In our newsletter, we try to give you an accurate listing of the produce in your box; however, since the newsletter is published before the harvest, we may sometimes substitute some vegetables for others. The information provided here is also published each week on our website. Also, if you’re having trouble identifying any unfamiliar produce, please look for “Veggie ID” with additional information on our website under RECIPES.
THIS WEEK’S SHARE
BRUSSELS CROWNS: these tender, savory, cabbage-flavored greens are the very tops of the Brussels sprouts plants, and taste like collard greens and kale, so can be prepared like them.
-How to use: boil or steam for 3-5 minutes without overcooking, so they are still bright green; toss with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper, or a pat of butter. Prepare other ways just like kale or other hearty cooking greens.
-How to store: refrigerate for up to a week or more unwashed in a plastic bag in hydrator drawer.
CARROTS (Hercules): sweet, orange, cone-shaped roots; good eating quality and stores well.
-How to use: can be used raw as carrot sticks, grated in salads or juiced; steamed or sautéed, in stews, soups, casseroles, or 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.
CELERY: tall, crisp, glossy green stalks and leaves with a strong, celery flavor; contains vitamins A, C, B-complex, and E with some other minerals; also high in fiber and sodium. *Organic celery tends to be a darker green, since it’s unblanched like commercial celery. The darker green color indicates more minerals and vitamins, but also is a bit stronger, so you may want to use a little less than you normally would.
-How to use: typically eaten raw and used in salads; ribs and leaves can be added to casseroles, soups, stews, and stir-fries.
-How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag for up to 2 weeks; can be frozen in slices on a cookie sheet and then packed into freezer bags; celery leaves can be dehydrated and added to soups or stews.
GARLIC BULB: a bulb of several papery white cloves; believed to help in fighting infections, cancer prevention, bolstering the immune system, lowering blood pressure and preventing heart disease, used as an expectorant or decongestant, and at least some people believe that it can ward off vampires and insects.
-How to use: minced raw in salad dressings, roasted, sautéed and added to stir-fries, meats, vegetables; make garlic butter
-How to store: fresh garlic can be stored in an open, breathable container in a cool, dark place for many months
LETTUCE MIX (Wildfire): a bag of dark reds and vibrant greens including Green and Red Oakleaf; your lettuce has been rinsed once.
-How to use: raw in salads or use in soups.
-How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag for 3-5 days.
MUSTARD GREENS (Scarlet Frills): Spicy green and red, intricately lobed and ruffled leaves with spicy, pungently sweet flavor
-How to use: deliciously beautiful in salads, garnishes, and for quick braising.
-How to store: very perishable, so use up quickly; store in plastic bag in refrigerator for up to 5 days.
CURLY PARSLEY: Everyone will receive this great, all around herb with its curly, dark green leaves, which have a strong parsley/celery flavor for use dried or fresh; high in vitamins A and C, and other minerals, such as iron,
-How to use: often used as a garnish, but especially good in omelets, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soups, pasta and vegetable dishes, as well as, sauces.
-How to store: In general, store herbs upright with cut stems in 1-2 inches of water and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or wrap in slightly dampened cloth and store in refrigerator.
SWEET PEPPERS: You will receive Carmen (6-inch long, tapered fruit that ripens from green to a deep “carmine” red; sweet taste in salads and when roasted and fully red-ripe) and/or Red Knight Bell (big, blocky, thick-walled, green-to-red pepper with sweet flesh).
-How to use: can be added to salads, soups, stews, omelets, quiches, stir-fries, etc.; excellent stuffed.
-How to store: refrigerate unwashed in fridge for 1-2 weeks.
POTATOES (Carola): yellow potato from Germany; smooth, creamy texture that is good for baking or frying.
-How to store: keep unwashed in cool, dark place in paper bag.
RADISHES (Purple Bacchus): stunning, purple, round radish with white inner flesh. Very good flavor and not too hot. Excellent source of vitamins A, C, and the B’s!
-How to use: raw, roasted, used in soups, sliced in salads, sandwiches, or stir-fries, grated in slaws; radish greens are delicious in soups or stir-fries
-How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag/damp towel for 1-2 weeks.
SPINACH: crisp, dark green leaf; best eaten raw or with minimal cooking to obtain the beneficial chlorophyll, rich in of vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron and a plethora of other nutrients and antioxidants.
-How to use: delicious flavor when juiced, toss in fresh salad, add to sandwiches, saute, steam, braise, or add to crepes, quiche, lasagna, and soups.
-How to store: refrigerate with a damp towel/bag for up to 1 week.
WINTER SQUASH: You will receive each of the following: Acorn (small, green ribbed squash with pale yellow flesh; great stuffed with rice, breading, or soups) and Spaghetti (3-5 pounds, pale yellow, oblong, smooth, medium size, only mildly sweet with “spaghetti” (stringy) flesh; bake like squash or boil and fork out the flesh, topping the “spaghetti” flesh with your favorite sauce; mildly sweet).
-How to use: puree cooked squash for creamy soup, or stuff squash with savory rice; good roasted; add small amounts to yeast breads, muffins, cookies, pies, oatmeal, etc.
-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 percent humidity; will also store at room temperature.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. ENDING EXTENDED FALL CSA NEXT WEEK: The end is drawing near. This means Oct. 26 (Wed.), Oct. 28(Fri.), and Oct. 29 (Sat.) are your last distribution days for our Extended Fall Shares. Please return any forgotten boxes from past weeks and bring bags or other containers to transfer your produce at your distribution sites next week.
2. The 2nd Annual HONEYBEE NUT FESTIVAL was a huge success! Marc Boone gave away free paw paw saplings along with some paw paw and persimmons samples. Shawn Severance made hickory nut milk and celebrated the ancient nut trees on the property with a nut tree walk. Dave Szczygiel, John Langmore, and Robyn Burnham cracked black walnuts, hickory nuts, chestnuts, and hazel nuts followed with advice and conversation during our Nut Expert networking hour. Rachel Mifsud showed an impressive display of acorns and talked about how to make acorn flour followed by tasty acorn muffins and a nature hike. Mike Levine joined us for a conversation about Perennial Polyculture and Agroecology. So many interesting conversations and lots of connections! Thanks to all of our CSA members, who showed up to listen, learn, and sit by the bonfires. Please feel free to tag us on any social media photos of this day! Thanks also to Kath and John from Roos Roast who showed up and donated coffee for this event. We really appreciate our community of fellow nut lovers! Hope to see you next year!
3. THANKSGIVING CSA Registration will be opening within the next day or two! A detailed email notice will be sent to you this week after we tweak a few more details. You can also read more details about the Thanksgiving Share on our website under “CSA Info” and register here soon https://www.tantrefarm.com/how-does-our-thanksgiving-csa-work/. This share is a one-time pick-up of 60 to 80 pounds of produce for winter storage or to stock up on vegetables before the holiday for $135. This share will be available for pick up on Nov. 19 (the Saturday before Thanksgiving) at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market 7 AM-12 PM, Tantré Farm 2-5 PM, Washtenaw Food Hub 9 AM-12 PM, Agricole in Chelsea 9 AM-12 PM, and Pure Pastures in Plymouth 9 AM-5 PM. More specific details coming soon.
4. LOTS OF TIME TO STILL SIGN UP for IMMUNE BOOSTER CSA: This weekly CSA is a collaborative CSA with several local farms and food businesses that you can opt in or out of each week. A new menu is updated every week on our website with registration open Mon – Wed. Pick up is from 9 AM to 12 PM every Saturday in Ann Arbor and Chelsea: http://www.tantrefarm.com/how-does-our-immune-booster-csa-work/. Still time to sign up today until midnight!
5. PICK UP TIMES & LOCATIONS REMINDERS: **Distribution Coordinator will be at most sites during designated times.
*Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market (Wed.)—7 AM to 12 PM (TANTRE STAFF there the whole time)
*MOVE Fitness & Wellness Studio (Wed)—8 AM to 10 AM (No Volunteer, so text number on sign in sheet if questions)
*Farm (Wed.)—10 AM to 7 PM (TANTRE STAFF there with some self check-in)
*Washtenaw Food Hub (Wed.)–6 PM to 8 PM (No Volunteer, so text number on sign in sheet if questions )
*Pure Pastures (Wed.)—9 AM to 5 PM (PURE PASTURES STAFF will be there with some self check-in)
*Farm (Fri.)—2 PM to 7 PM (TANTRE STAFF will be there with some self check-in)
*Ann Arbor Farmers Market (Sat.) —7 AM to 12 PM (TANTRE STAFF there the whole time—Come to the market stall)
*Washtenaw Food Hub (Sat.)—9 AM to 12 PM (RYAN and Staff there the whole time)
*Chelsea Farmers’ Market (Sat.)—8 AM to 12 PM (DEB and staff there the whole time)
*Argus-Packard (Sat)—10:30 AM to 3 PM (ARGUS STAFF there the whole time)
*HoneyBee U-pick (Sat)–8 AM to 12 PM (TANTRE STAFF will be there the whole time)
*RoosRoast-Rosewood (Sat)–9 AM to 11 AM (LIZ is there the whole time)
RECIPES
WINTER VEGETABLE CHOWDER (from 366 Simply Delicious Dairy Free Recipes by Robin Robertson) Serves 6
1 tsp canola oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
1/2 cup turnip, chopped
1 sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 cup winter squash, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup sweet red or green pepper, chopped
1 tsp garlic, minced
3 cups vegetable stock or water
2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
2 cups kale (or Brussels crowns)
1 cup unsweetened soymilk
Salt and pepper, to taste
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and cook onions, celery, turnip, and carrot for 5 minutes. Add sweet potato, squash, bell pepper, garlic, stock or water, and herbs. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Boil greens in lightly salted water for 3-5 minutes. Drain and set aside. Puree soup in a blender (or use a stick blender in saucepan) until smooth. Return to saucepan. Stir in the soymilk, cooked greens, and salt and pepper to taste. Slowly heat the soup, being very careful not to boil. Serve.
CELERY SALAD WITH ROASTED PEPPERS AND MOZZARELLA (from Farmer John’s Cookbook by John Peterson) Serves 4-6
1 bunch celery
2 roasted green/red sweet peppers, cut into strips
4 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into strips
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
6 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 small clove garlic, minced (about 1/2 tsp)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
3 eggs, hard-cooked, sliced
Combine the celery, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, and parsley in a large bowl. Whisk together the oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad; toss to coat. Cover the bowl and chill for at least 2 hours. Toss again before serving. Arrange the egg slices decoratively around the salad.
SPAGHETTI SQUASH CASSEROLE (from Moosewood Cookbook) Serves 4-6
1 spaghetti squash
2 Tbsp butter
1 cup chopped onion
2 medium cloves garlic, minced
1/2 lb fresh, sliced mushrooms
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
Dash of thyme
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup cottage or ricotta cheese
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1 cup fine bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Halve the squash and scoop out seeds. Bake face-down on oiled sheet until it is easily pierced by a fork, about 30 minutes. Let stand until cool enough to touch, then scoop out pulp and place in large bowl. Meanwhile, heat butter and saute onions, garlic, and mushrooms with herbs, salt and pepper. When onions are soft, add tomatoes and continue to cook until most of the liquid evaporates. Stir this mixture into squash pulp with remaining ingredients except Parmesan. Spread into buttered 2-quart casserole. Top with Parmesan. Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes.
STIR-FRIED CELERY AND CARROT STRIPS (from Fast and Healthy Ways to Cook Vegetables) Serves 4-6
2-3 Tbsp salad oil
5-6 cups sliced celery, cut crosswise at an angle
2-3 cups carrots, cut in julienne (matchstick) strips
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1 Tbsp soy sauce or 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds
Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the celery, carrots, and onions. Saute until almost tender, about 6 minutes. Stir in the soy sauce or salt and almonds. Cook and stir until celery is tender-crisp, about 2 minutes longer.
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