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CSA share: week 11

February 12, 2010 by marian33031

CSA share: week 11

Posted in Uncategorized |

One potato, two potato

February 10, 2010 by marian33031

Potato heaven

Robert Barnum called the other day to tell me about his preps for the upcoming Potato Pandemonium dinner. He has two refrigerators bulging with potatoes, both the one in the kitchen and the one on the front porch. Not everybody has a frig on the front porch brimming with spuds, so this I had to see for myself. Yup, the porch frig held at least four onion sacks stuffed with spuds, and the kitchen frig held another two full sacks.

The kitchen table held an overflow of potatoes in several buckets, which were sorted by shape and color — dark skinned that look purplish-blue-black inside, red skinned that are red inside, golden ones, and delicate fingerling potatoes. Not sure how many pounds that adds up to, but it looks like it should be enough for 30 guests. Robert explained the spuds were gleaned from a nearby field. There’s nothing wrong with the tubers; they’re perfectly good to eat, and would otherwise be plowed under.

Multicolor chips just out of the fry pot

Robert mentioned he browsed through his extensive collection of cook books for inspiration, but the actual dish will be his version. “All these recipes come out of my head,” he explained. “Some of these have never been done, or done the way I plan to do it.” He offered a test batch of Potato Salad with Carambola Relish, which had a tropical and tangy dressing, no typical mayo here. Bubbling in a pot of oil were Multicolored Chips, and sure enough some potatoes are really red inside, looked like small chioggia beets. Ultimately each dish will be interpreted with his signature flair — tropical ingredients straight from his grove, and food cooked over a wood fired grill.

If you’ve never been out to Possum Trot Tropical Fruit Nursery, it’s a unique corner of Redland, not to be missed. Intrigued? Here’s the link to register for the Pandemonium.

Posted in agritourism, chef, events, food, photo, vegetables | Tagged , , | 4 Comments »

Cooking classes with Hani Khouri

February 10, 2010 by marian33031

Hani Khouri of Redland Mediterranean Organics and Sous Chef 2 Go announce the start of their cooking classes at Sous Chef 2 Go location in the Greenery Mall in Kendall.

The first series of three classes begins on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. The objective of the classes is to: increase cooking skills, develop a healthier lifestyle, and learn to budget food better. You will also enjoy the fruits of your labor!

The fees for the series include all class ingredients and food. Wine and other beverages will be provided and are included in the cost. Series fee: $400. Book early, as each series is limited to 10 people.

Make your reservations online at Sous Chef 2 Go then click on 1st 2010 Cooking Classes, or register in person at the store. Hours are Monday – Saturday 9 am – 8 pm.

Cooking Classes

Cooking Basics (2 sessions)

Basic cooking utensils
1) Measuring cups/spoons, timer, thermometer, strainer, pastry brushes
2) Mixing bowl/mixing spoon, wire whisk, rubber scraper, spatula, tongs,
3) Rolling pin, paring knife, French knife, turner, cutting board,

Basic cooking terminology
1) Boil, beat, chop, core, cream, cut in, fold, grate, grease, knead
2) Pare, sauté, simmer, stir, toss

Tricks of the trade-substitutions
1) Allspice, baking powder, honey, milk, sugar
2) Spices, herbs

Food Safety
1) Personal hygiene
2) Adequate temperature control
3) Cross contamination
4) Proper final cooking temperature

Food Preparation (2 sessions)

Cooking organic
1) What is organic?
2) Where and how to buy
3) Meal preparation

Mediterranean culinary basics
1) Salads – tabouleh, fattoush
2) Dips – hommos, baba ghanouj
3) Grape leaves, kibbeh

Sous Chef 2 Go, “Recipe in a bag” demonstrations

Fresh falafel making

Location:

Sous Chef 2 Go
7758 SW 88 St.
Miami, FL, 33156
305.595.8010 or contact@souschef2go.com

Posted in chef, food | Tagged , , , |

In a pickle

February 9, 2010 by marian33031

French breakfast radishes pickling in brine.

Overwhelmed by the amount of radishes that you’ve been seeing in your CSA box? Couldn’t possibly eat them all right away? Pickle them! I didn’t know you could make brine pickles with radishes until I saw a giant jar on top of the barn refrigerator. Thanks to farm intern Jamie for telling me how the pickles were made. Haven’t tried the recipe yet but it looks simple enough. These radishes would be a tasty addition to a meat and cheese sandwich.

Brine-cured pickled radishes

Brine is 1 tbsp. pickling salt to 1 qt. water
cut up or whole radishes
several whole cloves of peeled garlic
several branches of dill

Wash and trim radishes. Wash and chop dill. Put them in a jar along with peeled garlic. Mix up brine and pour over radish mix until just covered. Fill any air space at the top with a plastic bag full of water. It also acts as a weight to hold the radishes down. Cover mouth of the jar with a coffee filter kept in place with string or elastic. Let the pickles sit undisturbed for at least 3 to 5 days. Test the pickles after 5 days, may want to ferment them longer. When they are to your liking, move the jar to chill in the refrigerator. The pickles will keep for several months.

Posted in food, photo, recipe, vegetables | Tagged , | 5 Comments »

Help support local agriculture

February 8, 2010 by marian33031

Some of you buy local produce through the CSA and others drop by the farmers market on Sunday. But there’s still a lot more that local growers could do to get their fruits and veggies to your table, or you to their table!

Farmer Margie has written about three ordinances up for a second reading on Tuesday Feb. 9th at 2 pm, before the Miami-Dade County Commission’s Budget, Planning and Sustainability Committee headed by Commissioner Katy Sorenson. One proposed ordinance would allow for B&B’s in the farm area, one would allow growers to process products that they grow (making dried fruit or ice cream, for example), and one would allow building a distillery to make spirits from local fruits. Click over to the Bee Heaven Farm’s blog for more info.

Read the full agenda for the Committee meeting here. (The link posted on the BHF blog doesn’t work.) You can also download pdf’s of the proposed ordinances from that web page. Don’t forget to contact Commissioner Sorenson at District8@miamidade.gov or (305) 375-5218 to give her your support on these ordinances. They are scheduled to come up for a final vote before the full commission sometime in April.

Posted in agritourism, politics | Tagged , | 1 Comment »

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