A weekend well spent!

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IN THE CSA SHARES THIS WEEK

  • Braising Greens
  • Cabbage
  • Potatoes
  • Choice of Leeks/Onions
  • Rutabagas
  • Carrots
  • Pink Lady Apples
  • Frozen Blueberries

EXTRAS TO PICK THIS WEEK (FREE TO ALL SHARE MEMBERS):
UPICK for Herbs only from here on until Spring.  

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A WEEKEND WELL SPENT

My cheeks are burning from all of this grinning and unexpected sun exposure.  What a weekend!  Peas are sprouting, soooo many seeds are hitting the soil, and on Friday, Joshan discovered the first tiny egg of the new flock. This meant that Saturday and Sunday were spent preparing and repairing their fencing, roosts, nest boxes and house and moving the hens out onto their very own yard in the field where they can scratch around as they please.  You can see where Mark is disking up the oldest chicken yard for future use (and you can spot the newest one just behind).  So far, we're really pleased with our first ever Fall flock.  If all goes according to schedule from here, we should be rolling in Easter eggs.  If you're interested in adding an egg share this week, let me know!

Meanwhile, I spent a few hours over the weekend working on an exciting project with my Mom (and Hazel here and there too).   You'll probably notice that we've finally taken Terry's signs down from the barn.  And after some time to think (and sketch), we've decided to replace it with something really special--a barn quilt.  Many of you know that Mark and I come from very talented parents on both sides, whose artistry you may have seen on display around the farm in many forms.  Having the opportunity to make this with my mother was so very meaningful (and FUN!).  So, this is in part a tribute to the incredible, creative and caring people who make this life possible--and the design itself,  a nod to this growing journey of ours--from our familial roots, to our start on Long Island and to our first year here on River Road, when Mark planted that that traffic-stoppingly beautiful row of giant sunflowers.  I don't think we'll have it hung before business this week because I don't see Mark stepping off of the tractor before dark.  But, I'm way too excited to keep it under wraps!

Best,
Katie

HARVEST HIGHLIGHTS &
WHAT'S IN STOCK AT THE FARMSTAND

CSA Members receive a 10% discount on most items at our farmstand

HARE-RAISED:  

  • Salad Mix (limited)
  • Celeriac 
  • Greens
  • Eggs 
  • Winter Squash

FROM BEYOND THE FARM:

  • WA Organic Golden Russet, Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, & Melrose Apples. Bosc & D'Anjou Pears
  • NW Organic Roots, Potatoes & Onions 
  • Organic Fruit: Blood Oranges, Cara Cara Navel Oranges, Red Grapefruit, Meyer Lemons, Bananas, Limes, & Lemons.
  • Olykraut, Essential Baking Co. Artisan Breads, Grounds for Change Coffee
  • Dates, Ginger, Nuts, Sweet Potatoes and Dried Fruit

SEASONAL RECIPES

VEGAN IRISH VEGETABLE STEW
Thyme and Love
 
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 Leek cleaned, white and pale green parts sliced
1 Medium Yellow Onion, diced
1 Cup Carrots, peeled and diced
1 Cup Celery, diced
1½ lbs White Potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 lb Parsnips, peeled and chopped
1 lb Rutabaga {1 large sized}, peeled and chopped
¾ lb {1 medium sized} Turnip, peeled and chopped
½ Cup Parsley, chopped
3-5 Fresh Thyme Springs, tied together with kitchen twine
4 Cups Vegetable Broth {or water is fine}
2 Cups Water, plus more if needed
1 Bay Leaf
1½ Tsp Sea Salt, or to taste
¼ Tsp Black Pepper
1 Cup Short Grain Brown Rice
 
CONTINUE TO RECIPE

ROOT  VEGETABLE POT PIE
Naturally Ella
 
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter (cold)
2 tablespoons heavy cream
3 tablespoons yogurt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large leek (diced)
2 cloves garlic
1 cup diced rutabaga (about 1/2 inch dice)
1 cup diced potato (about 1/2 inch dice)
1/2 cup diced carrots (about 1/2 inch dice)
1 cup diced parsnips (about 1/2 inch dice)
1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups whole milk
1 cup white beans (drained and rinsed if using canned)
Parsley (for topping)
 
CONTINUE TO RECIPE
 
 
ROASTED RUTABAGA, APPLE & SQUASH SALAD WITH FETA
Susie Middleton, Fine Cooking
 
3/4 lb. peeled butternut squash, cut into 3/4-inch dice
1/2 lb. peeled rutabaga, cut into 3/4-inch dice
1/2 lb. red apples, cut into 3/4-inch wedges
2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt
4 lightly packed cups mixed sturdy winter greens (such as mizuna, purple mustard, and arugula), torn or cut into bite-size pieces if large
1/3 to 2/3 cup diced feta
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3 Tbs. golden raisins

For the vinaigrette

1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/3 cup thinly sliced shallots
Kosher salt
1/2 to 1-1/2 tsp. chopped fresh ginger
2 Tbs. white balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice; more to taste
1/2 to 1 tsp. finely grated lime zest
1 to 2 tsp. finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
Freshly ground black pepper
CONTINUE TO RECIPE
 
 
TWICE-BAKED POTATOES WITH KALE
Smitten Kitchen

3 russet potatoes (mine were 9 to 10 ounces each)
1 bundle lacinato kale (aka dinosaur, tuscan or black kale), swiss chard or spinach (10 ounces)
Coarse salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 large leek
1 cup coarsely grated cheddar, gruyere or comté, 2/3 cup finely grated parmesan or pecorino, or 1/2 to 2/3 cup cream cheese or goat cheese, softened
3/4 cup sour cream
Freshly ground black pepper or red pepper flakes to taste
 
CONTINUE TO RECIPE

A Great Week for Delicata Squash as we ease out of November

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EASING OUT OF NOVEMBER?  (PLEASE!)

We're bracing for high winds tonight (ugh), and I guess I'm feeling aware that my batteries need recharging in more ways than one.  I'm craving a sense of ease and longing for a chance to reflect upon and dream about the seasons on either side of where we are.  I'll get there--I've got a stack of cookbooks, old and new, calling my name, and each day, we open the mailbox to find another stack of super enticing seed catalogs.  Sigh.  What this really means is that is the perfect week for Delicata Squash if ever there was one.  As I've shared before, Delicata has been coined the "Lazy Person's Winter Squash," and for slackers like me who never peel a darn thing and live for the simple joys of the Sheet Pan Dinner, Delicata is a godsend.  We love them sliced and roasted up as Oven Fries, and they can be split into "boats" and stuffed with your favorite fillings.  It is pretty much the closest thing to Zucchini that we can get outside of Summer, so fire up your oven, chop up some vegetables and to roasting.  You'll earn yourself a big tray of prepared vegetables, and in the meantime, about 30 minutes of time for a good book.  

Many Thanks,
Katie

IN THE CSA SHARES THIS WEEK:

  • Delicata Squash
  • Fuji and/or Macoun Apples
  • Carrots
  • Onions
  • Kale
  • Cauliflower and/or Romanesco

EXTRAS TO PICK THIS WEEK (FREE TO ALL SHARE MEMBERS):
UPICK for Herbs only from here on until Spring.  

HARVEST HIGHLIGHTS &
WHAT'S IN STOCK AT THE FARMSTAND

CSA Members receive a 10% discount on most items at our farmstand

HARE-RAISED:  

  • Salad Mix — SHARES ONLY THIS WEEK!
  • Celeriac 
  • Parsnips
  • Lettuce
  • Kale 
  • Chard
  • Celery
  • Yellow Onions 
  • Eggs - Shares Only.
  • Winter Squash

FROM BEYOND THE FARM:

  • WA Organic Ambrosia, Honeycrisp, Prairie Spy, Granny Smith, Opal, Fuji, Gala  & Macoun Apples
  • NW Organic Cranberries, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Carrots & Cabbage 
  • Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes & many more!
  • Organic Fruit: Oranges, Bananas, Limes, & Lemons (Meyer in Season!)
  • Olykraut, Essential Baking Co. Artisan Breads, Grounds for Change Coffee
  • Jody's Honey
  • Dates, Ginger, Nuts, Sweet Potatoes and Dried Fruit

SEASONAL RECIPES & HELPFUL TIPS

Roasted Cauliflower Four Ways - Cookie & Kate

ROASTED ROMANESCO WITH MEYER LEMON SALSA
Naturally Ella

1 Meyer lemon salsa recipe
1 small Romanesco head (see note)
1 large shallot
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Quinoa or Rice, for serving

CONTINUE TO RECIPE

PIZZA BEANS
Smitten Kitchen

2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, diced
1 large or 2 regular carrots, diced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper or red pepper flakes
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup (60 ml) dry white or red wine (optional)
4 ounces (115 grams) curly kale leaves, chopped or torn
2 1/4 cups (550 grams) crushed tomatoes (28-ounce or 800-gram can minus 1 cup; reserve the rest for another use)
1 pound (455 grams) cooked firm-tender giant white beans
Up to 3/4 cup (175 ml) vegetable broth
1/2 pound (225 grams) mozzarella, coarsely grated
1/3 cup (35 grams) grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons (5 grams) roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, for garnish (optional)

CONTINUE TO RECIPE

KALE AND APPLE SALAD
100 Days of Real Food

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice- freshly squeezed
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 cups kale - torn, and big ribs removed and discarded
1/2 apple - cut into thin, 1" pieces
1/3 cup walnuts - chopped and lightly toasted
3 tablespoons blue cheese- crumbled

CONTINUE TO RECIPE


RISOTTO WITH ROASTED WINTER SQUASH
Martha Rose Shulman, NYT Cooking

1 pound winter squash (about 1/2 of a good-size butternut, for example), such as butternut, banana or hubbard, peeled, seeded and cut in 1/2 inch dice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
7 to 8 cups vegetable or chicken stock, as needed
1 small or 1/2 medium onion
2 large garlic cloves, minced or pressed
 Salt to taste
1 ½ cups Arborio or Carnaroli rice
½ cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc
1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage
1 to 2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1/4 to 1/2 cup), to taste
3 to 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
 Freshly ground pepper

CONTINUE TO RECIPE