TWH 1.16.23

Area 2 Farms Local Organic Harvest for the Week of 16 January 2023

Lunar New Year Blend

This auspicious blend of colorful bok choys and mizuna’s tip the cap to the year of the rabbit and boast an earthy taste. We toast your health in the new year with folate, iron, and vitamins A, C, and K in this delightful mix.

Farmer’s recommendation: Citrus makes this blend dazzle, whether chilled or pan-fried. Walnuts, blueberries, and strawberries will make this blend an entree salad. Add chevre, goat’s cheese, and a spritz of lemon juice to create a luscious and flavorful meal. For the stove, this mix will add a modern twist to classic stir fry, and pairs well with soy. Add the citrus zest of orange or lemon to liven up the mellow flavor.

Spicy Blend

This Area 2 Farms specialty mix delivers amino acids, and fiber, and is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. The spice won’t burn your mouth, but the flavor profile will sophisticate any meal. This blend works creatively for any meal or snack.

Farmer’s recommendation: This expert mix is delightful when served raw, and tastes good with egg-based dishes. Add some mild quinoa and sweet orange zest to make a perfectly balanced salad, or spice up a pasta or pizza dish. The versatile spicy blend adds a lot of health and even more taste to sandwiches, soups, and smoothies.

Colorful Microgreens

Red cabbage with Amaranth with Mild Blend

Happy your holiday table with bright colors and good health: red and green cabbage mixed with red amaranth will deliver iron, lysine, manganese, protein, and reduce inflammation. These are some of the healthiest microgreens you can have!

Farmer’s recommendation: Feel good about using these in a tasty salad for the whole family, as either a topper or a base. Citrus zest, olive oil, and a hint of salt or pepper bring out the boldness in these delicate micros. For holiday meals, add atop a hearty meat with a drizzle of horseradish. These microgreens also pair beautifully with cream-based cheeses and salted almonds. 

(Allergy note: As a microgreen, red amaranth is gluten free.) 

Garlic Chives + Wasabi Arugula 

Vitamins A and C, iron, folate, and calcium fortify Area 2 Farms’s wasabi arugula microgreens, making them powerful anti-inflammatories. These novel microgreens are a farm favorite with their spicy wasabi taste and the shape of tiny arugula leaves. Garlic chives have the texture of a chive and the power of a garlic clove. Vitamins A and C, potassium, iron, and thiamin festoon this interesting addition that is native to Asia. Refrigerate these in damp towels.

Farmer’s recommendation: Use garlic chives as a garnish for Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cuisines. Garlic chives are versatile, and work well crisped and raw, blanched, or stir fried. Microgreens add texture to brie and baguette sandwiches, and improve mild salads and cabbage. They can accompany stir fry or vegetable kabobs, and work as toppers to miso-based soups or dressings.

Turnips 

The tops are a superfood and packed with nutrients. They are a good source of protein, iron, and phosphorus.

Farmer’s recommendation: Turnips are awesome with chives, sage, cumin, turkey, chickpea, parsnip, apples, and sweet potatoes. Use turnips any way you would use a potato. Boil in stews/soups, sauté in a stir fry, or lightly steam with some butter, salt and lemon juice! 

Chamomile

Bliss yourself out or calm a cold with anti-inflammatory chamomile, which has vitamin C, iron, and essential minerals. This herb is good for sleep, and is most commonly enjoyed in tea or bathwater. 

Farmer’s recommendation: You can go the classic chamomile route and steep in hot water with some citrus or honey for a delicious evening tea, or add it to a relaxing steam bath. Or, be creative by adding olive oil and lime juice with chamomile for a salad dressing to top some fresh and delicious Area 2 Farms greens. Bakers can add chamomile to sugar cookies, shortbread, or tea cake recipes. Add chamomile to strawberry and whipped cream with a bite of dark chocolate after dinner.

When You Are Ready to Use, Wash, Wrap, Seal, and Store in Your Refrigerator