Category Archives: Food

Just Us Chickens

Posted on April 11, 2014 by AnnieRie

The total chicken post. For whatever reason we just have chickens everywhere we look. Watching the girls run around England Acres (and getting to feed them, if you want).

Or, how about the tour tomorrow. See the Conservancy web site, if you want to join us. After all, chickens are immensely interesting.

The baby chicks at Tractor Supply. I always get inspired and want to buy some and get a coop, but then we just “chicken out” for some reason. While we were there last week, I wanted to take a few pictures of the adorable chicks but they prohibit picture taking.

The joys of free range chicken eggs. The colors. You don’t need to dye these eggs for Easter. They already are amazing in color and designs.

Who can resist the lure of these fresh eggs, with so much flavor.

#hocofood

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Posted in Birds, Farms, Food, Howard County, Real Food and tagged chickens, farms, Food, Howard County, howard county conservancy, real food. Bookmark the permalink.

If It’s Thursday …

Posted on April 10, 2014 by AnnieRie

… it must be market day.

Or maybe I should say basket day. Three months ago I decided to try out Friends and Farms, until the spring CSA starts up. Turns out I really like the variety of protein and the surprises like this one.

That would be the buttermilk. Back when I started with the CSA I enjoyed the challenge of cooking with new vegetables. Now, we get grains, beans, polenta, monkfish, and other items that aren’t on my normal shopping list. It makes me think outside that rut filled box (mixing metaphors here) that we all fall into. Cooking in our comfort zone.

Looking ahead, next week is a doozy. Catfish and grits.

This week, bangers and mash.

Along with the suggested chicken and waffles. Since I don’t have a waffle maker, I am considering scones or cornbread. Or maybe blueberry pancakes using up some of my Larriland berries from the freezer.

This week we are slowly moving into springtime. With my favorite tomatoes other than those I grow.

Hummingbird Farms hydroponic tomatoes. Grown on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

This week’s basket was huge.

I had to use the wide angle setting. And this is a small basket.

We got edamame. That was a bonus. Spring greens. A mess of collard greens. Those tomatoes. Potatoes. Apples. Pea shoots. Onions. The bangers. Chicken. Breakfast sausage. I got yogurt for the eggs, and eggs for the milk. My standard switch. Grains Galore bread from the Breadery.

So far, it has been easy to use up the protein. The dairy, a little harder. The frozen items I occasionally forget to make, but I do get to them. We love the edamame as an appetizer.

So, today, I hit Wegmans for some tuna. Grilled it with the potatoes. Made a great salad using some spring mix, pea shoots, the last of the cucumbers from an earlier basket.

I mean, after all, it is springtime and the weather just invited grilling. Since it may rain tomorrow, I am thinking it will be banger and mash night.

#hocofood

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Posted in Food, Friends and Farms, Locavore, Real Food, Weather and tagged cooking, CSA, Food, foodie, Locavore, tomatoes, weather, wegman's. Bookmark the permalink.

How To Forget About Winter

Posted on April 9, 2014 by AnnieRie

Winter? What Winter? How quickly we forget about winter when the temperatures start to rise and the sun comes out.

We spent two hours putting in the first row of the spring garden. Tilling. Planting kale and Swiss chard seeds and white onion sets.

After a scheduled community garden member trip to select spring plugs and seedlings from Sharps coming up, we will finish the planting and put in the row cover. Best to keep the bunnies from noshing on those tender greens.

Big difference from a few weeks back when the snow was on the ground.

Today while we were out at the Conservancy, there were four busloads of school children doing service learning. At least six different plot holders were planting, tilling, building raised bed boxes and just flat out enjoying the warmth of the spring sun.

We stopped for a snowball before heading home. The first snowball of the season is always a treat. Spearmint with marshmallow. Our traditional favorite.

The next week looks to be filled with those days that make me stay here in Maryland. The perfect spring days. Cherry blossoms are popping out. Forsythia is starting to bloom. I will have daffodils within the next two or three days. Followed by the hyacinths and the tulips.

Add to that the Coop to Coop tour this Saturday. I also should head out to England Acres and pick up a few petite filets to grill. Or maybe that last package of venison tenderloin from the freezer. Or the first kofta of the season. The possibilities are endless.

Putting away the soup pot and getting out the spices.

Oh yeah, as I said, Winter? What winter?

#hocofood

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Posted in Farms, Food, Gardening, Hobbies, Locavore, Weather and tagged cooking, farms, Food, foodie, howard county conservancy, Locavore, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Gardening Update

Posted on April 8, 2014 by AnnieRie

My first spring garden is well underway. Since we decided to go the route of joining the community gardens and buying row cover and hoops to construct a “low tunnel”, we will be planting and harvesting vegetables that I didn’t do in our yard.

The PVC hoops are the bigger version of what we will be doing. We are using a steel hoop that digs into the ground. The lightweight row cover in the foreground above mainly protects against frost, but is a deterrent for rabbits and other pests. We bought a heavier weight cover, which is a little more resistant and not prone to tearing in high winds.

Over the next few days we will be tilling a 3′ by 20′ row, then putting newspaper under the soil conditioners and mounding the amended soil above it. We will then insert the hoops along the row and fasten the cover.

Our plot has a drip irrigation system that we have to hook up to use for watering, so I don’t have to remove the cover to water.

Over the next couple of days, we will also be buying onion sets, some rhubarb plants, and I think I might venture into trying some horseradish root. There will be kale, mesclun, arugula and Swiss chard.

I think that’s enough for right now. I intend to plant three rows for the summer garden. One totally tomatoes. One peppers, edamame, eggplant and tomatillos. Lots of herbs. Some pole beans and the Malabar spinach. Crossing my fingers for a productive summer.

On the home front, an expanded herb garden, with parsley, dill, cilantro, chives, sage and basil. Planting potatoes too. And later this summer, trying a few fall pumpkin vines. Hey, why not experiment?

Plus, I need to get these plants out of my kitchen. They are out of control.

#hocofood

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Posted in Food, Gardening, Weather and tagged Food, gardening, hobbies, tomatoes, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Farmers Market Updates

Posted on April 7, 2014 by AnnieRie

Farmers Market spring season officially kicks off in our area this weekend. Burtonsville Milk Lady Market on Rte. 198 west of US29 and East of MD 97 opens Sunday April 13th at 10 am.

This market, new last year, has a few of my favorite vendors and I head there occasionally to get some treats and pick up some excellent meats from Orchard Breeze.

Orchard Breeze also comes to Olney. They were there in the winter and will be back, I assume, when Olney opens on Mother’s Day.

I usually search for what is happening in the local food world here in Maryland using Maryland’s Best web site. Click on the Find Me Local tab and put in your zip code. I chose to search for Farmer’s Markets within 20 miles of my house and it came up with 45. Not 100% accurate yet for this year, but it is updated regularly.

For example, it still shows markets at Glenwood and East Columbia, both of which have been removed from the Howard County Farmer’s Market web site.

I do know there will be a new Saturday market in Ellicott City. Haven’t heard of vendors yet, although Breezy Willow did tell those of us who follow them on Facebook that they will be there.

In my spring searching for flowers, herbs and vegetables (the planting kind), I generally hit the local markets to get seedlings and small pots of plants.

Many of my herbs came from Glenwood and East Columbia courtesy of Tomatoes Etc and Greenway Farms. They had some unique varietals that I like to plant.

The three remaining Howard County markets, Wednesday at Miller Library, Friday at HoCoGeneralHospital, and Sunday in Oakland Mills will open the first week in May.

The Wednesday morning Catonsville market opens in May also. I know Atwaters Bakery sells at that one. I call it my free parking location to pick up some of their specialties without having to feed the meters or find parking on Frederick Road at the bakery/café.

With my Friends and Farms basket, and (crossing my fingers) my CSA starting back up in May, the markets are my filler. Which means little or no shopping at grocery stores.

Eating seasonally and supporting local vendors is important to me. I find the opening of the spring markets that sure sign of the change in the weather.

There will be reports and updates as I find out more about this year’s vendors at the local markets.

#hocofood

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Posted in Farmer's Markets, Farms, Food, Locavore and tagged farmer's markets, Food, local businesses, Locavore. Bookmark the permalink.

Diggin’ The Garden

Posted on April 5, 2014 by AnnieRie

At long last, a day to get outside and start working on the gardening. But, that wind chill made it a bit hard to get lots done.

I spent most of today out at the Community Gardens. The Food Bank plot team was preparing the double plot for spring plantings. I have started cilantro from seed, in my garage window, and will be donating some of those plants for the herb site there.

I was there today to assist in the row cover sale and orders.

We were over in the restored Montjoy barn today. Trying to stay out of the wind. Cutting and folding row cover and selling hoops for low rows. We are going to put in one row so that is next week’s project, if we get the ground dry enough to till. I would like to start some spring plants there.

Monday I am off to Sharp’s to return the unused thin version of the row cover, and the last of the hoops. Sharp’s Waterford Farm on Jennings Chapel Road is a great supporter of local businesses and garden clubs all over the area. They open for business on April 22nd this year.

And, yes, spring is officially here. That would be evident as it was opening day at the Woodstock Snowball Stand. A little cold for snowballs, but such a welcome sight.

So, Howard Countians. Get out there! Plant a few herbs. Take a ride and get a snowball. Spring is definitely here.

#hocoblogs

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Posted in Community, Farms, Food, Gardening, Howard County, Local Businesses, Volunteering, Weather, West HoCo and tagged community, farms, Food, gardening, Howard County, howard county conservancy, local businesses, volunteering, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Carpe Java

Posted on April 3, 2014 by AnnieRie

Seize the Coffee. Some days I feel I need that kick to get started.

Thanks, Iron Bridge for the awesome coffee cups. Today was a bit dreary, but yet warm enough to feel like spring really may be coming.

Highlights: picking up the Friends and Farms basket.

And, heading up to the community garden to plant a few garlic chives.

I keep searching for the signs of spring in the yard, and they are getting closer.

As for the basket, those hamburger patties just scream “Fire up the grill!”.

The cod is destined for a fish and chips dinner. More on that later this weekend.

There were the usual eggs. Some nice looking Colby cheese. Cremini mushrooms. Apples, potatoes, kale, Bibb lettuce and carrots. Frozen broccoli and squash puree.

AND POPCORN.

I love getting popcorn. So much fun to make. There will be fancy popcorn while watching the final four this weekend.

Getting into that spring mood now. The garden will be coming soon. The grill is up and running. One more day of rain, and then a lovely weekend.

#hocofood

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Posted in CSA, Food, Friends and Farms, Gardening, Locavore, Real Food, Weather and tagged CSA, Food, foodie, gardening, local businesses, Locavore, real food, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Buyer Be Aware

Posted on April 2, 2014 by AnnieRie

Words of wisdom when using a new supplier or visiting a new market. In our case, making assumptions without due diligence.

We are pretty good about checking the source of our food. I read the labels religiously, and remember most of the time to ask questions. Still, I make those little mistakes. Mostly though, my little mistakes aren’t life threatening.

I did learn something new the other day while browsing a recipe comment file. Not all the butter I have been buying is “just butter”. Some of them include “natural flavoring”. From what I can ascertain, many butter makers include “flavoring” which actually is being used to enhance the color of the butter.

I bought Amish roll butter at Shrewsbury last week. It is not the same as the fresh roll butter we saw at Manheim yesterday. Not a bad product from Shrewsbury but one I won’t buy again. Because it has the additives that make me sneeze

My Trickling Springs butters are nothing but “Sweet Cream”.

Check out the butter you normally buy. See if has any additives. I have learned, through my allergies, when there are additives in my food.

That’s why I prefer buying more and more from local sources, or from small farms and artisans. I can ask the questions I want and get information.

Spring is coming. Soon, the local markets will be opening. Howard County markets are producer only. Around us, you could be seeing items that aren’t sourced locally. Yesterday it was obvious that the outdoor vendors with items like pomegranates and bananas were selling what they bought wholesale, and not locally sourced.

Not that it is bad, just that knowing what we are getting is important to some of us. And, we certainly love the quality items we find at our local stores and markets.

#hocofood

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Posted in Farmer's Markets, Food, Local Businesses, Locavore and tagged cooking, farmer's markets, Food, foodie, local businesses, Locavore, real food. Bookmark the permalink.

All Markets Are Not Created Equal

Posted on April 1, 2014 by AnnieRie

Some of them are truly awesome.

Like the market in Manheim Pa. We have been there once before, in the winter. Today, with great temperatures and lots of sunshine, we headed back north to look for a few things, and to enjoy the early spring weather.

I wish we had a market with 89 years of history. What started as a poultry market has evolved into a huge 200+ vendor flea market, auction, produce market and all around interesting slice of Americana.

You can still attend the poultry auction as well as a produce, flower, and shrub auction every Tuesday, year round. About 100 minutes away from Columbia. A good destination. Particularly for things like this.

That’s my pit beef sandwich from Hess BBQ.

When we were here a few months back, the outdoor vendors were closed. Today, vendors and flea market stalls were hopping.

I did end up buying a few Time Life Foods of the World books, on Middle Eastern and Latin American cooking, for a buck each, out on the flea market sites.

I almost splurged on the asparagus.

Yes, I know many of the vendors bring things up from the South, or even use wholesalers, but still, fresh produce is so great to see.

And, yes, I found some oatmeal raisin cookies, chewy, fresh baked.

Want to take a day trip and have market envy? Head up I-83 and east on US 30, then northeast to Manheim.

And wish we had something this much fun around here.

#hocofood

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Posted in Adventures, Day Trips, Farmer's Markets, Farms, Food, Weather and tagged day trips, farmer's markets, farms, Food, foodie, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Farm Kitchen Soup

Posted on March 30, 2014 by AnnieRie

The weather turned wet and blustery today so we wanted soup for lunch.

Soup made from whatever I had hanging around in the kitchen. A leftover chicken thigh with rice. Some corn, green beans and chicken stock from the freezer. The last handful of sugar snap peas.

It reminds me of the stories we shared with some other volunteers out at the Conservancy. Where there was always a pot of soup hanging above the fireplace by a hook, in the farm kitchen. Leftovers from the family style dinners got dumped in the pot. There was always hot soup for the farm hands and the family when they came in from working.

This soup turned out to be very good. No recipes. No measuring. Just a slow simmer.

After all, around here, winter won’t go away, it seems. It poured all day today with rain, then turned to snow.

This afternoon, a river in the yard.

This evening. So far, close to two inches of snow on the ground, with a possibility of more.

Days like this, being able to make a hearty tasty soup is a skill I am glad I developed.

Don’t give up on leftovers. Freeze little bags of veggies, and make extra rice and freeze it. Plus, freeze lots of pint and quart jars of chicken stock.

Reminds me of what all those resourceful farmers did. Oh, and I need to defrost and roast a chicken this week, and “stock” up on my stock.

#hocofood

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Posted in Food, Foraging, Weather and tagged cooking, Food, real food, weather. Bookmark the permalink.