Lychees for the gourmet and peentos all around...
As many of our CSA veterans know... I just love to find the odd and bizarre. The way I figure is since our members are taking a roll of the dice every time they sign-up for a subscription; they must be a fairly adventurous group.
Last week I came across a find that I just could not pass up as they are one of my favorite fruits. Lychee - pronounced lie - chi or lee-chi depending on who you ask are a wonderful tropical fruit found throughout Asia. They have a thin shell that can be easily peeled, underneath is a juicy eye-ball looking fruit that is similar to the taste and consistency of a grape. These are hard to find fresh but we ran across some being grown in South Florida so we went out of our regular sphere a bit just to get a taste.
This week we hope to get a load of peento peaches for everyone. Also referred to as donut peaches they are a little funny looking but they have a flavor and texture that is quite unique. Deemed the best of the peach season by our grower, Brian from Beech Creek Farm, we have high expectations !!
What's coming up?
For many new CSA members, the upcoming field peas and beans always raise some questions. We often provide these in the shell as they can be a fun thing for the kids to do and learn. Since the peas/beans are fresher, they will contain more moisture and take less time than the dried beans you get from the store shelf. Cooking time should be about 30-45 minutes depending on your taste.
The heat wave in June and then the second one we had this month have forced a lot of our plants into a dormant stage where they hold off flowering thus producing less fruit. Our recent rains have helped to break this cycle for some of our farmers and we should start to see more of the summer standards like tomatoes and green beans. Had a bit of a false start a couple of weeks ago with the ever famous Asian eggplants and okra but they will be coming in abundantly this week.
Fruit wise we are finishing out the melon wave. Should be looking for the early summer apples and pears soon. The figs sort of stopped short with the heat but they should be coming on soon as well. Muscadines will be next month.
For you blackberry and blueberry lovers, this has been a banner year and we may have another couple of weeks left from them.
Patricia
The Many Uses for Lemon...
Lemon is such a refreshing fragrance and taste, no wonder so many recipes list a bit of lemon. What will you decide to do with your mixed bundle of lemon herbs - lemon verbena, lemon basil, lemon balm? OK, you tea lovers, I know your answer! Any of these herbs alone or added to another tea would be good. You could also do lemon ice cubes for water or tea. And, yes, you can dry it for use later.
Have you made herbal butter yet? Lemon butter is great with chicken and with vegetables. Don't forget the bread! And what about that corn on the cob or potato?
Here's a recipe from Herb Companion for Lemon Herbal Butter. You don't have to make a full recipe, just adjust proportions. Your Farmers Fresh CSA cookbook has some information on herbal butters in the This and That section and I've listed a few tips after the recipe.
1. Once butter is soft and herbs are chopped, add the herb mixture to the butter a bit at a time (rather than all at once) and mix well. This assures consistent flavor throughout the butter.
2. Refrigerate and use within 2 weeks or freeze up to 5 months (don't forget to label).
Tips for making herbal butter:
. Fresh herbs are best for butters; they release their flavor more easily into the butter fat.
. To soften butter, do not use heat, just allow the butter to come to room temperature.
. Chop the herbs finely and only use the leaves.
. You can use a food processor to mix the herbs but mixing by hand gives a nicer consistency and leaves the herbs more festively visible.
Preservation:
Herbal butters freeze well. Consider putting some great lemon flavor into the freezer for those special winter meals.
All these herbs also dry well. Mix equal amounts of the dried herbs together to sprinkle on fish and vegetables during the winter. Be sure to label.
Enjoy!
Fran
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