Fresh from Wellspring Charitable Gardens - April 4, 2024
Fresh Today… Artichokes, White Salad Turnips, Purple Top Turnips, Swiss Chard, Carrots, Spinach, Celery, Purple Scallions, Lettuces, Dill, Oregano, Cilantro, & Lemons
Using your Produce… by Julie Moreno
This time of year, the produce will get a little sparse as we wait for warmer weather to bring on the summer vegetables like cucumbers, squash, tomatoes and peppers. We still have lots of greens and fresh herbs to enjoy while the weather is cool. I put together some specific directions for cooking our artichokes in the second section, so make sure to check it out if you are not sure how to cook them. This week, I included a recipe for a spinach dip. You can use our Swiss chard as a substitute or combine the two together. I will warn you that the colorful stems will turn the dip a shade of purple. This dip is a fantastic way to enjoy our fresh sliced turnips or carrots.
Spinach Dip
5-6 cups spinach or Swiss chard leaves chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon butter or oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
8 ounces cream cheese softened
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
bread, crackers and vegetables for serving
* In a large sauté pan, cook the greens with butter, garlic, salt and pepper about 2-3 minutes until wilted. Let cool, then place in a strainer, press to remove the excess water. When cool, stir in the cream cheese and parsley. Chill completely, serve with bread, crackers and vegetables.
Farm Team, Play Ball!
by Keith F Martin
Take me out to the country,
Take me out to the farm.
Plant me some carrots and cauliflower,
I don’t care if it takes a whole hour!
Let them root, root, root for the Farm Team,
If crops don’t grow, it’s so hard,
for it’s one, two, three weeds, you’re out,
And there ain’t no chard!
Welcome, Boys of Summer!
Play ball!
How to Microwave an Artichoke…
Steaming artichokes whole is the easiest way to cook them. You can do this in a pot on the stove, but it is easier and faster to cook them in the microwave. Here are the guidelines:
Slice off the top of the artichoke to remove the top portion of the leaves. Trim the stem and any small leaves at the bottom. Place artichokes in a glass bowl deep enough to fit the artichokes. Add about an inch of water at the bottom of the bowl and cover. Cook the artichoke in the microwave for 5 minutes and check for doneness by gently tugging on the outer leaves. If the leaves release easily and the flesh attached is tender, it is done. If it needs more time, return the artichoke to the microwave and continue cooking in 2-minute increments.
When the artichoke is cooked, allow it to cool slightly. Be careful handling the hot, steamed artichokes! Enjoy the leaves with your favorite dipping sauce, melted butter or salad dressing. You can use a small spoon to scoop out the choke or just eat around it. The bottom of the artichoke flower and the stem have the meaty heart, make sure to enjoy it.
Metaphors of Soil and Soul . . .
Droplets
by Ronda May Melendez
Heavy rainfall resonates outside the window this morning. Darkness envelops me again, though, as the rhythmic sounds lull me back to sleep. Eventually, I wake again. The sounds of dripping have diminished. Chill and dampness now fill the air. As is my custom, I prepare myself to search for coffee. Away from home, I venture outside to my rain-washed car and drive toward the city center.
Throughout the Sonoma wine country, sun rays peep over the hilltops or glisten between the parting clouds. April Rain has clothed the valley vineyards below in billions of droplets. Glancing out the side window, I take in this serene sight through a filter of droplets coating the car window. The land is drinking in its heavy provision from heaven. It is completely tranquil. The satisfied world is at rest.
As I reflect, it occurs to me how easy it is to get lost in worrying about the impact of the deluge and its residual effects: how it makes my garden flowers droop and hang their heads, how it makes my clothing cold and heavy when I get caught out working in the rain, how it makes me too easily focus on the “blur” that results from a layer of droplets that obscure a more comprehensive view of life. I forget there is a cleansing happening, there is a refreshment occurring. The Lord is providing an opportunity to refresh and draw deeply from His provision. And yet, I struggle to see past the droplets. As I considered it all this morning, the invitation came to my heart: “Allow yourself to feel and enjoy the peace, Ronda. Look beyond the droplets on the pane. Rest, peace, and provision lie in wait beyond the filter obscuring your view.” Let this be your invitation to do the same, dear readers.
