping for any number of meals (I sprinkled it on a mushroom pizza but it would also be great swirled into soups). Find the recipe here!
  • Mint: the cold weather has me craving tea all day long. When I need a caffeine-free version, I turn to herbs. Simply steep fresh mint leaves in hot water for 5-10 minutes, add honey and lemon juice to taste, and enjoy!

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Recipe :: Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Arugula, Walnuts and Ricotta Salata

This recipe is from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone. Serves 4-6.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound whole-wheat spaghetti
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra virgin to finish
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • Several pinches of red pepper flakes
  • 6 or more cups of arugula leaves, large stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped
  • Salt
  • 3 tablespoons parsley
  • 1/2 cup toasted and chopped walnuts
  • Thin shavings of ricotta salata

Directions:

  • Cook the pasta according to the package instructions.
  • While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a 12″ non-stick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the arugula, season with a few pinches of salt, and saute until wilted. Stir in the parsley and walnuts and turn off heat. When the pasta is done, drain and add to the skillet. Toss well and serve with cheese and extra virgin olive oil drizzled over the top.

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Alice O’Dea Article

Have you read Alice O’Dea’s recent article? Detox tips are always welcome this time of year!