Quick Time

Here we are a week later again.  How does that happen so fast.  It’s been a busy last several days.

The Dine and Discover event was great fun.  We had a bunch of hungry and eager-to-learn folks here Saturday evening.  The weather was a dream come true.  Carol and I did a little prep in advance, although we were demonstrating how easy it is to eat healthfully, we couldn’t be doing everything during the Event.  We had two “Appeteasers”: Pesto Stuffed Gardener’s Delight Tomatoes on a bed of nasturtium leaf and Sprout Hummus with Fresh Picked Veggies; the Main Course:  Frittata, Cucumber Salad and Breschetta on Organic Flaxseed Bread; and of course Dessert:  fresh Ontario Peaches sliced over locally made Yogurt topped with Granola and Black Currant Syrup.  Carol spoke of the nutritional benefits of everything on this menu and we all discussed how good fresh food IS the ingredient you need in your fridge and in your cupboard to begin healthful eating.  We’ll get those recipes onto each of our blogs as soon as we can.  I find the computer work harder than anything else I do here – sigh. 

I wanted to let everyone know that even though I am home all day every day, it’s impossible for me to make a full meal each day as I’m outside from very early to very late with weeding, picking, chicken-keeping and market garden maintenance in general.  Monday each week is my day to begin the preparations towards great heath-mindful meals for each upcoming evening for the week.  I start by cooking the main parts of salads I’ll be making such as quinoa, rice or potatoes.   That’s the time-consumer.   I cut most of the fresh vegetables in the form I’ll need for certain dishes, whether for stir-fry, additions to salads or for dipping into homemade hummus which I make Monday as well.  I usually cook chicken or turkey/chicken sausage Monday to eat for a couple of meals during the week.  Fish is such a simple dinner, I cook pacific trout from frozen just before dinner – 450F, top rack, 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness.  This gives me time to put together that salad and maybe slice up some whole grain bread at the same time.   I usually cook two pizzas (from scratch) Thursday, eat one then and the other is waiting ready for me to warm up after deliveries Friday evening.  A little planning can make the week’s meals quite stress-free and actually relaxing. 

We did touch upon the benefits of organic over GMOs, but that’s a really HUGE topic that would take more than an evening to discuss. 

Oh, and as promised, the Salad Greens are indeed ready.  Let’s see how we do for the first week of their new existence. 

Those good fresh ingredients you can have in your fridge and cupboard this week are:

Beans  $3/pound there are some, the second plantings are just coming about now

Beets, Chioggia  $3/pound

Cabbage, Savoy  $3 each

Calendula Flowers  $3/bag

Calendula Seeds  how many handfuls would you like? $0/handful

Carrots   $3/bunch

Celery, even bigger than last week  $2/bundle

Chard  $3/bag

Chicory  Dandelion Leaves Garnet Stem  $3/bag

Edible Flowers  $3/bag

Endive:  frisee, batavian  $3/bag 

Garlic  $3 and $2 each  depending on the size – please specify when ordering - thanks  

Herbs:  Chives, Citrus Thyme, Dill, Marjoram, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Sage, Savory, Sorrel, Thyme  $2/bunch or $5/mixed bag

Mustard Greens  $3/bag

Onions, white, yellow  $2.50/pound  

Peppers, Alma Paprika  $4/pound

Peppers, Sweet  $4/pound

Radicchio  $2/head

SALAD GREENS  (washed and table-ready)  $5/bag

Shallots  $6/pound

Tomatoes  $3 pound 

Tomatoes, cherry  $4 pound

Turnips  Purple Top White Globe, really large  $3/pound

Granola, with fruit  $8 /500mL jar

Granola, with nuts and fruit  $10 /500mL jar

Pesto  $4.50 /125mL jar (organic basil grown here, parmesan cheese, organic olive oil, walnuts, organic garlic grown here, sea salt, pepper)

Sprouts:  $3/bag

Sandwich Booster (clover, alfalfa, radish and mustard) 

Spring Salad Mix  (broccoli, radish, alfalfa & clover) 

I wondered why no one ordered Sprouts last week.  I see now I hadn’t included them in the list – oops.  There are new ones this week.  I made a large order of Crunchy Bean Mix and Ancient Eastern Blend, of which there may be an extra bag or two.  Let me know if you’d like either of these, but I won’t know until I pack them up Thursday night or Friday morning.  Thanks.

Day Brighteners is a non-certified organic farm, where we practice sustainability and environmentally-friendly farming.  We use non-GMO seeds and products and take pride in all we do.  You are very welcome to drop by most days, but if it’s picking/packing/delivery day you take your chances on the tour.  Calling or emailing first is a good idea.  We do appreciate your business very much and would like to hear from you with any comments you have.  

If you'd like to purchase any of the above items, I'd be happy to provide them if available after our regular customers have ordered.  Perhaps you might like to be added to our Weekly Delivery List.  I send my email out every Wednesday, collect orders Thursdays and deliver Fridays (or another day convenient to us and you if you're not too close to home).  See Contact information and email or call me.  Thanks.

Until next post, have a great every day.  

Jo