Tag: green bell pepper

  • CSA 2023 Summer Week 13

    Orange Carrots (COG)

    Galangal

    Moringa

    Okra

    Asia Pears (WAT)

    Green Bell Peppers (WAT)

    Jalapeno Peppers

    Roselle

    Spaghetti Squash (COG)

    Murasaki Sweet Potatoes

    This is the last week of our Summer CSA season! Back in 2011, our first thirty CSA Members helped us start our farm by providing seed money (literally, not just figuratively). Since then, and with CSA member support, we have grown from “just” a small family farm to supporting over a dozen other local farmers and employing over thirty people! We are truly amazed and humbled by how much our community has supported local and organic farmers – THANK YOU!

    Week 13 brings one of our favorite plants- Roselle! Why do we love it? For starters, it’s tangy and versatile. Use it in tea, jam, salad, baked goods… the list goes on and on. Roselle makes you feel great, too. It’s loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and for centuries been used as a therapeutic plant and overall tonic. If you’re not sure how to use it, we share instructions on how to process the crimson calyx for use in teas and smoothies. Or, you can cook them up for uses like the jam recipe below. Already a fan of this gorgeous, amazing plant? Be sure to mark your calendar for our Roselle Festival, sponsored by Visit Gainesville, on Oct 28. Look forward to roselle u-pick, live music, farm tours, crop mazes, workshops & food trucks! Roselle Fest is free and open to the public but does require reservations. Click here to add your name to the guest list!

    Dried Roselle Calyx

    • Remove the crimson calyces (the outside part) from the seed pod.
    • Place the calyces on the dehydrator trays in a single layer without overlapping or bunching them up too much. Make sure that there is plenty of airflow between pieces, as this will help them dehydrate evenly. Set dehydrator to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and dehydrate for 3-6 hours, or until it is completely dried. Rotate the trays halfway through, if needed, to ensure that they all dehydrate at an even rate. Roselle can also be dried in an oven set on the lowest setting for 6-10 hours.
    • Once dehydrated, store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. It can be enjoyed as a tea or added to recipes like smoothies and teas for extra flavor and nutrients.

    Roselle Jam

    Ingredients:

    • 1 quart Roselle calyces with seed pods
    • ½ -1 cup raw sugar
    • Filtered water
    • Lemon juice, just a squeeze

    Instructions:

    • Remove the calyxes (red leaves) from the seed pods then wash and drain them separately
    • Slightly break open the seed pods and add them to a small saucepan. Pour in filtered water until the pods are just covered. Do make sure they’re submerged
    • Bring to the boil and cook, covered for 20 minutes or until the pods are soft
    • Strain and keep the liquid and put the seedpods in the compost
    • Pour the reserved liquid back into your small saucepan and add in the washed calyxes. If the calyxes are not submerged in water add a tiny touch more filtered water
    • Boil down for another 20 minutes allowing the mixture to thicken
    • Remove from the heat and measure the volume of cooked pulp. Return this to the saucepan and add the same volume of sugar along with the squeeze of lemon juice
    • Bring to the boil and cook for 10-20 minutes or until the jam has thickened
    • Transfer to a clean jar and store in the fridge

    Spicy Jalapeño Margaritas

    Ingredients:

    JALAPEÑO TEQUILA

    • 2 c. tequila blanco
    • 1-3 jalapeños, quartered
    • 1 medium cucumber, cut into 1/2″ slices

    MARGARITA

    • 1 tsp. granulated sugar
    • 1 tsp. kosher salt
    • Lime wedges, for glass and garnish
    • 2 oz. infused tequila
    • 1 oz. orange liqueur (such as Cointreau)
    • 3/4 oz. fresh lime juice
    • Sliced jalapeño, for garnish

    Instructions:

    JALAPEÑO TEQUILA

    In a large clean jar, combine tequila and jalapeño. Using handle of a wooden spoon, gently muddle jalapeño. Add cucumber and seal jar.

    Store in a cool, dark place at least 8 hours or up to 12. Strain tequila mixture, discard solids, and pour back into jar. Refrigerate until ready to use.

    Make Ahead: Tequila can be made 2 weeks ahead. Keep chilled.

    MARGARITA

    In a small shallow bowl, combine granulated sugar and salt. Run a lime wedge around rim of a rocks glass and dip into sugar mixture to coat.

    In a cocktail shaker, combine infused tequila, orange liqueur, and lime juice. Fill shaker with ice and vigorously shake until outside of shaker is very cold, about 30 seconds. Strain into prepared ice-filled glass and garnish with a lime wedge and jalapeño slices.

  • CSA 2023 Summer Week 8

    Beets (COG)

    Galangal

    Muscadine Grapes, (SFO)

    Lacinato Kale (NSOF)

    Green Bell Peppers (WAT)

    Spaghetti Squash (COG)

    Green Zucchini Squash (WAT)

    Yam Fingerling Sweet Potatoes

    Slicer Tomatoes (NSOF)

    Fun fact: wine production in the US began in Florida, thanks to muscadine grapes like the ones in this week’s share (sorry, California). Back in the 1500s, a group of French Huguenot settled near Jacksonville and quickly realized our native grapes could be vinted. The problem was the taste; it just wasn’t like the wines they were used to at home. So, they added sugar. Lots of it. Most Muscadine is still made overly sweet, but surprisingly it wins the prize for highest amount of antioxidants among all the other grapes. It’s the only variety that contains resveratrol in both its skin and seeds (other grapes only have it in their skin). So, if you imbibe, try our simple wine recipe below and raise a glass to our native fruit!

    We’ve also tucked spaghetti squash from partner Clem’s Organic Garden into this week’s box. Food historians believe that before this veggie became a food staple in the Western Hemisphere, it served as a pre-Colombian bowl. Once the natives started to eat it, they loved it for being a great source of fiber and packed with Vitamins C and K. One thing about spaghetti squash though, it does require prep. We share basic instructions along with a decadent four cheese squash recipe to enjoy with your wine. Cheers!

    How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

    Ingredients:

    • 1 spaghetti squash
    • extra-virgin olive oil
    • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions:

    • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
    • Slice the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and ribbing. Drizzle the inside of the squash with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
    • Place the spaghetti squash cut side down on the baking sheet and use a fork to poke holes. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned on the outside, fork tender, but still a bit firm. The time will vary depending on the size of the squash and can vary from squash to squash.
    • Remove from the oven and flip the squash so that it’s cut side up. When cool to the touch, use a fork to scrape and fluff the strands from the sides of the squash.

    Four Cheese Spaghetti Squash

    Ingredients:

    • 2 spaghetti squash, halved and seeded
    • 1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • Kosher salt
    • Freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 tbsp. butter
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
    • ¼ cup milk
    • ¼ cup chicken broth or veggie stock
    • ¼ cup shredded mozzarella
    • ¼ cup shredded Parmesan
    • ½ cup shredded provolone (can substitute cheese of your choice)
    • ½ cup shredded fontina
    • Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

    Instructions:

    Preheat oven to 400°. On a large rimmed baking sheet, set the squash cut side up; brush with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Bake cut side down until tender, 45 minutes.

    Make sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute, then stir in flour and whisk until golden, 2 minutes. Stir in milk and broth and whisk until combined. Combine all the cheeses in a large bowl and stir the mix into the skillet, reserving 1/2 cup for topping. Whisk constantly until creamy. Season with salt and pepper.

    Scoop out spaghetti squash, leaving a shell around the skin and add to skillet. Stir until completely combined, then return to squash boats. Heat broiler on high.

    Top with remaining cheese and broil until golden. Garnish with parsley and serve.

    Old-Fashioned Muscadine Wine

    Ingredients:

    • 6 cups granulated sugar
    • 3 quarts filtered water
    • 1 quart mashed muscadine grapes
    • 1 (1/4-ounce) packet active dry yeast

    Instructions:

    In a large, cleaned, and sanitized gallon-sized glass container, dissolve sugar in water.

    Add mashed grapes to water and sprinkle active dry yeast over top, but don’t stir. Cover container with a clean cheesecloth or kitchen towel and place in a dark and cool area, ideally between 68 F and 72 F. Let mixture rest for 24 hours.

    Once a day has passed, stir mixture well and cover again, returning it to a dark and cool area. From this moment on, stir mixture every day at the same time, for a full week.

    After seven days of stirring and resting, strain liquid into another clean and sanitized gallon container with an air lock.

    Fill with additional water to come up to the top of the gallon container. Let wine ferment for six weeks in a cool and dark place.

    After six weeks, strain liquid again and place it in a clean gallon container. Cap lightly for three days to allow for any more fermentation to cease.

    Pour wine into bottles with an airtight cap and store in the fridge. Always store your homemade muscadine wine in a cool place and consume within 3-6 months.

  • CSA Summer 1 – Week 7

    Our CSA members will enjoy the following produce in their CSA shares this week:

    • Green Cabbage – NSOF
    • Cucumbers – NSOF
    • Collard Greens – NSOF
    • Bi-color Okra
    • Green Bell Peppers – NSOF
    • Malabar Spinach
    • Yellow Summer Squash – NSOF
    • Grape Tomatoes – NSOF
    • Fresh Turmeric

    Crispy Indian Okra – My Heart Beets

    Ingredients
    • 12 oz fresh or frozen baby okra bhindi
    • 3 tablespoons fat of choice ghee, avocado oil
    • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
    • 1 onion diced
    • 1 Serrano pepper or 1-2 thai bird chilies, minced
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • ½ inch ginger minced
    • ½ inch turmeric minced
    • ¼ teaspoon salt adjust to taste
    Instructions
    1. Rinse okra, and slice into rounds. Spread them out onto a paper towel to dry while you prep the remaining ingredients. The okra must be completely dry.
    2. Melt 2 tablespoons of fat in a saute pan over medium-high heat.
    3. Next, add the cumin seeds and once they begin to brown or splutter, add the onions and serrano pepper.
    4. Saute for 10 minutes, or until the onions begin to brown. Then add the garlic, ginger and spices mix well.
    5. Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of fat and the okra. Stir-fry for 10-12 minutes or until the okra is dry and crispy.

    Mediterranean Chickpea Salad – Well Plated, by Erin

    Ingredients
    • 1/2 cup finely diced red onion about 1/2 small
    • 2 cans reduced-sodium chickpeas (15-ounce cans), rinsed and drained
    • 1 1/2 cups chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley about 1 bunch
    • 1 red bell pepper chopped
    • 1 orange bell pepper or yellow bell pepper, chopped
    • 1 green bell pepper chopped
    • 1/2 large seedless cucumber chopped (about 2 cups)
    • 1/2 cup crumbled feta about 4 ounces
    • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    Instructions
    1. Place the onions in a bowl of cool water and let them soak while you prepare the other ingredients (this removes the harsher bite from the onions, while still giving great flavor).
    2. Place the chickpeas, parsley, bell peppers, cucumber, and feta in a large serving bowl.
    3. In a small mixing bowl or large measuring cup, stir together the dressing ingredients: olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Drain the red onions and add them to the chickpea mixture, then pour the dressing over the top. Toss to combine. If time allows, let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, or enjoy immediately.

    Chilled Spiced Yellow Squash Soup – NYT Cooking

    Ingredients
    • 2 pounds yellow crookneck squash, trimmed and roughly chopped
    • ½ cup olive oil, plus more to garnish
    • ⅛ teaspoon red-pepper flakes
    • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
    • ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted and ground
    •  1/8, teaspoon ground turmeric – if fresh, grated 1 inch piece of turmeric
    •  Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon lime juice
    •  Chopped mint, to garnish
    Instructions
    1. Combine the squash, olive oil, red pepper, cumin, coriander, turmeric and 1 1/2 cups water in a pot with a large pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, until the squash is very tender.
    2. Once the squash has cooled, purée it in a blender on high for 30 seconds. Pass through a fine-mesh sieve. When completely cool, season to taste with the lime juice, salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls, and garnish with mint and a few drops of olive oil.