April 2011 - Morning Song Farm
This is so easy, it’s almost not a “recipe,” but I love the scent of dill and enjoy this concoction regularly. Throw your dill (cutting off the coarsest stems if there are any) into a Vitamix or other powerful blender (or you can you a Cuisinart). Toss in a clove or two of garlic, a dash of Tabasco or a pinch of ground hot pepper, and a cup or so of plain yogart. Hit puree, pour into serving dish and enjoy.
Eric Jones, an OC subscriber, has kindly forwarded this kumquat recipe for our pleasure:
4 kumquats, halved and seeded
3 teaspoons rosemary-kumquat simple syrup (recipe follows)
1 sprig of rosemary
1/2 kumquat, candied (see simple syrup recipe)
2.5 oz. gin
1.5 oz. dry vermouth
ice
In lthe bottom of a cocktail shaker, muddle the kumquat halves with the simple syrup and vermouth. Add the gin and ice. Shake until the shaker is so cold you can hardly stand it. Pour into a chilled cocktail glass. And ice if desired or serve martini style. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a candied kumquat half.
rosemary-Kumquat Simple Syrup
Makes 1/4 cup (about enough for 2 drinks)
2 T light brown sugar
1/4 cup water
1 rosemary sprig, roughly chopped
2 kumquat halves
In a small,heavy saucepan, combinel the brown sugar and the water. Stir until the sugar has just dissolved. Add the rosemary and kumquat halves. Simmer over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes. Keep a close eye on the lsyrup so it does not over-cook. Stir occasionally to keep the syrup from burning. Remove from heat. (If you would like to strain the syrup, do so after the kumquats have been removed from the pan and do not wait utnil the syrup is cool.)
Remove the kumquat halves. Using a sharp paring knife, cut a small slit across the cut edge of the kumquat halves (this is so you can place it on the edge of your cocktail glass.) Mound the extra brown sugar on the top of the kumquat halves and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes.
Enjoy.
We are excited about the upcoming Farm Day, Saturday, April 30th. We’ve scheduled our annual llama sheering on that morning, so if you’ve never seen a sheering, it’s worth the trip! We still don’t have baby goats, but expect we will be then, I’ll keep you posted here. And our baby chicks are growing everyday–they get so much attention they are gentle and fun to interface with.
As always, if you could shoot me an email that you are coming so we can worry about parking if need be, that’s always a help. Usually only a few people attend, so it’s not a problem. But every now and then we have an unusual attendance and need to be prepared. Directions are here on this blog, from a week ago….
Mizuna is a popular asian green, it can multi-task as both a salad green, adding a mild, spicy tang to salads; or can be added to stir fries. If you’d like to try it in your stir fry, chefs have noted that it’s best to add at the last minute because it’s a delicate green and doesn’t need much heat at all for satisfactory results.
Come out to Morning Song Farm this coming Saturday between 9-12. Meet our friendly herd of Nigerian dairy goats, our curious llamas, and get a chance to hold a baby chick. Bring a picnic lunch or plan a visit to the nearby farmer’s market in Temecula. We do have somewhat of a parking issue with most of the farm on hillside; so if you could let one of us know you’re coming, we can plan ahead. Sometimes we plan these days and no one comes, and sometimes it’s crazy. We’d love it if we could plan ahead….. Directions: From Temecula: 15 south, off on Rainbow Valley Blvd. exit (which is the truck stop) At end of ramp, make a LEFT across the freeway. At stop sign, make a RIGHT, which is Old 395. Make your first right again (going under bridge) on Rainbow Glen Road. About 2 miles from there, number is 2120 Rainbow Glen Road. Big sign: Morning Song Farm From San Diego: 15 north, off on Mission Road in Fallbrook. (off of the 15, NOT the 76!–there is a Mission Road off of the 76, don’t confuse this) At end of ramp, go RIGHT 100 feet where it deadends at Old 395/Stearling Road. Make a LEFT here. Go 2 miles, northbound on Old 395. Make your first left at Rainbow Glen Road. Pass under bridge, go past palm nursery, about 2 miles. Address: 2120 is on the left. From OC: depending upon where you live, you can either take 91 east, 15 south and then follow directions from Temecula above) or: if you live in south County, you can take 5 south, 76 east, 15 north and then follow directions same as From San Diego, above. Alternately: from OC, you can take the Ortega Hwy, which is a beautiful drive, and which dumps you out in Lake Elsinore. Then take directions, 15 south same as from Temecula. Questions: here’s Farmer Donna’s cell: 949-310-4870 Hope to see you here!