Category Archives: Local Businesses

A Perfect Place for a Winter Hike

Posted on January 29, 2013 by AnnieRie

We went hiking today. In perfect weather. We were shedding vests and jackets and loving the temperatures that climbed into the 60s this afternoon. All the snow has melted. Except for a few places where the sun doesn’t touch. Out at the Howard County Conservancy, our last winter hike took place this morning.

The strollers got to find the first skunk cabbage up near the East Branch on the Conservancy grounds. Also found a few last milkweed pods. And listened to the woodpeckers up in the trees.

The other “fitness hikers” took off behind Ann, their leader to find the champion tulip poplar on the property. There is a geocache located there for those into discovery using the GPS units.

We watched them coming down the hills on their way back to the Conservancy.

The birds were out in force today, flitting from trees to bushes. I startled half a dozen bluebirds, some Carolina wrens, lots of sparrows, a few woodpeckers and nuthatches. We heard the pileated woodpeckers but couldn’t find them. They were hiding, not coming to visit like they did for me last November.

After our hike, we went to hear Ned Tillman talk about the geology of Mt. Pleasant, and then enjoyed soup and salad for lunch. Lunch provided by one of the supporters of the Conservancy, REI. The Conservancy knows how to keep their volunteers happy. Let us roam around outdoors, come in for some enriching lectures and feed us well.

Here’s to more time spent enjoying the scenery.

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Decisions, Decisions

Posted on January 28, 2013 by AnnieRie

Summer CSA decisions. The Sandy Spring site went live today for summer sign ups. I have been considering a switch as I am doing the early bird spring Breezy Willow CSA, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do for the summer.

Sandy Spring has changed what they offer. They now offer a 60% share for those who don’t want all the veggies we get in a full share. No having to split a box anymore. For me, the drawback of that share is this simple fact stated on the web site. No exotic veggies in the 60% share.

If you aren’t into things like salsify, horned melon, black radishes, Jerusalem artichokes, tatsoi, and a myriad of other items, you now can get what I call plain Jane veggies and fruit. No strange herbs either.

We signed up today. Mainly because we like the challenge of strange veggies. I did a boatload of research before deciding. Looked at blog pictures, and read what was offered elsewhere in Howard County. In the end, the challenge won out.

It does mean I have two overlapping weeks between Breezy Willow and Sandy Spring. I may be taking things to the food bank. Or, doing a fair amount of freezing items.

I still will be buying Breezy Willow eggs, meat and ice cream at the farm or the market. I decided against fruit, egg and cheese shares from Sandy Spring, and will buy those items at the Howard County farmers markets, and at the farms themselves.

Besides, it looks like we won’t have the big garden this year. I need to build a new one that will get sunshine. Our current garden is now almost completely shaded. That means, buying tomatoes to freeze.

It is time to start planning for summer. Many of the local CSAs fill up quickly. Check out what is offered, and think about bringing locally sourced foods into your home.

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Posted in CSA, Farmer's Markets, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore and tagged CSA, farmer's markets, Food, foodie, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore. Bookmark the permalink.

Eating Locally: Foraging in the Freezer

Posted on January 27, 2013 by AnnieRie

It is Sunday night. Time to post about our winter challenge. Cook a meal using mostly local foods, in the middle of winter. My cyber community linked on my food challenge page is doing OK. Not as much posting as we used to do, but people are still into sourcing their food from near their homes.

I went shopping in my freezer this weekend.

Oven dried tomatoes from my CSA this summer. Beef broth made earlier this month. Lovely beef short ribs from a trip to Breezy Willow a week ago. Add to it some celery from Olney market, carrots (not pictured) from Zahradka, an onion from England Acres and a can of organic black beans. Put it all in a baking dish. Add seasoning and olive oil.

Put it all in the oven on the slow cook setting for five hours. Somewhere near the end, put a loaf of Stone House Rustic Italian bread, out of the freezer, into the other oven to defrost and crisp up.

Serve it all with local wine and local butter. It looks wonderful, doesn’t it?

Mission accomplished. Another almost totally local meal in the dead of winter. The beans weren’t local. Neither were the seasonings. Other than that, it is a tribute to what you can do around here with farm stands, markets and the contents of your freezer.

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

Wheat Berries

Posted on January 25, 2013 by AnnieRie

In my 60@60 challenge, one of my categories was new proteins. I decided to buy some wheat berries at Wegmans. In the bulk food aisle. They are high in protein and fiber. And, they are chewy.

After buying them, we had wheat berry “risotto” at Bistro Blanc at the cellar dinner. Marc, the chef at Bistro Blanc, told us be sure to toast the wheat berries first.

I searched around on the internet to find a recipe. Then, never really followed it. I pretty much winged it based on my interpretation of risotto. I did remember to toast them, after they had been soaked overnight.

Into the oven they went, and since there was more than a cup, the rest went into the refrigerator, destined to become a salad later this weekend.

For the risotto, I started with scallions and mushrooms in olive oil. Added the wheat berries to the pan. After they got all happy with the olive oil and veggies, added a cup of white wine. There were also six cups of low sodium chicken broth on the stove to use in this recipe.

It took 45 minutes of adding broth and stirring occasionally to get to the final product. At the end, I grated a little pecorino into it. All finished it looked like this, with salmon and roasted veggies. Brussels sprouts and romanesco bought from Zahradka at the farmers event last Sunday.

Did I mention they are chewy? Not what you expect from risotto, but really tasty. A meal this hearty required a big white wine, or a light red. We chose to go with a big white. Linden 2009 Hardscrabble Vineyard Chardonnay. A huge white wine. Almost as “chewy” as the wheat berry risotto.

Cross another item off my list for becoming sixty years old. This meal was a definite winner. Oh, by the way, the Linden can last a decade. It is that big of a white wine.

hocofood@@@

Highlights from the Meet the Farmers Event

Posted on January 23, 2013 by AnnieRie

Sometimes the more you worry, the better the result. I couldn’t have expected the large turnout and the enthusiasm from last Sunday’s Conservancy program. Everywhere you looked there were people enjoying the day, talking and buying and signing up for more information.

The doors weren’t open long before many people started arriving. A steady stream for almost an hour. Over 130 people arrived and many stayed for the panel discussion. In the picture above, Denise Sharp of Sharp’s at Waterford Farm had many people buying her out of the fresh kale and cilantro she brought, and checking out the gourds, the sauces and the fresh rosemary bushes.

There were six farms there Sunday. About 50% of those I contacted. With the success of this event, we may be talking in the program committee to do other similar things in the future. I started out with a small group just to gauge the interest. Close to 150 in the room including the dozen farm representatives, some volunteers, board members, and some of the farmer’s families. I think we can call this a good day.

The people were lining up to get Bowling Green Farm Cheese.

Breezy Willow and Love Dove were getting lots of interest in their CSAs, and I saw quite a few people going out with Breezy Willow fresh eggs. Also, as I said in my post about Game Day, we got some gorgeous fresh veggies from Zahradka. Martha Clark and Nora over in their area also had lots of interest in their programs, and in buying their beef. I couldn’t get a clear shot of them due to the number of people all around the room.

The panel discussion was lively. Lots of these farms here Sunday are being run by the younger generation. They were all enthusiastic about what they are doing. Two of them are leaders in the Howard County farmers market planning for 2013. Lots of really good ideas of things to make the markets bigger and better. We can’t wait.

The panel above. Mitzi Jones, Bowling Green Farm; Casey Caulder Todd, Breezy Willow Farm; John Dove, Love Dove Farm; George Zahradka, The Zahradka Farm; Nora Crist, Clarks Elioak Farm; and Denise Sharp, Sharp’s at Waterford Farm.

A wonderful way to spend a day.

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Posted in CSA, Farmer's Markets, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Real Food, Volunteering and tagged community, CSA, farmer's markets, Food, Howard County, howard county conservancy, local businesses, Locavore, volunteering. Bookmark the permalink.

Three Meals, Locally Driven

Posted on January 22, 2013 by AnnieRie

Last year I thought that locally sourcing my food would be difficult. Little did I know that there were numerous sources year round in the Howard County area. Now, it is a cinch to eat locally, and reduce my dependence on long distance processed foods.

Monday was one of my now typical days here. Since I have a freezer and refrigerator full of local foods, meals contain a majority of items from “right up the road”.

Breakfast Monday. Local eggs from Breezy Willow Farm.

We seem to have rediscovered eggs after years of avoidance due to those scary cholesterol “studies”. Now, free range eggs are a joy one or two times a week.

As for lunch, we heated up the last of the pork BBQ from our visit to Breezy Willow Saturday.

Dinner, venison. Right across the highway, locally harvested venison. This is a rump roast.

We put it in the crock pot with root veggies, onions and some organic mushroom soup. Added some Mother Earth mushrooms just before it was finished.

The Canela bakery rosemary bread will be sopping up the gravy created by the veggies, and some of my stock from the freezer. What does it look like when it is done?

You can see the mushrooms, and the turnips. The sweet potatoes are melting into the gravy. The roast is peppery, tender and not gamey at all. I don’t get the gamey aversion. Dark meat has more flavor, due to muscle. Venison is lean, with lots of muscle, therefore it is “gamey”. It still was lovely.

Yes, the gravy looks a little orange because the sweet potatoes melted into it. I need to put them in much later than I did. To finish the localness of this meal, the wine is local as well.

Malbec and venison are supposed to be a good match. And, they are. We decanted this 2005 Breaux Cellar Selection wine, to let it breathe. Really a delicious wine. A lighter version of Malbec as these were young vines.

All day. Local food. Local wine. How I have changed in what I cook.

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Posted in Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, Wine, Winter Eat Local and tagged cooking, crock pot cooking, Food, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, real food, wine. Bookmark the permalink.

Eat Local on Game Day

Posted on January 21, 2013 by AnnieRie

Big game day! After a very successful Conservancy event, we came home to nibble during the game, and have pulled pork sandwiches at half time.

For my Eat Local Challenge, I had pulled pork I bought at Breezy Willow. I had the picture of it in yesterday’s blog. I did not waste time during dinner to take pics of the sandwiches, but that pulled pork is really good.

We nibbled on pumpkin hummus and ate some Bowling Green cheese during the game. I picked up the cheese at the mini market at the event today. Got some good veggies from Zahradka today to add to what I bought yesterday from Breezy Willow.

George Zahradka brought those wonderful romanescu cauliflower, and some sweet carrots. And Brussels sprouts. And, more but my husband went over and picked up these items.

Denise Sharp sold out all her kale before I could get some. She also had huge rosemary “bushes” just like the ones I bought from her last spring. She told me again in April will be our chance to come out and buy plugs and seedlings.

All in all, one great day. A very successful event and a Ravens win.

hocofood@@@

Grocery Shopping: West County Style

Posted on January 19, 2013 by AnnieRie

Today I went shopping. West county style. Hit Breezy Willow Farm Store, open from 10-2 on Saturday. They were doing a brisk business. No milk there, but BBQ pork to make sandwiches for the Ravens game.

The pork BBQ will be served at halftime. That pumpkin hummus from yesterday and also some of my baked veggie chips will be the snacks. Just think, a locavore football party. But, pulled pork needs cole slaw and buns. Royal Farms to the rescue. What can I say? Drive all the way to Clarksville to save a few cents or pick it up at Royal Farms. I did Royal Farms, and also got Cloverland Farms milk for cereal.

As for the rest of my shopping, I bought onions, apples, broccoli and honey graham ice cream (to celebrate or commiserate). The broccoli looked wonderful today.

I also got a dozen eggs. Love that green one among all the brown ones.

Made egg salad today when I got home to use up my “old” eggs. They still won’t float, which means it is a bit harder to peel the eggs. Old eggs are best for egg salad, but with farm fresh eggs you have to leave them sit around a while. These are two weeks old and still don’t have the void inside that makes peeling easier.

While at Breezy Willow, I observed. I was the “old lady” there. Families with little ones. Young shoppers. It seems farm to table is really happening, and not just a slogan. It is good to see people buying locally, and choosing real food for their tables.

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Posted in Farmer's Markets, Food, Howard County, Local Businesses, Locavore, Real Food, West HoCo, Winter Eat Local and tagged farmer's markets, Food, foodie, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, Locavore, real food, West HoCo. Bookmark the permalink.

What’s A CSA, You Say?

Posted on January 19, 2013 by AnnieRie

My husband pointed out to me that not everyone who reads this blog these days knows what Community Supported Agriculture is. Long time readers and those who participate in the Buy Local challenges with me do know about them. More and more farms are offering their customers fresh food in the spring, summer, fall, and even in winter.

Tomorrow at the Conservancy there will be a number of the local CSAs represented. Every CSA has its differences and its focus could be a very good match or maybe not a match for some people.

That is why it is nice to have the farmers come out and talk to us about them. I first approached the farmers to see if there was interest in having this session at the Conservancy sometime during their non market months. It provided them the ability to discuss in detail with you what they grow, what they offer, and how they farm. All this without the lines you encounter at our farmers markets, lines that are good for business, but don’t give you the opportunity to talk to the “source” so to speak.

I like getting my food this way. I like knowing where it came from. I don’t mind worms in my corn, as I know it means it hasn’t been sprayed from here to wherever, with whatever. I don’t know that with vegetables and fruits grown in foreign countries. And, the same with meats, dairy, cheese and eggs. Organically grown veggies. Free range chickens. Pastured sheep, cattle and pigs that run all over the farms. At less than many organic supermarkets charge.

Knowing everything is fresh. Asking about what is in them. What they feed their chickens. Seeing the farms themselves when picking up my food. Maybe it takes a bit of work to clean off the soil, but at least it isn’t waxed or treated to look pretty.

Getting back to the CSAs. Differences. Some include eggs. Some include bread. Some include meat. We did Zahradka last winter. They deliver to your doorstep in the winter. In the summer, they are at Glenwood market, and also deliver a number of other places in Howard County.

During the winter last year we chose a small share. Six items that we chose online. That week I chose broccoli, baby beets, celery, sweet potatoes, large Spanish onion and mixed greens. For meat that week we got ground beef from a farm in northern MD. Every other week we got eggs. Just enough for two people.

Other CSAs are different. Some offer half shares, and quarter shares. Some have pick ups only at the farm, and you weigh or count out your items. Gorman Farm does this. If you live on the east side of Howard County they are really convenient, and have a farm stand to get other items.

Breezy Willow offers pick up at the farm, or has drop off locations. We will be getting an early bird share this March and picking it up at the Farm. Right now we go out to the farm on Saturdays when they are open to get what is currently being harvested, and to pick up eggs. No winter CSA for us this year. The timing of drop off didn’t work this year.

Love Dove comes to two local Howard County markets and has pick up points for their summer and fall CSA. Love Dove is a small CSA and fills up quickly with people wanting their veggies grown following organic practices. There are other small CSAs in the county. Not everyone coming to our event, but localharvest is the place to go to see what is out there.

Many who aren’t attending our event are completely full every year. Shaw Farms is one. Roundabout Farms is another. Larger cooperatives also deliver to the area. One Straw Farm comes to Dorsey Hall and MOM’s Organic Market. They are a 2000 member coop, that has been around a long time. Sandy Spring, my summer and fall CSA, is an Amish coop that delivers all around Howard and Montgomery County. They have 500 members here, and the coop is 80 farmers around Lancaster.

Any one of these is good for you, if it fits your taste and your family size. I love the diversity of Sandy Spring, for the exotic veggies we get. But, I have the time to cook and the freezer to use it all. It isn’t a value if your family isn’t into veggies, fruits, and herbs.

What do you do with salsify?

Some people did swap it, but I made fritters. Tastes like oysters.

Are you interested in foods from local farmers? Come tomorrow the 20th to ask them all about it. At the Conservancy, 2-4 pm. Old Frederick Road. No charge.

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Cellar Dinners

Posted on January 17, 2013 by AnnieRie

One of the best things we found at Bistro Blanc. About once a month they host cellar dinners. BYOB cellar dinners. The guests bring old wines from their cellars.

We tell Marc in advance what we are bringing. He cooks to match the wines. Tonight we enjoyed a five course dinner with five lovely wines. Check this out.

Yes, that is a huge piece of lobster in the middle of the foam. OK, I remembered to take pictures but I can’t remember what all was in the dish. It was served with a 2000 Macon Villages white burgundy. Wine still kicking but definitely turning a bit dark from age. Old white burgundies have a certain taste. You have to admire a white that stands up and says take notice when it is 12 years old. The lobster was awesome. On top was a fennel and apple slaw.

Next course:

Crispy flavorful pork belly served with a Cotes du Rhone. OK, I forgot the year. 2001, I believe. Under the pork belly were little nuggets of root veggies. That bright green coulis was made from leeks. The wine, smooth, mellow, aging well.

Third course:

That would be kangaroo. Yep, kangaroo. Lean, flavorful. Reminiscent of venison medallions. Served over a risotto made from toasted wheatberries. Now I know what I am going to do with the ones I bought the other day. The white foam was made using a fried egg. Marc called it Steak and Eggs. The wine, a 2002 Monticello Tietjen Vineyards Cabernet. Stellar wine. Still a baby. Glad we have more in the cellar.

Fourth course: Cheese

This was an amazing combination. Marc made four bites to match the nuances in this wine. The wine was a Ramey 2002, from Healdsburg. So, we ended up with two wines from California same vintage, different regions back to back. A lovely big beautiful wine, to match the food. The food, a dehydrated raspberry “kiss”, a blue cheese cheesecake, candied walnuts and a cranberry chutney. Every bite brought out something different in the wine.

Dessert:

This was the only dish from the regular menu. Black raspberry preserves crisp underneath juniper scented vanilla ice cream. Served with Tin Lizzie made ice wine, made by the owner of Bistro Blanc at the Howard County wine making site. All in all this dinner was well worth the money, and we look forward to many more.

If you want something new to do, and you have a wine cellar, these dinners are a perfect evening, to open and share special bottles of wine with fellow wine lovers. Besides, Marc loves cooking off menu and getting really creative.

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Posted in Food, Local Businesses, Restaurants, Wine and tagged Food, foodie, hoco loco, Howard County, local businesses, wine. Bookmark the permalink.