September 6,2020

From Our Farmers

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Fresher Together Chicago

 @ FresherTogether www.freshertogether.com 

Herb Bouquet (Lemon Basil, Dill, Cilantro flowered), Beets 

Catatumbo Cooperative Farm  Chicago

@catatumbo_coop www.facebook.com/CatatumboCooperative/

Tulsi (Holy Basil), Aji Amarillo

Cedillo’s Fresh Produce Chicago

 @cedillofreshproduce www.cedillosfreshproduce.com/ 

Cherry Tomatoes, Basil

Hinata Farms Chicago

@hinatafarms  https://www.hinatafarms.com/

Asian Eggplant, Shishito Peppers

Urban Eden Chicago

Website coming soon - Farm is located at @insidetheplant

Spicy Micro Greens Salad Mix, Sweet Crisp Salad Mix

Bee-utiful Chicago

 @bee_utifulhoney www.bee-utifulbees.com

Honey

Sistas in the Village Chicago

@sistasinthevillage

Okra

B.S.R.R - Boots and Saddle Riding Ranch -Pembroke Township

Uniquely Inclined (canning division)

Pepper Relish or Chow chow Relish 

The FT BIPOC Harvest Bag is a project of Fresher Together. Fresher Together is a collaborative food & farming project for healing, economic development, training and retreat. We’re pretty dope alone but we’re #freshertogether #harvestbag 

Some recipe Ideas from Chef Fresh

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) 

The Most Simple Herb Pesto

So, you have herbs and you don’t know what to do with them? One of my favorite things to do is throw extra herbs and greens into a simple pesto.  I won’t give you a recipe because you can feel free to play with the flavors and consistency. Add in the herbs of your choice. I like using traditional basil,  or arugula, or cilantro, chives,  or any type of greens. One of the important parts to me is the garlic. I sometimes throw in several cloves of regular garlic or garlic scapes. From there you can add in nuts if you like,  I often will throw in a handful of roasted Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) , Sunflower seeds, walnuts, whatever you like. “Traditional” pestos often add pinenuts, but they arent always the most accessible thing around. Then you can blend all of that and add in some olive oil so that it is the consistency you like. Possibly a little parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast, and salt and pepper to taste. 

Don’t let it stop you if you don’t have all the ingredients. Blending herbs up in olive oil is yummy even on it’s on and can be drizzled over bread, pasta, rice, eggs, or whatever you’re called toward 

Beet Green Patties

My suggestion is find your favorite crab cake or salmon croquette recipe and instead of the seafood chop up the beet greens and stems and mix those in in the place of crab or salmon. Or feel free to try the recipe below.  

INGREDIENTS6+ fresh beet leaves1 fresh eggs

¾ cup of panko bread crumbs2 Tbsp  flourgarlic powder

Lemon Juice

Dill and other herbs of your choice

Old Bay Seasoning TT salt

Chop finely beet leaves, add eggs, panko, flour.  Mix. Add garlic powder, dill, old bay and salt. Form into small burger like patties. Heat the pan Coat bottom of your frying pan. Place patties in a hot pan and sear on each side. Finish in the oven if needed. 

Don’t want to cook them on top of the stove? You can also bake them in the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover your baking pan, or a cast iron skillet preferred, with a little oil. Lay down the the patties.  Bake for ~7 min on 1 side, then turn over and bake for an additional 3- 5 mins or until done. 

Ingredient Highlights from Chef Fresh 

Lime Basil-  

Use Ideas: Put this on and in whatever you. It’s delicious in Stir-frys, on seafood, poultry, veggies.  It’s great as a tea. Steep the flowers and leaves in hot water, great to drink hot, or  sweeten it while hot  and pour over ice. 

Benefits  High in vitamins A, K and C

Tulsi-

Use Ideas: Makes a great tea! Hot or Iced!  Dry it and add it to your honey for an infused honey. Throw a little in your stirfry or salad. 

Benefits: My favorite benefits - It’s an adaptagen and helps with stress reduction. It also is a powerful anti-inflammatory. 

Aji Amarillo - 

A beautiful Peruvian Chili pepper that is a base to dishes when combined with red onions and garlic.  My favorite way I have it is as a sauce that is delicious on EVERYTHING. I load up on it whenever I’m at a Peruvian Chicken joint.  

Dill

Use Ideas: Make a quick pickle with your okra or other veggies and load it with dill. I love dill with my carrots, salmon, or on potatoes. Find an online homemade ranch dressing. Dill will be an ingredient for sure! Or look up a salad dressing featuring dill. Add to the deviled eggs at the next bbq. 

Benefits: My favorite benefits-Helps regulate blood sugar. In this week’s bag my favorite ingredients for folks with diabetes or working on their blood sugar are the powerful benefits of both Dill and Okra. Find your favorite search engine and have look for studies of okra or dill on diabetes and blood sugar regulation. Be careful adding large amounts of dill extracts, etc to your herbal plan. Just the regular amounts you might find in food is a good start unless you’re talking with your Doc or Herbalist about a different plan.  It also helps with inflammation. 

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)