Friday, June 20, 2014

What to do with turnips?

OK, so we've heard from various members about various vegies that they aren't fond of. Beets are a common one (though pickled beets are a favorite at our table!) Also, some aren't much into kale. Etc....! For us, and me (Merlin) in particular, the one item I grow for you, not me (!) is cooking turnips. Mind you, raw salad turnips (Japanese type) are fine, and if they're sweet like in early-season, you can eat them like an apple. But cooked turnips?!!

This year, with a nice supply of good-quality cooking turnips (Purple-Top and Golden-Globe varieties), we've been on the hunt for ideas. If you can handle straight cooked turnips, more power to you!

Some ideas:

Mash them in with mashed potatoes. Add butter, or just salt and pepper to taste.

We've also used turnips in oven-roasted mixed vegetables. Cut in small pieces, they go nicely with a mix of many summer or fall vegetables. For example, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, onions, etc. Season with your favorite herb mix.

We're also trying out a "marinated radish salad", using turnips. The radish version has been tasty, so we'll see.... It's on the May 2010 page: http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2010/05/radical-radishes-marinated-radish-salad.html

A recent favorite is "Turnips with Honey and Lemon". This is a modification of the same recipe using radishes, from the RELISH.COM web site: http://relish.com/recipes/radishes-honey-lemon/

Turnips with Honey and Lemon

2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 Tbsp olive oil
3-4 nice-sized cooking turnips, roots trimmed, cut to bite-size
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp chives

Whisk honey, lemon juice and vinegar in a small bowl. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add turnips and saute' 2 minutes. Add honey mixture and stir to coat. Reduce heat to medium, cover and cook t minutes, or until soft, stirring occasionally. Add salt, pepper and chives. Serve warm or room temperature.


Send us your turnip ideas!

Monday, May 26, 2014

PONDERING PEAS...

One of the 2014 garden experiments was to do the first planting of peas in the high tunnel. I began with 2 rows in the west bed, planning to add tomatoes down the middle (on the cattle panel fence) as the ground warmed up and those starts were ready to set out. However, Merlin reminded me that we usually plant a double row which means ~300 feet of pea plants. Well, those first 2 rows only added up to ~90 feet. So, he planted the next bed over with 3 more rows. This variety is called Sugar Ann and is a sugar snap pea which will fill out its edible pod. It will also (mostly) support itself by making a mass of intertwined stems, so we don't put it on a trellis. That makes it fairly simple to clean up when it stops producing. Here is the 3-row bed from a couple different angles (note the leaf lettuce heads for size reference).



The second planting of Sugar Ann peas went into the main garden on May 3 along with a double row of Mammoth Snow peas. Many years, we get these weeded, but they grow quicker than we expect and they never get any trellis to support their growth. Harvesting is definitely easier if they're on a trellis and it gives the plants strength on our windy days, so we're trying a couple different methods of trellising this year. The second plantings should be ready to harvest when the first plants run out of strength (or we remove them to grow something else)! Photos show the two varieties 3 weeks after planting at 6"-8" tall.



The peas in the high tunnel were seeded at the end of March and beginning of April. The first harvest was last Tuesday, May 20. One one-gallon ice cream bucket full was simply NOT enough to spread out to all our Tuesday CSA shares! By Friday, though, we harvested 2 buckets which matched that day's CSA share needs. Today, I found 2 buckets on the first two rows and will pick the remaining three rows tomorrow because I ran out of storage space in my refrigerator!

Seasonal bounty is always fun to see! Both varieties are delicious when eaten raw, steamed, or in a stir-fry.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

February photos

Merlin & I are still alive and well here on (occasionally) Sunny Slope Farm! We saw the sun for a few minutes today after the morning flurry passed and a mostly cloudy day. Here's what has been happening lately:

Rita has been busy finishing needlework projects--fingerless gloves and a wall hanging:


Merlin rewired a portion of the kitchen to provide better lighting:


And, TA DA!!!! The first seedlings are up! Eggplants have germinated after 2 weeks in a warm, dark location and will begin the slow process of growth toward transplantation in May.


2014 CSA shares available for purchase now: Large $500, Small $300

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

List of Spring recipe blogs

Here is a list of links to earlier posts (many with pictures), for some of our Spring CSA items:

Rhubarb
Rhubarb sauce (to put on ice cream!)
-- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2009/06/strawberry-fields-forever.html

Rhubarb salad dressing -- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2012_05_01_archive.html
and of course everyone's favorite, strawberry rhubarb pie.

Asparagus
Hmmm... I think we always use all our asparagus lightly cooked or steamed -- one of Spring's fine pleasures!
Any other creative suggestions out there?

Spinach
Zuppa Tuscana -- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2011/06/two-kale-ideas.html
Mashed potato spinach casserole - http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2011/06/two-kale-ideas.html

Green onions
Does anyone have a favorite for these, besides munching them raw, or using them in general cooking?

Radishes
Marinated Radish Salad -- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2010/05/radical-radishes-marinated-radish-salad.html

Lettuce
Who has a favorite way of doing "wilted lettuce"?

Strawberries (!!)
Strawberry Vinaigrette dressing -- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2010/06/strawberry-vinaigrette-dressing.html
Strawberry Bread, Pie, Dacquiris, Strawberry Mabrooshee
-- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2009/06/strawberry-fields-forever.html
TNTC ("too numerous to count" the ways!)
-- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2011/06/strawberry-fields-forever-reprise.html

Mint
Orange Mint Tea -- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2010/06/orange-mint-tea.html

Herbs
Herbal Salad Dressing -- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2010/05/herbal-salad-dressing.html
Chive-tipped Focaccia -- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2010/05/rhubarb-sauce-chive-topped-focaccia.html

Eggs
Deviled Eggs -- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2009/05/early-summer-recipes.html
Clafuti (Egg custard) -- http://sunnyslopefarm.blogspot.com/2009/05/early-summer-recipes.html

We're always happy to receive ideas for your favorite ways to use vegetables, of course! Just drop us an email at sunnyslope@diodecom.net.

Merlin

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Still More Zucchini Recipes!

Yet another zucchini recipe, from The Splendid Table (NPR broadcast) -- August 18, 2012

Sweet and Hot Curried Zucchini Pickles
· 3 pounds zucchini, ends trimmed, cut into very thin rounds, 1/8-inch thick
· 2 red onions about the size of baseballs, peeled and cut into thin slices
· 3 to 4 colorful chile peppers of your choice, cut into thin rounds
· 1/4 cup kosher or other coarse salt
· 1 cup seedless golden raisins (optional)
· 2 3/4 cups distilled white vinegar
· 3/4 cup sherry
· 1 1/2 cups orange juice
· 2 cups sugar
· 2 tablespoons prepared curry powder
· 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
· 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
· 1 teaspoon whole cloves
· 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
· 1 piece of ginger, size of your thumb, peeled and sliced into very thin coins

· 1. In a large nonreactive bowl, combine the zucchini, onions, chilies, and salt, and let them stand for 1 hour. Drain and rinse twice to remove the salt, then add the grapes and set aside.
· 2. In a medium nonreactive saucepan, bring all the remaining ingredients except the ginger to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring once or twice to dissolve the sugar. Pour the hot liquid over the squash mixture; the squash should be amply covered or slightly afloat. Add the ginger to the squash mixture, allow to cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate.
· 3. These pickles develop great flavor within a couple hour of refrigeration and will keep well, covered and refrigerated, for 3 to 4 weeks.

AND....... Summer Stir Fry
http://mostlyfoodstuffs.blogspot.com/2011/07/summer-stir-fry.html
by deena from portland, Oregon
Monday, July 25, 2011



A few years back I was discussing the television show The Wire with a friend, talking about its gritty depiction of drugs, police and poverty in Baltimore. My friend observed that it was this amazing, compelling window into a world that she just never, ever, ever wanted to visit. To a limited extent, I feel that way when I read certain blogs.

Like many blog readers, I have a mild obsession with The Pioneer Woman. I linger dreamily over her descriptions of life on a ranch, of storybook romance, of the grown-up fantasy of Little House on the Prairie meets a Viking range and high speed internet (and without the smallpox and scarlet fever). But the recipes? I generally am not going to go there.

Summer Stir Fry

inspired by The Pioneer Woman
serves ~3-4

1-2 Tbsp butter or olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
3/4 lb shrimp
2 zucchinis, thinly sliced
3 ears of corn, kernels sliced off (if you have a bundt pan, jamming the ear into the center ring and slicing so that kernels fall into the pan works brilliantly)
juice of 1/2 lime
1 handful basil, thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 avocado, cubed

Heat a large skillet over a medium-high flame. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter or oil, and then the garlic and saute until just beginning to turn golden. Add the shrimp, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the shrimp are just barely cooked through. Pour the shrimp and garlic out into a large bowl, and set aside.

Add the zucchini to the pan, with additional butter or oil if needed. Sautee until softened and beginning to color. Remove from the pan (you can just add it to the same bowl as the shrimp and garlic).

Add the corn to the skillet, and cook just a minute or two until it turns a darker color but is still crisp. Turn off the flame, and add the corn to the shrimp and zucchini. Season the mixture with the lime juice, basil, and salt and pepper. Mix well, and adjust seasonings as needed. Add the cubed avocado, and stir gently to mix. This is great warm from the skillet, or cold from the fridge.


Thursday, May 3, 2012

AN EARLY SPRING

What can I say? We thought we were getting an early start on seeding vegetable flats and suddenly, spring arrived early! After 3 years, we thought that our CSA shares would begin in mid-May and suddenly, spring arrived early! To prepare for our daughter's wedding I asked advice of seasoned flower growers, who told me I probably couldn't have things blooming by mid-June, but I planted seeds in mid-January and suddenly, spring arrived early!

Life has been hectic the past 2 months trying to do 3-4 months of work, but we've had some real successes to celebrate! I had flowers (marigolds and pot-marigolds and zinnias) by the end of March, so my flower beds and planters are now prepared and hopefully the plantings will be fully developed by the time of the wedding. Thanks to a neighbor's gift, I had a nearly limitless supply of 4" pots to re-pot my seedlings as they grew and I waited through several temperature swings (into the 80s and 90s) for frost to become less likely. Three varieties of tomatoes and two varieties of eggplant are now transplanted into the main garden. I've never had such large, healthy plants the first week of May. Twelve rows of potatoes went in around Easter; 6 types of onions are in the ground along with most of our broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage starts. The fall spinach planting once again forced our hand on share delivery with the first boxes being packed during Easter week and the second boxes packed April 24 & 28 (featuring wonderful lettuce and asparagus). I had just begun to try some new recipes for rhubarb and we're rapidly entering Strawberry Season!

Here is a new favorite for rhubarb which you can enjoy with spring greens, once again from Simply in Season:

Rhubarb Dressing

2 C rhubarb, chopped
½ c sugar
¼ c vinegar
3/4 c oil
2-3 T onion, grated
1½ t Worcestershire sauce
¼ t salt

Cook rhubarb, sugar, and vinegar over medium heat until soft.
Drain in sieve. Discard pulp. To 6 tablespoons of this juice, add remaining ingredients. Shake in jar or whisk together. Chill at least 1 hour before serving.
NOTE: My batch made 13-14 tablespoons of juice and I used it all in one batch of dressing.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Too Many Onions???

Do you have a large quantity of onions that you need or want to use quickly? Here's a recipe Rachel found and made with her best friend several years ago. We enjoyed it again the other night after harvesting a complete row of Texas Super Sweet onions and separating out a large quantity of "seconds" for home use.

Onion Pasta Serves 4-6

5 onions, thinly sliced
1/2 c olive oil
4 T butter
1 c water
1 t dried basil
1 T chicken bouillon
1 pinch black pepper
1 lb. uncooked pasta
Parmesan cheese

Sauté onions in oil and butter until golden brown. Add basil, pepper, water, and bouillon. Cook on low 10 minutes. Boil pasta in separate pan. Add onion mixture to cooked pasta, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, toss, & serve.
NOTE: Good with chicken pieces added.