Welcome to Rutiz Farms HAPPENINGS ON THE FARM
. We wish everyone best wishes for a happy and healthy New Years...and no better way to start out the year then with some fresh veggies from the farm. Remember our "winter hours"...open Tuesdays and Fridays, noon to 5pm, closed on Saturdays until early April.
. WHAT'S IN THE BOX THIS WEEK
A special treat awaits you in the Harvest Boxes this week...a small loaf of "artisan" sour dough bread made by "Little Red Hen" Bakery in Arroyo Grande ( she has been bringing her breads to our stand every Tuesday for the last couple of months ). Seeing that it is the middle of winter, and the selection of veggies from the farm is getting rather limited, I thought a nice fresh loaf of bread would be a good compliment to the box...enjoy!
See below under our recipe section for a simple way to prepare this week's beets.
.This week's squash selection is the kabocha squash. Having either a green or orange outside skin, the inside is a sweet orange colored squash. The kabocha is known for having a drier, sweeter and flakier consistency than many other winter squashes. Cut it into quarters, remove the seeds and roast in the oven until soft. Scoop out the orange insides from the skin and mash with a little butter, brown sugar or balsamic vinegar
What to do with this week's Brussels Sprouts...roast them whole by covering them in a little olive oil and garlic powder and putting them single layer on a roasting pan in the oven @ 400 degrees until they are light brown on the outside.
-steam them whole until tender( don't over cook them...as they can become strong flavored and bitter) or cut them up into small pieces, coat with olive oil and garlic powder, roast in the oven until they start to brown, then sprinkle a little parmesan cheese and bread crumbs on top and broil a minute or two more...even Brussels sprout "haters" will like this dish!
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).
Pomegranates and Juices from Chadmark Farms of Paso Robles...apple, berry cider and pomegranate cider..."flashed pasteurized" for best flavor and nutrient retention. Almond Brittle from Paso Almonds of SLO...freshly made each week by Rusty and his crew.
Oranges and Mandarins from Bob Polito from San Diego County Blueberries from Gary Teixeria of Santa Maria Kiwis from Mallard Lake Farm in Nipomo. "Artisan" breads from the Eclair Bakery of The Village of Arroyo Grande every Friday; and from "Little Red Hen" Bakery every Tuesday.
Vegetable and herb starts from The Transitions Mental Health Growing Grounds of Santa Maria...pesticide free!
Fresh fish and canned albacore for sale every Friday. 100% wild caught by San Luis Obispo County commercial fishermen. Or join the Fish CSA and get weekly deliveries; contact Margie at slofreshcatch@gmail.com or 481-5827." David's Blue Ribbon Honey from Arroyo Grande Sunflower "sprouts" from Carl and Ruth...one of our neighbors at the farm.
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Available at the Stand Here are the items that we should have on the "table" for this Friday along with the prices so you may plan your meals and your budget. Brussels sprouts--$3/ pound Celery root--$1.50 each "Sierra Gold" potatoes--$1.50/ pound "rainbow" colored chard--$2 / bunch "calvo nero" kale---$2 / bunch broccoli--$2.50/ pound Italian "sprouting" baby broccoli--$4 / pound cauliflower--$2/ pound for white, $3/ pound for the green or orange color carrots--$2 / bunch "Persian" cucumbers--$2/ pound beets--$2/ bunch, red or orange leeks--$2/ bunch baby mixed salad greens--$2/ bag of about 1/2 pound baby spinach--$2/ bag of about 1/2 pound
fennel bulb--$1 each Winter squashes---kabocha, butternut, red kuri, spaghetti---$1/ pound Delicata and sweet dumpling---$1.50/ pound Sugar pie pumpkins--80c/ pound
Italian flat-leaf parsley, cilantro, rosemary, arugula, -$1/ bunch sunflower sprouts--$3 per 1/4 pound Mandarin oranges---$2.50/ pound apples--$1.50/ pound Kiwi---5 for $2 avocados--$1 each
honey: 1 pound--$10 / jar "creamed" flavored honey--$10/ jar, red raspberry and lemon "honey with comb"---$16/ jar Spicy Asian Honey BBQ Glaze--$10/ bottle ( all honey products from David's Blue Ribbon Honey, Arroyo Grande) eggs from our "free range" happy chickens--$5/ dozen fresh flower bouquets---$5 to $9 / bunch
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Harvest Box Info You are welcome to come by and pick out individual items from the table or continue to pick up your reserved Harvest box or both( add items that may not be included in your Box that week)..The Harvest Boxes, which cost $15 / week , will be available for pick up during the Stand hours on Fridays only. I would ask you to kindly let me know by Thursday evening of each week, with a E mail response( use the link in the right hand column of this newsletter where it says Order Your Harvest Box) if you want a Box for the week. Please take note: this ordering link is only usable for the current week's newsletter....After Friday morning of each week, the ordering link becomes unusable!
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RECIPES
ROASTED BEETS and SAUTEED GREENS
Ingredients
- 1 bunch beets with greens
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped onion (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (optional)
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (175 degrees C). Wash the beets thoroughly, leaving the skins on, and remove the greens. Rinse greens, removing any large stems, and set aside. Place the beets in a small baking dish or roasting pan, and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. If you wish to peel the beets, it is easier to do so once they have been roasted.
- Cover, and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until a knife can slide easily through the largest beet.
When the roasted beets are almost done, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and onion, and cook for a minute. Tear the beet greens into 2 to 3 inch pieces, and add them to the skillet. Cook and stir until greens are wilted and tender. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the greens as is, and the roasted beets sliced with either red-wine vinegar, or butter and salt and pepper
EASY TIPS FOR PERFECT ROASTED VEGETABLES
adapted from The Santa Monica Farmer's Cookbook by Amelia Saltsman Roasting vegetables concentrates their flavors, develops and caramelizes natural sugars, and gives them that appetizing crisped look. Best of all, the same technique works for just about any vegetable you've got on hand, any time of the year. Follow these simple steps for great results. Keep vegetables or vegetables pieces a uniform size for even cooking. Toss cleaned, trimmed vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil, kosher or sea salt, and freshly ground pepper. For convenience, do this directly in the pan. Always preheat the oven. Roast dense vegetables, such as beets or potatoes, at 400 degrees, quick-cooking ones, such as asparagus or tomatoes, at 425 to 450 degrees. Don't crowd the pan, or your vegetables will steam rather than brown. Large baking sheets and heatproof-glass dishes are ideal for roasting. Roast vegetables uncovered in the upper third of the oven for better browning. Halfway through the cooking time, remove the pan from the oven and give it a shake or use a spatula to loosen and turn the vegetables.
When the vegetables are browned and tender, season again with your favorite seasonings...salt, pepper, garlic powder.
If serving the vegetables at room temperature, allow them to cool before piling them onto a serving dish( so they won't steam themselves and get soft).
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Order Your Harvest Box
Produce in the Harvest Box this week:
a small loaf of "artisan" sour dough bread made by "Little Red Hen" Bakery
a bunch of purple beets
Brussels Sprout
"Sierra Gold" potatoes
a bag of salad mix
carrots
Kabocha squash pomegranate
Mandarin oranges
PLEASE bring back the empty boxes each week.
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| Stand Hours
Tuesdays and Fridays.. Noon to 5 pm
Saturdays..closed for the winter
FARM STAND LOCATION: 1075 "The Pike" in Arroyo Grande. We are located on the south side of The Pike, between Halcyon Road and Elm Street. Visit our web site at www.Rutizfarms.com for a map to the farm. Our mailing address is: Rutiz Farms 333 Miller Way Arroyo Grande, Ca 93420 Our E-mail address is:
info@Rutizfarms.com
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