Cucumbers~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Market Friends,
Yes, it is that time of year when you lock your doors so that your neighbors won't give you cucumbers.
The problem with cucumbers, isn't that they aren't tasty, refreshing and good for you, it is that there is very few ways if any to store them. So what is a farmer's answer to the dilemma of cucumber abundance?
The first answer is Juice!!!!!!! If you have a juicer break it out and throw in your cucumbers. Add a touch of fresh mint in the juicer for a snazzy treat. Refrigerate the cucumbers first to make the juice cool so you can chug it immediately.
The second answer is Cucumber salad, I have learned to be creative with this over the years. One of my favorites includes everything fresh right now:

Cucumber Salad with Peaches and Basil
Slice cucumbers into round slices. - leave the skin on for extra minerals
Slice fresh local peaches into cubes - leave the skin on for extra minerals
Thin slices of red onions- although is is not necessary.
Basil thin slices.
Mix this with a dash of sea salt (to taste). A dash of olive oil and a dash of Balsamic vinegar.
Do not over wet this salad. The cucumbers and peaches have plenty of wetness on their own.

Experiment and have fun. Cucumbers are 3 for a $1 at our store this week.

Here is what we will have at market this week:

• beans
• salad mix
• cucumbers
• summer squash
• lettuce
• basil
• carrots
• kale
• chard
• garlic

Have a super week.
Erica

Dear Friends of B & H Organic Produce,
Hope you had a fun 4th of July.
Don't forget to stay hydrated this week.
I will also start posting this email on our blog each week. This will be a way for you to look up recipes. Simply go to our blog (which may be linked from our website) http://bhorganics.blogspot.com/ and if you look in the top left hand corner you can type in a vegetable and if I ever posted a recipe it will come up.
This is what we will be bringing to market on Saturday July 10th (plus a few other surprises)

• Salad Mix
• Radicchio - see recipe below
• Beans
• Summer Squash- patty pan, heirloom zucchini and crookneck
• Cucumbers
• Arugula
• Lettuce
• Basil
• Carrots
• Beets
• Garlic
• Kale
• Parsley
• Swiss Chard

Here is a recipe for grilled Radicchio.
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Articles/Produce-638/radicchio.aspx

This recipe calls for the "treviso" radicchio which is the taller or longer type. However, you may also use the more rounded type. We will have both types at market this week.
Note that radicchio is very high in Potassium. Why is that important? Potassium helps the body regulate water balance and is an electrolyte. In this weather that is super important. So put away your colored gatorade and eat radicchio.

Have a great week,
Erica
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Dear Friends of B & H Organic Produce,

Thank you all for another successful week at the Elverson Farmer's Market. Don't forget to tell your friends and neighbors about us. The more support we have the more vendors we will get.

Here is what we will have for our markets this weekend.

• Salad Mix
• Cucumbers
• Summer Squash- perfect sizes for grilling
• Arugula
• Lettuce
• Kale
• Swiss Chard
• Green Garlic
• Parsley
• Beets- 3 colors
• Basil
  

And I forgot last week to remind you about our grass-fed beef. All our meat is raised on our farm and sold frozen as cuts. Here is what we will have for your grilling pleasure:

• ground beef
• patties
• chip steak
• delmonico steaks
• tenderloin steaks
• sirloin steaks
  
• NY strip steaks.
  

And for this week's recipe:

Arugula Salad topped with Roasted Beets and Goat Cheese:

• For easy instructions on how to roast beets http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=29

For a twist on this you can take the beets out early and put them on the grill to finish. Or if it is too hot for your oven simply boil the beets till soft and grill to finish. And don't bother peeling the beets. I never do and they are fine.

• Slice the beets thin and place on a bed of arugula. The beets can be chilled for a cold salad or left hot and placed on the arugula will melt the arugula.
  
• Top with a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic and a dolop of goats cheese. Amazing Acres goat farm located in Elverson has a great variety of goat cheese and it is sold at the market.
  
• For a creative way to impress your friends. Prepare all 3 colors of beets separately and then mix them on top of the salad at the end. (if you cook all the colors together the colors will run)

Kale Chips: (this recipe is back by popular demand).
I eat kale at least once a week. Don't be afraid of this recipe and the dehydrator. You can prepare these in the oven at 300 but only for 3-4 minutes or they will burn.
http://renegadehealth.com/blog/raw-food-snack-recipe-for-kale-chips/

Thank you again and have a super week.