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Crop Talk, August 1: Week 9
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They say the Native Americans who lived around here used to grow corn, beans, and squash in the same garden plots because the plants complement each other: the beans fix nitrogen for the corn, the corn provides poles for the beans to climb, and the broad leaves of the squash discourage weed growth.
And the three sisters work just as well together in the kitchen as they do in the garden. Three Sisters Succotash is a complete, one-pan meal. Here's our version: Put some beans on to boil or steam. Sautee a large onion for a couple of minutes before adding chopped summer squash or zucchini. Cut the kernels off several ears of corn and add them to the skillet, along with some butter. By the time you're done with that, the beans should be getting tender, so toss them in with the other stuff, and add a little of their cooking water and some salt -- we use both green beans and black beans at our house. Take the pan off the heat before the squash gets mushy. Garnish with copped scallions and cilantro before serving.
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Week 9 CSA Shares Include:
Potatoes
Swiss Chard
Cherry Tomatoes
Peaches
Summer Squash
Cucumbers
Basil Plant
Pick-your-own bonus: 6 peaches
Bonus value this week: $5.00
Year-to-date bonus value: $77.99
Wagons run from 9:15 until 5:00
Please remember that In this hot weather,
produce can spoil very quickly. We make every effort to pack produce at the perfect stage -- almost ready to eat, but not too ripe to travel. Unfortunately we miss that mark sometimes, and some items may spoil before they reach your kitchen. Some loss is inevitable -- conventional markets throw away 3 million tons of food each year, including 12% of their produce -- but we may be able to minimize waste on our end if we know there's a problem. So please let us know if something in your box is spoiled -- we're happy to replace those items the following week.
And we'd be grateful if you'd
do us a favor -- please rinse your box after you take out the produce. Thanks!
Group site members, please remember that
boxes must be picked up on the day they are delivered. Most group site hosts can't refrigerate boxes, so many items will be spoiled by the next day. Fragile items wilt quickly if left out in the heat.
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The cukes keep coming! You may be surprised to learn that cucumbers belong to the same botanical family as watermelon and cantaloupe, and that their health benefits are substantial.
According to the website
World's Healthiest Foods, "c
ucumbers are now known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol—three lignans that have a strong history of research in connection with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease as well as several cancer types, including breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancers... and f
resh extracts from cucumbers have recently been show to have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties."
All the more reason to try the Cucumber Watermelon Salad recipe, or one of the other cucumber suggestions on our blog.
By Marla Vargas-Mundey
Vegetable noodles are all the rage right now and are probably one of the simplest and most fun ways to make dinner exciting. There are a lot of spiralizing machines out there and so I recommend you read some reviews before you purchase. This recipe is one my family gobbles up every time. I add the chickpeas for protein, fiber, and to make it a little more filling.
Zoodles with Roasted Chickpeas
Cucumber and Sweet-Onion Salad
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Got Allergies? Eat Real Food By Nicole Seevers, www.colesmoveablefeast.com
My family has been visiting Great Country Farms for nearly ten years. We love everything about it: the rope swings, the goats, pick-your-own! A few years ago I decided to take the next step and sign up for a CSA share. We love getting our box of ripe local produce every week, and my kids especially love taste tests . . . our CSA cantaloupe vs. the grocery store cantaloupe that was picked 2000 miles away before it was ripe. You can guess which one wins.
Read more here.
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Shenandoah Valley Cake Festival
Nibblins is excited to host the first annual Shenandoah Valley Cake Festival in Winchester! Ms. Kerry Vincent from the Food Network will be here as the judge. Nibblins will offer cake-related classes on Friday night and Saturday in our demonstration kitchen with vendor demonstrations throughout the day. The festival moves Saturday evening to the Reception Room at Omps for the Cupcake Gala, and to The George Washington Hotel on Sunday for the cake show.
Saturday, August 13
9:00 Introduction to Cake Pops with Beckaboo’s
9:30 Kerry Vincent Live at Dominion Tea in Purcellville
11:00 Magic Chocolate 101
1:00 Introduction to Sugar Cookie Decorating
7:00 Cupcake Gala
Location: Reception Room at 1600 Amherst Street Winchester, Virginia 22601
Sunday, August 14
10:00 Cake Show
Location: The George Washington Hotel 103 E. Piccadilly Street Winchester, Virginia 22601
Get your tickets here!
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Great Country Farms | 540-554-2073 | CSA@GreatCountryFarms.com | www.GreatCountryFarms.com
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