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One Local Summer

One Local Summer 2013 – Week 18

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I had big plans for the garden this year, but somehow it never really got off the ground.. or in the ground.  Either way, I did manage to get one lonely squash plant seedling planted, and it yielded a single ENORMOUS Boston Marrow Squash.  Well hey, I wasn’t going to let that go to waste, so I scooped out the seeds and set out to make the largest batch of squash soup ever.  It ended up working out really well for soup – the squash has lots of flavor and is pretty sweet, almost like a pumpkin on steroids.  I added some local cheese to thicken up the texture, saving some for the top as well, and paired it with a mug of Asian Pear cider.  A pretty simple meal, but that squash is a big winner.  Maybe next year, I’ll have a few more!

Squash Soup:
Boston Marrow Squash – My Garden
Cheese – Birchrun Hills
Asian Pear Cider – North Star Orchard
Non local – salt, pepper

One Local Summer

One Local Summer 2013 – Week 17

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So, this one might not look as impressive, but so far, it’s been my favorite meal all year (well okay, maybe tied with the bacon wrapped filet).  Yoinked straight from Pinterest, but with a few changes.  The original post I pinned is here, in case you’re curious.  I took the idea, but instead of using apples, I substituted with asian pears.  The asian pear season is in FULL swing and our local orchard is churning them out  almost   as fast as the local population consumes them.  They’re hugely popular around here, and you best get to the market early if you want a couple!  Anyway, I cut slices in the pork loin, stuffed in slices of apples, and put it in the crock pot.  I covered the loin with a dusting of cinnamon and honey, added some asian pear cider in the bottom and onions on top.  WOW.  It came out so tender and just plain amazing.  I may have to do this one again and try using other fruits.  Add in some roasted potatoes instead of mashed, and we have a full meal on the plate.

Asian Pear Stuffed Pork Loin:
Pork Loin – Countrytime Farm
Asian Pears – North Star Orchard
Asian Pear Cider – North Star Orchard
Onion – Jack’s Farm
Potatoes – Jack’s Farm
Honey – Baues’ Busy Bees
Non Local – olive oil, salt, pepper, cinnamon

One Local Summer

One Local Summer 2013 – Week 16

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Stuffed Peppers, One Local Summer style!  The Anselma market had these huge red peppers and I couldn’t resist.  We used ground pork, tomatoes from our own garden, and instead of rice, wheat!  The substitution worked out really well, and in fact, I think I might prefer it – the wheat is really much more flavorful than rice, even if it takes longer to cook.  Add to that a big chunk of cantaloupe and some potatoes, and it makes for a very filling dinner.  It really came out well and I’m SO glad we had leftovers.  Yeah, I know I’m behind on blogging again – this was actually prepared a few weeks ago, before vacation, but I’m just finally getting it online now.  Oops.  Better late than never?

Stuffed Peppers:
Red Peppers – Brogue Hydroponics
Blue Potatoes – Jack’s Farm
Yellow Potatoes – Brogue Hydroponics
Cantaloupe – Brogue Hydroponics
Onion – Maysie’s Farm
Ground Pork – Bendy Brook Farm
Wheat – North Star Orchard
Tomatoes – My Garden
Cheese – Birchrun Hills
Non Local – Olive oil, salt, pepper

One Local Summer

One Local Summer 2013 – Week 15

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The husband took lead on this dinner and I’m glad to have him back again!  I don’t know why we never thought of it before, what with the Bison vendor and the pork vendor just a booth away from eachother, but we finally did it – Filet Mignon wrapped in bacon!  One of the most delicious combinations to ever grace the grill, and the husband managed to cook the filet exactly to my specifications (brown the whole way through, but still tender, yes, I know I’m a freak about how red meat is cooked).  The bacon kept the filet extra juicy and it really is a winning combination.  To finish off the plate, we had a grilled peach covered in Equinox cheese, and potatoes grilled with onions and garlic.  Good ole meat and potatoes, but a classy meat and potatoes, I think.  Such a shame there isn’t more!  And, before I forget to mention it, there really is nothing in the world better than nitrate free bacon from our favorite pork vendor at the market – this stuff is SO SO SO beyond anything I’ve ever gotten in the grocery store.

Bacon Wrapped Filet with Potatoes and a Grilled Peach:
Bacon – Countrytime Farm
Blue Potatoes – Jack’s Farm
Onion – Jack’s Farm
Garlic – North Star Orchard
Cheese – Birchrun Hills
Bison Filet Mignon – Backyard Bison
Non local – Olive oil, salt, pepper

One Local Summer

One Local Summer 2013 – Week 14

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Veal Marsala! One of the husband’s sisters was visiting and this was a quickie last minute meal for us.  We decided that the veal should be breaded, which turned out to be easier than I thought!  Add some potatoes and mushrooms cooked in a kinda-local wine, and we have a meal!  The wine is a  Marechal Foch from the Flag Hill Winery in New Hampshire, and the proceeds benefit the local Human Society.  We visited the winery on vacation and brought this back with us, so while it’s not really local, I’m allowing it since it travelled with us, and didn’t make a special extra trip on a truck.  Everything came together wonderfully, and having those two colors of potatoes on the plate was really fun.

Veal Marsala:
Veal – Birchrun Hills
Blue Potatoes – Jack’s Farm
Yellow Fingerlings – Brogue Hydroponics
Mushrooms – Oley Valley Mushrooms
Wine – Flag Hill Winery
Egg – Deep Roots Valley Farm
Flour – Mill at Anselma
Non Local – salt, pepper, olive oil

One Local Summer

One Local Summer 2013 – Week 13

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Breakfast, a classic, and a sort of lazy way to get at making this week’s meal.  Not going to lie, I’m starting to lose steam on this, being busy and having little time to cook, but hey, breakfast is a meal, so it works.  In the back is a bowl of nectarines (SO GOOD, it’s like the sun was leaking out of them).  On the main plate are blue potato home fries, pork sausage, a chunk of goat’s cheese, and scrambled eggs.  A pretty hearty breakfast, and to top it all off, my usual double shot of espresso (not local, but absolutely necessary).  I’m a little behind on posts, but I swear I’ll catch up!

Sausage, Eggs, and Potatoes:
Blue Potatoes – Jack’s Farm
Eggs – Deep Roots Valley Farm
Chevre – Shellbark Hollow Farm
Pork Sausage – Countrytime Farm
Nectarines – North Star Orchard
Non Local – Espresso, salt, pepper, olive oil

One Local Summer

One Local Summer 2013 – Week 12

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I’m sort of split on this one.  I had a great idea, it just ended up being poorly executed mostly due to a bad recipe.  Yep, that’s supposed to be a taco shell.  Unfortunately, I used this recipe, instead of the one I had used before, and got what’s basically a cornmeal crepe instead of a hard taco shell.  It leaks, doesn’t hold together, and it basically rubbish.  Everything else was great though – the ground pork came out great, the squash was wonderful, the fruit sweet, and the sheep’s milk feta cheese!  YUM!  Oh well, at least I know better for next time!  A quick note on the nectarine and plum – our local orchard was hit by a hail storm earlier this season and fruit has been pretty scarce in comparison with prior years.  They put up a sign on their fruit bins at the market that the fruit is, “Hail kissed but still delicious!”  It makes me laugh every time, and they’re right.  Visual imperfections don’t make the fruit taste any different.

Pork Tacos and Fruit:
Cantaloupe – Brogue Hydroponics
Nectarine – North Star Orchard
Plum – North Star Orchard
Egg – Deep Roots Valley Farm
Flour – Mill at Anselma
Cornmeal – Mill at Anselma
Squash – Maysie’s Farm
Ground Pork –  Bendy Brook Farm
Onion – Maysie’s Farm
Tomato – Maysie’s Farm
Sheep’s Milk Feta – King’s Creamery
Lettuce – Brogue Hydroponics
Non Local – olive oil, salt, pepper, taco seasoning

One Local Summer

One Local Summer 2013 – Week 11

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We missed our normal market this week, so we checked out a different one nearby at the Mill at Anselma.  It’s definitely a smaller market, but I really enjoy the vendors who show up there.  We kept it simple again this week, opting for a summer classic – corn on the cob and beer can chicken.  The beer we used was 21st Amendment’s Hell or High Watermelon, so, not local, but it’s basically used as a source of steam to keep the chicken moist while it cooks.  The chicken did come out REALLY tender and delicious, and paired with that crisp salad and corn that was SO so sweet, it was a really delightful meal.

Beer Can Chicken:
Chicken – Bendy Brook Farm
Corn – Brogue Hydroponics
Lettuce – Brogue Hydroponics
Cucumber – Maysie’s Farm
Tomato – Maysie’s Farm
Non local – spices, salt, pepper, olive oil