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October has arrived!!!

Everyone giving Emily High-Fives in Heaven!!

It’s crazy to believe that October has arrived!  We had such an amazing turnout for our Fight For Your Life 5K!!!  We are so blessed that so many people came to take part in remembering Emily!  Here’s a great photo from the start line…MORE TO COME!  We had 207 people sign-up for the race and we had around 200 run!! We had some amazing sponsors that helped make the day possible.  We also had some amazing volunteers which we couldn’t have done it without you!!

 

This is the last week for Harvest Boxes!  It’s crazy that the season is already over!!  This week I had a recipe for Stuffed Peppers and Beef and Tater Casserole.  Two great recipes for cooler nights and busy days!!

Beef & Tater Casserole Photo & Recipes Courtesy of All Recipes.com

1 pound ground beef

2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of

mushroom soup
2-2/3 cups skim milk
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 lb French style green beans
1 (32 ounce) package tater tots

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  2. In a large skillet over high heat, brown the ground beef and drain fat. Stir in condensed cream of mushroom soup, skim milk, garlic salt and green beans. Pour the mixture into a medium-sized casserole dish and layer with the tater tots.
  3. Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes, or until tater tots are browned and crispy.

Crock-pot Stuffed Peppers 

Photo & Recipe Courtesy of:  http://www.marksdailyapple.com/crock-pot-pork-stuffed-peppers/#ixzz28FrJazR9

2 pounds ground pork (or a combination of pork and beef)
4 large green peppers
1 large onion
2 carrots
4 cloves of garlic
1/2 head of cauliflower
6 ounce can of tomato paste
1 tablespoon dry oregano
1 tablespoon dry or fresh tarragon
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

Cut the tops of the peppers and clean the seeds out.

Arrange peppers in the Crock-Pot standing up and make sure they fit securely.

Grate onion, carrots, garlic and cauliflower in the food processor. You can also just chop them into small pieces with a knife if you don’t have a food processor.

In a big bowl, combine ground pork, shredded vegetables, seasonings and tomato paste.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Stuff the peppers with the mixture and arrange leftover meat between the peppers. Add half a cup of water, cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

If you don’t have a slow-cooker, the dish can be cooked in the oven, covered, for 1-2 hours.

 

Thanks to those of you for participating in the 2012 CSA Program!!  If you are interested in joining for next year please let us know!!

 

Fall Harvest Festival kicks off this weekend!!

 

This weekend is the start of our Fall Harvest Festival!!  Come join us for all of the great fun we have planned!!

 

CSA Harvest Boxes are winding down and ending next week.  This week’s newsletter includes an Apple Crisp recipe along with tips for storing peppers and freezing them to use in the winter!!

 

Do you have a lot of extra peppers?
Chop bell peppers in 1 cup piles & freeze in ziploc bags for winter! Roast Anaheims on the BBQ to add to Egg Scrambles, Pasta Dishes & more!  Feel free to to do the same with jalapenos, anaheims, onions and even zucchini!

Apple Crisp Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Betty Crocker

4 medium apples
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c flour
1/2 c oats
1/3 c butter
3/4 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Heat oven to 375ºF. Grease bottom and sides of 8-inch square pan with shortening.

Spread apples in pan. In medium bowl, stir remaining ingredients except cream until well mixed; sprinkle over apples.

Bake about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Serve warm with cream.

 

Off to set things up for the Fall Harvest Festival!!  It’s going to be a great day!!

 

Until next time Farmer Stacy :)

 

Fall Harvest Festival is ALMOST HERE!!

Where did the summer go?  October is less than two weeks away!  And with that so is the kick-off of our Fall Harvest Festival!!  We are hoping this great weather hangs on through October to make it a fun and dry month!

Last week I sorted through my veggies and I realized I had a serious collection of Cue Ball Zucchinis.  So last night, I cored them and julienne sliced them into noodles.  I grabbed a package of frozen shrimp and whipped up some pesto and a delicious dinner was made!  Here is an adaptation of the recipe that I made, with a Creamy Pesto sauce.  If creamy isn’t your style, omit the Coconut milk and use Olive oil in the pesto instead!

Another great recipe is a flavored butter to top your corn.  Sometimes it’s a little boring to throw it in a pot and smear butter on it.  So next time try grilling it and whipping up this great butter recipe.

Last, a recipe that my sister came up with for beets.  She decided to roast the beets with garlic and potatoes for a simple side!!

Creamy Pesto Pasta & Shrimp Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Paleo Gurl’s Kitchen

Pesto

3 bunches of Fresh basil
7 Cloves of Garlic
½ Cup Walnuts
2-Tablespoon Pine Nuts
1-Cup Light Coconut Milk
Instructions: Combine all Ingredients in a food processor.  If you dare- eat this raw. If your smart, cook with it! Mine turned out very heavy on the garlic. I have been cooking with it though in my eggs, shrimp and chicken and it is delicious and very flavorful after cooking!
Creamy Pesto Pasta and Shrimp
1lb Shrimp (or really as many as you want)
4 Heaping Tablespoons Homemade “pesto”
1 Cup Light Coconut Milk
½ Tablespoon Coconut Flower
**3 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese** Optional
Salt to taste
2 Tablespoons Butter or Ghee
2 Zucchini
1-Tablespoon Olive Oil
Instructions: Julian cut the zucchini. In a large frying pan sauté Zucchini Olive Oil and 1 tablespoon of  “Pesto” until it zucchini reaches your desired softness. While it is cooking, in a small saucepan, or frying pan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter and 2 Tablespoons “pesto”. Turn the temperature to medium low and add in coconut milk and coconut flower. Let that simmer and stir it occasionally. Once it begins to thicken (about 5 minutes) add in the grated Parmesan and season it with salt to taste. When the zucchini is done, plate it. In the same pan heat the last Tablespoon of pesto, Tablespoon of Butter (or Ghee) and the shrimp (should be tailed, and ideally precooked). Sauté the shrimp until heated through. Then serve yourself up! Zucchini, shrimp then sauce!

Cilantro Lime Butter for Sweet Corn Recipe Courtesy of Sunshine Sweet Corn & Photo Courtesy of Feasting at Home

½ cup lightly-packed fresh cilantro leaves
½ teaspoon grated lime peel
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon to 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened

In the bowl of food processor fitted with a metal wing blade, place cilantro, lime peel, salt and hot pepper sauce; process using on and off motions until cilantro is finely chopped, scrapping sides of bowl if necessary. Add butter; process until combined, about 30 seconds. (Or, finely chop cilantro leaves; place in a medium bowl with remaining ingredients; stir until combined.) Serve over hot cooked corn on the cob or other steamed vegetables.

YIELD: ½ cup

Roasted Potatoes & Beets Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Katey Meza

2 – 3 Med Potatoes, quartered
1 – 2 Beets, peeled & quartered
1 T Olive Oil
3 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 tsp fresh Thyme
1 tsp fresh oregano
salt & pepper to taste

 

Combine all ingredients above and mix until the potatoes and beets are covered in oil.  Lay out on foil sheet and roll into a packet so that there are no holes in the foil.  Place on BBQ at medium/high heat for 30minutes.  Unwrap and check softness of the beets & potatoes.  Once they reach the desired softness, let them cool & enjoy!

Register for Fight For Your Life 5K before the price goes up!!

Don’t forget Register before Sunday, Sept 16th, the price goes up from $25 to $35!! Don’t like running but still want to support? There will be a special $5 admission opening weekend for Harvest Festival Sept 29 & 30! 50% of the admission sales will go towards a foundation we have formed in Emily’s memory to help support local Women in our Community called Em’s Fight! The foundation will help pay for treatment, transportation to treatment, seeking the best doctor in their field, new clothing, or even help purchasing a wig. All of the race proceeds will go towards Em’s Fight!!

Why Em’s Fight? Emily was an extraordinary athlete and fought through every single struggle in her life whether it was on the court, on the javelin runway or with her cancer!

Here is a link to our sign-up sheet if you would like to mail it in with a check http://www.fpgardens.com/pdf/FFYL%20Sign-up%20Sheet.pdf  or feel free to sign-up using the Race Website at www.FightForYourLife5K.com.

This week’s recipes include Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw, Thai Basil Beef Lettuce Wraps, & Oven Home Fries with Peppers and Onions.

Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw Recipe & Photo Courtesy of myRecipes.com.

1 head green cabbage, shredded
1 c tomatoes, chopped
1/3 c thinly sliced green onions
1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
2 T fresh lime juice
5 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1 pound Tilapia/Halibut fillets

1 tsp chili powder
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

  1. Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Add juice, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; toss well to combine.
  2. Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle fish evenly with chili powder and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add fish to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. Remove from heat, and cut fish into bite-sized pieces.
  3. Warm tortillas according to package directions. Spoon about 1/4 cup cabbage mixture down the center of each tortilla. Divide fish evenly among tortillas; fold in half. Serve tacos with remaining cabbage mixture.

Thai Lettuce Wraps Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Everyday Paleo

2 lb ground beef
1 large bell pepper
1 medium onion
2 bunches sweet
basil leaves
3 garlic cloves
2-3 T coconut aminos
2 tsp fish sauce
1-2 tsp hot chili sauce
Juice from 1 a lime
2 tsp sesame oil
1 T coconut oil
Lettuce Leaves for Wraps

1. In a large skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium heat.  Add the bell peppers and onions and saute until tender.

2. Remove the bell peppers and onions from the pan and set aside.

3. In the same pan, brown the ground beef.

4. While the ground beef is cooking, whisk together the coconut aminos, fish sauce, lime juice, hot chili sauce, sesame oil and garlic.

5. Add the bell peppers and onions back to the pan with the ground beef, pour in the sauce, add the Thai basil leaves, and stir just until the basil leaves are wilted.

6. Turn off the heat and you are ready to serve!

7. Fill lettuce leaves with big scoops of the meat mixture topped with chopped cilantro and more basil leaves for garnish.  Top with more hot chili sauce if you want it spicier.

Serves 5-6

Oven Home Fries Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Rachael Ray.com
2 1/2 lb. potatoes
3 T olive oil
1 green bell pepper
1 medium onion
1 T grill seasoning
2 tsp sweet paprika

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.

Coarsely chop potatoes and transfer to a nonstick cookie sheet. Toss with oil, peppers, onions and seasonings and place in the oven 25 minutes, turning twice with spatula. Serve hot.

 

Until next week!!  Farmer Stacy :)

Register NOW for Fight For Your Life 5K!! Price goes up after Sept. 15!

You have 10 more days to register for Fight For Your Life 5K before the price goes up after September 15.

 

We would love to have as many people as possible here to remember Emily but also to raise awareness about her disease, help tell her story and raise some money to help local women with cancer!

Click through to the link here to register today!!

 

The summer fruits and veggies are starting to turn into Fall fruits and veggies with the arrival of Haney Crisp Apples in both our CSA shares and the store.  There is starting to be a little nip in the air and pretty soon October will be here before we know it!!

For this weeks round of recipes I used a broccoli and cauliflower soup, which could prove to be the perfect addition to this weekends chance of showers.  I also featured a Summer Veggie Frittata, which is a great way to use up all of your veggies and also an easy breakfast meal that you can prepare in advance!  Not only are you getting a great source of protein and veggies for the morning but it will help keep you full throughout your morning and focused to get through your day!    The last recipe I featured is Bacon & Apple Stuffed Pork Chops!  They are super delicious and a great way to end your summer grilling season!!

Broccoli and Cauliflower Soup

Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Lori’s Lipsmacking Goodness Blog

3 cups broccoli, chopped
3 cups cauliflower, chopped
4 cups turkey or chicken broth
1/2 or whole onion
1 sm. potato, diced
4 oz. cheddar
1/2 c. milk
1 garlic clove, minced
pepper to taste

1/2 tsp seasoned salt

Saute onions in a tablespoon of butter until golden. Add broth, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, and potato to a boil in a 4 quart saucepan. Reduce heat, cook covered, 15 minutes. Remove about 1 cup broccoli and cauliflower pieces, set aside. Cook soup 10 minutes longer. Add shredded cheese and heat until melted Pour into blender and puree until very smooth. Return pureed soup to pan with reserved vegetables and heat through, but do not boil or cheese will curdle. Add milk, salt and pepper.

Summer Veggie Frittata

Recipe Courtesy of Paleo Plan Blog Photo Credit: graceac.tumblr.com

1 1/2 Tbs olive or coconut oil
1 Cueball Zucchini, diced
1/2 green or white bell pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1 Tbs fresh thyme
1/2 tsp sea salt, divided
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped
9 large eggs

  1. Heat coconut oil in a 10″ oven-proof skillet over medium heat.  When hot, add zucchini, pepper, onion, thyme, 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/8 tsp pepper and garlic.
  2. Cover and cook until vegetables are tender (about 5-7 minutes), stirring occasionally.
  3. Stir in tomato.  Cook, uncovered, for 5 minutes more or until liquid evaporates.
  4. Combine eggs and remaining salt and pepper and whisk until frothy.
  5. Pour eggs over vegetable mixture and stir gently. Cover, reduce heat and cook 15 minutes.
  6. Meanwhile, preheat broiler to low. Finish frittata with 3 minutes under the broiler (until fully set).
  7. Invert onto a plate, slice and serve warm or cold.

Apple & Bacon Stuffed Pork Chops

Recipe & Photo Courtesy of  PaleoParents.com

6 1″ thick pork chops
2 Tbsp lard
2 medium apples, peeled, cored & diced
10 strips of bacon, diced
1 red onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minces
4 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
1/4 tsp paprika
1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 Tbsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

  1. Ask your butcher to “pocket” your baking chops.  If you need to do it yourself, use a 4-6″ knife and pierce the fatty side of the chop. Wiggle your knife side to side until your “pocket” is about 5″ long and 3″ wide (70% of the chop)
  2. In a medium pan (we recommend a cast iron skillet or dutch oven), melt lard over medium-high heat
  3. Cook apples, bacon and onion until onion is softened and bacon is crispy, about 8 minutes
  4. Add garlic, sage, paprika and lemon juice and toss for 2 minutes
  5. Remove stuffing from heat, transfer to bowl and set-aside
  6. ♥ Salt and pepper each side of pork chop, stuff it with as much stuffing as you can fit and use a skewer or toothpick to close and prevent spilling (about half of the stuffing will be leftover)
  7. Insert pork chops into the hot pan to sear on each side, cook each side of the chops for 5 minutes in hot pan over medium-high heat
  8. Transfer pan/dutch oven to 350 degree oven and bake uncovered for 35 minutes
  9. To serve, warm remaining stuffing and spoon on top of each chop
 That’s all for this week!  Enjoy your goodies!!  Until next week!  Farmer Stacy :)

Labor Day is almost here!!!

Oh my, this summer has just passed us by!  Labor Day is this weekend, and pretty soon those kid’s will be back in school!  Here’s some great easy recipes to help all of your families stay healthy during the school week.  The first is a Chicken with Blueberry/Blackberry Ginger Chutney.  It looks amazing, and could even be done in a crockpot or as a quick dish to throw in the oven.  There is some sugar in the sauce, but the berries are so sweet you might not even need it!  Our second recipe is a favorite in our family.  It is an Easy Summer Stew to use up all of those extra potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, and corn.  Feel free to add whatever protein you would like, it is great with chicken or sausage!!  The last recipe is for Garlic Cauliflower Mashed ” Potatoes”, a recipe that in fact doesn’t have any potatoes in it at all but just mashed cauliflower.  It is great to use as a side instead of heavy mashed potatoes!

GARLIC CAULIFLOWER “MASHED POTATOES” 

Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Nom Nom Paleo

Serves 6-8.

1 large head cauliflower
5 large cloves garlic
Salt
2 tablespoons grassfed butter
¼ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

I started by filling up a large (6-quart) stock pot with an inch or two of water. I put the pot on a burner set on high, dumped in a steamer insert, and put on the lid.

While waiting for the water to boil, I washed and trimmed a large head of cauliflower and cut up the florets and stem. I then grabbed a packet of Trader Joe’s peeled garlic from the fridge and sliced up all the cloves.  Don’t worry about how everything looks because it’ll get pulverized later in the Cuisinart.

Once the water in the pot was boiling, I threw in the stems, half of the florets, and all of the garlic. I salted everything liberally.

Then, I put in the rest of the cauliflower, seasoned with more salt, replaced the lid, and steamed everything until it was soft (~10 minutes). You won’t overcook it — trust me.

Once the florets were done, I dumped everything into a colander and let it drain.

I dumped everything into my Cuisinart food processor (fitted with the steel knife), and added some fresh cracked pepper, microplaned nutmeg, and the butter.

Final step: I processed everything until smooth. After one last taste for seasoning, I put my faux “mashed potatoes” in a big bowl, covered it and popped it in my fridge. These faux “mashed potatoes” reheat beautifully in the microwave!

Chicken with Blueberry Ginger Chutney 

Photo & Recipe Courtesy of Cooking Whims Blog

Serves 6

Chutney:

2 cups fresh blueberries or Blackberries

1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1/4 cup golden raisins
3 tbsp cider vinegar
1 1/2 tsp fresh ginger OR 1/4 + 1/8 tsp dried ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
Chicken:
1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
3/4 tsp dried basil
3/4 tsp dried oregano
6 (6-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

1. To make the chutney: Combine all of the chutney ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 25 minutes or until thick, stirring occasionally.

2. To prepare the chicken: Combine the oil, basil, oregano, chicken, and garlic in a large zip-top plastic bag. Seal and marinate in refrigerator for 2 hours, turning occasionally. Remove chicken from bag. Discard extra marinade.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side until done. Serve with chutney, green veggies, and a nice hunk of sourdough bread from your local farmer’s market!

Easy Summer Stew

2      Tbsp. olive oil                                        

1      large onion

1      bay leaf                                                  

2      medium-sized zucchini (about ¾ lb)      

2      large sweet green peppers, halved, cored, seeded and coarsely chopped                                                        

1      clove garlic, pressed                 

4      large tomatoes, peeled seeded and chopped or ½ pint  cherry Tomatoes

½     tsp salt                                                           

½     pound all-purpose potatoes, peeled and grated

1 ½  cups of whole corn kernels (2 ears)

¼     tsp ground black pepper                     

1 ¾  tsp dried marjoram

*For a heartier stew, add 2 cups cooked cubed chicken or turkey

1. Heat olive oil in large heavy saucepan over medium heat.  Add onion and bay leaf; sauté 3 to 5 minutes or until onion is slightly golden and almost tender.  Add sweet pepper, zucchini and garlic; sauté 3 to 5 minutes or until pepper and squash are almost tender.

2. While vegetables are cooking, place ½ the tomatoes in the blender.  Whirl until puréed.

3. Add pureed tomatoes, remaining chopped tomatoes, potato, corn, salt and black pepper to vegetables in saucepan.  Bring to boiling.  Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 -15 minutes or until potato is tender.  Remove and discard bay leaf. Stir in marjoram. Serve.

Until next week!!  Farmer Stacy :)

Cue Ball Zucchini are growing like crazy!!!

Another week has passed us by and yay for the lower temperatures!!!  One of our Garden Favorites are the Cueball Zucchini.  They are really prolific growers and have came on like crazy in the past few weeks!  It makes our other zucchini plants look like they don’t know what they are doing!!  It’s hard to believe that Labor Day is only a couple weeks away!  Where has this summer gone?  All of you CSA members checking out our blog for those great recipes, you have 6 weeks left!  It feels like we just started!!

This week we gave our CSA members both Cherry and regular Garden Tomatoes.  We also included some Jalapeno peppers for everyone!  Sounds like the making of some great fresh salsa!  Need a recipe?  I’ll include one here that is an easy favorite for the whole family!

We also have cabbage that is starting to grow in the garden.  One of the great recipes that we always use is coleslaw, to top tacos, pulled park, or simply as an easy summer side to those hot dogs and hamburgers!!  Below is one of my favorites.  Want to mix it up?  Make your own mayo and throw in a little cayenne pepper to add a little heat!

The last recipe that I have included is for those Cue Ball Zucchini.  Along with simply grilling them with some olive oil, many of you may still have one or two of these babies in your crisper drawer.  I know I do!  Tonight I’m going to make a Paleo-fied recipe of the Zucchini Parmesan Crisps, that sounds amazing!!!  Here’s the regular recipe for those of you who aren’t afraid of breadcrumbs!

Fresh Tomato Salsa Recipe

Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Simply Recipes

2-3  tomatoes stems removed, finely diced
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1 jalapeño chili pepper (stems, ribs, seeds removed), finely diced
1 anaheim pepper, finely diced
Juice of one lime
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste

1 Start with chopping up 2 medium sized fresh tomatoes. Prepare the chilies. Be very careful while handling these hot peppers. If you can, avoid touching them with your hands. Use a fork to cut up the chilies over a small plate, or use a paper towel to protect your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after handling and avoid touching your eyes for several hours. Set aside some of the seeds from the peppers. If the salsa isn’t hot enough, you can add a few for heat.

2 Combine all of the ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Taste. If the chilies make the salsa too hot, add some more chopped tomato. If not hot enough, carefully add a few of the seeds from the chilies, or add some ground cumin.

Let sit for an hour for the flavors to combine.

Makes approximately 3-4 cups.

 

Creamy Coleslaw 

Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Better Homes & Garden

1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 – 2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups finely shredded green cabbage
1 cup finely shredded red cabbage
1 cup finely shredded carrot

Directions:

Stir together mayonnaise or salad dressing, vinegar, sugar, celery seeds, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Combine green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrot in bowl; toss gently to coat. Cover and chill before serving. Makes 6 servings.

Zucchini Parmesan Crisps

Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Ellie Krieger, Food Network.com

1 Cue Ball zucchini
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan (3/4-ounce)
1/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs
1/8 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.

Slice the zucchini into 1/4-inch thick rounds. In a medium bowl, toss the zucchini with the oil. In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan, bread crumbs, salt, and a few turns of pepper. Dip each round into the Parmesan mixture, coating it evenly on both sides, pressing the coating on to stick, and place in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake the zucchini rounds until browned and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove with spatula. Serve immediately.

Until next week!  Farmer Stacy :)

The Summer Heat has arrived!!

Wow…the weather forecast is 102 degrees on Thursday!  It is going to be a warm one!  This week I chose quick and easy recipes that you can use for a family get-together and summer BBQ’s!  This last week we started getting in our crop of Super Sweet Corn!  I am so excited for this time of the year!

When Tomatoes come on, usually they all come on at once! The Tomato Evolution salad is perfect for using up a bunch of tomatoes!!  I also included a family favorite, Potato Salad!  It can’t be a summer BBQ without the Potato Salad!  For the last recipe I chose a simple Pasta and Broccoli Recipe, with can be used as a side, or you can also add chicken for an entree dish.

Evolution Tomato Salad Recipe and Photo Courtesy of Jaime Oliver

¾ pound of ripe grape or cherry, vine, and regular tomatoes

3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon of red wine vinegar

a few sprigs of fresh basil

¼ tsp sea salt

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • Cut the larger tomatoes into wedges, halve the grape or cherry tomatoes, and leave the smaller ones whole.
  • Put them into a bowl with the olive oil and red wine vinegar. Toss well to coat all the tomatoes with the dressing.
  • Pick the leaves off the basil and scatter them over the salad. Season with the salt and pepper.

Dad’s Potato Salad Recipe and Photo Courtesy of Simply Recipes

3-4 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
4 Tbsp juice from Kosher dill pickles
3 Tbsp finely chopped dill pickles
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 stalks celery, chopped
1chopped onion, including the greens
1-2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

 

Place peeled, cut potatoes in a large pot. Cover with an inch of salted water. Bring a pot of water to boil. Simmer for 10-20 minutes until just fork tender. Remove from pot. Let cool enough to handle, but still warm.

2 Put potatoes in to a large bowl. Add the juice from the Kosher dill pickles. Add the finely chopped pickles themselves. Add parsley, onions, celery, scallions and, if using, the hard boiled egg, carrots, and red bell pepper.

3 In a separate small bowl, mix mayonnaise with mustard. Add salt and pepper to taste. Mix in the dressing with the potato mixture. Again, salt and pepper to taste.

Pasta with Roasted Broccoli Photo and Recipe Courtesy of Cuisinart

Ingredients

12 ounces of short pasta
1 lb broccoli, cut into small florets
1/2 c walnuts, chopped
1/4 c olive oil
2 cloves garlic chopped
Kosher salt and pepper
2 Tbs. butter
1/4 c Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Heat oven to 400 degrees. On a baking sheet, toss broccoli and walnuts with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper and roast, tossing once, for 18 to 20 minutes (keep on eye out that the nuts don’t start burning!). Meanwhile cook pasta and reserve 1/3 c. of pasta water after draining. Toss pasta, broccoli, nuts, parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water in a big bowl and serve.

Try to stay cool!  Until next week!

Super Sweet Corn is HERE!!!

Summer is officially here, with the long hot days and the arrival of Super Sweet Corn!!  Nothing can beat those fresh ears coming out of the field!!  This week, out of the garden was more of the same delicious goodies.  This week’s round-up of recipes include uses for potatoes, onions, Blueberries, and Green Beans!  I hope you enjoy the latest recipe choices.

 

We are also taking entries for our Fight For Your Life 5K, which is a Fun Run/Walk & Kid’s Dash started in remembrance of our sister and daughter Emily Pohlschneider-Edwards who we lost last October to cancer.  For more information about the Race, to Register or Donate to the Cause, please visit our Race Website.

 

 

 

Simple Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins Recipe Courtesy of Tina Bremer & PaleOMG

Ingredients

1 cup almond butter
1 cup almond meal/almond flour
3 eggs, whisked
1/2 cup Raw Honey
1/3 cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
1/3 cup Coconut Oil, melted
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
pinch of cinnamon
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
Zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. If you’re good at baking, you’ll know to mix the dry then the wet ingredients then mix together, but I do all the ingredients together and it works out just fine.
  3. Place ingredients into 8-10 silicone muffin cups in a muffin tin. Or you can use muffin tin paper liners.
  4. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Just keep an eye on it, they will puff up and look adorable.

Home Fries

Ingredients

2 pounds potatoes, cubed
2 1/2 tablespoons oil, divided
3 cups chopped onion
6 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Instructions

1. Place the potatoes in a microwave-safe dish, and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave at HIGH for 5 minutes. Uncover and cool slightly.

2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion; cook 20 minutes or until golden and tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove onion mixture from pan. Wipe the pan clean with paper towels.

3. Increase heat to medium-high. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and butter to pan, and swirl to coat. Add potato, and cook for 4 minutes, without stirring. Turn potatoes over. Cook 6 minutes or until browned, without stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 10 minutes or until tender and golden brown, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in onion mixture, salt, and black pepper; toss. Sprinkle with parsley.

String Bean Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Goat Cheese

Recipe & Photo Courtesy of Lauren Braun Costello

Ingredients:

1/2 pound green beans
1/2 pound yellow beans
sea salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
Directions:
  • Gather these tools: cutting board; chef’s knife; large saucepan; colander; wet and dry measuring cups; measuring spoons; large mixing bowl; tongs.
  • Clean and trim the beans. Blanch them in a pot of heavily salted water, then shock them in cold water and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, and thyme with a pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Toss the beans in the dressing and sprinkle with the toasted walnuts and crumbled goat cheese. Toss again and serve immediately.

 

Off to Harvest some Wheat!  Until next week!!

Summer Grass Harvest Time is Here!!

Hello All!!

Here at French Prairie Gardens we also have a 400 acre Farm, where we raise Perennial Ryegrass and Wheat.  We are right in the middle of our Ryegrass Harvest, in which we separate the grass seed from the straw, with a large combine.  After the combine goes through we then bale the straw and it is sold to a local coop that exports our hay straw all around the world.  The ryegrass seed is all contracted and used mostly for commercial golf courses and some is sold in grass seed bags for you to use on your lawn!  Here’s a photo of Harvest in full swing.  This is one thing that makes us different than most other nurseries and farm direct markets, we also have a working farm to keep us busy too!  It makes for a lot of late nights, but being a farmer you really have to LOVE what you do!  Next week we will start our wheat harvest, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for great weather to ripen up that wheat this weekend!

Now onto the recipes!  This week I included a new beet recipe that I am dying to try!  It looks delicious, and I find that my beets are usually the last thing left in my drawer full of veggies every week!  Also, a fellow CSA member, Jillyn who attends Crossfit Oregon City with me, said that she had made a Blueberry Chicken that was to die for.  This isn’t her exact recipe…but it sounded so good I had to find one!!  If you are avoiding sugar, just cut it out of the recipe, the berries are plenty sweet without it!   The last recipe that I included is for Zucchini Fritters, since some people are having a hard time getting through their Cue Ball Zucchini.  Grate them up just like the regular recipe listed below states.  They have a little more water in them, but will turn out Delicious!!  I hope you enjoy this weeks recipe round up!  If you have any helpful hints for recipes, we would love to include them!

Blueberry Chicken

Ingredients

  • 4 Chicken-Thighs (Bone-In)
  • 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
  • 1 Cup Blueberries
  • 1/4 Cup Butter
  • 2 Tbsp. White Sugar
  • Juice of an Orange
  • 1/8 Cup Roasted Pecans
  • Pinch of Salt
  • Pinch of Pepper
  • 1/8 Tsp. Dried Coriander

Method

    1. Preheat Oven to 350 Degrees F.
    2. Preheat Skillet on high heat.
    3. Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper and coriander.
    4. Place skin side down in the skillet and cook for 6 minutes until skin becomes golden (you want to lock in the flavors – so don’t move the chicken around or flip it until it turns golden).
    5. Once one side is browned, flip over and repeat the process.
    6. Place chicken in a casserole dish or roaster.
    7. For extra flavor, leave all the bits in the skillet, then add the butter, sugar, and orange juice to begin creating the sauce.
    8. Once the sugar is dissolved, stir in the blueberries and cook for 6 minutes.
    9. Add the sauce over the chicken and cook at 350 Degrees for about 35 minutes uncovered.
    10. Remove the chicken from the sauce and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and place back in the oven to crisp the exterior.
    11. Place sauce on stove top and bring to a boil to thicken.
    12. Preheat dry pan and roast pecans for about 3-4 minutes  – moving and shaking them often to avoid burning.
    13. Remove chicken from oven, top with sauce and finish with roasted pecans.
    14. ENJOY!

Roasted Beets in a Balsamic Glaze

INGREDIENTS

  • 5 red beets, medium sized, scrubbed clean, green tops removed
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
  • Freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

1 Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil. Place the beets in the pan. Rub olive oil over the beets, and sprinkle with salt. Cover the beets with another sheet of aluminum foil. Roast for 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of the beets and how old they are. After 1 hour, test every fifteen minutes by poking a beet with the tines of a fork. Once the fork tines go in easily, the beets are tender and cooked. Remove from the oven.

Zucchini Fritters

Ingredients

1 pound zucchini, stems removed
1 egg lightly beaten
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1/2 cup grated reduced-fat Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup tarragon, chopped (optional)
1/8-1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions

Combine all of the ingredients except for the zucchini in a large bowl. Whisk to form a batter, removing large lumps, about 1-2 minutes. Grate the zucchini and add it to the bowl. The moisture from the zucchini will produce a thick batter as you stir. Use the batter immediately.

Heat olive or canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Using a 1/4-cup measure, pour out 3-4 cakes. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side until lightly browned. Drain on paper towel.