Walking to Spring and Organic Egg Share pickup and veggies for sale. Next week: green onions, carrots, and – we hope – squash.

Here are the items you can expect at market {M} and in the CSA {CSA}:

• Note that for best results storing all root vegetables, remove the tops as soon as you get home and store separately from the roots. Use the greens first; the roots will stay fresh longer.
• First cucumbers! {CSA} Personally, I prefer the first cucumbers of the year simply, with salt.
• Napa Cabbage {M/CSA} and White salad turnips {M/CSA}: Try Meghan O’Dea’s recipe for Kimchi, the Easy Way.
• Red Russian {M/CSA} and Toscano Kale {M}, Red Mustard {M/CSA}, Tender Collard Greens {M}, Rainbow and Ford Hook Swiss Chard {M/CSA}, and Spicy Asian Mustard {M}: You have probably noticed the veggies have more holes and are not quite as clean as usual! The bad bugs are in full force and the rain splashes soil up on the plants outside! We prefer not to wash the plants and place them in bags, but sometimes they are harvested wet due to the weather. Recently Olivia and I (our amazing Farm Help with harvesting, packing up and identifying native medicinal plants), harvested greens that had thick morning dew on them and we have harvested in the rain. We always have to go with the weather and situation! Heat, Freeze, Rain, Weeds, Bugs, Disease! We are nearing the end of the greens as we move into summer. Preserve some for later: how to freeze greens
• Green leaf lettuce {CSA}: If you are tired of salad (such as Caesar Salad with baby romaine or a hearty one), try lettuce soup. Yes, lettuce soup! I first learned of it in A Severed Wasp by Madeleine L’Engle. The main character describes it as “A French way of using up lettuce when it starts to bolt. Lettuce and chicken stock, basically…” I’ve made it with shredded lettuce wilted in a homemade chicken stock, but there are many different recipes on the internet, including three in this article.
• Daikon Radish with greens {M/CSA}: Use the greens along with your Asian greens, collards, mustard, and/or kale. Daikons are especially yummy roasted with ghee until caramelized.
• Gonzalez Cabbage {M}: This is just the right sized cabbage. Shred with Napa cabbage for a unique coleslaw or slice in circles and roast, topping with fennel seeds or caraway.
• Beets {CSA}: Roasted beets are fabulous on a salad and provide a nice visual contrast to the green leaf lettuce. Purée roasted beets and stir into mashed potatoes for fun color.
• Kale flowers {M}: Use these to top your salads, as garnishes other dishes, or in drinks .

Organic Egg Shares available, 1 dozen a week for 12 weeks! Don’t wait to get signed up! You can come see us at market or go to Tant Hill Farm Egg Shares Call 423-637-9793 for more info!

We’ll also be at the Brainerd Farmers Market Saturday morning from 10-noon.

At market this week we’ll have a variety of Tomato and Herb plants for your garden in addition to our Walking to Spring and Organic Egg Share pickup and veggies for sale.

Here are the items you can expect at market {M} and in the CSA {CSA}:

• Note that for best results storing all root vegetables, remove the tops as soon as you get home and store separately from the roots. Use the greens quickly. The roots will store well and much longer.
• Red Russian {M} and Toscano Kale {M/CSA}, Red Mustard {CSA}, Tender Collard Greens {M/CSA}, Spicy Asian Mustard, and Summerfest Asian Greens {CSA}: This week promises to be rainy and I feel like stews and soups will be welcome again. Try Greens Cobbler with a Cornbread Crust and use all your greens in one go in a hearty meal. Using a variety of greens gives a depth of flavor that a single variety does not. Note that mustard does not store as long as other greens so use it sooner than later!
• Red Butter Lettuce {CSA}, Red and Green leaf lettuce {CSA/M}, and Baby Romaine lettuce {M/CSA}: If you are tired of salad (such as Caesar Salad with baby romaine or a hearty one), try lettuce soup. Yes, lettuce soup! I first learned of it in A Severed Wasp by Madeleine L’Engle. The main character describes it as “A French way of using up lettuce when it starts to bolt. Lettuce and chicken stock, basically…” I’ve made it with shredded lettuce wilted in a homemade chicken stock, but there are many different recipes on the internet, including three in this article.
• Daikon Radish with greens {M/CSA}: Use the greens along with your Asian greens, collards, mustard, and/or kale. Daikons are especially yummy roasted with ghee until caramelized.
• White {M} and Red {M/CSA} salad turnips. Red and white turnips together makes the prettiest lacto-fermented turnips.
• Purple Kohlrabi {M}: Kohlrabi is the craziest-looking vegetable around. The taste reminds me of broccoli stems, which I loved as a kid. Shredded Kohlrabi with Butter and Parmesan is our family’s favorite way to eat it.
• Pak Choi {CSA/M} and Rainbow and Ford Hook Swiss Chard {M}: I’m still eating Braised Bok Choy with Plenty of Garlic. This week I added my chard greens. I used my chard stems in quiche.
• Collard and Kale Rabe{M}: I’ve been loving roasting the rabe I bring home. The leaves are like kale chips and the stems have a nice crunch, too. Trim your bunch and cut the stalks in half or to your desired size. Drizzle with a little oil, sprinkle with salt, and roast in the oven. Use a high heat like 450 if you can watch it closely, or go lower if your attention will be divided. I like to set a timer in 5-minute intervals, then 2 minutes when they’re nearly done. I like a bit of charred edges, but not too much. However, you can use rabe in a saute, in quiche, or any other way you like to use greens.
• Spring Radishes {M}: Thinly slice radishes and use to top buttered bread for a French breakfast. Viola and Asian {M} flowers: Use these to top your salads, as garnishes other dishes, or in drinks .

1st Organic Egg Share session sold out! We still have a few openings for the 2nd and 3rd sessions! Don’t wait to get signed up! You can come see us at market or go to Tant Hill Farm Egg Shares Call 423-637-9793 for more info!

We’ll also be at the Brainerd Farmers Market Saturday morning from 10-noon.

Be sure to make plans for Main St. Farmers Market’s Spring-a-Ma-Jig this week! In addition to the regular vendors there will be prepared foods by Bread & Butter, High Haute Foods, Syrup and Eggs, and Green Tambourine. Bill Scarborough will provide music. There will be special vendors and booths, including 2 Angels Mushroom Farm, The Wilderness Society, Scenic City Clay Arts, Compost House, Master Gardeners of Hamilton County, and Balance Studios (they’ll lead children’s yoga from 5:30-6:00). There is also a raffle of an assortment of prizes from vendors – including 1 weeks share from us. Find the list and more information on the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2002823369759775/
Come by our booth and have a refreshing drink of Lemon Balm and Mint infused water!

Here are the items you can expect at market {M} and in the CSA {CSA}:

• Colorful Asian Mix for sauté {M}: My favorite way to sauté greens is the easiest. Use some olive oil and sauté onions and/or garlic until slightly softened. Add greens and stir, watching them wilt. Salt and pepper to taste. Add soy sauce if desired (use less salt). Even easier: use homemade garlic-infused olive oil and skip a step.
• Red Russian {M/CSA} and Toscano Kale {M}: Do you have any kale left over from last week? Need an easy idea to use kale? Try bon appetit’s recipe for Spaghetti Aglio with Lots of Kale, but save your stems and saute with the garlic.
• Bold and Peppery Arugula {M}: Arugula’s bold flavor comes through but is tamed somewhat in pesto. Try the pesto recipe from this week’s MSFM blog post.
• Rainbow and Ford Hook Swiss Chard {M}: The other half of MSFM’s blog post this week is a chard and bean soup. It’s super yummy and all my family loved it.
• Red and Green leaf lettuce {M} and Baby Romaine lettuce {M/CSA}: The news about lettuce lately is scary! There’s no better time to know your farmer and where your food comes from. Martha has a recipe for Caesar Salad with baby romaine.
• Red Butter Lettuce {M}: This recipe for Salmon, Radish, and Bibb Salad With Herby Buttermilk Dressing looks easy and yummy. Use your CSA radishes and pick up some salmon from Wild Alaskan while you’re at the market.
• White Japanese Salad Turnips with greens and Daikon Radish with greens {M}: For best results in storage remove the tops as soon as you get home and store separately from the roots. Use the greens along with your Asian greens, collards, mustard, and/or kale. Try both the radishes and turnips together in this salad recipe.
• Purple Kohlrabi {M/CSA}: Kohlrabi is the craziest-looking vegetable around. Be sure to check out the photo of it on our Instagram page. The taste reminds me of broccoli stems, which I loved as a kid. This salad looks like a great way to prepare it on one of these warm days. Jalapenos are not in season so if you need some heat try topping it with spicy microgreens.
• Black Summer {CSA} and Joi Choi {M} Pak Choi: I’m going to put in another plug for Braised Bok Choy with Plenty of Garlic. It’s so easy and, especially when you use one head of each kind of pak choi, it’s pretty, too.
• Summerfest Asian Greens {CSA}, Spicy Asian Mustard {M}, and Tender Collard greens {M}: all three are brassicas and are tender. Use in your favorite stir fry or saute or in these frittata muffins. Cooking takes the bite out of the spicy mustard.
• Collard Rabe {M}: I’ve been loving roasting the rabe I bring home. The leaves are like kale chips and the stems have a nice crunch, too. Trim your bunch and cut the stalks in half or to your desired size. Drizzle with a little oil, sprinkle with salt, and roast in the oven. Use a high heat like 450 if you can watch it closely, or go lower if your attention will be divided. I like to set a timer in 5-minute intervals, then 2 minutes when they’re nearly done. I like a bit of charred edges, but not too much.
• Purple and Red Radish {CSA}: Thinly slice radishes and use to top buttered bread for a French breakfast.
• Lemon Balm {M}: Feeling tense or have indigestion at the end of the day? Make some lemon balm tea!
• Asparagus {CSA}: Pick up some mint while you’re getting your CSA share, stop by Crabtree Farm’s stand for a leek and make this quick pasta dish from Real Simple.
• Mint {M}: if you have any mint left over from the asparagus and leek fettuccine, make some iced tea. It’s going to be warm Wednesday through Friday!
• Pansy {CSA}, Viola and Asian {M} flowers: Use these to top your salads or as garnishes on other dishes. If you’re feeling ambitious you can use one of your egg share eggs and make candied flowers.

1st Organic Egg Share session sold out! We still have a few openings for the 2nd and 3rd sessions! Don’t wait to get signed up! You can come see us at market or go to Tant Hill Farm Egg Shares Call 423-637-9793 for more info!

We’ll also be at the Brainerd Farmers Market Saturday morning from 10-noon.