Week of 8/30 - HARVEST

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE- ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY BUT STILL NO RAIN

THE BOXES ARE VERY COLORFUL TODAY:
ASSORTMENT OF PEPPERS – SWEET & HOT, EGGPLANT, TOMATOES, BEANS, BEETS, CARROTS, A GREEN – COULD BE BABY ARUGULA, COLLARDS, KALE OR SWISS CHARD, POTATOES & APPLES

LOTS OF FUN FOOD
HOPE YOU ENJOY

REMEMBER – WE ARE NOW TAKING RESERVATIONS FOR THE FALL CSA
WE ORIGINALLY WERE HAVING 7 WEEKS –BUT WE DECIDED – IN THIS TOUGH ECONOMY TO GIVE AN EXTRA WEEK AT NO CHARGE – OUR WAY OF GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

SO 8 WEEKS FOR THE FALL

Tips from Tish - EASY LEEK AND POTATO SOUP - VICHYSSOISE

Jacques Pepin's method of cleaning leeks.

Using the tip of a sharp paring knife, cut off the dark green portion of the outer layer of leaves. On the next layer the light green will be higher - just cut off the dark green of each layer. Cut off the root. Cut the trimmed leek into 1/2-1 inch pieces crosswise. Place in a salad spinner or larger bowl and cover with cold water. With you hands toss the leek pieces in the water. Leave it 5 minutes to let the dirt and grit fall to the bottom. Lift out the leeks, discard the water, rinse the spinner, and spin dry the leeks. They are ready to use.

EASY LEEK AND POTATO SOUP - VICHYSSOISE

In a large soup pot heat:

2 Tablespoons of butter, or margarine

When bubbling add:

2 cups prepared leeks

Cook 3-5 minutes until limp.

Add: 4 cups broth (chicken or vegetable)

Simmer 10-15 minutes or until very soft.

Remove pan from the heat.

Place the solids and about one cup of liquid in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Return puree to the pot.

Add while stirring constantly over medium low heat:

1-4 portions of instant potato flakes* (use package amounts) to get the thickness you like. Use caution, it will get thicker as it stands.

Add one cup heavy cream (soy milk, rice milk, almond milk,coconut milk or cream, half and half?)

Chill thoroughly.

*Instead of potato flakes you can peel and dice 5 cups of potatoes and cook them along with the leeks.

Serve garnished with chives.

Week of 8/16 - HARVEST

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE –
WHAT A NICE RAIN ON SUNDAY – WE ARE SO GLAD TO SEE IT WATERING THE FALL CROPS ;-)

HERE IS THE LINE UP FOR TODAY : LEEKS, SWISS CHARD, PEPPERS, CUCUMBER, ZUCCHINI, MELON, APPLES, EGGPLANT & TOMATOES

BEST REGARDS,
PAM
PAM STEGALL
FARMER
WWW.CALVERTFARM.COM

Tips from Tish - Ratatouille

Ratatouille the Tish Way

This is not a traditional recipe - or perhaps it is - that people put together what was seasonal and what they had.

Dice eggplant - (the size of dice)
Brunoise (small dice) sweet peppers - hot peppers are optional
Thinly slice an onion.

I don’t like to cook fresh tomatoes - there are never enough to be “left over”. SO
add some tomato something:
that last bit of spaghetti sauce
1/2 cup V-8
some diluted tomato paste
minced sun dried tomato
etc. - you get the idea

Add seasonings with a light hand. Particularly our fresh veggies have wonderful flavor and you don’t want to over power them

I have to have: garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. If you use basil, save some for adding after cooking

Microwaves cook vegetables superbly. I have a vegetable setting and it cooks everything perfectly. If not, I would try 3 minutes, stir, 3 minutes more.

It can be baked in the oven at 350, for 30 minutes, but that gets the kitchen hot. If you have the oven on for something else, that would be the way to go.

Tips from Tish - Corn on the Cob

Cooking Corn on the Cob the Tish way

Cooking corn with its leaves on results in more corn flavor, whether you microwave it or grill it.

Remove the outer dark green leaves.
Fold back the pale green leaves and remove the silk.

I like mine plain, for the great fresh corn flavor, but you can....
Optional: brush with oil, butter, margarine, salt and pepper... whatever

Close the leaves back up over the corn.

Microwave 2 minutes on high for each ear, for up to 4 ears at a time.
Or
For a smoky, roasted corn flavor, grill and char the leaves, turning as needed.

I leave the leaves on, and just peel them back and use them as a handle

From CSA'er Rachel - opening a CSA Box

Thanks Rachel for sending us the You Tube video on 'Opening a CSA box'.

Just click on the title...

Tips from Tish - Grandma Tish's Cucumber Salad

Grandma Tish’s
CUCUMBER SALAD

3-4 large cucumbers - scrub and remove some of the skin for decoration

Thinly slice them, and spread them out in a colandar or salad spinner and sprinkle with 1 Tablespoon kosher salt and set aside for 30 min

Thinly slice one large onion and place in ice water bath.

Rinse the cucumbers and pat dry or spin in salad spinner with the drained onion.

Mix together in a large bowl or jar, until the sugar dissolves:
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup water
1/2 tablespoon sugar
dash of pepper

Add cucumbers and onions

Chill for 1 hour or more

At serving time variation (raita):
Drain and mix in some sour cream or yogurt and some mint

Week of 8/9 - HARVEST

HI EVERYONE – ANOTHER BALMY DAY – A LITTLE HOTTER –MAYBE - THAN OUR VERY NICE WEEKEND

HERE IS THE LINE UP FOR TODAY: SWEET CORN, EGGPLANT, CUCUMBER, ZUCCHINI, CARROTS OR GREEN, LEEKS OR GREEN, ONIONS, WATERMELON & TOMATOES.

WE DO NOT WAX OR FUMIGATE OUR CUCUMBERS – SO THEY MAY FEEL A LITTLE SOFT TO THE TOUCH – IF THIS BOTHERS YOU – TIGHTLY WRAP IN PLASTIC & ALWAYS REFRIGERATE – USE SOON

THE PRODUCE YOU RECEIVE IS RIPE & READY TO EAT – WE DO NOT PICK IT – UNDER RIPE – SO IT WILL NOT HANG AROUND LONG IN YOUR FRIDGE – YOU SHOULD BE EATING RIGHT AWAY – WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT WITH THE CUCUMBERS TO DAY - SOME NICE COLD CUCUMBER SOUP OR A FRESH CUCUMBER SALAD – WITH THINLY SLICED ONION & SOME TOMATOES - YUM

ANY QUESTIONS – SEND AN EMAIL

THANKS A BUNCH
PAM STEGALL
FARMER
WWW.CALVERTFARM.COM

Week of 8/2 - HARVEST

HERE IS THE LINE UP FOR MONDAY:
WATERMELON, ONIONS, PEPPERS, EGGPLANT, BROCCOLI (MAY HAVE CABBAGE LOOPER MOTHS – BE SURE TO WASH), A GREEN, SWEET CORN

AS WITH ALL PRODUCE – YOU SHOULD WASH EVERYTHING BEFORE YOU EAT –

WE HAVE BEEN PLAGUED WITH BUGS THIS YEAR

UNLIKE GROCERY STORES – WE DO NOT FUMIGATE OR CHEMICAL TREAT OUR PRODUCE – SO YOU MAY FIND SOME LITTLE CREATURES IN THE PRODUCE – WE TRY HARD TO KEEP THEM OUT – BUT NOT POSSIBLE –ESP W/STUFF LIKE THE BROCCOLI

THE WEATHER HAS REALLY CHALLENGED THE PRODUCE & WE TRY NOT TO DO TO MUCH TO IT BEFORE IT IS SENT TO YOU

PLEASE BE CAREFUL OF YOUR GREENS – WASH CAREFULLY – IT IS HEAVY WITH DRY DUST – AS WE HAVE NOT HAD MUCH RAIN FOR A LONG TIME

WE HOPE TO SEE A RETURN OF THE SALAD MIX IN A FEW WEEKS – WE KNOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN MISSING IT ;-(

ANY QUESTIONS – PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE FARM

PAM STEGALL
FARMER
WWW.CALVERTFARM.COM