Welcome to Rutiz Farms
HAPPENINGS ON THE FARM  .

We will continue to have our strawberry field open for u-pick on Fridays, Saturdays and Tuesdays during regular stand hours.  The price for the u-pick berries is $2.50/ pound  ( one pound is about one small green pint basket...our already picked price at the stand is $3/ basket ).  We will have full flats of already picked strawberries for $30.     Bring the family out for a fun time picking our delicious strawberries. Bring your own containers or use our baskets to pick into.   

A very easy way to preserve the berries is to freeze them....wash and de-stem the berries, spread them out single layer on a cookie sheet ( spray a little cooking oil on the cookie sheet to keep the berries from sticking), put it the freezer overnight, then in the morning collect the berries and put them into a plastic zip-lock baggie and return to the freezer.  The frozen berries will last easily 9 to 10 months.  They will be a little squishy "soft" when they defrost, but they will be great on top of ice cream and in smoothies...anywhere when a firm fresh berry isn't absolutely necessary.    

 WHAT'S  IN THE BOX THIS WEEK

  The artichokes have lots of "meat" on the leaves and a big "heart".  Just be sure to steam them enough ( put them in a large sauce pan with a steamer screen and 2 inches of water )...steam maybe an half hour or so...until the outer leaves pull off very easily.  Did you know that an artichoke are high in antioxidants, has only 25 calories, no fat, 170 mg of potassium, and is a good source of folate, vitamin C, magnesium, and dietary fiber? Try dipping leaves in a mixture of low fat yogurt, salt, pepper, garlic, and lemon instead of mayo or butter.  If you say your artichoke was tough and difficult to eat...it is because you under cooked it!

Three easy tings to do with your head of Napa cabbage: 

  Napa cabbage stir-fry-- separate the leafy green sections from the firmer white stems. Cut the white stems into two-inch pieces. Cut up the green leaves.  Heat some peanut oil in a wok, cook the napa cabbage for 3 to 4 minutes until it starts to soften, and then add your favorite stir-fry sauce. Cook until the sauce starts to bubble. Serve hot over rice.

 Napa cabbage slaw has a subtly different flavor and texture than classic cole slaw and is particularly tasty if you add fruit. For your next slaw, combine 2 cups diced mango, a finely diced jalapeno, 1 cup mayonnaise, 2 cups shredded napa cabbage, and 4 tablespoons rice or red wine vinegar. Refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight and serve.

Braised napa cabbage---For a quick and easy side-dish, add the cut up white stems of the napa cabbage to a skillet and cover them half way with vegetable broth, ground ginger, garlic powder, and a few teaspoons of soy sauce. Cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until the napa cabbage becomes soft.

  The "Sierra Gold" potatoes are great for mashed, steamed, fried or roasting...my favorite is:
--scrub the dirt off the skin---no need to peel the potatoes ( the skins have much of the vitamins of the potato)
--cut into 1 to 1 1/2 inch cubes
--place in a bowl and sprinkle with olive oil and seasonings 
--place on a cookie sheet or roasting pan, single layer
--roast in the oven at 425 degrees for about 35 minutes or until the outsides are crispy and the insides are still moist and soft.  

 The "Persian" cucumbers come from Ocean Breeze Farms in Nipomo.  They are grown using pesticide- free farming practices.  . The "Persian" cucumber is unique among cucumbers in that it has a thin skin that doesn't require peeling and has no bitter aftertaste.

      PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AT OUR STAND FROM OTHER FARMERS AND BUSINESSES: 

Kelli ( aka Sweet Pea) has her tasty baked cookies and cakes at the stand each Friday ...(you can reach her direct at Sweetpeabakeryag.blogspot.com).
Almond Brittle from Paso Almonds of SLO...freshly made each week by Rusty and his crew. 

Blueberries from Gary Teixeria of Santa Maria 

Ciders and Juices "flash pasteurized" from Chadmark Farms of Paso Robles....pesticide free!..

David's Blue Ribbon Honey from Nipomo