Friday July 02, 2010
As we meander into the 4th of July weekend I first wanted to reflect on what it is to be an American - and it just isn't all about the apple pie! We have the freedoms here in the USA to be and think freely; to embrace diversity and celebrate our independence through our diversity.
Ok, so what's cookin' in my kitchen this weekend? Right now I have some vegetable soup on the stove - a great way to use some of the greens I have amassed in my fridge from the CSA. And because it's been quite chilly it will be a welcome item on the menu!!
My thoughts on food right now are to keep things simple like a spice rubbed flank steak, leafy green salad, beet salad, broccoli and fresh blueberries.
Here's my favorite spice rub recipe:
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix together, then rub into flank steak. Place flank steak in a gallon freezer bag with any extra rub and place in fridge for at least 8 hours for maximum flavor. Grill on stove top or outdoor grill - your choice! Slice it thinly against the grain and serve over salad or with potatoes (salad or roasted new) and any other farm fresh veggies.
Celebrate your independence!! I plan on doing the same.
Wednesday June 30, 2010
Today in the studio we had with us Teresa Tavares who was born in the Azores (more specifically, the island of Terceira) which is an archipelago located nearly half way between the U.S. and Portugal. If Teresa taught us one thing about Portugese food it's that you can never have too much sea salt in your pantry and onions and garlic for that matter too! What made her interview truly unique for us was how much she had to say about the use of veggies and meats in traditional dishes more than seafood which we had believed to be more of a culinary staple. Listen in and let your mouth water as Teresa describes the heirloom Al Cathra clay pot, her special steak recipe, family-famous rice pudding and much much more.
Carole Murko 20100630 1300.mp3http://www.box.net//static/flash/mp3player_player.swf?playlistURL=http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_v2_mp3_player_shared%26_playlist%26shared_name=upfv4t62yq%26node=f_459750962
Tuesday June 29, 2010
We've got all of our chickens in a row at Boulderwood this morning!
Most days you can spot them taking dirt baths under the porch, competing for cracked corn, eyeing the forbidden gardens and chasing each other around. Along with the endless barn yard entertainment they also provide us the most delicious eggs. Recently, we were anxiously waiting to see if the pile of eggs one of our hens was sitting on for days were going to hatch or not but to no avail.
In the background of this particular picture you can see where Jim has left off trying to literally straighten out the old ice house. Presently it is the shelter for both the chickens and the horses but has experienced some serious sinkage over the last couple of years. So far, Jim, with the help of his son Matt, successfully raised the left side 6 inches! One more inch would make it perfect but we didn't want to push our luck trying to lift the building again with the tractor. Great job guys!
Monday June 28, 2010
Who walks and talks country living better than the Berkshires anyway?!
Today the Heirloom Meals office printer has seen a lot of action as we are designing, printing and crafting the invitations for the Berkshire Grown fundraiser dinner that will be hosted on Boulderwood Farm at the end of August. Several days ago we received some exciting news that the current editor-in-chief of Country Living magazine, Sarah Gray Miller, agreed to come and be the featured guest for our event. Our hope is that by sharing with Sarah how BG influences the local economy, lifestyles, food and environment Country Living might support our cause by creating a How-To for other interested individuals and organizations who would like to start similar movements in their communities. We think an online database where people could find their local CSAs and farmers markets would be spectacular too.
For the party we are hoping to have a true farm-to-table dinner out in the pasture with a full spread of heirloom meals from our archives that lend themselves to the in season produce available to us. We are even asking attending guests to send in heirloom recipes for us as we might feature them on the menu as well! In the next few weeks we will start honing in on the final menu probably around the same time that we will be cooking and photographing recipes for our HM website which we will no doubt be sharing with you!
Happy Murky Monday!
P.S. Don't forget to check us out and show your support for Heirloom Meals at http://kck.st/cJw7ty where we are raising money for said website. Donate a $1 or $10 or $25 or more! Thanks!
Friday June 25, 2010
On our way home from the CSA our bags were brimming with colorful, fresh produce including beets, zucchini, cherries, spinach and amazing salad greens. Using our best concocting skills, the idea is to include these foods in every meal you enjoy throughout the day and week. Creative simplicity is the name of the game here.
A favorite for the beets is to roast them with olive oil, rosemary, salt and pepper and serve them over salad greens with goat cheese. Olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a light, summery dressing.
When thinking of zucchini, grandma knew it best. Sauteed with onions and whatever herbs are on hand, zucchini is the perfect side dish to the whatever you got going on the grill.
The perfect partner for the farm fresh morning eggs would undoubtedly be the spinach that scrambles in oh so nicely. If you happen to have a little provolone cheese- even better!
Last, but certainly not least, fresh, organic cherries are best left on their own in a little bowl on the counter. No fumbling through the fridge or digging through cabinets is necessary to find that perfect afternoon snack anymore.
Happy Friday!
