Canning salsa is a process that it best enjoyed with a few friends, some background music, and an open schedule. Prepping the ingredients can take some time and effort, so good company, and a fun atmosphere are a must. I canned up a big batch of the salsa recipe listed below with some friends this weekend and it was the perfect way to spend a lazy labor day weekend.

This recipe requires that all of the salsa ingredients are roasted, which intensifies the flavor and makes for what we dubbed "Better Than Restaurant," salsa. The onions were slightly caramelized, the pepper blistered to perfection, and the roasted tomatoes perfectly sweet. This salsa, though a big labor intensive, is some of the best you can make at home. Grab some ingredients at this week's farmers market, call up your friends, and get cooking! 

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,

It's extra important to stay hydrated during these hot summer months. Turn boring water into a refreshing summer cooler with the addition of fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs from the market. Infused waters are a healthy, hydrating alternative to sugary soft drinks and juices and kid approved. Grab an extra cucumber, a sprig of mint, and bunch of basil and start infusing!

​I often think of salads as a big beds of lettuce with a few raw veggies and a dressing on the side. Though I love a good lettuce salad, come summer time I want a salad that incorporates the abundant summer produce available at the market. Salads, broadly defined, are anything that involve a mix of vegetables (raw or cooked), fruit, grains, eggs, or meats, and a dressing. My favorite summer salads feature diced sturdy vegetables like cucumber or zucchini, a cooked grain like rice or quinoa, and a herby vinaigrette dressing. Throw in some toasted nuts and salty cheese and you're set! Hearty summer salads hold up in a picnic basket, keep well in the fridge for quick lunches, and are filling enough to eat as a main course. 

The Kitchn put together a list of 20 must try summer salads on their blog. Get inspired!

​Ever wonder how coleslaw became the official dish of summer BBQs? It's because spring cabbages are coming out of the fields in June and early July after lettuce and other leafy greens have called it quits for the season. Every picnic needs a salad, and cabbage holds up better to the heat of summer than tender lettuce.   

Out of all of the late spring vegetables, cabbage probably gets the least amount of love. People who claim not to like cabbage likely haven't had it roasted or grilled. Roasted cabbage gets caramelized around the edges and takes on a buttery flavor regardless of whether butter was used or not. In the summer, grilled cabbage steaks are a fun vegetarian main dish or a nutritious omnivore side. 

There are many different varieties of cabbage, some green, some purple, some crinkly, some smooth, and while most are round, there are even some unique cone shaped varieties. Now is a great time to buy cabbage at the market and try some new recipes. For some inspiration, check out this list of 20 cabbage based recipes form the Kitchn.
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​Garlic scapes are one of my spring time favorites. After a winter of eating store bought garlic and onions, I get a little unnaturally excited for these early season alliums. Never heard of a garlic scape? It's not surprising, they aren't sold in the grocery store and are only available at markets for a short period each spring. Scapes are the shoots that grow from hard-neck varieties of garlic*.  They look like curly green stalks with tightly closed buds on top when they're young and tender. Farmers and gardeners harvest them in the late spring so that they won't drain nutrients from the garlic bulbs that will be dug up in a couple of months for storage. 

What to do with scapes? I chop them up small and use them in place of garlic when sautéing vegetables, toss them whole on the grill, or whizz them up into a herb pesto in the food processor. Scapes are milder than garlic, slightly sweet, and a great addition to your spring ingredient rotation.

*There are many varieties of garlic, some are hard neck, which produce scapes, and others are soft neck which do not. Most of the garlic available at the grocery store are soft neck varieties that do not form scapes. 

​Not all eggs are created equal, and deciphering the meaning of labels at the store can be tricky. Cage-free, brown-eggs, natural, free range, soy-free, pasture-raised, local? How to choose! And does it really matter?
 
Yes it does! Eggs coming from confinement operations are more likely to contain growth hormones, antibiotics, and present a higher risk of salmonella. Currently about 95% of eggs produced in the US come from confinement operations and it’s important to know what alternatives there are. Cage-free means that hens are not confined to cages, but does not ensure that they have access to the space or conditions necessary for the birds to thrive. Free-range or free-roaming similarly do not guarantee that hens will have adequate space or humane conditions, simply that they have access to the outdoors. Labels to look for in a store include Organic, Animal Welfare Approved, and Certified Humane which are certified by outside organizations that have high standards for animal welfare. Another common label is pasture raised, or pastured eggs. Pastured often hens live in mobile chicken coops in pasture where they have access to fresh air, grass, and bugs and produce healthier eggs. The pastured label is not well regulated, so be sure to purchase from a farmer you know! Local pastured eggs are the best!   
 
Nutrition fun facts:  “Eggs are quite possibly the world's perfect protein source. The six grams of protein in each egg has the highest biological value—a measure of how well it supports your body's protein needs—of any food, including beef. The yolks contain vitamin B12, deficiencies of which can cause attention, mood, and thinking problems.” Studies have shown that eggs from pastured chickens have twice the amount of vitamin E and more than 2.5 times more omega-3 fatty acid levels. (1)

Looking for a little reboot after all of the holiday eating? Why not try adding a green smoothie to your breakfast routine and get a healthy does of leafy greens to start your day. Below is a basic recipe for making green smoothies.

​My favorite is to use half a frozen banana, a small handful of frozen blueberries, half a bunch of locally grown kale or chard, and nut milk for my liquid. I'll add fun things like chia seeds (great for the guts and very filling!) or bee pollen (great for the immune system) to bulk up the smoothie. If I want my smoothie to be a meal replacement, I'll add half an avocado or a table spoon of coconut oil. Green smoothies are super versatile and a great way to incorporate locally grown greens from the market into your breakfast routine. 

What's your favorite green smoothie combination?