Friday, July 29, 2011

Farm Share - Contents for July 28, 2011

FruitCrate
Basil
Squash (green)
Chard
Beets
Carrots
Corn
Peaches (Yellow, "August Pride")
White Nectarines
Apricots
Anaheim Chilies
Green Beans
Lettuce (Romaine)

Large boxes also saw:
Daikon
Bell Pepper (Green)

Item Origins: Maciel Family Farms (Bonsall, CA), Roots and Fruits Farm (Valley Center, CA), Buma Farms (Riverside, CA), Schmidt Orchards (CA), Bernardino Farm (Fallbrook, CA), Bonsall Farms (Vista, CA).

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Peach Cobbler - Summer Splendor

Peaches
It's peach season! Last week our Farm Share boxes had some beautiful local yellow "August Pride" peaches and they were beautiful. Peaches are one of those summer delicacies that remind you of the sweetness of temporary seasonal bliss in each bite. When the sun is warm and the conditions are right peaches show up true to their summer traditions.

I had some peaches in my kitchen specifically saved for peach cobbler, but the problem was I didn't have an "amazing" cobbler recipe. I've made a handful of cobblers in the past, all with tasty, but alas, only mediocre results. I did a little internet search and found a recipe with really high reviews so I thought I'd give it a shot. IT WAS A WINNER!

The ingredients were simple enough - just the basics, nothing too fancy. The recipe was not boring, and the results certainly weren't either. The whole process kept me interested mostly due to the two part baking process which kept me from sitting around waiting on the timer. I am certain this recipe could work with all kinds of things other than peaches - apples, berries, peaches and ginger, cherries - there are a thousand combinations I'm sure.

For those of you that have a stellar cobbler recipe, this one might rival yours (unless its happens to be from your Southern Grandmother). And if you don't have a good cobbler recipe in your book at all, you'll want to add this one to it.
PeachCobbler

Summer Peach Cobbler
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ingredient List:

{8} fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
{1/4} cup white sugar
{1/4} cup brown sugar
{1/4} teaspoon ground cinnamon
{1/8} teaspoon ground nutmeg
{1} teaspoon fresh lemon juice
{2} teaspoons cornstarch

{1} cup all-purpose flour
{1/4} cup white sugar
{1/4} cup brown sugar
{1} teaspoon baking powder
{1/2} teaspoon salt
{6} tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
{1/4} cup boiling water

Mix Together:
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

{3} tablespoons white sugar
{1} teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). 

In a large bowl, combine peaches, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. 

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt. Blend in butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined. 

Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them. Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes. 

Original recipe found here

Monday, July 25, 2011

Flavor Queens

SugarQueens
Science. Science wouldn't be the first word you would think of when looking at these beautiful fruits, but really the word "science" sums them up perfectly. "Sweet", "colorful", "juicy", "tender" - yes all these things are quite honest descriptions, but I like "science" best.

These lovely fruits are called "Flavor Queen Pluots®" and are a plum apricot hybrid. Our friend who farms his orchard in Valley Center gave us a little lesson the other day about how Pluots® came about. Grafting makes this possible, check it out:


Plum x Apricot = Plumcot  then...
Plumcot x Plum = Pluot®

Science!!
FlavorQueen2
Last week we included these Flavor Queen Pluots® in our Farm Share boxes. They are beautiful fruits with candy-like sweetness. The skins stay this marvelous green color making them deceiving on the outside, but not so on the inside. This variety is only available from mid July through August, which makes them a uniquely prized summer fruit! 

Pluot® is a registered trademark of Zaiger Genetics in Modesto, CA. 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Farm Share - Contents for July 21, 2011

Scallions
Green Onions (Scallions)
White Spring Onions (Gladstone)
Radishes
Basil
Squash (green and yellow)
Chard
Beets
Carrots
Eggplant
Celery
Grapefruit (Ruby Red)
Pluots ("Flavor Queen") - super sweet! These have a green skin, even when ripe.
Peaches (Yellow, "August Pride")

Item Origins: Maciel Family Farms (Bonsall, CA), Sage Mountain Farms (Aguanga, CA), Roots and Fruits Farm (Valley Center, CA), Buma Farms (Riverside, CA)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Farm Share - Contents for July 14, 2011

Apricots
This weeks Farm Share packages include:

Basil
Squash (green)
Squash (8 ball, green and yellow)
Chard (rainbow)
Carrots
Cucumber (burpless)
Beets (red, cylinder)
Broccoli
Purple Scallions
Apricots
Plums (Santa Rosa)
Radishes
Garlic (dried)

Item Origins: Maciel Family Farms (Bonsall, CA), Sage Mountain Farms (Aguanga, CA), Roots and Fruits Farm (Valley Center, CA), JR Organics (Escondido, CA)