Week #24
- Lettuce
- Red cabbage or Romanesco or broccoli
- Tomatoes
- Cherry tomatoes
- Leeks
- Onions
- Garlic
- Sweet peppers
- Hot peppers
- Basil (may be the last week!)
- Green and purple beans
- Cucumbers or zucchini – What?!! They have taken the plunge; powdery mildew has hit them hard. Enjoy them while you can
Diego and I are away in California checking out colleges. Juve and Jacob are left running the harvest. Jacob heads off to college later today. Lots of movement around the farm. I am trying to stay busy so as not to think about it too much.
The harvest party is set for October 19th. You should already have this marked on your calendar and have invited your friends. We harvest until the end of the month of October so there are still 2 more harvests after the party. We can use your help in the last 5 weeks of season as our children are not around and or are busy with school work and applying to college.
Please do sign up or if that does not work for you just show up. Harvest starts at 0730. I am busy making wreaths. If you are interested in an indoor or outdoor wreath step into my studio in the barn and pick one out. They range in price from $25 – $50. I can make special orders and I am happy to do so to fit your décor or color choice.
Dee’s great pepper recipe
1 – 2 onions, chopped
1 – 2 cloves garlic, chopped finely
2 – 5 peppers sweet or hot or stuffing, skins burned and peeled, then seeded and sliced
1 – 3 tomatoes chopped
olive oil and salt and pepper to taste
Put a small amount of oil in the pan and cook the onions until translucent. Meanwhile prepare the peppers. Add the peppers and the garlic and a few minutes later add the tomatoes. Adjust seasoning. Cook until the whole mixture is tender. Serve with beans and rice or as a side dish with any of your favorites.
EGGPLANT, ZUCCHINI, RED PEPPER, AND PARMESAN TORTE
2 large onions (about 1 pound)
1 garlic clove
about 1/2 cup olive oil
a 26- to 32-ounce container chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 large eggplants (about 2 1/2 pounds total)
4 large zucchini (about 1 3/4 pounds total)
4 large red bell peppers
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy cream
3 large eggs
6 ounces freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (about 2 cups)
Halve onions through root end and thinly slice. Finely chop garlic. In a large heavy skillet cook onions with salt to taste in 2 tablespoons oil, covered, over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 15 minutes. Add garlic and cook mixture, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until any liquid onions give off is evaporated. Add tomatoes with juice, sage, and thyme and simmer, stirring occasionally, until excess liquid is evaporated and mixture is very thick. Season mixture with salt and pepper and cool. Preheat oven to 450°F. Brush at least 2 shallow baking pans with some remaining oil.
Cut eggplants crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick rounds and arrange in one layer in baking pans. Brush eggplant slices with some remaining oil and roast in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of pans halfway through roasting time, until tender and golden, about 20 minutes. Cool eggplant 5 minutes and transfer with a slotted spatula to paper towels to drain.
Cut zucchini lengthwise into 1/3-inch-thick slices and roast in same manner until tender and pale golden, about 25 minutes. Cool zucchini 5 minutes and transfer to paper towels to drain.
Quarter bell peppers lengthwise and discard stems, seeds, and ribs. Arrange peppers, skin sides up, in oiled baking pans and brush with some remaining oil. Roast peppers in same manner until tender and lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Cool peppers 5 minutes and transfer to paper towels to drain.
In a 1 1/2- to 2-quart heavy saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour. Cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes and whisk in milk and cream. Bring mixture to a boil, whisking, and simmer, whisking occasionally, 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat and cool sauce 5 minutes. Whisk in eggs, two thirds Parmigiano-Reggiano, and salt and pepper to taste.
Preheat oven to 400°F. and lightly oil a 14- x 10- x 2 1/2-inch or other 3 1/2-quart shallow baking dish. In baking dish arrange half of eggplant, overlapping slices to form an even layer, and season with salt and pepper. Top eggplant with half of tomato mixture, spreading evenly, and pour about one third Parmigiano-Reggiano custard over it. Nestle half of zucchini in custard and season with salt and pepper. Top zucchini with half of peppers. Repeat layering, reserving half of remaining custard for topping. Pour reserved custard over final layer of peppers and sprinkle with remaining grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Bake torte in middle of oven until custard is puffed and golden brown, about 35 minutes. Let torte stand 10 minutes before serving.
GREEN BEANS WITH CRISP SHALLOTS, CHILE, AND MINT
1 1/2 lb green beans, trimmed
2/3 cup vegetable oil
6 oz shallots (5 medium), thinly sliced crosswise and separated into rings
1 small fresh Thai or serrano chile (2 1/4 inches long; preferably red), thinly sliced crosswise
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
Cook beans in a 4- to 5-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain beans in a colander.
Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then fry shallots in 3 batches, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes per batch (watch carefully; shallots burn easily). Transfer shallots quickly as browned with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. (Shallots will become crisp as they cool.)
Discard all but about 1 tablespoon oil from skillet, then cook chile over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add beans and salt and toss with tongs until heated through. Remove from heat and add fried shallots and mint, tossing to combine.