Volume 2: Issue 16

Well, this is it! The last week of CSA for the 2011 season. We are harvesting all the goods we’ve been waiting the whole season for. We are also harvesting the last of most things and putting the garden to bed. Its been an incredibly abundant year despite the weather and I have so enjoyed the magic of farming. I want to sincerely thank you for letting me farm for you. I am so proud to be your farmer!!! I hope you have dried your herbs and put some things away for winter and think of Rainshadow when it snows. I will start planting again in February and will see you in June!!!

BRUSSEL SPROUT AND CELERIAC CREAM SOUP WITH PARSLEY PESTO

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  Brussel Sprouts


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  1 cup cooked celeriac, cut up


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  1-1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth


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  1 cup heavy cream


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  1/4 C parsley, minced


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  1 T course salt


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  2 cloves garlic


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  zest of 1/2 lemon


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  3 T Parmeggiano Reggiano, shredded


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  olive oil


• 
  
  red pepper for garnish


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  salt, hot sauce to taste
  
  Reserve some Brussels sprouts leaves for garnish and purée the rest of the sprouts with the celeriac and 1/2 cup of the broth. Combine the purée and the rest of the broth in a saucepan and heat gently. Stir in the cream, correct seasoning and keep warm. Place the parsley, garlic, salt, cheese and zest in a mortar bowl and add a little olive oil. Mash and grind the mixture with the pestle 'til you have a thick paste, adding olive oil if necessary. Cut some thin curls from the red pepper for garnish. To serve, ladle soup into warmed soup plates and in it float an island of the parsley pesto along with a sprout-leaf, pepper-curl, and a grinding of black pepper if desired.
  Note: the soup and pesto may be made a day or two in advance (and may improve in flavor). Refrigerate until time to serve. Heat gently (do not microwave!), stirring, to just above serving temperature, then let stand 5 minutes in the pot before ladling into warmed bowls.
  
  PLEASE JOIN US!
  We will be celebrating Food Day on October 24th with ninety 4th graders at Rainshadow. They will be coming for the whole day to learn about animals, vegetables, seed saving, compost, etc… We would love to have your help at the farm for this. It is such a fun and rewarding day at the farm! A great finale!