Kale and Quinoa Salad

Kale, known for its health benefits, including being rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as being a good source of minerals and fiber, can be a versatile ingredient in your kitchen. Here’s a delightful recipe for a Kale and Quinoa Salad that’s perfect for a health-conscious audience. This dish is not only packed with nutrients but also full of flavor, making it an ideal choice for a blog post that appeals to both health enthusiasts and food lovers.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup quinoa (uncooked)
  • 2 cups water
  • 4 cups kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
  • 1/4 cup almonds, sliced or chopped
For the Lemon Vinaigrette:
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (for a vegan option)
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Cook the Quinoa: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let it sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and allow it to cool.
  2. Prepare the Kale: While the quinoa is cooking, place the chopped kale in a large bowl. If the kale is tough, you might want to massage it with a little bit of olive oil to soften.
  3. Make the Lemon Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey (or maple syrup), minced garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined.
  4. Combine the Salad: To the bowl with the kale, add the cooled quinoa, diced avocado, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and crumbled feta cheese.
  5. Toss with Vinaigrette: Pour the lemon vinaigrette over the salad and toss until everything is well coated.
  6. Add the Crunch: Sprinkle the sliced almonds on top of the salad for an added crunch.
  7. Serve: The salad can be served immediately or chilled in the refrigerator for an hour to allow the flavors to meld together.

Kale and other delicious greens are part of our spring farm box season. Sign up for our farm boxes online today! You can find more delicious recipes on our blog.

Collard Greens With Bacon

Collard greens go well with just about anything. Collard greens taste like a cross between kale and cabbage and have a smooth and hearty texture. Try this savory side dish at your next meal!

You’ll need:

4 strips thick-sliced bacon, sliced into 1/2-inch strips
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons sugar
Several dashes of hot sauce (add more if you want more heat)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 pounds collard greens, stems removed, sliced into 3-inch-wide strips
1 cup chicken stock (or water)

To make:

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon until browned around the edges. Add onion and cook until softened. 

Add the salt, pepper, sugar, hot sauce, and garlic, and cook for about one minute. 

Add the vinegar and simmer until the amount of liquid is reduced by half, stirring and scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.

Add the collard greens and the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Reduce the temperature to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally until the collard greens have wilted and lost their brightness. Season to taste with additional vinegar and hot sauce.
Serve the greens with some of the juices from the pan.

You can get farm-fresh greens when you join our CSA program. Visit our blog for more delicious recipes!

Woven Easter Eggs

Here’s a fun craft to do with the kiddos during the Easter holiday! Make several to decorate the house for holiday festivities.

You’ll need:
Colorful paper (kiddos can pick their favorites)
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors/children-safe scissors
Easter Egg template

To make:
Use the template to cut out your egg shape. Using the ruler, mark lines an inch apart. Using the scissors, cut along the lines. Next, cut several 1/2 inch wide strips of colorful paper. Weave the strips of paper into the egg shape.

We look forward to seeing y’all here at the farm for loads of Easter fun!

Home Place Pastures

Delicious and Local Meats!

We wanted to offer a variety of quality meats to our customers and are thrilled to partner with Home Place Pastures in Como, Mississippi. Fifth generation farmers, the Bartlett family has farmed their land for 150 years. They’ve begun the next chapter by running a vertically integrated, pasture-based beef, pork and lamb farm. All animals are humanely pasture raised. All produced meat is slaughtered and processed on the farm. Add their fresh, quality meats to your farm box!

Rosecreek Farms

Tasty Greens!

We are so honored to be partnering with Rosecreek Farms, a small operations produce farm located Selmer, Tennessee. This family owned and operated farm will be supplying a variety of quality ​​lettuce, greens and root crops. They offer delicious greens including Green Leaf, Panisse and Butter along with roots like carrots and turmeric. Be sure to order some of their goodies in your farm box

Pumpkin Stick ‘Ems!

You don’t need to carve a pumpkin to create some spectacularly festive pumpkins! Try these fun sticker packs to create your fall porch decor!

You’ll Need:
Pumpkins of various sizes (we have a bunch here at the farm)
3D Foam Sticker Kit
Face Sticker Kit

To Make:
Peel and stick! That’s it!

We look forward to seeing y’all here at the farm for loads of Fall fun!

Old-Fashioned Blackberry Cobbler

Blackberry Cobbler

Who doesn’t remember coming in from playing outside in the summer sun to the welcoming scent of fresh baked blackberry cobbler? We just happen to grow some of the best berries in Tennessee. Pick some up at a farmers market near you and try out this tasty recipe!

You’ll need:

4 cups fresh blackberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 large egg
1 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons butter, melted
Cinnamon  

To make:

Preheat oven to 375°. Place blackberries in a lightly greased 8-inch square baking dish and sprinkle with lemon juice. Stir together egg, sugar, and flour in a medium bowl. Sprinkle mixture over fruit. Drizzle melted butter over topping. 

Bake for 35 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbly. Let the cobbler stand for ten minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream and enjoy!

Visit our blog for more delicious recipes!

Creamy Peas N Bacon

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!

Delicious Pesto!

Delicious Pesto!

Our farm-grown basil has such a wonderful flavor and is the perfect ingredient for salads, herb butters, and, of course, PESTO! Here is one of our favorite pesto recipes. 

You’ll need:

  • ½ cup of pine nuts
  • ¾ cups parmesan cheese, grated
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • 6 cups basil leaves (about 3 bunches)
  • ¾ cups extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

To make:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lay pine nuts out on a baking sheet and roast for 5-7 minutes, tossing halfway. Place roasted nuts on a plate to cool. 

Put cooled pine nuts, cheese and garlic into a food processor and pulse until ingredients are finely ground (about 1 minute). Add basil. With the top on and the motor running, gradually add the olive oil in a slow, steady stream until the sauce is smooth with just flecks of basil (about 1 minute). Add salt to season. Serve with your favorite pasta!

Recipe makes about 1 ½ cups of pesto sauce.

Follow us on Pinterest for more mouthwatering recipes!

Did you know you can get our delicious basil in your CSA box? Learn more!

Toilet Paper Tube Ornaments

Toilet Paper Tube Ornaments

You can’t beat handmade Christmas ornaments. They’re a fun craft the whole family will enjoy and they can often be made with items lying around the house. This DIY ornament repurposes empty toilet paper tubes. Kind of fitting for 2020, no? Giggle.

You’ll need:

Empty toilet paper tubes
Paint
Paint brush
Ruler
Pencil
String

To make:

Paint outside of tube and allow to dry
Paint inside of tube and allow to dry
Using a ruler, draw a ½  inch thick around the middle of the tube.
On one side of the tube, cut equal strips (should wind up with eight) and cut those into triangles.
On the other side of the tube, do the same making sure strips are slightly off set.
Fold triangles towards middle of tube.
Tie string around middle of the tube.

Mom Tip: Lay down wax or parchment paper to save your table for little paint-covered hands.

Hang on the Christmas tree and enjoy!

Check out our blog for other crafts, recipes, and general farm fun!