Next To Last Delivery

For some reason I never thought we would be getting a huge head of cauliflower in our CSA boxes today.  It looks really nice.  I'm trying to decide what to do with it?  Anyone have any good and or maybe different ideas for its use?

I can not believe that this time next week I will be opening the last CSA box of the season.  It is really hard to believe!  So I am savoring everything we got tonight.  There are sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, garlic, radishes, a small squash and an extra canned share.

Andy and Lizzie have maple syrup and other canned items for sale.  You will need to order them this week for them to be delivered to you next week.  It will be the last time the items will be available this year.

Please remember to be sure to return your boxes, egg cartons,and empty jars next week for the last pick up of the season.

Recipe of The Week: Sweet Potato Biscuits

Sweet Potato Biscuits

1 cup mashed sweet potatoes

1/4 cup of vegetable shortening

1 Tablespoon of sugar

1/2 teaspoons of soda

3/4 cup of buttermilk

2 cups of flour

1 Tablespoon of baking powder

1 teaspoon of salt

Beat the potatoes, shortening and sugar together until well mixed.  Dissolve soda in buttermilk, and add potato mixture.  Combine remaining ingredients and add to potato mixture.  Mix well and roll out 1/2 inch thick on a floured surface.  Cut with a cutter or in squares.  Put on greased cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.  Variations: Use regular milk and omit the soda.

Slowly Winding Down

With the CSA season slowing down because of cooler weather and all the rain, Andy is trying to get the wood stove hooked up in the living room of their house.  He loves to sit by the stove and read and listen to the wood crackling while the wind is howling outside.  He says as long as you are prepared you will be able to stay warm and enjoy the winter.  The turnips are doing very well in this cold weather as well as the cabbage.  There was cauliflower planted but he is not sure if it is going to have enough time to head.

cabbage, radishes, turnips, garlic, onions, lettuce, potatoes

I am going to try the recipe of the week tomorrow night.

Recipe Of The Week: Radish Cole Slaw

Radish Cole Slaw

4 cups of shredded cabbage

1 1/2 Tablespoons of minced scallions or onions

1/2 cup of radishes sliced thin

1/2 cup of French Dressing

Mix all ingredients together.

Shorter And Cooler Days

Even thought the weather is getting cooler and the days are getting shorter we still have 4 weeks (including) this one to finish up the 2011 CSA season.  There are still crops to be used to fill our boxes but Andy says that some of the storage crops are not turning out as well as he had wished they would.  There are still a few onions and winter squashes...not as many since some of them turned to rot.  They will need to be rationed out to stretch them to the end of the season.  they have lots of potatoes to add to our boxes, both sweet and regular.  The greens are a little slow.  Right now they are covered with row covers in hopes they will grow and there will be enough to harvest in the last few weeks.

sweet potatoes and regular potatoes, a little bit of kale, two heads of broccoli, winter squash, lettuce, radishes and parsley

Sometimes I have no idea what the vegetables are in the box but I am learning.  I learned this week that the small bunch of parsley can be used in soups to spice it up a bit, in stir fry, or in just about what ever suits your fancy.  It can be dried or it can be put in the freezer to be used at a later date.  I think I will try it in the freezer to see what happens.

We had a wee bit of excitement this week.  Justin and his two boys (the drop off person and his helpers) were broken down on RT 32 for about 2 hours.  Seems there was a screw in their tire.  I just happened to be checking my emails and saw and urgent message from one of the drop off sites in Loveland.  We were getting in the van with snacks in hand when the van pulled into the driveway.  Everyone got out smiling and the boys will have a few snack to tide them over until they get home for dinner.  An extra bonus for me...a bag of persimmons from Justin.  Anyone have a good recipe calling for persimmons?    I found one for persimmon bars that looks pretty good.  I'll let you know how they turn out.

Recipe Of The Week: Parsley Potatoes

Parsley Potatoes

2 pounds of potatoes (cooked and drained)

1/4 cup of butter

2 Tablespoons parsley or 1 teaspoon of dry flakes

1/8 teaspoon celery (or seasoned) salt, optional

Potatoes can be peeled or unpeeled.  In same saucepan used to cook the potatoes, melt the butter and stir in parsley and celery salt.  Add potatoes and toss lightly.  Variation:  Add 1/4 teaspoon of dill weed for dilled potatoes.

Good News and Some Bad News

The good news is that Andy and Lizzie are running s 'Stock Up For Winter" Sale on maple syrup and canned goods starting the week of November14th. The bad news is that the first full week of December will be the last drop off of the year for the CSA.

Any size maple syrup is 10% off no matter what the quantity. They are also offering cases of their home canned goods at a 10% discount. We can mix and match to make a case. Our choices are vegetable juice, tomato juice, tomato chunks, and pickles sweet peppers. Please email any orders to Cedarmore Farm with your orders as soon as possible so your order can be filled and sent on your regular pick up day. The orders will be sent with your weekly produce delivery. They will also include an invoice.

cedarmorefarm@tdisp.com

Lots of Leafy Greens

The weather is getting cooler and the broccoli and head lettuce are loving it. Andy and Lizzie are taking a little time to go visit his parents in Wayne County, OH for this week. He feels sure that their three helpers will be able to do the work that they need to do to make sure the CSA runs smoothly while they are way.

This week share makes me smile...broccoli, potatoes, turnips, garlic, onions, lettuce, field greens and a large bag of leafy greens that we sauteed for dinner and they were delicious.

I am not sure how much longer the CSA will be in business for this year. I am guessing that things are beginning to wind down. I know that our family is going to miss our weekly vegetable surprises. Looking forward to next years shares already.

cedarmorefarm@tdisp.com

Recipe of The Week: Turnips Gratin

Turnips Gratin

1 to 2 pounds of turnips thinly slices
1 clove garlic (optional)
3 tablespoons (about) butter
1 tablespoon parsley, minced
pepper to taste
½ cup milk, or light cream
¼ cup cheese, grated
¼ cup bread crumbs

Steam turnip slices 3 to 4 minutes. Rub shallow baking pan or deep dish pie pan w/ garlic cut in half or mashed. Butter dish. Layer half of turnips, Sprinkle w/ parsley, pepper. Add rest of turnips in a layer.

Pour milk or cream over all. Sprinkle w/ cheese and bread crumbs. Dot w/ shavings of butter or some olive oil. Bake in hot oven 375 degrees for 40 minutes till tender.

I didn’t have parsley but plenty of cilantro, lots of garlic and buttered a piece of bread and cubed it for the bread crumbs. Delicious!!

Recipe Of The Week: Home Remedy for Colds or Croup

This weeks Recipe Of The Week is just a little bit different. It isn't a recipe for and delicious dishes but an old family remedy for a bad cough or croup. It is that time of year that we are all going to have to be inside and we all know how those nasty germs just spread like wildfire. It is hard when one of the kids comes down with something and can't sleep thru the night...no one gets a good nights sleep when that happens.

Simple Home Remedy for Colds or Croup

Take one small to medium onion, slice it, wrap in lightweight flannel cloth. Place on patients chest when patient goes to sleep. Works best when you pin it to their night shirt.

Jack Frost Does His Job

It is official...Jack Frost blew into Cedarmore Farm and put an end to the crops that can't stand the cold.  The good news is tht the crops that are left to harvest are the crops that love the cooler weather.  Andy and Lizzie have been storing crops like potatoes, onions, garlic, sweet potatoes and winter squash in the cellar.

onions, radishes, acorn squash, garlic, spicy greens, and purple cabbage

I have no idea what to do with zucchini relish.  Any suggestions?  I tasted it and it is neither sweet or sour...a little bland but has a good taste.  I can taste the zucchini and the onion.  Maybe I could marinate chicken in it.  I think it would be great on hot dogs or maybe even hamburgers...I'll let you know.

FYI...

I  made Lizzie's Sweet Potato Pie and I thought it was great.  Andy and Lizzie say that you can substitute any winter squash in the recipe.  And tonight I made Lizzie's Sweet Sour Red Cabbage (recipe below)...thumbs up at our house.

Recipe Of The Week: Sweet Sour Red Cabbage

Sweet Sour Red Cabbage

2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil or bacon drippings

2 Tablespoons of chopped onions

6 cups of shredded red cabbage

1 unpeeled tart apple diced

1/4 cup of brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 cup of water

1/4 cup of vinegar

Heat oil or bacon grease in large kettle.  Add onion and saute until tender.  Add remaining ingredients.  Cook covered, over low heat, stirring occasionally.  Cook approximately 15 minutes.