Asian Pears, Tomato Soup & Kale

Amazingly, we got a few days off this week and took the opportunity to go to the Heirloom Expo. This was one of the exhibits that was also erected at the White House! We entered a 2.7 lb Kelloggs Breakfast tomato into the Giant Tomato Contest...we'll let you know how we do.

LAST CHANCE FOR STARTERS: Get ready for fall and harvest your own veggies with our Fall Seedlings now available! We'll have broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower on hand every day we're open for another week.

SUN OVEN SPECIAL

There isn't a day that goes by that we don't use our sun oven to cook a chicken or heat up leftovers for lunch. When it's too hot to use your inside oven, you can still make all those delicious dishes in your solar oven. We are running a special on Sun Oven's till end of September: Normally $285 - order one for $250. The oven is a quality US made product from Sun Ovens International: it folds up like a suitcase, has an elevator leg at the back to adjust for sun angle, thermometer and DVD with instructions and recipes.

Tomatoes for canning and freezing available now. 2nds (overripe not mushy) $1.25/lb. Early Girls on special (small almost perfect) $1.95/lb. Order now!!

We are pleased to help promote a unique opportunity in our region. For several years now a collection of excellent and interesting DVD's on sustainable subjects have been building and available from Calaveras County libraries. This year's focus has been on Food & Farming. Michael Pollan's, A Botany of Desire; The True Cost of Food; Homegrown Revolution; to name just a few.

Upcoming Events: Check out our September line-up:

We are sponsoring the film: Redwoods: Anatomy of a Giant at Chatom Vineyards, Douglas Flat on Thursday September 15th. Wine reception at 6pm. More details to be found at http://www.sierrafilmfest.org.

Garden Tour: Saturday, September 17th: 9:45 meet at Outer Aisle. Walk to the garden (5 minutes) 10 - 11 am.

Heirloom Tomato Tasting & Pairing:

Friday September 23rd, all day (11 - 7pm)

Enjoy a once a year opportunity to taste all the varieties of tomatoes we grow. Bring a friend and be prepared to taste. We invite you to sample the rich diversity naked or paired with Marisolio vinegars and oils! Cost $5 pp.

Summer CSA Sign-ups (weekly or bi-weekly): Can't make it to the store, live too far away or just busy living life, we can accommodate you. Choose between weekly or bi-weekly starting anytime. We service many locations in Tuolumne and Calaveras County. Log into the sign-up wizard for more details of drop off locations, bag sizes and pricing.

Vegetable & Fruit Highlights

FRUIT & VEGETABLE HIGHLIGHTS:

We picked up certified organic Asian Pears at Gabriel Farm in Sepastopol on our return from the Heirloom Expo. They are the juiciest and most gorgeous fruit ever!

Three beautiful varieties to choose from:

Hosui - Abundant water is the Japanese name for this golden honey-flavored fruit.
Shinseki - Yellow colored, flavorful, crisp with a touch of citrus flavor
20th Century - Big yellow/green fruits with abundant melon-flavored juice.

VEGETABLE SPECIALS: Lots of melons again this week!! All shapes and sizes, colors and tastes. We'll have samples too so you can choose your favorites.

Bell Peppers have turned color!! Did you know that most bells start off green and then turn red or yellow or orange!

Heirloom Tomatoes are on SPECIAL! We beg you to take advantage of the season's bounty and come get your fill of the finest heirlooms around. 3lb's for $9 ($3/lb) or 5 lbs for $13.75 ($2.75/lb). Cook 'em, freeze 'em, dry 'em or just eat 'em!

ANNOUNCING WATERMELON FUTURES!!

We need help with our watermelon seed saving efforts! Please join us! Come buy a Blacktail Mountain Watermelon, eat and enjoy, save the seed, wash and dry and return the seed to us.

In 1979, at the base of Blacktail Mountain, 17-year-old Glenn Drowns crossed two watermelon varieties: one was Sugar Baby . . . and he can't recall the other except that it was a midget type melon. The seed from the one melon that matured from that cross was the start of his famous Blacktail Mountain Watermelon. Heirloom seed expert and author Amy Goldman considers it one of her top 10 favorite melons. She writes in her book Melons for the Passionate Grower:

"Blacktail Mountain is quintessential watermelon. This dark green cannon ball is shot full of flavor. Its dense scarlet flesh is sweet, juicy and crunchy. It was bred for early maturity by Glenn Drowns in the 1970s. . . . The quintessential icebox watermelon that sets the standard for flavor."

FRUIT HIGHLIGHTS: From the orchards of Tyson Hill Farm, Waterford. Another wonderful selection of the best fruit ever: more varieties, different lineup every week.

More yellow and white freestone peaches this week, white nectarines, plums and grapes.

Grapes are in! "Fantasy" and Venus: described as "a flavor combination of muscat and labrusca (American grapes like Concord)." Other varieties with wonderful names and flavors: Himrod - unique herbal flavor, Interlaken: Crisp, meaty, sweet, tangy small-medium berries cross of Thompson Seedless & American grapes, Summer Royal and Edelweiss: sweet & foxy American grape (think Welch's white grape juice).

More of the Royal Gala and first of the season Fuji apples coming from Smit Orchards.

BULK OFFERINGS:

Take advantage of bulk offerings at Outer Aisle. During the peak summer months we'll have oversupplies of a variety of fruits and vegetables. If you can, freeze, dehydrate or getting ready for a party.

This week still: Basil for pesto making and Red Pontiac potatoes and 2nd tomatoes.

RECIPES:

We are very excited and supportive of our local bakery, Aria. They have been purchasing our vegetables on a weekly basis this past season and cooking up a storm! Thank you Lorraine & Jana!!

Summer Tomato Soup

Adapted by Lorraine at Aria Bakery from "Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone" by Deborah Madison

Lorraine writes: "Our customers at Aria know it's late summer when our menu teems with organic tomatoes. This simple soup is a perfect showcase for our local bounty"!

3 TBL butter

1 cup shallots

5 lbs tomatoes, coarsely chopped

salt and pepper

In soup pot, melt butter over low heat, add shallots and cook until soft. Add tomatoes to pot along with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 cup of water. Cover and cook 2 -3 hours stirring occasionally. Puree, strain and adjust taste with salt and pepper.

From one of our customers - a strong recommendation:

Watermelon Gazpacho

by Marth Shulman from the New York Times

4 cups cubed watermelon, about 1 1/4 pounds

1 lb ripe tomatoes, quartered or cut into sixths

2 - 3 TBS fresh lemon juice, to taste

2 TBS Olive oil

1/2 cup of chopped celery

salt and pepper

chili flakes

thin slice of lime for garnish

Work in batches, puree all of the ingredients except the garnish in a blender for two minutes or longer until frothy and smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings, making sure you have used enough salt and lemon juice for a vivid flavor. Transfer to a bowl, and chill for several hours. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve, garnishing each bowl with thinly sliced celery, or lime.

Outer Aisle FOODS & GOODS "Essentials for the 21st Century". Our mission is to facilitate a speedy transition to a sustainable economy by offering the essential tools, ingredients and knowledge to prepare us for the 21st century.

Behind the scenes of Outer Aisle is Taylor Mountain Gardens. Located just around the corner on Main Street in Douglas Flat, our nearly two acre "beyond organic" farm produces a large variety of seasonal vegetables including these seasonal highlights: summer heirloom tomatoes, fall cauliflower, winter carrots and spring potatoes to name just a few!

OuterAisle FOODS operates a year round CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. We distribute the highest quality, local, seasonal and regional produce and products to members all over Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties. We only purchase product from farms and producers who are committed to ecologically sustainable practices and go beyond the National "Organic" standards.