Week 11; August 16, 2018

What's in the box?  

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sweet corn
tomatoes
cucumbers
bell peppers
salad turnips
onions
thyme
dragon tongue beans
salad mix
cantaloupe
watermelon (medium and large)

Notes on the box.

It's a great box for summertime.  Cantaloupe and watermelon can be stored in or out of the fridge depending on if you like to eat it cold or at room temp.  If you keep it out, you may have to eat it sooner.  After it's cut it should be stored in the fridge.  
The dragon tongue beans are an heirloom variety and one that we don't grow every year due to the fact that half of members seem to love them and the other half seem to not like them!  We personally love them.  They can be used as you would green beans.  They really shine chopped up in a raw bean, cucumber, and tomato salad.  

Cosmic Wheel Creamery Cheese Shares.

This week we have a younger cheese made this Spring and whose rind was washed in wine several times.  It's mild and creamy and a good melting cheese.
We also have celery sweet onion quark which is a new flavor.  We've all been pretty excited about it around here and it's been a hit at farmers market.  Great on a veggie sandwich with tomatoes and cucumbers and sliced peppers.  OR try it dolloped onto roasted beans or potatoes!  Hope you enjoy it!  

Recipes.

Mediterranean 3 Bean and Quinoa Salad Try this one with the dragon tongue beans and some tomatoes and cucumbers!

Cheddar Sweet Corn Pie

Basil Chive Cucumber and Corn Salad

Cucumber Salad Dressing

On the Farm. 

There won't be a delivery email today because your emailing farmer will be representing their county at the Wisconsin Farmers Union yearly convention. And your other farmer will be delivering your boxes!  Unless something comes up, you should be able to pick up your CSA box at the usual time.  

Next Week:
melons
peppers
tomatoes
onions
beans?
new potatoes
last of the sweet corn

Turnip Rock FarmerComment
Week 10; August 9, 2018

What's in the box?  

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sweet corn
basil
salad mix
green beans
carrots
onion
summer squash or zuchinni
garlic
broccoli (large and medium)
cucumbers
bell pepper or sweet pepper
tomatoes!

Notes on the box.

Tomatoes that you are planning on eating fresh should be kept out of the fridge.  They will hold best if you set them stem side down.  Try to eat the ripest ones first.  If they start to get too ripe you can put them in the fridge for cooked recipes.  If you don't think you'll get to them anytime soon and you have freezer space, we have a member that suggests removing the core and putting whole tomatoes into a freezer bag and freezing them for use in the winter.  She puts them whole into chili and veggie soups and fishes the tomato skins out because they come off as the tomatoes cook.  I haven't tried this yet, but I will be!  
Just a reminder that sweet corn is best eaten soon after it's picked.  Sugars being to turn to starches after its picked and that's the fresher the better!  If you can't eat it within the week, you can cut it off the cob and put kernels in a freezer bag and freeze for later.  I don't bother with blanching it and it's been totally fine.  
I like to store basil in a glass of water on the counter like you would a bouquet of flowers.
Garlic can be stored out of the fridge.  Everything else should go in the fridge.  

Cosmic Wheel Creamery Cheese Shares.

Fresh Whole Milk Ricotta.  Ahhhhh.  This stuff.  For so much more than just lasagna.  We are loving it on toast with a drizzle of olive oil and black pepper or with a drizzle of honey.  It should last about 2 weeks in the fridge and if you don't think you'll get to it in that time, you can put it in your freezer for a later date.  
Aquilla is our take on a jack style cheese.  Creamy and a nice melter.  Good for pretty much anything!

Recipes.

Quick Veggie Pasta
Cook 1/2 pound of pasta (bow ties or other shaped pasta)
Meanwhile, heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet and sauté 1/2 a chopped onion and the chopped stem of broccoli.  When that is half cooked add chopped broccoli florets, 1 minced garlic clove, and kernels from 2 ears of sweet corn.  Cook covered until steamed and tender and bright green.  Cut a handful of basil leaves into thin strips.  Drain pasta and mix with veggies and 2 tablespoons of butter and juice from 1/2 a lemon (zest optional).  Add basil before serving.  You can add a healthy spoonful of ricotta with a drizzle of nice olive oil and freshly ground black pepper on top.  

Tomato Ricotta Phyllo Tart

Whole Wheat Corn and Zucchini Galette

Oven Fried Garlic Parmesan Green Beans

On the Farm. 

Turnip Rock Farmer Comment
Week 9; August 2, 2018

What's in the box?  

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Sweet Corn!
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Bell Peppers
Broccoli (large and medium)
Cucumbers
Fennel
Green Beans
Carrots
Zukes/ Summer Squash
Onions

Notes on the box.

Sweet Corn will keep coming for the next few weeks. This variety is a personal favorite.  Sweet Corn will taste best the sooner it is eaten.  So we suggest a bunch of corn on the cob with dinner tonight for sure.  And any that you don't eat this evening should be stored in your fridge.  But if your family is anything like ours, you should get through it pretty quickly and easily!  
Store Tomatoes stem side down on your counter for best flavor and texture.  If you plan on cooking with them you can keep them in the fridge.  

Cosmic Wheel Creamery Cheese Shares.

Cheese Curds!  Like Sweet Corn!  are best eaten very fresh.  Enjoy them right away while you are waiting for the water to boil to cook sweet corn.  The squeak of the curds will come back if you let them warm up.  If you don't like squeaky cheese, eat them cold.  
Also included this week is our Circle of the Sun.  Probably my personal favorite of all the cheeses we make.  Tastes the most like distilled sunshine to me.  

Recipes.

Pan Bagnat with Fennel and Cucumbers

Apple Fennel Chicken Salad

Steamed Broccoli with Raisin Caper Vinaigrette   You can put the same Vinaigrette on grilled or roasted zuchinni and/or green beans, too

On the Farm. 

You might not be able to tell from the weather today, but we are at peak summer!  We love this time of year with all the wonderful favorite foods.  Last weekend we were grateful to get to go to Wisconsin  Farmers' Union Family Camp.  Just an overnight trip, but a really great time and fun to do some hiking, swimming, folk dancing, hot dog roasting, making s'mores... all while learning about the value of cooperation and the history of the National Farmers Union and the Wisconsin Farmers Union.  We are very grateful to our wonderful farm crew who worked over the weekend so that we could have family time during the Summer!  
Sadly, our dear Buster finished his life on Earth on Sunday evening.  He has been part of our family before we ever became a family.  Josh an Buster found each other in 2004.  Buster was already grown, but we don't know how old he was.  He had been rescued by some friends and they knew that Buster needed lots of space and freedom to roam, a safe place to always be outside (He must have had some kind of trauma about being inside at some point, he could not be inside alone.). He was truly the perfect farm dog.  He was great at keeping critters that we didn't want in the veggies out (he got a lot of rabbits, chipmunks, raccoons, and gophers out of the veggies) But he never went after any animals that he saw us caring for (that means we never had to worry about him killing chickens, which is usually a big challenge with dogs).  He's been retired for a few years now.  We have so many tales of Buster and his harrowing adventures.  We are so grateful for all the he did on the farm and we miss him a lot.  

Turnip Rock Farmer Comment