Archive for November, 2009

October was a busy month for us and November looks pretty busy too.  I guess we never slow down. Some of what you will see in your shares and at the markets that is new are our collard greens, rapini or broccoli rabe, and pretty little hakurei turnips.  These are mainstays of our crops every year and you should get to know and love them - they’re wonderful.  If you need some ideas, try some of the recipes you can find on one of our CSAs websites.  Just click on “recipes” on our menu bar for more information.

We’ve been planting rhubarb, kale and several varieties and colors of cauliflower (you’ll think Willy Wonka had something to do with the purple, orange and green cauliflower you’ll see in a few months).

What else….the wheat has been coming up on the South Phoenix field and we’re planning to plant more in Glendale.  It’ll sweeten the ground for tomatoes later on and keep the dust down.

Lastly, Tonia, Frank and I were talking about the pumpkins we still have and can’t wait to eat for Thanksgiving or otherwise.  Here are a few things that we like to do with our pumpkin:

• Peel, cube and roast one - puree and stir in chicken broth and pumpkin pie spice (or make your favorite pumpkin soup), and then fill the another with the soup to serve to your guests.
• Tonia makes Pumpkin Jelly.  Peel, cube and put the chunks in a pot on the stove with some sugar (she uses the Mexican dark brown sugar that comes in a cone - she says it has the best flavor) - cook, mash with a potato masher (or as she calls it, a bean masher ) stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until it’s completely cooked through - it takes a while she says.  She then continues to make empanadas with the jelly but I would just keep this in the fridge and put it on toast with cream cheese.  Or just eat it with a spoon.  Sounds delish!
• Make your pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.  Here’s a good recipe I found on the internet: http://www.pickyourown.org/pumpkinpie.php.  Pay close attention to the part about removing excess water…mine was too watery when I did it a few years ago.  This link has great tips!

Most of you might not know that the folks from Outstanding in the Field came to Frank last October and asked if he would host one of their magnificent local dinners on his farm in South Phoenix on a gravel pile overlooking the freeway.  Frank said yes.

Here is their blog post with pictures regarding this beautiful and delicious event held October.  This post talks about a few different things, so look about the middle of the page to find pictures and a recount of the evening.

http://outstandingontour.blogspot.com/2008/10/east-to-west-and-back-again.html

• Pretty little radishes http://yfrog.com/b69bij #
• And some nice hakurai turnips http://yfrog.com/6w705dj #

• Beautiful morning!! http://yfrog.com/0oh1ijj #