Category Archives: Moose Hill CSA

Eggplant Casserole

This is a family recipe that came from one of our farm hand’s, Mel, grandmother and is a nice quick and easy meal that the whole family will enjoy.

 

Eggplant Casserole

Ingredients:

·         1/3 cup of vegetable oil

·         1 medium eggplant cut into 1” pieces

·         3/4 cup of chopped onion

·         1 Teaspoon minced Garlic

·         1 stalk of celery chopped into 1” pieces

·         1 20 oz can chickpeas drained

·         1 can tomatoes

·         1 teaspoon oregano

·         Toasted sesame seeds

 

Directions:

1.      Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat

2.      Add eggplant, onion, garlic

3.      Cook, stirring often, until eggplant is brown and slightly soft about 5 mins

4.      Stir in remaining ingredients except sesame seeds

5.      Cover and cook for 30 minutes stirring occasionally until eggplant is tender

6.      Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds

Rosemary potatoes

there may be no better way to prepare our delicious potatoes than to pair them with some rosemary (which we conveniently just transplanted in to the down hill field!). They end up making a great side to any meal or even just a great snack!

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds small red potatoes
1/8 cup good olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoons minced garlic (3 cloves)
2 tablespoons minced fresh rosemary leaves

Directions

Cut the potatoes in half or quarters and place in a bowl with the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary; toss until the potatoes are well coated. Dump the potatoes on a baking sheet and spread out into 1 layer; roast in the oven for at least 1 hour, or until browned and crisp. Flip twice with a spatula during cooking to ensure even browning.
Remove the potatoes from the oven, season to taste, and serve.

CSA Pick-up: July 16-20

The crops are starting to shift and we have some new additions this week with more on the way! Here is what you might see available this week:

  • Sweet Peppers
  • Zucchini and Squash
  • Kale
  • Arugula
  • Radishes
  • Carrots
  • Onions
  • Swiss Chard
  • Beans
  • Cucumbers
  • Potatoes

We also will be giving out some sunflowers that popped up in our field next to some of our other crops that were a surprise! They were not intentionally planted, they came up from previous years seeds spreading so enjoy their beauty while they last.

Also a reminder that if you need to switch your pick-up day, you must do so via email ([email protected]) and you must be switching to another distribution day. We only do distribution on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 4-7pm.

Thank you to everyone who has donated towels, we have plenty to last the season now. If we need more we will let everyone know but we should be all set for a while.

CSA Pick-Up: July 9-13

Greetings Shareholders! Here is what you can might see for pickup this week:

  • Radishes
  • Scapes
  • Kale
  • Arugula
  • Broccoli
  • Green Beans
  • Carrots
  • Cucumbers
  • Onions
  • Tatsoi
  • Swiss Chard

 

As the season progresses, we may periodically need to make changes to what you receive at distribution – it’s hard to fully predict that we will have exactly the same things available Monday and Friday (a lot can change in a week in the fields) but for the most part, the list is what you can most likely expect.

 

Reminder: If you need to switch your pick-up day in a week, we kindly ask to know, by email, by at least noon the day before. This allows us to adjust for how much we are harvesting and the names that need to be listed for the evening distribution with enough notice to accommodate everyone. Thank you!

 

 

A few recipes

Green Bean Casserole Bundle

Ingredients:

1 c. cream of mushroom soup

1/2 c. milk

1/2 tsp. soy sauce

1/4 tsp. Freshly ground black pepper

2/3 c. French fried onions

3 1/2 c. cooked cut green beans

1 package bacon or Prosciutto

Directions:

– Preheat oven to 350° and grease a 9″-x-13″ baking dish.
– In a large mixing bowl, stir together soup, milk, soy sauce, pepper, and French fried onions. Add green beans and toss to combine.
– Grab small bundles of green beans and wrap with a strip of bacon, placing each in the baking dish snugly. (The edges of the bacon should be pressed against the pan, so they don’t unravel while baking.)
– Cover with foil and bake until the bacon is fully cooked, 37 to 40 minutes.

Arugula Pesto

Ingredients:
4 cups packed fresh arugula
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup pure olive oil
2 tablespoon pine nuts, toasted, plus 1 tablespoon
1/8 teaspoon vitamin C (optional)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

Directions:

Prepare an ice water bath in a large bowl, and bring a large pot of water to a boil. Put the
arugula in a large sieve and plunge it into the boiling water. Immediately immerse all the arugula and stir so that it blanches evenly. Blanch for about 15 seconds. Remove, shake off the excess water, then plunge the arugula into the ice water bath and stir again so it cools as fast as possible. Drain well.

Squeeze the water out of the arugula with your hands until very dry. Roughly chop the arugula and put in a blender. Add the garlic, salt and pepper to taste, olive oil, 2 tablespoons of the pine nuts, and the vitamin C, if using. Blend for at least 30 seconds. In this way the green of the arugula will thoroughly color the oil. Add the cheese and pulse to combine. The pesto will keep several days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.

Pull out before dinner to get to room temperature. Before serving, add the remaining 1 tablespoon toasted pinenuts.

 

CSA Update: Cilantro tips and other news

Now that you have received your cilantro, you may be wondering what exactly to do with it and how to take proper care.

  • Cilantro likes full sun and moist soil, so water often, especially in this heat. If you are leaving your cilantro in the cup we gave it to you, set it in another bowl or Tupperware of some sort so that the water does not leak through and make a mess
  • Prune back the main stem as soon as it begins to develop its flower to prevent it from bolting and losing flavor.  Cilantro bolts readily in heat so be ready for this and make sure you are watering often
  • To harvest your cilantro trim back the top leaves and use them for cooking. This also encourages bushier growth.

In other news, we are all working hard to fight back the weeds and continue to grow healthy crops.  The heat has definitely been an obstacle lately so work early in the mornings is the best time to get this done. Some of our crops have not been doing well from our hot and dry spring.  This past rainstorm was much needed and hopefully more is on the way.

Heat is not the only obstacle either. We are also fighting a consistent fight against the Colorado Potato Beetle and the Cucumber beetle by squishing their eggs and now at this point their larva.  Crops that has been struggling from any detriment, like our cucumbers and squash, usually get a “second planting” in another location in our field so we have a second chance on them this season.

We appreciate your continued support and we hope you are enjoying this rollercoaster of a season as much as we are.

See you on the farm!

Summer Happenings at Moose Hill in July!

Summer is officially upon us – kids are out of school, vacations are planned, family reunions will be happening, cookouts are scheduled and the summer camp season is upon us.

The summer offers a wide variety of options for people to get outside, enjoy the weather (yes, even the heat wave), and explore the nature all around them.

We hope that you will join us for a few things this July at Moose Hill:

Guided Nature Hike at the Bog – join us every Friday for this FREE program for all and explore the cranberry bog at Patriot Place in Foxboro with Moose Hill Teacher Naturalists!

July 7: The Bog at Poutwater Pond – this adult program requires registration; there’s still time – sign up today!

July 7: Star Gazing Night – if you have never joined us for this FREE program for all, you have been missing out! We’re already watching the forecast and hoping for clear skies.

July 12: Concert on the Hill – once again we welcome back the 2nd Precinct Jug Band for a rocking evening for all! Bring a blanket, a picnic dinner, and join us for this FREE concert brought to you in part by Sharon Credit Union.

July 21: Family Camp Out – not sure if camping is for you? Just want to get away for the night? Join us for an easy camping experience! Space is limited and registration is required.

July 25: Bats! An Evening of Exploration – join us as we learn more about the bats found here at Moose Hill! This program for kids age 10 and older and adults does require registration – sign up early to secure your spot in this night program.

Plus, we still have some space in our summer camp AND the Farm at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary has opened a Farm Stand on the weekends from noon-2 pm.

Not sure you want to pre-schedule your time? You can always come and enjoy a hike on our trails between 7 am and 7 pm – make sure to have your bug spray, sunscreen, and water!

No matter how you spend your time with us at Moose Hill – we look forward to seeing you here, exploring the nature of Massachusetts at our sanctuary!

CSA Pick-Up: July 2-6

Greetings Shareholders and Happy Independence Day!  We have a nice healthy pick-up for you this week which may include:

  • Peas (PYO)
  • Strawberries
  • Garlic Scapes
  • Kale
  • Radishes
  • Arugula
  • Lettuce
  • Swiss Chard
  • Carrots
  • Squash
  • Cucumbers

Also our weekend Farm Stand is officially up and running on weekends from 12-2 pm right out of the barn at 4 Moose Hill Street. If you (or a friend) are looking for more fresh produce, come on by and see what we have available for purchase. The Farm Stand Harvest will be similar to your weekly pick-up list.

Questions? Check our FAQ, and our website for more info or email us at [email protected].

CSA Pick-Up: June 25-29

Summer is here and our harvest is expanding!  Here is what you might see for this weeks harvest:

  • Strawberries
  • Peas (Pick-Your-Own)
  • Garlic Scapes
  • Green Onions
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Radishes
  • Beets
  • Squash

If you still need to sign up for your work hours, follow this link to our sign up genius.

Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? We’d love to hear them. If you have something you’d like to share with us you can contact us through email at [email protected]