Preserving the Harvest: Spicy (Plum) Chutney
I recently moved back to New York City to finish my last semester of college (insert anxiety attack here). In order to maintain my farm-to-table eating habits as much as possible, I joined a fall CSA. At the first pickup, I was lucky enough to grab a big bag of plums. The farm was practically giving them away!
For a week I couldn’t decide how to use them. A plum crumble or cake? Perhaps a tart? Do I simply roast them in the oven and eat with some (dairy-free) yogurt? Or sit down and gorge myself on fresh …
Preserving the Harvest: 48-Hour Pickled Cucumbers
Late August is the time every locavore dreams of. A visit to the farmers’ market is practically like a visit to the grocery store – almost everything you want is available. Fruits like peaches, plums, melons, summer apples and berries; veggies a plenty like carrots, corn, beets, onions, potatoes, leafy greens, tomatoes, squash and, of course, the cucumber. In the middle of summer, eating a strictly farm-to-table diet is not so challenging.
But let’s remember two things:
Number 1: While everything is available at the farmers market, on a farm it’s a bit of a different …
Preserving the Harvest: 30 Minute Pickled Jalapenos
This week, I bring you the easiest pickling project I have ever done: pickled jalapeños.
It has been a very hectic week on the farm. Pig escapes and windstorms have added excitement to the harvesting routine, which is currently in full swing. We are short a few helping hands due to mid-summer vacations and family emergencies. The to-do list continues to grow by the hour…
But, while busy, mid-summer remains one of the most rewarding parts of the season. Harvesting occurs daily, and the kitchen is filling up fast. We are eating as many green beans, beets, carrots, ears …
DIY Raw Nut Butter
Or, that one time I killed my mom’s vintage food processor.
Nut butter is an essential for any kitchen. I like to spread it on toast, plop it into smoothies, swirl it into baked goods, and admittedly eat it by the spoonful. The decadence is unparalleled by any plant food. Peanut butter has a certain childhood sweetness to it, while almond butter has some grown-up heft. Coconut butter is creamy and exotic, and cashew butter is a great alternative to classic nut spreads. Traditional roasted nut butter is still good for ya, but for the greatest health benefits you’ve …
Preserving the Harvest: Onion Jam
It is the end of my second week on Buckland Farm in Clearville, Pennsylvania. I have returned here to spend the rest of my summer in the countryside, reading peacefully while reclining in a hammock under the shade….
Reality check: This is a working farm and I am garden manager. With more than 200 tomato plants, peppers, lettuce, beats, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cabbage, radishes, kale, beans, Swiss chard, onions, carrots, garlic, and an herb garden to tend to, I keep pretty busy, as do the rest of the work crew and, of course, the owners. Planned tasks …
Procrastination Cooking: DIY Summer Jams
As Jen so aptly pointed out, most SKC impulse buys tend to be spreads or jams. Recently, I spent an afternoon poring over various jams at a Minneapolis farmer’s market, and decided there would be no better way to procrastinate - and have it pay off in a big way - than to make my own jam. Making jam takes time but isn’t impossible. The best part? Adding your own special touch to this useful food item makes the perfect gift for a hostess, house-warming, or friend. Bonus: this recipe does not require a fancy canning set up! Before …
In Season: Iced Coffee
I never used to be a coffee person. For a long time I just saw it as a bitter and unappealing beverage that my parents gulped down every morning. Occasionally in high school I’d order a fancy sounding caramel macchiato to see if maybe my taste buds had matured yet, but all that did was leave me with a caffeine-induced headache and a bad taste in my mouth. Even when I first started college, the best I could do was a mug of hot chocolate with a splash of coffee to wake me up for 8am class. And in the …
You’re Invited: Pinterest Party
What do Mod Podge, chocolate chips, pudding, pretzels, chalkboard paint, scrapbook paper, and Sterilite drawers have in common? Well, pretty much nothing other than that they are all items that can be found on the Pinterest home page. Like any savvy blog-reading college student, you’ve probably given Pinterest a whirl, I’m sure, and if not - well why not? If you have clicked through the wonders that Pinterest has to offer, you may understand the stressful moment many Pinners reach, when they realize they’ve pinned so many DIY projects, recipes, and more that they haven’t even done. This is such …
How to: Freeze Almost Anything
One of the best tips I got from my mother-in-law was to save extra food by freezing it. Not only do you have a last-minute meal or dessert, you cut down on a lot of waste. After a party, I used to keep the leftover food in my refrigerator until it went bad. (How many mini quiches can a girl eat?) I loved leftovers for dinner…the first day. After a while though, you start to wonder if you’ll ever want to eat spaghetti again.
I was blown away when I discovered how many food items you actually could freeze. No …
You’re Invited: Earth Day Trash Bash
I wouldn’t say I’m the savviest when it comes to going green, so I usually don’t celebrate Earth Day. But I am a huge fan of using recyclables to make clever, crafty things. So this year, I decided to throw a craft-themed Earth Day party so my friends and I could celebrate by reducing, reusing, recycling and most importantly, getting crafty!
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!
The BGSK Book
