Bacon is Baaaack!

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You know that dog treat commercial where they claim that "dogs don't know it's not bacon"?

Well, you'll know if it's not Omache Farm Bacon!

Bacon will be ready for ordering starting for this weekend, December 5th.  As well as Half hams if you'd like to pick one up for a holiday dinner!  Check out our Home Delivery Page for pricing and how it works specifically but here's the gist:

1. You email us your grocery list (By 6pm Friday please)
2. We pull out bacon, pork chops, winter squash and eggs and/or whatever was on your list and put your name on it
3. On Saturday, your groceries are handed to you in one of three ways:
           a. Drop by the Winter Market in the 1912 Center between 10am and 2pm (12/5 or 12/12)
           b. Meet us in town after the Winter Market of in the afternoon on 12/19
           c. We'll stop by your in-town home after the Winter Market or in the afternoon.
4. Payment is made by: cash, card or check.

See? so easy!

July 23 Hail Storm

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So the newsletters simply haven't worked out as well this year as I was hoping they would.  I'm sure all of you lovely folks will understand, given the circumstances.

That all being the case, this seems the perfect time to put several updates down on paper.  Well, digital paper anyhow.

The biggest update is about the recent hail storm that passed through the area on Wednesday July 23.  Hopefully most of you have had a chance to talk with Jason about it.  He was getting our booth set up for the Wednesday market when it hit town and as our farm manager coordinated much of the acrobatics that ensued.  There were several amazing folks that, upon hearing about yet another grand sheep escape that resulted from the hail storm, raced out to our farm to help put everyone back where they belonged.

The most challenging loss resulting from this storm is likely our pumpkins and winter squash.  Being blessed with more acreage than many folks who grow veggies in the area, we were working on growing nearly an acre of pumpkins and another half acre of various winter squash varieties.  The plants were very well established and while they have been growing back amazingly well the biggest question now is if they'll produce fully ripe fruits before the first frost.  In just the last four seasons, we've seen first frosts come as early as mid September or as late as the end of October.  Cross your fingers for luck for us!

All of our CSA members came down to the market to pick up their CSA shares that day (impressive given the nasty weather) and upon hearing of the total devastation of our outdoor crops completely understood when we told them that it meant a pretty sparse CSA share for the next month or more until we could get fresh crops planted and for the survivors (kale, chard, Zucchini) to grow back and start producing once again.

A huge thank you also goes out to Deep Roots Farm and Affinity Farm, both in Moscow.  They have both donated a couple of different items to help us fill out our CSA shares this week.  We cannot thank them enough!

Keep an eye on Facebook for photo updates.  Jason is hoping to take some photos of the recovery every week (Wednesdays or so usually) so we can all be absolutely amazed at the progress and amazing resiliency of Mother Nature.  Believe me when I say I have been most impressed at how well things have been growing back.

Microwave Winter Squash Recipe

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Everyone knows that winter squash should be baked.

This is true, but what if you want something home-made and fresh for lunch?  With a little preparation at time and a microwave at school or work, you're set!  You'll also have the rest of the building or lunchroom drooling!

You'll have to tailor this recipe to suit your tastes, as always, but I have the basics to begin upon here.

Microwave Winter Squash Lunch
Makes enough for 1 person.
Time: 15 minutes preparation, 8 minutes cooking.

Ingredients:

One small winter squash, softball size or appropriate to your appetite.

Filling:
Whatever strikes your fancy.  My favorite choices are below
1. Cranberry
       2 tbsp dried cranberries
       1 tbsp honey
       1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
       cloves
2. Sausage Rice (sweet with brown sugar or savory with seasonings)
       1/4 cup of your favorite breakfast sausage, cooked.
       1/2 cup cooked rice
       seasonings (salt, pepper, sage) (optional)
       brown sugar (optional)

Instructions:
@ Home
1. Gather your filling ingredients.  You can mix them all together in a sandwich bag (cranberry) or microwave-safe container (sausage) and store it in the refrigerator.
2. give your squash's skin a scrub.  (Generally a good policy no matter who you got it from!)
@ Work
3.  With a knife, stab the squash so that steam can escape.
4.  Microwave the whole squash for about 4 minutes, turn it over, microwave for 4 more minutes.
5.  CAUTION!  HOT!  Let the squash rest for a few minutes until you can cut it open without burning your hands on the steam.
6. with a spoon, scoop out the seeds and toss (or compost!) them.
7.  if you chose the sausage filling (or something similar), reheat it while your squash is cooling.
8.  Mix and Enjoy!  if you have extra room in your container for the sausage filling, scrape the squash from it's skin into your container.  If you just had your squash and your sandwich baggie of yummies, you'll have to scrape the squash filling loose and mix with your filling in the skin.

YUM!

Please share in the comments your favorite filling for squash, baked or microwave!