Pickled Strawberries

In the extremely rare case that you’re unable to eat all your Falcon Ridge Farm strawberries, here’s a good recipe for pickled strawberries. Pickled strawberries are a delicious addition to fresh salads, deserts, or as a midday snack. 

What you’ll need:

1lb firm, ripe strawberries, hulled (halved if large)
1 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar
¼ cup sugar
2 tbsps kosher salt
⅔ cup water
1 qt heat proof jar with lid

To make:
Put strawberries in the jar. In a small saucepan, bring vinegar, sugar, salt and ⅔ cup water to a boil over medium heat. Stir until sugar and salt are dissolved. Allow to cool and then cover and refrigerate.

Berries are good for 5 days refrigerated. Enjoy! 

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This recipe will come in handy during our summer season when blueberries are plentiful! These delicious muffins are great for easy breakfasts on school days or a quick pick-me-up during the work day.

You’ll need:

• Jumbo muffin tin or regular muffin tin
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/14 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups fresh blackberries (if you’re using frozen, make sure you defrost them)

To make:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar.
• Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each one.
• Stir in vanilla, lemon juice, and milk.
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder. Stir into the wet mixture.
• In a small bowl, lightly mush half your berries and stir them into the batter.
• Fold in remaining berries. The batter will be thick so you don’t have to worry about the berries sinking to the bottom during baking.
• You can use liners or simply spray your muffin tins with non-stick cooking spray.
• Fill muffin tins leaving 1/3 room in the cups so muffins can rise.
• Reduce oven heat to 375 and bake at 375 for 30-35 minutes (starting the oven at higher heat gives you a higher muffin top and lowering the heat will prevent your muffins from drying out).
• Remove muffins and allow to cool for about 20 minutes.

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Overnight Blackberry Oats

Some summer mornings are too hot to be cooking eggs and bacon over the stove. We grow some of the best blackberries in Tennessee and they go great in overnight oats. 

You’ll need:

1 cup farm fresh blackberries
1/2 banana
1/2 cup milk of choice
½ tsp vanilla extract
½ cup rolled oats

To make:

Put the blackberries, banana, almond milk and vanilla in a blender and blend until completely smooth.
Pour the mixture into a bowl or glass jar and stir in the oats. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight to allow the oats to soak and soften. The next morning, top the oats with some fresh sliced bananas and blackberries and enjoy!

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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!

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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.

Sautéed Kale with Pine Nuts

Unprepared kale can be an acquired taste, especially with its rough texture. However, when cooked or prepared properly, it is a delicious component to soups, salads, and more. This kale recipe would make a perfect side dish to any meal!

You’ll need:

• ¼ cup of pine nuts
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• ¼ cup of currants
• 1 bunch of kale (1 lb), touch stems centers removed and discarded and greens chopped
• ¼ cup dry white wine (a splash of balsamic vinegar or lemon juice can be substituted) 
• ½ to 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste

To make:

Heat a large pan on medium high heat and add the pine nuts. Toast until they are fragrant and begin to brown while stirring frequently. Remove from the pan and set aside. 

Add olive oil to the pan and add garlic. Saute for 30 seconds until it begins to brown.

Add the greens to the pan and mix well. Saute, stirring often until the greens begin to wilt, about 4-5 minutes. 

Add nuts, currants, and pepper flakes. Stir in wine (or wine substitute) and toss to combine. Let liquid boil away and then remove from heat. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

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Did you know you can get farm-fresh beets sent directly to your doorstep? Learn more!

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.

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