Weekly Farm Notes :: Nov 18th, 2015

Hello!

There are two important events coming up of note: first, Thanksgiving of course, but also the “Fall into Greens” CSA session is coming to an end in just a few short weeks. Start thinking about preserving part or all of your weekly share to hold you over before the “Deep Winter” session starts in January. We are providing information below to help you prepare for both!

For those who use Facebook and Instagram, we are asking that you use #tanthillfarm whenever you post something about the farm or your weekly CSA share. There are lots of us in the community but I am guessing we aren’t all connected on social media. This will give us an easy way to connect and see what others are doing each week with their produce. We will also tag any pictures of the farm so you can see what it takes to get your produce from the field to your table.

A few “Deep Winter” and “Walking to Spring” CSA shares are still available. Don’t miss out on powerhouse greens to get you through the dark and cold months ahead! Here is the link to our CSA information to find out more.

See you at market!

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November 18th Produce

Here are the items you can expect at Market (denoted by M) and/or in the CSA (denoted by CSA):

  • Kale Mix {M/CSA}: this mix includes Toscano, Siberian & Red Ruffled varieties. For a fresh recipe, this seasonal Balsamic Butternut Kale Panzanella salad looks like a great way to incorporate fresh greens in a festive way! If you want to preserve your bounty, freezing is my favorite way to store kale for future use. It is fast and great at retaining the nutrient value. Check out this guide to make little kale bundles that can be used in various ways down the road.
  • Tender Collards {M/CSA}: I have never included Mac n’ Cheese in my Thanksgiving celebration but I know a lot of people who do. Why not toss in some of your collards into the dish this year, similar to this recipe? You can always prepare and freeze your greens this week to make the process easier.
  • Rainbow Swiss Chard {M/CSA}: don’t forget about your dehydrator when trying to find ways to preserve greens. While I don’t like the way raw greens turn out when dehydrated, I really enjoy those that are tossed with oil and spices. Check out our Dehydrated Greens post that includes a recipe for Swiss chard.
  • Mild Red Dragon Tongue & Green Amara Mustard Greens {CSA}: I always fall back on making sauces to preserve fresh ingredients. I especially loves sauces like this one because it can be transformed down the road. You could add cheese and toasted nuts and toss it with pasta or use it as a spread on a sandwich.
  • Cabbage {CSA}: I always think of sauerkraut when trying to find ways to preserve cabbage, but sometimes you need to spice things up. Our Curtido (Salvadorian Sauerkraut) recipe includes carrots, jalapenos and dried spices for a nice twist on an old classic.
  • Spigarello Broccoli Rabe Leaves {CSA}: everything gets turned into a pesto these days, for good reason. They are relatively easy to make, taste great and freeze well. Prepare the sauce for this Broccoli Rabe Walnut Pesto now and freeze to enjoy later!
  • Lettuce {CSA}: I love tahini based salad dressing for the flavor and richness it provides. Just so happens, the market published this Lemon-Tahini Dressing this week. Let’s all give it a try.
  • Tatsoi {CSA}: this green is similar to spinach but with more character. That’s why it works great in this Pasta with Tatsoi and Gingered Butter Sauce recipe.
  • Spicy Large Leaf Arugula {M}: I love mixing fresh and cooked items together in a salad. I think this Arugula, Dried Cherry and Wild Rice Salad would make a great addition to Thanksgiving!
  • Spicy Asian Mustard Greens {M}: really, anything with a fried egg and avocado is going to be great, but this egg sandwich looks pretty legit.

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Thanksgiving Prep

Here are the items that will possibly be in your CSA share next week. We hope this helps you plan your dinner!

  • Sunchokes / Jerusalem Artichokes: here is a list of possible sunchoke recipes. I think the sunchoke and potato gratin would be a great Thanksgiving side dish!
  • Carrots: I can imagine really enjoying this Roasted Carrot Turmeric Soup the day or two after Thanksgiving when a light meal is in order.
  • Awesome Asian Mix: I noticed that Alexzanna Farms has Japanese persimmons this week. I think it is worth asking if they will be available next week too. Substitute the chicories with our Asian mix and I think this salad would be lovely for Thanksgiving!
  • Garlic: if you need to have a dairy-free “creamy” option for Thanksgiving, I thought this Roasted Garlic Ricotta looked like a great option (anything is good when mixed with roasted garlic).
  • Spicy Arugula (same as suggested above): I love mixing fresh and cooked items together in a salad. I think this Arugula, Dried Cherry and Wild Rice Salad would make a great addition to Thanksgiving!
  • Pak Choi: this Glazed Shiitakes with Bok Choy recipe is a similar take to many other pak choi recipes out there but I love the focus on mushrooms. It almost reminds me of a fresher version of green bean casserole!
  • Lettuce: I love shaved fennel in salad and it just so happens that Crabtree Farm has some this week! Ask to see if it will be around next week and add it to your Thanksgiving meal.

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Alice O’Dea Article

Have you read Alice O’Dea’s recent article? I cannot wait to experience a Scenic City Supper Club dinner myself someday!

 


Weekly Farm Notes :: Nov 11th, 2015

Hello!

Thanksgiving is my favorite of all holidays and it is only 2 weeks away! You will see below that I have quite a few turkey day side dish suggestions using our beautiful farm fresh bounty. It’s not to early to start planning!

“Deep Winter” and “Walking to Spring” CSA shares are still available. Don’t miss out on powerhouse greens to get you through the dark and cold months ahead! Here is the link to our CSA information to find out more.

See you at market!

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November 11th Produce

Here are the items you can expect at Market (denoted by M) and/or in the CSA (denoted by CSA):

  • Kale {M/CSA}: Thanksgiving isn’t complete without stuffing so why not try a Kale and Caramelized Onion Stuffing this year! Maybe gratins are more your thing – this vegan Kale and Mushroom Gratin looks tasty too!
  • Tender Collards {M/CSA}: I recently tried cooking collards in my pressure cooker and they are the best I have ever tasted! I just cooked them with onion, apple cider vinegar and a little sugar. If you own a pressure cooker, I highly suggest you try this technique. Here is a vegetarian recipe for Pressure Cooker Balsamic Collard Greens that sounds amazing.
  • Rainbow Swiss Chard {M/CSA}: I am working on a recipe for Orange & Swiss Chard Oat Muffins that I will publish later this week. You could make and freeze a batch this week, then pull them out for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving when you can’t imagine ever cooking again.
  • Cabbage {CSA}: I think a lovely winter slaw would be a great addition to Thanksgiving dinner!
  • Green Onions {CSA}: I have been dying to try this Shredded Tofu and Mushroom Stir-Fry recipe. It would be perfect this week as you can use our green onions and cilantro and then pick up mushrooms from Land Before Time Farm. For something quite different, check out our Green Onion Yogurt Flatbread recipe!
  • Lettuce Mix {CSA}: winter salads take on a whole different personality from those we consume during the warmer months. I love the heartier textures and tastes in salads during this time of year (although it still doesn’t even feel like autumn yet!). Here is a great list of colorful salads to help inspire.
  • Pak Choi {CSA}: here is another way to incorporate the lovely mushrooms you can find locally with our pak choi and green onions. Don’t forget about our Raw Spicy Pak Choi Salad also!
  • Spicy Large Leaf Arugula {M}: I am not a football fan but I would definitely come to your house to watch a game if you made the Feta and Arugula Guacamole recipe below!
  • Spicy Asian Mustard Greens {M}: have you ever eaten Sag Aloo? It is an Indian spinach sauce mixed with chunks of potatoes but I made it recently with kale and mustard greens. It is wonderfully satisfying and delicious but not something many people make at home. It really doesn’t take much time and the sauce can be made ahead and frozen. I will publish a recipe in just a couple of days so keep an eye out!
  • Parsley {M}: here is a completely different type of salad – Parsley and Onion Salad on Grilled Bread. I think this would be a lovely Thanksgiving day appetizer 🙂
  • Cilantro {M}: from hummus to pesto to compound butter, you can surely find inspiration here!

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Recipe :: Feta and Arugula Guacamole

This recipe is from Cook’s Country. It makes 2-1/2 to 3 cups and serves 4 to 6 people.

Ingredients:

  • 3 ripe avocados
  • 1/2 cup chopped baby arugula
  • 1 jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (1 cup)

Directions:

  • Halve 1 avocado, remove pit, and scoop flesh into medium bowl. Add arugula, jalapeño, onion, lime juice, garlic, ¾ teaspoon salt, and cumin and mash with potato masher (or fork) until mostly smooth.
  • Halve and pit remaining 2 avocados. Carefully make ½-inch crosshatch incisions in flesh with butter knife, cutting down to but not through skin. Insert spoon between skin and flesh, gently scoop out avocado cubes, and add to mashed mixture. Add feta and gently mash until mixture is well combined but still coarse. Season with salt to taste. Serve.

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Alice O’Dea Article

Have you read Alice O’Dea’s recent article? It looks like I am not the only one deep into Thanksgiving preparations!