Vegetable Highlights at Outer Aisle

Berries, berries and more berries!  

Blueberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries and Strawberries - that's alot of berries! We'll have 'em all!

Two of our favorite fruit producers, Smit Farm in Clements and Tyson Hill Farm in Waterford bring us the best in berries and cherries. Cool temperature in the valley have farmers projecting summer harvests of stone crops back a week. Hopefully we'll see some warming here soon! 

Plenty to choose from this week! This week's surprise is cauliflower and a wonderful little known green called Mache. Specifically recommended by a customer, this little green makes a delightful salad and served all over France.  We'll have asparagus, baby rainbow carrots, fennel, kale, chard, turnips and rutabagas, salad greens, the last of the fava beans, English peas, sweet red spring onions, fresh garlic and the list goes on.  

Cauliflower Pilaf (The Produce Bible, Leanne Kitchen)

2 cups basmati rice
2 TBS olive oil
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1/4 tsp cardamon seeds
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 large cauliflower, trimmed and cut into florets
2 large handfuls cilantro leaves, chopped

Put the rice in a sieve and rinse under cold running water. Set aside to drain. heat the oil in a saucepan that has a tightly fitting lid. Cook the onion over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until soft and lightly golden. Add the spices and cook, stirring, for 1 minutes. Add the rice to the pan and stir to coat in the spices. Add the stock and cauliflower, stirring to combine. Cover with the lid and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to very low and cook for 15 minutes, until the rice and cauliflower are tender and all the stock has been absorbed. Stir in the cilantro and serve.
 

Dennis breeds the Dorper variety of sheep that is reknown for their supreme meat quality rather than their fiber. When I first met Dennis and his flock a couple of years ago, I was quite surprised to see that they resembled goats and a far cry from the familiar "Bo-peep" white sheep predominantly seen in New Zealand and grown for their fiber. Dennis is well versed in the technicalities of raising animals on grass and in our first conversation he immediately referenced Joel Salatin, the famous spokesperson for the grassfed movement that is beginning to take a foothold in the diets of many a conscious meat eater.

We have just received our spring shipment of lamb in a variety of cuts: racks, shanks, ground, loin and shoulder chops and legs.

GARDENING:    

Here's a sneak preview of the size of our tomato plants!

We are hoping that we'll have the first real ripe tomatoes in the county.  

Bragging aside, we know you can't wait for tomato season. It's not too late to plant. We just put in 300 tomatoes plants today, that'll be ready around mid September.

We still have plenty of tomatoes, peppers, basil and eggplant seedlings left for sale. $1.25 each or $1 each for 6 or more.  

Compost is available through Brice Station between Murphys and Avery. You must call ahead: Stuart Mast 768-7262.  

Plenty of irrigation supplies at the store and check out the amazing gopher traps that are revolutionizing our operation. Eric will be available on Thursdays to answer your questions.