Why We Should Bring Back the Tradition of the Christmas Orange

The appeal of a last-minute stocking stuffer

SMITHSONIAN MAGAZINE

ORANGES ARRIVED FROM OUR PARTNER FARM IN FLORIDA...LITERALLY YESTERDAY!!

It's a Christmas Miracle!!...Thanks to Thorpes Organic Farm 

Bitter Greens Salad with Beets and Oranges

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds medium beets

• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil plus 1 tablespoon, divided

• ¼ cup balsamic vinegar

• 2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed

• ¾ teaspoon sea salt

• ¾ teaspoon ground pepper

• 4 small navel oranges

• ½ cup panko breadcrumbs, preferably whole-wheat

• 1 (5 ounce) package baby arugula

• 4 cups coarsely chopped radicchio

• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced and torn

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Wrap each beet in foil. Place on a baking sheet. Roast until tender, about 1 1/4 hours. Let cool, still wrapped, for at least 30 minutes. Unwrap the beets, trim and slip off their skins. Cut each beet into 8 slices or wedges.

3. Meanwhile, combine 1/2 cup oil, vinegar, orange juice concentrate, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Grate 1/2 teaspoon zest from an orange, add to the bowl and whisk until blended. Reserve 1/2 cup dressing for drizzling. Set aside.

4. Cut ends off oranges. Stand on a flat side and cut off all peel and pith. Cut each orange crosswise into 8 slices.

5. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add panko and cook, stirring, until light golden, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

6. Add arugula and radicchio to the large bowl with the dressing; toss to coat. Arrange the beets, the oranges and mozzarella on a platter. Mound the greens in the center and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs. Drizzle the reserved 1/2 cup dressing over the salad just before serving.

CHINESE HOLIDAY DINNER

...sit back and let Chef Brook Maikut do your cooking this year.

Available for preorder here through December 16,
delivery the week before Christmas.

Brook Maikut is a lover of life and beauty. Growing up, Brook took inspiration from his grandmother's ability to make amazing meals from nothing, and his mother's ability to host fully encompassing dinner parties. It's this passion that stayed with him to envision a whole new experience for Central Ohio.

After ideating, founding, and opening Comune Restaurant in Columbus, OH, he expanded his vision to local food systems. He started creating family style private chef experiences for select clientele and then opened a hyper local Oat Milk company.

As he saw the most upstream aspect of food being the soil itself, he relocated to Knox County, to develop what he believes is one of the most important relationships of his life - his relationship with the land he lives upon. In 2021, he started an elderberry farm in Knox County with his wife Lauren, where they raise heritage animals and work to create living systems, combining their love for food, art, and life.

FIRE CIDER

...it'll knock your socks off.

Sample a fire cider in your farm box this week!

*You can dilute in water before drinking for a less potent punch! 

Fire cider has been shown to:

• support gut health

• reduce insulin resistance and fatigue

• help with cold and flu prevention

• build immunity

Take the plunge and try it! More sizes available here.

SHIITAKE

...you're a fun-gi.

Shrooms in your farm box this week! See recipe below.

(For more recipes or to find past newsletters, go to theyellowbirdtable.com!)

Creamy Mushroom Pasta
(From Recipe Tin Eats)
 

Ingredients:

• 12oz fettuccine or linguine

• 4 tbsp butter

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 20 oz mushrooms, sliced 1/8" thick

• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 1 cup white wine, dry 

• 1 cup chicken or veggie broth/stock

• 1 1/2 cups cream, heavy

• 2/3 cup parmesan, finely grated 

• 1 tsp salt and pepper, each

• Extra parmesan, for serving

• Parsley, roughly chopped (optional)

• Chicken breast, cut into 2 inch pieces and sautéed (optional)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta in salted water for 1 minute less than time per packet (start this mid mushroom cook). Just before draining, scoop out 1 cup cooking water, then drain.

2. Melt butter and heat oil in a large skillet over high heat.

3. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring regularly. When they start to sweat, add a pinch of salt and pepper.

4. When pretty golden (about 4 - 5 minutes), add garlic and cook until garlic is golden and mushroom is golden.

5. Stand back and add wine (it will be steamy!!), stir, scraping the bottom of the skillet. Simmer rapidly until wine is mostly evaporated and winey smell is gone.

6. Add broth, cream, parmesan, salt and pepper. Stir to dissolve parmesan, add chicken if desired and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring regularly.

7. Transfer pasta into sauce, toss for 1 - 2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats pasta. If sauce gets too thick (rather than slick, see video), add a splash of reserved pasta cooking water. 

8. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately with extra parmesan!

Winter is coming, but never fear...

...Ludacrisp is here.

#ridiculousflavor
#insanehowgoodandinyourbox

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Yellowbird Foodshed!

We hope you have a wonderful week full of farm box goodness, sweet times with family, and unforgettable times of harvest and plenty!! (aka STUFFING)

Look for onion and celery in ALL FARM SHARE BOXES this week in case you need last minute stuffing ingredients! Recipe below.

(For more recipes or to find past newsletters, go to theyellowbirdtable.com!)

Sweet Potato Hot...

...Sweet Potato Cold.

Just don't serve it in a pot 9 days old.

#oneweekuntilturkeyday
#sweetpotatosinallboxesthisweek

Sweet Potato Casserole
a.k.a. sweet potatoes' destiny
(From Tastes Better From Scratch, Food Network, and My Aunt Barbie)
 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for buttering the baking dish

• 3 to 4 large sweet potatoes (about 1 3/4 pounds), peeled and cubed 

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 2 large eggs

Topping:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose or gluten-free flour

• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

• 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 3/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. For the sweet potatoes: Add 1 3/4 pounds peeled and cubed sweet potatoes to a large pot of salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Mash the sweet potatoes.

2. For the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 2-quart baking dish.

3. Whisk together the butter, mashed sweet potatoes, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.

4. For the topping: Combine the flour, brown sugar, butter and salt in a medium bowl until moist and the mixture clumps together. Stir in the pecans. Sprinkle the mixture over the top of the sweet potatoes in an even layer. Bake until mostly set in the center and golden on top, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot. Not cold.

Watercress...

...an unexpected holiday guest.

#twoweeksuntilturkeyday
#inallboxesthisweek

Watercress Salad 
A peppery, refreshing addition to your Thanksgiving table! 
(From Love & Lemons)
 

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces snap peas

• 1 fennel bulb, very thinly sliced on a mandolin

• 1-2 T Raspberry balsamic vinegar

• 1-2 T Blood orange olive oil

• 3 cups watercress

• Segments from ½ navel orange

• 1 ripe avocado, sliced

• 2 ounces torn fresh mozzarella

• 2 tablespoons toasted pistachios 

• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

• Lemon wedge or use this, for serving

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and set a bowl of ice water nearby. Drop the snap peas into the boiling water and blanch for 2 minutes. Remove the snap peas and immediately immerse in the ice water long enough to cool completely, about 15 seconds. Drain and place on a kitchen towel or paper towels to dry.

2. In a small bowl, combine the sliced fennel with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the vinegar and 2 tablespoons olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Gently toss to coat.

3. Assemble the salad on a platter with the watercress, fennel, snap peas, orange segments, avocado, and mozzarella. Drizzle with some of the dressing and top with the pistachios. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon, and serve.

A honeycrisp in your box...

...makes everything better.

#stillfalldontworry
#coldisokwithapples
#honeycrispsforall

Apple Cheddar Scones with Honey Glaze
(From Stemilt.com)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound (2 cups, about 2 medium) Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored and cut into small chunks

• 1/2 tbsp coconut oil

• 6 tbsp granulated sugar, divided

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 3/4 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 6 tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, chilled

• 1/4 cup sour cream

• 1 large egg

• 3/4 cup sharp cheese, shredded

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar

• 3 tbsp honey

• Warm water

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

2. Saute apples and 1 tablespoon sugar in pan with oil until apples start to soften, about 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and put in the refrigerator to cool.

3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix together flour, 4 tablespoons sugar, baking powder and salt. Grate chilled butter into the flour using a grater (or cut with knives) and use your fingers to combine into a coarse dough.

4. In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream, egg, cheddar cheese and apples.

5. Add to dry mixture and combine with a spoon just until mixed (do not overmix).

6. Pat the dough into a 1-inch thick circle on a floured surface. Cut into 6 wedges and transfer onto baking sheet at least 1-inch apart and sprinkle with sugar.

7. Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.

8. While scones are cooling, make glaze by mixing together powdered sugar and honey.

9. Add water until you get a glaze thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Drizzle scones and eat!

Good food for all. 

"Food should be fun." - Thomas Keller

And so is sharing it!
 

Donate a Box to Another Bird

GROWERS ARE GROWING A-PLENTY, 
AND WE ARE SHARING THE BOUNTY...IN EVERY BOX!

It's been a good Yellowbird year!

With all the harvesting and Giving-of-Thanks,
we want to reward faithful customers like you with an even BIGGER BOX.

We are committed to being there in the lean times AND the fat times, so bumper crops have bumped up your box!

This means that you can expect heartier, fuller boxes until the end of year! It's good times at YB!

I reckon you're shy
Bekana beckons to us
You are not lettuce

Misunderstood green
We see you within our box

Make your cabbage scene

-Double Haiku by Bekah-na

TOKYO BEKANA IS CALLING...FROM EVERY BOX!

Get your Tokyo Bekana facts:

(From Edible Uprising Farm)

• Tokyo Bekana is a type of Asian cabbage, and we describe it as a cross between Napa cabbage, bok choy and lettuce.

• Tokyo Bekana can be eaten raw in salads, or cooked.

• Roasting, grilling or searing brings out a delicious nutty flavor.

• Add to stir-fries for a succulent crunch.

• When searching for recipes, try looking for recipes that use bok choy or Napa cabbage, and substitute Tokyo Bekana instead.

Why won't you run
Into the rain and play?
And let tears splash all over you

#41 lyrics © Colden Grey Ltd., Colden Grey Ltd, Sal Mander Pub
Songwriters: David John Matthews / Boyd C. Tinsley / Leroi H. Moore / Stefan K. Lessard / Carter A. Beauford

From Tree to Cider Press to Your Box! Apple cider for ALL this week!

Apple Cider Cookies
(From mycookiejourney.com)
 

Ingredients:

COOKIE DOUGH

• 1 cup Butter unsalted

• ½ cup Light brown sugar

• ½ cup Sugar white

• 3 TBSP Apple cider

• ½ tsp Vanilla Extract

• 2 ¾ cups All purpose flour 

• 1 tsp Baking powder

• ½ tsp Ground cinnamon

• ¼ tsp Ground cloves

• ½ tsp All spice

• ¼ tsp Kosher Salt

• 1 Granny Smith apples diced

• ½ cup Raisins

• ½ cup Chopped walnuts

• Lemon juice To squeeze onto diced apple pieces

APPLE CIDER GLAZE

• 1 cup Powdered sugar 

• 2 TBSP Apple cider

• ⅛ tsp Cinnamon

• ½ tsp All spice

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, measure the flour, baking powder, salt, allspice, cinnamon, and ground cloves, run a whisk through to blend. Dice the Granny apple and squeeze the juice of ½ lemon on top to keep them from turning brown.

2. In a mixer, blend the butter and sugars for a couple of minutes at medium speed. Add the apple cider and vanilla extract and mix. At lower speed, add the flour mixture about a third at a time until flour is incorporated, turn the mixer off. Add the diced apple, raisins, walnuts, and mix through by hand for about a minute. Wrap the top of the bowl with plastic wrap loosely and refrigerate for about ½ hour.

3. Preheat oven to 350°. Using a medium cookie scoop, put 12 scoops onto a parchment-lined cookie pan and bake for 14-16 minutes. Leave the cookies on the pan for a minute or two before moving to a cooling rack.

4. For apple cider glaze, combine powdered sugar, apple cider, cinnamon, and allspice and mix until smooth consistency. After the cookies have cooled, take ½ teaspoon of glaze and drizzle over each cookie.

BOK CHOY BABY.

Not just for stir fry anymore. But you can still make stir fry.

Moo Goo Gai Pan
(From Dinner at the Zoo)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced

• 1 large egg white

• 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of cornstarch divided use

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil divided use

• 2 teaspoons minced garlic

• 1 teaspoon minced ginger

• 2 cups of sliced mushrooms

• 1 cup of snow peas

• 2-3 baby bok choys, sliced

• 1/2 cup of thinly sliced carrots

• 1 8-ounce can of sliced water chestnuts drained

• 1 8-ounce can of sliced bamboo shoots drained

• 3/4 cup chicken stock

• 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil

• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl whisk together egg white and 1T cornstarch. Add chicken slices and toss to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, then strain and discard liquid.

2. In a large pan, heat 1 tsp oil over medium high heat. Add the carrots and 1 T water and cook 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the mushrooms and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned and tender. Add the snow peas and bok choy and cook 1-2 minutes until tender. Stir in the water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. Season the vegetables to taste with salt and pepper and remove the vegetables from the pan onto plate and cover with foil. 

3. Wipe out pan with paper towel, then add 2 tsp oil to the pan and heat over medium high heat. Add chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds more.

4. In a small bowl whisk together the chicken stock, sugar, soy sauce and sesame oil. Whisk in 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of cornstarch. Add the vegetables back to the pan and heat through, approximately 1 minute. Pour in the sauce and turn the high to heat. Bring the sauce to a boil and boil for approximately 1 minute or until sauce has just started to thicken, stirring occasionally.

5. Serve immediately, over rice if desired.

It’s a SQUASH CARNIVAL.

Carnival Squash in Your Box = Time to Get Some Soup On!
 

Delicata and Carnival Squash Soup 
(thecoppertable.com)
 

Ingredients:

• 6 Slices Bacon, Chopped

• 1/2 Cup Onion, Chopped

• 2 tsp Salt

• 4 Cups Delicata and Carnival Squash, Roasted

• 4 Cups Chicken Stock

• 1 1/2 tsp Ground Dried Sage

• 3/4 tsp Aleppo Chili Powder

• 1/4 Cup Heavy Cream

Instructions:

1. In a large stockpot on medium high heat, cook 6 slices of chopped bacon until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the bacon and drain off all but 1 tbsp of drippings.  

2. Add 1/2 cup of chopped onion to the pot and cook for about 5 minutes, until translucent. Add salt and 4 cups roasted squash, and stir for about 3 minutes.  

3. Then, add 4 cups chicken stock, 1 1/2 tsp dried sage, and 3/4 tsp aleppo and bring to a simmer, and cook for about 10 minutes.  

4.  Add heavy cream and puree with stick blender, or pour soup into blender in batches to puree. Serve in bowls and top with cooked chopped bacon.  

Notes:

For the squash: cut one large Delicata and one large Carnival squash in half lengthwise, drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper, and place cut side up on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes to one hour in a 425 degree oven. This part can be done in advance, making this an easy dish to throw together quickly.

GOLDEN.

Click the pic to take home pears that are the color of fall.

Pear Streusel Cake
from thebusybaker.ca

INGREDIENTS FOR THE CAKE:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature

• 3/4 cup white sugar

• 2 eggs, at room temperature

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup milk, at room temperature

• 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature (full fat is best)

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter for greasing the cake pan

• 3-4 fresh pears, peeled and thinly sliced (or 850 ml large can of canned pears)

FOR THE STREUSEL TOPPING:

• 2/3 cup all purpose flour

• 2/3 cup white sugar

• 4 tbsp melted butter

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Pear Salad with Balsamic and Walnuts
from LoveandLemons.com

Ingredients:

• 4 cups mixed salad greens

• 2 ripe pears, sliced

• 1 fennel bulb, sliced paper thin

• Lemon wedge

• 2 tablespoons dried cranberries

• 1 tablespoon chopped pecans

• 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts

• 1 tablespoon chopped hazelnuts, or more pecans or walnuts

• ⅓ cup shaved pecorino

• Balsamic Vinaigrette, for drizzling

• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

SOME LIKE IT HOT.

(Spicy Shishito Pepper.)

SOME LIKE IT NOT.

(Sweet Bull's Horn Pepper.)

Make life easier...it's time to stock your freezer! 

GARLIC POWER.

This Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli recipe is a simple and flavorful way to elevate this nutritious vegetable. It's perfect as a side for any meal and is sure to become a favorite in your household. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 pound broccoli florets
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 425°F. In a large mixing bowl, toss the broccoli florets with olive oil and minced garlic until they are well coated. Spread the broccoli evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Season the broccoli with salt and pepper to taste. Roast the broccoli in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes or until the edges are slightly crispy and browned. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the roasted broccoli. Toss the broccoli lightly to ensure the cheese is distributed evenly.

Serve hot as a delicious and healthy side dish! 

Farm. Us. You.

Tomato Pepper Sauce

Fastest way to utilize tomatoes and peppers in a fun "all purpose" sauce:

1. Blend 4-5 large cored tomatoes (with skin if good blender, and can even throw in cherry tomatoes!), 4-5 small to medium cored peppers of any kind, a can of coconut milk, 1 cup chicken broth, 1T sugar or honey, 2 peeled garlic cloves or 1T minced garlic, 1T onion powder, 1 tsp salt, and a little chili powder.
2. Sauté some diced onions and peppers and 2 lbs of ground chicken Italian sausage or cut links, then pour the blended sauce over meat and heat all together in the pan.
3. Serve with rice or pasta! Tried this last night, and everyone (including some kids I know) loved it.

These are called Ground Cherries, or "Choke Cherries".  They have a husk that you need to remove and eat the little fruit inside.

I describe them as starting like a pineapple, and finishing with a vanilla flavor.  

The coolest way I have ever eaten them is with the husk peeled back but the fruit was still attached.  They were then dunked into chocolate so that you would grab the husk and pull the chocolate-covered fruit out...I think I ate the whole carton this way.

Gorgeous bounty galore this week! As the fair announcer says before Demolition Derby, let's get ready to rumble! We have a lot of fun things developing at YB right now.

• fall tour poster in the works

• new employee's joining the team (think better social media)

• new partnerships developing (think chefs and foragers)

• new products being procured 

• events being planned (think supper clubs)