Fall fests galore mark this harvest season
Ranch Foods Direct celebrates Local Food Week with a lunch-and-learn burger fry on Friday, Sept. 14
 THE SCOOP: Peak to Plains Alliance organizes Local Food Week annually to celebrate the diverse abundance of our local foodshed; this year's event has arrived, running from Sept. 8 through Sept. 16 with a wide array of tours, cooking classes, movie viewings, special farmers market activities and featured menus at many of the best local restaurants.
Ranch Foods Direct is joining in the celebration by hosting a special lunch-and-learn session from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14, at the store. Owner Mike Callicrate will discuss the prospects for a year-round farmers market in conjunction with a downtown revitalization project in Colorado Springs. Callicrate Beef burgers will be provided. Stop by, join the discussion, sample the burgers and shop for a bit!
In addition, Callicrate Beef pot roast will be served at the community-wide potluck at Hillside Gardens scheduled for Sunday afternoon, Sept. 16.
Plus, this is a fine time to get out and dine at several Ranch Foods Direct partner-restaurants: Jake and Telly's, Pizzeria Rustica and TAPAteria, and the Margarita at Pine Creek all have special offerings planned to celebrate the occasion.
FOR MORE DETAILS: CLICK HERE to view the full schedule of Local Food Week activities on the Peak to Plains website. Get out and enjoy this wonderful celebration!
 | NATURE'S OWN TWO-FOR-ONE DEAL: It's fall squash time, and David Nameth of Greenhorn Acres shows off an unusual acorn squash specimen during a recent CSA produce delivery to Ranch Foods Direct. Celebrate area farmers and their abundance of late summer and early fall produce during Peak to Plains Local Food Week.
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What's in store?
Seasonal gems... available now, then no more...
Italian prune plums (above): $2.60 per lb. Mountain-grown raspberries and blackberries: $3.99 a package. Ready to roast or grill: bacon-wrapped Jalapeno poppers! Just $3.49 per package. (Bulk jalapeno peppers also available.) In the freezer section: roasted Pueblo green chilies, $2.99 a package. Plus, don't miss Bill's favorite apples, shown below; or choose from several other varieties. Most of this wonderful organic produce and fruit is grown by Glenn Austin and family of Paonia, Colorado.
Ahead... more fall harvest festivals are coming up later this month...
 
Crockpot Hamburger and Green Chili Stew
In a skillet, fry one pound of Callicrate Beef hamburger and one-half of a large onion, chopped. Season the beef and onion as it cooks and sprinkle with a little flour. Transfer to a slow-cooker.
Chop up a half-pound of roasted green chilies, removing the skins and most of the seeds. Add to crockpot. Cut kernels from one or two ears of sweet corn and add, along with one cup of chicken broth and 1/4 cup water. Stir and mix in 1 tsp. of cumin, along with a little more salt and pepper, as desired. Take two new potatoes and halve, or quarter, depending on their size. Add to the stew. Cook the whole thing on low all day. To serve, remove potatoes first and mash in bottom of bowl, then add stew, and garnish with grated cheddar cheese and sour cream.
Makes an easy and warming meal for a chilly fall day! If there's any left, you can serve it over scrambled eggs for breakfast in the morning.
"What we support prospers,
what we feed grows."
-Mike Callicrate
When eating out, use Ranch Foods Direct's interactive restaurant map
(or the smart-phone QR code, below.)
Shop Ranch Foods Direct online, CLICK HERE.
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