Change of Seasons
Last week, a heavy frost covered the Chimacum Valley. It was a sight to behold, with bushes and grasses in an early morning white. This of course meant that there were things for the farmers to attend to and navigate as the proof of a change of seasons greeted the morning commuters.The first thing was that some of the harvests had to be adjusted so as to let leafy greens thaw out. Instead, produce that was normally harvested in the afternoon, such as beets, got a morning visit from our hard-working (and a bit chilly) crew. The beet...
read moreRoasted Beet & Kale Salad
Serves 4. 3 small roasted Red Dog golden beets1/4 cup pecans1/6 cup maple syrup, dividedDash of cayenne1/2 bunch Red Dog kale1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar1/2 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice1/8 cup extra virgin olive oil1/4 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional) Roast and peel your beets, then slice them into wedges. Set aside. Place the pecans in a small nonstick skillet and toast over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until fragrant. Pour 1/8 cup maple syrup over the pecans and bring to a boil over medium....
read moreSweet Roasted Rosemary Squash
Serves 2-4. 1 Red Dog acorn squash, cut into quarters2 dashes olive oilSalt to taste1/2 stick butter1/4 cup brown sugar, lightly packed1 Tbsp. Red Dog rosemary, minced Place wedges in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt, then roast in a 350-degree oven for 20 minutes. Combine butter, brown sugar, salt, and rosemary in a bowl and mix into a paste. Remove squash from oven and smear paste all over squash. Return to the oven for 30 minutes, until brown and caramelized. Halfway through roasting, your paste...
read moreBacon-Roasted Brussels & Rads
Serves 6. 1 Tbsp. avocado oil1 lb. Red Dog brussels sprouts, quartered1 lb. Red Dog radishes, sliced into 1/4″ rounds4 strips bacon1/2 tsp sea salt1/8 tsp black pepperPreheat oven to 375. Toss the quartered brussels and chopped radishes in a bowl with the oil, salt, and pepper, and set aside. Lay the bacon on a sheet tray and bake for 10-15 minutes until done. Take the tray out of the oven and set the bacon aside. Drain the excess fat from the pan, leaving 1 Tbsp. Turn the oven to 425. Spread the brussels and radishes out in an even...
read moreTilth: A Conference for Farmers
Farmers are great at embracing what might seem like paradox: for example, taking advantage of modern scientific research in the ancient act of agriculture, or simultaneously using technologies built half a century apart. We even sometimes leave the fields for an event that is usually associated with corporations or sci-fi superfans: a conference. Tilth Conference 2023 was held last weekend at Fort Worden, and drew agriculture professionals from across Washington State and Oregon. Attendees came from farms, farmers markets, food hubs,...
read moreCurried Celeriac Coleslaw
Makes 2-3 servings. 3/4 Tbsp red wine vinegar3/4 tsp dijon mustard1 tsp medium curry powder3 Tbsp mayonnaise3 Tbsp plain yogurt1 Tbsp finely chopped shallots1/2 Red Dog celeriac, peeled1 large ripe but firm pear1/4 Red Dog red cabbage1.5 Tbsp raisins1 handful chopped walnuts1.5 Tbsp finely chopped cornichons or dill pickles1 handful fresh parsley, chopped Whisk the vinegar, mustard, curry powder, mayonnaise and yogurt in a large mixing bowl. Add the chopped shallots, 1 tsp salt and a few grinds of black pepper, then whisk again....
read moreRoot Veggie Slaw with Crispy Bacon
Serves 3-4. 3 Red Dog carrots1 Red Dog celeriac1 hard green apple1 head Red Dog radicchio1/4 cup crème fraîcheJuice and zest of 1 lemon1 teaspoon honey2 tablespoons whole grain mustard4-5 pieces bacon In an oven set to 375°F, cook bacon on a sheet pan until crispy. Remove from oven, and set one a rack over paper towels to drain. Peel the carrots, celeriac and apple. Julienne everything using a mandolin at 1/8 inch. Roughly chop radicchio, and then toss everything together in a large mixing bowl. In a separate small bowl, zest and juice the...
read moreSesame Chicken with Radicchio & Orange Salad
Serves 2. 2 navel oranges1 head Red Dog radicchio2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts3/4 cup sesame seeds1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste1/2 cup peanut oil, depending on the size of your pan1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil Assemble the salad: Halve the radicchio lengthwise. Cut out the core, then roughly chop. Add to a bowl. Peel the orange. To peel with a knife: cut the top and bottom off each orange. Stand on one end, then guide your knife from top to bottom, removing as little flesh as possible. Cut into thick rounds, then...
read moreA Brief History of Squash and Celeriac
It’s sort of strange to think of vegetables as not “always” having been the way that they are – that all of them began as some wild, sometimes unrecognizable version of what they are today, carefully (or, perhaps, recklessly) bred into the delicious treats we get to eat today. This week, I did a bit of research on two of our crops: squash and celeriac. I hope you enjoy. The first squash was cultivated about 8-10,000 years ago in modern-day Mexico. It is thought that their hard shells were initially used as utensils and containers before...
read morePumpkin Spice Pumpkin Seeds
2 cups raw pumpkin seeds (from 1 large Red Dog pumpkin)1/4 cup dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice Pinch of kosher salt Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Place the pumpkin seeds in a colander and rinse away all the pulp and stringy stuff. Spread the seeds out on a rimmed baking sheet and roast until dried out, 30 to 45 minutes. Toss the pumpkin seeds with the sugar, butter, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a medium bowl until evenly coated. Return the seeds to the baking...
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