Fresh Picks from the Farmers Market

So what to do with this?  IF I were a different kind of mom, Eleanor and I would make Cherry/Blueberry pie all smiley and happy in our sweet little kitchen.   BUT I'm not that kind of mom so we'll just eat them out of the bowl!  BUT if YOU are that kind of good, baking kind of mom here's a great recipe for you!

Ingredients

• 2 cups pitted cherries
• 2 cups blueberries, rinsed and drained
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie

• Directions

  1. Mix sugar, flour, and cinnamon in large bowl. Add fruit. Add lemon juice, and stir well.
  2. Pour into a 9 inch unbaked pie shell. Dot with the butter or margarine. Cover with top crust and flute edges. Cut small slits in the top.
  3. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 1 hour. I put a baking sheet under mine to catch any liquid that might bubble over.

  

  image courtesy of pippijewelry

Here's some info about the local farms that grow these beauties!

Cherries from Red Jacket Orchard Located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, Red Jacket was originally planted in 1917.  Today, the orchard and juice company is managed by the second and third generation of the Nicholson family. Starting with Joe and Emily Nicholson, Sr. in 1958, they have spent over 50 years mastering the art and science of quality fresh fruit and juice production.
In reverence to the environment, Red Jacket employs Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices and is certified by Food Alliance as a sustainable producer of plums, apricots, and prunes.

Red Jacket Orchards

Blueberries from Migliorelli Far -a family-run fruit and vegetable farm located in Northern Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley Region of New York. Originating in the Bronx in 1933 when Angelo Migliorelli first brought the broccoli raab seeds when he immigrated to New York from the Lazio region of Italy. Migliorelli and his son, Rocco peddled their vegetables by horse and cart up and down the Bronx, sun up to sun down. Eventually Co-Op City was to be built therefore pushing the last of the farmers out of the Bronx. Farming was Rocco’s passion so he brought his family to the Hudson Valley. Now in its 3rd generation, Migliorelli Farm is growing over 130 different varieties of fruits and vegetables, including the same strain of broccoli raab. In 1998, Ken Migliorelli sold all developing rights of his farm to be protected through a Scenic Hudson conservation easement to remain farmland forever and provide scenic beauty and wholesome food to our local community and the greenmarkets of NYC.

Migliorelli Farm

Weekend in RI

Had a fun+crazy weekend in RI!  

Of course in typical "Katina-as-of-late" style I messed up the hotel dates.  I thought I booked for Thursday-Friday but in fact I booked for Wednesday-Thursday.  Well our nice beachside hotel had no room on Friday night so we had to move to ...I kid you not...a No-Tell Motel.  I didn't take a picture because I'm hoping to wipe it from my memory banks.  (and the way I've been forgetting things lately, it'll be gone in about 2 days!)

AND Brian opened the hotel room door onto Eleanor's toe and she HOWLED for 2 hours straight (10pm-12am) Eleanor has a very high tolerance for pain, the kid barely ever cries when she gets hurt, so it was almost as if she was crying for every injury she's had in life.  Like a true champ she woke up the next morning and said "mommy, today my toe feels great!"

On the way back to NYC we stopped at a friend's house in CT.  Her husband is a fantastic chef and he made the most delicious watermelon salad and  pizzas in their outdoor pizza oven. 

Fresh FRESH ingredients, many came from their garden-truffles, mushroom, ricotta, asparagus, heirloom tomatoes...soo amazing!  When you eat food like this, you really taste the difference between fresh, homemade food cooked with love and care, and store bought meals.  There is a place for everything!  I wish I took more pictures but I was too busy eating and drinking! 

+k

New Food Icon

Bye Bye silly, hard to comprehend pyramid! 

 From today's announcement...
"MyPlate can help prioritize food choices by reminding us to make half of our plate fruits and vegetables and shows us the other important food groups for a well-balanced meal: whole grains, lean proteins, and low fat dairy. "
I like the visual reminder to make healthy food choices and I think it's easy for the kiddos to understand as well. 

Print it out and hang it in your kitchen where the kids can see.  they can compare their plate of food to the new icon and see how they are doing-well, see how YOU are doing!  I venture to guess that pretty soon they will be asking for more fruits and veggies so their plate looks like the one in the picture.  Any excuse to correct mommy is a good excuse in my house!

for more info click here

fantastic food weekend!

Here are some scenes from our weekend.  So interesting how since I decided to blog about food and eating,  without prompting Eleanor has become quite a food adventurer.  Makes me think I'm on to something! 

SATURDAY morning...

Carambola for the first time...truth be told, had never eaten it either!

A little breakfast for the alligator.  The doggie was a good sport.

This is a fun game to play in the bottom bunk.  Hang all your Barbies and stuffed animals then lift the top mattress and watch them fall! 


SATURDAY afternoon...

We went to the Tribeca Film Festival Family Festival.  Such a great day.  It was bright and sunny and there were great food vendors and fun things to do and see.  It all started with a cupcake...

Then pizza.  Not one slice but THREE full sized slices!  I think Eleanor is going through a major growth spurt because she has never before eaten ONE whole slice!  I have to say it was great pizza!  Thanks Portobello's Pizza!

 Then a little hair painting from some sweet school girls.

 Watermelon Lemonade from Bubby's

A Lobster Roll for me from Red Hook Lobster Pound

 I am not a Lobster connoisseur but it was soooo good-great buttery, warm, grilled bread and cool, fresh lobster.  Go to their site  here to read more about Ralph and Susan, the founders and their lovely lobsters.

 Red velvet cupcake from Billy's Bakery. 
So glad I ran all week.

Sharing with Daddy.

Begrudgingly.

 Snickerdoodle cookies from Billy's Bakery. 

 Amazing face art by Peanut Butter

and some kite flying to finish it off.


SATURDAY late afternoon...

A trip to Whole Foods with daddy resulted in a new food adventure...Horned Melon.  It's expensive at $6 a melon but she ate the whole thing.  Again, something I've never had before either!


SUNDAY morning...

 Eleanor made this strawberry design that mimics the chevron pattern on her DASH+fin placemat.
Making mealtime fun!

An impromptu run in with a more typical NY street festival...you know the kind...zeppoli, funnel cake, sausage & peppers, gyro's and vendors selling socks and underwear, began with picture with Sponge Bob.  This was so stupid because we had to pay this joker $2 to take a picture with him.  She was happy so it was worth it but man it was hard to spend money on that!

Elanor eating an Arpea from a street vendor-this is the third big food adventure from this weekend.  It was so yummy, like pancakes with mozzerella cheese in the middle.  Ok maybe that sounds gross but try it! Here's a recipe from epicurious

On to the next adventure!

No ugli, YES kumquat

I've now gone to three markets in my neighborhood (including Whole Foods) and no one has Ugli fruit!  The saga continues.
We did however bring home kumquats...

So cute, so innocent but MAN they are sour! (& a little sweet)

I'm proud of Eleanor for trying it...she didn't make as scary a face as I thought she would.

Did you know you eat the whole fruit?  Rind and all?
Eat them whole, put them in champagne or do what we did and stick one in a garlic press and squeeze the juice in to a cool glass of water.  May help you drink more water and the taste is so unique.

Enjoy!

not so Ugli

When your kiddo asks you for something new to eat, something she tried in school & something that is healthy you say absolutely! 

Welcome to our kitchen...UGLI Fruit!

Ugli fruit is a botanical cross between grapefruit, Seville orange and a tangerine, that looks like grapefruit, but is a little more lopsided and bumpy. 
So basically its a tangelo with the cute name of Ugli.  They are from Jamaica, usually in markets in the US from November to April.

Ugli fruit is a good source of Vitamin C and I've heard is easy to peel and eat. 


So now I'm off to go find one.  I'll let you know how it goes.