Author: bloomingglenfarm

Spaghetti squash is a low carb substitute for pasta dishes.  It has a pretty mild flavor, so it is great to pair with fresh herbs.  This dish can be used as a side for grilled protein, can be topped with roasted vegetables, or can serve as a base for a breakfast bowl.

Garlic Herb Spaghetti Squash

Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash
¼ cup + 2 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil, divided
¾ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
3 large cloves garlic
3 Tbsp fresh herbs, finely chopped (oregano, basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, etc.)

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Slice spaghetti squash into 1-inch thick rounds. Remove the seeds and discard.

  • Brush both sides of the rounds with oil (2 Tbsp) and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Place in single layer on parchment lined baking sheet.
  • Roast in oven for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through baking time.
  • Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes until you are able to touch the squash rounds. Peel away the skin of the squash rounds and discard.
  • Separate the strands of the squash into “noodles”. You can use a fork to help with this process.  Place “noodles” into a medium bowl and cover to keep warm.
  • In a small frying pan, heat ¼ cup oil. Once hot, turn the burner down to low.  Add garlic.
  • Simmer on low, stirring constantly until garlic is golden and fragrant. This should only take a minute.

  • Remove from heat and add fresh herbs.

  • Add oil/garlic/herb mixture to the bowl of spaghetti squash and toss to coat.
  • Garnish with fresh herbs and serve.

Notes:
*Top with fresh roasted cherry tomatoes.  Combine 2 cups cherry tomatoes with 1 Tbsp oil, ¼ tsp sea salt, and a little black pepper.  Roast for 20 minutes in a 400°F oven.

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

It’s tomato season- my favorite time of year!  The farm provides us with a plethora of tomato varieties- heirlooms, reds, plum, and cherry.  Since we have an abundance of cherry tomatoes this week, this recipe showcases them along with the onions, garlic, and fresh herbs.

Roasted Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:
3 lbs or 2 quarts cherry tomatoes *
2-3 torpedo onions, bulbs only (reserve green tops for another recipe)
1 head garlic
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 ¼ tsp sea salt
¾ tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp fresh herbs (basil, oregano, thyme, parsley, etc.)

  • Preheat oven to 400°F.
  • Wash cherry tomatoes and place on baking sheet.

  • Slice onions into quarters or eighths depending on their size. Place on baking sheet with tomatoes.
  • Peel garlic cloves and slice in half. Place on baking sheet with the tomatoes and onions.
  • Drizzle olive oil on tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Mix well.
  • Cook for 1 hour. You should see the onions and tomatoes beginning to brown on the tops.

  • Remove from oven and let cool 10-15 minutes unless serving right away.
  • Transfer everything, including liquid, from baking sheet to blender. **
  • Add herbs and blend well. ***
  • To reheat, transfer to a pot on the stovetop. Heat on low until warmed through.
  • To freeze, place in ziplock bags or freezer containers.
  • Serve over zucchini noodles- “zoodles” (see below for instructions) or over your favorite pasta. Would also be great for a pizza sauce.

Notes:

*You can use any variety of tomato.  If you use plum tomatoes, cut them in half or quarters (depending on their size).  If you use heirlooms or reds, cut them in quarters or eighths (depending on their size).  The color of the sauce will be different depending on the color of tomatoes that you use.

**I ended up with about ¼ cup of liquid after the produce was roasted.  The variety of tomatoes you use can increase the amount of liquid at the end.  You do not have to use it all.  If you want a thicker sauce, use less liquid and if you want a thinner sauce, use it all.

***You can also use an immersion blender.  Transfer everything to a large bowl, add herbs, and blend.  This option will give you a chunkier sauce.

Zoodles:

Spiralize zucchini or squash to make long noodles.  Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Drop noodles into the pot and cook for 1 minute.  Remove, sprinkle with a little sea salt, and drain in colander.  Do not cook for more than a minute- the noodles will become soggy.  They just need a quick blanch.

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

New potatoes are freshly harvested from the ground and are uncured.  Leaving their thin skins on adds color, flavor and nutritional value to culinary dishes.  Combining these potatoes with butter, spices, and fresh herbs in a casserole make a great side dish.

Herb Scalloped Potatoes

Ingredients:
1 lb new potatoes
2 fresh torpedo onions (bulb only- reserve tops for another recipe or broth)
6 Tbsp salted butter, divided
½ cup flour (for gluten free options- use an all purpose blend or cassava flour)
1 tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¾ tsp paprika
2 Tbsp + 1 tsp minced fresh herbs (dill, thyme, rosemary, sage, etc.)
2-3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
¼ cup parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
2 cups milk (dairy or nondairy)

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • Thinly slice potatoes. I used a mandolin set on 1/8 inch setting.

  • Thinly slice onions.
  • Use 1 Tbsp butter to grease baking dish. I used a 6 x 10 inch pan.
  • In the baking dish, layer half of the potatoes and then half of the onions.

  • Cut butter into thin slices and place 3 Tbsp on top of the onions.
  • In a medium bowl, mix flour, sea salt, black pepper, paprika, 2 Tbsp fresh herbs, garlic, and parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast.
  • Sprinkle half of the flour mixture into the baking dish on top of the onions and butter.
  • Layer the rest of the potatoes, then the rest of the onions, then the rest of the butter (2 Tbsp), and finally the remaining flour mixture.

  • Slowly add milk to the dish.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
  • Broil for 3-5 minutes to crisp top. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
  • Top with remaining 1 tsp fresh herbs and a few sprinkles of paprika before serving.

Notes:
*To make dairy free- use vegan butter, nutritional yeast, and dairy free milk.
*Can prepare in advance and refrigerate before cooking.
*Leftovers reheat really well.

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials

It’s summer squash season and we are seeing a variety of this summer fruit appear in our shares each week.  You can grill it, add it to stir fries, roast it, eat it raw, and even make baked goods with it.  I wanted to create a recipe using the summer squash that was different and unique.  So here it is- quick pickled summer squash!  This recipe is a way to preserve the squash and make a condiment that works wonderfully for summer barbecues and cookouts.  The pickled squash is amazing on hot dogs and burgers, on sandwiches or wraps, or even on top of tacos, a fresh salad or scrambled eggs.

Quick Pickled Summer Squash Ribbons

Ingredients:
2 small to medium sized summer squash (any variety works)
1 Tbsp sea salt
6 cloves fresh garlic
20 peppercorns
Optional: 6-8 slices jalapenos or ½ tsp red pepper flakes
2 cups apple cider vinegar
1 tsp ground turmeric
2 tsp ground mustard

  • Cut the squash into long ribbons. I used a mandolin set to 1/16 inch (you don’t want it so thin it’s like paper).
  • Line two large cookie sheets with paper towels. Lay the ribbons on the towels in a single layer.

  • Sprinkle squash ribbons with sea salt and allow to sit for 1 hour.
  • Gently dab the tops of the ribbons with a paper towel to soak up the moisture that has “sweated” out.
  • Place ribbons in two medium glass jars. I used 2 pint size jars.

  • Thinly slice the garlic and divide evenly among the jars.
  • Divide the peppercorns among the jars.
  • Optional- if you want to add a little heat, feel free to add a few slices of jalapeno (3-4 per jar) or some red pepper flakes (1/4 tsp per jar).
  • In a medium saucepan, combine the apple cider vinegar, turmeric, and ground mustard. Bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer and cook for 3-5 minutes.  Allow to cool for a few minutes.
  • Pour warm vinegar mixture into each jar. Cover and allow to completely cool on the counter.  Once cool, refrigerate for 24 hours.
  • Enjoy!

Notes:
*Feel free to cut this recipe in half using only 1 summer squash.  Just use half of the remaining ingredients.
*These store well in the refrigerator for many weeks (if you can resist eating them for that long).

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

We received farm fresh celery in our shares this week.  As soon as I heard that news, I knew I wanted to showcase it in this week’s recipe.  This Creamy Celery Soup can be served warm or chilled.  It combines a whole head of celery with the fresh garlic, sweet onions, new potatoes, and dill from this week’s share.

Creamy Celery Soup

Ingredients:
4 Tbsp butter
2 fresh sweet onions, chopped (include green tops)
4 cloves fresh garlic, finely chopped
1 whole head celery with leaves, chopped (about 5-6 cups)- reserve a few leaves for garnish
2 cups diced new potatoes
4 cups vegetable broth
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp black pepper
¼ cup fresh dill, finely chopped
¼ cup heavy cream (optional)

  • Melt butter in stockpot on stove.
  • Add onion and garlic to pot. Sauté on medium heat for 3 minutes.
  • Add celery and mix well. Sauté for an additional 5 minutes.
  • Add potatoes and broth. Bring to a boil.
  • Add salt and pepper.
  • Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender.
  • Remove from heat. Add dill and heavy cream if using.
  • Transfer the soup to a blender. Blend really well.  Soup should be creamy and uniform.  I recommend doing this in two batches.  You can also use an immersion blender.
  • Serve this soup warm or chilled. If serving chilled and it becomes too thick, blend in a little water to get desired consistency.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped celery leaves, fresh dill, and/or a dollop of sour cream.

Notes:
*To make this dairy free, use a vegan butter and do not add the optional heavy cream.
*Pairs really well with crostini topped with fresh garlic spread (Blooming Glen Farm | Eggplants and Fresh Garlic)

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

Since we began farming here at Blooming Glen 15 years ago, I’ve often mused (grumbled?) that our challenging red clay earth is likely better suited for pottery than it is for growing food. Yet every season we manage to harvest thousands and thousands of pounds of crops, proving that despite the heaviness of the soil, we can grow delicious mineral rich food year in and year out. Thanks to an exciting collaboration with Matt Zimmerman of Walnut St Pottery, we can now say with confidence that our farm’s soil is also perfectly suited to the creation of gorgeous pottery. There is something very poetic and affirming to harvest and arrange flowers in a vase made from the earth that nourished their growth (or to eat a soup of vegetables grown on the farm in a bowl made from the soil that grew those vegetables), and I am so grateful for the Zimmerman family for their creativity and efforts to bring this to fruition.

“In our wood kiln we fire pots made from local wild clay. These pots have a wilder and rougher look to them as they endure a more dramatic and harsh journey. There’s something special about holding wild clay in your hands. Food for past generations grew from it. The roots of great trees held it tightly. The rain waters carried it off the field and along the water ways of our community where it eventually found rest in local creek beds. It has stories to tell. These pots were born here and want to connect us with something bigger than ourselves.” Matt Zimmerman, Walnut St. Pottery

Once dug, the Blooming Glen Farm clay was dried in the sun before being re-hydrated, mixed, screened, slacked, then dried to a moldable consistency.

Then comes the making of the pots.

“I take great joy in crafting a lump of earth into a functional vessel for everyday use. For the most part our pots are thrown on the wheel. Some are then trimmed and/or handled. Working with wild clay presents many challenges. You must learn it’s strengths and weaknesses, it’s personality.” Matt Zimmerman

Once all the pots are made and dried they go through the first of two firings call the bisque. This brings the clay pots to the early stages of becoming ceramic. The pots become strong enough to handle comfortably yet remain porous enough to receive a coat of glaze. Walnut St. Pottery glazes are made mostly of ground stone and clay with a little metal oxides to provide color. Because they make all of their glazes they know everything that goes into them, and are 100% confidence in saying they are food safe.

The glaze materials are mixed into water creating a thick liquid which is then applied to the porous pot.  The water is absorbed into the pot leaving a coat of the raw materials on the surface. Any slipware carvings are then created, like the beautiful wildflower designs.

Lastly, the pots and glaze are fired to maturity in a wood fired kiln.

“Our wild clay pots withstand the harsh conditions inside our wood fired kiln. The flames from the fireboxes flow up into the ware chamber, and dance around the pots leaving their mark on the clay. Depending on the clay body being fired we’ll take the wood kiln temperature anywhere from 2300°F to 2400°F. The high temps turn the clay pots ceramic and melt the glaze materials into a glassy surface.”

Matt was surprised at just how different our soil was even from other wild clay he’s harvested in and around Perkasie. The color was a vibrant red, the flames of the fire licking at the iron rich material. These beautiful Blooming Glen Farm wild clay pots will be for sale at the farm in the coming weeks. Larger vases, smaller bud vases, general purpose bowls, berry bowls and mugs. Quantity limited. Prices from $40- $65 each.

Photos and content provided by Walnut St. Pottery. Post by Tricia Borneman, Blooming Glen farmer and co-owner. Tricia and her husband Tom have been farming together since 2000. Blooming Glen Farm is celebrating its 16th season bringing high quality certified organic vegetables, herbs, fruits and cut flowers to our local community.

Summer is officially here and we are almost ready to celebrate the Fourth of July.  As you prepare for barbecues, picnics, or camping adventures, this recipe is one that incorporates several share ingredients.  It is versatile and can be adjusted depending on what you have available.  Make it for your family or double it for a crowd.  Heat up the grill or cook it on a campfire!

Grilled Veggie Packets

Ingredients:
2 medium summer squash
1 lb new potatoes
2 sweet onions
7 garlic scapes
4 Tbsp olive oil, avocado oil, or melted butter
1 tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp smoked paprika
Optional- fresh chopped herbs

  • Preheat grill.
  • Cut 5 sheets of heavy duty aluminum foil into 12 x 18 inch strips. If you do not have heavy duty foil, you can use two sheets of regular foil per packet.
  • Prepare vegetables.
    • Summer squash- Slice into 1 inch disks. If the circles are really big, you can cut them in half (creating half circles).
    • New potatoes- Wash and leave skin on. Cut into ¼ – ½ inch cubes.  You want these to be smaller than the squash since they take longer to cook.
    • Sweet onions- Peel, quarter, and slice into wedges.
    • Garlic scapes- Cut into ½ inch pieces.

  • Place all prepared vegetables into a large bowl.
  • In a small bowl, combine oil/butter, sea salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
  • Pour oil/butter mixture over vegetables and toss until all vegetables are coated.
  • Divide vegetable evenly among foil packets. This recipe allows for about 2 cups per foil.

  • Fold foil to seal and wrap securely.
  • Grill temperature should be about 375-400°F.
  • Place foil packets on grill. Allow to cook for about 15 minutes, turning every five minutes to insure even cooking.

  • Remove packets from grill and carefully open.
  • You can serve right from the foil or place the grilled vegetables on a serving dish.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped herbs of choice or a dollop of herb butter (see recipe below).

Notes:

*If you are getting a mushroom share, feel free to add mushrooms to these packets.

*Pair with your favorite grilled protein.

*These packets can be made ahead of time.  Just refrigerate after assembling.  Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling.

*To make in the oven, cook for about 15 minutes at 400°F.

*Can also be made on a campfire!

*You can change the variety of vegetables in the grill packets as the produce we receive changes throughout the season.

Herb Butter

Ingredients:
8 ounces salted butter, room temperature
2 Tbsp fresh herbs, finely chopped (dill, basil, parsley, cilantro, etc.)

Other optional add-ins:
finely chopped scallions (1 Tbsp)
finely chopped garlic scapes (1 Tbsp)
crushed garlic cloves (2)

  • Cream butter.
  • Add herbs and any optional add ins. Mix well.
  • Place butter on a piece of wax or parchment paper.

  • Shape into a log using paper to help mold.  Log should be about 6 inches long.  Twist ends to secure.

  • Refrigerate for at least two hours.
  • Herb butter will be good in the refrigerator for at least two weeks.
  • If you want to preserve for longer, you can freeze the whole log right in the paper.

 

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

Pesto is a great way to combine some of the greens we get in our shares each week.  Traditional pesto uses basil, but the recipe this week features kale combined with garlic scapes and scallions.  This pesto can be used on pasta, grilled cheese, panini sandwiches or wraps, pizza, omelets, and so much more.  This recipe also freezes well.

Kale Pesto

Ingredients:
6 cups kale (chopped, packed)
1/3 cup garlic scapes, chopped (about 5 scapes)
¼ cup scallions, chopped
½ cup nuts (cashews, walnuts, or pistachios)*
1 lemon juiced (about 3-4 Tbsp juice)
1 tsp lemon zest
1 ½ tsp sea salt
½ cup parmesan cheese **
1 cup olive oil

  • To prepare kale: wash and dry. Remove stems and coarsely chop.
  • Place half of the kale into a food processor. Pulse to finely chop.
  • Add remaining kale, garlic scapes, and scallions to food processor. Process until all ingredients are finely chopped and well combined.
  • Add nuts, lemon juice, lemon zest, sea salt, and parmesan cheese to food processor. Pulse to combine all ingredients.
  • Scrape down the sides and pulse again.
  • With food processor on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil.
  • Process pesto until smooth.
  • Add additional olive oil if you want the pesto to be thinner.
  • Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to a week.
  • To preserve for later- place pesto in ice cube trays, freeze overnight. Remove cubes from tray and store in freezer bag.

 

*If using salted pistachios, do not add sea salt.  Taste the pesto at the end and add sea salt to taste.
**For a vegan or dairy free option, substitute with vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast.

 

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

It is always a treat when we get to head out to the fields and pick our own strawberries at the farm.  There really is nothing better than farm fresh organic strawberries.  This recipe combines these flavorful berries with some basil to create a tasty and refreshing popsicle.  Great for both adults and kids!  If you don’t want to use your whole quart of strawberries that you picked this week, feel free to half this recipe. You can also use frozen strawberries, just soften enough to be able to chop them and blend them really well. Recipe made 10 popsicles, but amount will vary depending on mold size.

Strawberry Basil Popsicles

Ingredients:
1 cup maple syrup
¼ cup packed, chopped basil leaves
½ cup water
1 quart strawberries (4 cups, divided), cleaned with stems removed

  • Combine maple syrup, basil, and water in small saucepan. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.

  • Simmer for 5 minutes. Turn burner off.  Cover and allow the mixture to infuse for an hour.
  • Chop ½ cup of berries into small pieces. Place the strawberry pieces into the bottoms of the popsicle mold.
  • Place remaining 3 ½ cups strawberries into the blender. Blend until a smooth puree is formed.
  • Add basil syrup into the blender with strawberry puree. Blend again to combine.  Continue blending until mixture is smooth and uniform.
  • Fill molds with puree.

  • Freeze overnight.
  • Carefully remove popsicles from molds and enjoy!

 Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com

Bok Choy is a nutritious leafy green vegetable that is a member of the Brassica family (like kale and broccoli).  It is high in Vitamin C, K, and A.  It also contains many other beneficial minerals and vitamins.  This recipe showcases this tasty, nutritious vegetable.  Enjoy on top of a bowl of rice or as a side

Sesame Bok Choy
Ingredients:
1 head bok choy, washed
3-4 large cloves garlic (or sub in green garlic or garlic scapes)
1 can (8 oz) sliced water chestnuts
2 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 ½ tsp sesame seeds (black or white)
2 Tbsp chopped scallions for garnish

  • Separate bok choy stems from leaves. Chop both and keep separate.
  • Thinly slice garlic cloves and set aside.
  • Chop water chestnuts and also set aside.
  • Heat olive or avocado oil in pan on stovetop.
  • Add garlic and bok choy stems. Sauté on medium low for 5 minutes, stirring to cook through.
  • Add water chestnuts and cook 2 more minutes.
  • Add chopped leaves. Cover and cook about 3 more minutes or until leaves are wilted.
  • Add salt, pepper, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Mix to combine.
  • Garnish with fresh chopped scallions and enjoy!

 

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com