Dearest Connoissuers of Conscious Cuisine -
HO HO HO! This is Farmer Brooke (aka Santa Claus) and boy oh boy do I have a gift for you. This Friday at the BADSEED "Happy Holiday" Farmers Market Fiesta from 4-8 PM I will be raffling off a delicious FARM BASKET full of local/organic delights including free-range meats, artisan sheep's milk cheese, gourmet mushrooms, eggs, organic produce, winter squash, micro-roasted coffee, rustic bread,baked goods, and more.......(compliments of your oh so dedicated farmers that you so graciously support week after week). This is our way of saying Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa or plain old THANK YOU for a wonderful season. We make a living "in the dirt" and it aint easy. Sometimes "dirt" is all you have to show for it!! But, if it wasn't for your loyal patronage, all us farmers would have thrown in the towel long ago. Keep eatin' and we'll keep on growin'!
Okay, now for the details:
FUNKY FARM BASKET RAFFLE!!
Drawing occurs promptly at 6 PM (Mr. and Mrs. Claus will do the honors)
Come a bit early to get your name in the running!
OR respond to this e-mail and I will go ahead and put your name in the hat, however you must be present to win the basket so please show up!!
Irish Coffee compliments of the BADSEED's. That's right.....get tipsy with the farmers! I will provide Irish Whiskey, organic sugar, and whipped Shatto cream so you can "dress up" your Puddin' Head Coffee. YUM!! I will also provide a few bottles of local white and red wine. Feel free to bring contributions to the bar, if you'd like. Last year you "booze hounds" tore through that whiskey like there was no tomorrow. I didn't know you "local foodies" had it in ya! I will attempt to be better prepared this Friday, but the pocket book can only handle so much. (years down the line, when our orchard is in full swing, we will provide homemade Apple Brandy.....mmmmmm).
Holiday Recipe Round-Up
Local Foods should champion any meal especially your Holiday Feast!! Here are a few suggestions based on in-season ingredients that can be found at the BADSEED Market this Friday:
I am an eggnog fiend and this recipe is simply to die for! Ever since I got laying hens I have been in "eggnog heaven". This is nothing like the store bought stuff and it will leave your guests screaming for more (with silly eggnog mustaches adorning their eggnog crazed faces). Use free-range eggs from PJ's Mushroom Farm and local dairy products from Shatto or Green Hills Harvest. Triple this recipe for larger holiday gatherings. It is excellent "virgin" and even better "spiked". **I substitute half & half for the heavy whipping cream. I have tried it both ways, and the half & half makes a lighter, more pleasing nog in my opinion. However, either way is great. Go wild.
I made a chestnut stuffing for Thanksgiving featuring fresh, organic chestnuts from Chestnut Charlie. It was off the radar. In addition to roasted chestnuts, I used a few ingredients from my field including leeks, fennel, and apples. I loosely followed the recipe I have included from Whole Foods which features cranberries and shallots. The point is - you can IMPROVISE! The chestnuts are the main ingredient that cannot be compromised, but you can throw in whatever you happen to have lying around the kitchen or whatever is in season. Lots of herbs and high quality Shatto butter make a huge difference. ** I use a combo of day old Roaring River sourdough bread and Bread of Life wheat bread. Farm to Market baguettes work great as well. **Vegetable broth can be substituted for chicken broth.
This divine recipe comes from my favorite "local foodie" and "farmers market junkie" - the lovely Emily Akins. Check out this festive holiday cake on her blog featuring Heartland Mill flour. I cannot stress enough the importance of using high-quality flour in your breads and baked goods. It makes a HUGE difference. Heartland Mill artisan flours are certified organic, locally grown, and locally milled. It is used by the finest midwest bakeries including Fervere at 17th and Summit. BADSEED is the only retail outlet in KC where you can purchase this fine flour.
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Fried Sage and Shaved Chestnuts -
I think this is a great addition to your Holiday Feast especially if you have "anti-turkey" vegetarians at the table! The addition of ricotta cheese adds a certain lightness and fluffiness to your gnocchi, or fresh Italian dumplings. **Recipe attached.
Holiday Gifts
Don't forget - Holiday Baskets are available from the following vendors:
Alice at Western Hills Produce
Alice will custom make up Holiday Baskets featuring baked goods (from her own homegrown/freshly milled wheat), pies, jams & jellies, relishes, and beautiful hand-carved wood items by her husband, Marvin. You can pick out your goodies and go from $25 and up. Call Alice at #816-934-2549 for more details.
Green Dirt Farm
Foodies everywhere rejoice!! Check out these gourmet gifts baskets featuring Green Dirt's award-winning farmstead sheep's milk cheese as well as other locally-produced, gourmet products. For details visitwww.greendirtfarm.com or place an order at 816-386-2156.
This Week's Special Holiday Vendors:
Roaring River Bread Co., Kim Tucillo, KCMO
Kim uses 100% organic ingredients to lovingly create hand-made, hand-formed, hearth baked, individual and small batch breads, cookies, granolas and other yummy snacks! Favorites include French Sourdough, Cracked Wheat with Honey, and Harvest 7 Grain. She will have special holiday treats including an assortment of tasty dinner rolls. (For Christmas dinner, freeze these loaves immediately after purchase and pull out of the freezer the night before......they will taste as if they were just baked!) Kim is a busy lady and cannot make it to the market until 5 PM. Come after that to catch her hot loaves!!
YUM TUM, Deb Borel, KCMO
"Yum Tum creates delicious gourmet fare for the pantry!! Yum Tum offerings are lovingly made in small batches, using local produce gathered from earth friendly gardens, farms and orchards of Missouri and Kansas. This Holiday Market we are offering rose geranium apple jelly, marjoram apple jelly, peach and rose petal jam, pear honey and apple butter. Also, a new offering for the Holiday Market! - Homemade, melt in your mouth, Yum Tum free-range Egg Noodles. These delicous hand rolled noodles are made with organic flour from Heartland Mill and fresh eggs from our happy herd of hens at Chez Les Borel. Speaking of the Ladies - It's Easter in December - green, blue and pink eggs!....a few offerings in half dozen cartons, gifts from my lovely ladies: Sophie, Coa Coa, Flicka, Flora, Squeaky, Rose, Little Jo, and Sookie. Thanks Ladies!"
Chestnut Charlie's Tree Crops, Lawrence, KS, www.nut2sell.com
Charlie and Deb are back with their FRESH ORGANIC CHESTNUTS....the last of the season!! Get em' now or forever hold your peace (atleast until next November). Roasted chestnuts are the perfect addition to any festive dish both sweet and savory. For more recipe ideas, check out their website.
Local Pecans and Black Walnuts, John Wilhelm, Grandview, MO
That's right.....go nuts! Locally foraged and organic (by default), these pecans are buttery and delicious. Black Walnuts are a native delicacy and there is nothing else like them. Great for holiday sweets!!
"Yum Tum creates delicious gourmet fare for the pantry!! Yum Tum offerings are lovingly made in small batches, using local produce gathered from earth friendly gardens, farms and orchards of Missouri and Kansas. This Holiday Market we are offering rose geranium apple jelly, marjoram apple jelly, peach and rose petal jam, pear honey and apple butter. Also, a new offering for the Holiday Market! - Homemade, melt in your mouth, Yum Tum free-range Egg Noodles. These delicous hand rolled noodles are made with organic flour from Heartland Mill and fresh eggs from our happy herd of hens at Chez Les Borel. Speaking of the Ladies - It's Easter in December - green, blue and pink eggs!....a few offerings in half dozen cartons, gifts from my lovely ladies: Sophie, Coa Coa, Flicka, Flora, Squeaky, Rose, Little Jo, and Sookie. Thanks Ladies!"
Chestnut Charlie's Tree Crops, Lawrence, KS, www.nut2sell.com
Charlie and Deb are back with their FRESH ORGANIC CHESTNUTS....the last of the season!! Get em' now or forever hold your peace (atleast until next November). Roasted chestnuts are the perfect addition to any festive dish both sweet and savory. For more recipe ideas, check out their website.
Local Pecans and Black Walnuts, John Wilhelm, Grandview, MO
That's right.....go nuts! Locally foraged and organic (by default), these pecans are buttery and delicious. Black Walnuts are a native delicacy and there is nothing else like them. Great for holiday sweets!!
This Week's Regular Gang of Growers:
Bigg Blue Farm, Stan & Carmen Biggs (Mosby, MO)