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News You Can Really Sink your Teeth Into ...
Collegeville Farmers' Market,
460 E. Main Street
Every Saturday, 9a.m. - 1p.m.
September 15, 2012
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Collegeville Market : What the Heck is Pie-Palooza?
It's pie season. The weather is cool and the air is ripe with the crisp smell of autumn fruits. That's why we've noticed lots of folks wandering around our market lately, carefully choosing the apples and peaches and even pears that they plan on baking into their favorite recipes. They've got pie in their eyes...and we want them to share.
That's why on Saturday Sept. 29, we are planning Pie-Palooza, a pie-baking (and perhaps more importantly) pie tasting contest. We want to sink our teeth into your favorite pie recipe.
Here's how it will work:
Contestants can register at the market Main Street table this week or next week or email farmersmarket@collegevilledevelopment.org for an entry form. Then on Pie-Palooza Day, they will bring two pies to the market for us to taste and judge. They will also bring their recipes to share.
Tasters (judges) will pay a $5.00 fee to sample all of the pies, and cast for their vote for a winner. Will it be a fantastic fruit pie with market fresh ingredients or a wild and wonderful cream or dessert pie? Our market customers will be the ones to decide!
Prizes of up to $50 in market bucks will be awarded to best in show and in each category, and we'll all go home full, but inspired to get baking. Time is running our so register soon!
This week, enjoy all the local, fresh goodness, Collegeville has to offer.
Then make plans to save some goodness for later!
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Good News:
Fresh from our Farms
After a week without Down Home Acres at our market, we are all desperate for a dose of their delicious, organically-grown and heirloom veggies. Paul and Hana will be here on Saturday with lots of variety...and lots of green bell peppers, which will be on sale for a dollar a piece. It's a great time to stock up on this seasonal, farm-fresh bounty because come winter, they be gone. That is, unless you are smart enough to buy a bunch and freeze them for later. Check out a proven strategy and a delicious recipe for saving all this yummy summer goodness for a cold, winter day.
Frecon Farms
A staffing shortage at Frecon Farms last week left our market far less, peachy, and apple-y and pear-y than normal. Thank goodness they are back this week with bounty of fruit for you. Get it while it's here!
They've got:
- Apples...including Gala, Ginger Gold, Ozark Gold, Paula Red Apples!
- Pears...including Red Bartlett, Bartlett and Seckle
- Hopefully a few Flaming Fury peaches
- Red Gold Nectarines
- And more to come!
Frecon, in Boyertown, has been growing some of Pennsylvania's finest tree fruits since 1944. on the season, they bring us: cherries, peaches, plums, blueberries, apricots, nectarines, raspberries, apples, pears, pumpkins, squash and more.
North Star Orchard - Ike and Lisa Kerschner strive to grow a very diverse selection of high quality tree fruits and vegetables on their Cochranville farm. They decided long ago that selling the farm's produce directly to the people who eat the items is the most satisfying part of the farming they do.
Farmer Ike's Pick of the Week is Crimson Crisp
"These are very shiny and rock-hard to the touch. Fabulously flavorful, they make a great apple for snacking because of both their crunch and their lovely sweet flavor.
Farmer Ike originally planted these because he liked the description of the apples. From 30 original trees, 27 died from fireblight when they were 3 years old. "Well, that's that!" Farmer Ike thought, "So much for Crimson Crisp."
But then we got to try the fruit, and WOW! Ok, they were allowed a second go-'round, so he planted a bunch more trees, which have been producing faithfully and flavorfully ever since!"
Lisa will have Crimson Crisp at the market this week in addition to Hosui Asian pears, other apples, cider (both apple and Asian pear) and a variety of veggies fresh from the fields.
PV Produce
They are back to school, but back at our market with lots of fresh tomatoes The kids from the "Take Action!" environmental group are brightening up our world and our market with produce, grown in their organic garden at Perkiomen Valley High School.
Well, it's not exactly terrible news. Yellow Springs Farm had a fantastic Open Farm Days Celebration last weekend, and quite a few Collegeville regulars headed out to Chester Springs to meet the goats that bring us all that delicious cheese.
Unfortunately for us, that means they don't quite have enough cheese made to bring to market this Saturday.
The good news is Yellow Spring's Catherine Renzi promises to be back next week with a great new selection of farm fresh cheese. And they'll be back every other week after that!
Remember...good things come to those who wait!
Yellow Springs Farm Native Plant Nursery and Artisanal Goat Cheese Dairy, founded by Catherine and Al Renzi, is located in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. The farm and nursery consists of an historic farmhouse, dairy barn, a springhouse with pond on 8 acres of land. Al and Catherine raise goats on site and make fresh cheese every day.
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Are you a grasshopper or an ant?
You know the story.
The grasshopper whiled away his summer fiddling and playing, while and the ant kept his nose to the grindstone, storing food for the winter. When winter came, the grasshopper was starving and the ant had plenty of food.
In the original version, the grasshopper dies of cold and starvation. In my "peace-on-earth" version, the ants take pity on him and invite him inside to share the feast.
Lucky for the grasshopper, he is a heck of a fiddle player and he is well-fed as he keeps his industrious little friends entertained all winter long.
So I ask you, with all these delicious peppers, ripe for the picking at a great price, are you going to fiddle on by or buy them up and save some for later? If you can't play the fiddle, you might want to plan ahead.
Freezing Peppers
 | | Image Credit: Down Home Acres |
Peppers freeze well with no blanching and they are a great resource for making fresh-tasting meals (but not for eating raw. They get soggy).
A farmer friend of mine in New Jersey shared with me her secrets for freezing peppers for convenient cooking later. Here they are. You can fiddle later. They are good to use for about 8 months, just in time for summer!
Secret #1 - You can save pepper strips that are easily portioned for recipes if you clean, seed and slice them, then freeze them on a cookie sheet. Once the slices are frozen, you can move them to a large Ziploc bag. That way you can easily grab a handful to add to stir fries, stews and other recipes.
Secret #2 - You can clean, core and seed the peppers then freeze them whole. Then, you can pull them out of your freezer whenever you want and stuff them with a ground beef or sausage mixture and bake them for an easy and delicious dinner. (A great recipe for stuffed peppers is published below.)
Secret #3 - Hot peppers can be rinsed dried and frozen whole. Just defrost and slice as necessary.
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This Week on Stage:
Kendal Conrad
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| Vendor Roll Call
Here This Week:
A'dello Vineyard - Fine and fun, local wines, including a new Riesling.
Anita's Guacamole - Guacamole made on the spot with the freshest ingredients.
All Hands in the Cookie Jar - Allergen-free, gluten-free baker.
Behmerwald Nursery - Perennials and shrubs, arrangements of garden flowers as well as some fresh cut flowers for making your own arrangements.
Bendy Brook Farm - Chemical and hormone-free, pastured beef, pork, poultry and eggs.
John and Kira Chocolates- Artisan Chocolate.
Down Home Acres - small-scale, sustainable and organically-based farm.
Earth Energy Herbs - Home-grown, and locally-produced, chemical-free apothecary creates herbal products traditionally used for healing both mind and body
Frecon Farms- Seasonal fruit, fresh from the fields.
Fresh-A-Peel Hummus- Stop by to taste their fresh approach to hummus - savory, spicy or sweet!
ICED by Betsy - Gourmet cupcakes for every occasion.
Jenny & Frank's Artisan Gelato- authentic Italian gelato - the finest gelati, made in micro-batches, based on fresh, locally-produced dairy, fruit, and other ingredients.
Joe Paws Dog Bakery - handmade dog treats with no added preservatives, salts or sugars.
Kay Bryant - One-of-a-kind, handmade and hand-sewn clothing, bags and jewelry.
Marcy's Granola- Natural and delicious.
Little Lost Creek Alpaca Farm- Fine yarns and woven products.
North Star Orchard - specializes in growing unique and heritage varieties of tree fruits and a wide variety of vegetables.
Old Mill Gourmet- gourmet jellies, jams and other products made from farm-fresh ingredients.
Philly Bills Dills - Everyone's favorite pickles.
Philading - Fantastic chocolate chip and berry scones, plus international food like Lebanese hummus, falafel and baba ganoush.
Saint Peter's- Artisan Bakery offering Fresh Breads and Pastries baked daily in our French, Steam Injection Ovens.
Soaps Garden- 100 % natural soaps and bath products.
Tonya Lov hand-sculpted, porcelain and beaded jewelry is inspired by nature and created in Collegeville. Each piece is original and hand-made. Contact Tonya for information about custom-made designs .
See Ya Real Soon...
Annie Pod Press - original etchings and linocuts
Bigg Dutt - Go Bigg at the grill!
Fat Head Peppers- Peppers stuffed with quality Italian ingredients like sharp provolone and prosciutto, made in North Wales, PA.
Neil's Sharpening Service - Sharpen knives, scissors, garden tools, and shop for hand-crafted gifts like pens and bottle stoppers. Neil is unable to attend the market this week.
Royce Yoder - Hand-thrown pottery pieces, made in Royce Yoder's Lederach studio. His work can be found in galleries and shops all over the United States. Pure Scents Candles- clean burning, beautifully-scented soy candles. PV Produce- Produce, grown organically in a Perkiomen Valley High School by the Take Action student group. Ridge Valley Farm - maple syrup and maple products including: maple sugar, maple cream, maple coated nuts and maple walnut ice cream topping. Stacie Dale Designs - Hand made keepsake boxes and gifts Yellow Springs Farm- Al and Catherine Renzi make Yellow Springs Farm cheeses using age-old processes borrowed from both French and Italian traditions. |
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The Problem with Asian Pears
 | | The Problem with Pears |
Do you love Asian Pears? I do...and so it seems, does nearly everyone and everything else. That's the problem, explains, Farmer Lisa Kerchner of North Star Orchard in this video shot among the trees in her Cochranville farm.
Her love/hate relationship with this delicious and much-sought-after fruit involves battling birds, bees, ants, stink bugs and lots of other vermin that love these irresistibly juicy beauties as much as we do. Lisa also explains the challenges of maintaining these trees, including the damage done by unpredictable spring frosts and the time and work necessary to prune and thin them by hand.
Like so may things at North Star Orchard and at our market, the pears are a labor of love. Stop by to pick up a few of these beauties and remember that most things worthwhile are worth working a bit for...although it seems in this case Farmers Lisa and Ike and the folks on their farm are the one's doing most of the work!
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Everyone should be able to enjoy the sweet taste of fall.
Beth Reed will be bringing along the start of an exciting fall line-up, including:
- GF Pumpkin Bread,
- Meringue Cookies,
- Maple Oatmeal Cookies,
- Orange Cranberry Biscotti.
Yum! My mouth is watering already!
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Need Vegan, Allergen-Free or Gluten-Free goodies?
All Hands in the Cookie Jar, Philading, Anita's Guacamole, Jenny and Frank's Artisan Gelato, and ICED by Betsy cupcakes all have specialties to share with everyone.
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"Fall" -ing for Cupcakes!
September has arrived!
Celebrate fall with some cupcakes From Iced by Betsy! Yummy fall flavors, including this week's Pumpkin Spice cupcake! You can pre-order any quantity of cupcakes from the flavors of the week!
Place your order via email
cupcakes@ICEDbyBetsy.com
or phone (610)755-7062.
ICED by Betsy will have the following flavors at the market this week:
- Bee Nuttee
- By Popular Demand
- Cookies n' Cream
- Flip Side
- Toffee Crunch-a-Bunch
For details, check out Betsy's newsletter here.
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Goin' Bananas and Nutty for Cool, New Fall Flavors!
This week Jenny and Frank's is proud to feature their very popular newest smooth, creamy flavor: Sea Salt Caramel Gelato
Plus they continue to embrace the fall fruits with fresh Pear Sorbet with Midori.
They'll also feature
- Banana Nutella
- Rustic Lemon
- Chocolate Supreme.
Marianne says,"See you at the market!"
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Granola Goodness
More is Better
Marcy's Granola is still having a "2-For " price sale. The more you buy the more you save. And if anyone has any two pound containers to recycle they can save even more! Stop by for details.
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Mr. John's Meat-Stuffed Bell Peppers
From Emeril Lagasse, FoodNetwork.com
Ingredients
- 6 green bell peppers, tops cut away and seeded
 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 cup finely chopped yellow onions
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell peppers
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 2 cups cooked long or medium-grain white rice
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- Water
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large pot of boiling water, parboil the peppers until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and dry on paper towels.
In a large saute pan or skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and chopped bell peppers and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the beef, pork, garlic, parsley, salt, black pepper, and pepper flakes. Cook until the meat is browned, stirring with a heavy wooden spoon to break up the lumps, about 6 minutes. Add the rice and tomato sauce and stir well. Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste.
Pour enough water into a baking dish to just cover the bottom, about 1/8-inch deep. Stuff the bell peppers with the rice mixture and place in the baking dish. Bake until the peppers are very tender and the filling is heated through, 25 to 30 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Per Serving: Calories: 330; Fat: 17g (Saturated Fat: 5g); Protein: 17g; Carbohydrates: 26g; Sugar: 6g; Fiber 0g; Cholesterol: 52mg; Sodium: 542mg
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 Over the Fence:
News from the Neighbors
Trappe Community Day - Sept. 15, 2012
While it may be true that Trappe doesn't have a sandy beach nor a flashy neon lit strip, it does have a Historic Main Street that goes back some 300 years and a town that offers hometown friendliness. Come and make your family memories at Trappe's Ninth Annual Trappe Community Day on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012 (rain date Sept. 22, 2012) at Water Works Park, 230 West First Avenue. Opening ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. and the event will end at 4:30 p.m.
Opening ceremonies will start with a welcome and Lori Ann Olock performing the National Anthem. In addition, the nationally acclaimed Bel Canto Children's Chorus will wow those in attendance and the Caitrin Academy of Irish Dance will bring a smile to everyone's face.
Trappe Day will offer Bette Bounces; rock climbing; Stubby the Helicopter from the American Helicopter Museum; puppeteer Gene Galligan & Friends; The Hilarious Magic of Sam Sandler; Petting Zoo; Fun Fieldz; face painting; Judy the Clown; Kixx Player; Mascots SocceRoo, Swoop and Screw Ball. A dog contest is sponsored by Perkiomen Pet Eatery and Bark Busters.
For those who wish to just stroll the park, there is live music all day by the Evolution's Music Studio's All Stars. Local businesses and vendors will sell their wares to spark your interest.
On stage 1 at 3:00p.m., the Philadelphia based Funk Church Band will perform. Front man, Shan Egan brings to stage an unparalleled blend of rock and funk, with neo-soul and reggae influences. Egan comes by his musical talents naturally as he is the son of the rock'n'roll legend Chubby Checker.
There will be lots to see and do so come and enjoy this free family friendly day. Check out the schedule of events!!
Collegeville's Colossal Town Yard Sale is Next Saturday!
It is just one week until our Main Street program's community-wide yard sale on Saturday, Sept. 22! The Yard Sale will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Collegeville Shopping Center at Rt. 29 & Ridge Pike. We expect that we will have close to 100 families participating. This is a great opportunity to clean out your garage, basement and closets and host a table as well as to pick up some low cost treasures from your neighbors! And Ursinus students shouldn't miss this chance to pick up whatever you still need for your dorm room.
Space rental for the Yard Sale is $20, and tables are available to rent for $10 for those who need them. All proceeds benefit the non-profit Collegeville Economic Development Corp, which sponsors the Main Street program and our Farmers' Market. For more information, call Rachael Morrison at 610 454 1050 or e-mail her at manager@collegevilledevelopment.org. You will also find information on the Yard Sale at our website at http://collegevilledevelopment.com/events.php?id=2012-09-22.
Would You Know How Help Someone in Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
This two-hour course could save a life! Everyone in the community is invited to this free course, "Hands-Only CPR for Adults Who Suddenly Collapse" this Sunday, Sept. 16th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Ursinus College Field House where the indoor track is located. Enter the Ursinus campus from the Ninth Ave. entrance; the Field House is located to the far left of the lot.
This type of CPR, which involves only hands and does not require breathing, is important to know and very easy to learn. The free event is being sponsored by the PA Dept. of Health and being put on by the Montgomery County EMS instructors & the Ursinus College EMS team.
For more information, call Ray Stitt at 610-409-3025.
Register Now for Collegeville's First Hero Festival and 5K Run Oct. 21
Area residents are invited to join the Collegeville Fire Company and the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation in a celebration of heroes at our community's first Hero Festival and 5K Run on Sunday, Oct.21! The event honors all of our selfless men and women of the military, fire, EMS and law enforcement services. The Hero Festival, which will be held from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Collegeville Station parking lot on East Third Ave. in Collegeville, features music, entertainment for the kids, including a pumpkin carving contest, food, a display of fire and emergency equipment, craft vendors and more.
The 5K Run will begin at 10:30 a.m. from the Collegeville Station parking lot. The course for the run will be through the beautiful streets of Collegeville Borough; individuals wishing to walk the course can do so following the runners. The first 200 people to register will receive a commemorative Hero Run 5K patch, and there will be prizes for the top male and female overall finishers, and the top male and female finishers across age groups. Free sports massages will be available to the runners before and after the race courtesy of Massage Envy located in the Providence Town Center.
Registration fee is $30 through Oct. 20th. On Oct. 21, the day of the race, the registration will be $35 and is accepted at the starting line only. Registration for active and retired military firemen and women, police and EMS personnel is just $20. (These individuals must present a valid ID at packet pick up.)
Individuals can register for the race at www.collegevillefire.org.
Pick up of race packets will be at the Valley Forge Running Company in the Redner's Shopping Center on Thursday, Oct. 18th from 5 to 8 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 19th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 21, the day of the event until 10 a.m.
A portion of the race proceeds will be donated to a memorial fund that honors the fallen firefighters from Philadelphia Ladder Co. Number 10 who perished in the Kensington factory fire in April. Another portion of race proceeds will go to the support fund for Marine L.Cpl. Timothy Donley of Souderton. L.Cpl. Donley was severely injured after stepping on an IED in Afghanistan in February, 2012. He will also be serving as the Honorary Race Starter.
Race updates and information are available on the Collegeville Fire Company's Facebook page
http://www.facebook.com/collegevillefire.
For further race information, contact Brian Freas at freasb@collegevillefire.org or at (267) 230-9940. For information about the Festival, including becoming a vendor, contact Rachael Morrison at manager@collegevilledevelopment.org or at (610) 454-1050.
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The Collegeville Farmers' Market and the Collegeville Main Street program are sponsored by the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation (CEDC).
Support the Farmers' Market by becoming a member of the CEDC, a 501 (c)3 non-profit group which is working to revitalize our local business district and further improve the quality-of-life of residents. For more information: http://www.collegevilledevelopment.org
Contact:
Maureen Cawley
Collegeville Farmers' Market Manager
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