Potatoes and Ski Goggles
I hope you are all ready to come to the picnic this Sunday here on the farm at 2 p.m. We're looking forward to seeing you all and letting you see the fields and crops we've talked about all season. Be sure to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit and enjoy the music of the Franklin Square Pickers! We'll have hot dogs, veggie dogs and drinks. The extreme heat was too much for the pumpkins, but we will have small pumpkins for the children to choose from the "pumpkin patch" hayride. Bring chips, cookies or a "finger food" to share with everyone and stay as long as you like! Hopefully, the weather will be nice. Wouldn't it be ironic to have rain after we have been void of it all year?
Here it is mid October and we still have the same weather pattern that we had mid summer. Monday we dug the rest of the sweet potato crop. We had dug part of the field several weeks ago and decided to give the remaining rows more time to grow. Unfortunately, the rain never came to help with that process, but the deer did. Without much vegetation, the deer found their food source by pawing the ground and digging the sweet potatoes for their evening meals. Of course, even when there is a lot of green vegetation around, they would still be drawn to one of their favorite foods-they Love sweet potatoes! So Monday, since our son Eric was in for a visit and could help the digging was on! Keep in mind that we have had only 2 and 7/10 inches of rain since May! The machine used for digging allows up to 8 people to ride while the potatoes are brought up a chain conveyor where they are taken off the conveyor and put into boxes. This act of digging the soil, the chain shaking any loose soil to separate the potatoes creates a tremendous amount of dust! It wasn't long before everyone was covered; eyes were filled with dust making it almost impossible to distinguish the good potatoes from those half eaten by the deer. Our son Hank, having recently moved from Boston where he snow skied in the mountains quite often, decided to put his equipment to use. A short jaunt to the house brought a new use of ski goggles. What a sight to behold! A dust covered crew wearing ski goggles and masks with a cloud of brown snow (oops, I mean dust) enveloping the machine and occupants. It wasn't quite the use Hank had in mind for the once recreational equipment, but when nature gives you lemons, make lemonade; when it gives you dust like a snowstorm, bring out the ski goggles!
Cindy
This week you will enjoy:
Purple Peppers
Bell Peppers
Turnip Greens
Red Russian Kale
Zucchini
Sweet Potatoes
Butternut Squash
Cucumber
Eggplant
Drive safely and we'll see you all tomorrow!
Recipes Are Below...
Red Kale with Grated Coconut
One bunch red kale, chopped fine
1 green onion, chopped fine
Garlic: one or two cloves, chopped fine
Ginger: half an inch cube - chopped fine
Green chillies: 1 to 4 chopped
Coconut, dried, shredded: 3 tablespoons
1 half large onion, chopped fine
2-3 teaspoons oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mustard seed
¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
Directions:
Cumin seeds: pinch
Heat oil over medium heat in a shallow non-stick frying pan, Add mustard seeds and green onion. When green onion starts turning brown, put the onions, ginger, garlic, salt, cumin seeds, coconut, and turmeric powder. Stir until the onion wilts just a little. Stir in the kale, mix it well and reduce heat slightly. Keep the pan uncovered. Stir occasionally until moisture is gone.
Kale and Potato Soup
1 bunch of kale
2 pounds boiling potatoes
1 teaspoon salt
2 quarts boiling water
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
- Remove the stems from the kale, wash and cut up leaves.
- Peel the potatoes and chop them up very fine.
- Bring the water to a boil with the salt. Add the chopped potatoes, return to a boil, and cook, covered until tender.
- Add the kale and cook 2 minutes more.
- Adjust the salt and pepper to taste.
