September 19, 2021
From Our Farmers
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Fresher Together Chicago
@ FresherTogether www.freshertogether.com
Swiss Chard, Celery, Lunchbox Peppers,
Tomatoes, Carrots, Okra, Garlic
Tulsi, Herb Clamshell (thyme & rosemary)
Lavender Sugar
Shyler Harmony Farm Chicago
Currently no social media
Eggplant
Catatumbo Cooperative Farm Chicago
@catatumbo_coop www.facebook.com/CatatumboCooperative/
Watermelon
Sunflower Soule Farm Chicago
Alyssum flowers, Mint
West Side Bee Boyz Chicago
@westsidebeeboyz https://www.westsidebeeboyz.com/
Westside Wildflower Honey
Never hesitate to reach out if you’re unsure what to do with things in your bag! FresherTogether @ gmail.com or text 312-88-Fresh (3-7374)
Thanks for your support. Don’t forget to scroll through previous bags for more ideas and recipes and tips.
Here are a few tips for your bag this week
Take the tops off of your carrots right away. Cut them off so they don’t pull energy from your roots, making them soft. The carrot tops can be made into pesto or added to your veggie stock recipe.
There were probably more leaves left on your celery than you might be use to. You can easily throw those in your broth or stocks as well, or chop up small and use like a celery flavored herb/garnish. Try it in your potato salad.
If you have more tulsi than you need right now, try drying it and putting it in an airtight container for later. Something like a jar with a lid can work. Then throw it in your tea cabinet or spice rack. You can also dry your rosemary or thyme as well. They make great seasonings later.
Wow that’s Sweet!
From Sugar Baby Watermelons, to Lavender Sugar to local honey. This week’s bag is Sweet!
Your lavender sugar is made with Beet Sugar from Michigan (yes it came from beets!) and from Lavender grown by Chef Fresh at Fresher Together Farm.
Here’s some ideas of what to do with your lavender sugar:
Use it in your Baked goods!
Use it to sweeten your lemonade, or for some other fun beverages
Add your favorite skin oil (grapeseed? almond? olive?) and use it as a body sugar scrub.
Chef Mel wants you to know…
About the Flowers and Mint she added in this week.
Sweet Alyssum: Alyssum flowers are edible! The flowers don't really taste anything like they smell. They have a slightly sweet and peppery flavor similar to kale. In fact Sweet Alyssum and kale are both in the Brassica family as are cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and many other vegetables.
Alyssum has powerful health benefits, providing several essential nutrients to the body. Alyssum is known to support the kidneys, it also acts as a natural diuretic and helps to prevent an excessive retention of water in the body.
Peppermint (you can tell because it’s tied with the candy cane yarn) Chew on some mint leaves after you eat to help cleanse your palate, freshen your breath, and even help with digestion.
mint tea is one of my personal favorite uses for this delicious herb. Fill a mug almost halfway with ripped up mint leaves and pour boiling water over them. Let steep for about 5 minutes (or more if you like your tea stronger) and strain leaves out.
Possible health benefits. Peppermint is a popular traditional remedy for a number of conditions. It is believed to have calming effects. It is used to treat flatulence, menstrual pains, diarrhea, nausea, depression-related anxiety, muscle and nerve pain, the common cold, indigestion, and IBS.
For drying you can hang bundles upside down or put in a paper bag with slits cut on the sides for ventilation.