Sautéed Baby Squash with Basil and Feta
This recipe is courtesy of Cooking Light. It calls for pattypan squash, but you can substitute any of your other summer squashes, depending on what you have on hand. (more…)
Author: Bryan Housel
Farm News – August 1, 2022
Hi All! “Hot” and “dry” continue to be the best words to describe conditions on the farm. The few rain events that were forecast turned out to be duds, delivering only a few scattered drops. We are doing our best to keep water on the most important crops and keep newly sown seeds moist so that they will sprout. Just as they say about elections, drought has consequences. Our string bean crop has been languishing in the heat and producing small misshapen pods. Fortunately, we have some pole beans which have drip irrigation on them. These are an heirloom variety called the Rattlesnake bean (down south they call them Preacher beans). They are a flat pod type with some purple streaking and are generally quite sweet and tender. (more…)
Honey Roasted Rainbow Carrots
Colorful rainbow carrots make this veggie side dish, found on the Meal Makover Moms’ Kitchen food blog, impossible to resist. If you don’t have rainbow carrots, regular carrots work well too! Serves: 3-4. (more…)
Farm News – July 25, 2022
Hi Everyone, I hope you all have managed okay with this weekend’s scorching heat. It was hard on my workers, but, as always, they stoically endured it. Had it not been for the rain earlier in the week, it might have been devastating for the crops. We were hoping for some more precipitation today as cooler air moves in, unfortunately we got a scant tenth of an inch. Temps this week will be a little more bearable, especially with nighttime temperatures dropping into the sixties. Hopefully, there will be more rain soon. (more…)
Onions
Onions are part of the allium family of vegetables and herbs, which also includes chives, garlic, scallions, and leeks. Allium vegetables have been cultivated for centuries for their characteristic, pungent flavors and for their medicinal properties – these vegetables have been linked to a lower risk of certain cancers, including stomach and colorectal. A nutrient-dense food, onions are low in calories and high in beneficial nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. (more…)
Farro Salad with Grilled Eggplant
Hailing from Bobby Flay and the Food Network, I made this salad with weekend with those long, skinny eggplant. To die for!! You will notice there is no Southwest “heat” in this one — most unusual for Bobby. As presented, the recipe yielded way more than 4 servings, I’d say at least 8, but it keeps well in the fridge and we have lunch for a few days. (more…)
Farm News – July 18, 2022
Hi Folks, So, we have received some much-needed rain and are expecting more on Monday evening. Thus far we have not experienced the high winds or hail often associated with these summer storms. This will enable us to get back on our planting schedule and relieve us, at least temporarily, from the task of moving the sprinklers around the fields. We are still waiting to see whether my recent planting of carrots will germinate sufficiently to merit care or will need to be abandoned. Carrots sprout and grow very slowly and require extensive hand weeding. If there are not enough plants present in each row, it is not worth the effort, and I will need to replant. (more…)
Chinese Dry-Fried Green Beans
This Sichuan-style (also spelled Szechuan) green beans recipe, found on The Modern Proper food blog, is inspired by the deliciously blistered green beans just like you can get from your favorite Chinese takeout restaurant. The dry-fry is a technique that intentionally dries out the food that’s being cooked—in this case to make our spicy green beans recipe. Stir frying the green beans in hot oil causes them to release moisture and take on a crisp-chewy texture. Serves 4. (more…)
Farm News – July 11, 2022
Hello Everyone! As long-time members will attest, I am wont to whine about the weather. Thus far there has been little to complain about, but it has now been more than two weeks with no precipitation. It is becoming very dry, and with temperatures heading into the nineties, dry conditions make everything more challenging. We have been moving the sprinklers around the fields to aid newly seeded crops to germinate and to keep the broccoli and cauliflower crops moist at a critical time – as they begin to form heads. (more…)
Mexican Street Corn (aka Elotes)
This Mexican street corn recipe found on Simply Recipes is a staple of summer and it’s easy to make at home! Top char-grilled corn on the cob with a tangy, creamy sauce, sprinkle with crumbled cheese and dive in. Make this for your next backyard cook-out! Note that if you can’t find cojita cheese in your grocery store, it’s ok to omit or substitute another cheese.