Tag: italian sweet basil

  • CSA Summer 2 – Week 2

    We will be harvesting the following produce from our farm for your CSA shares this week:

    • Italian Basil, bunched
    • Corno di toro or cubanelle peppers
    • Malabar Spinach
    • New Red Potatoes
    • Fresh Turmeric Root
    • Sweet Potato Greens, bunched

    And providing the following delicious items from our partner producers:

    • Red Cabbage – NSOF
    • Red Beets, loose – NSOF
    • Sweet Vidalia Onions – OSO
    • Grape Tomatoes – NSOF

    Fresh Turmeric Golden Milk Tea – Farm Fresh To You

    Ingredients
    • 2 cups milk (dairy, almond, etc.)
    • 1/2 tablespoon freshly grated turmeric (approximately a 3-inch piece)
    • 1/4 tablespoon freshly grated ginger (approximately a 1-inch piece)
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 tablespoon honey (unless you use milk that is already sweetened)
    • 1/8 teaspoon or more freshly ground black pepper
    Instructions
    1. We prefer using fresh turmeric instead of the ground powder, but please be aware that turmeric can stain clothes and nails easily. We found that a spoonful of sugar scrubbed into our hands can help take the stain off our skin. (Dishes seemed to be fine and rinsed off easily).
    2. Use the finest setting on your grater to grate the turmeric and ginger. If you don’t have a grater, you can do a very fine mince.
    3. Combine the milk, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, honey and black pepper in a blender. Purée until combined. (This step is a MUST if you are using dairy milk. Otherwise, your tea will turn into a custard).
    4. In a small saucepan, heat the mixture over low heat for 5 minutes, whisking frequently to prevent the milk from burning. Pour into a mug, sprinkle with more cinnamon if desired and enjoy!

    Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Tahini Dressing – The Full Helping

    Ingredients
    • 1/4 cup tahini
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • 1 tablespoon tamari or nama shoyu
    • 1 teaspoon grated turmeric, 1 inch piece
    • 1 small clove garlic, minced (optional)
    • 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
    • 1/3 cup water
    Instructions
    1. Whisk or blend all ingredients together. Dressing will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

    Yam Leaves, Stir-Fried Sweet Potato Leaves – Woks of Life

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound yam leaves
    • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
    • 3 cloves garlic (smashed and chopped)
    • 2 slices ginger (julienned)
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine (optional)
    • ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • Salt (to taste)
    • 1/8 teaspoon sugar

    Instructions

    1. Pinch off each leaf, including the stem, from the main stalk and any other tender parts of the vegetables. Wash and rinse thoroughly a couple of times and set aside to drain off any excess water before cooking.
    2. Heat the oil in a wok over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger, and cook for about a minute. Now turn the heat to high, and add in the sweet yam leaves.
    3. Stir and add in the sesame oil, Shaoxing wine (optional), ground white pepper, water, salt (to taste) and a pinch of sugar. Stir to cook for a couple of minutes until all the leaves are wilted. Serve immediately.

    Warm Balsamic Red Cabbage and Beet Salad – Sarah’s Cucina Bella

    Ingredients
    • 1 tbsp Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • 1-2 cloves garlic, , minced
    • 4 cups shredded red cabbage
    • 1 1/2 cups shredded fresh beet, (use a shredder attachment on your food processor)
    • 1/2 cup water
    • Kosher salt and pepper, , to taste
    • 1/2 cup Pompeian Balsamic Vinegar
    Instructions
    1. Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan with high sides. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant – about 1 minute.
    2. Add the cabbage and beets and stir well to combine with the garlic mixture. Pour the water over and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook until the cabbage is wilted – about 6-8 minutes.
    3. Remove the cover of the pan and stir well. Pour the balsamic vinegar over the cabbage mixture and toss to combine. Cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, until the vinegar coats the cabbage and little liquid remains. Season with additional salt and pepper, as needed.
    4. Enjoy immediately.

  • Summer 1 CSA – Week 1

    Welcome to the Summer Season! We are so grateful for the support of our CSA members! We will provide the following produce in your first CSA share this week:

    • Sweet Italian Basil, bunch
    • Rainbow Chard, bunch or Lacinato Kale, bunch – New Sprout Organic Farm
    • Curly Kale, bunch or Collard Greens, bunch – New Sprout Organic Farm
    • Cantaloupe Melon
    • Cucumbers, nonconformers
    • Sweet Yellow Onions
    • Mixed Radish, loose (no tops)
    • Mixed Summer Squash Varieties
    • Murasaki Sweet Potatoes
    • Green Tomatoes
    • Slicer Tomatoes, or Plum Tomatoes

    Cucumber and Melon Salad with Basil – source : Well Vegan

    Ingredients
    • 2 large cucumbers (organic preferred)
    • 1 ripe, sweet cantaloupe
    • Small handful of fresh basil or Thai basil, for serving
    • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

    For the dressing

    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil 
    • 2 teaspoons lime juice
    • 1 teaspoon lime zest
    • 1 teaspoon agave
    • Pinch of salt
    Instructions
    1. Peel the cucumbers into a stripe pattern and slice in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and then slice the cucumbers into ½-inch moon shapes. Add the cucumber to a large serving bowl.
    2. Cut the cantaloupe in half and scoop out the seeds. Use a melon baller to create cantaloupe spheres (I used the smaller side of my melon baller) and place them in the serving bowl. 
    3. To make the dressing, whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl. Taste and adjust flavors to your liking. It should be a nice balance of acidic and sweet.
    4. Drain any juice that has collected in the bottom of the serving bowl. Drizzle the cucumber and melon with the dressing. Toss to coat and refrigerate until ready to serve. 
    5. Just before serving, garnish with fresh basil and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes (optional).

    Green Tomato Stew – source: Holy Cow Vegan

    Ingredients
    • 2 large green tomatoes (diced. Or about 3 cups halved cherry or other small tomatoes)
    • 1 tsp vegetable oil
    • 1 tsp black mustard seeds
    • 1 sprig (about 15-20) curry leaves
    • 2 green chili peppers (like serrano or jalapeno, slit down the middle and deseeded — unless you like lots of heat)
    • ½ tsp turmeric
    • 1 heaping tsp coriander powder
    • 1 ½ cups coconut milk
    • Salt to taste

    Instructions

    1. Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the mustard seeds and, when they sputter, add the curry leaves and green chillies.
    2. Saute for a few seconds and add the green tomatoes
    3. Add the coriander powder and turmeric and mix. Add a few tablespoons of water and when the water boils, put a lid on the saucepan and cook over medium-high heat about five minutes or until the tomatoes are soft. Green tomatoes are firmer and won’t break down as much as ripe tomatoes would.
    4. Add half the coconut milk to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Add salt to taste and let the tomatoes cook another minute or two.
    5. Add the remaining coconut milk and salt, stir, and heat until the coconut milk is warmed through but not boiling.
    6. Turn off heat and serve.

    Summer Squash Salad – source: A Taste of Home

    A colorful and tasty alternative to coleslaw.

    Ingredients
    • 4 cups julienned zucchini
    • 4 cups julienned yellow squash
    • 2 cups sliced radishes
    • 1/4 cup canola oil
    • 1/3 cup cider vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    • 2 tablespoons snipped fresh parsley or basil
    • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

    Instructions

    1. In a large bowl, toss the zucchini, squash and radishes. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients. Pour over vegetables. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. If desired, top with additional fresh herbs.

    Fried Green Tomatoes – source : Simply Recipes

    Ingredients

    • 3 medium-sized, firm green tomatoes
    • Salt
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (optional)
    • 1/2 cup milk or buttermilk
    • 1 egg
    • 1/3 cup fine white cornmeal (or regular cornmeal, if you can’t find it)
    • 1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
    • 1/4 cup peanut oil, canola oil, or olive oil for frying

    Instructions

    1. Slice and salt green tomatoes: Cut unpeeled tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Sprinkle slices with salt. Let tomato slices stand for 5 minutes.
    2. Set out shallow bowls with coating ingredients: While the salted green tomato slices are resting, place in three separate, shallow bowls: 1 for the flour and Cajun seasoning (if using), 2 for buttermilk and egg, and 3 for breadcrumbs and cornmeal. Whisk together the egg and buttermilk.
    3. Bread the tomato slices: Heat the oil in a skillet on medium heat. Dip the green tomato slices in the flour-seasoning, then the buttermilk-egg mixture, then the cornmeal-breadcrumb mix.
    4. Fry the breaded tomatoes: In the skillet, fry half of the coated tomato slices at a time, for 3-5 minutes on each side or until brown. Set the cooked tomatoes on paper towels to drain

  • Spring CSA – Week 10

    Our members will be enjoying the following produce from our farm this week:

    • Sweet Italian Basil, bunch
    • 1/2 dozen eggs, or roselle tea for our vegans!
    • Cucumbers
    • Rainbow Chard, bunch
    • Panisse Butter Lettuce
    • Sweet Red Onions, cured
    • Tri-Color Potatoes
    • Summer Squash Mix
    • Tokyo Turnips
    • Strawberries!

    Roasted Zucchini and Red Potatoes – source: Cookpad

    Ingredients
    • 6 baby red potatoes
    • 2 medium zucchini
    • 1 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
    • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
    • 1/2 tsp garlic salt
    • 1/2 tsp dry basil
    • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
    Instructions
    1. Chop red potatoes into quarters.
    2. Cut the ends of the zucchini off and chop zucchini into half moons about 1/2 inch thick.
    3. In a small bowl mix together below seasonings.
    4. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
    5. Using a large pot, in salted water, boil red potatoes for 5-10 minutes until fork tender.
    6. Drain potatoes and spread on baking sheet with chopped zucchini.
    7. Mix melted butter and olive oil together and drizzle over potatoes and zucchini.
    8. Take the bowl of mix seasoning and using a pinch at a time, sprinkle seasoning mix over potatoes and zucchini.
    9. Place in oven and roast for 20 minutes.
    10. Turn on broil and broil (7 inches below coil) for 10 minutes.
    11. Let cool for 3 minutes and serve

    Swiss Chard with Pancetta – source : Food and Wine

    Ingredients
    • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
    • 2 ounces pancetta, finely diced
    • 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
    • 1/2 teaspoon chopped rosemary
    • 1 1/2 pounds Swiss chard or rainbow chard, stems and inner ribs cut into 1/2-inch pieces, leaves cut into 1-inch ribbons
    • Salt and freshly ground pepper
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
    Instructions
    1. Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet. Add the pancetta, garlic and rosemary and cook over moderately high heat until the garlic is softened, about 2 minutes. Add the chard stems and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender and lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Add the chard leaves, season with salt and pepper and cook, tossing, until wilted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, toss to coat and serve.

  • Fall CSA Week 8

    This week’s share will include the following items:

    • Kale, Italian, bunch – Worden Farm
    • Spring Mix
    • Sweet Italian Basil, clamshell
    • Watermelon Radish, bunch
    • Fresh Ginger Root – Little Pond Farm
    • Cherry Tomatoes – Worden Farm
    • Murasaki Sweet Potatoes
    • Sugar Cane, 12″ Stick

    Check out this beautiful wintery and crisp apple radish salad https://saporitoovs.com/recipe/apple-radish-salad/. The nuttiness of the cheese compliments the slight spice of the watermelon radish!

    Lemon Basil Ginger Salad Dressing from cookingontheweekends.com would also make a great marinade!

    • 1 cup Meyer lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons orange juice
    • 2 tablespoons shallots, finely minced
    • 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
    • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger pulp
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1½ tablespoons honey
    • ¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, washed and dried
    • freshly ground black pepper to taste

    In a small mixing bowl or large jar, combine the lemon juice, orange juice, shallots, garlic, ginger, salt and honey. If you’re using a bowl, gradually whisk in the oil, stir in the basil leaves and season to taste with the pepper. If necessary, add more salt. If you’re using a jar, add all of the ingredients, put the lid on tightly and shake. If necessary, add more salt.

    This recipe for Roasted Radishes, 3 ways gives three different interesting marinades : Balsamic & Herbs, Honey-Curry, and Tamari Ginger. Toss in dressing before roasting radishes, or any root veggie for that matter! https://toadstoolsfairyrings.com/2018/01/19/roasted-radishes-3-different-ways/

  • Last CSA Share of the 2019 Spring Season!

    We are finishing out our 14 week spring season with some delicious Organic and non GMO Sweet Corn, Sweet Italian Basil, Malabar Spinach, Cured Red Sweet Onion, Tri Colored Potatoes, Eggplant, Corno Di Toro Peppers, Edamame, Mixed Potatoes (red, white, purple) Juliet Tomatoes and some sweet Blueberries Melons.

    Sorry about the Blueberries folks but we couldn’t end the season without a little surprise now could we. All of our Wednesday and Thursday CSA Members will receive sweet Cantaloupes grown on the farm. Saturday markets will most likely have melons too but we won’t know until Friday, and that’s the way it goes.. Welcome to farming! 🙂

    Cantaloupe- Our melons are picked when they are presumed ripe, however, we are currently growing several different varieties all with different characteristics which can make it difficult to know for sure, the only way to know for certain that you have a deliciously sweet and ripe melon is to cut into it. If you happen to get an unsatisfactory melon please let us know and we will try our best to replace it with a good one the following week at one of the farmers markets.

    Malabar Spinach is not exactly a spinach, It actually belongs to the Basellaceae family (vine family of flowering plants) and is a very warm season crop unlike traditional spinach. There are two main species of Malabar spinach: Basella alba (included in your share) which has green stems and thick fleshy leaves, and Basella ruba which has red stems, we grow that too. The mucilaginous texture is especially useful as a thickener in soups and stews. Mucilage is a thick, gluey substance produced by nearly all plants. You will notice when you bite into it that it is thicker and the inside of the leaf tends to be a bit gooey for lack of a better word. It is most popular on sandwiches and in sautes.

    Click here for a simple and healthy  sautee recipe with Malabar Spinach

    Sweet Corn this sweet corn needs no introduction, just bite into it and you will see for yourself. My favorite way to eat this corn is raw, right off the cob but if you would rather cook it remove the husks, and bring a pot of water to boil. Boil the shucked ears for only 1 to 2 minutes, in unsalted water, do not overcook. Ok, ready for the whole truth?? You may have noticed that we cut the tops off of our corn and that is not necessarily for the ease and hassle free shucking but because the majority of our sweet corn crop has worm damage or undeveloped kernels at the very top of the ear. This is nothing to be alarmed about, it is just a natural process and how can you blame them? Who wouldn’t want to feast out on this delicious sweet corn?! Growing organic sweet corn takes practice, patience and most of all relentless determination. It takes time to learn what works well for your crop and what doesn’t through seasons of trial and error. “Pest management in an organic system is based on prevention. The goal is to have a healthy, balanced plant and soil system in which pest populations will be stay within tolerable limits. In a conventional system, synthetic pesticides may help a grower save the current crop from an immediate pest problem; however, in many cases, the problem recurs or another develops. The organic approach is based on the theory that major pest problems usually occur when something is out of balance in the system. Are the plants undernourished or stressed from growing too quickly? Is there a nutrient imbalance? Is the soil too wet or too dry? Has a good crop rotation been followed? Is there a diversity of plants to support beneficial insects? Thus, studying the problem and trying to determine why it occurred should help prevent similar problems in the future. This will, of course, take time to learn and develop”. –NCSU.EDU

    Edamame are immature soybeans in the pod. I apologize if you received some that were pretty thin and beanless. I took home a handful to experiment with and noticed many of the pods had little or no beans in them almost as if they were dehydrated or scorched by the sun. Some of them were plump bean pods holding one or two soybeans inside. The easiest and best way to eat edamame is to boil or steam the pods and serve with salt. Make sure you give them a good wash because they came straight from the field rather than the freezer. I soaked mine in water twice to make sure the sand and dirt were removed and then I put them in a microwave safe bowl with just enough water to cover the tops. I added a pinch or two of coarse ground sea salt and covered. I cooked they soybeans on high for two minutes, removed them and added another pinch of sea salt and let cool. The easiest way to eat edamame is to drag the seedpod between your upper and lower teeth to removing the soybean from the pod and discarding the unedible pod. It certainly won’t fill you up but it makes an enjoyable snack or appetizer.

    Japanese Eggplant is unique in that is has a tender skin so you don’t have to peel it, it also has a sweeter flavor than that of the classic Italian eggplant. The color varies from light pink, white, lavender and purple. Slice it thin longwise and throw it on the grill or chop it and stir fry it, the spongy flesh soaks up any marinade or sauce. Especially delicious with asian sauces, ginger and basils.  Eggplant is highly sensitive to ethylene, a natural gas that causes certain foods to ripen very quickly. So it’s best to keep eggplant stored separately from bananas, tomatoes, and melons, which are all high ethylene producers. You can keep eggplants out of refrigerator if you plan on using them within 2 days but if not I would suggest wrapping them in a dry paper towel and placing them in a reusable container or perforated bag in the produce drawer.

    Corno del Toro Peppers- The Corno di Toro or Bull’s Horn chile gets its name from its curved, long and slender pod that comes to a pointed tip, resembling that of a bull’s horn. When immature its skin is green and depending upon variety will ripen to a vibrant red or yellow hue when fully mature. Reminiscent of classic Italian frying peppers the Corno di Toro is an ideal variety for a traditional Italian appetizer, fried simply in olive oil and finished with sea salt and parmesan cheese. It is also a popular variety for cooking down to make Italian sauces. Whole peppers can be grilled, roasted or sautéed for use on sandwiches, pasta and pizzas. Their larger size also makes them an ideal pepper for stuffing with a combination of rice or pasta, herbs, and cheeses then roasting or baking. – SpecialtyProduce.Com

    Sweet Italian Basil- Fragrant and beautiful basil adds a fresh element to any dish, Top it on pasta, sprinkle it on pizza, or chop it up fine and toss it in some balsamic vinegar with some fresh mozzarella and Juliet tomatoes from your share for a deliciously simple, Italian classic..The Caprese Salad.

    Juliet Tomatoes– Great flavor, fresh or cooked. The Juliet is a larger sister variety of the well-known Santa grape tomato, and is one of the most disease resistant varieties available. The delicious, rich tomato flavor is ideal for salads, makes a great salsa, and fresh pasta sauce. Many farmers and chefs refer to it as a mini Roma because of it shape and deep red color.

    It has been such a pleasure to provide you with fresh, locally & sustainably grown produce. We hope you will join us for our Fall Season starting in October- Fall membership opening soon. Ciao for now- Shani