Spicy Watermelon

This recipe was given to us by our marketing gal who spent some time in Los Angeles. One of her favorite treats was from a neighborhood fruit stand off Sunset Boulevard. A Latino gentleman would cut up fresh fruit like pineapple, mango and watermelon and then top it off with lime juice and chili spices. She swears it’s good so we’re going to give it a go!

You’ll need:

• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
• ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
• ¼ teaspoon chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 cups cubed seeded watermelon
• ½ lime, juiced

To make:
Mix spices together in a bowl until well blended. Put watermelon into two bowls, sprinkle evenly with spice mixture and top with lime juice. 

Give it a go and let us know what you think!

We are looking for hard-working motivated individuals who enjoy fresh air and a teamwork environment to work in our produce packing shed.

This position requires that you be able to:

• Stay on your feet for extended periods
• Lift 40 pounds
• Work in an un-air-conditioned space (You WILL NOT have to be in the sun)
• General knowledge of fruits and vegetables is appreciated but not required. Examples are being able to identify different fruits and veggies or knowing how to handle tomatoes without bruising.

Best Blueberry Muffins

Our summer CSA farm shares include some of the best blueberries you’ll ever taste so it makes sense they make some pretty incredible blueberry muffins! 

You’ll need:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup white sugar
  ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• ⅓ cup milk, or more as needed
• 1 cup farm-fresh blueberries
• ½ cup white sugar 
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup butter, cubed
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

To make:

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.

Mix 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Add vegetable oil to a 1 cup measuring cup and then add the egg and enough milk to reach the 1 cup mark. Mix this with the flour mixture. Fold in your farm-fresh blueberries.

Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.

For the crumble topping, mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix ingredients with a fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done. Stick a toothpick in the muffin. If it comes out clean, muffins are done!

Enjoy with a cup of coffee for the perfect breakfast!

Click here to see what other goodies are included in our summer CSA farm shares! Visit us on Pinterest for more delicious recipes!

Natural Egg Dye

We love everything about Easter here at Falcon Ridge Farm! We especially enjoy hiding all the eggs for families to come and hunt! Speaking of Easter eggs, did you know you can make 100% natural egg dye from common kitchen scraps?

Color Concoctions:

Blue: Add 1 cup of chopped purple cabbage + 1 cup of water
Red: 1 cup red onion skins + 1 cup of water
Pink: 1 cup shredded beets + 1 cup of water
Yellow: 2 tablespoons of turmeric + 1 cup of water

To Make:

You’ll need a separate pot for each color you want to make. Add 1 cup of water to each pot and add your natural dye ingredient. Bring to a boil and then turn the heat down and simmer for 15-30 minutes, covered. You’ll want the dye to be a few shades darker than the hue you want for your egg.

Remove from heat and allow dye to cool for up to 20 minutes.

Poor the cooled dye through a mesh strainer and add 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar to each of your dyes. Add your eggs and put in the refrigerator to chill until the desired color is reached.

That’s it!

Easter is EGGcellenet here at the farm! We have exciting egg hunts, Easter Bunny visits, lots of farm animals to pet and MORE! Learn more about Easter on the farm!

Visit us on Pinterest for fun egg decorating ideas, crafts and delicious recipes. 

Did you know that the majority of carrots grown prior to the 1500s were purple, yellow and white? We actually have the Dutch to thank for orange carrots. In the late 1500s, farmers began growing a strain of carrots that were higher in beta carotene in honor of William of Orange. We like them all, but for this side dish, we’re using colorful carrots!

You’ll need:

• 2 lbs rainbow carrots with their tops
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• ¾ tsp garlic salt OR sea salt
• Ground black pepper to taste
• Fresh thyme sprigs (divided)

To make:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Scrub carrots and trim tops to 1 inch. If some of your carrots are thicker than others, cut them in halves lengthwise so that they are along the same diameter as the others.

In a large bowl, toss carrots with oil so that they are evenly coated and spread them, single layer, on a large rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper. Toss several sprigs of thyme on top, keeping two sprigs for garnish.

Roast, stirring every 10 minutes. Carrots are done when they are tender and caramelizing around the edges. Remove the thyme stems prior to serving. Add additional salt and pepper to taste if needed.

Transfer carrots to a serving dish, sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve!

Visit our blog for more delicious recipes! We look forward to seeing you here at the farm for Easter festivities!

Easter Deviled Eggs

Along with being a good way to use up all those boiled Easter eggs, Deviled Eggs are a go-to appetizer for your family dinner. Add a little food coloring to make these traditional bites pop!

You’ll need:

• 12 large eggs 
• ¼ cup mayo
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• Smoked paprika (to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon dry mustard
• 4 drops red food coloring
• 4 drops blue food coloring
• 4 drops green food coloring
• 3 cups water, or as desired

To make:

If you don’t have hard-boiled eggs already, follow these steps for a quick batch. Place eggs into a large saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Let eggs boil for 3 minutes; turn off heat, cover pot, and let eggs cook in hot water for 20 minutes. Drain and cover eggs with cold water. Peel your eggs after they’ve cooled.

Cut hard-cooked eggs in half lengthwise and remove yolks. Mash yolks in a bowl with mayo, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika to taste, and dry mustard until smooth.

Place red, blue, and green food coloring into 3 different bowls and add about 1 cup water to each bowl. Steep 8 egg white halves in each bowl, tinting the egg whites pink, light blue, and green. If color is too pale, add more coloring to bowls. Drain colored egg whites on paper towels.

Pipe or spoon egg yolk filling into colored egg white halves; cover and chill before serving, at least 30 minutes.

Visit us on Pinterest for more fun recipes!

Creamy Peas N Bacon

Sugar snap peas are tasty right off the vine, but adding a little bacon adds a punch of flavor to this delicious vegetable! 

You’ll need:

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp butter
8 oz sugar snap peas, trimmed
Ground black pepper to taste
13 oz green peas
1 tsp salt
8 oz bacon
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp fresh nutmeg
1/2 cup fresh mixed herbs, chopped (such as: parsley, thyme, sage)
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice

To make:

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add butter and oil. Add the sugar snap peas, salt, and pepper, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sugar snaps are crisp-tender.
2. Stir in 13 oz of the green peas and cook while stirring for 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
3. Add bacon to skillet and cook until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels. Once cooled, chop into bits.
4. Save 2 tbsps of the bacon grease and discard the rest. Add butter if there’s not enough grease.
5. Add flour to the drippings and whisk continuously for 2-3 minutes until flour is bubbling.
6. Mash 1/2 cup of the peas and add them to the flower/oil mixture.
7. Slowly and gradually stir in the chicken broth, whisking until smooth. Add the heavy cream and nutmeg.
   Whisk continuously until the sauce is reduced by 1/3, about 5 minutes.
8. Add peas back to the sauce. Cook, stirring, until heated through, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the fresh lemon juice and season with additional salt and black pepper, to taste.
9. Transfer peas in cream sauce to a serving bowl or platter, and top with bacon and fresh herbs. Voila!

Sign up for our CSA Farm Share Membership and get fresh peas, herbs, and more to whip up this dish!

The Ripe Time

Have you ever eaten a bitter carrot or a bland tomato? When a fruit or vegetable is harvested has a HUGE impact on its flavor. If root vegetables like carrots are picked too soon, they are often bitter as the sugars haven’t had a chance to develop to give it that lovely sweet flavor. Depending on if it’s a flower or a leaf, there are different harvesting times for herbs to ensure they pack the best punch taste-wise. The time of day can impact quality as well. Early morning is the best time to pick certain crops as it guarantees sweeter, crisper and juicier produce!

Here at the farm, we pick all of our produce at the perfect time to ensure the best quality fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers! Sign up for our CSA Farm Share Memberships or visit us at a farmer’s market to enjoy farm-fresh produce!

CSA Kickoff

2021 CSA Farm Share memberships are now available! We grow more than 40 different fruits and vegetable crops here at the farm. Get a box of fresh, hand-picked fruits and vegetables every week along with recipes and cooking tips. We offer 20+ delivery locations in West Tennessee so pick up is a breeze! Sign up today.