Salad every day!
I love salad, it’s the easiest way to get some really good nutrition! Lately I am using any of the choi’s for salad. I love to chop the greens up small for salad and then use the stems in a stir fry, or even like celery in soup or a chicken salad. We have Bak choi, tatsoi, Pok choi and more, honestly I forget which is which sometimes because farmer Sean does the planting. I just love them all, so green and so tender and mild!
This week we have choices for you since it is the meat pick up we will offer the veggies market style from 2-5 (Thursday and Saturday) like we do all summer. We have some choi, kale, lettuce, cabbage, scallions, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, pumpkins, butternut, delicata and spaghetti squash and more! Remember if you don’t make it during pick up times we will leave your share in the cabin labeled for you.
This time of year is perfect for thawing a whole chicken (or for us about 4) and then cutting it up for parts. It’s so fast and easy, anyone can do it. I love to serve the legs and thighs first. I just cut the off the bird and put into a pyrex pan with some herbs and salt and start cooking. I bake them at 350 for about an hour and a half to get them nice and tender and juicy. Next I cut the breast meat off and put the backs directly into a pot of water with herbs, salt and vinegar. Simmer about 12-24 hours and strain for some amazing bone broth. I keep this on hand 24/7 in my fridge for quick soups. Then I like to save the breast meat for a quick dinner or nice way to top a salad. We marinade ours in pickle juice for a 1/2 hour before cooking. Enjoy!
We have a limited number of Christmas trees and wreaths available during CSA pick up as well this week. We also have fresh centerpieces that will bring cheer to anyone’s table! Come on out and visit! We hope you all are enjoying the colder weather and taking time to slow down and sip some tea or hot cocoa with loved ones. I love to remind folks of our favorite hot cocoa recipe this time of year:
Frothy Hot Cocoa
4 cups raw milk, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup raw honey or maple syrup, 2 Tbs butter, 2 Tbs coconut oil, 1/4 cup gelatin
Heat 3 3/4 cups milk in pan, in a small bowl mix remaining milk with gelatin, honey and cocoa powder. Stir with a small whisk until a smooth paste is formed. Pour the cocoa past into the heated milk and whisk until smooth. Add the butter and coconut oil, whip with an immersion blender until frothy. Serve with whipped cream for a big treat! It will warm your heart and make someone smile!
We love seeing the little crops grow in the greenhouse, I think the slower growing during the winter makes it more fun to watch. We are enjoying our little calf and in a few weeks will be on baby watch again with our next heifer due shortly before Christmas. The barn yard is more quiet these days with most of the poultry gone, but we will have more piglets arriving in the next month or two.
Have a blessed week!
Blessings,
Your Friends and Farmers