Thirteenth Pick Up Was Yesterday 9.15.2009

Hello Everyone,

Last week we planted more fall vegetables and did a lot of watering. If you're so inclined this would be a good time to strap on your rain dancing shoes. Let's hope the weatherman is right and we get some precipitation over the next few days.

Everyone got apples this week and will get more next week. If anyone has paper bags from the grocery store that they'd like to donate please bring them to the pick up next week. We're going to try and do a better job of separating the vegetables and the apples so nothing gets squashed. [I know, I really should warn you before including vegetable puns]

The farm tour is this weekend. If you'd like to volunteer you'll have to sign up today, preferably right after you read this email. Send an email immediately to: info@knowyourfarms.com or give me a call. 704/305.6654.

If you want to buy tickets and visit the farms on the tour you need to do that by midday Thursday or you'll have to buy tickets the day of the event, this Saturday, September 19th and then they'll be more expensive. More info is available here.

http://knowyourfarms.com/j/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71:2009-farm-tour

The new wash sinks arrived at the Elma Lomax Incubator Farm yesterday. They will get plumbed today along with the ice machine and an old water fountain I removed from a hospital building before the building was destroyed. I salvaged that water fountain more than a decade ago and I've been hauling it around ever since. Most recently it spent some time in the basement of my father-in-law's office. Both he and my wife are happy that I've finally found a permanent home for this antique.

Also construction is continuing on the high tunnel (unheated greenhouse) at the Incubator Farm. I'll have more information on the availability of winter vegetables next week.

This week you'll get:

Okra
Sweet Peppers (Green and Red or Brown)
Hot Peppers
Red Slicing Tomatoes
Green Zebra Tomatoes (yes they are ripe)
Cherry Tomatoes
Apples!

In light of all the apples I'm including recipes for using them. I'm also calling for recipes from all of you to help eat 'em up.

Aaron



Raw Apple

Ingredients:

1 Apple

Method:

Bite into apple
Continue to eat apple until you get down to the core
Remove seeds and plant them as a project with your children
Compost apple core

Serves one


Mom’s (but not my mom's) Apple Cake (Mom I need your recipe)

6 apples, Mom uses McIntosh apples
1 tablespoon cinnamon
5 tablespoons sugar

2 3/4 cups flour, sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a tube pan. Peel, core and chop apples into chunks. Toss with cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

Stir together flour, baking powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together oil, orange juice, sugar and vanilla. Mix wet ingredients into the dry ones, then add eggs, one at a time. Scrape down the bowl to ensure all ingredients are incorporated.

Pour half of batter into prepared pan. Spread half of apples over it. Pour the remaining batter over the apples and arrange the remaining apples on top. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, or until a tester comes out clean.

Apple Pie

Ingredients

1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup water
8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced


Method

Melt butter in a sauce pan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add white sugar, brown sugar and water; bring to a boil. Reduce temperature, and simmer 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work of crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust.
Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes.


Somebody's Mom's Baked Apple Slices Recipe


Ingredients

4 cups of peeled, sliced apples - use apples that cook up well (like the Golden Delicious you got this week)
3 Tbsp sugar
A sprinkle of cinnamon
1 Tbsp maple syrup

Method

As you slice up the apples, check for their flavor.
Put apple slices in a glass bowl. Sprinkle on top the 3 Tbsp of sugar. Add a light sprinkle of cinnamon. Bake in microwave oven for 5 minutes on high heat. Adjust the time for your microwave and how many apples you are doing. Ours has a powerful high setting so 4 cups of apples only takes 5 minutes. If you use more apples, you will probably need to cook it a little longer. I suggest starting with 5 minutes and testing for doneness with a fork. If it needs more cooking time, give it more. When done, remove and mix so the sugar coats well all the apple pieces. Add maple syrup to taste, about 1 Tbsp.

Delicious with whipped cream on top, or with vanilla ice cream on the side.