Blueberry Sauce
This sauce is great over pancakes, waffles, crepes, ice cream- you name it!
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/4 cup water
1 cup orange juice
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup cold water
3 tbls cornstarch
1/2 tea almond extract
1/8 tea ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the blueberries, 1/4 cup water, orange juice & sugar. Stir gently and bring to a boil.
2. In a cup or small bowl, mix together cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water. Gently stir the cornstarch mixture into the blueberries so as not to mash the berries.
3. Simmer gently, about 3-4 minutes, until thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon.
4. Remove from heat and stir in the almond extract and cinnamon. Thin sauce with water if it is too thick for your liking.
This recipe is courtesy user ISYBEL from allrecipes.com. Photo is courtesy of user Cardamum.
|
Berry Crumb Bars
Feel free to experiment with any type of berry or combination of berries you like!
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sugar
1 tea baking powder 2 cups flour
1 cup shortening
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground cinnamon
4 cups raspberries
1/2 cup sugar
3 tea cornstarch
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 13x9 inch pan.
2. Combine 1 cup of the sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, shortening and egg. Dough will be crumbly. Pat half of the dough into the prepared pan.
3. Combine the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch and berries. Place mixture over dough in pan. Crumble the remaining dough over the top of the berry mixture.
4. Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes or until the top is slightly brown.
This recipe is courtesy of Jan Taylor from allrecipes.com. Photo is courtsey of All Recipes user Pam.
|
|
On Sunday, Aug 19th 2012 The Homegrown Experience will once again take over the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis. In it's 3rd year, this food & wine event will focus on local, organic and sustainable food that is available in the Twin Cities Metro area. There will be chef demonstrations, local restaurants, farmers, CSAs, co-ops, local vintners and brewers. 
Tickets are available online now, just follow this link. Tickets are $20 in advance & $25 at the door. Please remember this is a 21+ event.
|
|
Visit the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd on July 18 for an evening of family fun! The 4th Annual Country Sampler Picnic will take place from 4p-8:30p. Sample tasty Minnesota treats from local restaurants, resorts, and other Central Minnesota vendors! Watch pigs race, listen to live music, pick up produce and more. Tickets: $11 adults, $5 kids (5-15), kids under 4 are free! For more information; call: 218-829-8770, or visit: http://northlandarb.com
|
|
2012-2013 Minnesota Grown Directory!
Find your local farmers markets, PYO orchards and more in the 2012-13 Minnesota Grown Directory. Make sure you get your FREE copy today! Order online at MinnesotaGrown.com or by phone at 1-800-657-3878. |
THANK YOU!! We appreciate every person who reads this newsletter and supports Minnesota Grown. If you have something related to Minnesota Grown foods that you'd like to know more about- please tell us! :)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blueberry & Raspberry Season is Here!
As summer continues to roll by and berry season moves forward, it's exciting to hear summer-bearing raspberries and blueberries are ready at a berry patch near you! This year's Minnesota Grown Directory online boasts over 70 farms across Minnesota!
These berries are versatile and easy to use, just give them a quick rinse and eat! Some people like to toss them into a mixed into a fruit salad or pour over top some ice cream/yogurt. These berries can easily be added to a variety of breads, pies, tarts, bars, smoothies and much more!
Just like strawberries, it's important to buy or pick more than you can use today. Raspberries and blueberries are cheaper when in season and can easily be frozen to save for later in the year. They also taste much better than anything store bought during the winter months! When picking or purchasing berries, be sure to get them at their ripest. They should be plump and full of color because neither berries will ripen after picking. It's also best harvest the berries in the early morning, before it gets too hot! To freeze these berries, you will want to wash the raspberries first-but not the blueberries. Washing blueberries prior to freezing will make them soggy when thawing. Spread the berries on a baking sheet and put in the freezer for a few hours or overnight. If space is a concern, you can lay berries flat in a small tupperware or plate-just be careful the berries do not touch. You can freeze berries by skipping this step, but this will keep them from sticking together in the freezing process and retain their shape. After the berries are firm, you can divide them into cooking or eating sized portions and place in a freezer-safe plastic bag or a plastic bag using a vacuum sealer. Most berries will last 12-18 months if frozen, so remember to date them before popping them into your freezer. Also, don't forget to wash your blueberries after thawing before cooking or eating them! You can find a blueberry or summer-bearing raspberry patch near you by searching the Minnesota Grown Directory online. Remember to call your farm before you head out to the farm. Picking conditions can change day to day and vary from farm to farm. |
|
Sweet Corn - It's What's for Dinner!
It's here- yum! Sweet corn is normally ready shortly after the fouth of July in the southern and metro Minnesota and around the first week in August in northern Minnesota. This year, as with most other produce, the crop is coming in early and looking good. Many farmers around the Twin Cities are already selling their sweet corn. The hot weather really kicked the corn into high gear. Producing an early yet tasty crop. Northern Minnesota's crop should be coming in the last week of July.
Do you have any cooking or preparation tips, recipes? Or maybe you have some freezing techniques to share? Next month we will have a feature on sweet corn and would love to hear input from our readers. Send us an email with your thoughts, and if we use your information, we'll send you a 2012-13 Minnesota Cooks calendar as a thank you! 
|
|
Farmers Markets
July means lots of Minnesota Grown produce like broccoli, green beans, radishes, greens, peas, peppers, tomatoes, herbs and more are coming into season. This makes July and August huge months for farmers markets. You can check out the Minnesota Grown what's in season chart for a general guide to when produce will start to appear at your local farmers market.
Don't forget to search the Minnesota Grown Directory online to find one of more than 150 farmers markets by you. Many markets have baked/canned goods, jams, jellies and other items that compliment the fresh produce. Some even have crafts, kids activities and music for your entertainment!
National Farmers Market week is August 6th-12th. There will be lots of special events taking place at markets during this week. Be sure to like us on Facebook to stay up to date about what and where things are happening!
|
|
Garlic Festival- Just Around the Corner!
Mark your calendars for a day full of local foods, music, area artisans, games and of course GARLIC! The 7th annual Minnesota Garlic Festival will be held on Sat, Aug 11th, 2012.
The Garlic Festival will take place at the McLeod County fairgrounds in Hutchinson from 10a-6p. The cost is only $5 for adults, $3 for kids under 12 and stroller/carried babies are FREE! (Please, no pets.)
The tradition of unique entertainment will continue, with some festival favorites returning and new acts joing! There are plenty of activities for the kids, including the popular kite flying and old style country picnic games.
There are over 100 varieties of the country's finest garlic grown here in Minnesota. The garlic is planted in October and harvested in July. Growers cure the garlic to perfection so the first of the garlic is ready for the festival! The Garlic Festival is a ZERO WASTE event, making a concentrated effort to produce no trash.
|
|
Minnesota Grown Facebook Page Facebook is a great way to have two-way conversations with our supporters. We try to give you the most up to date, relevant information about our activities and events around town. We love to hear what you have to say, see you liking our photos and posts. If you don't already like our page, please click on the "like us on Facebook" image below. And if you do, please suggest our page to your friends and let's keep the dialogue going! We look forward to hearing more of your thoughts and ideas as well as sharing what's new and local with you! 
|
|
|
Sponsors
CONGRATULATIONS to Carol, Twila, Kelly, Mary, Susan, Jana, Chris, Tom, Deb, Benjamin, Janet, Donna, Lisa & Deborah for being the first people to forward last month's Pick of the Month to their friends/family. We sent them a Minnesota Cooks calendar as a thank-you and for winning our contest!Minnesota Cooks was started by Minnesota Farmers Union in 2003. The organization puts out a yearly calendar showcasing Minnesota farms and chefs, in addition to year-round promotion including a cooking demonstration at the Minnesota State Fair! The calendar is a testament to the superb growers in Minnesota and the talented sustainably-minded chefs and restaurant owners who work relentlessly to highlight farm-fresh foods. Keep sharing the news about local foods by forwarding this email!
Minnesota Farmers Union is the lead sponsor for the Minnesota grown Directory. They work to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. They are a nonprofit membership-based organization. Did you know you don't have to be a farmers to be a member of the Minnesota Farmers Union? Check it out!
|
|
|
