Monthly Archives: October 2012

Eating the Rainbow

Posted on October 17, 2012 by AnnieRie

Eating by Color. An interesting book we discovered at Costco years ago. I use it all the time to find recipes from the CSA box.

Eating by Color, A Williams Sonoma Book

We first started paying attention to the types of fruits and veggies we should be eating, in order to control cholesterol, and get other health benefits. This book divides fruits and veggies into five color groups, and also includes a sixth group. That group is legumes, grains and nuts. Here is a link to a pdf file that includes the fruits and veggies only.

Today our lunch was a perfect example of eating most of the rainbow. Later in the post, I complete the rainbow at dinner.

Purple/blue, the first color, includes the blueberries in the dessert bread. Green shows up more than once, but is really present in the mixed greens in the soup. Because the apple was a green skinned apple, it is also included. White/tan, one of the choices that slows the absorption of cholesterol, shows up in the garlic and ginger in the soup. Red checks in via the chunky tomato sauce that I had made this summer and used in the soup. My chunky sauce also includes carrots, but not much, and onions, so orange and white make a tiny appearance in the soup via the sauce.

The black beans and the pistachios round out the legumes and nut category that the book includes. Again, nuts, legumes and whole grains help in our fight to avoid cancer.

Dinner completed the list. I tweaked my pumpkin hummus recipe to make it have a bit more zing, and made it again this afternoon. It includes the orange/yellow category with the pumpkin, and more legumes with the chickpeas, plus white/tan from the garlic.

pumpkin hummus

I happen to like the way the book assists me in using my CSA veggies and buying fruits to round out our diet. There are lots of other publications available on the web that outline good choices too. Like this one. Who doesn’t want to boost their immune system?

Oh yeah, the apple cider counts too. And, that glass of wine. Interesting, isn’t it?

Tomorrow is CSA day. I wonder what colors we will get this week.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in cookbooks, CSA, Food, Locavore, Real Food and tagged cooking, crockpot soups, CSA, Food, Locavore, real food, tomatoes. Bookmark the permalink.

A Typical Day at the Conservancy

Posted on October 16, 2012 by AnnieRie

Today I had an entertaining and interesting day at the Conservancy, with lots to see and do. After my first hike with the second graders, I had a slow group and got back after all the others had been assigned. But, that was good, because, I got to take pictures and record what naturalists do when we lead field trips. Today’s topic was “It’s Not Just Dirt”.

I checked out the students down at the soil pit. they were learning the layering of top soil. Seeing how things change as you go deeper into the soil.

They were also seeing the local “products” like black walnuts, that grow on trees in our region.

black walnuts

And, milkweed. A wondrous plant that attracts monarch butterflies. Our milkweed is splitting open and sending seeds over the land to hopefully land and create new plants in the future. We had students sending seeds aloft to float over the land to come to rest.

milkweed

We took them to the Master Gardeners historic gardens to show them what good soil will do. Like the wonderful greens in the salad table.

And, we taught them why good soil is important, and why compost is black gold.

The second graders loved their day in the grasslands, following naturalists around learning about what helps their favorite plants grow. This second grade, from Dayton Oaks, knew all about what grows around them. When asked, they knew carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, beans and fruit. Smart, aren’t they? They really enjoyed learning about science in a fun place. And, loved saying hi to Ranger, the owl.

When they were all done, after hand washing from the well water, they got to go off for a picnic lunch.

While I was out there, I caught at least a half dozen bluebirds wandering around looking for insects. These four on the fence were watching the ones on the ground. Stalking them was a little difficult.

Fall at the Conservancy. What could be better?

hocoblogs@@@

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Posted in Birds, Howard County, Nature, Volunteering, West HoCo and tagged hoco loco, Howard County, howard county conservancy, nature, volunteering, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

My Cyber Circles

Posted on October 15, 2012 by AnnieRie

I have been meaning to write a post about the three different circles where I travel in cyberspace, in other words, talk about my cohorts in posting. I started my blog in November 2011, mainly to document my CSA, and to learn how to use social media. Something we didn’t do all those years I worked for Uncle Sam. The Navy wasn’t keen on us using social media.

Now that I am retired and looking around to expand my circle of acquaintances I found this blog has triggered email correspondence, and in many cases, it has resulted in meeting people, as we do in the hocoblogs community.

I think we are due for another get together soon, as it has been awhile. Linking and reading each others’ posts is how I keep updated on what happens around here. Food, politics, social events and life in hoco in general. Plus, it got me into using facebook, and twitter, with connections made on both. Including Marshmallow Man and Gingerbread Girl.

The second circle is the locavore circle. I got into it, with a Dark Days Challenge, by attempting to find local meats, dairy, produce and staples during the down period when farmstands and farmer’s markets are not available. I learned that there is actually quite a bit around here in the county and surrounding Maryland counties, that make it easy to cook at least once a week using locally sourced items. My local resources page was built during that challenge.

Now, our group of ten women, who blogged all last winter, are continuing to read each others’ blogs, swap recipes, learn new techniques and keep in touch. The Soffrito, another hocoblogger, and I have met for coffee at the farmer’s markets and keep in touch by email. I have the list of all ten of us on my challenges page, and we have a file folder on the google reader, where we keep up with posts. Their blogs touch DC, VA, MD, SC, NC and TX. Rebecca at Eating Floyd is my source for learning to preserve foods. Emily at Sincerely Emily was our coordinator in last year’s challenge and kept us motivated throughout the long winter season. We intend to keep posting even if the Dark Days Challenge doesn’t materialize this winter.

SOUTHERN SOLE FOOD CHALLENGERS
AnnieRie Unplugged – me
Backyard Grocery Northern VA
Bumble Lush Garden near DC
Eat. Drink. Nourish. South Carolina
Eating Appalachia Blue Ridge VA
Eating Floyd Southwest VA
Family Foodie Survival Guide Northern VA
Sincerely, Emily Texas
The Soffritto right up the road in Woodstock
Windy City Vegan North Carolina

My third circle is the “What’s in the Box” circle. Started by Heather at In Her Chucks, this circle is the CSA and farmer’s market bloggers who link up weekly. I get a good source of information on what to do with strange new veggies, and have expanded my resources. Plus, In Her Chucks is a fun blog to read.

my CSA box

I almost feel like these blogging circles are the modern day equivalent of pen pals. I know that really dates me, to remember when we had pen pals and we, ***GASP***, sent snail mail, only we called them letters back then.

On November 2nd, my blog will be a year old. I am surprised that I still find enough to write about. Thankfully, there are lots of opportunities around here, and lots of inspiration. Thanks to the community here for linking us up, and spreading our thoughts around the area, and far beyond.

hocoblogs@@@

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Posted in Commentary, Community, Dark Days, Food, Howard County, Locavore, SSFC and tagged commentary, community, Dark Days Challenge, farmer's markets, Food, hoco loco, hocoblogging, Howard County, Locavore. Bookmark the permalink.

Running in Circles

Posted on October 13, 2012 by AnnieRie

Today I am spending all my time running around. When you live in West County, you tend to bunch up your errands. Add to that, our home Internet crashed, and the service call isn’t until Monday.

It makes for a full day. I do want to get out to at least one of the farms to finish getting the gourds and other fall decorations.

Maybe to Larriland. Or, Sharp’s. Or TLV. They all have big goings on. I want to see if anyone has walnuts or maybe chestnuts like we got from Love Dove. I also want a few small pumpkins to decorate, not like my cooking ones

Long Island Cheese Pumpkin

Aside from everything going on, I am finding it to be a pain to use the app, instead of having full access to my blog tools. I really do not know how people type on phones. Even my iPad drives me nuts sometimes.

Hopefully, my other drafts survive until I get Internet back. Off now to hit the farms and then Boarman’s, if I make it in time. Then, trying to get a post up using an iPhone.

Eating Locally: International Week

Posted on October 13, 2012 by AnnieRie

This week is an international themed week with my circle of Southern SOLE Food Challengers. I made a crock pot soup yesterday that will feed us for a few days. It is based on my favorite Caribbean style spicy black bean soup, but as usual, going off into Use Up the CSA direction.

Here is the recipe that I used. Open two 15 ounce cans of organic black beans and put in crock pot with at least the equal amount of chunky tomato sauce. I used my homemade version from my garden tomatoes. I put them in right from the freezer. That is the base.

Here is where I deviate. I added all the CSA greens I had from a week ago. Kale, chard, curly endive and green leaf lettuce. This filled my crock pot to the rim, but it will cook way down. I added a splash of olive oil and a splash of balsamic. I grated three garlic cloves and a healthy amount of ginger into it.

I had an andouille sausage in the freezer from an earlier trip to the farmer’s market in Silver Spring. I cut it up into small pieces. Then, added a healthy dose of sriracha sauce. Jerk seasoning would work, as well. A large pinch of salt and some cayenne.

Let it cook on high for at least four hours. It will be served with dinner tonight, as I like my soups to age a day before I serve them. I will open a bottle of Linden Rosé’ but a good local beer will also work.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in CSA, Food, Locavore, SSFC and tagged CSA, Food, foodie, gardening, Locavore. Bookmark the permalink.

Winterizing …

Posted on October 12, 2012 by AnnieRie

… And a potato overload. Today will see our first freeze warning so I was busy covering plants. Plus, harvesting rosemary to dry.

I figured I could make some of the overload of potatoes as well.

Tonight there will be rosemary roasted potatoes on the menu.

I always have mixed feelings at the first freeze. Winter is coming, but that first freeze makes the leaves turn. The maple trees are always dramatic not long after we see freezing night temperatures. Add to that, it is the beginning of all the fall foliage events.

Back to covering my good plants. We will see how long they last.

Week 23 of the CSA with Cute Vegetables

Posted on October 11, 2012 by AnnieRie

Yep, cute. Like this Japanese sweet potato.

Japanese sweet potato

Or, how about these adorable popcorn ears?

Lady Finger Popcorn

The list:
1 Head White Cauliflower
1 Bulb Fennel
1 Bunch Purple Carrots
1 Head Green Cabbage
1 Bunch Collards
1 Bunch Daikon Radishes
2 Delicata Squash
1 bunch Lady Finger Popcorn
1 Bag Japanese Sweet Potatoes
1 Head Green Romaine Lettuce
1 Bunch Cilantro

Sandy Spring CSA Week 23 2012

You will notice there is no cilantro there. And, yes, there is another cheese pumpkin. Last week I ended up making hummus as I didn’t have evaporated milk. Since there was a pumpkin in the swap box, I grabbed it and will finally make that pumpkin custard pie, now that I remembered to buy evaporated milk at Harris Teeter.

We have been eating out too many times, and the greens are piling up. I may finally have to start making smoothies. Tonight at least I stir fried some greens, the last of the bok choy and added some daikon. Chicken also. No pictures as it was pretty basic looking. Just stir fry greens, onions, garlic, ginger, water chestnuts and add shredded chicken. Sesame oil to finish. Good stuff.

hocofood@@@

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Savoring That Killer Dill

Posted on October 11, 2012 by AnnieRie

Yep, the monster stealth cucumbers. Two of the last. I tried an experiment with them, and it seems to have worked. The one from July and another from August, both started out in the crock, but I moved them into their own large container with a fresh batch of dill pickling spices.

monster dill pickle

This one, found in August, was hard and white, so it really crisped up in the pickling spices. The other one, pictured in my July post about the garden, had higher moisture and developed differently. Lots of taste but no real crunch.

sliced open dill pickle

The rest of the little pickles were taken out of the crock a while back, and put into jars sealed with a hot water bath. They are in the fridge, three of them, to use in the next few months. I keep them in the fridge because they seem to remain crisp that way.

I bought two crocks this summer in Ohio at Zanesville Pottery. One for sauerkraut and one for pickles.

my bluebird crock looks like this

They are put away waiting for my first cabbage in the CSA, which according to the email that just arrived, will be today. Talk about timing. I need to unpack and set up the kraut crock, which is a two gallon crock. There will be posts in the near future to see how I make this year’s kraut. I want to do a few batches so I can bring homemade kraut to Thanksgiving dinner.

making sauerkraut

Now, I need to find recipes for the delicata squash and the daikons coming today. The CSA post with pictures will be up later today. Off to pick it up soon.

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Posted in CSA, Food, Gardening, Locavore and tagged cooking, CSA, Food, foodie, gardening, Locavore. Bookmark the permalink.

Work Outside Wednesday

Posted on October 10, 2012 by AnnieRie

Turns out that today was one of those lovely days. Warm, sunny. Perfect day to plant garlic. Half of it went into flower pots on the deck. The upper pots had flowers. The two lower ones were mint, which will stay there since mint is a perennial (or weed, depending on your perspective).

container garlic

I planted 12 cloves in the pots, and then moved over to a south facing area in the flower beds. Since garlic will be done by early June, I can leave it there and put something else in the ground once the garlic is harvested.

Another 12 cloves here. With the potential for 24 head of garlic next spring, we will be set, including those lovely scapes that I use for pesto.

I noticed that we have killer puffball mushrooms on the lawn, and something is definitely chowing down on them. Don’t know if they are edible or not. Whatever is eating them keeps coming back, as every day they are chewed down. But then, we do have a fair number of turkey vultures wandering around. Maybe whatever ate the mushrooms is in our field.

puffball mushrooms

The marigolds won’t quit. There is one bush that keeps getting larger and pumping out more plants.

marigolds

The lavender is still awesome, as is the rosemary. The thyme continues to grow. I cross my fingers and let them get bigger, waiting for that perfect moment to harvest and dry.

Tomorrow is CSA day, but it also will be work day two this week, as we really need to tackle the power washing of our garage doors. They are getting quite a bit of wear, and they need a good fall cleaning.

At least while working outside we are graced with the explosion of yellow mums. It is interesting though, the orange ones that were also out front, seem to have disappeared. These are great, though.

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Posted in Food, Gardening, Hobbies, Nature, Weather, West HoCo and tagged Food, foodie, gardening, hobbies, hoco loco, nature, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Cooking With Gas

Posted on October 9, 2012 by AnnieRie

The grill kind. I wish we had gas for heat and cooking, but we don’t. So, I insisted. A really good grill. Besides, when the power goes out, I have the grill with a side burner.

the gas grill, in all its glory

It was cheaper to get me a good grill, than to run a gas line over a hundred yards to our house, then do the massive renovations to get gas heat and a gas stovetop. We grill mostly in spring and fall. Summer it gets just too hot and humid to stand over the grill. Today I wanted to check out the grill and make some sausage. I first had to clean out the inside as the field mice (or chipmunks) keep bringing things into the side burner.

Today it was peanuts and bird seed. Thankfully, the leaf blower cleans it out quickly. In winter, if we don’t use the grill, the mice build nests in it. We now know to use it often when the weather warms up a bit. Tonight I had some PA market Berkshire hog sausage.

I also made corn on the cob, and grilled up some naan to serve with pumpkin hummus.

Yes, you heard it correctly. Pumpkin hummus. Simple recipe. Roast a cheese pumpkin.

Blend the pumpkin (about a pound of it) with a can of chickpeas and two garlic cloves. Add lemon juice, 2 tbsp. A neutral oil like grapeseed, 2 tbsp. Spices like garam masala, or cumin, about 1 tbsp. A pinch of nutmeg and of cinnamon. I used sriracha to add some heat. A few dots of it. It came out really smooth, yet with a hint of heat. If you want it hotter, add more garlic and more pepper.

It ended up a bit too cold to eat outside, so we brought our picnic indoors. Sausage, naan, hummus and corn. And, a lovely VGV from Black Ankle. The pan holds some melted butter with garam masala, for the corn. VGV is a Viognier and Gruner Veltliner blend.