Sunflower Sprout

In times of uncertainty, I am grateful for the grounding work of farming. When the fear of the future fills me, I take a walk through the fields, asking the plants for guidance. I often slip off my shoes, feeling the ground beneath my feet. Currently it is wet and slimy, although dry in some places. I found a sunflower sprout in the drainage behind the CSA barn and encountered many creatures: rabbits, snakes, birds, and insects.

We are gearing up to till our fields next week as there is no rain in the forecast. It is heartbreaking to proceed knowing the pond has not recharged and so much seems to be in question. Yet we are also more inspired to grow food for our community. We are still praying that more rain comes, prolonging the grass season and providing us with more water security moving forward.

• Cabbage

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Castelfranco Chicory

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Lettuce

• Onions

• Green garlic

• Pac Choy

• Parsnips

• Leeks

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

• Olive Oil!

Spring Tart with Bacon, Green Garlic, Leek, and Gruyere, from food52.com

For the crust:

• 1 1/2 cup flour

• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 10 tablespoons very cold, unsalted butter (5 ounces, 1 cube plus 2 tablespoons), cut into 10 or 12 pieces

• 1 egg, beaten

For the filling:

• 3 strips bacon, diced

• 2 large leeks (white parts), sliced in half lengthwise, then across into 1/8 inch strips

• 2 tablespoons chopped green garlic

• 1 pinch fine sea salt

• 3 eggs

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, plus sprigs for garnish

• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 3 ounces Gruyere cheese, shredded

To make the tart crust, add both flours and salt to the bowl of a food processor; pulse a few times to combine. Sprinkle butter over top and pulse several times until the largest butter pieces you see are a bit larger than a pea. Pour egg over flour mixture and pulse several times, until clumps begin to form. Turn mixture out onto a work surface. Quickly gather the dough together into a ball, knead it just enough so that you can form it into a 6" disc. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, transfer the tart dough to a work surface lightly sprinkled with flour. Roll dough into a 12 inch round; lift and turn the dough often to keep it from sticking. Place your rolling pin over one end of the dough round and roll it up. Unroll the dough over a 9" tart pan with a removable bottom, doing your best to center it. Gently press dough on bottom and sides of pan (patch any torn or short areas); trim dough to 1/2 inch overhang. Fold overhang to create a double-thick edge and pierce all over with a fork. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1/2 an hour, preferably longer (see headnote).

When you're ready to bake the crust, preheat oven to 400 degrees. Trim a piece of foil to fit and place on bottom crust. Cover foil with pie weights (whole beans that you don't plan to cook work well too). Bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and weights. Return crust to oven and reduce heat to 375 degrees; bake 20 minutes more. Remove from oven and set aside. (If your filling is ready, you can pour it right in and bake.)

For the filling, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon; cook and stir until fat begins to render, about 3 minutes. Add leeks, green garlic, and a pinch of salt. Cook and stir about 10 minutes more, until leeks and garlic are soft and bacon is cooked through. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, sour cream, thyme, and pepper. Stir in Gruyere and bacon mixture. Pour into crust and bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until set in the center.

Remove from oven; transfer to serving platter and garnish with thyme sprigs. Slice into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.

Time Change

Now that it is lighter later in the day it truly feels that spring has arrived. We are not quite ready to let go of winter as we need more rain but we are still hopeful that more will come.

When the time changes, I always wonder about the animals who do not use the clocks but who are still rhythmic and attuned to the seasons. Our habits change, as we feed and do chores an hour later, but we have no way to communicate why. Even the cat and dog who live inside are confused.

Important Dates:

We are closed next week March 16th-20th!

Summer hours begin the week after our break: we will be open until 7 pm starting March 23rd.

All Member Meeting Wednesday April 15th (Adults only event)

This week’s pick list:

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Castelfranco Chicory

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Lettuce

• Onions

• Fennel

• Pac Choy

• Parsnips

• Leeks

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

• Olive Oil!

Fall Apart Caramelized Cabbage, from bonappetit.com

• ¼ cup double-concentrated tomato paste

• 3 garlic cloves, finely grated

• 1½ tsp. ground coriander

• 1½ tsp. ground cumin

• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

• 1 medium head of green or savoy cabbage (about 2 lb. total)

• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided

• Kosher salt

• 3 Tbsp. chopped dill, parsley, or cilantro

• Full-fat Greek yogurt or sour cream (for serving)

Preheat oven to 350°. Mix tomato paste, garlic, coriander, cumin, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.

Cut cabbage in half through core. Cut each half through core into 4 wedges.

Heat ¼ cup oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high. Working in batches if needed, add cabbage to pan cut side down and season with salt. Cook, turning occasionally, until lightly charred, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer cabbage to a plate.

Pour remaining ¼ cup oil into skillet. Add spiced tomato paste and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until tomato paste begins to split and slightly darken, 2–3 minutes. Pour in enough water to come halfway up sides of pan (about 1½ cups), season with salt, and bring to a simmer. Nestle cabbage wedges back into skillet (they should have shrunk while browning; a bit of overlap is okay). Transfer cabbage to oven and bake, uncovered and turning wedges halfway through, until very tender, liquid is mostly evaporated, and cabbage is caramelized around the edges, 40–50 minutes.

Scatter dill over cabbage. Serve with yogurt alongside.

Green shoots

The perennials that we seeded in the greenhouse in January are slowly starting to grow, and some are just emerging. The small and delicate seedlings need cold nights to germinate and take a long time to develop. We enjoy starting them each year and watching patiently as they transform into plants.

Important Dates:

We are closed March 16th-20th!

Summer hours begin the week after our break: we will be open until 7 pm starting March 23rd.

All Member Meeting Wednesday April 15th (Adults only event)

This week’s pick list:

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Spigariello

• Beets

• Chard

• Carrots

• Sugarloaf and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Scallions

• Pac Choy

• Parsnips

• Leeks

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread on Friday only

• Olive Oil!

Sauteed Spigariello, from latimes.com

• 2 bunches of spigariello

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 3 garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)

• Pinch red pepper flakes

• 1 teaspoon good balsamic or apple cider vinegar

Wash the spigarello thoroughly. Pull the leaves off the stems, grabbing the leaves from the top of the stem and pulling toward the bottom to remove (in the same way you’d strip rosemary needles). Discard the stems. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spigarello, return to a boil and blanch for 3 to 5 minutes, until the greens wilt slightly and bend easily in the pan. Drain in a colander.

Heat the olive oil in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the spigarello, season with salt and saute until slightly crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes, turn off the heat and let stand for about 1 minute, stirring often. (If the pan is too thin to hold much heat, cook over low heat for 1 minute after adding the garlic and pepper flakes.) Sprinkle with vinegar and toss lightly. Serve warm.

Sounds of eating

We fed the cows hay for the last time (we hope) Sunday. I rode on the trailer pushing off flakes this time, instead of driving the tractor. I enjoyed being up close to the cows, watching and listening to them eating, jostling each other for space, and then settling in peacefully. On Monday, Jorge, Jesse, and Seth sorted off the bred cows from the rest of the herd and we are now grazing two groups.

The weather forecaster are hinting that a shift in weather may be coming soon and we are praying it does.

This week’s pick list:

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Spigariello

• Beets

• Chard

• Carrots

• Sugarloaf and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Lettuce

• Arugula

• Parsnips

• Leeks

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

• Olive Oil!

Lemony Braised Leeks and Chard, from butteredveg.com

• 6 cups (about 2 large leeks), chopped

• 1 tablespoon oil

• 4 cups chard, half a bunch

• 1/2 cup water, or vegetable stock if you have it

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, or more to taste

• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, rice vinegar or white balsamic also okay

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

• 1 tablespoon grainy mustard, dijon also okay

• 1 clove garlic, grated or crushed

• 1 teaspoon Himalayan pink salt, or to taste

Trim the leeks. Retain 2 inches of the deep green part and discard or compost the rest (or use it for stock). Cut off the roots. Remove 1-2 outer layers of the leek if it is damaged or dirty. Slice the remaining leek in half lengthwise, and then chop into 1-inch lengths. Wash the leeks in a large bowl of cold water, swishing them around to loosen any dirt. Rinse and repeat if necessary. Scoop the prepared leeks from the water with your hands or a slotted spoon to avoid disturbing the dirt, which will have settled on the bottom of the bowl. Place leeks on a clean tea towel to air dry a little before using.

Chop the Swiss chard into 1-inch pieces and use the same bowl (with new water) to wash it. This time you can keep the chard in the bowl until it’s time to include it in the recipe.

In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the braising liquid.

Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add vegetable oil and the prepared leeks. Sauté until the leeks turn golden brown. Scoop the chard from the water and add it to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium low. Wait a few minutes for the temperature to reduce, then add the prepared braising liquid evenly over the leeks and chard. Stir to remove any stuck bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 15 minutes, until the leeks and chard stalks are nice and tender.

Place in a serving dish along with the braising liquid. Serve as a vegetable side with rice, pasta, or a whole grain. Enjoy the braised leeks and chard as one element of a nutritious healing bowl.

Blue Skies

While the clear weather has warmed us and the soil, we are hoping for more rain in the forecast soon. The drainages are slowly drying up and we are looking forward to the sound of running water in the future.

We are sowing the tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant for the tunnels this week, as well as another succession of lettuce, pac choy, fennel, and scallions. We are slowly getting the tunnels under control!

This week’s pick list:

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Carrots

• Sugarloaf and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Pac Choy

• Mustard Greens

• Parsnips

• Leeks

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

• Olive Oil!

PICKLED CHARD STEMS, from dishingupthedirt.com

• 1 1/2 cups chopped chard stems (from about 1 large bunch of chard)

• 2 teaspoons brown mustard seeds

• 1 cup rice vinegar

• 1/2 cup water

• 3 1/2 Tablespoons honey

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns

Place the chopped chard stems in a glass bowl or large mason jar and set aside.

Toast the brown mustard seeds in a saucepan for about 1 minute. Add the vinegar, water, honey and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the honey has dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, add the peppercorns and let the brine cool for about 10 minutes.

Pour the brine over the chopped chard and cover the jar with a secure lid. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before enjoying.

*Pickled chard stems will keep in the fridge for up to 3 weeks in a secured glass jar *Use this recipe as a guide and adjust measurements and ingredients as necessary

Purple

We will have purple cauliflower in the barn this week, the first time for us that the overwintering cauliflower has been a success! When you buy this seed from the company, they have a qualifier that the prospect of the plant actually making a head is hit and miss depending on the year and the weather.

Even though we have had a long break in rain, the soil is still cold and very moist. Many of the vegetables have a purple hue to them from the stress of the growing conditions. It is interesting that both the broccoli and cauliflower that grow at this time are purple as well!

And then in the shade of the daffodils, I found this sweet purple crocus.

This week’s pick list:

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Spigariello

• Beets

• Chard

• Carrots

• Sugarloaf, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Broccoli

• Cauliflower

• Pac Choy

• Arugula

• Parsnips

• Leeks

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

Whole Wheat Blender Pancakes, from melskitchencafe.com

• 1 cup wheat berries/kernels

• 1 cup buttermilk (you can substitute a blend of 50% yogurt and 50% milk)

• 1/2 cup milk

• 2 large eggs

• 2 teaspoons sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• 5 tablespoons butter, melted

• 3/4 teaspoon salt

Combine the wheat berries/kernels and the buttermilk in a blender and blend on high for 3 minutes, until the mixture is smooth and thick.

Add the 1/2 cup milk and continue to blend for 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and blend until the batter is smooth.

Cook the batter on a hot griddle for pancakes or in a waffle iron for, well, waffles!

A shift

As we cross over from January into February, it begins to feel as if we are pulling away from the heart of winter and moving towards spring. The days are longer than 10 hours, allowing for more plant growth. In the fields, there is often a shift in the crops and many begin to go to seed.. Most of the plants that we are harvesting were planted last August and September. They have hung on through the frost and short days; with the first warm stretch they burst into the next phase.

This week’s pick list:

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Spigariello

• Beets

• Chard

• Carrots

• Escarole, Sugarloaf, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Broccoli

• Parsnips

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

Celeriac Risotto, from everylastbite.com

• 3 cups cubed butternut squash

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 100 grams diced Pancetta or Bacon

• 1 large celery root celeriac, 4 cups celeriac rice

• 2 cloves garlic minced

• 1 large onion finely chopped

• 3 cups greens shredded into small pieces

• 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth

• 1 cup milk

• Parmesan cheese (optional)

Preheat the oven to 175 degrees (350 degrees Fahrenheit). Place the cubed butternut squash on a baking sheet and drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and salt. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the butternut squash is tender and golden in color.

While the butternut squash is baking, peel the celeriac and cut it into chunks. Place the cut up celeriac into a food processor and pulse. The key is not to over blend, you want it to break down into small pieces about the size of rice.

In a large pot on medium heat add 1 tbsp olive oil and cook the pancetta until its crisp. Once cooked, remove it from the pot and set aside.

Add the garlic and onion to the pot and cook for approximately 5 minutes until the onion has softened. Add in the greens, riced celeriac, broth and milk and let cook gently as to not curdle the milk for approximately 10 minutes until the liquid has evaporated and the celeriac is tender.

Add in the pancetta and butternut squash 1-2 minutes before serving so that they become warm. Finish with grated parmesan cheese. if you wish.

Halfway

The big dam has filled halfway, which is a contrast to this time last year when it was overflowing. Still it does feel as we have plenty of time left for it to recharge.

The grass is still short enough that you can see the patterns in the field of how the water moves. There are patches of different plants in the wetter and drier spots, as well as changes under the trees and on the hillsides.

We are meeting this week and last to reflect on the past season and set goals for the coming one. The slower pace of winter allows us space to think, plan, and dream.

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Carrots

• Leeks

• Escarole, Frisee, Sugarloaf, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Broccoli

• Brussel sprouts

• Parsnips

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

Tourtiere, from davidlebovitz.com

For the dough

• 2 1/2 cups (325g) flour

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 8 ounces (230g, 1 cup) unsalted butter, cubed and chilled

• 6 tablespoons (90ml) ice water, plus more if necessary

• 1 tablespoon white or cider vinegar

For the filling

• 1 pound (450g) ground beef

• 1 pound (450g) ground pork (or use all ground beef)

• 1 large onion, peeled the diced

• 1 large russet potato, diced (You can also add other root vegetables.)

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne or red chile powder

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 cup (250ml) beef or chicken stock, or water

• 1 egg yolk, lightly beaten

To make the dough

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a food processor, or in a large bowl using a pastry blender), mix the flour, sugar, and salt. Mix in the butter at low-to-medium speed until the pieces of butter are the size of small peas. Add the ice water and vinegar and mix on low speed just until the dough comes together, but do not overwork it. For that reason, I often do the last of the mixing by hand. If the dough is too dry to come together, add another spoonful or so of water.

2. Divide the dough in two and shape each half into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate the disks for at least 1 hour. (The dough can also be refrigerated for up to three days, or frozen for up to three months.)

To make and assemble the tourtière

3. In a large skillet with a lid, or a Dutch oven, heat the ground beef and pork over medium heat. Cook, stirring to break up the meat, until it's browned and cooked through. With a slotted spoon, remove the meat to a plate or bowl, and drain from the pan all but 2 tablespoons of fat. (Any meaty juices that are in the pan should be reserved to add later.)

4. Add the diced onion to the pot and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the potatoes, salt, spices, and bay leaf, coating the potatoes and onions with the spices. Stir the cooked beef and pork back into the pot along with the stock, and any reserved juices from the previous step.

5. Bring to a low boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook gently for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice while cooking. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl, remove the bay leaf, and cool to room temperature or chill in the refrigerator.

6. To assemble the tourtière, remove the dough from the refrigerator and on a lightly floured surface, roll one disk of the dough into a 13-inch (33cm) circle. Gently drape it into a deep 9- to 10-inch (23cm) pie plate or pan. (The authors say this can also be baked in a similar-sized skillet, with an ovenproof handle.) Scrape the meat mixture into the dough-lined pan, then roll out the second disk of dough to the same size, and drape it over the pie. Tuck the two pieces of dough that are overhanging the sides under the rim, inside the pie plate. Crimp the edges and chill the pie for one hour, or freeze it for 15 minutes.

7. To bake the tourtière, preheat the oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Brush the egg yolk over the top of the pie dough, cut a hole in the center, and make any decorative marks you wish in the top with the tip of a sharp paring knife. Bake the pie until the top is golden brown, about 45 to 50 minutes. If necessary, you can run the pie under the broiler a minute or so to get it to brown nicely. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

Potatoes

Most of the vegetables coming out of the fields are sweet from the frost and lush with all the rain. Finding them can be like searching for treasure, as the weeds and grass are growing up around them. The chicories and chard are the rare splotches of red among the different hues of green that fill the field.

We have already eaten through our much smaller harvest of potatoes from this summer. It is a stark contrast to last year when we had potatoes into July when the new crop came in. We hope that you savored the ones we had and look forward to them returning in July. We are growing new varieties this year and have made adjustments in our planning for a more abundant crop.

This week’s pick list:

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Lettuce

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Carrots

• Leeks

• Scallions

• Escarole, Frisee, Sugarloaf, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Broccoli

• Brussel sprouts

• Parsnips

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

Green Falafel, from 101cookbooks.com

• 1 pound kale, washed and trimmed

• 2 eggs

• 5 cloves garlic

• 1 cup cooked chickpeas

• 1 cup breadcrumbs

• 1/2 cup / 20g grated Parmesan

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 + teaspoon fine grain sea salt

• zest of one lemon

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Place a large skillet or pot over high heat. When hot, add the spinach, in batches if necessary. Stir until collapsed and most of the moisture has evaporated. Transfer to a cutting board, and chop well. The more chopped, the better.

Combine the eggs, garlic, chickpeas, breadcrumbs, cheese, baking powder, and salt in a blender. Blend until combined. Transfer to a large bowl, add the lemon zest and chopped spinach, and stir until uniform.

With your hands, form the mixture into small, 1 1/2-inch balls. You should end up with 20-30-ish balls. Place on a baking sheet, smush them down a bit, and put in the oven for 20 minutes or so, until very golden, flipping once along the way. If you don't bake all of them, freeze the remaining. Alternately, you can cook the falafel in a skillet with a splash of olive oil.

Serve the falafel with a sauce, or dipping sauce, or with additional components as part of a falafel bowl. Enjoy!

Rain at night

It has been raining lightly at night off and on for the past week. It feels as if you wake up to a present, or a pleasant surprise, more puddles and running water than the day before. The large dam still needs some big storms to fill but the slow and steady rains are also beneficial.

We finished the seed order, except for lettuce, which is still pending. Working through the seed order, is like a review of the season, remembering which varieties we loved and which we did not. It is also a reminder of the success and failures that happen on all farms, even for the seed companies. Some of our favorite varieties were not available this year, because the seed crop did not make it and sometimes because it is no longer popular enough for the companies to continue to grow it. We, of course, could not exist without the seed companies and are so grateful for the work they do to maintain the varieties and constantly improve them.

This week’s pick list:

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Fennel

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley

• Carrots

• Leeks

• Scallions

• Escarole, Frisee, Sugarloaf, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Broccoli

• Brussel sprouts

• Parsnips

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

Jingalov Hats, from nytimes.com

FOR THE DOUGH:

• 1 ½ cups flour, plus more for dusting

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• ⅔ cup lukewarm water

• Sunflower oil or other neutral oil, for greasing

FOR THE FILLING:

• 2 pounds chard, tough stems discarded

• 4 packed cups fresh herbs

• 4 packed cups sorrel

• 6 spring onions (or 10 scallions), thinly sliced

• 3 tablespoons sunflower oil or other neutral oil

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• 2 teaspoons sweet paprika

• 2 teaspoons kosher salt

• 2 handfuls pomegranate seeds (optional)
  

Prepare the dough: In a medium bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour and the salt. Pour the lukewarm water into a large bowl, then gradually add the flour mixture, using your hands to incorporate. The dough will be sticky.

Dust the counter with flour, turn dough onto it and knead gently until the surface becomes smooth and the dough stops sticking to your hands and counter, about 5 minutes. Roll the dough into a ball, place it in a lightly oiled bowl, turn it to coat, then cover it with a kitchen towel. Let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes to 1 hour.

Prepare the filling: Wash the greens, and use a salad spinner to dry them well. Chop the greens finely. Mix with spring onions, oil, lemon juice, paprika, salt and pomegranate seeds (if using), and set aside. Divide the rested dough into 4 portions, about 3 ounces each, and form each into a ball.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll a ball into a very thin circle, about 8 inches wide, adding more flour as needed to prevent the dough from sticking. Place about 2 cups of filling in the center, then use your hands to pat it down into a round, leaving about a 1-inch border of dough. Pick up two opposite sides of the dough, and pinch them together over the center of the filling, from top to bottom, so the middle is wide and the ends form points.

Firmly pinch the seam to make sure it’s sealed, then turn the dough over, and gently flatten it out with the palm of your hand so it resembles a deflated football, sealing any holes in the dough. It should be about 1/4- to-1/2-inch thick. If it’s thicker, use a rolling pin to smooth it out a little. Pinch shut any holes in the dough, then place on parchment or a lightly floured surface. Repeat with the remaining balls of dough.

Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high. Working with one dough portion at a time, place the dough seam-side down in the center of the pan. Lower the heat to medium, and cook for about 3 minutes, until cooked and lightly browned in places. Flip, and cook the other side for 2 minutes. If the dough seems raw in places, flip and cook evenly. Repeat for the rest of the jingalov hats, and serve warm or at room temperature.

Grass

When we awoke Sunday morning after returning home late Saturday evening, we were grateful to see the farm gloriously green. In contrast on the frosty mornings, the farm is white and almost appears to have a dusting of snow. By afternoon though, we are often in t-shirts.

We are planting another round of lettuce, pac choy, fennel, and scallions in the tunnels. There is a gopher that has taken up residence in them, so we are also working to stop the damage.

This week’s pick list:

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Fennel

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley

• Carrots

• Leeks

• Scallions

• Escarole, Frisee, Sugarloaf, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Broccoli

• Brussel sprouts

• Parsnips

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

Homemade Egg Noodles, thespruceeats.com

• 1 cup flour (we do sift out the bran from our flour when we make noodles)

• 2 large eggs

• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

Combine the flour and salt in a large shallow bowl or on a clean work surface. Make a well in the center, almost like a "bowl" of flour to hold the eggs, and crack the eggs into it.

Use a fork to beat the eggs and then gradually start incorporating the flour into the eggs (as you beat them, they will slowly but surely take up some flour from along the edge of where the eggs meet the flour).

Keep stirring and pulling in more flour until a solid dough forms. The dough will be sticky. Don't worry, you'll be working in more flour in a moment. Too much flour now and the extra flour needed to roll out the noodles will lead to an oddly dry, rather than tender, noodle in the end.

Turn the dough out onto a well-floured work surface. With well-floured hands, knead the dough, incorporating more flour as necessary to keep it from sticking to either the work surface or your hands, until the dough is smooth and firm and no longer sticky. This takes 5 to 10 minutes for most people.

Wrap the dough with plastic wrap and chill it for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.

Divide the dough into 2 pieces and work with one half of the dough at a time.

On a well-floured surface roll out the dough to the desired thickness (anywhere from 1/4-inch to paper-thin—the call is yours!). Be sure to rotate, or otherwise move the dough, between each pass of the rolling pin to keep the dough from sticking to the work surface underneath. Sprinkle everything with flour—including lifting the dough and flouring the work surface again—as necessary to keep the dough from sticking.

Use a sharp knife or pizza cutting wheel to cut the noodles. You can make them as narrow or wide as you like but cut them as evenly as possible to ensure a uniform cooking time.

Lay the noodles on a cooling or drying rack and let them sit until ready to cook. Repeat rolling and cutting with the remaining half of the dough.

Boil the noodles in well-salted water until tender to the bite. Drain and serve with butter or cheese, with stews, or in soups.

Tips

You can let these uncooked noodles air-dry until completely dry and store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to a month.

You may be tempted to store the uncooked noodles in the fridge in an effort to keep them "fresh." Avoid this temptation. It's strange, but true that they keep much better dried than they do in the refrigerator, where they will get soggy.

If you have a pasta roller, you can use that instead of a rolling pin, when rolling out the dough, if you like. This will lead to more evenly formed noodles.

Moving

Seth and I are skiing in Colorado while Jesse, Jorge, Pascale, and Kelsey are skillfully caring for the all the animals, plants, and buildings at the farm. We are grateful for their hard work and support and to be in the snow!

As we transition crews, everyone on the farm seems to be moving. We are rearranging the houses and getting ready to welcome new employees to the farm. We are excited for the beginnings and to have everyone settled in their new spaces.

We are working to clear the tunnels, in preparation to plant next week. We have a bounty of beautiful cabbage in the field that we are slowly harvesting to store. It is nice to have a break in the rain for the fields to dry a little as some crops have started to suffer from the saturated soils.

This week’s pick list:

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Fennel

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley

• Carrots

• Lettuce

• Escarole, Sugarloaf, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Brussel sprouts

• Parsnips

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

SPICED BUTTERNUT SQUASH BISCUITS, from dishingupthedirt.com

• 2 cups flour

• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

• 1/3 cup buttermilk

• 3/4 cup roasted and mashed butternut squash puree (or any cooked squash puree)

• 3 tablespoons honey, warmed until pourable (make sure it's not hot though)

Preheat the oven to 400F

Combine flour, baking powder, spices and salt in a large bowl; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Chill in the fridge for 10 minutes.

Combine buttermilk and honey until well mixed. Add the squash puree and buttermilk mixture to the large bowl with the flour mixture; stir until well incorporated making sure not to over-mix.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead 8-10 times (this will help achieve lovely layers of butter for maximum flakiness). While kneading/folding the dough sprinkle extra flour if the dough is too sticky. Pat or roll out to 1-in. thickness; cut with a floured 2-in. biscuit cutter or mason jar. Place biscuits close together on a a lightly greased baking sheet and bake for 14-18 minutes or until lightly browned.

Feeding

We have been feeding hay to the cows on pasture since the rains began to allow the new grass time to grow and to provide extra nutrition to the cows. Since it is a two person job, Teddy and I have helped Seth on Sundays when he does chores. It is a treat for us to be up close and in the herd, watching them interact and see how the calves have grown. There are lines of hay all through the big pasture now which will also feed the soil and drop extra seed.

It was Annie’s last day on Friday, a sad but also celebratory moment as she has been a part of the farm for three years. We will miss the care she brought to the vegetables and us but we are excited to follow her on her next journey at Filigreen Farm.

No potluck this Friday as it will be too wet and rainy. We will resume potlucks in March!

We are closed next week!

This week’s pick list:

• Broccoli

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Fennel

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley

• Carrots

• Lettuce

• Escarole, Sugarloaf, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Brussel sprouts

• Parsnips

• Cauliflower

• Pac Choy

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

Momofuko’s Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Fish Sauce Vinaigerette, from food52.com

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

• 2 tablespoons very thinly sliced cilantro stems, plus 1/2 cup leaves

• 3 tablespoons chopped mint

• 2 pounds brussels sprouts (smaller ones are better)

• 2 tablespoons grapeseed or other neutral oil (or 3 cups if frying instead of roasting)

Fish Sauce Vinaigrette

• 1/2 cup fish sauce (adjust to taste -- some fish sauce brands are saltier)

• 1/4 cup water

• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

• 2 tablespoons lime juice (from 1 lime)

• 1/4 cup sugar or maple syrup

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 2 red bird’s-eye chiles, thinly sliced, seeds intact, or chile powder added to your spiciness level

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Combine the vinaigrette (below), cilantro stems, and mint in a bowl, and set aside.

Peel away any loose or discolored outer leaves, trim the dry end of the stems with a knife, and cut the sprouts in half. Cut any especially large ones in quarters. Do not wash, especially if frying the sprouts. If roasting, and you must, dry very well.

To roast the brussels sprouts (recommended): Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil (or just enough to evenly coat the bottom of the pan) in 2 oven-safe wide skillets (12 to 14 inches) over medium heat. When the oil slides easily from side to side of the pan, add the brussels sprouts cut side down. When the cut faces of the sprouts begin to brown, transfer the pan to the oven to finish cooking, about 15 minutes. Alternately, if you don't have 2 large skillets or are cooking more sprouts for a larger crowd, roast them in the oven: toss them with 1 tablespoon of oil per pound and spread them on a baking sheet, cut sides down. Roast in the oven, checking for browning every 10-15 minutes, tossing them around with a spatula only once they start to brown nicely.The sprouts are ready when they are tender but not soft, with nice, dark brown color.

To fry the brussels sprouts: Heat 1 1/2 inches of oil in a deep saucepan over medium-high heat until a deep-fry or instant-read thermometer registers 375°F. Line a plate with paper towels. Fry in batches that don’t crowd the pan -- be careful, these will pop and spatter. Brussels sprouts will take about 5 minutes: when the outer leaves begin to hint at going black around the edges—i.e., after the sprouts have sizzled, shrunk, popped, and browned but before they burn—remove them to a paper towel–lined plate or tray.

Serve warm or at room temperature. When ready to serve, divide the brussels sprouts among four bowls (or serve it all out of one big bowl), top with the dressing to taste and cilantro leaves, and toss once or twice to coat.

Fish Sauce Vinaigrette

Combine the fish sauce, water, vinegar, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chiles in a jar. Taste; If too salty, add more water and/or lime juice. This vinaigrette will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Calendula

The one plant still blooming on the farm is the calendula in the herb garden. Its leaves are battered from the frost and rain but there are flowers dotting the green. The bright colors call in the sun and exuberance of summer, warming us when it is damp and cool.

Our days have slowed and we have started to switch to winter projects, although the strawberries need to be weeded and the tunnels provide ample work. We relish the sun when it appears and are forever grateful for the rain.

This week’s pick list:

• Broccoli

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Fennel

• Kale

• Collards

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley

• Carrots

• Lettuce

• Escarole, Sugarloaf, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Leeks

• Brussel sprouts

• Parsnips

• Cauliflower

• Pac Choy

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

One-Pot Tumeric Coconut Rice with Greens, from nytimes.com

• 2 cups long-grain rice, such as jasmine or basmati

• ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes

• 1 tablespoon white or black sesame seeds

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil

• 5 scallions, thinly sliced, white and green parts separated

• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

• ½ teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed

• 1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk

• Pinch of saffron (optional)

• Kosher salt

• 1 medium bunch kale, spinach or Swiss chard

• 1 lime

Rinse rice until water runs clear. Drain and set aside.

In a medium pot or Dutch oven, toast the coconut and sesame seeds over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. (Adjust heat as needed to prevent burning.) Transfer to a small bowl. Wipe out the pot.

In the same pot, melt the coconut oil over medium-low. Add the scallion whites, turmeric and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and cook, stirring, until aromatic and lightly toasted, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the rice, coconut milk, saffron (if using), and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Fill the empty can of coconut milk with water and add it to the pot. Give the mixture a good stir to separate any lumps and bring to a boil over medium-high.

Once boiling, cover, turn the heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes.

As rice cooks, remove and discard the tough stems of the leafy greens, if needed, and cut or tear the leaves into bite-size pieces. When the rice has cooked for 10 minutes, arrange the greens on top of the rice in an even layer and season well with salt and pepper. Cover, and cook until the rice is tender, 5 more minutes. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, 5 minutes.

As rice rests, zest the lime and cut it into 4 wedges. Add 1/2 teaspoon zest to the coconut-sesame mixture, along with the scallion greens. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine.

Gently stir the greens into the rice using a spatula or fork, season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls. Sprinkle the coconut mixture on top and serve with a lime wedge for squeezing over.

Change

What a glorious change it is outside as the fields, animals, plants, and us are soaked and saturated with moisture. While we have had heavy rain rates at times, causing some run off and pooling, most of the water has been absorbed. While there are not yet signs of fresh green sprouts in the pasture, we can imagine all the seeds swelling and being ready to burst with the next wave of sunshine. For now, we are basking in the dampness around us. With no sunshine and ample moisture in the air, we have not even needed to water in the tunnels or the flats in the greenhouse!

As our season winds down, we also have changes in our crew. Abby, Adam, and Amber are leaving after this week. It has been a pleasure to work alongside them, to get to know them, and we will miss them.

This week’s pick list:

• Broccoli

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Scallions

• Kale

• Collards

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley

• Carrots

• Lettuce

• Escarole and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Leeks

• Brussel sprouts

• Parsnips

• Arugula

• Pac Choy

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

Celery Root with Brown Butter, Oranges, Dates, and Almonds, from Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden

• 2 oranges

• 3/4 pound celery root (1 small or 1/2 large)

• 1/2 cup pitted dates, cut into quarters or smaller

• 1/4 teaspoon dried chile flakes or powder (the numex or basque would be good, not too spicy. or you can just put in a pinch of cayenne or sarit.)

• Salt and pepper

• Extra-virgin olive oil

• 1/4 cup roasted almonds

• 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions

• 1/4 cup chopped parsley

• 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

Grate the zest from one of the oranges, then squeeze the juice from half of that grated orange.

Cut a small slice from the navel and stem ends of the second orange and set the orange on the cutting board on one cut end. Using a sharp paring knife, cut away all the orange peel and the underlying white pith from top to bottom, working in strips around the orange. Halve the orange pole to pole. Set half on the cutting board cut side down, and cut crosswise into 1/8 inch thigh half moons. Repeat with the other half and put all slices in a bowl.

Using a sharp paring knife, cut away all tough exteriors of the celery root. Cut the whole thing in half. Set the flat side on the cutting board and slice as thin as you can. (You can also use a mandolin.) Put the celery root in the bowl with the oranges.

Add the orange juice, set, dates, chile, 1 teaspoon salt, and fresh black pepper. Toss and taste. Adjust seasonings until it is very zippy. Add a glug of olive oil and taste. Add the almonds, scallions, and parsley and toss. Taste and adjust one more time.

Melt the butter in a small saucepan or skillet over medium heat. Cook the butter, swirling the pan every few seconds, until all the water inside the butter has sizzled off and the milk solids at the bottom of the pan begin to turn a pale golden color, 1 to 2 minutes. Cook the butter until it turns golden brown and smells nutty and delicious, another few seconds. Pour it immediately over the salad and toss one more time before serving.

Warm inside

The rains are returning! We are overjoyed for the relief and renewal for the land and us. We are harvesting extra food today as we will be closed Friday. Even though it will be wet outside, the barn will be full and lively!

We just came home after visiting our friends Cameron and Daphne in Colorado who run Light Root Community Farm. We met them when we were apprenticing on Horsepower Farm in Maine 16 years ago. We were delighted to see their farm, including their beautiful draft horses and dairy cows, and to talk endlessly about farming, life, and more.

It was also a reminder of how thankful we are for our crew who care for the land and us and who truly make this farm possible.

This week’s pick list:

• Broccoli

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Scallions

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley

• Carrots

• Lettuce

• Escarole, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Leeks

• Brussel sprouts

• Parsnips

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

Shortcut Pie Crust, from nytimes.com

• 1 ½ cups/190 grams all-purpose flour

• ½ cup/60 grams confectioners’ sugar, passed through a sieve

• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

• 9 tablespoons/130 grams cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

• 2 large egg yolks

Combine the flour, confectioners’ sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Add the cubed butter and blitz until the flour mixture has a sandy texture with some pea-size butter bits.

Add the egg yolks and blitz then pulse just until the pastry begins to come together.

Tip the pastry out onto a rectangle of plastic wrap. Using your hands, form it into a 6-inch log. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill, at least 3 hours or up to 3 days, or wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. If using frozen dough, allow to soften slightly in the fridge for an hour before using.

Using the large holes on a box grater, grate 3/4 of the chilled pastry directly into your pie dish or tart pan. Working quickly by hand, press the grated pastry into the dish, starting with the sides then covering the bottom, grating more of the chilled pastry into the dish as needed to cover evenly. Pay attention to the seam between the sides and the base, making sure it is the same thickness as the rest of the pastry: The crust should form an even layer that is about 1/4-inch thick. (Save any leftover pastry for another use.) Chill, at least 30 minutes or up to 2 days. (This can be done ahead.)

The crust can take various routes from here; refer to whichever pie or tart recipe you're using for guidance. If blind-baking this crust, it cooks best at 350 degrees.

Compost

Annie and Jesse have been prepping all the compost piles for winter: turning, watering, and shaping them. Last we cover them so that they do not get too wet from the rainfall we know will come eventually! We look forward to the boost they will bring the vegetable fields in the spring.

Abby and Amber have been weeding and mulching in the tunnels, trying to get a head start on the rye grass that is relentless this time of year. The plants in the tunnels are growing rapidly, protected from the wind and cold.

We will harvest our old laying hens this week. We are grateful for the delicious eggs that they have given us all year, as well as the fertility they have added to our fields.

Next week we will only be open on Tuesday! We will harvest double so that everyone can come that day. We are closed on Friday.

This week’s pick list:

• Broccoli

• Collards

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Scallions

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley, Dill, and Cilantro

• Carrots

• Lettuce

• Frisee, Escarole, and Radicchio

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Leeks

• Fennel

• Brussel sprouts

• Garlic

• Parsnips

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

Celery-Leek Soup With Potato and Parsley, from nytimes.com

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

• 2 large leeks (about 10 ounces each), halved lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise and cleaned (about 3 cups)

• 3 garlic cloves, sliced

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

• 1 pound celery (about 1 large bunch), leaves reserved, stalks trimmed, peeled and thinly sliced

• 1 large potato (about 12 ounces), peeled and roughly chopped

• 3 fresh bay leaves

• 1 ½ teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

• ¼ cup dry white wine

• 7 cups chicken or vegetable stock

• 1 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves, plus more for garnish

• Crème fraîche or heavy cream, for serving

In a large pot, heat the 1/4 cup oil over medium. Add the leeks and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until meltingly tender, about 7 minutes.

Add the celery, potato, bay leaves and thyme, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the wine to deglaze, then cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is almost dry, about 3 minutes.

Add the stock and bring to boil over high. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until all the vegetables are fully tender and soft, about 20 minutes. Discard the bay leaves, then stir in 1 cup parsley leaves.

Working in two or three batches, transfer the soup to a blender and purée until smooth. (It’s almost always beneficial to let the soup blend for another minute or two past what seems necessary to emulsify as much as possible.) Season generously with salt and pepper.

Transfer to bowls. Drizzle with olive oil; garnish with reserved celery leaves and parsley, and sprinkle with pepper. Serve with a dollop of crème fraîche or a drizzle of heavy cream.

Many wreaths

The farm was full of activity this Saturday at the harvest festival; many beautiful creations were made and delicious food was eaten! Emma dried a huge variety of flowers this year and it was a delight to see them made into wreaths. We will have left over wreath making supplies in the barn this week for anyone who was unable to attend.

Kelsey finished harvesting the last of the marshmallow root last week and began mixing new tea blends this Monday. Look for them in the barn this week!

We planted the garlic last week and are hoping for a much more abundant crop this year. We chose to use most of the garlic that we harvested this summer as seed for next year’s crop that we just planted. This means that we have very little garlic left to offer in the barn until we begin harvesting green garlic in March. We made this choice for 2 reasons. One, there is great value in saving your seed each year and having the crop acclimate to your land. Second, garlic seed is actually much more expensive than garlic your purchase in the store. We hope you enjoy the remaining garlic that we have and we look forward to the delicious green garlic when it comes.

We are so happy that there is talk of rain next week so we are prepping all the fields in advance. We hope to have all the cover crop seeded before the first rain. We hope it comes true!

This week’s pick list:

• Broccoli

• Collards

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Scallions

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley

• Carrots

• Lettuce

• Frisee

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Leeks

• Garlic

• Parsnips

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread

Madhur Jaffrey's Stir-Fried Cabbage with Fennel Seeds, from food52.com

• 1 1/2 pounds green cabbage (half a large head)

• 1/4 cup oil

• 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds

• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds

• 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

• 1 medium-large onion (about 7 ounces), peeled and cut lengthwise into fine half rings

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/8-1/4 teaspoons cayenne pepper

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 1/2 teaspoon garam masala

Remove coarse outer leaves of the cabbage. If you have a cabbage half, cut it in half again lengthwise, and then core the sections. Cut each section lengthwise into very fine, long shreds. A bread knife or chef's knife is ideal for this. (You can also use a food processor.)

Put the oil in a wide, preferably nonstick or cast-iron pan, and set over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, put in the cumin, fennel, and sesame seeds. As soon as the sesame seeds begin to pop, put in the onion. Stir and fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until the onion has browned a bit.

Put in the cabbage. Stir and fry for about 6 minutes or until the cabbage has browned somewhat. Put in the salt and cayenne. Turn down the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring now and then, for another 7 to 8 minutes or until the onions appear caramelized and soft. Note: you may need to do this in a couple batches.

Add the lemon juice and garam masala. Stir to mix. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Rye, Rain, and Martin

We lost Martin, our fierce and loving tomcat, this weekend. When we moved to the farm, he greeted and befriended us immediately, as he did with all visitors. He made us feel at home and has been a fixture here: sauntering around, basking in the sun, and relentlessly asking for and giving love. We will miss him.

The lack of storms in the forecast is troubling. We are grateful for the return of the fog and a break from the deep frost but we need water to replenish us all. This week in our morning circle, we are reading a poem by Ursula LeGuin (included below) to collectively call for the rain.

We have freshly cleaned and milled rye flour in the barn now. We are excited to bake with it and hope you enjoy it as well.

We hope you can join us for the harvest festival this Saturday from 11-3! Make wreaths and other crafts, eat pumpkin pie, and help us give thanks for the summer abundance.

Winter store hours begin this week! We will close at 6 pm until the time changes again in March.

To the Rain by Ursula K. LeGuin

Mother rain, manifold, measureless,

falling on fallow, on field and forest,

on house-roof, low hovel, high tower,

downwelling waters all-washing, wider

than cities, softer than sisterhood, vaster

than countrysides, calming, recalling:

return to us, teaching our troubled

souls in your ceaseless descent

to fall, to be fellow, to feel to the root,

to sink in, to heal, to sweeten the sea.

Martin big and strong when we first met him (and with both eyes)!

This week’s pick list:

• Broccoli

• Collards

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Kale

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley

• Carrots

• Lettuce

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Kohlrabi

• Celeriac

• Celery

• Onions

• Leeks

• Garlic

• Sunflower heads for seed

• Dried tea herbs

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread only available Friday

Swedish Rye Cookie Recipe, from 101cookbooks.com

• 1 cup rye flour

• 1 cup flour

• 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt

• 1/2 cup cream cheese, room temperature

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

• 1/2 cup fine grain natural cane sugar, sifted

• large grain sugar (for sprinkling)

• organic powdered sugar (for snow)

Line a couple baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium-sized bowl combine the flours and salt. Set aside. In an electric mixer (or by hand) beat the cream cheese until light and fluffy, add the butter and do the same, mixing until the two are well combined. Beat in the sugar and mix until well incorporated. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and stir only long enough to combine the two. The dough should no longer be dusty looking. Turn the dough out onto the counter, knead once or twice to bring it together, shape into a ball, flatten, wrap in plastic and chill it in a refrigerator.

Heat your oven to 350F degrees, and arrange the racks in the top and bottom thirds.. When you are ready to roll out your cookies do so on a lightly floured work surface. Roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness, and cut into shapes with the cookie cutter of your choice. Place on the prepared baking sheets an inch apart, and sprinkle each cookie with a bit of large-grain sugar. Bake for six or seven minutes, just until cookies are fragrant, and getting a bit golden at the edges - avoid over-baking or they will come out on the dry side. Allow to cool, and dust cookies with a bit of powdered sugar.

Beets and Ashwaghandha

During our morning circle, we often read poems, quotes, or excerpts that speak to us and help us start the day. This week Annie started us of with a poem about beets, of which we have had a beautiful harvest this year. There is still a small amount out in the field, lingering and waiting for us to bring them in. On Monday next week we will harvest the remaining storage vegetables, including the rest of the beets, parsnips, and radishes.

This week we are focused on planting the strawberries for next year: laying the irrigation lines, then the plastic, and planting the bare roots by hand. To lay the plastic, we need it to be completely calm without even a slight breeze. Unfortunately the weather does not seem to be cooperating. We will slowly work away at it as best we can.

Kelsey has been harvesting the ashwaghandha roots from the flower field. Their fragrance has been drafting out of the herb room and we have been relishing it. The roots are long and healthy and we are excited to have them all winter!

This week’s pick list:

• Fennel

• Collards

• Cabbage

• Winter squash

• Tomatoes - last week!

• Beets

• Chard

• Potatoes

• Parsley and Dill

• Carrots

• Lettuce

• Radish

• Turnips

• Rutabaga

• Hot Pepper

• Sweet Pepper

• Celery

• Onions

• Leeks

• Garlic

• Sunflower heads for seed

• Pick your own strawberries

• Dried tea herbs (plus fresh in the pick your own!)

• Dried ground peppers

• Revolution Bread only available Friday

Lentils and Onions, from ranchogordo.com

1. Cook 1 pound of lentils in water with a bay leaf. Add one peeled, cubed potato to the pot.) Add salt when they begin to soften.

2. Thinly slice an entire yellow onion and saute over low heat in lots of olive oil until soft and reduced, about 20 minutes. You can also cut in some butter if you like. A clove of garlic would be welcome, too.

3. Just before serving, add an herb or spice (or a spice mix) to the cooked onions.

4. Gently add the onion mix to the beans or lentils, and cook for 5 minutes, then transfer to a dish and serve. Not making this a one-pot meal means the flavors stay sharp and distinct.