Currant Events
Good Morning!
As the rain continues to rain on our collective parades, we wanted to share a few bits to news to pass your time and tempt your tummies.
As always, Tummies first.
We have started a Summer Stock Up option on the website. We know you're so excited for a summer of travel, time with friends, family and good eating! As you plan your travel this summer, please take us with you! Stock your fridge and freezer with your favorites from this collection; pork butts, crab cakes, tamales, EMPANADAS and more. If you don't see what you want, let us know and we'll help you get what you need for your trip! (I was tempted to call this section "TAKE ME WITH YOU" but was overruled for, once again, being far. too. creepy.)
To the News! This week we were thrilled to be highlighted in Wicked Local. They did a really beautiful job of showing everything our team is doing to support local farmers, eliminate food waste and bring delicious food to your tables. We loved being a part of Wicked Local as it helps reach all the small, vibrant communities that we work with and work FOR across Massachusetts.
And in case you missed it last round, the spotlight on Family Dinner from New England Living will air again this Sunday morning at 11:30 on WBZ! It will also stream on CBSN Boston at Noon and 7pm that same day. It features our friends at Clark Farm who brought in a boat (van) load of gorgeous produce into your shares this week.
Have a wonderful day and stay dry!
Erin + the Family Dinner Fam
CURRANT EVENTS
Howdy, Folks! It’s Shannon! It's been a bit since Erin has unleashed me on the keys again. I promise, your long awaited lesson on soils will come at some point. For now though, we have some currant news that isn’t so current but a bit of fruit history in the state.
This week I got word that the currant, Ribes rubrum, harvests were plentiful so I had to get them into your shares. (They are the beautiful little berries on a vine in the photo. Hi guys!) But if it were only 70 years ago, that would not have been possible as these plants were outlawed in most Northern States. Why would such a cute berry be outlawed? Because they just so happen to harbor a fungus that poses risks to pine trees. (The fungus only poses risk to ribes and pinus species that live close together as it jumps from one to the other to complete its lifecycle. YOU ARE TOTALLY SAFE.)
Now, story time, I was touring a farm in Western Mass a few years back when I first learned about the currant saga. This older farmer told us how back when Massachusetts was clear cut and predominantly had pines growing for the booming lumber industry, currants and gooseberries were banned due to the White Pine Blister Rust that would ruin the lumber crops. Although today there is more diversity in our forests than just pines which would make these berries pose less of a risk on the trees versus a monoculture, 40% of Massachusetts towns still have a ban on these berries and you need a permit to grow them. Every few years the question comes up again if they should be legalized to grow and as the farmer said no one speaks for the berries but there’s a whole lobby that speaks for the trees.
While our berries are street legal, we hope you enjoy these sweet and sour berries! Check out this article on them to find out more!
Editor's Note: Because fruit plays such a brief but essential role in the summer eating equation we decided to double down on it and offer an extra fruit share. The Fruit Share can be a weekly or a one-time add-on. It will contain two portions of local, seasonal, fresh fruit each week. Quantities and types will vary in this Summer-Only Add-on.
WHAT'S IN THE BAG?
Delivery dates: Saturday 7/10 and Tuesday 7/13
Note: If you order a "Meat and Fish Share" you will receive just the meats listed, not the "dairy" items (i.e., eggs, yogurt, etc). If you order a "Fish and Seafood Share" you will receive the fish listed, not the dairy items.
Add-on Grain of the Week - Pizza Shells from Iggy's
Add-on Bread of the Week - Seeded Honey Oat Bread from A&J King
Add-on Pastry of the Week - Croissants from A&J King
Add-on Fresh Pasta of the Week - Egg Papparedelle from Dave's Fresh Pasta
Add-on Cheese of the Week - Chevre from Kennebec Cheesery
Add-on Fruit Share - Cherries and Blueberries from Kimball's Fruit Farm
HALF SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Ground Beef from Feather Brook Farms; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Pescatarian Protein - Haddock from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Vegetarian Proteins - Bean Salad from Topsfield Bake Shop; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Paleo Proteins - Ground Beef from Feather Brook Farms; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Garlic Scapes from Clark Farm and Shady Acre Farm; Swiss Chard from Clark Farm; Cucumbers from Kimball Fruit Farm; Currants from Ward's Berry Farm and Norse Farms
Grain - Potato Loaves from A&J King
Special Treat - Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from A&J King
WHOLE SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Ground Beef from Feather Brook Farms; Haddock from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Aged Cheddar from Pineland Farm
Pescatarian Protein - Haddock and Trout from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Aged Cheddar from Pineland Farm
Vegetarian Proteins - Bean Salad from Topsfield Bake Shop; Tempeh from Rhapsody Foods; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Aged Cheddar from Pineland Farm
Paleo Proteins - Ground Beef from Feather Brook Farms; Haddock from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Garlic Scapes from Clark Farm and Shady Acre Farm; Swiss Chard from Clark Farm; Cucumbers from Kimball Fruit Farm; Currants from Ward's Berry Farm and Norse Farms; Zucchini from Langwater Farm; Onions from Brookford Farm
Grain - Potato Loaves from A&J King
Special Treat - Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and Lemon Poppy Seed Scones from A&J King
DOUBLE SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Ground Beef from Feather Brook Farms; Haddock from Red's Best; Sausage from Brookford; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Aged Cheddar from Pineland Farm; Tahini from Just Hummus
Pescatarian Protein - Haddock, Trout, Halibut from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Aged Cheddar from Pineland Farm; Tahini from Just Hummus
Vegetarian Proteins - Bean Salad from Topsfield Bake Shop; Tempeh from Rhapsody Foods; Pierogi from Jaju; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Aged Cheddar from Pineland Farm; Tahini from Just Hummus
Paleo Proteins - Ground Beef from Feather Brook Farms; Haddock from Red's Best; Sausage from Brookford; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Garlic Scapes from Clark Farm and Shady Acre Farm; Swiss Chard from Clark Farm; Cucumbers from Kimball Fruit Farm; Currants from Ward's Berry Farm and Norse Farms; Zucchini from Langwater Farm; Onions from Brookford Farm; Fennel from Brookford Farm; Radicchio from Clark Farm
Grain - Potato Loaves from A&J King; Crackers from Mill Cove Baking Co.
Special Treat - Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and Lemon Poppy Seed Scones from A&J King
RECIPES
(from Shannon)
I want to see what you're making! Send pics of your creations and other recipes over to recipes@sharefamilydinner.com for us to highlight!
Sea Bass in Foil with Zucchini - Carly in JP sent us over this recipe and said it was fantastic! Use this week's Haddock in place of the Sea Bass and enjoy!
Red Currant Compote - Top on all the yummy things and enjoy!
Creamy Fennel Pasta Sauce - Not sure what to do with that beautiful fennel? Try out this sauce to dazzle any pasta you might have around or the pasta of the week!
Garlic Scapes, Swiss Chard, and Butter - Now that just sounds like perfection!! Cant really go wrong with that side! Unless you want to take the route my friend did when she made me tempura fried garlic scapes...
QUICKLESSSS - My most favoritest thing to make and top on burgers!
Zucchini Relish - Talking about things to put on burgers, check out this recipe my friend sent me recently when we were talking about the upcoming zucchini season!
Roasted Radicchio - Martha says that the bitterness of radicchio goes away when you roast it so, I believe it.
Tropea Onion Soup - Because it's cold and rainy and this soup sounds incredible!
Want to share recipes that wow'ed you or show off something incredible that is just going to make me hungry while checking emails? (Or send us pics of your dog with your share?? WE REALLY WANT TO SEE PUPS!) Drop us a line over at recipes@sharefamilydinner.com. We'll be highlighting your recipes and creations in coming weeks! (I am loving all the things you have sent! Stay tuned for highlights coming soon!)