New POM Logo
November 2013

www.MinnesotaGrown.com

In This Issue
Turkey Pot Pie 1
Sneak Peek into December
New Website
Minnesota Grown Supporters
Thanksgiving Meal
Wineries
Save the Date - Events
THANK YOU
Minnesota Grown Fan of the Month
Photo Contest Winner:
Stuffed Green Peppers with Tomatoes!
  
Congratulations to Sandy T. who won the photo contest from the October Pick of the Month! Sandy submitted her photo of stuffed green peppers with Roma tomatoes! All Minnesota Grown and purchased from the Minneapolis Farmers Market.   
stuffed green peppers
 
Sandy received an "I Eat Local" t-shirt and a FREE registration to "Grilling up the Harvest" at the Landscape Arboretum.

Eat Local Tshirt  
Turkey Pot Pie 1
Turkey Pot Pie  
Ingredients:
1 recipe pastry for 10 inch double pie crust
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 small onion, minced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 carrots, minced
3 tablespoons dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried oregano
salt & pepper to taste
2 cubes chicken bouillon
2 cups water
3 potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 1/2 cups cubed turkey 
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup milk

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Roll out bottom pie crust, press into a 10 inch pie pan, and set aside.

2.  Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add the onion, celery, carrots, parsley, oregano, and salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the vegetables are soft. Stir in the bouillon and water. Bring mixture to a boil. Stir in the potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm.
 
3.  In a medium saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in the turkey and flour. Add the milk, and heat through. Stir the turkey mixture into the vegetable mixture, and cook until thickened. Cool slightly, then pour mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Roll out the top crust, and place on top of filling. Flute edges, and make 4 slits in the top crust to let out steam. 
 
4.  Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for 20 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

Recipe & photo courtesy of Linda from Allrecipes.com
December Pick of the Month 

Top Secret For some reason, every time November comes around, the holiday season seems to just fly by! We want to take a minute to give you a heads up about the December Pick of the Month - so you can make sure not to miss it! Here is a sneak peek:

 

1) Holiday gift ideas! Tired of giving the standard box of chocolates? We'll give you a few unique gift ideas along with a HUGE list of Minnesota Grown member products that your friends and family will absolutely love! 

 

2) Christmas Trees! How could we not talk about Christmas trees in December? A holiday tradition celebrated by many, we will give you the REAL information on REAL Christmas trees and other Minnesota Grown decoration ideas. 

 

3) Go local year round! We'll give you tips to make your winter fly by with fun activities and show you how you can support your local farmer year round!

New Website
 
Minnesota Grown has been keeping a secret for several months.... but we are practically bursting at the seams to tell you! We will be launching a NEW website this winter! We have completely redesigned the look and improved the searching capabilities! We have also added easy to use features like a Facebook live feed and an events calendar with local and farm sponsored activities. 

We are looking for a small group of individuals who would be willing to look at our "new" website in a test environment and give us feedback. We need these individuals to be from various parts of the state and to be able to devote about 1 hr to complete the testing before Friday, November 22nd. If you are interested in participating, please email Jessica. Please include "Pick of the Month Website Tester" as your subject line and include your name, age and city in the body of your email. 

We can't wait to show it to you! Stay tuned to the upcoming Pick of the Month for the launch announcement! 

Kissing Computer
Minnesota Grown Supporters
  
The Minnesota Grown Program is supported by buying local enthusiasts, individual farm members and several producer associations. This month, we want to highlight and thank one of those supporters, The Minnesota Christmas Tree Growers Association (MNCTA).
MNCTA Logo The MNCTA is a grower based organization that helps support the growth and sustainability of the Christmas tree industry. 

The MNCTA is a wealth of knowledge and information for consumers. You can visit their website to help you find your perfect tree and details on different varieties grown in Minnesota. 

  

While the MNCTA focuses primarily on the Christmas tree, in 2008 they also included environmental education to their list of duties through our Go Green, Get Real program.  

GoGreen.GetReal   

Go Green, Get Real is intended to help people better understand the importance of real Christmas trees. It includes information for adults and some things that educators may use the material in classrooms when talking about the environment. 

 

You can find out more about Go Green, Get Real, and the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association on their website.  

Find Minnesota Grown 
  
Are you on Facebook? If so, we want to be friends with you! The best way to stay in touch is to like our comments and photos, participate in our conversations and post to our page. The more active you are with us, the more active we can be with you and also, the more likely you are to see information from us!    
   find us on facebook

Recommend our page, share our posts, comment and spread the good news about Minnesota agriculture! We love to giveaway prizes to fans who interact with us! :)
   
 
How Can You Win?

 Do YOU want to be the Minnesota Grown fan of the month?

One or more Facebook fans will be chosen each month from our Facebook page and will be announce in the Pick of the Month. The more you comment, like, post are share our information as well as sharing your ideas and photos with us - the more likely you'll be the one saying "I'm the Minnesota Grown fan of the Month!" and enjoying a FREE prize! 
  fan of the month
   Thanksgiving - Minnesota Grown Style
 
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means food is on everyone's mind! We have a few simple ways to bring in Minnesota Grown foods and decorations into your holiday celebration. 
 
The centerpiece of many Thanksgiving dinners is the turkey. The method of preparing can vary from roasting,  to grilling, to deep frying and many more. One easy way to make your Thanksgiving Minnesota Grown style is to use a Minnesota Grown turkey! The Directory has over 20 farms who raise turkey. Turkey Quantities can be limited, so it's important to contact your farm early to reserve your turkey. You can search the Minnesota Grown Directory for a list of farms to call.  You can also ask your local butcher if they carry locally raised turkey.  

Side dishes can vary from table to table, but are always a pleasing addition to the turkey. Below is the information about a few great Minnesota Grown options you can easily prepare in a traditional manner or make up your own tradition! Click on the products to find Minnesota Grown farms who offer grow these items.
Potatoes: Did you know Minnesota ranks 6th in potato production in the United States? Potatoes are high in vitamin C and potassium and have a relatively low caloric count. Their are also naturally fat, cholesterol and sodium free! (Though, many potato dishes call for adding that!) Potatoes are a very versatile vegetable. They can be baked or boiled, smashed and mix together with many other seasoning and ingredients to change the flavor. You can also find a fun fact about potatoes on page 84 of the printed Minnesota Grown Directory. Write on our Facebook wall what that fact is in the month of November for a chance win a Minnesota Grown "I Eat Local" t shirt. 
carrots
Photo courtesy of Osborne Seed  

Carrots: Most people think of the color orange when they think of carrots, but they can also be purple, white, yellow or red. 
Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which is good for eyesight and skin health. Carrots also have a higher sugar content than most other vegetables, making them an excellent raw snack and delicious cooked into other dishes. 

winter squash
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Grown member, Grandma's Little Acres
Winter Squash: This fruit (which is often prepared as a vegetable) is quickly becoming a popular side and even main dish at dinner tables across Minnesota. It is commonly prepared in during the holiday season. Winter squash are high in vitamin A, C and fiber and come in many varieties that are easily stored. Did you know that you can bake the seeds of squash just like pumpkin seeds? Also like pumpkin seeds, you can also be creative and add your own spices.

Wild RiceWild Rice: Wild rice is a semi-aquatic grass that grows naturally in lakes, river beds and bays as well as being cultivated in man-made paddies. It generally grows in water that is just 2-4 feet deep. Wild rice is high in protein and fiber. You can add it to almost any dish, but it's often used in salads. It is also commonly found in soups, like Minnesota favorite chicken wild rice.  

Honeycrisp
Apples: Apples are easily stored well beyond Thanksgiving, which can make them a great side dish as well as a dessert. Many orchards still have plenty of later season varieties and stored apples for you to pick up! Try this recipe using both apples and wild rice!


If you planned ahead, or used a few of our storage/preservation tips over the summer, now would be a great time to pull out some of your canned or frozen Minnesota Grown green beans, corn or other vegetables! 

We certainly can't discuss Thanksgiving without mentioning desserts. The traditional pumpkin pie is an easy way to bring Minnesota Grown
pies
Photo courtesy of Minnesota Grown member, Pine Tree Apple Orchard
produce and farms into your holiday celebration. Many orchards and even some pumpkin patches have bakeries or gift shops that are open into November. They make it easy to get a homemade local pie for your holiday meal - no stress involved! There are 28 Minnesota Grown farms who offer bakery products, but don't forget to check the status of your local apple orchard or pumpkin patch!
 
Thanksgiving isn't just about food...it's also about decorations! Minnesota Grown farms have a wide variety of items to choose from. From natural corn shocks, gourds, pumpkins, hay bales, decorative centerpeice corn to handmade decoration and even do-it-yourself decorations! The Minnesota Grown Directory online has 60 farms who carry fall decorations and 157 farms who have pumpkins, squash or gourds.  For any easy do-it-yourself centerpiece, try picking up a few small pumpkins, you can choose any size/color combination that you like! Cut off the stem and drill and 3/4 inch whole that is about 1/4-1/2 inch deep in the center. Add a few tall pillar candles and you have yourself a custom centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table!
Wineries

  

 Wine can be an excellent addition to any holiday meal. Many wineries close during the winter, so make sure you stop by your favorite winery soon! There are 36 wineries in the Minnesota Grown Directory and some even allow you to order online! You can pick up a few bottles for the holidays or for gifts.

 

Wine glass  

 

In the October Pick of the Month, we gave you tips for pairing local wines with cheeses. Impress your guests - read the tips again here.

Save-The-Date
calendar
 Spruce Tip Workshop, Nov 7 & 14 at 6p, Mickman Brothers, Inc - Ham Lake
For just $45 you can receive one 12'' spruce tip pot, instructions from the experts, 6 spruce tips, dogwood and berries to create your own holiday decor. Please bring garden gloves, medium pruners and lappers. Space is limited and registration costs must be paid in full before classes. Please call 763-413-3000 or stop into the Mickman Brothers Garden Center to sign up.

Prehistoric Plants, Every Saturday & Sunday in Nov from Noon-4p, Learning Center at the Landscape Arboretum
Bring the whole family to meet living fossils and learn about prehistoric plants up close with a microscope. Bring home fern prints and planted prehistoric plants! All this and more free with your Arboretum admission.

Sweet Gifts from the Kitchen, Nov 9 from 9a-11p, Learning Center at the Landscape Arboretum
Italian cookie biscotti, basil lime sugar cookies and more brought to you by Artful Brew Tea owner, Kris James. Come bake sweet treats for yourself or as holiday gifts.

Holiday Harvest Food and Wine Festival, Nov 9-10, Great River Road Wine Trail
Six wineries are participating in the start of the holiday season with food and wine along the Great River Road Wine Trail. For the price of attending you receive a free wine and food tasting at each winery and complimentary wine trail glass and six-bottle wine tote.

 4th Annual Grand Brewfest, Nov 22-23, Nisswa

The fourth annual celebration of Minnesota breweries will include paired beer and food dinner, live entertainment and vendor fair. Find out if you can you guess the blind tasting challenges correctly! There is a cost to this event and pre-registration is required.   


Frost Fest, Nov 23, Baudette

Kick off the holiday season with craft and vendor fair, community dinner, window walk through downtown, music, tree lighting all finished with a firework grand finale. Enjoy all of this and more in the Walleye Capital of the World!

 

Green Gifts Fair, Nov 23, Midtown Global Market, Minneapolis

Do It Green! Minnesota hosts the annual Green Gifts Fair. Offering over 75 local artists and retailers, you will find the perfect gift for the holiday season and find ways to reduce your impact over the holiday season (and all year long!). $1 donation accepted at the door.    

 

Thanksgiving, Nov 28, United States of America 

We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of friends, family, thankfulness and of course - Minnesota Grown produce and decorations! 

 

Small Business Saturday, Nov 30th, Minnesota

This day is dedicated to supporting local businesses. It's important to remember not only the local shop down the road, but remember Minnesota farmers are small business owners too! Get out, shop small and support your local community in a big way! 

 

Red Wing Holiday Stroll, Nov 29, Red Wing

Start the day with the pancake breakfast, see live reindeer, sample chili, hear carolers and shop local this Black Friday. Join Santa and Mrs. Claus for traditional holiday cheer for the whole family.

 

Wadena Christmas Festival, Nov 30-Dec 1, Wadena

Celebrate the holidays with all things local in Wadena. Vendors selling everything from food to hand-knit items will be displayed along with local musicians and strolling carolers.

 

THANK YOU

We should all know by now that Thanksgiving is about being thankfully for what we have. We at Minnesota Grown are thankful for the ability to bring you local foods, local connections, and information about agriculture. 
 
We know none of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication to the people who grow and raise our food and agricultural products. We know they cannot make the sun shine or the rain fall and you certainly can't control when it snows. But everyday these men, women and even children strive to supply us with healthy, great tasting local food. 
 
We also need to take a moment to thank you, our readers. We greatly appreciate you reading the Pick of the Month every month, asking us questions, sharing your photos and comments and helping to spread the word about supporting local farmers. 
 
We hope you all are able to take a moment, say thank you and enjoy your Thanksgiving.  
 
Happy Thanksgiving  

Minnesota Grown Fan of the Month

Celebration
 
Congratulations:
 
KRISTY REMME 
 
You have won a FREE CHRISTMAS TREE from the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association! You can choose one of Minnesota Grown's over 60 Christmas tree farmers! Please send us a message via Facebook so we can get you your certificate and explain how it will work.