Mushroom, Kale, and Winter Vegetable Stir Fry

Mushroom, Kale, and Winter Vegetable Stir Fry

March 16, 2017Holly RodricksBlog Post, Local Parnerships, Recipes, Winter FoodsNo CommentsCashews, Crooked Carrot, Crooked Carrot Winter Stir Fry Mix, Garlic, Ginger, Gluten Free, Jasmine Rice, Kale, Mushrooms, Onion, Sesame Oil, Sesame Seeds, Soy Sauce, Sriracha, Vegan, Vegetarian

Crooked Carrot‘s Winter Stir Fry Mix was such a big hit in our CSA shares this past January that we decided to go for a repeat! This recipe can be customized to include just about anything you like. Substitute different veggies for kale or mushrooms and different nuts instead of cashews. Add sesame seeds, and bulk it up with meat or tofu. Go crazy – you can’t go wrong! Mushroom, Kale, and Winter Vegetable Stir Fry By Holly Rodricks, adapted from an original Chef Emily Peterson recipe on The Gourmet and the Peasant Makes 4 servings. Ingredients: 1 bag Crooked Carrot Winter Stir Fry Mix 2 cups Mushrooms, sliced 4 cups Kale, stemmed and sliced into wide ribbons 2 tablespoons Olive Oil 1 small Onion, diced 3 cloves Garlic, minced 1 tbsp. minced Ginger 3 tbsp. Soy Sauce 3 tbsp. Sesame Oil 1/2 cup Cashews, chopped 1 tsp. Sesame Seeds Salt and Pepper to taste Sriracha to taste Steamed Jasmine rice (Optional) Instructions: In a large skillet or wok, heat Olive Oil over medium heat. Add Onions and sauté until translucent. Add Garlic and Ginger and sauté until aromatic. Add Mushrooms and sauté until they begin to soften and give up some of their water. Add Crooked Carrot Winter Stir Fry Mix and Kale ribbons. Cover pan and steam for 4-5 minutes until vegetables brighten in color. Remove lid. Add Cashews, turn heat up to high, and stir constantly until liquid in bottom of pan evaporates. Add Salt and Pepper to taste. Drizzle with Soy Sauce, Sesame Oil, Sriracha, and Sesame Seeds. Serve as is or over steamed Jasmine rice. *Image courtesy of: http://cdn.skim.gs/images/smxnu5pbrlxnxjpthncs/kale-stir-fry.

Ginger Beet Power Salad

March 1, 2017Holly RodricksEat Local, Local Parnerships, Recipes, Winter FoodsNo CommentsCraisins, Dried Cranberries, Dried Parsley, Egg, Food and Ferments, Garlic Powder, Ginger Beet Salad Dressing, Ginger Beets, Kale, Parmesan, Pepitas, Pumpkin Seeds, Raw Honey, Salad, Salad Dressing, Spinach, Spring Mix, Vegetarian, Whole Grain Mustard

Last week both our very own Allan, along with Dave from Food and Ferments, mentioned that they’d been wanting to try to make a dressing out of F&F’s Ginger Beets. Of course, I stole their idea and ran with it – and once you have a dressing, you need a salad to keep it company! Expect a combo of sweet and tangy flavors, supported by hardy greens and protein-packed eggs. As always, I make my kitchen creations to suit my taste, but don’t be afraid to experiment to make them fit yours! Ginger Beet Power Salad By Holly Rodricks Makes as many servings as desired Ingredients: Ginger Beet Dressing – 1 cup Food and Ferments‘ Ginger Beets, liquid reserved 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 tsp. Whole Grain Mustard 1/4 tsp. Raw Honey 1/4 tsp. Garlic Powder 1/4 tsp. dried Parsley 1/4 tsp. Salt 1/8 tsp. Pepper Power Salad (per serving) – 1 handful of Spring Mix 1 handful of Spinach 1 handful of Kale, stems removed, roughly torn and massaged with a bit of Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, and Salt 4-5 slices of Ginger Beets 1 tbsp. dried Cranberries 1 tbsp. Raw Pepitas (Pumpkin Seeds) 1 tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan (Optional) 1 Egg Instructions: To make the the Dressing – Coarsely chop the Ginger Beets. Combine all ingredients and blend using a regular blender, immersion blender, or food processor. Use reserved liquid to thin Dressing to desired consistency. Refrigerate while preparing salad. Dressing should be used within one week. To make the Salad – Mix Greens together and place in bowl. Sprinkle with Cranberries and Pepitas and layer sliced Ginger Beets on top. Poach egg, soft boil, or cook sunny side up. Lay hot egg on top of salad, sprinkle with Parmesan, and serve!

Local Partner Spotlight: 2 Kids Goat Farm

February 16, 2017Holly RodricksBuy Local, Farmer Focus, Local Parnerships1 comment2 Kids Goat Farm, 2016 Winter CSA, Amy Sperat, Barry Sperat, Chevre, Garlic and Chive Goat Cheese, Value Added Item, Vegetarian

About 2 Kids Goat Farm: We met Barry and Amy Sperat of 2 Kids Goat Farm three-and-a-half years ago while they were sampling cheese at Magic on Main in Homer, NY, and quickly learned about all the connections we shared. Between being vendors at the CNY Regional Market and the Fayetteville Farmers market and both having recently started our farms, we became fast friends. Not only that, but we’ve been hooked on their cheeses since the beginning, receiving our own fresh supply every week! The Sperats became farmers a little at a time. After living in the Syracuse area for several years, they bought a home in the country, surrounded by beautiful land. Soon, they acquired a couple of goats as pets for their 2 children. One goat led to another and, before they knew it, 2 Kids Goat Farm was born! They now have a full herd of 30 milking goats, in addition to a variety of other animals. Every goat knows and responds to its own name and is practically part of the Sperat family. Barry and Amy personally produce a wonderful selection of cheeses, soaps, lotions, and lip balms available throughout the CNY area, and we couldn’t say enough about how good their products are! Where to 2 Kids’ Products: You can find 2 Kids’ products in a variety of stores throughout the CNY region, including Green Planet Grocery in Camillus, Side Hill Farmers in Manlius, and The Local Food Markets in Tully and Cortland. Their cheeses are also served at restaurants such as Empire Farmstead Brewery and The Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia and Dasher’s Corner Pub in Homer. For a full list of retailers and restaurants, click here. About 2 Kids’ Garlic & Chive Chèvre : In your CSA share this week, you will find freshly prepared Garlic & Chive Chèvre, which is a favorite for us at Main Street Farms. Barry and Amy’s favorite way to eat it is crumbled on pizza, burgers, and salad. For an easy, quick dinner, they like to layer it into freshly cooked pasta, return it to the pot, and let it melt into all those nooks and crannies before serving. Click here for the full recipe!

Chili Ginger Winter Stir Fry

February 1, 2017Holly RodricksEat Local, Farmer Focus, Local Parnerships, Recipes, Winter FoodsNo CommentsCarrots, Chili-Garlic Sauce, Crooked Carrot, Daikon, Hot Sesame Oil, Kohlrabi, Minced Garlic, Minced Ginger, Sesame Oil, Silas Conroy, Stir Fry Mix, Vegan, Vegetarian, Watermelon Radish

This week’s local partnership comes to your CSA shares in the form of a fresh stir fry mix, made with veggies grown on our farm and prepared by Crooked Carrot . As a special treat, Silas from Crooked Carrot has shared his own personal favorite way to stir fry. Enjoy! Chili Ginger Winter Stir Fry By Silas Conroy of Crooked Carrot Makes 4 servings. Ingredients: 1 bag of Crooked Carrot’s freshly prepared stir fry mix (made up of thinly sliced kohlrabi, carrots, and daikon and watermelon radishes) 1-2 tbsp. regular or hot Sesame Oil 1 tbsp. Minced Ginger* 1 tbsp. Minced Garlic* Chili Garlic Sauce to taste* Salt to taste Instructions: Heat up Sesame Oil in cast iron skillet. When skillet is nice and hot, dump the whole bag of stir fry mix right in. Add Minced Ginger, Minced Garlic, and Chili Garlic Sauce, and toss together quickly. Because the veggies are sliced so thinly, cook them only briefly, searing them just a little in the hot skillet but allowing them to keep their crunch. Add salt to taste, and enjoy piping hot! *Crooked Carrot makes and sells their own delicious jars of minced ginger, minced garlic, and chili garlic sauce.

Local Partner Spotlight: Crooked Carrot

February 1, 2017Holly RodricksBuy Local, Farmer Focus, Local ParnershipsNo Comments2016 Winter CSA, Carrots, Chili-Garlic Sauce, Crooked Carrot, Daikon, Jesse Brown, Johanna Brown, Kohlrabi, Minced Garlic, Minced Ginger, Sambal, Silas Conroy, Sriracha, Stir Fry Mix, Value Added Item, Vegan, Vegetarian, Watermelon Radish

About Crooked Carrot: Crooked Carrot and Main Street Farms first crossed paths back in 2011 when Silas Conroy met Allan Gandelman at a Business Planning class through Groundswell Center for Food and Farming, but they really hit it off as fellow vendors in the C-Shed at the Syracuse Regional Market. Even before this, Silas had long been right in the middle of food production and preparation, with jobs in every part of the industry. He prepared food in kitchens; he delivered food in trucks, and he grew food on farms. Several years ago, while Silas was co-managing organic vegetable production at Stick and Stone Farm in Ithaca, New York, the farm owners came up with the idea of building a commercial kitchen to prepare their produce. Along with a few friends, Silas was able to bring this dream to life, and in 2011, Crooked Carrot was born. The plan was to run the kitchen for one year, with minimal investment and the goal of learning everything about that part of the industry. Six years later, Crooked Carrot is still going strong, with its own independent location in Ithaca. Now, with partners Jesse and Johanna Brown and a fantastic team, Crooked Carrot Community Supported Kitchen is a full-blown community supported kitchen that naturally processes, ferments, and preserves local, organic fruits and vegetables. One hundred percent of their raw material comes from within 50 miles of Ithaca. Crooked Carrot also serves as a local produce aggregation service for large buyers and provides trucking for food deliveries. Every weekday, 4,000 local elementary students receive fresh snacks from their kitchen. Where to Find Crooked Carrot: Crooked Carrot primarily sells their products in co-ops and grocery stores and through CSAs and farmers markets. You can find them at the CNY Regional Market the Ithaca Farmers market for much of the year. About Crooked Carrot’s Stir Fry Mix: In your CSA share this week, you will find a freshly prepared stir fry starter mix made of kohlrabi, carrots, daikon, and watermelon radish, fresh from our farm fields! Click here to learn how the folks and Crooked Carrot like to cook up their veggies!

Local Partner Spotlight: Flour City Pasta

January 19, 2017Holly RodricksBuy Local, Farmer Focus, Local ParnershipsNo Comments2016 Winter CSA, Artisinal Pasta, Flour City Pasta, Organic Basil Leaf, Organic Beets, Organic Tomato Puree, Organic Wheat, Pasta, Tomato Basil Pappardelle, Value Added Item, Vegan, Vegetarian

This week’s spotlight is on another one of our favorite producers, Flour City Pasta! About Flour City Pasta: We met Jon Stadt, the man behind Flour City Pasta, back in 2013, when we began selling our vegetables at the CNY Regional Market, but his story goes back much further than that. Ten years ago, Jon was in Seattle visiting relatives for Thanksgiving. Of course, he inevitably found himself at Pike Place Market (again and again, actually) and happened to meet a vendor selling artisinal pasta. Jon was so intrigued that when he returned home to Macedon, NY, he began reselling that same pasta in his area. Little by little, Jon started to think about how he could improve his model by offering a product that continued to be made inthe traditional way, but used local, organic ingredients. Two years in, he took a leap, buying his own pasta machine, and turning his garage into his classroom. With just the right mix of perspiration and inspiration, Jon taught himself to make the flavorful, hand-crafted pastas that we know and love today. You can buy Flour City Pasta at Green Planet Grocery in Fairmount and at Side Hill Farmers in Manlius. Even better, stop by the C Shed at the CNY Regional Market, and meet the man who makes the pasta! About Tomato Basil Pappardelle: In addition to the organic tomato paste and basil leaves used to make this pasta, it also includes some of our very own beets, for color and added sweetness! We have a fancy recipe all ready for you to try out if you’re feeling ambitious, but at the end of the day, Jon’s favorite way to eat this pappardelle is simply with a classic red sauce that heightens the wonderful tomato flavor of the pasta.

White Bean and Sausage Pasta Bake

January 19, 2017Holly RodricksLocal Parnerships, Recipes, Winter FoodsNo CommentsBaby Spinach, Cannellini Beans, Cayenne, Ciliegine Mozzarella, Flour City Pasta, Garlic, Great Northern Beans, Heavy Cream, Hot Sausage, Mozzarella, Tomato Basil Papperdelle, White Beans, White Wine, Whole Grain Dijon Mustard, Whole Tomatoes

White Bean and Sausage Pasta Bake By Holly Rodricks Makes 4-6 servings. Ingredients: 1/2 lb. Flour City Pasta Tomato Basil Pappardelle 1 bag Baby Spinach, stems removed and leaves finely chopped (approximately 1 cup) 1 1/2 cups cooked Great Northern or Cannellini Beans (or 1 15-oz. can, drained) 1 (15 oz.) can whole Tomatoes, drained and broken up into chunks 3 cloves Garlic, finely minced 1 tbsp. Whole Grain Dijon Mustard 3 tbsp. Olive Oil, 1 tbsp. reserved 1/4 tsp. ground Cayenne 1/4 tsp. Pepper pinch of Salt 1/4 cup Heavy Cream 1/4 cup White Wine (Optional) 1/2 lb. Hot Sausage 1 cup shredded Mozzarella or fresh Ciliegine Mozzarella (The small cherry size) Instructions: Preheat oven to 400º. Bring water to boil and cook Pasta according to package instructions. While Pasta is cooking, in a small bowl, whisk Garlic, Mustard, 2 tbsp. Olive Oil, Cayenne, Pepper, and Salt. In a large bowl, place chopped Spinach, Beans, and Tomatoes. Mix together with hands until evenly combined. Drizzle dressing over spinach mixture and mix by hand again until all ingredient are evenly coated. Drain Pasta and toss with remaining 1 tbsp. Olive Oil. Pour Pasta into 9×13″ casserole dish, forming an even bottom layer. Add Spinach mixture on top, spreading evenly. Drizzle Heavy Cream and White Wine over Spinach mixture. Snip end of Sausage and squeeze meat out to form little meatballs. Nestle these evenly throughout Spinach mixture. If using Ciliegine Mozzarella, nestle throughout Spinach mixture, similar to meat. Bake for 30 minutes. If using shredded Mozzarella, bake for 15 minutes. Then removed and sprinkle shredded cheese across top and bake for additional 15 minutes. Allow dish to set for 10 minutes, then serve hot!

Pesto and White Bean Soup

January 5, 2017Holly RodricksBuy Local, Eat Local, Fall Foods, Local Parnerships, Recipes, Summer Food1 commentBaby Spinach, Basil, Cannellini Beans, Chicken Broth, Crooked Carrot, Garlic, Gluten Free, Grated Parmesan, Kalamata Olives, Kale, Onion, Pesto, Roasted Red Peppers, Soup, White Beans

When I think of pesto, a variety of pasta dishes immediately come to mind, but this week, I wanted to push outside the box. This recipe offers a refreshing take on cooking with pesto that embraces all of its delicious qualities while inspiring a new approach, and it includes white beans, which I’m just crazy about. And it provides the perfect opportunity to dig into the delicious pesto in your shares this week, compliments of a Main Street Farms and Crooked Carrot collaboration! Pesto and White Bean Soup Inspired by the Food Network Kitchen Makes 6 servings Ingredients: 2-3 tbsp. Olive Oil 1 small Onion, diced 4-6 cloves of Garlic, sliced 1 bunch Kale, stems removed and leaves torn into chunks – or – 1 bag Baby Spinach pinch of Red Pepper Flakes 2 (15 oz.) cans Cannellini Beans, drained – or 3 cups cooked Cannellini Beans 1 cup Water 3 tbsp. Pesto 2 tbsp. Grated Parmesan 3 cups Chicken Broth 1/2 cup Roasted Red Peppers, diced 1/4 cup Kalamata Olives, chopped (Optional) Salt and Pepper to taste Instructions: Heat oil in stock pot over medium low heat. Sauté Onions until soft and translucent. Add Garlic and Red Pepper Flakes. Sauté until aromatic, about 1-2 minutes. Add Cannellini Beans and Water and simmer until thick, about 8 minutes. Stir in Pesto and Grated Parmesan Add Chicken Broth. Simmer for 15 minutes. Add Kale or Spinach and mix until just begins to wilt the leaves. Stir in Roasted Red Peppers and Olives. Add Salt and Pepper to taste. Serve hot with fresh, crusty bread. Image courtesy of: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/pesto-bean-soup-recipe.html.

Local Partner Spotlight: Food and Ferments

January 5, 2017Holly RodricksBuy Local, Farmer Focus, Local ParnershipsNo Comments2016 Winter CSA, Cabbage, Carraway Seeds, Food and Ferments, Gluten Free, Old World Sauerkraut, Sauerkraut, Sea Salt, Value Added Item, Vegan, Vegetarian

We wanted to take a moment to celebrate our local partners who helped us kick off our very first Winter CSA share, back in December – Dave and Carly Dougherty of Food and Ferments! About Food and Ferments: Let’s just say, when we met Carly and Dave, we became instant friends and collaborators, sharing community with people of like minds and having the pleasure of growing vegetables for them to turn into delicious fermented foods. Although Carly is originally from the CNY area, she met Dave in his hometown of Philadelphia. With roots in farming and food, it wasn’t long before they teamed up to launch Food and Ferments in 2012. In 2014, they returned to Central New York, making their home and building their kitchen on the farmland where Carly grew up, at Twin Oaks Dairy, an organic farm still run by her family. While living in the big city together gave them broader perspective, returning to Twin Oaks was truly coming home, to deep connections with the land and farmers, to shared meals and family. Dave and Carly’s experiences together have given them a shared vision of a hybrid life – days spent shredding cabbage and culturing fermented beverages in the country, paired with weekends traveling to cities and local towns, selling goods throughout the east coast from Philadelphia to Upstate New York. You can find Food and Ferments near our Main Street farmstand in the C Shed at the CNY Regional Market in Syracuse every Saturday. Be sure to stop by, say hello, and try out more of their wide selection of deliciously fermented foods! About Old World Sauerkraut: Food and Ferments’ Old World Sauerkraut is made from Main Street Farms’ green cabbage, caraway seeds and sea salt. Carly and Dave’s favorite ways to eat it are: atop eggs and cheese on breakfast sandwiches alongside eggs and bacon in the morning as a condiment for hot dogs or sausage in lieu of salad dressing We enjoy Dave and Carly’s food and their friendship, and it’s been a treat to get to share their story and their handiwork with you!

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Local Partner Spotlight: Ithaca Soy

December 15, 2016Holly RodricksBuy Local, Farmer Focus, Local ParnershipsNo Comments2016 Winter CSA, Gluten Free, Ithaca Soy, Tofu, Tofu Kan, Value Added Item, Vegan, Vegetarian

This 2016 Winter CSA season, on top of all those veggies in your share, we are including one “value-added” item from a local producer at every pickup. This week, we’d like to highlight our special guest, Ithaca Soy and the item the item they are contributing to our CSA, Tofu Kan. About Ithaca Soy: We can’t even remember when we became friends with Adam Potenza, the owner of Ithaca Soy, but his company’s tofu has fed our addiction for years! Adam grew up working on his dad Tony’s soybean farm, which also happens to be the first organic farm EVER in New York State! Now, all these years later, Potenza Organic Farms is the exclusive supplier of Ithaca Soy’s soy. Adam exemplifies what it means to run a local business, and he’s one of the only handmade tofu producers in the state. About Tofu Kan: Tofu Kan is an original Ithaca Soy creation – baked, marinated tofu that comes ready to eat, with little-to-no preparation involved. Simply slice it thinly and layer it onto deli sandwiches, cube it and sprinkle it on top of salads and soups, mix it into a stir fry, or warm it up and serve it as a main course. Adam’s Recommendations: Start with a good sourdough bread and add Tofu Kan, thinly sliced onion, lettuce, and stone ground mustard. Slice thinly and sauté or fry in a heavy pan. Then add to peanut lime noodles! Cube and lightly cover in chili powder, smoked paprika and olive oil (or any oil). Bake on a baking sheet with parchment paper at 300º for 25-30 minutes. This gives a good mock-meat taste and you can add it to anything from chili to fried rice.

Category: Local Parnerships