The Realities of GMO grains

I want to take a moment to discuss the realities of GMO grains. Small grains have not been genetically modified at this point except for wheat, which is not approved yet for commercial usage. All of the oats, barley, wheat, millet and sorghum that we feed our animals is from non-GMO seed. Virtually all of the corn a...nd soybeans grown in the US are genetically modified because that is the seed available. Everyone needs to understand the complexity of the GMO issue. If you plant a non-GMO variety in your field and the farmer next to you or nearby plants a GMO variety it is highly likely that your field will be contaminated by pollen from their plants. Even honey is considered to be suspect for GMO's because of the bees being a source for cross-pollination. We all wish that there were better options at this point but unless one has fields that are completely isolated by trees and they test for contamination it is hard to offer 100% assurity of non-GMO fed animals.

December Box Specials

SMALL FAMILY VALUE BOX $53.99
2 packages of Skinless Boneless Breast
1 pack of Chicken Wings (perfect for tailgate parties)
1 pack Ground Beef
1 pack of Boneless Beef Stew
1 Smoked Polish Pork Sausage or Smoked Pork Sausage w/ Peppers and Onions
1 package of Pork Chops (2 in pack)
1 lb Applewood Smoked Bacon
1 package of Mild Bulk or Maple Pork Sausage (you choose)


LARGE FAMILY VALUE BOX $69.99
1 Whole Chicken
2 package Skinless Boneless Breast
1 package of Pork St. Louis Ribs
1 package of Mild Bulk or Maple Pork Breakfast Sausage (you choose)
2 packs of Chicken Wings (great for Tailgate Party)
1 package of Ground Beef
1 package of Boneless Beef Stew


LAMB BOX - $49.99
1 pack Boneless Lamb Cubes for Kabob or Stew (1.5-2.5 lbs)
1 Lamb Sausage (Italian or Sun-Dried Tomato/Feta Cheese/Basil – your choice)
2 packs of Lamb Riblets (perfect for crockpot)
1 Rack of Lamb (8 bone rack) (1.75-2.25 lbs)

BEEF ROAST/GROUND BEEF BOX - $49.99
1 Chuck Roast (about 3 lbs)
5 lbs Ground Beef

VARIETY BEEF BOX - $49.99
2 pack of Beef Osso Bucco
1 pack Boneless Beef Stew
2 pack Ground Beef
1 pack Cubed Steak

Christmas Party Box - $25.00
2 packs Mild Bulk Pork Sausage
2 packs Chicken Wings
1 pack of Apple wood Bacon (6 slices)

* Pork Shanks for Osso Bucco -- $4.50/lb, was $5.00/lb (about 2 lbs)
* St. Louis Pork Ribs – $6.50/lb (3-4 lbs), normally $7.00/lb
* Hot Pork Sausage (Bulk) - $5.00/lb (normally $6.00/lb), limited supply
*Pork Neckbones – Value Priced at $1.50/lb (great for crockpot w/ Barbeque sauce)

Produce CSA - August 26th

Here is what is in the Produce boxes this week:
Eight ball squash, zucchini, yellow squash, onions, eggplant, Delicata squash, Tomatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Asian Pears, Bell Peppers.
If you had a full share, you got some extra things like arugula, cucumbers and heirloom German Striped or Brandywine Tomatoes.
The Delicata Squash are great sliced lenthwise, seeds removed, seasoned with sage, rosemary, pepper and salt, apple juice and sherry vinegar then baked for about 45 minutes or so at 375 degrees.
We've got lettuce planted as it has cooled off a little. We hope to be able to harvest it for those CSA boxes that will go on through September.

Produce CSA contents - 1st week of August

Produce CSA box contents this week: watermelon, acorn squash, yellow cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, onions, stringbeans, collards and peppers. Apologies for the collards not looking pretty. They have some sunscald on them due to the heat and high humidity.

Our family's favorite thing to do with... the acorn squash is to put a little cinnamon and maple syrup on it and roast in oven. When about done, take some Mild breakfast sausage, crumble and brown and mix with some cooked wild rice blend and then stuff the acorn squash and put back into the oven until browned a little on top.

With all the eggplant that you have this week, it might be a good time to make some Baba Ghannouj. Also, here is another great idea from Food Network, Farro Salad with Grilled Eggplant, Tomato and Onion. You can use either spelt or wheat for the grain in the recipe.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/farro-salad-with-grilled-eggplant-tomatoes-and-onion-recipe/index.html


Thanks,

Genell and the kids

Latest Specials: July 10, 2010

5 lb Ground Beef - $28.00
1 package of Cube Steak, 3 lb of Ground Beef, 1 package of Beef Stir-fry - $30.00
5 lb of Skinless/Boneless Breast - $7.50/lb

(While supplies last)

CSA Box -July 8, 2010

In the Produce CSA boxes this week: Corn, Tomatoes: Roma and Slicing,
Red Irish Potatoes,
Sweet Potatoes,
Spring Onions,
Yellow Squash,
Blueberries,
Eggplant: Thai (Green Spotted Round) and either White or Purple Japanese Eggplant
Peppers: Bell and either Poblano or Key Largo
Field Peas: Pink Eye/Purple Hull

It is sure hot and dry here. I don't think we'll have any more corn. We are really struggling with the garden right now. Vines drying up, the worms taking over the corn, grubs and fire ants trying to eat the potatoes. The potatoes in your box were just dug 3 days ago. They are fresh and might be a little soft. They aren't nearly as pretty as those from the other field earlier in the season. The sun is scalding some of the tomatoes.

Here is a good recipe for the thai eggplants. http://www.templeofthai.com/recipes/thai_green_curry.php You can google Thai eggplants for more recipe ideas. We are eating a lot of stirfrys and also roasting veggies and making frittatas w/ lots of veggies in them.

Thank you for bearing with us during this tough weather. The kids are really working long, hard hours in the garden. They work until about 10 am in the garden and then have to come out because it is too hot to be out there. Then they go back in from 7pm until pitch black dark nearly every night. Hopefully, we'll get some rain and things will be better in a few weeks.

In your Produce CSA box this week: Cabbage, pickling cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, the last of the Kohlrabi, Green Tomatoes, Green Beans, Collards, French Tarragon, Daikon Radishes (look like white carrots). Full boxes got some Hakauri turnips and Easter Egg radishes until they ran out. Time for Fried Green Tomatoes. Daikon radishes are great in stir frys (taste sort of like a water chestnut).
Here is a great link for recipes for Sweet Pickled Daikon Radishes: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/sweet-pickled-daikon-radish-recipe/index.html

Check out these great links for what to do with Green Tomatoes...

http://tipnut.com/green-tomato-recipes/

http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/682/Green-Tomatoes-With-Goat-Chees97810.shtml

We should have some wax beans ready starting next week and the following week we will have corn and blueberries starting up. We are staying in the garden till dark. The kids are maturing and trying very hard this year, remembering to pick squash daily, harvest everything ready, chopping grass, etc. I'm very proud of them. We have about 500 tomato plants so at some point later in the summer, we should have huge amounts of tomatoes. Plan on canning or freezing some for winter or making spaghetti sauce. Don't ask me why I planted so many. They are one of my passions. I particularly love heirlooms.