This Weeks' Food (12/19/08)

Sorry for the short notice! This week orders need to get to me by noon friday. Here's this week's food options:

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic
* butternut squash @ $2.50/lb
* salad mix bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce & baby greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* mache bunch @ $3
* Asian greens - mei qing choi @ $3.60/lb or tat soi bunch @ $3
* vitamin green bunch @ $3
* rapini bunch @ $3
* mustard greens bunch (green wave or mizuna) @ $3
* kale bag (winter mix) @ $3
* collard greens bunch @ $3
* leeks @ $3.60/lb
* turnips bunch (hakurei) @ $3
* beets (small with lots of greens) bunch @ $3
* radish bunch (rosy or green meat) @ $2.50
* daikon radish @ $2/lb
* celery root @ $3.60/lb
* sunchokes @ $4.50/lb or a pint @ $5
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb
* satina potatoes -large (yellow with buttery texture) @ $2.50/lb
* satina potatoes - quart of small @ $5
* sieglinda potatoes -large (yellow and excellent baked) @ $2.65/lb
* sieglinda potatoes - quart of small @ $5
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb (approx $2/bulb)

From Good Fortune Farm:
* pastured, free range, organically fed turkeys $3/lb for a 1/2 turkey of about 16 lbs
or for individual parts (thigh, legs, wing)

From a farm in St. Mary's County:
* homemade scrapple @ $2.50/lb in 1 lb paper wrapped packages

From Fresh Start Farm:
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2/dz

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

This Weeks' Food (12/12/08)

This week orders need to get to me by noon friday. I will be picking up eggs from Fresh Start Farm tomorrow (thursday) so if you want eggs, let me know by phone as early as you can tomorrow or email tonight. Farmers do need time to know what to harvest and separate out for us before going to market. Here's this week's food options:

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic
* persimmons, asian @ $4/lb
* butternut squash @ $2.50/lb
* salad mix bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce & baby greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* mache bunch @ $3
* kale bunch (red russian, red bor & curly mix, siberian, or lacinato) @ $3
* collard greens bunch @ $3
* green cabbage @ $2/lb
* fennel @ $4/lb
* leeks @ $3.60/lb
* beets (small with lots of greens) bunch @ $3
* radish bunch (rosy, green meat, daikon) @ $3
* celery root @ $4.50/lb
* sunchokes @ $4.50/lb
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb
* adirondack red potatoes (large @ $2.50/lb)
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb (approx $2/bulb)

From Good Fortune Farm:
* pastured, free range, organically fed turkeys $3/lb for a 1/2 turkey of about 16 lbs

From a farm in St. Mary's County:
* homemade scrapple @ $2.50/lb in 1 lb paper wrapped packages

From Estevez Family Farm:
* humanely raised and chemical free pork chops @ $3/lb

From Fresh Start Farm:
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2/dz

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

Not Your Everyday Salad Greens (Mache and Cress)

Last week I had the pleasure of trying salad greens that were new to me. I tried cress (photo on left - see the ripe persimmon too?):



Cress comes bagged with these little leaves and long stems. You just dump into your bowl and eat! Cress alone was a bit tangy for me. I prefer it mixed with something (arugula needs to be mixed for me as well). I combined cress with mache (said like mosh). I have had mache before (photo on left) and really like it with a creamy style dressing. Mache comes bagges and in little leaf bunches that look rather like flowers. You grab the leaves all together and pull the stem off. The combination worked very nicely for salad at my house. Why don't you try some?

This Weeks' Food (12/4/08)

This week orders need to get to me by noon friday although before that would be better of course. Farmers do need time to know what to harvest and separate out for us before going to market. Here's this week's food options:

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic
* persimmons, asian @ $4/lb
* butternut squash @ $2.50/lb
* salad mix bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce & baby greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* mache bunch @ $3
* kale bunch (red russian, red bor & curly mix, siberian, or lacinato) @ $3
* collard greens bunch @ $3
* green cabbage @ $2/lb
* fennel @ $4/lb
* leeks @ $3.60/lb
* beets (small with lots of greens) bunch @ $3
* radish bunch (rosy, green meat, daikon) @ $3
* celery root @ $4.50/lb
* sunchokes @ $4.50/lb
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb
* adirondack red potatoes (large @ $2.50/lb)
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb (approx $2/bulb)

From Good Fortune Farm:
* pastured, free range, organically fed turkeys $3/lb for a 1/2 turkey of about 16 lbs

From a farm in St. Mary's County:
* homemade scrapple @ $2.50/lb in 1 lb paper wrapped packages

From Estevez Family Farm:
* humanely raised and chemical free pork chops @ $3/lb

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

This Weeks' Food (11/26/08)

Happy Almost Thanksgiving Everyone!

This week orders need to get to me by noon friday although before that would be better of course. Farmers do need time to know what to harvest and separate out for us before going to market. Here's this week's food options:

From Fresh Start Farm ...
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2/dz

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic
* persimmons, asian @ $4/lb
* acorn squash @ $2.50/lb
* butternut squash @ $2.50/lb
* mache bunch @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce mixed with baby greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* salad mix bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* kale bunch (red russian, red bor, curly, siberian, or lacinato) @ $3
* collard greens bunch @ $3
* green cabbage @ $2/lb
* fennel @ $4/lb
* leeks @ $3.60/lb
* kohlrabi bunch @ $3
* beets (small with lots of greens) bunch @ $3
* radish bunch (rosy, green meat, daikon) @ $3
* celery root @ $3/lb
* sunchokes @ $5.50/lb
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb
* adirondack red potatoes (large @ $2.50/lb)
* satina potatoes (large @ $2/lb)
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb

From Good Fortune Farm:
* pastured, free range, organically fed turkeys $3/lb for a 1/2 turkey of about 16 lbs

From a farm in St. Mary's County:
* homemade scrapple @ $2.50/lb in 1 lb paper wrapped packages

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

This Weeks' Food (11/19/08)

This week looks very similar to last week's except that I am no longer going to the farmer's market. The last two weeks my favorite farmers were not there. I might go up to Dupont Circle's Farmers Market in which case I can get organic mushrooms (typically $5-$10 per pound), goat cheese (typically $7/package), and lots of other yummies. Let me know if you want me to try and get these things for you and what price you would be willing to pay. Also, if you want a small amount of pork in about a week, you can share our portion at $3/lb. The farms will probably will have:

From Fresh Start Farm ...
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2/dz

From Estevez Family Farm ...
* organically grown kale (Blue Scotch Curled) @ $2/bunch

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic
* persimmons, asian @ $4/lb
* acorn squash @ $2.50/lb
* butternut squash @ $2.50/lb
* mache bunch @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce mixed with baby greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* salad mix bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* escarole bunch @ $4.80
* raddichio (round or cone leaves) @ $6.80/lb
* mustard greens bunch (green wave,arugula, or mizuna) @ $3
* vitamin green bunch @ $3
* rapini bunch @ $3
* kale bunch (red russian, red bor, curly, siberian, or lacinato) @ $3
* celery bunch (smaller and less watery) @ $3
* collard greens bunch @ $3
* cardoon bunch @ $4
* green cabbage @ $2/lb
* Asian Greens (mei quing choi @ $3.60/lb, tat soi @ $3)
* napa cabbage @ $1.60/lb
* kohlrabi bunch @ $3
* fennel @ $4/lb
* leeks @ $3.60/lb
* beets (small with lots of greens) bunch @ $3
* radish bunch (rosy, green meat, daikon) @ $3
* turnips bunch (hakurei) @ $3
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb
* adirondack red potatoes (large @ $2.50/lb)
* satina potatoes (large @ $2/lb)
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb
* ginger root (young) @ 15/lb

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

Need more than Produce?

I order most of my non-produce food from a natural food coop, Neshaminy Valley Natural Food Distributers (out of the Philadelphia area), which delivers to my door every month. Current customers are eligible to add on to my orders for a small additional fee. If you need grains, beans, baking supplies, recycled toilet paper, dried cranberries, or other things of that nature, feel free to contact me. Both bulk options (e.g. 5 lb bags) and retail sizes (often 3 item minimum) are available. Of course, items are less expensive if a bulk size is split up between us.

Orders are due to me at the same time as the regular local food delivery. The truck comes next wednesday. If you order dry goods which do not require refrigeration, I will hold them and deliver them with your next local food order. If you order cold items, you will need to come pick them up on wednesday. Payment is due upon delivery/pickup.

Dark Days Eat Local Challenge

This winter, I am participating in the Dark Days Eat Local Challenge put on by (not so) Urban Hennery. Read my blog posts about my local ingredient meals and join me!

Multicolor Fall Dinner

Here is my dinner last night. I made it as a make your own dish with each ingredient in a separate bowl. This picture reflects my personal choices and love of colors.



So the sweet potatoes are roasted with some olive oil, salt, and rosemary. The baby spinach leaves are cut into ribbons and left raw. Both veges are from Next Step Produce. The black beans are plain (cooked from dry in my crockpot overnight). The beans and the spiral organic pasta (Bionature brand) arrive with our monthly natural food coop food delivery. The white squares are homemade mozzarella from local milk. A dash of parmesan cheese adds zing to the overall dish.

Try some and enjoy!

This Weeks' Food (11/12/08)

This week we probably will have:

From the LaPlata Farmer's Market...
The following are conventionally grown
* apples - small or large (sweet or sour)@ $2/5 apples
* pears (asian and others) @ $2/5 pears
* small onions (yellow or red) @ $1/5 onions
* carrots @ $1/bag

From Fresh Start Farm ...
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2/dz

From Estevez Family Farm ...
* organically grown kale (Blue Scotch Curled) @ $1/bunch

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic
* acorn squash @ $2.50/lb
* butternut squash @ $2.50/lb
* parsley bunch @ $2.50
* spinach bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce mixed with bay greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* salad mix bag @ $3
* cress bag @ $3
* escarole bunch @ $4.80
* raddichio (round or cone leaves) @ $6.80/lb
* swiss chard bunch (white) @ $3
* mustard greens bunch (green wave,arugula, or mizuna) @ $3
* vitamin green bunch @ $3
* rapini bunch @ $3
* kale bunch (red russian, red bor, curly, siberian, or lacinato) @ $3
* celery bunch (smaller and less watery) @ $3
* collard greens bunch @ $3
* cardoon bunch @ $4
* Asian Greens (mei quing choi @ $3.60/lb, tat soi @ $2.60)
* napa cabbage @ $1.60/lb
* kohlrabi bunch @ $3
* fennel @ $4/lb
* leeks @ $3.60/lb
* beets (small with lots of greens) bunch @ $3
* radish bunch (rosy, green meat, daikon) @ $3
* turnips bunch (hakurei) @ $3
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb
* adirondack red potatoes (large @ $2.50/lb)
* lehigh potatoes (large @ $1.80/lb)
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb
* ginger root (young) @ 15/lb

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

This week's Food (11/6/08)

This week we probably will have:

From the LaPlata Farmer's Market...
The following are conventionally grown
* apples - small or large (sweet or sour)@ $2/5 apples
* pears (asian and others) @ $2/5 pears
* small onions (yellow or red) @ $1/5 onions
* carrots @ $1/bag

From Good Fortune Farm ...
* certified organic, free range X-Large eggs @ $4/dz

From Fresh Start Farm ...
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2/dz

From Estevez Family Farm ...
* organically grown kale (Blue Scotch Curled) @ $1.50/bunch

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic
* acorn squash @ $2.50/lb
* butternut squash @ $2.50/lb
* yardlong beans bunch @ $3
* parsley bunch @ $2.50
* spinach bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce mixed with bay greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* stir fry mix bag @ $3
* boston lettuce head @ $3
* crisp lettuce head (lite or dark @ $3)
* escarole bunch @ $4
* raddichio @ $6/lb
* dandelion bunch (red or green) @ $3
* swiss chard bunch (white or rainbow) @ $3
* mustard greens bunch (green wave or mizuna) @ $3
* vitamin green bunch @ $3
* rapini bunch @ $3
* kale bunch (red russian, red bor, curly, or lacinato) @ $3
* celery bunch (smaller and less watery) @ $3
* collard greens bunch @ $3
* cardoon bunch @ $4
* Asian Greens (mei quing choi, pac choi, tat soi) @ $2.50/lb
* napa cabbage @ $1.60/lb
* kohlrabi bunch @ $3
* fennel @ $4/lb
* leeks @ $3.60/lb
* beets (small with lots of greens) bunch @ $3
* radish bunch (french breakfast, pink beauty, cherry bell) @ $2.50
* turnips bunch (hakurei) @ $3
* pint of garnet sweet potatoes - small @ $3
* garnet sweet potatoes - large @ $2.20/lb
* blue potatoes (large @ $2.50/lb)
* carola potatoes (large @ $1.80/lb or small @ $5/qt)
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb
* ginger root (young) @ 15/lb

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

This week's Food (10/30/08)

This week we probably will have:

From the LaPlata Farmer's Market...
The following are conventionally grown
* apples - small or large (sweet or sour)@ $2/5 apples
* pears (asian and others) @ $2/5 pears
* small onions (yellow or red) @ $1/5 onions
* carrots @ $1/bag (bags contain about

From Good Fortune Farm ...
* certified organic, free range X-Large eggs @ $4/dz

From Fresh Start Farm ...
* free range, organically fed medium eggs @ $2/dz

From Estevez Family Farm ...
* organically grown kale (Blue Scotch Curled) @ $1.50/bunch

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all certified organic
* acorn squash @ $2.50/lb
* sweet potatoes @ $2/lb
* garlic (regular or elephant) @ $8.50/lb
* ginger root (young) @ 15/lb
* blue potatoes (small @ $5/qt)
* carola potatoes (large @ $2.50/lb or small @ $5/qt)
* radish bunch (french breakfast, pink beauty, cherry bell) @ $2.50
* turnips bunch (hakurei) @ $3
* beets (small with lots of greens) bunch @ $3
* leeks @ $3.60/lb
* fennel @ $4/lb
* kohlrabi bunch @ $3
* Asian Greens (mei quing choi, pac choi, tat soi) @ $2.50/lb
* napa cabbage @ $2/lb
* celery bunch (smaller and less watery) @ $3
* collard greens bunch @ $3
* kale bunch (red russian, red bor, curly, or lacinato) @ $3
* mustard greens bunch (green wave or mizuna) @ $3
* rapini bunch @ $3
* vitamin green bunch @ $3
* mustard greens bunch (mizuna, arugula, green wave) @ $3
* swiss chard bunch (white or rainbow) @ $3
* dandelion bunch (red or green) @ $3
* boston lettuce head @ $2.50
* crisp lettuce head (lite @ $2 or dark @ $2.50)
* romaine lettuce head @ $3
* spinach bag @ $3
* mesclun mix (baby lettuce mixed with bay greens + baby arugula) bag @ $3
* baby arugula bag @ $3
* parsley bunch @ $2.50
* yardlong beans bunch @ $3 (last call till next year)
* pole beans bunch @ $3 (last call till next year)
* green bell peppers @ $2.60/lb (last call till next year)

Please remember that between nature and labor, sometimes not everything on the list is actually harvested according to plan.

Free Range Local Pork Available

Wow, I just visited Lance Estevez's farm in Port Tobacco for the first time. He grows animals and vegetables in a humane, sustainable way. He is currently raising pigs (female), chickens, and turkeys. The fenced enclosures for each type of animal move to new ground frequently. They are fed conventional grain with absolutely no added hormones, antibiotics, or anything else. Baby pigs are fed a mineral-rich pig feed until they are able to sustain themselves on grain and foraging. The love rooting around in the fallow corn fields and woods. The egg laying hens have one rooster to keep them happy and a regular visiting rooster from a neighboring farm. Next year, he will be trying out some different chicken breeds. Next year he will be starting a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program for vegetables and possibly eggs if he gets around 10 people interested.

So if you are interested in local, antibiotic and hormone free, humanely grown pork, there are about 5-6 pigs available. If you want to split a pig, just let me know. The price is $3/lb of cut and wrapped pork. A half pig contains typically 60-80 lbs of meat. This is a complete price with no extra charges. Lance humanely kills the pigs and there are two options for getting the meat prepared depending on whether you want sausage seasoned and other such details. Interested? Contact me and I'll pass on his email address to you (and please tell him I gave you his name!).

Egg Weights and prices

Ever wondered why free range, organic eggs can be as much as $4 a dozen? Organic chicken feed is more expensive than conventional feed, but not a huge difference. And you want the free range chickens to eat plenty of bugs so the eggs are chock full of nutrients for you and bright yellow yolks as well. I find that the main price difference has to do with size.

All eggs sold in the state of Maryland must be sold by the following weight classes as specified by USDA standards (The minimum weight of each class increases by 3 oz more than the one smaller than it):

EGG WEIGHTS
SIZE OZ/DOZ
Small 18
Medium 21
Large 24
Extra Large 27
Jumbo 30

I recently purchased jumbo size eggs for baking from farmer #1. They were $4 a dozen. So that is $0.33 per egg or $0.13 per ounce of egg.

In the spring, from farmer #2, I purchased small eggs at $2 a dozen. That is $0.17 per egg and $0.11 per ounce of egg.

So the jumbo and small eggs are about the same price per ounce of egg which is what I care about when baking. When we are eating just eggs or omlettes, I use fewer jumbos than smalls and so they actually last us longer. Funny how things work out with math :-)

Lacinato Kale

Ok, so you just bought kale.

Lacinato kale actually. Now what?

Storage
Notice that the kale came wet and wrapped in wet newspaper. I store my kale wrapped in the wet newspaper and in the crisper/vege drawer of the refrigerator.

Cleaning
I have watched greens being washed at the farms when I visit and so I choose not to wash most greens again at home. Sometimes I will look at it and decide that it needs washed again, or will select out the leaves that I want to wash. Fill a clean sink or large bowl with old water, add the leaves, swish, let the mixture settle so the dirt falls down, then remove leaves.

Eating

1) The most useful for me is to chop it into tiny pieces using my food processor, put the kale into a zip top style bag, and throw it in the freezer. Then I can take out a small amount (like 2 Tablespoons) and add to pasta sauce, egg salad, tuna salad, pizza toppings, omelettes, or other foods. The lacinato kale is added to these foods without cooking or doing anything to it first.

2) Lacinato kale makes a good salad too. I prefer a creamy type of dressing with this green along with some sweet things like red pepper, carrots, apples, raisins, or cherry tomatoes. Since kale is a cold weather vege and tomatoes and peppers are warm weather, thereis little overlap. Mostly I go with the apples, carrots, raisins, oh! and dried cranberries.

3) Kale can also be sliced made into a nice pasta topping. After removing the thick portion of the stems, make a tall stack of kale leaves. Roll them up into a cylinder then slice thin to make kale ribbons. Slice and saute a small onion in some butter or oil, add garlic if you wish and brown, then add kale ribbons and cook till just turning bright green. Keep tasting the kale. It will get sweeter when it is done and bitter and yucky when over done.

Need more info on kale? Just let me know with a comment or email. Otherwise, enjoy!

This week's Food (10/23/08)

This week we have:

From the LaPlata Farmer's Market...
* apples - small or large (gala, fuji, mitsui, red delicious)@ $2/5 apples
* pears (asian and others) @ $2/5 pears

From Good Fortune Farm ...
* organic, free range X-Large eggs @ $4/dz

From Next Step Produce ...
The following are all organic
* garlic (music variety) @ $8.50/lb
* ginger root (young) @ 15/lb
* blue potatoes (large @ $2.50/lb or small @ $5/qt)
* carola potatoes (large @ $2.50/lb or small @ $5/qt)
* radish bunch (french breakfast, pink beauty, chery bell) @ $3
* beets (small with lots of greens) bunch @ $3
* leeks @ $3.60/lb
* fennel @ $5/lb
* kohlrabi bunch @ $3
* Asian Greens (mei quing choi, tat soi, and napa) @ $3/lb
* cardoon bunch @ $3
* celery bunch (smaller and less watery) @ $3
* collard greens bunch @ $3
* kale bunch (red russian, curly, or lacinato) @ $3
* mustard greens bunch (green wave or mizuna) @ $3
* swiss chard bunch (red, yellow, or rainbow) @ $3
* dandelion bunch (red or green) @ $3
* boston lettuce head @ $2.50
* crisp lettuce head (lite or dark) @ $3
* romaine lettuce head @ $3.50
* mesclun mix bag @ $3
* arugula bag @ $3
* parsley bunch @ $2.50