Magical Moments on the Farm

Macgregor Mann, of Junto in Chadds Ford, PA, prepared a delicious meal! On the grill he made Lamb Kabobs that were savory and marinated in his own special recipe. 

On each table was Ricotta Caponata with Grilled Artisan Bread!  (seen to the left)  Yummy!

Since Macregor is from York, PA he is an expert on PA Dutch Potato Salad and it was very good. 

He outdid himself on the Doc Martin Succotash!  Unbelievably delicious.  We heard people say that it was the best succotash they'd ever had.  So, if we can get him to give us his recipe, we'll post it for you soon.  But the magic ingredients were DOC MARTIN LIMA BEANS.  Did you know that Doc Martins were first grown in our area back in the 1800s and they are only grown in our region.  So, they are not your normal lima bean and well worth the getting.  Our customers love them and this dish was a perfect blend of H.G.'s corn and Doc Martin lima beans.  (Don't forget their on sale for $25 a half bushel.)

 His Panzanella Salad was made with H.G.'s tomatoes and the combination of flavors was delightful! 

To add a beautiful splash of green on the plate he grilled up some scallions that were perfectly done.

And to end the night we had delicious pies from Nomadic Pies of Kennett Square. You've got to try these! The combinations are amazing. Apple Ginger!! and of course the good 'ol straight apple, peach and a whole assortment of other varieties. 

For the first time, we had a string quartet perform and they were a great hit!  The Fellowship of the Strings is a local string quartet who added an extra touch of class to the evening performing a whole host of show tunes, Irish melodies, some oldies-but-goodies and some classical pieces.   

If you need a little entertainment for your cocktail party, business event, or wedding we encourage you to contact them at thefellowshipofthestrings4@gmail.com

Everyone really seemed to enjoy the ambiance, the cool night, the delicious food and time with friends and family. 

Thanks again to Macgregor Mann for all of his hard work!  




 

If you took any great shots of your magical moments last night, please post them!

Junto's Coming to Town and CSA for this Week

Macgregor Mann, of Junto, was at the farm this weekend working through his plan for Wednesday night.  We're very excited to have him serve as our chef for our third CSA Field-to-Fork Dinner and know many of you are going to have a great meal because Macregor has great ideas and very skilled in the kitchen (or in our case, under the tent).  He is all about supporting local businesses - and that is a great idea!   

Macgregor grew up cooking.  He'd come home from school and his Mom would put him to work "pealing potatoes." Moral of this story -- Moms start your kids young on a potato peeler!  York, Pennsylvania is where he's originally from and where he learned to love culinary traditions.  So when someone asks him what kind of food he serves, his response is, "I'm trying to create a local cuisine."  He goes out of his way to "hand-source what they use from beginning to end" which enables them to offer a "wholesome product."

This year they were awarded "Best of Philadelphia" for their Sturgeon Dish. And, not only does he get his food from local businesses (farms, coffee roasters, etc.), but he supports our local environment. Junto is proud to be forming a partnership with Delaware River Keepers to help restore and preserve the natural surroundings in our area!  This is definitely a guy you want to go out and support.  

When you do go, tell him H.G. sent you!  

Don't forget, our Delicious Doc Martin Lima Beans are now on sale for $25 a half bushel.  That is a GREAT price and you will not find tastier lima beans anywhere!  Give 'em a try if you haven't already!  

Here are a few recipes to inspire your lima bean cooking!  Enjoy them with all of the tomatoes we discussed last week! 

Lots of Summer Produce Still to Enjoy

You may be getting your kids ready to go back to school which usually means FALL, but there are still many weeks for you to enjoy the tastes of SUMMER as they get used to their fall schedules! So stock up those lunch boxes with healthy snacks.  And for all of you who enjoy the cooler nights to grill in, enjoy all sorts of beautiful vegetables to add to your dinner!  We make corn shucking easy on you --- Leave the mess behind and take the deliciousness with you!

Tomatoes 101 and Why Ours Taste So Good!

H.G. grows 100 different varieties of tomatoes.  Fifty of them are heirloom. When you come to the
stand you may be wondering which ones are which.  If it's important to you to know the name of what you're eating, here's a little introduction to some of these beautiful and even unusual looking tomatoes.  Regardless of their appearance, they are all down-right delicious!  

This unique one is Pruden's Purple.

Here's a rainbow of San Marzano at its different stages of ripening.  

You've probably seen the sign while shopping at our market, but if you haven't been by, come on over and try these beautiful Mountain Magic that are pictured in Dan Barber's Book.

If it weren't a tomato, you might think it's masquerading as a pumpkin just in time for Halloween!  But it's really one of H.G.'s 50 heirlooms.

Cherry tomatoes are great for salads or just to snack on.  They are so sweet your little guys will think their candy.  Start 'em young, they'll love them!

Have you given much thought to when a tomato needs to be picked in order to reach the local grocery store RED? The Atlantic City Lab said, "First off, conventional growers don’t pick tomatoes at peak ripeness. They harvest the fruits at the “mature green” stage, "degreen" them using ethylene gas, then store and ship them at low temperatures to prevent bruising and decay. While chilling protects the flesh of the fruit, it suppresses the production of certain flavor and aroma compounds, resulting in tomatoes that are red and robust on the outside but tasteless on the inside."  

But not at our farm, we pick them RED and you eat them RED and boy that makes all the difference. These beautiful big tomatoes are called "fabulous" and of course, we agree!
We do sell you green tomatoes, but only if they are gorgeous Green Zebra tomatoes which are just a fun variety to enjoy!  Don't be confused by the fact they are green, they're supposed to be.  They are also Red Zebras.  

So, from our "arms" to yours, we strive to bring you the best quality tomatoes you can find anywhere!

If you have any questions for H.G. about his tomatoes or how he grows them, please post your question below and we'll get you an answer.  We'd also enjoy hearing which variety you prefer.  How one compares to another or any comments you have about our tomatoes! 

Do you need help with your imagination in the kitchen?

The farm is a great place to turn to, to be inspired!

 Maybe some of the items on this week's CSA list will spark your imagination when you give these new recipes a spin! 

 



1. Roasted Garlic, honey garlic, many other uses for garlic.

 2. Red or white potatoes - both are delicious!

Please let us know if you  think outside of the box and create something special with what you find on the farm.  We'd all be interested in hearing.  Why not take a picture and send it to us at photos4siw@gmail.com.  Or, post your recipes below! 

Thanks to the sweet gals who came to the last CSA Field-to-Fork dinner and inspired us all with their imagination! 

And don't forget to sign-up, at the stand, for the hayrides!  It will be a great time to break from all the stresses of your week and be a kid again on the farm.  If you can't remember what that's like, bring a kid along with you - they'll inspire you!

All About the Love

Chef Bill and his wife Merry, along with their enthusiastic and fun staff cooked up some delicious dishes that if you didn't get the chance to taste we encourage you to head over to The House of William and Merry and give 'em a try! 

What was great to see Wednesday night is that Bill's regular customers love him so much they came out to support him and enjoy more of his delicious cooking. That says a lot! 

And, as Bill said in his closing comments, it's all about the love! The love of food, family and things done well! He said it was a privilege to cook with what H.G. grows!

Menu included: Roasted Free Range Lancaster Chickens, Caprice Salad with aged balsamic vinegar and smoked salt, Tomato-Cucumber-Melon Gazpacho, Rosemary-Lemon Potatoes, and the Quinoa Salad which is always on his menu at the restaurant.  Healthy and delicious!

And special thanks to H's friend Michael who helps you pick out some good wine to go with your dinner! 
 




It was another beautiful night temperature-wise and we had many new guests, as well as returning guests many of who invited their friends to join them and were enthusiastic to spend a night together. 

There were a lot of folks out with their cameras.  If you are one of them and got any great shots, please post them.  We'd love to see what happened at your table. 

Fall and Winter Thoughts at the End of Summer and CSA for this Week

Can you believe we are in August?  Which naturally means that fall is right around the corner and we're gearing up for pumpkin season and hay-rides!  If you've never been to the farm and would like a tour around, this is a great time to get a spectacular view of a little piece of Chadds Ford, where special things happen - like growing veggies for you!  Or, if you've been to the farm, and you just want a beautiful fall outing to kick-back and chill on a cool autumn afternoon sign-up soon.  You can schedule a group ride for you and yours!  This is a great opportunity for your kids to learn about where their food comes from.  Consider planning a class trip for your kid's school or your whole family!

Hay Rides will begin the last weekend in September (weekends) at 1 and 3 p.m. The rides will be offered through October.  Sign-up at the stand and payment at time of reservation is requested: $7.50 per person and $175 for private parties (up to 25 guests). 

While we're talking seasons here's a little lesson on "how we farm".... H.G. is way ahead of us thinking about WINTER.  Why is he thinking about winter you ask?  Because he has to think NOW about covering his ground to protect it for NEXT YEAR!  So much to think of to help all your veggies be extra delicious.  H.G. is unloading his wheat to use as a "cover crop."  A cover crop is used to protect (or hold against erosion) the soil, as well as eat up any excess nutrients to release next year! H says he, "broadcasts the wheat on the surface and it starts growing when it rains.  That way I don't have to till the soil which beats it up."

It's your turn to "broadcast" for the farm.  Spread the word about the hay rides and the great things H.G. is doing for the Brandywine Valley. 









CSA for the week is:

So many delicious things on the CSA list this week.  If you've never pickled cucumbers, they are so easy and delicious.   Give them a try by following these very simple recipes; or, please, there's got to be a few of you out there who have their grandmother's recipe for pickles!! Will you share?  Post recipe below.

And there are so many wonderful ways to use pickles.  Check out this recipe for Cuban Sliders!  They look amazing!

Green peppers and raspberries are so beautiful on the vine and delicious at your table.

Hope you enjoy these delicious delights and don't forget to sign-up, at the stand, for the hay rides this fall!

House of William and Merry is Coming to the Farm

Chef Bill and his wife Merry, of The House of William and Merry, were at the farm this week getting ready for their first CSA Field-to-Fork dinner next Wednesday. They've got great ideas and we are looking forward to a lovely evening of dining with them. 

If, sadly, you have missed out on signing-up for this event, we would encourage you to stop by their home.  That's right, their home! Why? Because their home is their restaurant.  Now that's hospitality!

 

The House of William and Merry is located in Hockessin, DE at 1336 Old Lancaster Pike, Hockessin DE 19707.  

This is Chef Bill and he is an enthusiast about food and family. Always has loved being in the kitchen creating things since he was a young boy.  And, all the recipes are his! 

He says, "It's all about the love.  It's all about the family." That's why he's inviting you to their place for some twists on old classic dishes.  Merry says, "They put a twist on the 'new American' food. We use local ingredients from local small farms whether it's lamb, pig, or fruits and vegetables. We're keeping it seasonal" and their keeping it close to home! 
BUY LOCAL!! EAT WHERE THEY BUY LOCAL!!

We look forward to all the great things they'll be serving this Wednesday, which will of course be featuring many of H.G.'s great veggies including his tomatoes!  The name of this variety is Fabulous. And they are!

So, whether you're getting excited for this coming Wednesday or just want to try a new place to dine, head on over to Hockessin and give Bill and Merry a try.  The ambiance is charming and the bar is well appointed! We think you'll be very pleased.  Oh, did we say, they earned the award for Best of Delaware three years in a row!  Definitely worth trying out.  Tell 'em H.G. sent you!

Overcoming Bad Childhood Taste Bud Memories

Okay, let's be honest...okra, lima beans, eggplant, (let alone orange eggplant) are seriously misunderstood vegetables! But that is because most people haven't had these wonderful vegetables FRESH OFF THE VINE! Rather, your well-intentioned grandmother or even your dear ol' Mom served you the frozen variety, over-cooked them leaving them mushy and well - disgusting! So, here is to trying new things or giving them a second chance.  

These beautiful vegetables above are OKRA.  While at the stand one of our southern customers were grabbing handfuls of these interesting vegetables! Two Virginians were commenting on how delicious they are and offering a number of great suggestions on how to cook them leaving any bi-stander eavesdropping with the impression that Northerners must have missed out on something special if they weren't raised on these delicious little morsels.  Okra is used as thickener for gumbo, and can be fried in a pan, grilled, pickled or even dried out as chips.  The Mrs. present said that she eats them raw!  Click here if you want to give okra another try and need some help with recipes!


 

To the left is one our regular customers favorites:  

Dr. Martin's Lima Beans

Pretty cool looking aren't they!  So, here are a few recipes you can try with these great beans...

Who knew that eggplants came in different colors other than purple?  Well, I guess if you are a regular at the stand you did, but aren't they beautiful?

If you know how to cook the purple kind, but don't know what to do with the orange ones try some of these recipes (in reality you can cook them both the same way but there are recipes just for the orange variety too).

Hope this helps you be a little more adventuresome with some of these fantastic vegetables that you might have given up on because of some bad taste bud memory from your youth!  If you have any suggestions for any of these beautiful vegetables, please post below. And, by all means spread the word to anyone you think might need a little help regaining confidence in these delicious and beautiful vegetables.

And on our CSA list for this week there is a unique FRUIT that you and your kids will absolutely love...

HUSK CHERRIES! They are so delicious and very unusual - in the best sense of the word.  Hard to even give an accurate description:  Mango? married to Cherry joined to a plum?  Hmmm, maybe you can give a better description. We'd love to hear your description of this delicious fruit so please post below.  Kids love unwrapping things - why not their fruit!  Send some in their lunch boxes!  FUN FRUIT IS ALWAYS GOOD!

If you give any of these great items a try, we'd love to hear what you think. All fruits and vegetables and better when you BUY LOCAL!