October 22, 2015 by wobblycartfarm

Wobbly Cart Farm CSA week 16

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10-6-15

Large shares: spaghetti squash, leeks, chard, yellow finn potatoes, bulk carrots, green beans, lettuce, Italian parsley, garlic, hot peppers, Liberty apples, green cabbage

Small shares: spaghetti squash, leek, chard, yellow finn potatoes, bulk carrots, kohlrabi or green beans, Italian parsley

Fall Song

Another year gone, leaving everywhere

its rich spiced residues: vines, leaves,

The uneaten fruits crumbling damply

in the shadows, unmattering back

from the particular island

of this summer, this Now, that is nowhere

except underfoot, moldering

in that black subterranean castle

of unobservable mysteries-roots and sealed seeds

and the wanderings of water. This

I try to remember when time’s measure

painfully chafes, for instance when autumn

flares out at the last, boisterous and like us longing

to stay – how everything lives, shifting

from one bright vision to another, forever

in these momentary pastures

-Mary Oliver

Dear CSA members,

Absolutely gorgeous, if a bit unseasonably warm, fall week on the farm. Beautiful fall colors of reds and golds in all the decidious trees and shrubs in our surrounding country side right now. I love the contrast of the clear blue skies with the golden leaves fluttering down into the roads and fields.

It has been a fun week in the kitchen for me as well. I canned another round of tomato sauce (just cant resist those slightly blemished tomatoes that keep piling up around the barn), salsa, apple butter, and some escabeche too. My family hopes to press cider within the week as well. We make both hard and sweet cider for our winter indulgence. I love stocking up the pantry this time of year as we all know the clock is ticking on alot of this produce!

Our backs are sure feeling the ache of week 17 of CSA deliveries. We have started selling our winter squash and are moving bulk quantities of carrots, onions and potatoes day in and day out. The crew also had a record breaking kale and chard harvest on Monday, many hundreds of bunches. It was quite a long day so I want to give them a shout out for all their long hours and hard work this season. It is amazing to think we have come through 17 weeks of deliveries already, and seen the season and the food change from the light greens filled boxes of spring all the way to these heavy boxes of winter squash, cabbages and bulk carrots. All this made possible through many many hours of hands on planting, tending, and harvesting. Once the summer CSA ends, there will be a slight down tick in the work load, so relief is in sight for all of us hard working folks. Though, within the next two weeks we will be planting next years garlic crop and having a gigantic potato harvest in which we bring in several tons of potatoes!

Speaking of bulk carrots, we had soo many in the cooler we just had to share the love. My kids like the little ones in their lunch boxes, but they are generally great all around and will keep for quite awhile in your fridge for cooking, juicing etc. You will also receive this week:

Spaghetti Squash: this large yellow football shaped squash is an excellent grain free substitute for pasta. It is very low in calories and high in fiber and nutrients. Halve it and bake or steam it until tender. Then use a fork to tease out the long strands of flesh that can be used just like pasta. The squash itself will keep for many weeks if kept cool and dry. Here is a great article covering all aspects of Spaghetti squash from the food blog Quick Easy Cook. https://www.quickeasycook.com/spaghetti-squash/

and

Leeks: this long and lovely member of the Allium family (onions, garlic and the like) is one of our star winter performers. They will stay alive through most winters here as long as the temperature dosen’t go below 10 degrees or so. They are much prized by chefs for their mild and tender flavor. To use them, first slice the whole thing vertically. Then fan out the many layers under running water to remove any trapped sediments. Slice off the tougher deep green tops, and use the white and light green parts in your recipes. Leeks will also keep for many weeks in your fridge crisper drawer. By peeling away outer layers, you can remove any discolored parts if you do decide to keep them for an extended time.

Have a great week,

Asha, Joe and the crew at Wobbly Cart

Potato Leek Soup: Melt 3 tbsp butter in a soup pot over low heat. Add and cook, stirring, until tender but not browned about 20 minutes 2 large leeks, chopped. Stir in 1 1/4 lbs peeled and thinnly sliced yellow finn potatoes. Add 6 cups chicken or vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, simmer until the potatoes are soft about 30 minutes. Puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Shallots, Parmesan and Herbs: halve a med/large spaghetti squash and scoop out the seeds. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place squash halves face down on an oiled baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes or until the squash flesh is tender. In a large sauce pan melt 1 ½ tbsp butter over medium heat. Add 2 diced shallots and 2 diced garlic cloves. Cook until softened. Stir in 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme, and ¾ tsp chopped fresh rosemary and cook until fragrant about 1 minute. Add in 6 cups spaghetti squash that has been scooped from the rind and toss to combine. Cook until warmed through. Stir in ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian Parsley and 2 tbsp grated parmesan and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper and serve. Serves 6.

Spaghetti Squash with Feta and Sautéed Vegetables: preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Place a spaghetti squash cut side down on the baking pan. Bake for 30 min or until the squash is tender when pierced by a knife. Set aside to cool until it can be handled. Meanwhile heat 2 tbsp oil, add 1 chopped onion and sauté until tender. Add 1 minced clove of garlic and sauté for 2 min more. Add 1 ½ cups chopped tomatoes, and cook only until the tomatoes are warm. Use a large spoon to scoop the stringy pulp from the spaghetti squash and place it in a large bowl. Toss with the sautéed vegetables, ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese, ½ cup sliced black or kalamata olives, and 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil. Serve warm.

Cabbage Soup: In a medium stock pot over medium low heat, heat 2 tbsp olive oil. Add 2 leeks, chopped, 2 medium onions, diced, 2 tbsp finely chopped garlic. Stir in and bring to a boil 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock. 2 cups water, 2 large carrots sliced, and 2 small potatoes peeled and diced. Reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are mostly cooked, about 15 minutes. Stir in; 4 cups shredded green cabbage. simmer until the cabbage is wilted, about 15 minutes, adding a little water to cover if necessary. Stir in: 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 cup chopped parsley. Sprinkle each serving with crumbled blue cheese.

September 30, 2014 by wobblycartfarm

Wobbly Cart Farm CSA box #16

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Wobbly Cart Farm CSA box #16

9/30/14

Large share: mixed red and gold beets, yellow finn potato, Czech black hot pepper, shallots, arugula, green cabbage, spaghetti squash, 1 pint cherry tomato, green leaf lettuce, garlic, rosemary

Small share: mixed red and gold beets, fingerling potato, Czech black hot pepper, shallot, green beans, eggplant, spaghetti squash, garlic, rosemary

Dear CSA members,

Here we are at week 16. It’s amazing how the week’s fly by and suddenly the summer CSA is drawing to a close. I suppose it is the life of a vegetable farmer to have the summer blow by in a whirlwind of bountiful produce. It’s like go go go until the summer crops give out. Our fields are looking just like that after last week’s cold rains virtually shut down the tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil and what is left of the pickling cucumbers. The high tunnel is still holding out with an abundance of red and cherry tomatoes as well as beautiful peppers and eggplant.

This week you will receive a bit of what is left of summery vegetables, as well as our first taste of winter squash and shallots. The eggplants are from the last of the field planting and do have some relatively minor blemishes. We were careful to limit it to those with only cosmetic flaws, and wanted to be sure the small share got eggplant one more time before the summer CSA is over.

Shallots: Shallots are like onions and garlic, but their flavor is richer, sweeter, and more potent. They add great depth of flavor to sauces, soups, sautes and stews. Shallots can be used interchangeably with onions in a quantity about half that of onion.

Rosemary: This fragrant evergreen herb is used for seasoning a wide variety of dishes, particularly those of Mediterranean or Italian origin. Rosemary is excellent for seasoning stuffings, sauces, and compliments roast meats such as chicken and lamb. for cooking you will want to remove the leaves from the woody stems before chopping. If not used right away you can allow your rosemary to dry and use it for seasoning later by just leaving it out in a dry place.

Czech black pepper: this pepper is an heirloom from Czechoslovakia. it is very similar to a jalapeño in heat, but quite a bit sweeter. store in the fridge until ready to use.

I hope you enjoy this week’s box. Also, as we are winding down the summer share please remember to send in final payments and also to return any and all CSA totes to the drop sites.

Thank you,

Asha, Joe and the crew at Wobbly Cart

Blueberry, Beet, and Basil Summer Salad: cook about 4 cups halved gold and red beets in lightly salted boiling water 15 minutes or until tender. Drain; cool. Remove skins, cut into wedges. Finely shred the peel of one lemon; juice lemon. Set aside. In a large bowl combine the beets, 1 cup fresh blueberries, 1 cup arugula, 2 cups fresh basil leaves, 1 medium fennel bulb (trimmed, cored, and cut into wedges), 1 medium red onion sliced, and reserved lemon juice. For dressing: in a small bowl stir together 1 6oz carton plain greek yogurt, lemon peel, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley, and 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper. Whisk in 1 tbsp olive oil. Serve dressing with the salad. Makes 6 servings.

Arugula Walnut Pesto: place in a food processor 3 to 4 cups fresh arugula, ½ cup walnuts, toasted, 1 clove garlic, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, ½ cu olive oil. Process until smooth. Season to taste with kosher salt.

Caramelized Shallots: Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium low. Thinly slice 6 to 8 oz of shallots and saute them in the oil for about 2 min. add 1 tsp salt and saute for 5 min more, or until soft. Reduce heat if necessary to prevent them from browning too quickly. Add 1 tsp sherry or apple cider vinegar, 2 tsp sherry or white wine, 2 tsp brown sugar, 2 sprigs fresh thyme, and freshly ground pepper to taste. Sautee for another 20 min, stirring occasionally. Add water as needed to prevent sticking and burning, about a tsp at a time. Remove sprigs of thyme before serving.

French Shallot Soup: Prepare 2 batches caramelized shallots and/or onions (see above). Melt 2 tsp unsalted butter over med-low heat in a deep pan or dutch oven. Add the caramelized shallots and stir to warm through. Add 1-quart beef stock, at room temperature and 1 cup red or white wine. Simmer at least 20 minutes and up to 40 minutes. Near the end of cooking preheat the oven broiler. Divide the soup into 4 oven-proof bowls, and stir in 1 to 2 tsp cognac into each bowl. Gently float a thick slice of day old baguette in each and top with 4 oz slices of Gruyere cheese. Broil until golden and bubbly about 3 to 5 minutes.

Rosemary Roasted Potaoes: preheat oven to 400 degrees. Quarter 1 ½ lbs potatoes and place in a bowl with 1/8 cup olive oil, 3 cloves minced garlic, ¾ tsp sea salt, ½ tsp fresh ground black pepper, and 2 tbsp minced fresh rosemary. Mix to coat the potatoes. Dump into a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for at least one hour, or until browned and crisp. Flip twice with a spatula to promote even browning. Remove from oven and serve.

October 15, 2013 by wobblycartfarm

Wobbly Cart Farm CSA box #18

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Wobbly Cart Farm CSA box #18

10-15-13

Large Shares: Lettuce, Potatoes, Yellow Onion, Beets, Italian Parsley, Spaghetti Squash, Carrots, Rutabaga, Red Cabbage, Fennel, Hot Chile Peppers, Escarole, Garlic

Small Shares: Watermelon Radishes, Parsnips, Lettuce, Beets, Spaghetti Squash, Italian Parsley, Yellow Onion, Garlic

Dear CSA members,

We have arrived at the last CSA delivery for the summer season! What a gorgeous day to celebrate the closing of your 18- week journey with us. A perfect fall afternoon unfolds as I finally sit down here to write a bit after a very hectic morning. I truly hope you have enjoyed the produce this year, and have found yourselves happier and healthier for it.
With the break in the weather we have been busier than ever wrapping up some very important fall tasks. Garlic will be planted this week and a lot of vetch and rye cover crop will be planted in our fields, in all areas where the crops have been harvested and are out of the fields.
Also, I just met with Ryan from the Whitewood Cider Company who toured the fields with me looking for apples for their cider press this fall. There is such an abundance of old orchards around our valley it’s exciting to find some outlets for the tons of fruit that is hanging on trees right now! Ryan pointed out some interesting cider varieties that are hidden in the hedge rows around the farm and we did a little taste testing and assessment of ripeness. Really cool, and I learned a few things. I plan to pick Jonagolds and Akanes from my orchard for the first box of the Fall CSA this Monday, then, the rest will be for cider and drying!
As far as the produce this week we do have a few new crops to explain:
Spaghetti Squash: this large yellow football shaped squash is an excellent substitute for pasta. Halve it and bake or steam it until tender. Then use a fork to tease out the long strands of flesh that can be used just like pasta. The squash itself will keep for many weeks if kept cool and dry.
Rutabaga: this cross between a cabbage and turnip is one of the many edible manifestations of the brassica family. Rutabagas have been eaten for centuries by humans and are excellent roasted and mashed. They are very high in nutrients and fiber and low in calories.
Escarole: these hardy and bitter greens are one of our fall and winter stars. Escarole is much like lettuce in texture but adds a very nice bitterness that pairs well with sweet flavors of fruit and balsamic vinegar. You can also grill or braise them and then dress with a vinaigrette. I have also heard that soaking the greens in water for a few hours will reduce some of the bitterness if so desired.
Also, a quick note about potatoes. It seems that some of the beds that did not get dug before our huge rainstorm got some blight on the tubers. It has been very laborious sorting through them. But thought you might want to know this is not our normal quality for potatoes!
That’s going to be all. Thank you so much for supporting local organic agriculture! It has been a pleasure growing and harvesting for you. Please remember to return your boxes to the drop site if you will not be joining us for the fall csa option.

Asha, Joe and the crew at Wobbly Cart

Carrot Souffle: heat oven to 350. Butter a 2 to 2 ½ qt shallow casserole dish. Cut 2 lbs carrots into ¼ in rounds (6 ½ cups). Cover carrots with about 1 inch of salted water in large pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat and simmer until carrots are very tender when pierced with a fork. About 15 minutes. Drain carrots and transfer to a food processor. Puree until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir in 1 cup whole milk, 1 cup saltine crumbs, ¾ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese, 1/3 cup minced onion, 1 tbsp unsalted butter, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp kosher salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Beat 3 large eggs in an large bowl until foamy. Fold into carrot mixture. Bake in prepared dish until puffed and light golden brown, about 40 minutes. Turn oven to broil. Broil 8 inches from heat until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve warm.

Garlic Roasted Root vegetables: Split 1 lb carrots in half lengthwise. Quarter 1 lb of peeled parsnips lengthwise. In a Dutch oven bring salted water to boiling. Add carrots and parsnips and simmer for 5 minutes; drain. In a very large skillet heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil over medium heat. Add 3 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced and cook until fragrant and beginning to brown. Add carrots, parsnips, and 8 oz mini cipollini onions, peeled to skillet. Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until coated in oil and beginning to soften. Sprinkle with salt and ground black pepper. Roast for 30 minutes covered with foil at 350 degrees.

Roasted Winter Squash and Beet salad: Preheat oven to 400. Tightly wrap 1 lb small beets in aluminum foil bundles. Place on middle shelf of oven. Roast 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until tender when tested with a sharp knife. Remove from oven; cool slightly. Peel beets and set aside. Place the slices of 1 ¼ lb of winter squash (delicata or butternut) on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss with salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp olive oil. Place on middle shelf in oven; roast 15 minutes. Drizzle 1/3 cup maple syrup over the squash, and roast another 10 minutes, or until tender; cool. To make the dressing: in a small bowl whisk 1 tsp Dijon mustard, ¼ cup fresh lemon juice, and ¼ cup maple syrup together. Add 1/3 cup olive oil and whisk until smooth. Season to taste. To assemble, place 3 cups mixed salad greens in the middle of a large plate. Arrange beets and squash on the greens. Pour half of dressing over salad. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup fresh pomegranate seeds. Pass remaining dressing. Serves 6 to 8.

Rutabaga and Carrot Soup: In a large saucepan, sauté 1 medium onion in 1 tbsp butter for 5 minutes. Add 3 small carrots and 1 small rutabaga peeled and chopped. Add ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp ground ginger, and ¼ tsp nutmeg. Saute for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add 1 cup vegetable or chicken stock and cook covered, on low heat for 20 to 30 minutes, until the vegetables are soft and tender. Puree the soup with 2 cups orange juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with unsweetened whipped cream and a dollop of cranberry sauce.

And here’s a great Spaghetti Squash recipe shared by Lisa Little:

http://paleomg.com/spaghetti-squash-crusted-quiche/