Vegan Pho

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Hello!

Pho (pronounced “fuh”) is a Vietnamese noodle soup that is based on a slow cooked, intensely flavorful beef broth. Traditionally it includes beef and noodles and is topped with all sorts of fresh accompaniments like cilantro, scallions, hot peppers and lime wedges.

Given this soup is so connected to its beefy roots, it is hard to imagine a vegan version would work. However, I think the lack of beef lets the other flavors shine through. It is still quite complex and I find it very comforting (perfect as we approach the winter months). If you want to increase the flavor even more, try charring the garlic and scallion greens under the broiler before adding them to the broth.

I lightly adapted this recipe from The Year in Food and I hope you tinker with it and make it your own, too. I have made this with brown rice instead of noodles when I didn’t have any on hand and it was just as good. And use whatever veggies you have on hand – carrots, kohlrabi, pak choi all come to mind.

Enjoy!

Vegan Pho
makes 2-3 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons coriander seeds
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 to 3 star anise pods or 1 teaspoon fennel seeds 
  • 2 black cardamom pods (optional)
  • 6 cups vegetable broth
  • 1-2 tablespoons soy sauce, or more to taste
  • 1 – 3-inch knob of fresh ginger, smashed with the back of a knife
  • 3 small scallions, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 4 ounces brown rice noodles or pasta or choice
  • 8 ounces firm tofu, pressed, drained and cubed
  • 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped sturdy winter greens, such as arugula, kale or mustard greens
  • Lime wedges, cilantro and/or mint, thinly sliced hot peppers or Sriracha for serving

Directions:

  • In a large stock pot over medium heat, toast the dry spices until fragrant, stirring often, about 3-4 minutes. Add the stock, soy sauce, ginger, green parts of the scallions, garlic and brown sugar. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes.
  • While the broth simmers, bring a pot of salted water to boil for the pasta. Cook until just barely al dente – if they’re slightly undercooked, it’s okay. Drain and set aside, covered, until ready.
  • Strain the broth, removing all solids, and return to the stock pot. Add the tofu and simmer for a few minutes to allow the tofu to absorb the broth’s flavor. Add the broccoli florets and the sturdy winter greens and cook for a few minutes, or until slightly softened and wilted. Remove from heat.
  • Divide the noodles among two or three bowls. Ladle the soup over each. Garnish with any of the items listed above. Serve immediately.

Weekly Farm Notes :: November 22nd, 2016

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Hello,

Remember, market is on Tuesday this week to account for the Thanksgiving holiday. We hope you have a delicious and nutritious meal surrounded by those you love most.

Also, don’t forgot we will be attending the Nutrition World Farmers Market every Saturday from 11am-1pm. Stop by and say hey!

See you at market!

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November 22nd Produce

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

  • Green Leaf & Red Butter Lettuce {M/CSA}: if you make cornbread for Thanksgiving every year and have lots of leftovers, I think this Corn Bread Salad would be a great way to use it up. Crispy cornbread is tossed with tomatoes, lettuce, bitter greens (of which we have plenty), onions (substitute green onions) and a buttermilk-lime dressing, I think it sounds divine.
  • Daikon Radish {M/CSA}: if you are planning to roast anything for the holidays, why not add daikon to your list? This recipe for Spicy Roasted Daikon “French Fries” are added to my list.
  • Green Tomatoes {M/CSA}: I tried a batch of fermented green tomatoes last week and they turned out just ok. I still want a pickled green tomato but think I will try my hand at something a bit simplier, like these Quick Pickled Green Tomatoes.
  • Pak Choi {CSA}: It’s kind of hard to find a way to incorporate pak choi into a Thanksgiving worthy meal, but what if you swap out the broccoli and replace it with sauteed pak choi in this Broccoli, Cheddar & Quinoa Gratin? Or, you could use half broccoli, half pak choi. I don’t think there is any way it could taste bad.
  • Green Onions {CSA}: I love these simple yet delicious Green Onion Yogurt Flatbreads. They could be an alternative to other types of bread on your holiday table.
  • Wheelers Orchard Winesap Apples {CSA}: this Heirloom Apple Salad sounds like such a wonderful item to include on your Thanksgiving table. Pick up some of our herbs and arugula to go with it!
  • Petite Cabbage {CSA}: our Farmhouse Vegetable Soup would be perfect for those days after Thanksgiving when you need light yet comforting meals. Pick up some daikon radish and herbs to add to it!
  • Spicy Asian Mustard Greens {M}: here is another post-Thanksgiving recipe – Vegan Meatballs! The base is chickpeas and carrots so I think it would be a great way to offset the spiciness of these greens. You could also pre-cook the greens and then add them if you want to tame them even further.
  • Sweet Potatoes {M}: I think I hit the jackpot when I made this Cumin Roasted Sweet Potato & Avocado Salad yesterday. It hits on all of the things I love about cold weather salad – roasty, creamy and crunchy and perfect with our Awesome Asian & Lettuce Mix.
  • Awesome Asian & Lettuce Mix {M}: Our Festive Holiday Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette would be such a great salad for this weeks main meal. You can include our butter lettuce or torn chard, kale or arugula.
  • Rainbow Swiss Chard {M}: make a batch of these Swiss Chard & Orange Oat Muffins to enjoy with your family this weekend. They will thank you.
  • Variety of Kale {M}: Kale. Cheese. Lemon. Red Pepper Flakes. It comes together beautifully in this Raw Tuscan Kale Salad.
  • Bold & Peppery Arugula {M}: fennel is in season right now so enjoy it where you can (Crabtree will have it at market this week). Pairing these bold greens with the anise flavor is fennel has to be good – try this Arugula-Fennel Salad recipe.
  • Jalapenos & Habaneros {M}: there aren’t many dishes that don’t benefit from a little heat. Add this spicy goodness to just about any recipe, especially those that are rich, which we don’t have any shortage of this time of year!
  • Herbs {M}: you will most likely need all sorts of herbs for the coming week so be sure to stock up!

Cumin Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Avocado Salad

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Hello,

This is one of the tastiest salads I have made in a while so I am excited to share it! It does take a little time to prepare but I promise, the payoff is worth it. Even if you don’t make the entire salad, just roast some sweet potatoes and make the dressing to drizzle on top. My 3-year-old son was eating the dressing straight from a spoon if that tells you anything 🙂

If you have a tried and true way to roast sweet potatoes, or even skillet roast them, by all means stick with it. I like this technique (borrowed from Cooks Illustrated) because I find it easier to cut them into an even width than to cut them into an even dice. The results are a creamy interior and a browned interior.

We hope you enjoy it!

Cumin Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Avocado Salad
make about 2 servings

Recipe notes: 1) the dressing makes more than is needed for two servings but the extra can be refrigerated and used for other purposes; 2) I used 1 teaspoon of cumin powder but I didn’t feel like the flavor came through much. I would use more next time but you can leave it out all together if you don’t like the flavor.

Ingredients:

  • For the roasted sweet potatoes
    • 1-1/4 pounds sweet potatoes (about 4 small to medium sized potatoes), thin ends trimmed, peeled and sliced 3/4″ thick
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 1 to 1-1/2 teaspoons cumin powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • For the dressing
    • 1 small bunch of cilantro leaves and tender stems (about 1-1/2 cups packed)
    • 2 tablespoons lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon balsamic
    • 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 2 teaspoons agave
    • 1 garlic clove
    • 1/2″ piece of fresh ginger
    • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • For the salad
    • 1 bag of Awesome Asian & Lettuce Mix or other greens of choice
    • 1 avocado, thinly sliced
    • 1 scallion, thinly sliced
    • 2 tablespoons roasted pumpkin seeds

Directions

  • Toss the sweet potatoes with the vegetable oil, cumin powder and salt until thoroughly coated. Evenly arrange on a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil and then cover tightly with more aluminum foil. Place on the middle rack of a cold oven and heat to 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, remove the top layer of foil, and flip the sweet potatoes over (they should be browned on the first side, but if not, put back in the oven for another 10 minutes or so). Cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until the second side is brown. Remove from the oven to cool.
  • While the sweet potatoes are roasting, add all of the dressing ingredients together in a blender and process on high for 30 seconds, or until full combined.
  • When you are ready to assemble the salad, divide salad greens between plates and toss lightly with dressing. Top with sweet potatoes, avocado, scallion and pumpkin seeds and serve.

 

Weekly Farm Notes :: November 16th, 2016

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Hello,

We are opening up a few more shares so give us a ring if you want to sign up: 423-637-9793. It is a great way to get fresh, nutrient dense produce every week!

Also, don’t forgot we will be attending the Nutrition World Farmers Market every Saturday from 11am-1pm. Stop by and say hey!

See you at market!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

November 16th Produce

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

  • Sweet Potatoes {M/CSA}: expect VERY large sweet potatoes this week! We actually suggest cutting them the same way we do winter squash – with a sharp chef’s knife and a rubber mallet. Wash and dry the sweet potatoes and place them on a large cutting board. Wedge your knife into the flesh wherever you would like to cut it (down the middle lengthwise if you want to roast it). Then use the mallet to whack the knife until it cuts through. You can then place the cut sides down on a baking sheet and roast at 400 degrees until tender (about 45-60 minutes, depending on size). Once the flesh is cooked,  you can try either of these tasty recipes: Spicy Sweet Potato & Coconut Soup or Brown Butter Sweet Potato Cornbread. Both would be great for Thanksgiving!
  • Green Leaf Lettuce {M/CSA}: here is a very green juice recipe that would be a great way to use up lettuce if you don’t want to eat it raw: Kale Spinach Lettuce Apple Green Juice.
  • Awesome Asian & Lettuce Mix {M/CSA}: who doesn’t need a little freshness for the holidays? Give this salad a try: Festive Holiday Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette. You can prepare all the elements ahead of time and then simply toss it together when ready to eat.
  • Giant Ford Hook & Rainbow Swiss Chard {M/CSA}: looking for a gratin to include for Thanksgiving? While potato gratins get all the attention, why not use your greens instead – Creamy Swiss Chard with Crisp Breadcrumbs.
  • Dragon Tongue Mustard Greens {M/CSA}: if you don’t get through all of your greens each week, try this preservation technique. Simply blanch, drain, dry and freeze!
  • Herb Bundle {M/CSA}: this bundle includes rosemary, thyme, oregano and sage and is perfect for Thanksgiving! Add them to your turkey cavity, gravy or stuffing for the classic flavor combination of the season.
  • Scarlet Salad Turnips {CSA}: yum, check out this Scarlet Queen Red Turnip Salad with pistachios and feta! Add your favorite protein source and you have a complete meal.
  • Kale {M}: I know, I know, who needs another kale salad recipe. But have you tried one with a peanut butter based dressing? If not, you should definitely give this one a try!
  • Tender Collards {M}: if you, like me, try to sneak in greens any place you can, then you will appreciate this recipe for Chickpea, Cashew & Collard Green Patties. My 3-year-old will gobble these up!
  • Bold & Peppery Arugula {M}: while this recipe for Wasabi Arugula Rice Salad with Miso-Ginger Dressing calls for wasabi arugula, regular arugula would work too.
  • Summerfest Asian Greens {M}: this site has lots of great tips and tricks on preparing and storing Asian greens that is worth reading. There is a list of recipes at the bottom – I think the Hot, Garlicky Greens recipe sound especially tasty!
  • Daikon Radish {M}: pair daikon with other cool weather veggies for a fresh and fast salad: Daikon, Carrot and Broccoli Slaw.
  • Green Tomatoes {M}: get these while they last! Wondering how to prepare them? Check out this unusual combination – Green Tomato Cake!
  • Jalapenos & Habaneros {M}: this Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread is a spicy twist on an old classic. If you make a very traditional Thanksgiving meal, this might be a fun way to change things up a bit!

Festive Holiday Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette

4 Comments

Hello!

The holidays are fast approaching and it’s not too early to start meal planning. While many dishes during this time of year are baked, roasted and otherwise cooked to death, wouldn’t it be nice to include a fresh, green, festive salad? This salad is based on one my family enjoys every time we go to Community Pie for pizza but I thought the combo of cranberries, almonds and Parmesan would make it a nice addition to a holiday table (I added the fennel).

I used the Awesome Asian & Lettuce Salad Mix for this salad but you could use just about anything. You could base it on one single green, such as kale, or mix together a few greens. I think kale, Swiss chard, Asian greens and mustard greens would taste great together (and would make the perfect family sized salad for Thanksgiving!).

The dressing for this salad is flavorful enough to bind the whole thing together but mild enough to let the flavor of the greens come through. You don’t have to use champagne vinegar if you don’t already have it on hand – white wine vinegar would work well here too.

Festive Holiday Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
makes about 4 side servings

Recipe notes: the dressing will likely make more than you will need for this recipe; however, it will keep for a couple weeks in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon minced shallot, from 1 small shallot
  • 1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons champagne vinaigrette
  • 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 bag of Awesome Asian & Lettuce Mix
  • 1/4 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan (grated on the large wholes of a box grater)
  • 1/2 small head of fennel, core removed and sliced very thin

Directions:

  • Combine shallot, mustard, maple syrup and champagne vinaigrette in a small mixing bowl and whisk to combine. In a slow, steady stream, whisk in olive oil until emulsified. Whisk in salt, taste, and adjust flavorings as needed.
  • Roughly chop the greens and add to a large serving bowl. Top with almonds, cranberries, Parmesan and fennel and toss to combine. Drizzle with a couple tablespoons of dressing, taste, adding more dressing if needed. Serve immediately.

 

Weekly Farm Notes :: October 26th, 2016

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Hello,

Single shares are now available! For just $30 / week, you get the same ingredients our shareholders receive. Reserve yours by 5pm TODAY (Tuesday, 10/25) by calling 423-637-9793.

Also, don’t forgot we will attending the Nutrition World Farmers Market every Saturday from 10am-noon. Stop by and say hey!

See you at market!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October 26th Produce

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

  • Green Leaf & Red Butter Lettuce {M/CSA}: salads should be an easy thing to throw together with items you have on hand but it doesn’t always work out so well. More often than not, they can seem boring or unbalanced (or both). Read through The Essential Elements to a Satisfying Salad post to learn how to best make a salad you are happy to eat.
  • Spicy Asian & Giant Red Mustard Greens – 1000 {M/CSA}: I thought this would be a good week to revisit Alice’s article on A Bean, A Green & A Grain. Mustard greens mellow when cooked so would be a great candidate for this type of recipe.
  • Black Summer Pak Choi – 865 {M/CSA}: pak choi is an antioxidant powerhouse and can be enjoyed in any of ways. I found this “Healthy Saute” recipe that replaces oil with broth to make it even more healthful.
  • Japanese Salad Turnips – 473 {M/CSA}: I love fritters as they are such an easy weeknight meal. I normally wouldn’t think of adding turnips to a fritter but why not! This recipe looks like a good starting point.
  • Garlic {CSA}: have you considered pickling garlic? I tried it last year and it was so good! It couldn’t be easier – check out this recipe to find out more!
  • Green Tomatoes {CSA}: The first recipe that came to mind when thinking of this ingredient is fried green tomatoes. They are delicious, no doubt, but there are other ways to enjoy these beauties. Have you tried Green Tomato Chutney? It can be spiced in any number of ways
  • Summerfest & Hon Tsai Asian Greens {CSA}: while you can definitely eat these greens raw, they are tender enough to cook down quickly too. Given their mellow flavor, similar to spinach, they would work great in this Spinach and Edamame Egg Drop Soup. It is on my list for the week!
  • Awesome Asian & Lettuce Mix {M}: have you tried our Fall Fattoush Salad yet? I think these greens are a great addition to the crunchy pita bread, veggies and lemony dressing. Give it a try and let us know what you think!
  • Napa Cabbage {M}: do you have a favorite cole slaw recipe? Try substituting the traditional cabbage with this for a fun twist. You could add in the salad turnips or green tomatoes for a truly seasonal side dish.
  • Bold & Peppery Arugula {M}: arugula makes a great addition to pesto! I love the how the spiciness balances with the nuts and cheese. I used our Super Greens & Sunflower Seed Pesto recipe but feel free to substitute it in your favorite version.
  • Kale – 1000 {M}: I whip up a batch of hummus for dinner a few times a month. When you add olives, cheese and pita bread, it can make a healthy and filling meal. I particularly like our White Bean Hummus with Kale recipe and I think you will too 🙂
  • Variety of Herbs {M}: if you need some ideas on how to add an herbal element to your smoothie, check out this list of 10 Herbs for Smoothies.
  • Jalapeno & Habanero Peppers {M}: while drying hot peppers indoors can irritate your eyes and lungs, they can be dried outside in the sun or hang dried (which looks pretty). This link will tell you how to get started.
  • Baby Red & Green Romaine Lettuce – 510 {M}: I enjoy Caesar salad but it doesn’t make for a complete meal. However, if you use it as a base to a wrap and add either tofu or chickpeas, it could be a great option. Here is a recipe you can reference and then make your own!
  • Bitter Melon {M}: bitter melon really isn’t as bitter as you might think! Simply sauteed, it has a slightly bitter finish that works well when combined with sweeter and/or richer ingredients. I think adding it to a stir fry along with our favorite stir fry sauce would be a great way to consume this healthful vegetable!

Weekly Farm Notes :: October 19th, 2016

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Hello,

The notes below are a repeat from last week but still apply. We have LOTS of wonderful veggies available this week so check out our offerings listed below!

  1. The Awesome Asian & Lettuce Mix is back! If you aren’t familiar, it is a fresh, ready to eat mix with lots of different textures and flavors. It will become a new favorite if it isn’t already!
  2. Single shares will be available soon! You will get the same Powerhouse greens and veggies as our shareholders but you don’t have to commit to the entire season. Let us know if you are interested!
  3. Are you familiar with the ANDI (aggregate nutrient density index) score? It’s a scoring system that ranks food from 1-1000 based on nutrient content. So the the higher the score, the more nutrient dense and therefore, healthier for you! We have included the ANDI score next to the veggies below (that we could find) for your reference.

Also, don’t forgot we will attending the Nutrition World Farmers Market every Saturday from 10am-noon. Stop by and say hey!

See you at market!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October 12th Produce

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

  • Napa Chinese Cabbage {M/CSA}: this is the perfect week to start a batch of kimchi! Not only can you get cabbage and radishes, but you can also pick up some hot peppers to use in place of the traditional Korean chile powder. Check out this recipe for more details!
  • Daikon Radish – 502 {M/CSA}: if you are looking for something a bit less involved than kimchi, why not try Do Chua, the traditional Vietnamese pickle? They are quick, easy and will add a great flavor boost to whatever you serve it with!
  • Green Leaf & Red Butter Lettuce {M/CSA}: since it still feels like summer, we might as well eat like it is too. Check out these Spicy Tofu Lettuce Wraps for a yummy way to hold on to summer eating.
  • Collard Greens & Kale – 1000 {M/CSA}: Alice O’Dea (one of our shareholders) posted a recipe for Greens Cobbler with a Cornbread Crust and it looks like a wonderful way to use up all these greens!
  • Rosemary & Variety of Herbs {M/CSA}: I love fresh rosemary but hate buying it the store when I only need one stem (those boxes always get buried in my produce drawers!). Instead, I have found that I can simply toss the stems in a ziplock bag and throw them right into the freezer. Pull them out when you need some and preserve the rest!
  • Bell (371), Jalapeno & Habanero Peppers {M/CSA}: from freezing to making Italian pickled peppers, hot pepper jelly, and decorative ristras, this blog post on preserving hot peppers has a little something for everyone!
  • Swiss Chard – 1000 {CSA}: smoothie bowls seem like something we will all make fun of 10 years down the road. I mean, if I want a smoothie, I will just drink it, thank you very much. But, if you want to jump on the bandwagon, this Immune Boosting Green Smoothie Bowl seems like a great way to use Swiss chard or any number of other greens.
  • Awesome Asian & Lettuce Salad Mix {M}: have you checked out our latest recipe, Fall Fattoush Salad with Awesome Asian & Lettuce Salad Mix? It is crunchy from the pita and kohlrabi, a bit sweet from the squash with lots of lovely flavor from greens.
  • Japanese Salad Turnips – 473 {M}: these simply cooked Japanese Turnips with Miso is a great recipe that uses both the bulb and the greens.
  • Baby Red & Green Romaine Lettuce – 510 {M}: yum, how good does this Mega Crunchy Romaine Salad look?! So fresh and great as a light meal or as a side dish to any number of items.
  • Spicy Asian Mustard Greens – 1000 {M}: cooking these greens will tame the heat, however, there are other ways to offset their affect if you want to consume them raw. You could try our A Sweetened Dressing for Spicy Greens recipe for starters. You could also add fruit or shredded coconut to the mix to help balance it as well.
  • Black Summer Pak Choi – 865 {M}: I love to stir fry pak choi; the stems stay crunchy and the greens wilt down in a minute or so. Simply toss it with rice and a fried egg and dinner is ready. If you are looking for a go-to stir-fry sauce, my favorite can be found here.
  • Bitter Melon {M}: did you know bitter melon is very medicinal for diabetes? It contains a chemical that acts like insulin to help reduce blood sugar levels. Not sure how to prepare it? Check out our recipe for Korean Lettuce Wraps with Bitter Melon (it’s one of my all time favorites!).
  • Summerfest Asian Greens {M}: have you tried our Green Coconut Soup Base yet? The color is beautiful and the flavor is even more amazing. It is easy peasy and can be altered in any number of ways. We hope you give it a try!

Weekly Farm Notes :: Oct 12th, 2016

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Hello,

We hope you are all enjoying this beautiful weather! A couple announcements to share:

  1. The Awesome Asian & Lettuce Mix is back! We know you love it 🙂
  2. Single shares will be available soon! You will get the same Powerhouse greens and veggies as our shareholders but you don’t have to commit to the entire season. Let us know if you are interested!
  3. Are you familiar with the ANDI (aggregate nutrient density index) score? It’s a scoring system that ranks food from 1-1000 based on nutrient content. So the the higher the score, the more nutrient dense and therefore, healthier for you! We have included the ANDI score next to the veggies below (that we could find) for your reference.

Also, don’t forgot we will attending the Nutrition World Farmers Market every Saturday from 10am-noon. Stop by and say hey!

See you at market!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October 12th Produce

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

  • Awesome Asian & Lettuce Salad Mix {M/CSA}: the greens in this mix are so tasty you hardly need anything else to go with them; just a simple dressing will suffice. You really don’t need a recipe to make your own dressing as long as you know the ratio for oil to acid. It’s 1 part acid (lemon juice, red wine vinegar, etc) to 3 parts oil. Then simply add any of your favorite flavorings from there. I like to add a bit of honey and sometimes mustard, minced shallot and whatever herbs I have on hand. If you need more inspiration, check out our The Essentials Elements to a Satisfying Salad article.
  • Baby Red & Green Romaine Lettuce – 510 {M/CSA}: I love making making lettuce cups with romaine lettuce. There is no shortage of recipes out there but I really like using quinoa as a base. Check out our recipe for Quinoa & Chickpea Lettuce Cups!
  • Giant Red Mustard Greens – 1000 {M/CSA}: I need some new inspiration when it comes to cooking mustard greens and I think I found it with this recipe – Spicy Mustard Green Pesto!
  • Pak Choi – 865 {M/CSA}: I tried pak choi in a soup last week and was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. The ribs give nice texture (as long as you don’t cook them too long) and the greens soften and add another flavor element. I added them to an Asian inspired soup with shiitakes and rice noodles and a broth similar to this recipe: Easy Vegetarian Pho.
  • Kohlrabi – 352 {CSA}: if you are looking for a quick weeknight dinner, look no further than our Kohlrabi Hash! Topped with a fried egg, it makes a complete meal that is ready in a flash.
  • Summerfest Asian Greens {CSA}: these greens are a great substitute for spinach, so why not try it in this Spinach Smoothie with Avocado and Apple. You can pick up apples from Wheelers Orchard while you are at the market!
  • Delicata Squash – 137 {M}: I love this type of squash because you can eat the skin! It is so easy to prepare and enjoy. Simply cut in half (remove the seeds if they are large, otherwise they should cook through well), cut into 1/2″ pieces and roast in the oven. Follow this recipe for more details.
  • Bell (371), Jalapeno & Habanero Peppers {M}: latkes (or shredded potato cakes) are an easy weeknight meal, but you need a little extra zing to cut through the carbs. I think this Potato Latkes with Jalapeno Dill Sauce sounds like a great combo!
  • Kale – 1000 {M}: how do you make this nutrient dense green even more healthy? Ferment it! Specifically, use this recipe for Kale, Cabbage and Fennel Ferment as cabbage and fennel are in season and can be found at the market!
  • Lemon Balm & Basil (475) {M}: have you tried our Lemon Balm Shrub yet? It is a sweet / sour drink that is really refreshing and can be used in a number of ways (but they are really good in cocktails!).

Weekly Farm Notes :: October 5th, 2016

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Hello,

We are offering new ways to pay starting this week – Apple pay, Android and chip! We hope you find this added convenience beneficial.

Also, don’t forgot we will attending the Nutrition World Farmers Market every Saturday from 10am-noon. It starts this coming Saturday so stop by and say hello!

See you at market!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

October 5th Produce

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

  • Summerfest & Hon Tsai Tai Asian Greens {M/CSA}: the Hon Tsai Tai is new this week so you may not be familiar with this green. It is from the mustard family but this chef describes it as a less bitter broccoli rabe (the link includes a couple of recipes). You can use the entire plant, flowers, buds, leaves and stems, so be sure to give it a try and let us know what you think!
  • Young Red Leaf Lettuce {M/CSA}: our Hemp Seed “Ranch” Dressing is still one of my all time favorite dressings. You really don’t need much else to make a satisfying salad – maybe just add some thinly sliced radishes and a hard boiled egg if you are feeling adventurous.
  • Pak Choi {M/CSA}: I hadn’t thought of using this vegetable in a soup before but I am not sure why. Take a look at this Chinese Pak Choi and Noodles Soup for an easy way to build a meal around this nutritious vegetable.
  • Kohlrabi {CSA}: I often turn to fritters when I need a quick, delicious weeknight meal. They can be made from so many different types of vegetables. This recipe for Indian Spiced Fritters is a great example – it calls for kohlrabi (along with the greens) and another root vegetable (you could definitely use the salad turnips here). You can alter the spices and the sauce to suit your needs.
  • Japanese Salad Turnips {CSA}: if you can’t find a use for your salad turnips, they can make a great pickle! This Lacto-fermented Turnip Pickle recipe, which adds mint, sounds like a yummy way to make use of this root vegetable.
  • Tender Collards & Kale {M}: Alice shares her 10-minute Pasta and Pesto Dinner ideas this week and we think adding collards or kale (or any of our other greens) to the pesto is a wonderful idea! We have a recipe for Super Greens & Sunflower Seed Pesto that you could use as a starting point.
  • Jalapenos & Habaneros {M}: I just saw someone mention adding hot peppers and lots of cheese to a bowl of grits and I think it sounds delicious! Luckily for us, Riverview Farms sells grits and Sequatchie Cove Creamery sells cheese at our market 🙂
  • Parsley {M}: here is an interesting way to consume the health benefits of this herb – Parsley Tea!

Weekly Farm Notes :: September 28th, 2016

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Hello,

TasteBuds is holding it’s 4th Annual Farm Tour this weekend and we are participating! We will have our gates open so stop by to see what we are growing and enjoy the clean country air. For more information and to purchase tickets, check out this link. We hope to see you there!

See you at market!

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September 28th Produce

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

  • Daikon Radish & Greens {M/CSA}: did you realize daikon radishes are a good source of Vitamin C? Just one cup (sliced) provides about 30% of your RDA of this very important vitamin.
  • Green Bell, Jalapenos & Habaneros {M/CSA}: why purchase hot sauce when you can make your own! Check out this post on making Aged, Fermented Hot Pepper Sauce and pick up some of our peppers now to get started! The holidays are only a few months away – wouldn’t homemade hot sauce make an awesome gift for your spice-loving friends?!
  • Basil, Lemon Balm, Parsley & Rosemary {M/CSA}: the MSFM blog has a great article on preserving fresh herbs. Heather talks specifically about freezing herbs as-is and also turning them into pesto and then freezing the sauce.
  • Pak Choi {CSA}: kimchi, the spicy Korean condiment, is traditionally made with cabbage but here, bok choy (or pak choi) is the main component. If you like spicy food, this is definitely a recipe to try.
  • Giant Red Mustard Greens {CSA}: With a hint of fall in the air (finally!), soup season is here. Give our Mustard Greens Soup with Almonds and Poblanos recipe a try. If you want to kick it up a notch, substitute the milder poblanos for jalapenos or habaneros we have available this week.
  • Collards, Red Russian Kale & Toscano Kale {CSA}: We just posted a new recipe – Green Coconut Soup Base. In it, I call for Summerfest Asian greens but you can definitely use kale or collards in it’s place. This is also a great way to use the garlic and hot peppers!
  • Garlic {CSA}: put this recipe in your back pocket for when cold and flu season hits: Immunity Soup. It includes lots of garlic and pepper and can be garnished with whatever is in season (sliced salad turnips and wilted greens sound like a great addition!).
  • Japanese Salad Turnips & Greens {M}: if you aren’t sure how to use your greens, check out our Yogurt & Greens Dip recipe. It’s an easy and delicious way to make sure they don’t go to waste.