Everything But the Turkey

We want to take a moment to share our gratitude to everyone we have had the privilege to grow and harvest for this year. For us farmers, the work is personal, in a world that is often impersonal. Since planting Area 2 Farms and fully sharing our harvests this Spring we have had the great fortune to deliver weekly organic harvests to over 1,000 members of our community whose doorsteps are within less than 3.9 miles of the neighborhood farm.

We're just getting started, and from the strength and energy we gain from your support and trust, we hope that each week you feel the power and freedom that all farmers feel when they farm well.

Here are some of our favorite items from the farm we'll be incorporating into our menus.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Rosemary

The aroma evokes that Thanksgiving feeling and the anticipation of the delicious feast ahead. Traditionally used in turkey stuffing with other herbs, fresh rosemary sprigs can be lightly crushed and put into bottles of olive oil and drizzled over vegetables, meat, and bread. Rosemary tea is good for digestion post-feast as it has been shown to alleviate heartburn, gas, and constipation.

Chives

Chives belong to the allium family and are related to onions, garlic, and scallions. Many recognize chives as traditionally used in the turkey rub but what about shredding them finely and adding butter and garlic to melt over your mashed potatoes or mashed turnips.

Mint

Mint works well in place of chives with butter and potatoes or fresh leaves can be used to add a zingy edge to melon balls as a healthy, aromatic starter. The leaves can be chewed or tea can be made by steeping the fresh leaves in hot water for ten minutes for an after-feast aid.

Sage

What stuffing or poultry herb crust would be complete without sage? This heady, pungent herb is the mainstay of our traditional thanksgiving flavors. The botanical name Salvia comes from the Latin word 'to heal. Sage can be steeped in hot water, which when left to cool, can be used to heal sore throats, hoarseness, and swollen glands after yelling at the judges at Westminster for not choosing Border Terriers as best in the show.

Dill

If you're skipping the turkey and having fish, dill is perfect. It bears a resemblance in flavor to fennel, but is milder and belongs to the celery family. Finely shredded with butter and garlic over fish with sea salt and lemon is a delicious way to use dill.

Cranberry Hibiscus

Using the leaves with your salad additions and adding flowers to decorate your dish after the dressing is a novel and natural way to present and serve your dish. The flowers work very well in tea too, the leaves and flowers add a delightfully warming cranberry flavor. Perfect for the festive season.

Herby Butter

2 tbsp Fresh sage leaves

2 tbsp Fresh thyme leaves

2 tbsp Fresh rosemary leaves

4 tbsp Fresh parsley leaves

1/2 cup soft unsalted butter

1/2 onion

4 cloves of garlic

Salt

Pepper

Chop the onion and garlic finely. Fry the onion in one TBSP of butter until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and lightly fry, mixing well. Set aside to cool. Pulse all herb leaves together in a small food processor or finely chop with a knife. Mix the finely chopped herbs, butter, onion, and garlic well in a bowl. You can transfer the mixture to a ramekin, pressing it well into the dish to chill in the fridge for later. It can be spooned onto piping hot vegetables or any protein at the table for a healthy herby addition.

Winter 'Immune-i-Tea'

Ingredients

Orange or Lemon Peel

Juice the Orange or lemon (or both if you have them)

Grated Ginger

Fresh Rosemary

Fresh Mint

Cranberry hibiscus, flowers/leaves

Method:

One TBSP of each ingredient if dried, or two TBSPs of each if the ingredients are fresh. Add 4 and a quarter of almost boiled water to the ingredients (let it cool for 10 minutes if it has fully boiled before pouring over the tea mix). Let the mixture steep for 30 minutes then add the lemon/orange juice to the tea. Strain and sip throughout the day, as often as you like. You can add a teaspoon of raw honey to warm tea to sweeten it as desired.

When we eat locally grown we get an invigorating flavor and nutritional value. Local foods are an investment in our health and that of our loved ones, the perishable nature of fresh food belies the quality.