Tomato Time

Come and get 'em.  Tomatoes are finally here in earnest!  We are growing seven varieties of cherry tomatoes, sweet little packages that come in yellow, orange, pink, red, and rich brown.  And, of course, those gorgeous red slicing tomatoes that actually taste like tomatoes are meant to.  Delicious.

We are also still bringing carrots, red and golden beets, sunflower bouquets, eggplant, strawberries, garlic, and 'Walla-Walla' sweet onions.  Mild red onions and shallots are the latest additions.

Mid-July Bounty...

We attended our first Saturday Farmers' Market this past weekend and had fun seeing so many of our Belweather Farm friends again!  We currently have fresh garlic, gorgeous red and golden beets, and those coveted carrots.  Next week it looks like we will also have the first sunflower bouquets, eggplant and tomatoes.  This may also be the last market we have those beautiful garlic braids that Darrin has been making, so don't miss out.  Hope to see you there!

Time flies...

 2015.  Three years since my last post.

After a rather difficult fall and winter, we are forging ahead on the farm this season.  Darrin's father passed away this January, and his presence is dearly missed.  He genuinely loved watching our market garden grow every year, our children reveling in it, and selflessly gifted us with countless hours of assistance.

We also encountered record-breaking winds earlier this spring, resulting in one of our greenhouses being completely torn out of the ground and the other in need of complete plastic replacement.  We have made the necessary repairs and modifications and, rest assured, this year's garden is growing beautifully.  We are thankful for the resiliency of mind, body and spirit that often surfaces in the wake of adversity.

We plan on attending the Klamath Falls Farmers' Market for 10-12 weeks, likely beginning around mid-July.   Expect to see tomatoes, carrots, strawberries, beets, sweet onions, shallots, garlic, sweet peppers, eggplant, and cut flowers.  We look forward to growing for you and so appreciate your continued support of the Belweather Farm family!

Life Lessons and Celebrations

New hoop house:  early May

New hoop house:  mid-June

Within a garden grows so much more than fresh fruits, flowers, and vegetables - life lessons lurk around every leaf, just waiting to be gleaned.  Set-backs this spring reminded us of the importance of foresight, vigilance, humility, adaptability, and detachment.  Oh, and humor....though that admittedly took awhile!  Thankfully the garden is growing so beautifully now you would never know if not for the confessional.

We are coming up on our third Farmers' Market of the season already.  June has blessed us with gorgeous heads of lettuce, rhubarb, and radishes.  This week we will also have those beloved garlic scapes from our hard neck garlic varieties.  Click here for a link to recipes and ideas for cooking with garlic scapes.  Coming soon:  beets, carrots, and cucumbers.

Sometimes it can be a challenge to keep up with life on a small farm with a 2 year-old (and one on the way!) in tow, but life is good.  We love to see you down at the Klamath Falls Farmers' Market, where we can usually slow down a bit and enjoy the happy faces reminding us why it is all worth it!

Happy summer solstice!

New Hoop House for Tomatoes

With the mild weather we were able to get a jump start on some projects we've been wanting to do for years, the largest of which was constructing another hoop house.  This house will hold two more racetracks of tomatoes and essentially eliminate all of our outside plants.  Personally, we think this is great news since our outside tomatoes only produce for about 3 weeks due to our short season.  We figure tomatoes in the hoop house produce a higher quality product for about 10 weeks.  We won't be increasing the number of plants we plant each year, which is around 600, but just change how they are grown.  Lastly, if you didn't know already, Darrin has started another blog related to producing vegetables in high desert climates.  This blog will address some of the techniques we use to produce food where the climatic conditions can be challenging to say the least.  The posts are at theupturnedspade.blogspot.com  Enjoy and we look forward to seeing you more often once the Farmers Market starts.

For us, the 2012 growing season really began last October with garlic planting. I love this crop for so many reasons.  I love that we are still enjoying the long-storing soft neck varieties in our hearty winter meals.  I love that sprouting garlic is one of the first signs of life when the snow melts in the spring.  I love how the hard neck varieties send up garlic scapes in June, just when we are running out of last year's supply and are anxiously anticipating that first, fresh taste of the new crop.

We're gearing up for the 2012 growing season, and will soon be seeding peppers and tomatoes.  We will be at the Klamath Falls Farmers' Market again this year, where you will find us every Saturday between June and October.  We will be growing a wide variety of produce, including:  head lettuce, cabbage, radishes, carrots, beets, tomatoes, sweet peppers, chile peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, seasonal tree fruits, winter squash, sweet onions, shallots, garlic, dahlias and sunflowers.  Hope to see you there!

Still Growing

The month of May is always an exciting, yet challenging, time in the garden here. The promise of summer weather is in the air some days, while occasional snow flurries remind us winter is not yet passed. Crops such as garlic, sweet onions, shallots and head lettuce are growing well in the field right now, while the young carrot seedlings are slower to get their start in the cool weather. The dahlia tubers have been planted, but will take a couple of weeks to push their first leaves through the earth (if they know what's good for them). Darrin and I transplanted the greenhouse tomatoes last weekend - the last 'big' project until the baby arrives. I just might try and take it easy the next couple of weeks! Our outside tomato and sweet pepper seedlings, as well as more head lettuce seedlings, are growing vigorously in the protected comfort of our propagation room, reminding us that they will be ready to be planted around the first of June.

My belly is near full capacity right now, and we are both so anxious to meet the little one! He entertains me daily with his uteral acrobatics and promises to keep me busy once he is born. With a due date of May 26th, we know he could come any day now! I'm still feeling great, albeit heavy in the middle, and am so thankful to have had such a healthy and active pregnancy. Darrin and I look forward to seeing you later this summer at the K. Falls Farmers' Market with baby in tow!

Blooming bellies and other growing matters....

I thought a quick update was in order. The winter months are nearly behind us, and we anxiously await the coming of spring. Many of you know that Darrin and I are growing something other than a garden this year....our first baby is due at the end of May! We are happy to know that we are expecting a boy - it's been a joy to have these past few months to be home and prepare ourselves for this new adventure. I've been very blessed with a wonderful pregnancy thus far, and am encompassed with the love and support of my husband and our families and friends.

We won't be doing a CSA this summer to allow us to focus mostly on being new parents, but we can't seem to resist planning on growing some crops for marketing later in the summer. You'll be able to find us many Saturdays in August and September down at the Klamath Falls Farmers' Market, and we'll be doing our best to keep CSA members from previous years in ample amounts of whatever we're growing. I'll be posting more regularly as the season progresses. Happy spring!

CSA, Weeks 22-24 - Recipes, News and Adieus

The season has finally come to an end, and what a season it was! Near-perfect growing conditions, a fantastic group of CSA members, and a bountiful harvest made this year one of my favorites yet. This past week we had our last CSA drop of the year, wrapping up the harvest just in time for the first (albeit light) snowfall. With the Thanksgiving holiday being a time for gathering family and friends, I have some great recipes to share as inspiration for the many meals sure to be enjoyed this week...

A Fancier Version of Potato Leek Soup (compliments of Martha Stewart Living)

Ingredients

Serves 6 to 8.

• 
  
  2 dried bay leaves
• 6 sprigs fresh rosemary, or 2 teaspoons crushed dried rosemary
• 4 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch dice
• 6 leeks, white parts only, washed well, thinly sliced
• 4 shallots, diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 1/2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 8 cups (6 C. for thicker soup) Homemade Chicken Stock, or canned low-sodium chicken broth, skimmed of fat
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Make a bouquet garni: First wrap bay leaves, rosemary, parsley, and peppercorns in a piece of cheesecloth. Then tie with a piece of kitchen twine, and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil and butter in a medium stockpot. Add celery, leeks, shallots, and garlic; cook on medium-low heat until very soft, about 45 minutes, stirring only occasionally. Do not brown. Add potatoes, stock, and reserved bouquet garni. Bring mixture to a boil, and then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook until potatoes are very tender, about 40 minutes. Remove bouquet garni, and discard.
3. Working in batches, pass half of the soup through a food mill, fitted with a medium disk, into a large saucepan. Add remaining chunky soup. Place the saucepan on medium-low heat to warm soup. Slowly stir in milk and cream, and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Still have a plethora of carrots and some lingering chile peppers? Give this recipe a try!

Glazed Carrots with Ginger and Chiles (also compliments of Martha Stewart Living)

serves 12

2 C. water

6 Tbs. unsalted butter

2 Tbs. honey

1 tsp. salt

2 lbs. carrots, quartered and cut to about 3"

3 Tbs. peeled, minced fresh ginger

1 serrano or other chile pepper, stemmed, seeded and sliced thin

2 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Bring water, butter, honey, and salt to a boil in a large saucepan. Add carrots, ginger, and chile pepper. Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, until carrots are tender, 5-7 minutes. Transfer carrots and pan juices to a serving dish, and toss with fresh parsley. Serve warm.

Squash and Potato Enchiladas with Mole Sauce (from Vegetarian Planet by Didi Emmons)

(A winter favorite of ours!)

serves 4

1 Tbs. olive oil

2 tsp. chopped fresh oregano, or 1 tsp. dried

1 tsp. salt, plus more to season at end

12 tsp. fresh-ground pepper

1 1/2 lbs. medium potatoes (about 3), cut into 1/2" cubes

1 1/2 lbs. winter squash, cut in half and seeded

1 chile pepper (serrano or jalapeno), chopped - I like to use chiles packed in chipotle sauce for a smoky flavor...

1 C. chopped onion

1-2 tsp. minced garlic

1/4 C. almond slivers, toasted lightly in a skillet or toaster oven

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 pinch ground cloves

Large can of tomato sauce (Muir Glen brand is great-tasting, but homemade is best if you have it!)

1/2 C. water

1/2 tsp salt

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

8 10" flour tortillas

1 1/2 C. grated cheddar, pepper-jack, or monterey jack cheese (optional)

4 Tbs. sour cream (optional)

note: This recipe doesn't call for chocolate in the mole sauce, but I've added a Tbs. of shaved bittersweet or dark chocolate to the sauce for added depth and naughtiness with great results!

Preheat oven to 350'F. Bake winter squash according to the directions given in the previous blog entry. Meanwhile, gently boil potatoes until just tender (do not over cook). Drain and set potatoes aside. Remove cooked squash from skins and slice or mash the squash for layering in the tortillas later.

To make the sauce, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet, sauteing the onion, garlic, almonds, and oregano for about 5 minutes. Add cinnamon and cloves, sauteing for another 2 min. Add tomato sauce and chile peppers (and chocolate, if desired) and cook mixture over medium heat for 5 min., stirring occasionally. Add the water and blend well. Season the sauce wth 1/2 tsp. salt and pepper to taste. Add a tablespoon or two of tomato paste to thicken the sauce, if desired. Let mixture cool, then puree in a blender or food processor.

Preheat oven to 400'F. Fill each tortilla with about an 1/8th of the potatoes and squash. Add a little grated cheese and a dollop of sour cream to each tortillas before rolling tightly. I also like to add a spoonful of cooked black beans to each tortilla. Fit the 8 tortillas in a casserole dish. Pour the mole sauce over the tortillas and sprinkle with a little more cheese, if desired, and perhaps some chopped green onions. Cover with foil and bake for 35-40 min., or until the sauce and cheese are bubbling. Remove foil and place under the broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese a little, if necessary.

Winter Squash and Cheese Panade (from the Relish insert of the newspaper)

serves 12

You can bake this in a large casserole dish or in individual bowls or ramekins. A chewy, artisan-style bread is recommended.

10 (1/2" thick) slices artisan-style multigrain or whole wheat bread

2 sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced

1 lb. winter squash (use one of the larger types, not the small ones), peeled and cut into 1" cubes

2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

1 Tbs. chopped fresh sage or 1 tsp. dried

2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried

1 1/4 tsp. salt

coarsely ground black pepper

4 C. homemade or canned reduced-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

1 1/2 C. grated gruyere or Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 350'F. Tear bread into 1/2-1" pieces and bake until crisp, stirring once, 10-12 min.

Increase oven temp. to 400'F. Combine onion and squash in a large bowl. Add oil, sage, thyme, salt, and pepper. Toss well. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast until onions begin to brown and squash is fork tender, 22-25 min.

Coat a 13 x 9" baking dish or 12 (1-cup) or 6 (2-cup) oven-proof serving bowls lightly with oil or cooking spray. Place bread in a single layer in the bottom of pan. Distribute half the squash mixture over bread. Sprinkle with half the cheese. Repeat layers.

Slowly pour in 2 C. broth over top, allowing bread to soak up broth and pressing with the back of a spoon. Add remaining broth until it reaches about 1 inch below the pan's rim.

Reduce oven temp. to 375'F. Cover pan with foil and place it on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 35-45 min., until bubbling, puffed and golden brown. Let stand 5 min. before serving.

And, of course, a recipe for the perfect buttermilk mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner....

Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes (from Cook's Illustrated)

serves 12

6 lbs. Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" cubes

salt to taste

2 sticks plus 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 C. buttermilk, at room temperature

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Place potatoes in large Dutch oven; add cold water and cover by 1 inch. Add 2 Tbs. salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes break apart when paring knife is inserted, about 18 minutes. Drain potatoes and return to saucepan set on the still-hot burner.

Using potato masher, mash spuds until a few small lumps remain. Gently mix melted butter and room-temp. buttermilk in a small bowl until combined. Add buttermilk mixture to potatoes; using rubber spatula, gently fold in mixture until just incorporated. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper; serve immediately.

Well, folks, a happy Thanksgiving to all of you! Many thanks from me to you for a wonderful year on the farm.

I'll be in touch!

CSA Recipes: Weeks 19 - 21

How to Bake Winter Squash (if you didn’t already know…):

a. Wash exterior. With a sharp, large knife, cut the squash in half from the stem side to the underside.

b. Place each half face-down on a lightly-oiled baking sheet or dish, and bake uncovered in a pre-heated 350-375’F oven on the highest shelf possible for 45-55 minutes, or until the skins have begun to collapse and the flesh is completely tender (a knife goes all the way through). If you need to bake it faster, you can cut the squash into thirds or quarters, place them face up in an oiled baking dish, cover with foil and bake in the oven following the above directions, only it will take less time (35-45 minutes).

Our varieties are dry, sweet, and dense….wonderful as a baked side dish to pesto-based pastas, roasts, baked chicken or fish. Also delicious cooked in soups, or sliced thinly (once baked) on homemade pizza crust (though a pre-made does make it a lot easier!) brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with fresh or dried sage, thyme, or other favorite herbs for a light pizza.

Potato Curry with Sesame Seeds

Serves 4

4 large potatoes, scrubbed but with skins on

1 Tbs canola oil

2 tsp cumin seeds

2 tsp coriander seeds

4 tsp mustard seeds

4 Tbs sesame seeds

1 tsp turmeric

2 tsp chopped fresh chile, or 1/2 tsp dried

4 tsp finely grated lemon rind

4 tsp lemon juice

salt and pepper to taste

1. Boil the potatoes until tender. Cool, and chop into chunks. Heat the oil in a large heavy-based pan over medium heat. Cook the cumin, coriander, and mustard seeds for 1 minute, stirring constantly (if you have a grease screen, this comes in handy to prevent seeds from bouncing out of the pan – if not, a pizza pan works, too)
2. Add sesame seeds; cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring until golden brown. Add the turmeric, chiles, potatoes, lemon rind and juice. Stir until well combined and heated through. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

This dish is excellent with a yogurt raita (i.e. plain yogurt with radish, green onion, dried or fresh mint, ground cumin, salt, and a dash of cayenne…you can get creative), some warm pita bread and fresh greens.

Arugula Pesto

Makes 1 Cup

2-3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2 C. chopped pine nuts. pecans or walnuts, toasted in 350’F oven for 7-10 minutes

3 C. packed arugula leaves

1/2 C. parsley, de-stemmed

3 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese

3 Tbs. lemon juice

1/4 tsp. salt

freshly ground pepper to taste

1/3 C. olive oil

just a splash of balsamic vinegar never hurts either, but is optional! J

In a food processor (preferably) or blender, mix together garlic, nuts, arugula, parsley, cheese, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Poor olive oil over top to provide liquid for easy blending. Blend until fully incorporated. Can refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Beet and Arugula Salad

We LOVE this combination of sweet and peppery flavors. Trim tops and tips of beets (leave skins on until after cooking - they are so much easier to peel), saving (if you wish) the beet tops for braising or a salad some other time. If large, cut into halves or quarters to decrease cooking time. In a medium pot, bring water to a boil, add the beets and reduce heat to a gentle, rolling boil and cook until beets are tender all the way through (test with a sharp knife - about 20-25 minutes). In the meantime, whisk together (a fork works best to help incorporate the cheese) the vinaigrette:

6 Tbs. Extra-virgin olive oil

3 Tbs. basalmic vinegar

Approx. 2 Tbs. of bleu cheese, crumbled

a pinch of sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

When beets are tender, remove from stove top, drain water and

immediately rinse or soak beets with cold water until they have cooled enough to handle. Peel skins by slipping them off with your thumbs. Rinse again to remove bits of skin. Cut beets into bite size chunks. Let cool to room temperature before adding to the arugula. Just before serving, toss beets and vinaigrette with the arugula and enjoy! Toasted almond slivers are also delicious with this dish, added at the last minute to retain crunchiness.

Garlic Smashed-Potato Salad

Prep time: 1 hr. 15 minutes

Makes: 6 servings

2 heads garlic

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 Tbs dry white wine

2 3/4 pounds white or red potatoes, cleaned and cut into 1” chunks

1/4 cup chopped chives

about 1 1/2 tsp salt

about 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut garlic heads in half crosswise and wrap tightly in one large piece of foil. Bake until garlic is very soft when pressed and light golden brown (unwrap to test), 45 minutes to 1 hr. When garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze cloves from skin into a small bowl. Add olive oil, wine, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper; mash garlic with a fork until mixture is smooth.
2. Meanwhile, in a 6 to-8-quart pan, combine potatoes and 4 quarts water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender when pierced, about 20 minutes. Drain and return to pan.

Add garlic mixture and chives to potatoes and stir gently until combined but still chunky. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Let cool completely, then chill airtight for up to 1 day.

Arugula, Shallot (or subst. leek or onion), and Potato Frittata

serves 4

1 Tbs. olive oil

2 large potatoes, unpeeled (red skin adds nice color to this dish)

1/2 C. chopped shallots, leeks (sliced thin), or onion

2-4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. dried red pepper flakes (or 1/2 - 1 tsp. fresh minced chile pepper)

1/4 tsp. salt

5 eggs

freshly ground pepper

1 C. packed arugula

3 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

Heat olive oil in a 10", non-stick skillet (med.-low temp.). Cut potatoes into 1" cubes (1/2" for faster cooking time) and add to the pan w/ shallots, garlic, pepper flakes, and salt. Cook, stirring often until shallots are soft. Cover pan and continue cooking 5-8 min. until the potatoes are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife.

Whisk the eggs in a small bowl, seasoning them with a pinch of salt and pepper. Coarsely chop the arugula. Pour eggs evenly over the potato mixture in the pan and sprinkle the arugula over the top. Cook uncovered for 2-3 min., gently shifting the eggs around a few times to allow the uncooked egg to come into direct contact with the pan bottom. When the frittata is moist but no longer runny, sprinkle the feta cheese over the top. Place the skillet in a pre-heated oven (350'F) for 3-4 min. or until the frittata is just set and evenly baked. Leave in the skillet or transfer to a serving platter; cut into wedges to serve.

Leeks Braised in Red Wine (from Kitchen Garden magazine, Oct./Nov. '97)

4 Servings

2 Tbs. Olive oil

4 medium leeks, halved, with 1 in. to 2 in. of green top

Salt

1 cup red wine

1/2 cup vegetable broth or water

Directions:

In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the leek halves, cut side down, season lightly with salt, and sauté until brown on the edges. Turn and brown the other side. Turn once more so they are cut side down and pour over the wine and vegetable broth. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook until the leeks are very tender, 10-12 minutes.

Remove the leeks to a serving dish. Increase the heat to high and reduce the sauce to a glaze. Pour over the leeks. Serve either hot, cold, or room temperature.

Classic Leek and Potato Soup (from Kitchen Garden magazine, Oct./Nov. '97)

serves 4

2 Tbs. unsalted butter

3 med. leeks, halved

5 C. chicken broth

3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 1" cubes

salt to taste

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over med.-low heat. Cut washed leek shafts into 1" pieces. Add to the pan and stir to coat with butter. Cover the pan and cook the leeks until softened but not brown, 8-10 min. Meanwhile, in a med. saucepan, bring the broth to a simmer over moderate heat. Keep the broth hot, but don't let it boil.

Add the potatoes to the leeks and pour the hot broth over the vegetables. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer 15-20 min., until potatoes are tender.

Take the pan from the heat and let cool slightly. Transfer to a food processor, in batches, and puree until very smooth. Return the puree to the pot and place over moderately low heat. Soup should be smooth but not thick. Add water to loosen the consistency, if necessary. Season with salt to taste. For a richer soup, stir in some cream at the end of cooking. Garnish with freshly minced dill.

Optional: I almost always take the liberty of adding finely chopped cooked carrots after pureeing the soup for added color and texture. Minced fresh chile pepper is also a pretty garnish and adds a kick!

Sherry-Shallot Vinaigrette

1/4 C. sherry vinegar

1 Tbs. Dijon mustard

2 Tbs. thinly slice shallots

1 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 C. extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 C. vegetable, safflower, or canola oil

2 Tbs. finely chopped chives (dill would subst. nicely here)

Crisp Carrot Salad with Currants

serves 8

(Carrots taking over your refrigerator?? Share this dish with your family or friends!)

1/4 C. finely chopped shallots

1 tsp. grated fresh ginger

1/4 C. red wine vinegar

2 Tbs. freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. minced chile pepper

1 tsp. mild chile powder, such as Chimayo, Ancho, or Hatch

1 tsp. turmeric

1/4 C. Zante currants

1/4 C. boiling water

3 lbs. carrots, peeled (about 12 C.)

1/4 - 1/2 C. extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 C. coarsely chopped chives

Combine shallots, ginger, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, chile pepper, chile powder, and turmeric in a bowl large enough to hold the carrots. Let sit at room temperature for 10 min. to marry the flavors.

Place currants in a small bowl; pour boiling water over them and let them sit 10 min. to plump. Drain and discard water.

Cut carrots into matchsticks, or grate them using your food processor or box grater. Add the carrots and the currants to the dressing and toss well to coat. Drizzle in 1/4 C. oil and the chives and toss again. Add additional oil as needed to coat the carrots.

With the abundance of squash you will have available to you over the next five weeks, take some time to explore the wonderful world of squash soup! One of my favorites to make that uses a good number of farm-grown ingredients is a curry-spiced lentil, winter squash, and carrot blend. I pre-bake the winter squash in the oven (as instructed above) while I cook lentils, chopped carrots, fresh minced chile peppers, lots of chopped garlic, and vegetable broth on the stovetop in a dutch oven. Once the squash is baked, I remove it from the skin, reserving enough to cut into small wedges to add one wedge in each bowl just before serving. I mash up the remaining squash a bit in a bowl before adding it to the soup pot. Once the squash is added to the finished lentil mixture, I season it with my favorite Indian spices (a nice curry powder blend is a simple choice with delicious results), salt, and freshly ground pepper. After letting the soup cool a bit, I puree about half of the soup in a food processor (I like some texture with this soup). Just before serving, I situate a sliver of baked winter squash in each bowl and garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro, if available. The fresh-baked bread isn't a must, but it sure is a treat!

CSA Recipes: Weeks 17,18

Haven't we all been truly blessed with a beautiful September? The summer growing season has run a week or two longer than it has in the past, but the killing frost is upon us this week. It is a necessary occurrence, as I cannot get to that beautiful winter squash growing fat underneath its foliar canopy. Also, the day length is getting drastically shorter, making it more difficult each week to get all of those summer crops harvested in a day's time. The transition to fall faire is just around the corner, but we can enjoy the last of those delicious strawberries, tomatoes, peppers and eggplants for another week or two with the help of row covers. So, make the most of it and give one of the following recipes a try! If you still want more eggplant recipes, please check out the link given at the bottom of this site.

Healthy Carrot Muffins (you don't have to tell the kids...) - another wonderful creation by Bonnie
makes 12

Stir together:

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat makes a milder flavor)
3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
1/3 cup turbinado sugar (or, if you like a sweeter muffin, up to 2/3 cup)
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup toasted, chopped walnuts
1/3 cup dried currants

Whisk until combined:

1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tbsp orange zest
2 large eggs

Lightly mix wet ingredients into dry. When some flour still remains, lightly fold in 1 cup grated carrot. Don't overmix or the muffins will be dense and tough! Bake in a greased muffin tin at 350 degrees for about 20 min.

Piperade (Traditional Basque dish, as found in The Oregonian)

makes 4 servings; (leftovers recommended for fajitas, adding chili powder, ground cumin and cayenne to shift the flavor from Spanish to Mexican)

1/4 C. olive oil, plus more for brushing on bread

3 sweet onions, halved and sliced 1/4" thick

5 large cloves garlic, minced, plus 1 cut in half

4 red sweet peppers, stem, ribs and seeds removed, sliced into 1/4" wide strips

4 green bell peppers, prepared same as red peppers

about 1 1/2 lbs. tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1 Tbs. paprika

1 Tbs. smoked paprika (if available)

2 Tbs. sherry vinegar

1 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme

1 Tbs. salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

4 slices rustic bread

8 eggs (directions for poaching them given below, but you can omit those steps and simply serve the piperade with an omelet, fried eggs, or scrambled eggs.)

Heat oil in large 12-14" saute pan or skillet over med.-high heat. Add onions and cook 7 min., or until soft, stirring often to avoid scorching. Add minced garlic and cook 3 min. more. Add red and green peppers and cook, stirring frequently, about 10 min. Add tomatoes, paprika, smoked paprika, vinegar, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook until peppers are soft and the juices have begun to thicken, about 20 min.

Meanwhile, brush bread with oil and place under oven broiler to toast until golden on one side, about 1 min. Rub the cut side of the halved garlic on each piece generously. Set aside.

Reduce heat to medium. Scoop out 3 C. of the pepper mixture, trying to get mostly peppers and not much sauce. Refrigerate for next meal. Use a spoon or spatula to clear away some of the remaining peppers in the pan to make 8 pockets for the eggs to cook. Crack and egg into each space. Sprinkle each with a little salt and pepper, and cover the pan with the lid (or cover tightly w/ foil). Cook the eggs for about 5-8 min. until whites are set and yolks are set to your desired consistency. Place a slice of bread in each bowl, spoon two eggs and some of the pepper mixture over each. Serve.

Eggplant and Peppers in Spicy Peanut Sauce - from the Moosewood Cookbook

serves 6 appetizer-sized servings, or toss with cold asian-style noodles to stretch it out...

1 medium (7") eggplant, unpeeled, and cut into 1" thick strips, then into 2" pieces

salt

1 large bell pepper, any color, cut into 1" pieces

for the sauce:

1/2 C. good peanut butter (one w/ low sugar is best)

1/2 C. water

2 Tbs. soy sauce or tamari

2 Tbs. sugar

3 med. cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. cider vinegar

1-2 Tbs. minced fresh cilantro

ground cayenne, to taste, or substitute minced fresh chile to taste

salt, to taste (if peanut butter is unsalted)

Preheat oven to 375'F. Lightly oil a baking tray. Spread eggplant pieces on the tray and salt lightly. Let stand 10 min. Bake the eggplant until tender, about 15 min. (prepare sauce during this time). During the last 5 min. of baking, add the pepper pieces to the tray. Cool the vegetables to room temp., then transfer to a bowl or container. Add Chinese Peanut Sauce and mix gently. Serve at room temp. or cold.

Eggplant-Almond Enchiladas - also from the Moosewood Cookbook

serves 6-8

1 Tbs. olive oil

1 C. minced onion

6 C. diced eggplant

1 tsp. salt

lots of freshly ground black pepper

4 med. cloves garlic, minced

1 medium green bell pepper, minced

1 C. lightly toasted almonds, minced (easily done in a food processor or spice grinder)

1 packed C. grated Monterey Jack cheese, or other mild white cheese

12 corn tortillas

1 batch Mexican Red Sauce (given below)

Heat olive oil in deep skillet or Dutch oven. Add onion, sauteing over med. heat for about 5 min. Add eggplant, salt, and pepper; mix well. Cover and cook for about 10 min. over med. heat, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is soft. Add garlic and bell pepper. Stir and cook 5-8 min. more, or until pepper is just tender. Add more salt if desired. Remove from heat; stir in almonds and cheese. Preheat oven to 350'F. Moisten each tortilla briefly in water to soften them, then place approx. 1/4 C. of filling on one side and roll up. Gently situate filled tortillas on baking pan. Pour a batch of sauce over the top. Bake uncovered for about 30 min.

Mexican Red Sauce

1 Tbs. olive oil

1 C. minced onion

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

2 tsp. chili powder

3 C. chopped tomatoes (4-6 med.-sized ones), peeling/seeding optional

1 C. water or tomato juice

4-6 med. cloves garlic, minced

optional: freshly minced cilantro; 1-2 tsp. finely minced serrano or jalapeno chile peppers if you want the sauce hot.

Heat oil in a med.-sized saucepan. Add onion and salt and saute over med. heat about 5 min., or until onion is translucent. Add cumin and chili powder, and saute about 5 min. more. Add chopped tomatoes and water or juice. Bring to a boil, partially cover, and lower heat, simmering at least 30 min.. Add the black pepper, cayenne, and garlic at anytime during the cooking (the later you add the garlic, the more apparent its flavor). Add cilantro at end of cooking, if desired. Leave sauce chunky, or puree all or some of it in a blender or food processor. This freezes well, too, so make a batch up for later use!

Roasted New Potato Salad

serves 6

1 1/2 lbs. new potatoes (about 9-10), cut in half

5 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp. salt

fresh-ground pepper to taste

1-3 garlic cloves, minced

1 Tbs. red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar

1 small onion, sliced thin

1/2 C. chopped parsley, or 1/4 C. chopped basil

3/4 C. tomatoes, chopped

optional: toasted pine nuts, feta cheese, finely minced chile pepper for some heat etc.....

Preheat oven to 425'F. Place potatoes in roasting pan, tossing them with 2 Tbs. olive oil and sprinkling them with about 1/2 tsp. each salt and pepper. Roast for 40-50 min. or until they are tender and a little crispy on the outside. Let them cool for 10-15 min. While the potatoes roast, combine garlic, vinegar, the remaining 3 Tbs. olive oil, onion, herbs, and tomatoes (and chiles, if desired); toss together to blend well. Add the potatoes to the bowl, then add the remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and pepper, to taste. Toss well. Transfer to a serving dish, topping with pine nuts and feta cheese, if desired. Serve warm, or chill it to serve cold later.

Enjoy!

CSA Recipes: Weeks 15, 16

This has been a great week for recipe ideas - some of you are getting quite creative! It makes me ridiculously happy to hear your tales from the kitchen. Not to mention receiving fun photos of your food-art masterpieces (see left).

Over the course of the past couple of weeks, I have been given (much to my delight, and Darrin's if he's lucky enough to get some) samples of refrigerated fresh dill cucumber pickles; zucchini chips (sliced with a mandolin and dehydrated in a dehydrator - not even coated with salt or seasonings.....the result is a naturally sweet, salty and crunchy treat); a fabulous coffee cake made with local apples and Link River trail blackberries; a peanut-ginger cabbage slaw (lunch!); and baskets of fresh peaches and plums. One member even shared a couple of home-brewed I.P.As. Boy, am I spoiled or what?!

One member mentioned how she didn't have enough eggplant to make baba ganoush, so she added roasted zucchini to supplement the dish. The results were good flavor and pleasing texture - she thinks she may try an all-zucchini version next time.

Another shared how her husband made a killer pureed cream of summer squash soup with fresh apple that turned out to be a fabulous surprise. Perhaps she will forward me the recipe so I can post it? Hint-hint.

I recently recalled a recipe from a member last year who loved to make red cabbage and beet quesadillas by simply sauteing (just until warmed through) shredded cabbage and lightly steamed, diced beets in butter, seasoning with salt, pepper, fresh chiles and cilantro. This filling is also great in soft or hard-shelled tacos with Monterey Jack cheese and sour cream.

Here is a beet recipe that a member just forwarded to me....sounds wonderful!

From Eric Gower's cookbook "The Breakaway Japanese Kitchen" (Kodansha International, 2003).

Beet Salad with Ginger, Pecans & Orange Zest
Serves 4 as side dish, 2 as an appetizer

Eric Gower's recipe calls for smoked trout. In my adaptation, I skip the
fish, use pecans instead of walnuts, and add orange zest. Try to find
beets with greens intact. This time of year you can substitute Swiss
chard. If you don't like the look of the greens mixed with the beets, Eric
suggests placing the leaves in the center of a large plate and surrounding
them with the beets. 2 to 3 beets, with greens attached 3 tablespoons
extra virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon minced ginger 2 tablespoon minced
shallots 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 tablespoons orange juice 2 teaspoons
grated orange zest Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 2
tablespoons chopped pecans

Instructions: Fill a pot with enough water to submerge the beets and bring
to a boil. Cut the stems and leaves from the beets and set aside. Place
beets in the pot and simmer over medium-low heat until tender when pierced
with a fork, about 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small saucepan. Add ginger and
shallots and saute until soft, about 5 minutes.
Remove the cooked beets with a slotted spoon (leaving the cooking water in
the pot), rinse under cold water and slip off the skins. Cut the beets
into 1-inch pieces and place in a bowl. Add another tablespoon of the
olive oil, 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar, the ginger-shallot mixture, the
orange juice, orange zest and salt and pepper to taste and toss lightly.
Simmer the leaves in the hot red water for 3 minutes. Remove and rinse,
squeezing out as much water from the greens as possible. Chop the greens
into inch-long pieces, drizzle on the remaining tablespoon of olive oil
and tablespoon of the vinegar, and toss lightly.
Toast the pecans for a few minutes in a dry skillet. Right before serving,
lightly mix together the beets and greens and top the salad with the
pecans.

In addition to including some summer classics with this recipe post, I'm going to include two from last year that people have put in requests for:

We love to eat this dish for supper with a loaf of piping hot crusty bread and a fresh green salad:

Ratatouille

serves 4

1 large eggplant (about 1 lb.)

1 zucchini, thinly sliced

1 green (or purple!) bell pepper, or 1 sweet pepper, seeded

and cut into strips

1 onion, peeled and sliced

2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped

2 cloves garlic, peeled and mashed

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

about 1/3 C. extra-virgin olive oil

optional: 1 chile pepper (or 1/2 of one, if one of the really hot ones) finely chopped

1/2 C. coarsely chopped kalamata olives

grated parmesan for topping

According to the Nourishing Traditions cookbook, by Sally Fallon, there are two secrets to a good ratatouille: One is to saute all the vegetables separately; the second is to bake your casserole in a shallow open pan so that most of the liquid evaporates. Peel and cube the eggplant (I never bother peeling it) and saute it in batches in several Tbs. olive oil. Remove with a slotted spoon to an oiled, rectangular pyrex baking dish. Saute zucchini, pepper, onions, and tomatoes in succession, adding more olive oil as necessary

and removing to casserole. Add mashed garlic and thyme to casserole. Mix well and bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for at least 1 hour. Ratatouille often tastes better reheated the next day.

The following recipe is from a wonderful Indian cookbook, and is a great eggplant dish!

Eggplant Curry

serves 4

2 Tbs. vegetable oil

1/2 tsp. cumin seeds

1/4 tsp. black peppercorns

4 green cardamom pods (or

a pinch of ground cardamom)

1/4 tsp. ground tumeric

1 onion, finely chopped

1 tsp. ground cumin (I like to replace this with ground fennel seed)

1 tsp. ground coriander

1/2 tsp. garam masala

1 fresh green chile, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 in. piece of fresh ginger, grated or minced

1/2 C. chopped tomatoes

1/4 tsp. salt

6 C. eggplant, cut into 1" cubes (can substitute a few cups with button mushrooms if you wish)

1. In a wok or large skillet, heat oil and fry cumin seeds, peppercorns, cardamom pods and tumeric for 2-3 minutes on medium-high heat.

2. Add the onion and fry for 5

minutes or until golden (reduce heat to medium if onions are scorching). Stir in the ground cumin, coriander and garam masala and fry for a further 2 minutes.

3. Add the chile, garlic and

ginger and fry for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the tomatoes and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

4. Add cubed eggplant (or

halved mushrooms) to the pan. Cover and simmer over low heat 10 minutes. Transfer to a warm serving platter and garnish with chopped cilantro. Serve with an Indian bread, such as naan, parathas or chapatis.

And for some must-have summer classics:

Traditional Gazpacho

(modified from Martha Stewart Living, Sept. '09)

serves 6

2 garlic cloves, minced

coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

2 lbs. ripe tomatoes, seeded and finely diced

1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced

1 medium green (or purple) bell pepper, finely diced

2 tsp. red-wine vinegar

1 tsp. sherry vinegar (if handy, if not increase red-wine vinegar to 3 tsp.)

1/4 C. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 C. cold water or tomato juice

1/4 C. minced fresh parsley

minced fresh chiles, to taste

1 Tbs. chopped fresh basil

1/4 C. finely chopped onion

Combine all ingredients. Puree some or all of soup (optional). Chill until very cold. Nice

served with homemade croutons.

Caprese Salad (make as small or large of a platter as you wish)

Alternate 1/4 - 1/2" sliced

tomatoes and 1/4" sliced fresh mozzarella cheese (fresh, soft mozz. is key for this dish) on a platter. Top generously with

chopped fresh basil. Sprinkle coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper over cheese and tomatoes. Finally, drizzle with approx. 2 parts extra-virgin olive oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar. Serve with fresh crusty bread as an appetizer or light meal. Sometimes simple is genius!!

And finally some ideas for

those yummy, mild green

chiles....try them, finely diced,

in homemade breads (i.e. cornbread) - top with shredded cheddar or Monterey Jack for a savory version. They are also fabulous stuffed with the same cheeses and roasted in the oven or on the grill until soft. If you eat eggs, you can add them fresh to your scrambles, or roast them first and layer them in any baked egg dish. Roasting chiles is easy: place them whole, in a shallow baking pan, under the broiler (you can also do this right on your stove element...gas stoves make this especially easy), turning them frequently until the skins puff up all around. Place them immediately in a paper bag, close it, put it on a plate and let them sweat in the bag for about 20 minutes. The skins are then easy to pull off (removing seeds optional).