Fall is arriving too soon this year, our apples are coming in a few weeks early. I guess this is a good thing, but we are still picking the last of our peaches this week as well. We will have both peaches and Gala Apples this weekend at the market.
Here are a few tips and trivia about Gala Apples…
- Origin: The Gala apple is native to New Zealand, but now grows extensively in Washington. A cross between the Kidd’s Orange Red and the Golden delicious, the Gala was introduced to the United States in the 1970s.*Researchers at Yale University claim that the scent of apples has a relaxing effect.
- Rub cut apples with lemon juice to keep slices and wedges creamy white for hours.
- Store apples in a plastic bag in the refrigerator away from strong-odored foods such as cabbage or onions to prevent flavor transfer.
- Apples are the second most important of all fruits sold in the supermarket, ranking next to bananas.
- Tens of thousands of varieties of apples are grown worldwide.
- The history of apple consumption dates from Stone Age cultivation in areas we now know as Austria and Switzerland.
- In ancient Greece, tossing an apple to a girl was a traditional proposal of marriage; catching it was acceptance.
- Folk hero Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman) did indeed spread the cultivation of apples in the United States. He knew enough about apples, however, so that he did not distribute seeds, because apples do not grow true from seeds. Instead, he established nurseries in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
- Three medium-sized apples weigh approximately one pound.
- One pound of apples, cored and sliced, measures about 4 1/2 cups.
- Purchase about 2 pounds of whole apples for a 9-inch pie.
- One large apple, cored and processed through a food grinder or processor, makes about 1 cup of ground apple
Tags: Apples
Free-range Eggs
Did you know that we raise free-range, hormone and antibiotic free hen eggs? We raise a variety of chicken breeds, each with unique egg characteristics. These eggs are very much different from the grocery store eggs you might be used to. Be sure to pick up a dozen or so next time you visit our booth at the Farmers’ Market, and experience our free-range brown and pastel eggs with deep golden yellow yolks and rich, farm fresh flavor!
Eggs can be kept refrigerated in their carton for at least 4 to 5 weeks beyond the pack date.
Tags: Eggs
Butternut Squash
One of the best and most successful dishes I have ever made was Butternut Squash and Roasted Garlic Bisque, courtesy of Epicurious and Bon Appetit. It ripped me, and subsequently many others, out of the halls of squash dislike because rather than relying on the overused habits of squash with sweetness, this soup revels in rich and savory flavors. To this day, it’s the best squash soup I’ve ever had, and it’s one that can be made with absolute ease.
The first thing you will notice in this recipe is that it includes 2 whole heads of garlic. When I was first introduced to the dish through an old roommate who found it on Epicurious, we were convinced that this was a typo and that it meant two cloves. So we only used two cloves, and it was delicious. Since then, I’ve done everything in between, and as a garlic lover, I find 2 heads is a bit much for this dish, but find one or one and a half heads to be perfect. But really, if you don’t like a lot of garlic, it’ll still be delicious without it.
Also, this is an incredibly rich and creamy soup without cream. If you have whipping cream on hand, try it, but the soup really doesn’t require it. Ignoring the milk, using oil instead of butter, and vegetable stock — this bisque quickly becomes a tasty vegan soup.
Spaghetti Squash
The flesh of spaghetti squash comes out in long strands, very much resembling the noodles for which it is named. In this recipe, the ‘noodles’ are tossed with vegetables and feta cheese. You can substitute different vegetables, but be sure to use ones that have contrasting colors.
Tags: Squash
Kenny chatting with one of our regulars
Russell Veggies is a 3rd generation family farm located in Floyd County, Indiana. This site is intended to provide detailed descriptions of products we carry and bring each week to the New Albany Farmers’ Market here in beautiful Southern Indiana.
We appreciate customers who support their local farm markets, and we provide the best quality, selection and prices in the Southern Indiana area.
Feel free to browse around and take a look at the many different plants and related information. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please give us a call, or stop by and visit us at the Farmers’ Market on Wednesday’s from 4-7 pm or Saturday’s from 8-1pm.
