Zucchini Bread August 20, 2009

Zucchini season is now officially in full swing. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling challenged by what to do with it all. I am not normally a huge fan of zucchini bread but I love this recipe I got from my sister-in-law. I am always looking for ways to use the zucchini from the farm and I love the addition of blueberries since they are also in season right now. Make an extra loaf and share it with your neighbor!

Zucchini Bread

1 1/2 cup grated zucchini

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup maple syrup or honey

2 eggs, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Optional: a handful or two of fresh blueberries

If you do add the blueberries you can substitute some lemon zest for the cinnamon.

Gently mix all ingredients and bake in a greased 9×5x3 inch loaf pan for 45-60 minutes at 350 degrees.

I recommend keeping this bread in the refrigerator. Otherwise it spoils quickly since it contains so much fresh veg and fruit. I hope you enjoy!

Raspberries and Piglets August 18, 2009

We missed picking our farm share up this weekend because we were out of town so I went late this afternoon with Toby. I was expecting to just run into the farm shop, grab a few veggies, and then head off again – but then I saw on the “you pick” chalkboard that the raspberries were ready. So with Toby strapped onto my back with his little sunhat on, we marched to the far end of the farm.

Losing the fight against the blight August 12, 2009

What some had said was inevitable happened. It sounds like the tomatoes at our farm have succumbed to the late blight epidemic. So very sad. Some of my happiest moments each summer have been out in the fields at Brookfield picking cherry tomatoes. Intoxicated by the fragrant herby smell of tomato vines. Listening to kids heeding their parents’ advice about picking the right ones. “Red, red, ripe!” is their mantra as they march down the rows. Warm cherry tomatoes popping with a juicy little burst as I sample a few while picking. The sun beating down and in the stillness I can can almost feel my freckles multiplying. There may be other things to pick this season but it won’t be quite the same.

Here’s a post from two years ago that Josh wrote about tomato season:

http://kitchendancing.wordpress.com/2007/08/14/the-smell-of-tomatoes/

Little did all those athletes know… August 10, 2009

Who needs performance enhancing drugs? Just eat beets!

A recent study conducted in the UK suggests that nitrates found in beets can improve stamina and allow people to exercise longer without getting tired. I thought this article was fascinating and just wanted to share.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8186947.stm

Someone needs to tell Popeye – the days of canned spinach are in the past. Beet juice is the way to go!

NOFA Conference and Beating the Blight August 7, 2009

Today I stumbled upon some information about the Northeast Organic Farming Association’s Summer Conference. It’s happening this weekend at UMass Amherst. As far as I can tell it’s not too late to register. Sounds like they will have a weekend full of interesting workshops and speakers plus dancing and programs for kids. A wide variety of topics will be covered for everyone from experienced farmers to backyard bumblers.

Check out their site for more information: http://www.nofasummerconference.org/index.html

Also – for anyone interested in learning more about the terrible potato and tomato blight that is affecting our area (I talked about this a little bit in an earlier post), the public is invited to a discussion on Sunday. It will take place at 10:00 a.m. at UMass in the Student Union Ballroom. Click here to find out more: http://www.nofasummerconference.org/lateblight.html

A Beautiful Bounty of Beets August 5, 2009

We have been getting so many beautiful beets lately at the farm. I love to roast them but in the summertime who wants to turn the oven on? Here’s my favorite beet recipe (that also conveniently uses some other veggies we get at the farm). My friend Sarah shared this recipe with me years ago and it’s become one of my summertime and fall favorites. I love that you don’t have to cook the beets and that the dip is an outrageous magenta color.

 

BEET DIP 

1/2 pound raw beet, chopped

1/4 cup fresh spinach, packed (other greens from the farm would would just as well)

1 large scallion

8 oz. cream cheese

2 Tbs. lemon juice

1/4 Tbs. salt

2 Tbs. chives, chopped 

In a food processor pulse the beets, spinach, and scallion until finely chopped. Add the cream cheese, lemon juice, and salt and pulse again. Make sure not to overdo it. Otherwise it will become too soupy. You want to leave some texture in the dip. Garnish with the chives or stir in. 

This dip is great with crudite or crackers or even as a spread on sandwiches.

Refrigerator Pickles August 2, 2009

Today has been rainy and gloomy, the baby has been cranky, and I’ve been in a funk. The one good thing I accomplished today is making a batch of refrigerator pickles. (Remember those cute little cucumbers I mentioned I got at the farm yesterday?)

The whole process was very serendipitous. I was winging it on the amounts and somehow managed to have just the right amount of cucumbers and brine to fill the only four clean and empty jars I found  in the house. That never happens. Usually I’m scrambling to make more brine halfway through because I’ve run out or I’m searching for more jars because I have too many veggies cut up and I have to do SOMETHING with them.

Good news and bad news August 1, 2009

The good news is that it was a beautiful morning at the farm and I returned home with my tote bags heavy with vegetables. I picked up some gorgeous fennel bulbs (which a fellow shareholder gave me a good tip about grilling), an enormous zucchini, some carrots, beets, cute little pickling cucumbers, lettuce, kale, and for the first time this season some sweet corn!

The bad news is that like many farms in the area, Brookfield has been stricken by the potato blight. The disease lives on live tissue/vines so Farmer Dan and his crew mowed the potato fields. They’ll leave the potatoes underground for a couple of weeks in hopes that the potatoes will be salvageable, albeit small. (Little potatoes are better than no potatoes.) The extra sad, heartbreaking news is that it’s likely the blight will spread to the tomatoes. Folks at the farm say it’s probably only a matter of time but I’m trying to remain optimistic.

While I am disappointed about the potatoes, as I’m sure many other shareholders are,  I can’t imagine how the folks who work at the farm are feeling after all the hard work they have put into making these crops grow and prosper. I spoke with one very crestfallen intern today.

So, join me in sending a little prayer to Mother Nature. May our potatoes be safe from the rot, tucked in their underground beds, and may they continue to grow. And may our tomatoes be strong enough to resist the blight. And may the farm workers know that we still greatly appreciate them even when things don’t go right or seem downright disasterous.

A New Beginning July 30, 2009

After a not so brief hiatus, I’ve decided it’s finally time to resurrect our poor neglected blog. Some of you may be wondering what happened. The answer is I was busy cooking up something special. Let me introduce you to our newest Kitchen Dancer (who is actually more of a Kitchen Crawler at this point): Toby Carlson Stearns.

With a new baby on the scene I of course have been busy dealing with a big adjustment in my life and unfortunately have not done much exciting cooking for quite a few months.  But now with farm season in full swing I am feeling a bit more inspired to spend some quality time in the kitchen. I’ve been pulling out some old favorite recipes and discovering some new ones in addition to making lots and lots of homemade baby food.

Coming soon:

I have some great recipes (complete with photos!) I look forward to sharing with you.

Musing on making baby food.

The next RecipeHacker challenge.

Plus lots more. Stay tuned!

Confronted With My Own Garbage November 12, 2008

When I was teaching environmental education back in 2000, one of the exercises that got brought up at every single training I was at, was making your student carry around everything they throw away over the course of a week. The idea being, if they have to carry their trash around they will see first-hand the impact of their choices.

I never used this activity, it always seemed more punitive than educational to me. However, just this evening I was reminded of that activity when I came face to face with my accumulated week’s worth of garbage.