Seasonal Updates--Minnesota Grown Pick of the Month--March 2011

March 2011 www.minnesotagrown.com

Minnesota Grown's number of Facebook "likes" is 800!

Thank you so much for supporting our Facebook page!

Haven't liked our page yet? Visit www.facebook.com/minnesotagrown

Minnesota Grown is a sponsor of the Living Green Expo. The Expo with feature more than 300 exhibitors, workshops and activities! We will be handing out the brand new 2011-2012 Minnesota Grown Directories! We look forward to seeing you there!

Location: Minnesota State Fairground Northeast Corner--Education Building, 4-H Building, Fine Arts Building, Creative Activities Building, and Progress Center

Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 9:00a.m.-6:00p.m.

Sunday, May 8th, 2011 from 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m.

Maple Syrup

Did you know????

Maple syrup was first collected and used by the Native Americans and was later adopted by European settlers.

It takes about 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup because sap is about 98% water.

Sap typically runs out of maple trees on days when the temperature is 40 degrees F following a night when the temperature dropped below freezing.

During food rationing in WWII, people in the Northeastern United States were encouraged to stretch their sugar rations by sweetening foods with maple syrup and maple sugar. Recipe books were even printed to help employ this alternate source.

Classes Without Quizzes

Hosted by the University of Minnesota, Classes Without Quizzes is a combination of mini seminars designed for the general public. It's a great way to learn more about what the University is busy researching. The event will be held on Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 from 8:00a.m.-1:30p.m. in McNeal Hall on the University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus. Make sure to visit their website to register in advance!

March Tip from

March is a great month for starting seeds of your favorite vegetables and annuals! Most seed packets will tell you how many weeks ahead of planting to get started. What a great way to cure the winter blues!

Want more fun tips from our friends at GardenMinnesota.com? Visit their website and sign up for their monthly Tips & Clips electronic newsletter!

CSA Farms

You still have time to shop around for the perfect CSA that fits your family by visiting MinnesotaGrown.com! The CSA model is also taken on by meat producers, poultry producers and fiber producers. You can find a variety listed on our website. Remember, many CSAs sell out early in the season, so make sure you sign up as soon as you find a CSA that is right for you!

Maple Pecan Shortbread Squares

Here is a sweet treat that you can bake up with real Minnesota maple syrup!

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
1 egg
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine the flour and 1/3 cup brown sugar in a mixer. Mix in the softened butter until a dough has formed. Press into an ungreased 8x8-inch baking dish, and prick with a fork.
Bake the shortbread in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. While the shortbread is baking, beat the egg in a mixing bowl along with 1/3 cup brown sugar, maple syrup, and pecans. Pour the pecan mixture over the hot crust, and return to the oven. Continue baking until firm, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, and immediately run a knife around the edges to prevent sticking. Cool completely, then cut into 1-inch squares to serve.

Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com.

Have a favorite recipe or tip?

Send it to Pick of the Month! If we use your recipe or tip in one of our newsletters, we will send you a free Minnesota Grown t-shirt! Email your recipe or tip to Casey at casey.derosier@state.mn.us!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

1p.m.-5p.m. @ Canterbury Park

Minnesota Grown is proud to be a sponsor of Savor Minnesota. This event will feature sampling of Minnesota wine, food and beer! Tickets are now available, so mark you calendars for April 2! For more information on Savor Minnesota, visit their website

http://www.savorminnesota.com/

Keep Up with Carrie

carrie with apple

Want to keep up with Minnesota Grown spokesperson Carrie Tollefson?

Visit the C Tolle Run Facebook page or the C Tolle Run website to keep up on the latest and greatest of what Carrie is busy doing!

2011 Home Food Preservation Classes

Preserve Your Harvest

March 12, 11:00 - Noon

Albertville

Session offering at Wright County Master Gardeners Spring Days. Learn the safest and most current methods for home canning, freezing, and pickling. Information on selecting reliable, researched-based resources will also be highlighted. Whether you are new to food preservation or have been preserving for years, this session is for you!

Contact: Brenda Postels, Wright County MG Coordinator, 763-682-7394, post0060@umn.edu

Instructor: Deb Botzek-Linn, University of Minnesota Extension Educator in Food Safety

Help Customers Preserve Your Produce

March 29, 9:00 a.m. - noon

St. Cloud Civic Center

This workshop will update you on home food preservation methods, address why we do what we do for home processed food safety and quality, direct you to credible recommended resources and share ideas for providing customers with food preservation information.

Contact: Marilyn Johnson 763-434-0400 or mfvga@msn.com

Instructors: Deb Botzek-Linn, University of Minnesota Extension Educator in Food Safety

Making and Marketing Jams & Jellies

March 29, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

St. Cloud Civic Center

A workshop for those interested in selling safe home produced quality jams and jellies at farmers' markets or community events.

Contact: Marilyn Johnson 763-434-0400 or mfvga@msn.com

Fee: $25

Instructors: Deb Botzek-Linn and Lou Ann Jopp, University of Minnesota Extension Educators

Preserving Food Safely

April 14, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Elbow Lake

This class teaches participants how to safely preserve a variety of foods by freezing, canning or drying. Whether you are new at preserving food or have been preserving for years, you will learn what's safe, what's not, the latest research and resources available. This workshop is offered in cooperation with the University of Minnesota Extension.

Contact: Ranae Edwards, ranae.edwards@co.grant.mn.us.

Instructor: Suzanne Driessen, University of Minnesota Extension Educator in Food Safety

Check out Casey DeRosier's Blog, Livin' La Vida Local!

Casey recently made a trip to the Downtown St. Paul Winter Farmers' Market to see what products they had to offer. Check it out!

Minnesota Grown's resident blogger, Casey DeRosier, visiting the winter farmers' market in St. Paul.

Maple Syrup Tip

Want to bake with maple syrup? For every 1 cup of sugar in your recipe, substitute 3/4 cup to 1 1/2 cups maple syrup and reduce the dominant liquid in the recipe by 2-4 tablespoons.

Tip courtesy of the Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers Association.

Maple Salmon

Here is a yummy way to get fish in your diet. Use your Minnesota made maple syrup in this recipe.

Ingredients

1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound salmon

Directions

In a small bowl, mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, garlic salt, and pepper.
Place salmon in a shallow glass baking dish, and coat with the maple syrup mixture. Cover the dish, and marinate salmon in the refrigerator 30 minutes, turning once.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven, and bake salmon uncovered 20 minutes, or until easily flaked with a fork.

Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com.

Minnesota Grown Directory

The new 2011-2012 Minnesota Grown Directory will be available in late April! You can pre-order the new edition by calling the Minnesota Grown Answerline at 1-800-657-3878 and leaving a complete shipping address and quantity desired. Single orders are always welcome, but we are also looking for locations that could distribute larger quantities in multiples of 50 or 100.