Thursday, November 7, 2013

Happy Autumn!

Weather report for CSA…warm and maybe a little soggy.

Anybody make it out to the farm the other weekend for the CSA tour? If so, and you’d like to share, please email any comments and photos!

Thanksgiving week! The CSA delivery will be on Wednesday, November 27th, and the start time MAY be earlier depending on the availability of the room and when our farmer can arrive.

Last day of the CSA season for 2013 is December 12th. Info about 2014 CSA season TBA.


This email includes…

1. Your CSA does not need you this week, however…
2. It’s time to weigh!!!
3. Use spices when you cook? Read this!
4. This week’s list (subject to change without notice…farming is like that!)
5. The Purple Elephant wants to grow!
6. Eat chicken? You REALLY better read this!!!
7. Local Caviar anyone?
8. Event Listings
9. Click here to help change the world!
10. What you actually got last week
11. Win stuff
12. And now for something completely different…



1. Your CSA does not need you this week, however…

You can ALWAYS stop by the CSA a little before 3:30 or 5:30 to offer to help in case someone doesn’t show up (or is late) without letting anyone know…life happens! 

If you didn’t get a confirmation email from Judi (occasionally it’s me), you’re not scheduled to work this week.



2. It’s time to weigh!!!

A. Check the wall chart before taking any food so you know what you’re taking and how much to take…assume nothing and please ask questions! 

B. Bring your reading glasses or ask someone to help if you can’t see the numbers on the scale clearly.

C. PLEASE DO NOT GO OVER THE AMOUNT STATED on the Wall Chart. Please err on the under side of the weight posted…NEVER over. It may not seem like much to you but we have 56 members and if every person is off by ONE OUNCE (for crying out loud! It’s only an ounce!!!) …that means we’ll be short almost THREE AND A HALF POUNDS of produce and 3 CSA members won’t get the food they paid for. And I’m sure you wouldn’t want it to be you.

D. IF you are asked to weigh more than one food item at the same time…please follow the directions given to you and weigh in the order you are asked (you might not think there’s a good reason to be doing this but our farmer does and that should be enough of a reason right there…if you want a further explanation – ask suzanne…there is a method to the madness )



3. Use spices when you cook? Read this!

Some good news/bad news about spices.

The first is the bad news…ugh!

Unfortunately, when they talk about “treating” spices, they often mean irradiating them which 1) may make the health benefits of these food items non-existent, 2) change the chemical make-up to create things that we don’t know whether they are carcinogenic or not (with meat…they are), and 3)there’s no guarantee it will work 100% of the time anyway.
http://www.grubstreet.com/2013/10/spice-contamination.html?om_rid=AADNgX&om_mid=_BSc--KB82DRhf1

Here’s the 213 page report if you want to explore…
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodScienceResearch/RiskSafetyAssessment/UCM367337.pdf

But don’t stop using spices because they’re so good for us…like helping to prevent Alzheimers…at least buy organic spices as they haven’t been irradiated…
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/TIP04984/Can-a-Spice-Prevent-Alzheimers.html



4. This week’s list (subject to change without notice…farming is like that!)

Week #27
November 7, 2013

1. Sweet Potatoes***
2. Cabbage, Savoy
3. Pak Choi (see Bok Choi Veggie Info Sheet)
4. Mibuna (see Mizuna Veggie Info Sheet)****
5. Snap Beans*
6. Squash, Winter**

Total Items: 6 (?)

*
For those of you who may have gotten Snap Bean weary (I understand but don’t relate…there’s always another flavor profile, another recipe, another cooking technique to try), here’s one of my favorite songs…How Can I Miss You When You Won’t Go Away, by Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, dedicated to the last of the Snap Beans till Summer 2014…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW9-FOLG-iA

And on the flip side…don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone (for all sorts of things…including Snap Beans!  )…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJIuP7zEVeM

And some health benefits to illustrate one of the reasons why I’m a fan. Did any of you Mushroom Share folks try a stir fry of Shiitakes and Green Beans? That’s one of the things this post recommends. Maybe next year!…
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=134

**
Have no idea what kind of Winter Squash we might be getting this week (if we get one) but here’s Martha Stewart on…

Acorn Squash…
http://www.marthastewart.com/275063/acorn-squash-recipes/@center/276955/seasonal-produce-recipe-guide?xsc=eml_food_2013_11_06_template

Butternut Squash…
How to cut one up…
http://www.marthastewart.com/1037018/how-cut-butternut-squash?xsc=eml_food_2013_11_06_template
And then cook it…
http://www.marthastewart.com/275653/butternut-squash-recipes/@center/276955/seasonal-produce-recipe-guide

***
Sweet Potato Recipes…

Sweet Potato Souffle with Feta and Sage…
http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2012/10/24/sweet-potato-souffle-with-feta-and-sage-recipe/

Sweet Potato Hash with Fried Eggs
http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2012/10/26/chile-sweet-potato-hash-with-fried-eggs-recipe/

Sweet Potato Casserole with Crispy Corn Flake Topping…
http://www.attunefoods.com/blog/2012/11/sweet-potato-casserole-with-crispy-corn-flake-topping/?utm_source=family-fresh-cooking&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=brandam&utm_content=sweet-potato-casserole-with-crispy-corn-flakes-topping

Vegan Sweet Potato Anytime Cookies…
http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2012/12/28/sweet-potato-anytime-cookies-recipe/

Sweet Potato and Roasted Beet Salad…
http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2013/02/15/rustic-roasted-beet-sweet-potato-salad-recipe/

****
Mibuna vs Mizuna…
http://www.rhs.org.uk/Gardening/Grow-Your-Own/Veg-A-to-Z/Mibuna---mizuna
http://recipesfortom.blogspot.com/2012/07/mizuna-and-mibuna-mustard-greens.html
Mibuna…
http://vegetablesofinterest.typepad.com/vegetablesofinterest/2007/08/mibuna.html
Just to confuse you (you say Mizuna, I say Mibuna…the post says Mibuna, the weblink says Mizuna, the photo looks like Mizuna…it’s Mizuna but you can use this recipe)
http://sogoodandtasty.blogspot.com/2010/05/quinoa-and-mizuna-salad-with-lemon.html



5. The Purple Elephant wants to grow!

Spread the word if you know anyone that might be interested in getting in on this!

Contribute money…get stuff…from $5 for a glass of wine (good chance it’s organic and/or biodynamic), to $1,000 for a private dinner for two cooked in your home by Chef David. A decent deal is the $150 gift certificate for $100. If you don’t have to use it in one shot (I’m thinking not), it has to be used in 6 months and that should be no problem if you’re a regular…or even a semi-regular  !
Like indiegogo, but not…
https://www.luckyant.com/project/view/2328

To learn more about the Purple Elephant (the best way is to go there and eat!)…
http://thepurpleelephant.net/



6. Eat chicken? You REALLY better read this!!!

USA is going to send dead chickens to China to be processed, and then ship them back to us…opportunities for contamination and counterfeit meat galore!

Ugh. UGH. UGH!!!!

Eat local and know where you food comes from!

http://www.grubstreet.com/2013/09/usda-chinese-chicken.html?om_rid=AADNgX&om_mid=_BSKic2B80$0VJ7



7. Local Caviar anyone?

The holidays are coming up and what a treat for your holiday table or as a present for the discerning cook on your gift list.

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium has Brook Trout Caviar for sale during the 4 weekends in November…it’s seasonal so get it while it lasts (and a recipe will be included)!
$10 pint
$15 quart

To order (no later than the Thursday of the weekend you wish to pick up):
Call 516-692-6768
Email: jlarosa@cshfha.org



8. Event Listings

Thursday, May 2nd to Sunday, December 8th

9am to 4:30pm

Green Thumb Organic Farm
829 Montauk Hwy (east of the windmill)
Water Mill

Our CSA farm’s farm stand is open for the season! If you’re passing by, stop in and say hi and tell them you’re a CSA member and you’re sure to get a smile! There are plants for your garden, flowers for your home and/or friends you might be visiting in the area, and food…lots of food! 


Thursday, November 7th to Monday, November 11th

14th Annual International Conference of the Weston A Price Foundation
Curing the Incurable: Holistic Therapies for Chronic Diseases
Sheraton Atlanta Downtown Hotel
Atlanta, GA
For more info and to register:
http://conferences.westonaprice.org/main-conference/

Joel Salatin, Sally Fallon and Dr. Mercola will be there…will you?


Thursday, November 7th

7pm to 8:30pm

Consuming Kids
Holistic Moms Network (HMN) Meeting (Suffolk County/Huntington Area/NY Chapter)
Elwood Public Library
1929 Jericho Tpke (and Elwood Rd)
Elwood
For more info and to join:
http://wsuffolkctyny.holisticmoms.org/

Please join CSA member Vickie Muller at these fun and informative meetings (and you don’t have to be a mom to go…or even female!). There will be tea and a healthy snack. Be green and bring your own mug. This month’s meeting will feature the documentary, Consuming Kids…a VERY timely piece focusing on the marketing of everything, for better or worse (all too often worse), for our children!


Friday, November 8th to Sunday, November 10th

Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners Conference
Boys and Girls High School
1700 Fulton Ave
Brooklyn
$30 Adults/$15 Students
For more info and tickets:
http://www.blackfarmersconf.org/home-1

You don’t have to be a farmer, gardener or black to attend this event. If eating healthy, food justice, food deserts, food sovereignty, local food, supporting local farmers, healthy food in schools and diversity in the farming community as well as in the fields are subjects of interest to you, this might be a good place to go to discuss and learn more about the issues of race, health, class and food. Keynote speakers will be Monica White, Asst Professor of Environmental Justice/University of Wisconsin-Madison and President on the Board of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, and Ben Burkett, President of the National Family Farm Coalition.


Saturday, November 9th

5pm to 8pm

2nd Annual Save Our Seagrass (SOS) Celebration
South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center
377 Bridgehampton Sag Harbor Tpke
Bridgehampton
$75
For more info:
631-852-8660
Email: Kim Barbour Kp237@cornell.edu
http://www.sofo.org/announcements.asp
This celebration features a raw bar of locally harvested shellfish (featuring Peconic Bay Scallops), local wine and craft beer. All proceeds will support Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County’s local habitat restoration efforts and environmental education. Music by the Moto-Wrays…surf rock and jazz!
8pm

Kirtan with Ken Gerber
Sip Tea Lounge
286 New York Ave
Huntington
For more info:
631-683-5777

Stressed out? Like Indian music? Like to sing (though I’m sure you can just listen)? Fan of yoga? Come check out a kirtan with Ken Gerber and his harmonium…
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/fashion/05fitness-01.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0


Sunday, November 10th

Fundraiser for Shelter Animals
Sip Tea Lounge
286 New York Ave
Huntington
For more info:
631-683-5777

Buy Tea for a dog
And Chai for a cat
How easy was that!

Proceeds will go to Shelter Link. To find out more about them, go to www.shelterlink.com PLUS volunteers from Shelter Link will be there to answer questions about adopting shelter animals from 10am to 2pm.


Thursday, November 14th

7pm to 8pm

Slow Food Huntington Monthly Meeting
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
All are welcome!

Friday, November 15th

6pm to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM (90.1 FM)
To listen live or on the archives…
http://wusb.fm/station/schedule/week
For more info:
http://www.healthy-planet.org/


Wednesday, November 20th

8:30am to 5pm

2nd Annual Harvesting Opportunities in NY: Growing Local Food Economies and Protecting Farmland
American Farmland Trust
Hilton Albany
40 Lodge St
Albany, NY
$90
For more info and to register:
http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e7vm5zlgd7828107&llr=i5urjviab
This is a conference for people who care about New York agriculture and want to work together to grow local food economies, protect farmland from development and support the next generation of farmers. Conference participants will include: farmers, public officials from all levels of government, land trusts, local foods and public health leaders, hunger relief advocates, institutional food-service managers, agricultural organizations and concerned citizens. A Cider Doughnut Continental Breakfast with Chobani© yogurt will jump-start the day and a lunch will be Thanksgiving—Locally Grown!

Monday, November 25th

4pm to 6pm

Suffolk County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board Meeting
H Lee Dennison Bldg
Division of Planning and Environment (4th floor conference room)
100 Veterans Hwy
Hauppauge
RSVP to:
Robin 631-283-3195
RHarris@PeconicLandTrust.org

Please attend and share your opinions and concerns as the county works to update the Suffolk County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. Light refreshments will be served. If you can’t make it to this meeting, there are other ones being held (11/12 – Riverhead, 11/13 – Farmingville, 12/12 – Southampton, 12/18 – Southold).

7:45 to 8:45

The Jewish Omnivore’s Dilemma: Eating Jewishly in the 21st Century
Institute for Jewish Studies
Temple Chaverim
1050 Washington Ave
Plainview
$5
To register and for more info:
Carole Wolfner 516-349-7616
Sharon Kunoff 516-694-1896

This lecture is being given by Nigel Savage, the founder of Hazon, a VERY cool organization combining Judaism and sustainable food issues…it’s the largest American Jewish environmental organization.
To learn more about Hazon (and see Dec 29th about their food conference in CT)…
http://www.hazon.org/


Monday, December 2nd

6:30pm to 9pm

5th Annual Latke Festival
Metropolitan Pavilion
125 W 18th St
NYC
$55 to $110
For advance tickets (none sold at the door):
http://latkefestival2013.eventbrite.com/
And for more info, pix and recipes:
http://www.greatperformances.com/the-dish/save-the-date-5th-annual-latke-festival

Sample Latkes made by some of the best chefs in NYC (and vote for the Latke Master of the year), along with Beer from the Schmaltz Brewing Company…who could ask for more?  Organized by Great Performances and co-sponsored by Edible Manhattan. I’ve gone for two years in a row with fellow CSA member Andrew Rudin and I’ll be there again this year.


Tuesday, December 3rd

7pm to 10pm

2nd Annual Cocktails and Shopping
Thatched Cottage
455 E. Main St
Centerport
$35
To purchase advance tickets (must be purchased in advance):
Email: thegoodneighborfund@yahoo.com
call Maria @ 516-343-9550
To learn more about the Good Neighbor Fund…
http://www.stparaskevi.org/GoodNeighborFund.htm

For those of you who don't know about the Good Neighbor Fund, it’s a philanthropic organization that helps individuals in the community (all of Long Island and Queens) who are having financial difficulties as a result of a car accident or illness. Whether they pay a LIPA or mortgage bill or supply food cards or perhaps pay for a medical device not covered by insurance, on and on the list goes on. So please join us and ask a friend or two..last year we had 200 women and we have a larger venue this year!

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, coffee and dessert, and a chance to win a handbag by Vasiliki Lagis.


Friday, December 6th

6pm to 7pm

The Healthy Planet Radio Show
WUSB-FM (90.1 FM)
To listen live or on the archives…
http://wusb.fm/station/schedule/week
For more info:
http://www.healthy-planet.org/


Thursday, December 12th to Saturday, December 14th

Ecological Farming for the Real World
2013 Acres Conference & Trade Show
Prairie Capital Convention Center
Springfield, IL
For more info (I’d ask to get the brochure mailed to me for more info):
http://www.acresusa.com/events/2013conference/
and to register:
http://www.acresusa.com/events/

If you’re serious about learning about farming, this might be right up your alley (though the winter NOFA-NY Conference in January might be a good place to start if you’ve never been to one).


Sunday, December 29th to Wednesday, January 1st, 2014

Hazon Food Conference: Recipes for The New Jewish Food Movement
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
Falls Village, CT
$510/$460/$410/Children aged 4 to 16 $200 (if you register before December 8th…all inclusive cost includes room and board, kosher farm to table meals)/Children under 4 FREE
For more info and to register:
http://www.hazon.org/programs/food-conference/

Guest presenters celebrated cookbook author Joan Nathan, food writer Leah Koenig and Itta Werdiger-Roth (founder of underground supperclub in Brooklyn, The Hester)


Thursday, January 16th and Friday, January 17th, 2014

33rd Annual LI Agricultural Forum
Suffolk Community College
Riverhead
$30 (after Jan 10th it will go up to $45)
For more info and to register:
Linda Holm 631-727-7850 xt 341
At the moment, the website has no info about this event…
http://www.ccesuffolk.org/

Details TBA. I think Thursday is the day that has the “Sustainable Farming” section but both days have lectures of interest to the organic farmer/gardener and it’s only $30 for both days!


Friday, January 24th to Sunday, January 26th, 2014

NOFA-NY Winter Conference: Preserving the Past, Seeding the Future
Saratoga Hilton and City Center
Saratoga Springs, NY
For more info:
http://www.nofany.org/events/winter-conference

Keynote speaker: Gary Paul Nabhan, author of Growing Food in a Hotter, Drier Land (with forward by Bill McKibben). Registration will begin mid-November.


February 5th to February 8th

PASA’s 23rd Annual Farming for the Future Conference: Letting Nature Lead
State College, PA
For more info and to register:
http://www.pasafarming.org/events/conference

Keynote speakers this year are Daphne Miller, MD (author of Farmacology) and Miguel Altieri, PhD (Professor of Agroecology, UC Berkeley). Sign up for their emails or like their Facebook page to keep up to date on when registration begins.


Saturday, March 1st, 2014

10am to 5pm

TEDx Manhattan Viewing Party
Cinema Arts Centre
423 Park Ave
Huntington
FREE

Check out a sample of last year’s speakers such as chef Michel Nischan, LaDonna Redmond, Anna Lappe, White House chef Bill Yosses, Annemarie Colbin, etc, here…
http://www.youtube.com/tedxman

Check out the list of speakers scheduled for this year (includes a performance by Huntington’s own Jen Chapin…Harry’s kid  )…
http://www.tedxmanhattan.org/speakers/

Details TBA


May 3rd and May 4th , 2014

NAVEL Expo

Details TBA!



9. Click here to help change the world!

And make a difference for one of these groups…

Vote till November 15th to decide which of these groups will be giving a talk at TEDxManhattan…you can’t buy this sort of publicity if they get the chance to talk at this conference so it will change their lives and by the work they’re doing will help change the world!
http://www.tedxmanhattan.org/challenge/



10. What you actually got last week

Week #27
October 31, 2013

1. Scallions – 1 bunch - $2.75
2. Tomatoes – up to 1 lb – to be weighed with…
3. Peppers, Sweet: Lunch Box and/or Shishito** - up to 1 lb (2 lbs total including Tomatoes) - $5.75
4. Lettuce: Crisp, Green – 1 head - $2.75
5. Collard Greens – 1 bunch - $3.25
6. Snap Beans*: Green – ½ lb - $1.75
7. Fennel – 1 bunch - $3.50
8. Bitter Melon*** – 1 - $.25

Total Items: 8
Total Amount: $20.00 (we pay $17.50 for our weekly CSA share and this week we’ve gotten an extra $2.50 so the total extra value we’ve gotten so far this season…is $33.00)


Mushroom Share…no Mushroom share delivered, and still haven’t found out whether we’re getting one this week or not, but will be straightening all this out regardless in the next week or so!

*
Snap Bean recipes….

Green Beans 101 –
Roasted Green Beans…
http://www.food.com/recipe/roasted-green-beans-133821
Green Bean and Orzo Pilaf…
http://lasvegasfoodadventures.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/orzo-and-green-bean-pilaf/
Green Beans with Eggs Mexican style (Ejotes con Huevos)…
http://www.spiciefoodie.com/2012/08/06/ejotes-con-huevos-or-mexican-green-beans-with-eggs/

Green Beans 201 – Green Bean Casserole 2.0
http://www.thebittenword.com/thebittenword/2011/11/thanksgiving-green-bean-casserole-with-crispy-shallots-.html

Snap Beans graduate level…Snap Beans with Taleggio and Fish Sauce
http://www.grubstreet.com/2013/09/ignacio-mattos-string-bean-in-season-recipe.html?om_rid=AADNgX&om_mid=_BSLhvZB81DSguj


**
Shishito Peppers…
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sauteed-Shishito-Peppers-Summers-Best-New-Bite-51153400

http://www.chow.com/recipes/30210-grilled-shishito-peppers


***
Bitter Melon…do your research before cooking with this one (most medicinal vegetable on the planet!!!)

The basics…and a good basic website for it…
http://bittermelon.org/eat/cookingbittermelon
And recipes…Bitter Melon Sorbet anyone?
http://bittermelon.org/eat/shareyourrecipes

Bitter Melon recipe discovered by CSA member Lisa McInnis Lonigro…
http://amisvegetariandelicacies.blogspot.com/2011/07/bitter-melon-salad.html

IF pregnant…don’t eat it as it can possibly cause a miscarriage. However, not seeing how much it would take to do this and….
http://www.drugs.com/npp/bitter-melon.html

this advice looks more reasonable and…
http://www.juicing-for-health.com/bitter-gourd-benefits.html

here’s another opinion that it could be useful for gestational diabetes…
http://pregnanteats.com/2010/05/05/eating-for-a-healthy-pregnancy-bitter-melon/

Oh yeah, I forgot it also slows down the growth of, and kills, breast cancer cells (and not surrounding normal cells) as an extract in a Petri dish…
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-02-24/entertainment/27057193_1_breast-cancer-melon-cancer-research
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100223131956.htm

They want to take the natural extract, turn it into something chemically produced and costing a fortune. I’d rather eat it and pay for the vegetable.

Recipes and chats about Bitter Melon (darker the Bitter Melon…more bitter it is)…
This is a scream…my new favorite cooking show…Cooking with Dog! That dog looks awfully close to the burner!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp-a5y8rY28&NR=1&feature=fvwp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5bwWHImhUA (I’d take the pith and seeds out and don’t eat with bread…ugh…rice would be nice)
http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/07/seriously-asian-bitter-melon-stir-fry.html
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/324491
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/asianveg/msg0818541820091.html
http://chinesefood.about.com/od/vegetablesrecipes/r/bittermelon.htm
http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,bitter_melon,FF.html

Bitter Melon (spellings are more how to pronounce than correct…)
Goya – Japan
Kerala – India
Mah-Lah –Thailand
oh-Wah - Vietnam
Pahvahkah – India, in Kerala

General Info…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_melon
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/69138.cfm#Warnings

I had no idea! The National Bitter Melon Council…
http://bittermelon.org/



11. Win stuff

Win an overnight stay on the east end, tasting at 3 vineyards, $500 gift card for Tanger Outlet and tickets to the LI Aquarium!

If you have problems entering (I did), it may mean you need to use another internet browser program (my version was too old) so I had to use Google Chrome which worked.

http://www.eastendgetaway.com/pages/index.aspx



12. And now, for something completely different…

Did you hear about the $225 a scoop Ice Cream?
http://gizmodo.com/why-this-glow-in-the-dark-ice-cream-costs-225-a-scoop-1458185573

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