Everyone has their favorite crops – Matt loves to grow mint, Donna likes green beans, Rachel is open to trying everything, Adam enjoys summer squash, and Chris likes to grow things on the sweet side – like corn, peas, and watermelon!
Taking what we grow from our greenhouse and farm to the table showcases the entire process of farming. For all our burgeoning farmers, planting seeds that they can follow through their life cycle and finally eat is a terrific feeling of accomplishment.
“I like being able to grow my own food, and to eat food I grow myself,” said Chris. “And I also like to eat local food, because I know where that food comes from and that it’s fresh.” And Rachel said, “It’s fun to make recipes. I’m proud of what we grow and I like turning it into good food.”
Our stellar volunteer, Melissa Tomas, has a knack for cooking and finding recipes that everyone enjoys. Some marvelous creations have developed out of the Hannah and Friends kitchen! Just the other day, Matt called Melissa “our number one recipe developer!” Now that’s a terrific compliment.
The crop that’s abundant for us right now is kale of the curly “Winterbor” variety. Melissa paired that with the chives which are also going strong for us, and found a terrific recipe for a delicious kale-chive salad. All hands were on deck for the process of bringing these delicious vegetables from farm to table!
For those of you who’d enjoy a simple, yummy, healthy new recipe, here it is:
Buttered Kale with Lemon and Chives
-1 bunch of kale (curly or flat-leaved), washed, stripped off middle stalk, and torn or chopped into pieces
-Handful of chives
-Zest of one lemon
-1 large knob of salted butter
-Salt and pepper
Instructions:
-Steam kale using a steaming basket until tender but still bright green (about 5-8 minutes)
-While kale steaming, zest the lemon and chop chives into small pieces, put in a small bowl, and set aside
-Transfer the steamed kale into a bowl and pour off the water in the pot
-Return the pot to the stove and heat over a low flame
-Melt the butter and then add the zest and chives. Give everything a good stir
-Add the kale back into the pot and stir well so everything is coated. Add salt and pepper to taste, stir well and serve. You can finish it off with some sea salt and more cracked black pepper
What vegetables and recipes have you been enjoying this summer? We wish you a season full of good eating!