CARBONDALE COMMUNITY FARMERS MARKET
  • Market Information
    • Hours and Location
    • Contact Us - Market Staff
    • Volunteer
    • Music
  • Market Events
  • Recipes
  • Vendor Information
  • Link Match
  • Market Sponsorship
  • Covid Information

Featured Produce: Peaches!

8/15/2016

1 Comment

 
August is National Peach Month and southern Illinois peaches are at their peak. ​The warm climate and sloping hills of southern Illinois are well suited for fruit growing. A hundred years ago, these hills were coverd with fruit trees, supplying Chicago with most of the fruit sold in stores. Today, a handful of those orchards remain, producing peaches for markets and wholesale. Our very own Mileur Orchard is owned an operated by third generation farmers. Mileur Orchard specializes in unique and early season varieties of peaches like donut peaches, white peaches and even nectarines. Mileur Orchard has dozens of varieties of peaches, try a basket each week and see which one you prefer. Once you find your favorite, head out to their store and grab a bushel. Frozen peaches are a great treat in winter!

Nutrition Fun Facts: Peaches are a good source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber. Vitamin A and C act as antioxidants in the body by helping to prevent cell damage. Research currently suggests that antioxidants found in natural sources, such as fruits and vegetables, are more effective than those derived chemically (1).
 
Storage Tips: Peaches can easily bruise and should be handled with care. Do not squeeze peaches at the market to check for freshness, the orchard workers have already done that for you. If peaches are too firm to eat when you buy them, store in a brown paper bag at room temperature until the desired firmness is achieved. Placing unripe fruit in the refrigerator can cause a loss of flavor, texture, and moisture. When peaches are ripe, wash in water and rub of “fuzz,” if desired. Store ripe peaches in a plastic bag for 3-5 days in the refrigerator (2).

Preparation Tips: Peaches can be consumed raw, used in jams, boiled, baked, fermented, dehydrated, canned, pureed, sautéed, and frozen. To remove skins, score peel with paring knife in an X shape along the bottom of the peach. Soak in hot water for 1-2 minutes. Remove from water bath and pull peal off with back edge of knife. Slice and put in quart sized zipper bags, jars, or plastic containers. Add sweetener to taste, and a splash of lemon juice to preserve color,

Recipe: Grilled Peach Salsa

Picture
Ingredients:
  • 1 sweet yellow onion, minced
  • 1 lb yellow peaches
  • 1-2 hot pepper, seeded and minced
  • 1 large tomato, minced
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 bunch cilantro, minced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • pinch of sea salt to taste

Recipe from:
http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/grilled-peach-salsa/
Directions:
  1. Preheat your grill to medium high heat. Rub a little olive oil over the grates. 
  2. Slice your peaches down the middle and discard the pit. Once the grill is hot, set peaches (cut-side down) on the grill and close the top. Grill for 8-10 minutes, until peaches are very juicy and have those nice charred lines running across. Remove peaches from the grill and turn off grill.
  3. Set grilled peaches aside to cool. Meanwhile, combine the minced sweet onion, jalapeno pepper, tomato, cilantro and garlic in a large bowl. Once peaches are cool enough to handle, chop them up and add them to the bowl.
  4. Squeeze a lime over everything, toss well and season with sea salt to taste. This salsa is excellent on anything from chicken tacos to chips to scrambled eggs. It tastes better once it has time to marinate in the fridge for a bit, though, so I suggest letting it sit overnight before serving.
1 Comment

Featured Produce: Sweet Corn

8/8/2016

0 Comments

 
Sweet corn is great both on and of the cob. I made a quick skillet last Wednesday after market with fresh peppers, onions, summer squash, green beans, sweet corn, and cherry tomatoes that was pretty amazing. All of the produce from fresh from my market basket and the whole thing came together in less than 20 minutes, a win-win after a hot and steamy afternoon at the market. It was a loose adaptation of a succotash, with green beans instead of lima beans. It's quick meals like these that remind me that cooking with fresh, local produce doesn't need to be a time consuming three-course ordeal. That eating local, even on a tight budget and busy schedule is possible. 

Summer Sweet Cork Skillet

Picture
Ingredients:
  • Half of an onion (diced)
  • 1 bell pepper (diced)
  • 1 medium summer squash (cubed)
  • 3/4 cup of green beans (chopped)
  • 2 ears sweet corn
  • Half of a pint of cherry tomatoes
  • Fresh herbs (I used thyme, but basil, summer savory, tarragon, or even cilantro would be great)
  • Half of a hot pepper (optional)
  • Salt and fresh ground pepper
  • Olive or canola oil 

Recipe courtesy of Reanna Putnam, your Community Farmers Market manager. 

Directions:
  1. Add approximately 1-2 TBS oil to a hot pan over medium heat, then add onion and a sprinkle of salt and let soften for 2-4 minutes while you finish dicing your bell pepper and summer squash. The smaller the cuts of squash, the quicker it will cook, so aim for small, quarter inch cubes. Trim the green beans into half inch pieces. 
  2. Add bell pepper, summer squash, and green beans to the pan and cook down for 3-5 minutes until the squash and green beans start to soften.
  3. Add in sweet corn, halved cherry tomatoes and hot pepper if using. Stir to incorporate and let cook for an additional 5-10 minutes until the tomatoes have broken down and the corn is cooked through.
  4. Remove from heat, stir in fresh herbs, salt to taste, and liberally apply fresh ground pepper. Reserve a quarter of the herbs as a garnish.  
0 Comments

    Subscribe to our mailing list

    * indicates required
    .. Ok

    Categories

    All
    Featured Produce
    Recipe
    Survey
    This Week At The Market!
    Updates

    Archives

    March 2022
    December 2021
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014

Proudly powered by Weebly