Showing posts with label summer solstice. Show all posts

Solstices, Super Moons and Summer Storms

....If you are plugged in or tuned to the natural world, there's no need to explain how such events rumble through farm life.  For those of you who don't follow, we'll explain.  But first....we have an exciting CSA table this week!  At first glance it may seem kinda short, but the following list could very well look different tomorrow (as in, there will be some wonderful, surprising additions to your share...expect the unexpected!).

Our spread this week:
  • Head Lettuce
  • Garlic Scapes
  • Kale bunch
  • Collards bunch
  • Fennel (frond & bulb)
  • Sugar Snap Peas
  • Spring Onions

...and more!


This week has been quite the showcasing of Mother Nature's forces at work!   This past Friday was the Summer Solstice during a waxing moon, followed two days later by the pinnacle of the Full Moon; which, to make it even more extreme, happened to be a "Super Moon."   Supposedly this is when the moon is at its closest to the earth in its orbit during the year, and is said to look 30-40% larger than usual (I went outside to look at the moon on the night of its "superiority"...sadly it was behind a thick veil of clouds and looked like an indeterminate-sized blob, so I cannot speak of the stunning size and visuals of the super moon from experience).

If you have had any encounter with the wild effects of the moon when it's full, you probably have an idea of what a Super-Full Moon could do.  Think of ocean riptides, coyotes and wolves (werewolves too), hippies in the desert if you give them a dope spot and enough djembes, you or your girlfriend's mood swings (she won't admit it but it's true) or the mayhem on the OB/GYN floor of a hospital as almost all expecting mothers go into labor simultaneously (just ask my mom).  In the natural world, plant and animal life is going crazy too, there is so much energy and sunlight coming from the sky all of the time, that the plants are having an all-you-can-eat photo-synthesis buffet and the animals are following suit and making their own huge buffet of them.  Our plants are no exception, and the deer out here are getting braver and braver in order to dine on them, venturing quite close to the barn these days!  Our crops have not known when to stop growing.  I have literally blinked and seen our kale plants grow an inch.  Well, maybe that is hyperbole; let's just say, this week our vegetables will grow more than they ever will at any point in the year.  Since it's the Summer Solstice, they are receiving more daytime rays for nourishment than ever during the longest days of the year, and because of the full moon at night, the photo-synthesis doesn't end!  Not a whole lot of people may know, but plants greatly benefit from the solar energy reflected from off of the moon at night.  Things are just growing and growing! 

Which would be a good thing, right?  Except (and some believe that perhaps this is the Super-Duper Moon's fault) we've had some pretty crazy, destructive storms.  We were visited by large hail a couple of nights ago which, regardless of how much our plants are benefiting from the 24/7 light show right now, really banged up a lot of them, especially our lettuces.  So just a little "heads" up...our head lettuce may have sustained some hail damage, and may have some bruises and holes in the leaves.  They will still taste delicious but we hope for your understanding of such unpredictable weather events!

And to add to the crazy, yesterday's storm almost sent a tornado our way!  Weather watchers saw one touch down only a couple miles away from us, and there was quite the intimidating wall cloud which passed over the farm.  We're glad it missed us (and that our greenhouses are still here)!

With that said, we hope you all have a great week and that mama nature calms down a little.  See you at market!


Recipes

Spicy Grilled Shrimp with Rice and Mango Salad and Sesame Sugar Snap Peas (www.bonappetit.com)

 

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
  • 16 uncooked jumbo shrimp, peeled, deveined
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 cups cooked short-grain brown rice (about 1 1/4 cups uncooked)
  • 1 mango, peeled, pitted, chopped
  • 4 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces sugar snap peas
  • 1 teaspoon oriental sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • 4 10- to 12-inch metal skewers

 

Preparation

  • Whisk 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon ginger, and crushed red pepper in bowl. Add shrimp; toss. Chill 2 hours.
  • Whisk 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon ginger, lime juice, and soy sauce in another bowl. Add rice, mango, and onions; toss well. Cover rice salad; let stand at room temperature.
  • Boil sugar snap peas in salted water until crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Drain peas and transfer to medium bowl. Toss peas with sesame oil and sesame seeds.
  • Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Thread 4 shrimp onto each of 4 skewers. Grill shrimp until just opaque in center, about 2 minutes per side.
  • Mound rice and mango salad in center of large platter; surround with sesame sugar snap peas. Top with grilled shrimp skewers and serve.



Spinach* and Kale Turnovers (www.myrecipes.com) 
 *Echollective Twist: they can also be just Kale turnovers!  Substitute spinach amount for kale (or collard!) amount.

Ingredients
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil 
  • 1 cup chopped onion 
  • 1 garlic clove, chopped 
  • 3 cups chopped kale (about 1 small bunch)
  • 1 (6-ounce) package fresh baby spinach 
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup (3 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 (11.3-ounce) can refrigerated dinner roll dough (such as Pillsbury)
  • Cooking spray
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 375°.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 10 minutes or until tender and lightly browned. Add garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Add kale and spinach; sauté 8 minutes or until kale is tender. Stir in pepper, salt, and nutmeg. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Stir in feta.
  3. Separate dough into 8 pieces. Roll each dough piece into a 5-inch circle. Spoon about 1/3 cup kale mixture on half of each circle, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Fold dough over kale mixture until edges almost meet. Bring bottom edge of dough over top edge; crimp edges of dough with fingers to form a rim.
  4. Place turnovers on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Lightly coat turnovers with cooking spray; sprinkle each turnover with about 1 teaspoon Parmesan. Bake at 375° for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand at least 5 minutes before serving; serve warm or at room temperature.


Caramelized Fennel (putneyfarm.com)
(Adapted from Chez Panisse Vegetables)

Notes Before You Start:
  • The key to this dish is to brown, not steam, the fennel. Keep the pan hot and spread out the fennel, no crowding. Cook in batches if necessary- the only problem will be that you will finish the first batch before the next batch is done. Yes, this dish is that good.
What You Get: A great fennel recipe. Really.
What You Need: No special equipment is required.
How Long: 20 minutes, maybe more if cooking in batches. 5 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking. You can make this dish any time.

Ingredients:
(Serves 4 as a side dish)
  • 2 Large fennel bulbs
  • ¼ Cup olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper
  • ½ Lemon
Assemble:
  1. Using a very sharp knife, cut the top and bottom from the fennel bulbs and then remove tough or bruised outer layers. You will end up with a bulb about the size of your fist.
  2. Slice the bulbs in half and then remove the cores from the fennel. Then cut the fennel lengthwise into 1/8 inch slices (it is ok if a little thicker).
  3. Heat a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. When hot, add the olive oil and then the fennel slices. Spread the fennel out in the pan to encourage browning.
  4. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping the fennel slices every few minutes, until golden brown.
  5. Remove the fennel from the pan and drain off any excess oil. Season with salt, pepper and lemon juice, to taste. Serve.

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 Please tell us if you can't identify something on the market table, don't know what to do with a particular item, have a food allergy we should know about, or if you have other questions or comments. We love to hear from you!
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The Cusp of Summer

The sun has been out, the days have become hot and incredibly long, the storms have receded and we are starting to pick a LOT of scapes.  The garlic greens are crisping at the edges, a sign that they are dying back and it is almost time for the great Garlic Pull (it's still a few weeks away though; but soon!).  It must mean summer is here, or at least that it will be soon enough.  This week is indeed the week of the Summer Solstice, as it approaches us this Friday.  It is a day many know and dub the longest day of the year, or some people may just know it as a day that the Celts might really like for some reason.  For us farmers out here, we sometimes don't really know how to feel about it.  On one hand, we dread such a long day, feeling impelled to work all hours of daylight and get as much as we can done.  Sometimes the sun feels like a really over-bearing, high-heat-exuding work supervisor who looks down from us at the sky and shakes his finger, saying "get to work!"  There is always some pressure to get things done while it is light, and the longest day of the year is no exception.  But on the other hand...it means that the days that come after will be getting shorter!

So we have a little announcement in regards to CSA's we will be offering, quite possibly at the end of this summer: we are introducing the University Student CSA Share!  The plan is still in formulation, but it will go something as follows: You don't have to be a student, not necessarily.  CSA duration will be from August until Nov./Dec. (TBA).  We have seen the need for many folks to want to sign on to our CSA Summer season in August, whether they are a U of Iowa student who wants some organic veggies or if you are away for summer....it don't matter!  More details to come, so stay tuned.

As for the here and now, CSA this week includes:

  • Salad Mix
  • Head Lettuce
  • Garlic Scapes
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Green Onions
  • Collard Greens (or Kale)
  • Fennel

We are excited to bring you Fennel this week, and no, not the seeds....the whole bulb and fronds!  We have truly produced a gorgeous crop this year, and we will be providing you with some amazing recipes on how to prepare this delicious plant, considered both a vegetable and culinary herb.

Stay cool, and we'll see you at market!


Recipes 

Carmelized, Braised Fennel Bulb (www.huffingtonpost.com)

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 whole fennel bulbs, trimmed and quartered
  • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and gently bashed
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds, toasted (optional)
  • 2 1/2 3 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions

  • Place a large saute pan over high heat and add olive oil. Add fennel and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes until slightly charred on all sides. Season with salt and pepper. Deglaze with white wine then add toasted fennel seeds and chicken stock. Depending on the size of your pan you may need to add more liquid so the fennel is about 3/4 covered. Bring to a simmer, cover and braise on stove top for 30 minutes until very tender.
  • Remove fennel from braising liquid. Reduce liquid on stove top for a further 3-4 minutes then add butter and swirl to dissolve. Serve as sauce on fennel bulb.


Sausage, Fennel and Asparagus Pizza (bevcooks.com)

What it took for 2 12-inch pizzas:
* 1 cup all purpose flour
* 1 cup whole wheat flour
* 1/2 Cup Bisquick
* 1 packet dry active yeast
* 1 cup warm water, divided
* 1 tsp honey
* 1 tsp salt
* 3 Tbs. extra-virgin oil, divided
* 2 cups cherry tomatoes
* 1/2 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed and diced
* 1 fennel bulb, end trimmed, core removed and sliced thinly
* 3 sausages or brats of your choice
* 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
* fresh basil for garnish, if desired

In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast into 1/4 cup warm water and honey. Let sit 5 minutes, until nice and bubbly.
In a larger bowl combine the flours, the Bisquick and salt. Add 1 Tbs oil, the yeast mixture and the remaining 3/4 cup water. Mix the dough with a spoon or your hands for about 4 minutes, until you form a ball. If you need to toss in a bit more flour, go ahead. You want a nice smooth dough ball. Flip the dough onto a clean surface and knead for about 2 minutes, getting it extra smooth and awesome.
Put the dough ball in a large bowl with a little oil coating it, cover with a warm damp towel and let the dough rise for about 45 minutes.
Once the dough has risen, using a pastry cutter, divide the ball into equal smaller balls, 2 to 4.
On a floured surface, Roll out the dough to your desired thinness.
Preheat the grill to medium-high.
In the meantime, throw about 1 1/2 cup of the tomatoes into a mini food processor and blend until smooth. Then pour the puree into a small sauce pan and simmer with a pinch of salt, pepper, and a basil leaf or two for 5 minutes.
Heat the remaining oil in a medium skillet and toss in the sliced fennel. Saute until it starts to soften, 5 minutes. Add the asparagus and tomatoes and saute another 3 minutes, until everything pops and is crisp-tender. Add in a pinch of salt and pepper.
Back on the grill, add the sausages and grill until plump and lightly charred, roughly 20 minutes, depending on your sausages. Remove from heat and cut into small half circles. (You can always brown Italian sausage (casings removed) in a pan if you want. Which I normally want.)
Brush the grates with a little oil, and place each pizza crust right on it. Grill until the bottom is set, 3 minutes. Remove crust from grill and flip it over. Spoon out a layer of tomato sauce, followed by the fennel, asparagus, cherry tomatoes and diced sausages. Sprinkle with mozzarella and back on the grill it goes for another 15 minutes or so, until the cheese is nice and bubbly and the dough is cooked through. But keep an eye on it. Not all grills are created equal and I don’t want you to hate me if yours burns. Coo?
Top with more fresh basil if desired, slice and inhale.


 Quick Braised Collards with Pot Liquor (www.huffingtonpost.com)

Ingredients

  • 2 bunches collard greens (about ¾ pound each)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup Chicken Stock or reduced-sodium canned broth
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

Directions

  • With a paring knife, cut the ribs out of each collard green. Stack and roll the greens up like a cigar. Then cut them crosswise into ribbons. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the greens for 5 minutes. Drain.
  • In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and cook until starting to turn golden, about 4 minutes.
  • Add the blanched collards to the pan, sprinkle with the salt, and add the stock. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the collards are very tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, sprinkle with the hot pepper flakes, and serve the collards with their pan juices.
  • VARIATIONS: • Add 1/2 pound diced smoked sausage when you sauté the collards. • If you want the smoked flavor without the heat, add some sweet smoked paprika to the collards as they’re sautéed. • Omit the hot pepper flakes and pass hot sauce at the table so diners can season the collards themselves.

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 Please tell us if you can't identify something on the market table, don't know what to do with a particular item, have a food allergy we should know about, or if you have other questions or comments. We love to hear from you!
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