Six Farmers Market Counties

The Bentonville Farmers Market has a guideline stating that sellers are to be from Benton county and the five surrounding counties: Washington, Madison, Carroll, McDonald, MO, and Delaware, OK.

Friday will start a series of blog posts highlighting different activities in each county. April 28th when the Bentonville Farmers Market starts back, ask your produce, meat, or craft vendor what they enjoy doing in their hometown. You might find a new hiking spot or a local restaurant tucked away in a little town.  So be prepared to put your dogs, kids, best friend, spouse in the car and go explore the Natural State.

Cabbage

Although market isn't currently active, January does boast several crops. My favorite vegetable being harvested this time of the year is cabbage. I love to boil cabbage and eat it just like that! Since my husband throws a fit if meat isn't involved in dinner, this recipe will satisfy both of our culinary needs.


http://www.savagechickens.com/



Cabbage Rolls

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound rice

• 1 head fresh cabbage, approximately 3 pounds
• 1 small onion, chopped fine
• 1 teaspoon oil
• 1 teaspoon vegetable bouillon
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• Salt
• Pepper
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped

 

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Steam the rice and cabbage head separately. Set the steamed rice aside. Peel off the cabbage leaves to have individual leaves.

Add chopped onion, oil, bouillon, and the steamed rice to the ground pork meat. Mix together. Season with salt and pepper. Roll the ground pork mixture into golf ball-sized balls. Wrap each pork ball in a cabbage leaf.

Add carrots and celery into the baking pan (vegetables prevent the cabbage from burning onto the bottom of the pan, and also adds an aroma to the rolls) and arrange the cabbage rolls on top.

Place the pan into the oven and cook for about 1 1/2 hours. Check if it is thoroughly cooked before
removing from the oven.

Visit Food Network to keep your dinner satisfying for all involved.

If you are looking for new ideas for produce bought at farmers market check out the Bentonville Farmers Market Pinterest board.

Baked Brie

The last time I went to Freyas house for a gathering, I was introduced to a wonderful appetizer, baked brie. Apparently this is a common dish that I had never had the privilege of eating before. Not only is it a wonderful gooey, cheesy dish but it is so simple to make.

Picture by Freya's Keeper

Bake Brie:

Brie cheese wheel* (I was informed that typically brie comes in a wedge and that is ok to use too!)

Fruit preserves, any flavor will do I like raspberry

Egg

Pastry sheet, I like to make homemade but you can use store bought too

• Set oven to 425 degrees.
• Place pastry sheet in center of cookie sheet.
• Spoon 1/3 to 1/2 cup of fruit preserves on to the center of the pastry sheet.
• Put brie on top of the preserves and press down gently to spread out the preserves.
• Seal the pastry, do not leave brie exposed. It is ok if some of the pastry overlaps.
• Beat the egg in a bowl and brush over pastry or use a fork to to spread the mixture.
• Cook 10 minutes, brie should be golden if not leave in for 5 more minutes.
• Let cool for 20 minutes before serving.

You can serve brie with crackers, bread, or if you are in the privacy of your home with just your dogs for company just dig in!

*Brie comes with a white rind. With baked brie it is best to keep the rind on, it is edible and complements the cheese.

Blueberry Bushes

There is nothing better then taking a hike and finding wild raspberries or blackberries. Summer is not complete without berries in a smoothie, over granola, or on shortcake.

This year I want to plant blueberry bushes in my garden. Blueberry bushes will produce fruit in their 3rd year; if you buy a 3 year old bush and plant it in the spring then you will have fresh berries by summer!

Blueberry bushes:
Require full sun
Need an acidic soil
Like clay and rocky soils
Irrigate regularly
Use a mesh net to detract hungry birds
Prune in fall to promote berries next summer

Do you think you would enjoy fresh berries? If so start digging holes so you can plant some blueberry bushes!

Locavore Meals

Now that we are twelve days into 2012 have you stuck to any of your new years resolutions? Or did you even make any resolutions this year?

One of my resolutions is to prepare a locavore meal once a week. If you are wondering what a locavore is, different people have different answers. My idea of a locavore is a person that eats food that is grown within a 150 mile radius.

If you cannot buy local food then you try to buy organic. It isn't always easy to find local food in NW Arkansas in January, but if you look it is available. Since the Bentonville Farmers Market doesn't open until April 28th, take your time at the grocery store and seek out produce that is grown by Arkansas farmers. 

Make a pledge to eat a local meal once a week to:

-Support the local farmer
-Taste fresh produce, typically picked the night before a farmers market
-Experience variety such as heirloom tomatoes or Armenian cucumbers
-Have fun shopping, preparing a menu, and cooking with your spouse, best friend, kids, or dog
-Encourage a healthy lifestyle once ripe veggie at a time

Will you join me in seeking out local food for at least one meal a week?

Soil Tests

This warm weather has me thinking about the Farmers Market. I have the taste of a ripe, juicy, bright red tomatoes and crispy, green, fresh cucumbers on the tip of my tongue. What are these farmers doing now to prepare for the future harvest? Or if you grow some plants in you yard what can you be doing now?

Did you know that the extension office offers free soil sampling?
There are many reasons to preform a soil test:
1. Know how much lime to use                                                              
2. Know how much fertilizer to use
3. Know how to adjust the pH
4. Find out what nutrients are lacking or are in excess

You will need to go by the extension office to pick up your soil testing kit. The address of the extension office is:
1204 SW 14th Street
Bentonville, AR  72712

I hope you get your soil tested soon so you can have a beautiful heirloom tomato by summer!