TANTRÉ FARM CSA NEWSLETTER
“Extended Fall CSA Share”
WEEK 2
Oct. 23-29, 2011

THIS WEEK’S SHARE
We usually try to give you a pretty accurate listing of the produce in your box, but since the newsletter is published before the harvest, sometimes we may substitute some vegetables for others.

BROCCOLI: deep emerald green, tiny buds that are clustered on top of stout, edible stems.
How to use: steam, stir-fry, roasted, or chop raw into salads
How to store: refrigerate for up to 1 week or more

CARROTS (Sugarsnax): smooth, uniform, 9-inch tapered roots that are tender and sweet.
How to use: used raw as carrot sticks, grated in salads or juiced; steamed or sautéed in stews, soups, casseroles, stir-fries
How to store: Remove greens from roots and refrigerate dry and unwashed roots in plastic bag for up to 2 weeks; greens may last up to a week refrigerated in plastic bag–greens are great in Carrot Top Soup recipe, which can be found on our website!

CAULIFLOWER (Romanesco): lime green, spiraled heads with pointed, spiraled pinnacles; crisp and mild.
How to use: Raw for salads and dips, steamed, sautéed, or roasted.
How to store: Sweetest and best when used within a week when stored in the refrigerator, but can last up to 2 weeks.
How to freeze: Blanch 2-4 minutes, rinse under cold water, drain and dry, pack into freezer bags.

FRESH HERBS: In general, store herbs upright with cut stems in 1 or 2 inches of water and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or wrap in slightly dampened cloth and store in refrigerator. You may choose ONE from the following 4 Herbs: Italian Flat-leaf Parsley (flat, glossy, dark green leaves have a strong parsley/celery flavor for use dried or fresh), Cilantro (the flat, delicate, lacy-edged leaves and stems of the coriander plant, which look a lot like flat-leaf parsley with an almost citrus fragrance that is good in highly spiced foods), French Sorrel (slightly tart, lemon-flavored green; excellent for salads, soups, and sauces; can be used in omelets, breads, or cooked as a side dish), Thyme (tiny green leaves used in meat and vegetable dishes and most casseroles, soups, stews, and as teas can soothe sore throats).

KALE: You will receive Red Russian Kale (the stems are purple, and leaves are deep gray-green, purple-veined, flat, non-curled, and tooth-edged.) or White Russian Kale (a sister variety of Red Russian only with white and green veins or stalks) or Red Curly Kale (well ruffled green or red leaves with red stems). All very sweet right now after a touch of frost.
How to use: for salads, soups, and light cooking
How to store: keep in plastic bag or damp towel in refrigerator for up to 1 week

BABY LETTUCE: a custom mix of baby heads of red and green lettuces such as Rouge D’Hiver, Parris Island, Red Saladbowl, Royal Oak, and Saladbowl.
How to use: used for salads and sautéing–cooks up quickly
How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag for 2 to 4 days.

MIZUNA: a tender, Asian salad green with sharply serrated, green leaves.
How to use: used for salads, but can be sautéed–cooks up quickly
How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag for 2 to 4 days.

SWEET ONIONS (Mars Red): purple-red onion with sweet flavor.
How to use: can be grilled or roasted whole as a vegetable or chopped in salads, soups, & other dishes for flavor
How to store: wrap in damp towel/bag in fridge for 2-7 days.

HOT PEPPERS: You will receive Poblano (known as “poblanos” when black-green and popular in Southwestern recipes; heart-shaped fruit, which is mildly pungent with a lightly sweet, medium-hot flavor) or Serrano (cylindrical fruit with excellent, very hot flavor; usually eaten fresh green in sauces, condiments, or as a key ingredient in fiery Mexican dishes).
How to use: Handle hot peppers with gloves, and cut on glass plate. Often roasted, chopped, and used to season corn bread and cheese dishes; good for stuffed appetizers, jams, salsa, and pickles.
How to store: For fresh peppers, store in refrigerator. For drying peppers, place string through the stems and hang in cool, dry, well-ventilated spot.

PAC CHOI (Asian Green): also sometimes called “bok choy”; crisp, crunchy, broad green, oval leaves, which taper to white stalks forming a perfect vase shape when small; slight mustard flavor.
How to use: delightful addition to stir-fries, soups, noodle and meat dishes, and salads
How to store: Wrap in a damp towel or plastic bag in the refrigerator lasting for up to 1 week.

SWEET GREEN PEPPERS: You will receive Apple Pimento (cylindrical, lobed-end fruits with mild, juicy, sweet flesh) or Green Bell (large blocky cells with fruity, sweet flavor).
How to use: eat raw for best nutrient retention, but also added to soups, stews, omelets, quiches, stir-fries, etc.
How to store: refrigerate unwashed in hydrator drawer for 1-2 weeks. Peppers can be easily frozen by washing, chopping, and placing in freezer bags. Also, peppers can be dehydrated.

POTATOES: You may choose from Red Norland (smooth, red skin and white flesh; great baked, boiled, or roasted) and Swedish Almond Fingerling (dry, golden-fleshed heirloom fingerling from Sweden; perfect baked, roasted, or mashed).
How to store: Keep unwashed in cool, dark place in paper bag; ideal temperature is 38-40 degrees with 80-90% humidity, but no condensation. A basement or very cool closet will work. If too warm or stored with onions or apples, they will shrivel and sprout; light turns them green; don’t refrigerate, since the starches turn to sugars.

RADISHES (Easter Egg): a beautiful mix of red, purple, pink, and white round radishes; crisp and mild flavor.
How to use: raw, roasted, used in soups, sliced in salads, sandwiches, or stir-fries, grated in slaws; Radish greens (excellent source of vitamins A, C, and the B’s) delicious in soups or stir-fries.
How to store: refrigerate in plastic bag/damp towel for 1-2 weeks.

WHITE HAKUREI TURNIPS and GREENS: A white salad turnip with round, smooth roots that have a sweet, fruity flavor with a crisp, tender texture.
How to use: Roots are good in salads and soups. Greens are slightly sweet and can be boiled, steamed, sautéed, stir-fried, and since hairless, are good in salads.
How to store: separate greens from roots and store each in plastic bag in refrigerator for up to 7 days.

WINTER SQUASH/PUMPKIN: You will choose from:
Acorn (small, green ribbed squash with pale yellow flesh, Delicata (small, oblong, creamy colored with long green stripes, only slightly ribbed; pale yellow, sweet flesh; edible skin; best eaten within 4 months of harvest), Spaghetti (3-5-pounds, pale yellow, oblong, smooth, medium size, only mildly sweet with “spaghetti” (stringy) flesh; bake like squash or boil and fork out the flesh, topping the “spaghetti” flesh with your favorite sauce; mildly sweet), or Pie Pumpkin (bright orange skin with dry, sweet flesh).
How to use: boil or steam chunks for 15-20 minutes, or until tender; mash cooked squash with butter; or add uncooked chunks to soups or stews; add small amounts to yeast breads, muffins, cookies, pies.
How to store: Keep for several months (depending on the variety) in a dry, moderately warm (50-60 degrees), but not freezing location with 60-75% humidity; will also store at room temperature

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. HARVEST AT THE FARM: Please call ahead if you plan to u-pick or pick up on other days besides Farm Distribution Days (Wed. and Fri.), so we can make sure someone is around.
U-pick Broccoli—$0.50/lb. Good time for freezing.
U-pick Cauliflower–$1/lb. Good time for freezing.
U-pick Shelling Beans–$1/lb. Christmas Lima, Black Turtle, & Tongue of Fire.
U-pick Turnips–$1/lb. White Hakurei & Scarlet Red (Good time for lacto-fermenting)

2. THANKSGIVING SHARE AVAILABLE! We are offering a Thanksgiving share for pick up on Nov. 19, the Saturday before Thanksgiving, at the Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market from 7 A.M. until noon or at Tantré Farm from 2-5 P.M. It will be $100 this year. Please request a form at Distribution Sites or call or e-mail us. Full payment needed by Nov. 12 for you to be registered. Non-CSA members are welcome to register.

3. PLEASE RETURN SHARE BOXES & BRING EXTRA BAGS! Please return any forgotten boxes from past weeks. You may bring bags, a cooler or other containers to transfer your produce from the boxes at your distribution site, especially next week, which is your final week of Ex. Fall Shares. We also can use any EXTRA PAPER OR PLASTIC BAGS (Grocery Bags ONLY) that you have to donate.

4. PICK UP TIMES & LOCATIONS REMINDER
Farm on Wed.–10 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Farm on Fri.–2 P.M. to 7 P.M.
Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market (Wed.)–7 A.M. to 12 P.M.
Community High School (Sat.)—7 A.M. to 12 P.M.

RECIPES
*Keep in mind-Cooks.com, Epicurious.com, Recipes.com, and especially www.tantrefarm.com for more recipe ideas.

SQUASH RINGS WITH GREENS AND WALNUT PASTA (from Capay Organic Farm CSA “Farm Fresh To You” website)
3/4 cup walnut pieces
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 acorn squash (or delicata, butternut, sweet dumpling, etc.)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch greens (collards, spinach, mizuna, turnip greens, etc.)
8 ounces orzo pasta
1 medium red onion, sliced 1/4-inch thick
2 tablespoons fresh dill
4 ounces smoked salmon, cut into thin strips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast walnuts until lightly browned. Cut squash into 1-1/2 inch thick rings, and remove seeds. Put squash rings in a steamer. Place over boiling water, cover & cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Set aside. Whisk together mustard, lemon juice & salt & pepper to taste. Whisk in oil. In a skillet add onions & cook over medium heat, stir often, until onions are completely soft & browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer onions to a bowl & add mustard mixture. Cook pasta. Drain, rinse in cool water & drain again. In a skillet, over medium high heat, add garlic & cook 2 minutes. Remove stems from greens and cut into ¾-inch wide ribbons. Add greens & cook until just wilted. Remove from heat. Stir in onion mixture, dill, pasta, half the salmon & half the walnuts. Season to taste. Place a squash ring on each of 4 plates. Fill center with greens mixture. Top with remaining salmon & walnuts. Serve warm.

KALE AND ROASTED VEGETABLE SOUP (from www. simplyrecipes.com) Serves 6.
3 medium carrots, peeled and quartered lengthwise
2 large tomatoes, quartered
1 large onion, cut into 8 wedges or 4 or 5 slices
1 small squash (butternut, etc.), cut into 1/2 in. thick wedges
6 garlic cloves
1 Tbsp olive oil
6 cups or more of vegetable broth
4 cups of finely chopped kale
3 large fresh thyme sprigs
1 bay leaf
1 15 oz can of Great Northern white beans, drained

Preheat oven to 400°F (reduce heat by 25°F if using convection oven). Brush rimmed baking sheet with a thin coat of olive oil. Arrange carrots, squash, tomatoes, onion, and garlic on sheet. Drizzle with more olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast vegetables until they are brown and tender, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Cut squash and carrots into 1/2 inch pieces; set aside. Peel garlic cloves; place in food processor. Add tomatoes and onion; puree until almost smooth. Pour 1/2 cup broth onto the baking sheet; scrape up any browned bits. Transfer broth and vegetable puree to large pot. Add 5 1/2 cups broth, kale, thyme and bay leaf to pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until kale is tender, about 30 minutes. Add carrots, beans, and squash to soup. Simmer 8 minutes to blend flavors, adding more broth to thin soup if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaf.

Back to top