TANTRÉ FARM CSA NEWSLETTER
“Extended Fall CSA Share”
WEEK 2
Oct. 21-27, 2012
If needed, please contact Richard Andres & Deb Lentz at 2510 Hayes Rd. Chelsea, MI 48118 e-mail: tantrefarm@hotmail.com phone: 734-475-4323 website: www.tantrefarm.com
We usually try to give you a pretty accurate listing of the produce in your box, but since the newsletter is published before the harvest, sometimes we may substitute some vegetables for others.
Keep in mind that the internet is overflowing with information, including pictures of almost everything that we grow. Also, we have two sections on our website to help you identify unfamiliar produce with color images including descriptions of appearance, taste, nutrition, uses, storage, and seasonal information. You can find this under “CSA Info” on the “Veggie ID” page and also under “Recipes”, the section is called “Produce Information Organized by Plant Part”. We already have some ideas on how to make it easier for you to use (especially an alphabetical tag list of produce), but it’s as good as it gets for this season. Please feel free to pass along any ideas you may have to make it more user friendly.
THIS WEEK’S SHARE
CILANTRO: the flat, delicate, lacy-edged leaves and stems of the coriander plant, which look a lot like flat-leaf parsley, but has a distinctive, almost citrus fragrance that lends itself to highly spiced foods. Store in jar of water or in a plastic bag in fridge.
BABY RED ACE BEETS: small, round, smooth, sweet, deep red roots without the greens; perfect for roasting or soups!
How to use: greens can be substituted for spinach and chard in recipes; roots good in soups, stews, roasted, boiled, steamed, excellent grated raw into salads or baked goods.
How to store: separate roots from leaves and store unwashed in plastic bags in hydrator drawer of refrigerator for up to 2 weeks; store greens wrapped in damp cloth in plastic bag for up to 1 week.
CABBAGE: You will receive Savoy (loose, full head of crinkled leaves varying from dark to pale green; mellow-flavored cabbage considered to be superior for cooking) or Red (a sweet red cabbage; considered a beneficial digestive aid and intestinal cleanser).
How to use: good steamed, stir-fried, or chopped raw into salads or coleslaw.
How to store: refrigerate for up to 1 month
CARROTS (Nelson): a sweet, blunt root with smooth, crisp texture and deep orange color. Excellent soup recipe at end of newsletter!
How to use: Can be used raw as carrot sticks, grated in salads or juiced; steamed or sautéed, in stews, soups, casseroles, stir-fries
How to store: Remove greens from roots and refrigerate dry and unwashed roots in plastic bag for up to 2 weeks; greens may last up to a week refrigerated in plastic bag.
GARLIC: a bulb of several papery white cloves.
How to use: minced raw in salad dressings, sautéed and added to stir-fries, meats, vegetables
How to store: fresh garlic can be stored in an open, breathable basket in a cool, dark place for many months
KALE (Green Curly): well ruffled green leaves with strong, cabbage flavor. **Excellent kale chip recipe on website!
How to use: for salads, soups, roasted, sautéed with garlic
How to store: keep in plastic bag or damp towel in refrigerator for up to 1 week
GREEN BELL PEPPERS: green blocky cells with fruity, sweet flavor; excellent source of vitamin C, fair amount of vitamin A.
How to use: can be added to soups, stews, omelets, quiches, stir-fries, etc.; excellent stuffed.
How to store: refrigerate unwashed in hydrator drawer for 1-2 weeks. Peppers can be easily frozen by washing, chopping, and placing in freezer bags. Also, peppers can be dehydrated or dried.
POTATOES, FINGERLING: a small, stubby, finger-shaped type of potato, which is usually a heritage variety; excellent roasted or boiled.
How to use: good baked, boiled, roasted or in salads
How to store: Keep unwashed in cool, dark place in paper bag.
RADISHES (Amethyst): bright purple skin and crisp, mild white flesh.
How to use: raw, roasted, used in soups, sliced in salads, sandwiches, or stir-fries, grated in slaws; Radish greens (excellent source of vitamins A, C, and the B’s) delicious in soups or stir-fries.
How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag/damp towel for 1-2 weeks.
DAIKON RADISH: looks like an overgrown white carrot, but with a slightly mild radish taste. Lots of recipes on the internet.
How to use: eaten fresh, cooked, or pickled; greens are also edible and can be used like any tender green.
How to store: not as hardy as you may think, so store wrapped in plastic to keep them crisp for up to a week
SALAD MIX: You will receive a bag of mixed salad greens—arugula, tatsoi, and baby green and red leaf lettuces. a custom mix of red and green lettuces such as Rouge D’Hiver, Parris Island, Royal Oak, and Saladbowl.
How to use: used for salads and sautéing–cooks up quickly
How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag for 2 to 4 days.
SPINACH: crisp, dark green leaf—rich source of antioxidants & many nutrients, especially vitamins A, E, K, & C; delicious flavor when juiced.
How to use: toss in fresh salad, add to sandwiches, sauté, steam, braise, or add to crepes, quiche, lasagna, and soups.
How to store: refrigerate with a damp towel/bag for up to 1 week.
How to freeze: Blanch leaves for 1-2 minutes, rinse in cold water, drain well, and pack into containers. Also, spinach can be pureed after cooking, frozen in freezer bags, and used in many recipes.
WHITE HAKUREI TURNIPS and GREENS: A white salad turnip with round, smooth roots that have a sweet, fruity flavor with a crisp, tender texture.
How to use: Roots are good in salads and soups. Greens are slightly sweet and can be boiled, steamed, sautéed, stir-fried, and since hairless, are good in salads.
How to store: separate greens from roots and store each in plastic bag in refrigerator for up to 7 days.
WINTER SQUASH: You will choose from 3 items: Acorn (small, green ribbed squash with pale yellow flesh; great stuffed with rice, breading, or soups), Butternut (light, tan-colored skin; small seed cavities with thick, cylindrical necks; bright orange, moist, sweet flesh), or Black Forest Kabocha (smaller size kabocha; dark green, flat-round fruits; buttercup size with no button on end; orange flesh is medium-dry & sweet).
How to use: boil or steam chunks for 15-20 minutes, or until tender; mash cooked squash with butter; or add uncooked chunks to soups or stews; add small amounts to yeast breads, muffins, cookies, pies.
How to store: Keep for several months (depending on the variety) in a dry, moderately warm (50-60 degrees), but not freezing location with 60-75% humidity; will also store at room temperature
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. VACATIONS or OUT OF TOWN: Please let us know a week ahead of time, or at least by Sunday of the week to be changed, if you know that you will not be picking up your share or you want to change your pick up date or location. Please make a strong effort to PICK UP ALL OF YOUR SHARES in the next few weeks. If you miss a share pick up, it is available at the farm ONLY for that day and 1 day after.
2. HARVEST AT THE FARM: Please call ahead if you plan to u-pick or pick up on other days besides Farm Distribution Days (Wed. and Fri.), so we can make sure someone is around.
U-pick Kale and Collards–$1/lb. Good time for freezing.
U-pick Shelling Beans–$1/lb. Christmas Lima
3. THANKSGIVING SHARE AVAILABLE! We still have room for more members to pick up a share on Nov. 17, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market from 7 A.M. until noon or at Tantré Farm from 2-5 P.M. It will be $108 this year. Please request a form at Distribution Sites or call or e-mail us. Full payment needed by Nov. 10 for you to be registered. Non-CSA members are welcome to register.
4. INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR CSA IN 2013? Shares for current members and non members will be available for $600 (Farm) and $625 (Ann Arbor or Chelsea) from June through the middle of October. We will be accepting $100 deposits ($25 of that deposit is nonrefundable if you choose to cancel your share) to reserve your share for 2013 starting now. Please ask for a registration form at the distribution sites if needed, or it can be sent online and through the mail.
5. PLEASE RETURN SHARE BOXES & BRING EXTRA BAGS! Please return any forgotten boxes from past weeks. You may bring bags, a cooler or other containers to transfer your produce from the boxes at your distribution site, especially next week, which is your final week of Ex. Fall Shares. We also can use any EXTRA PAPER OR PLASTIC BAGS (Grocery Bags ONLY) that you have to donate.
6. PICK UP TIMES & LOCATIONS REMINDER
Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market (Wed.)–7 A.M. to 12 P.M.
Farm (Wed.)–10 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Washtenaw Food Hub (Wed.) –6 P.M. to 8 P.M.
Farm (Fri.)–2 P.M. to 7 P.M.
Community High School (Sat.) –7 A.M. to 12 P.M.
Washtenaw Food Hub (Sat.) — 8 A.M. to 12 P.M.
RECIPES
*Keep in mind-Cooks.com, Epicurious.com, Recipes.com, and especially www.tantrefarm.com for more recipe ideas.
CARROT TOP SOUP (Local Flavors by Deborah Madison) Serves 4
1 bunch (6 small to medium) carrots, the tops and roots
2 Tbs. butter
3 Tbs. white rice
2 large leeks (or green onions), white parts only
2 thyme sprigs
2 Tbs. chopped dill, parsley, celery leaves or lovage
sea salt and freshly ground pepper
6 c. vegetable or chicken stock or water
Pull the lacy leaves of the carrot greens off their stems (2 to 3 cups, loosely packed). Wash and then chop finely. Grate the carrots, or finely chop them. Melt the butter in a soup pot. Add the carrot tops and carrots, rice, leeks, thyme, and dill. Cook for several minutes, turning everything a few times, then season with 1-1/2 teaspoons salt and add the stock. Bring to a boil and simmer until the rice is cooked, 16 to 18 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and serve. This is especially excellent with FRESH carrots!!
SQUASH RINGS WITH GREENS AND WALNUT PASTA (from Capay Organic Farm CSA “Farm Fresh To You” website)
3/4 cup walnut pieces
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 acorn squash (or delicata, butternut, sweet dumpling, etc.)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch greens (collards, spinach, mizuna, turnip greens, etc.)
8 ounces orzo pasta
1 medium red onion, sliced 1/4-inch thick
2 tablespoons fresh dill
4 ounces smoked salmon, cut into thin strips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast walnuts until lightly browned. Cut squash into 1-1/2 inch thick rings, and remove seeds. Put squash rings in a steamer. Place over boiling water, cover & cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Set aside. Whisk together mustard, lemon juice & salt & pepper to taste. Whisk in oil. In a skillet add onions & cook over medium heat, stir often, until onions are completely soft & browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer onions to a bowl & add mustard mixture. Cook pasta. Drain, rinse in cool water & drain again. In a skillet, over medium high heat, add garlic & cook 2 minutes. Remove stems from greens and cut into ¾-inch wide ribbons. Add greens & cook until just wilted. Remove from heat. Stir in onion mixture, dill, pasta, half the salmon & half the walnuts. Season to taste. Place a squash ring on each of 4 plates. Fill center with greens mixture. Top with remaining salmon & walnuts. Serve warm.
BEET AND DAIKON SLAW (From Asparagus to Zucchini: A Guide to Farm-Fresh, Season Produce, MACSAC)
2 beets, peeled and cut into 1/8 in. julienne (matchsticks)
1 six-inch daikon radish, peeled & cut into julienne
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
2 tsp. canola oil
1 tsp. unsalted rice vinegar
1 tsp. sea salt
Combine all ingredients in bowl, cover and let stand at least 1/2 hour. Season to taste, and serve. Makes 2 servings.
Back to top