| August Newsletter
Eating, Local, Organic and Seasonal Hi Everyone! Hope you all are enjoying this summer. I am loving it! Especially now that its been really sunny, hot and the cool in the evening. We had an abundance of rain throughout this summer that has made every thing around us very green and our farms now are providing us with plenty of nutritious fruit and vegetables! Beautiful heirloom tomatoes, yellow sweet corn, eggplant, zucchini, peaches and pluots and an abundance of fresh herbs! It is such a treat visiting my organic farmer (Blooming Hill Farm) and cooking up some delicious meals and desserts for some of you and myself! I love going to the farm without any expectations or recipe in hand. What I love about shopping at the farms the most, is finding new varieties of fruits or vegetables and cooking them up. This last trip I made, I happen to hit it right with finding zucchini blossoms. My grandmother use to prepare these for us when growing up and they were always a special treat. I’m not normally a big fan of fried foods, but these were always the exception. I’ve posted a recipe below and have modified it a bit from the original to make than a bit healthier. They are very nutritious and high in potassium. Check out the recipe below – they are also fun to make!
Organic Farming has been around for a long time and I think we all have gotten caught up in the hurry way of life and modern conveniences that it’s made us forget about the importance of getting back to basics. By more and more people going back to living this way, we can help promote our local farmers, protect our environment and hopefully reverse some of the damage it’s cause to our environment and health. So next time you visit your local farmers market or farm, send me an email here and let me know what you found that was new and different and how you prepared it. Eat, Live and Love Simply! |
| Zucchini Blossoms
Here’s a treat, I found these at my organic farm this weekend. Zucchini blossoms are the flowers of female and male zucchini plants. However, you want to use the male flowers so the female’s can sprout the zucchini. The flowers are usually open when picking them and you should plan on cooking them the same day they are picked. If not, just keep them in plastic in your vegetable drawer until ready to cook. Trim the stem down and gently wash under water and pat dry and let air dry on paper towels. Be sure to pull out the stamen inside the flower. These make a really nice appetizer and can be fried and stuffed with cheese. Enjoy! Preparation You can also stuff these with with goat cheese and herbs. Taking Reservations These magical rustic dinners are for people who love to entertain (and be a guest at their party), who enjoy unique dining experiences and who support local farm markets. Chef Donna will create a 4 course meal using local Hudson Valley Farm ingredients. Sit back and enjoy being a guest at your own party with out all the mess and stress. Donna will bring her staff that will take care of your set up, serving and clean-up, so you don’t have to worry. Menu’s can accommodate vegetarians and special dieters. Reserve before August 31st and receive 10% off your first party. To make a reservation call: 845-548-6520 Cooking Classes Fall 2011 I am offering classes in my kitchen for the month of September. These classes are hands-on and limited to 6 students. Each class comes with a handout of recipes. These classes are designed for beginning or experienced cooks who want to learn or brush up on, proper knife skills, cooking technigues, nutrition information, healthier ingredients and information about the cuisine or style of cooking. It’s a fun night out for yourself, with a friend, spouse or co-worker and a opportunity to learn something new about cooking and an investment in your health! To reserve your seat, please email me here asap! Sign up yourself and another person by September 1st and receive 10% off enrollment. We also offer gift certificates! Check out the class listings in the sidebar to your right or online here What's Cooking |
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Cooking Classes Vegetarian Meals Not sure what to do with all those extra vegetables from the farm market. Come learn how to make more vegetarian meals for your family that are nutritious and delicious! Menu
Cooking Under Pressure Get more nutritious beans and whole grains in your diet in a snap! Learn how to prepare beans and whole grains for soups, salads, and desserts using the pressure cooker. Menu
Healthy Gourmet Tailgating Get ready for your next Football tailgate with some quick and healthy appetizers that will give you a touchdown with all your friends!
To register for classes call:
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