After what seemed like a tumultuous start, our brassicas are charging full steam ahead. We already have cauliflower heads forming and will be ready to harvest the first week of November. Rutabagas will be ready in a few weeks as well and broccoli soon to follow. Brussels Sprout Greens Today we cut off about 6-8…
Month: October 2020
Scrambled Eggs are Easy Weeknight Protein
Yes, you can eat eggs anytime. Most mornings in my culinary career started in the dark, with just a few minutes to go from brushing teeth and hair to running out the door. I never ate breakfast or even made coffee. Fortunately, in the food business, free coffee is a part of the benefit plan….
Blend Sweet and Spicy to Enhance Everyday Winter Squash
Winter squash comprises the more well-known vegetables, pumpkin, butternut, acorn, spaghetti, and kabocha. There are others, including Hubbard, delicata, Kuri, carnival, and honeynut. Usually, we think of winter squash as a sweet dish, and many recipes will add brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey to bring out the sweetness of the squash and layer on…
Farm Newsletter October 15, 2020: The Seeds Planted Today are Tomorrow’s Harvest
When we prioritize our garden to-do list, I always try to remember the quote from Robert Louis Stevenson, “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. “ Planting is always the number one priority because without planting, we will never be harvesting. The weeding and the insects…
The Best Way to Enjoy What You Eat: Seasonal Eating
The last time I ate broccoli was five months ago. I am now stalking my broccoli plants looking for a hint of a head. Protecting it from insects and making sure it has the right amount of water as the weather cools. My planting schedule tells me that I should harvest it in the middle…
Simple Storage Advice to Reduce Vegetable Waste
Where do you put your produce when there are no directions on the package? There is probably nothing worse than an inexperienced cook that wants to eat better, takes the time to seek out a box of vegetables from their local farm, and then unknowingly has them wilt away in a matter of hours. I receive…
Farm Newsletter October 8, 2020: The Cold Weather Cannot Come Fast Enough
Just as the seedlings we planted last month were starting to grow into full-sized plants, we have been hit with a caterpillar infestation. And their favorite foods are brassica vegetables: specifically Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. It looks as if we have staved off the attack, picking 3-4 caterpillars off over 100 plants that…
What Should You Do With a Pomegranate
I used to find pomegranates uninspiring and a lot of work for a little reward. Traveling in California’s farm and restaurant circles, pomegranates are well known and prolific in our Mediterranean climate. But they are so much work. Each piece has just 5 ounces of edible flesh, in the form of tiny arils, attached to…
How to Make Hot Sauce
There is a reason there are so many bottles on the store shelves. It’s easy to make. I’m not quite sure where my love of hot sauce came from. I have always loved spicy food, but my mom didn’t keep hot sauce at home. I worked in a Cajun restaurant, where we used Tabasco regularly….
Turnips, Radishes and Rutabagas
What to Do With a Turnip or Rutabaga I don’t expect that you have one by choice. There are some root vegetables in the brassica family that people have been scared away from. Radishes are common and have made their name in the farming world because they grow fast. But, because of their bad reputation,…