Category Archives: Food

Co-Inky-Dinks (or Coincidences)

Posted on May 4, 2013 by AnnieRie

Last night I happened to open Twitter to see the Beard Foundation publication tweets coming fast and furious. Just in time to see a blog I have used to find venison recipes win the individual blog award. Hank Shaw writes this blog. You should check it out.

Hunter Angler Gardener Cook. This is one amazing blog if you are looking for food cooked well, from fresh ingredients. His fish and game recipes are my “go to first” recipes when I get something good at the markets. Or, that lovely venison.

Besides, where else can you find wild boar, bear, and um, squirrel recipes. Seriously. You should visit it and read some of his outside the box recipes. Including his veggie ones. Like the one with salsify.

We got salsify a year ago in our CSA. I have been looking for it ever since. I want to try this croquette. I made fritters the last time.

I just tried this mushroom recipe today. I will be reporting on the results when I finally get to taste them. I used my cremini from the CSA. Just enough to make a small jar.

Tomorrow I am heading over to Burtonsville to check out their new market. Orchard Breeze will be there. Maybe rabbit or duck will make its way to my menu, and I can use this great blog as inspiration. Who needs cookbooks when you can use great blogs?

hocofood@@@

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

Just Us Chickens …

Posted on May 3, 2013 by AnnieRie

… and other random thoughts on a Friday evening.

It is the beginning of chicken season out at England Acres. The first 100 were processed this week and by now may all be gone. If you want to try some really tasty chicken, try free range birds from the local farms. England Acres offers them every four weeks all summer.

The chickens range in size from four to six pounds. If you want to use them frozen, directly into the crock pot like I do, you need to take out that plastic bag with the giblets and heart, and take out the neck. Those pieces I use to make chicken stock. If you are going to grill or roast the chicken, just pop them right into the freezer and worry about that bag later.

Besides England Acres, other local farms also do chickens. TLV will have them at the markets. Breezy Willow gets them. Clark’s also has chickens in season. Of course, also, Maple Lawn has frozen turkey all year round, and fresh ones for Thanksgiving and Christmas. You can certainly eat naturally raised, farm fresh goodness from all over this area.

If you get the chance to head out to England Acres, say hi to the five little kids in the yard. They are happy for visitors and practically climb over each other to see you.

Other ramblings this weekend. The Sheep and Wool Festival is Saturday and Sunday. I hope to get there but we have guests coming both days. I know Breezy Willow will be there. They will be in the main exhibition hall.

The weather should be lovely all weekend. Markets are opening everywhere. I saw that Love Dove will be in Silver Spring Saturday. I will probably check out Burtonsville Sunday morning to see who goes there. Not that I really need anything, but I would love to find some ramps or fiddlehead ferns. I have never cooked with either of them. Asparagus should be here, and soon strawberries.

hocofood@@@

Grillin’ Chillin’ and Whatever

Posted on May 2, 2013 by AnnieRie

Puttering. Tweeting. Drinking. Planting.

What a lovely spring day. Warm, not humid. Perfect gardening weather. And, grilling weather.

We started out today pulling up black fabric and getting ready to till the garden. I also did some planting of herbs.

Two kinds of sage in the herb garden. Then, I checked out the chives. They are getting ready to blossom.

After pulling up the fabric and cleaning out the garden, it was time to chill. I made a simple punch. Ginger ale. Berries from the freezer. A splash of orange liqueur and light rum. Peach nectar. Served with the Chesapeake cheddar.

A couple of the TLV farm ribeyes on the grill with a side of asparagus and zucchini. My pesto from the freezer. A Breaux cellar selection syrah.

Later, a winechat on twitter with the vawine crowd. Viognier. Mine a 2012 from Breaux. Big and beautiful.

I know why we eat at home often. The food, the wine, the view.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in Food, Gardening, Locavore, Weather, Wine and tagged Food, foodie, gardening, Locavore, real food, weather, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

Early Bird CSA

Posted on May 1, 2013 by AnnieRie

Number 9. Number 9. Nine weeks in. Credits to the Beatles for the number nine inspiration. I really love going out to the farm to pick up my CSA share. The whole connection thing. Knowing the source of your food. Knowing the names of the people who run the share pick up site. Feeling like a person, and not a number (nine or otherwise).

We got:
3 ruby red grapefruit
1 eggplant (as you notice, missing, swapped for grapefruit)
1 pound kale
1 pound Brussels sprouts
1/2 pound crimini mushrooms
1 pound green beans
1 bunch huge spring onions
1/2 pound salad mix

I picked whole wheat bread, and the Breezy Willow eggs.

The tops of the onions already went into guacamole. Tonight’s appetizer.

Loving the Harris Teeter near us. I got some organic Haas avocados. And made some great guacamole.

Dinner a one pan baking deal.

Italian sausage, spinach, onion, zucchini, garlic, spring onions, seasoned salt, olive oil, chicken broth. Slow cooked in the oven. Served for dinner with the Great Harvest bread to mop up all that lovely sauce.

Doesn’t get much better.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in CSA, Food, Local Businesses, Locavore and tagged CSA, Food, foodie, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, value of CSA. Bookmark the permalink.

To Forage, To Forage

Posted on April 29, 2013 by AnnieRie

YES! YES! YES! The wild asparagus are back!

I wrote about them last year, when I got at least 40 or so spears of asparagus that keep coming up under my crepe myrtle. Saturday there was nothing there. Today. I found four spears in various lengths.

One white one buried in mulch. It will turn green as it emerges. Two more deep in the mulch although one looks a little ragged like something decided to chew on it. Maybe the bunnies.

Today’s rain was welcome as it is nourishing my garlic, my herbs, my greens and these wild plants. Oh, and the tulips. I am lucky that the animals ignore them. I guess having a yard with clover, dandelions, chick weed and whatever else out there keeps them happy and away from my flowers. As I have said often, I am loving spring time.\

hocofood@@@

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Posted in Food, Foraging, Gardening, Locavore, Nature, Weather and tagged Food, foodie, gardening, Locavore, spring flowers, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

To Market, To Market We Go

Posted on April 27, 2013 by AnnieRie

The markets are starting up all over the area. For those who love the farmer’s markets and the farm stands, the season is beginning. Howard County opens their markets on the 8th of May, at Miller Library. They should have their vendor lists up soon. Most of last year’s vendors will be back.

Besides these Howard County markets, if you live on the far edges of the county, there are new and existing markets just over those county lines. Like a new one in Burtonsville, just a few miles west of Rte. 29 on Rte. 198.

I haven’t checked this one out yet but I will be there soon. If you live in Fulton or Scaggsville in Howard County, this market is just across Rocky Gorge and a few miles up the road. Atwater’s will be there, and so will Orchard Breeze, where I get quite a bit of my pork products.

Of course, for those on the west edge of the county, there are markets in Mt. Airy and Olney, as well as our Glenwood Market. For those in Ellicott City or Elkridge, you also have Catonsville markets near you.

I can’t wait for the markets to open, because when they do, I almost completely subsist on market goods and products from local artisans. Avoiding those grocery stores all summer long.

Add to the markets the farm stands. I will be checking out the opening of the farm stands. Gorman, Baughers, soon should be getting early spring items.

As for my farm series, I still intend to review Gorman, Love Dove, Copper Penny, Bowling Green and Baughers. Maybe a few more. I am waiting to get their information once they open for the season.

Come on and join me. Take a pledge. Seven items bought weekly at any market(s). Essentially one item for each day of the week. Support your local farms and artisans by buying their products and incorporating them into your diet.

It’s easy. Items like honey, meats, eggs, greens, bread, jams, herbs, fruit.

We are lucky here. We have Great Harvest, Atwater’s, The Breadery, Bonaparte, Canela and Stone House, all making baked goods for us. We have many farms selling chicken, pork, lamb, beef, eggs and cheese.

If we all just buy a little every week from our farmers, we keep them solvent. Not everyone needs to join a CSA, but for the six months of markets, you can do much better than that tired old stuff in a grocery store.

hocofood@@@

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

Lovin’ the Springtime

Posted on April 26, 2013 by AnnieRie

Finally, we seem to have stumbled upon a true spring time. Lovely sunny low humidity days. Perfect for al fresco dining. No bugs. No wind. Looks like a bit more of this weather in store also. Today we opted for dining outside as much as possible, and also spent time on the yardwork.

First, a report on our impromptu lunch on the patio. Using CSA items mostly, but making my simple salad as a topping. CSA greens with some scallions, baby turnips and red cabbage. A couple of pieces of that mozzarella I made. One of those huge spicy peppery radishes, and half a Valencia orange. Add to it some homemade vinaigrette. The topping is my Tuscan inspired tuna.

In the little cup is a dollop of vanilla yogurt I picked up at Breezy Willow Wednesday, served with a few apricots and some frozen blackberries, left from my Larriland stash in the freezer.

Dinner is happily slow cooking in the oven, the last of the lasagne I made from my homemade sauce. Took it from freezer to oven. No fuss while we enjoy the weather in the back yard.

I can hear the tractors, my husband in the field and my neighbor in his yard. Doesn’t everyone park their tractor by the patio while taking a lunch break?

As for how things are developing in the flower and tree department. Azaleas really starting to flower.

This purple one is really full of blooms. Also having a banner year is my crab apple. Within a few days, this should be a vision in white.

Anything significant blooming in your space? Spring has definitely sprung in West Hoco.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in CSA, Food, Gardening, Nature, Weather, West HoCo and tagged azaleas, CSA, Food, gardening, hoco loco, nature, spring flowers, weather, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

Under the Weather

Posted on April 25, 2013 by AnnieRie

It never fails every spring, I pick up at least one cold while the weather keeps vacillating. Today after doing a fair amount of work in the gardens, I succumbed to that stuffy head, achy muscles and simply miserable feeling. Making me miss a hocobloggers get together at Xitomate. I judge a Mexican restaurant by their moles and their camarones dinners.

We will get there to try it with friends some night, just didn’t make it today. Besides, I can’t wait until they get to Turf Valley, much closer to our house.

Before crashing on the sofa with lemon water and rosemary crackers, I did get many of my herbs in the garden, and spent about an hour pulling up black fabric in the main veggie gardens. I will plant the tomatoes in three weeks, after the last chance of frost. Tell me, is there anything better than the scent of tomato plants?

They are all happy in the mudroom under the window facing east. As for the flowers outside, the dogwoods are blooming. The early azaleas too. I will be taking a trip to Brighton Dam tomorrow if I feel better to see what is happening there.

Yes, under the trees the dandelions are going nuts. So are all our other weeds, and the wild parsley that keeps the bunnies out of my herbs. Herbs planted and planned this year include blue sage, common sage, French tarragon, French thyme, African blue basil, marjoram and sweet basil. The chives and rosemary are coming back as well as that weed called mint. If you do nothing else, plant a few small pots of herbs. Thyme does very well around here.

As for the Thelma Sanders start from seed squash experiment, I ended up with one dozen plants from the saved seeds. Not a bad germination rate at all. There will be a section in the garden for the squash and cucumbers to hopefully happily coexist.

Finally, one last thing about locally sourced meats. We got half a lamb last week from England Acres. Twenty seven pounds. Dressed the way we wanted it. At a fraction of the cost of buying it at the store.

Next week is their first week for their chickens. Believe me, since there are none left in the freezer, I will be popping out to the farm for a couple.

I may be fighting a simple spring bug, but the weather and that beginning of growing season always gets me motivated to go out and enjoy my favorite time of year here in the midAtlantic.

hocofood@@@

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Posted in Food, Gardening, Howard County, Locavore, Nature, Restaurants, Weather, West HoCo and tagged azaleas, Food, gardening, heirloom tomatoes, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, nature, spring flowers, tomatoes, weather. Bookmark the permalink.

Early Bird CSA Week Eight

Posted on April 24, 2013 by AnnieRie

It was a lovely day out at the farm today for CSA pickup.

The addition to the farm store building is now our CSA pick up site. The smaller section is the store. Bigger, brighter, and filled with lots of great looking food. Plus, outside the animals were out sunning themselves and getting attention.

What did we get this week?

Two pounds of onions
Eight juice oranges
One bulb garlic
Two pounds zucchini
One pound spinach
Half pound salad greens
Three pounds sweet potatoes
One pound green beans
One bunch radishes

This week a non egg week. We had a choice of applesauce, cherry amaretto jam, or Monterey Jack cheese. I picked applesauce. And, a new bread for me. Already made my light dinner, tuna salad on it. My better half went off to a meeting and I was tired from running around in the sun at the Conservancy all morning, so made a salad and a sandwich. This bread is awesome!!!

I also nibbled on two of the radishes. I love fresh radishes dipped in a little seasoned salt. I see radishes in the swap boxes often, and don’t know why people dislike them. I love them, raw or baked or sliced on bread with butter and salt.

Eight weeks down, four to go. Breezy Willow continues to have a great mix of veggies. Perfect to pair things for recipes.

hocofood@@@

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Whey Out There!

Posted on April 23, 2013 by AnnieRie

OK! Mozzarella was a success.

Eight ounces of cheese, close to half a gallon of whey left over. Don’t throw it away!

Instead, make soup with it. All from the freezer and fridge. Potato corn chowder. Look into the crock pot. Frozen foods in it.

I dumped about two pounds of Yukon Gold CSA potatoes, boiled, sliced and frozen in October. And, about 10-12 ounces of sweet white corn from TLV, blanched and cut from the cob. The corn is the blob on the right bottom of the pot. All the whey in there.

Plus, green beans from the CSA. Turnips from East Rivendell (they buy wholesale from Lancaster Farm Fresh). Greens and turnips. Baby Hakurei turnips.

Added some scallions and carrots. Carrots from Breezy Willow. Scallions bought at England Acres when I picked up my half a lamb (another topic for later this week). Oh, and some of that bacon from TLV bought Saturday.

Popped some basil from my new plants in it. Some veggie blend from dried herbs. At some point, I fished out the potatoes and pureed them in the blender. Salt and pepper and garlic powder to taste. This came out very well. Rich satisfying soup.

Served with a salad medley. And, a lovely white wine from Linden.