Tasty and Healthy - September 13, 2012

Okra grows on a small plant. It's the fruit after beautiful yellow and purple flowers blossom, and the bees pollinate. Our bees keep very busy on the farm, with a wide assortment of plants and flowers requiring their services.


Pesticide-free Okra is currently being harvested on the farm. Try it in casseroles, soups, fried, baked, roasted and grilled (Recipes on the right).

Currently we are preparing our fields to plant Autumn and Winter Crops.

If interested in SHELLED black-eye peas please phone the farm to place an order. Peas are in our standard two pound bag. $8 per bag.

Did you know...

vine ripened tomatoes turn color from bottom to top?

Did you know...

1 cup diced or sliced fresh tomatoes is full of nutrients?

• Tomato accompaniments provide interesting, nutrient-rich, flavorful boosts to meals, snacks and appetizers.

Recipes below

As always, please feel free to phone the farm for special requests or special orders. We'll do everything we can to accommodate you. If you need something from the Farmers Market in Plant City, it is best to phone by Wednesday afternoon.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services visits to our farm regularly to test our soil and plants. For more information about our farming techniques, and the testing we undergo, please click here. 

A big thanks from Gran'ma Angie for recycling your shopping bags with us. Please keep them coming!

From the Farmers Market:

Tomatoes (recipes below)

Eggplant

Cucumbers
Green and Red Bell Peppers
Green Jalapenos (be sure to remove the seeds!)

Sweet Cubanella Peppers
Poblano Peppers

Carrots

Sweet Potatoes

Baking Potatoes

Red Skin Potatoes
White Skin Potatoes

Yellow Squash
Zucchini Squash
Butternut Squash

Yellow Onions
Scallion Onions
Red Radish
Beets

Celery
Cabbage
Romaine

Head Lettuce
FLORIDA Avocados
Lemons

Limes
Bananas

Where we will be this week:

Friday -  Rolo will be at our Spring Hill Drive location next to the Chevron location. Be sure to phone the farm for any special orders! 

Saturday - Joann and Rolo will be at the Hernando County Farmers Market on Hwy 19 with 40 other vendors! Come browse, shop, and visit with your neighbors - it's an all 'round enjoyable time. You'll also be supporting local businesses by visiting their booths. Be sure to phone the farm for any special orders!

Saturday and everyday - Gran'ma Angie, Nana Phyllis, Joann and Rolo will be at the Produce Barn until 6PM. 

For our Calendar of Locations, and special times and dates for September, please click here, or click on the Calendar Tab at the top of this page.

Recipes for the Week:

Wonderfully Fresh and Versatile Salsa

Seared Cube Steak with Tomatoes and Onions

Smashed Potatoes

Quotes for this week:

Love doesn’t demand to be loved back, 

but it doesn’t mean it exists to be taken for granted.

~ Unknown

Every-time you smile at someone,

it is an action of love,

a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.

 ~ Mother Teresa

As always, thank you for your encouragement and support. Without you, we wouldn't be able to do what we love most - FARM!

Looking forward to seeing you,

All of us at Beasley Farm

10137 Preston Rd

just off Mondon Hill Road between Hwy 41 and Hwy 50.

Produce Barn is open daily until 6PM

Phone 352-799-6752

When we're busy in the field, our cells keep us available:

352-232-3381 and 352-232-0294

E-mail us Beasley_Farm@tampabay.rr.com

For our Produce Stand locations, dates, and hours please click here.

Please phone the farm to special order Southern Field Peas if you would like them brought to one of our satellite locations.

Wonderfully Fresh Salsa

Fresh Salsa is one of those flavorful, nutrient-packed, fat-free, low-calorie, versatile elements which complement many snacks and meals. It’s a favorite in our household. 

Once fresh salsa is made, it may be added to creamy dips, spread on grilled breads, put in salads, spooned into tacos, utilized as garnish, enjoyed as a dip by itself, prepared in omelets or scrambled eggs, put on top of pizza, placed on sandwiches, and, well, you get the idea.

To create fresh salsa, use any assortment of:

•  peppers
•  onions
•  tomatoes
•  fresh or dried herbs (optional)
•  fresh lemon or lime juice(optional)
•  seasoning (optional)

NOTE: Removing seeds from peppers reduces the “flame power”. If more heat is desired, then leave more of the seeds in the peppers when dicing.

NOTE: After dicing tomatoes, place in strainer to drain excess juice, unless a very moist salsa is desired.

NOTE: Optional lemon/lime juice preserves the brilliant coloring of veggies, and brings a fresh, tangy flavor to the salsa.

Jack and I most enjoy Salsa consisting of:

• Jalapenos
• Red Bell Peppers (adds a little sweetness)
• Green Bell Peppers
• Cubanella Peppers (a tangier sweetness and pretty color)
• Poblano Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Oregano
• Thyme
• 1/2 fresh Lemon or Lime juice (to preserve color and keep things pretty)

Some other goodies we add for a change:

• Scallions
• Sweet Onions
• Anaheim Peppers

Method:

1. Chop peppers and onions into small sizes, to your specific preference. 
2. Add diced or chopped, drained tomatoes. Stir.
3. Add any herbs or seasonings if desired. Omit these items if you prefer the fresh taste of only peppers, onions and tomatoes.
4. Squeeze 1/2 lemon or lime for tartness, and to preserve color. This step may be omitted if the salsa will be cooked on a pizza or consumed within a few hours.
5. Mix ingredients thoroughly with fork or spoon. 
6. Serve immediately or allow flavors to enhance one another by covering and placing in refrigerator to be enjoyed later.

Cube Steak with Tomatoes and Onions

VERY simple...

         relatively labor-free...

               ... begin approximately 75 minutes prior to serving dinner. 

Cooking method produces a wonderfully-tender cube steak, without all the breading.

Ingredients:

• 1-lb cube steak (or whatever amount required by your family)
• 2 or 3 tomatoes (more or less, as desired), diced
• 2 onions (more or less, as desired), rough chopped
• 1 clove garlic, diced

Method:

1. Season cube steak with salt, pepper and your favorite seasonings.
2. Sear the cube steaks in fry pan, about one minute on each side.
3. Add a little water to pan.
4. Place tomatoes and onions on top of the steaks.
5. Cover fry pan.
6. Simmer about an hour on medium-to-low heat.

Serve with salad, favorite vegetables, and baked potato or rice.

(see also our recipe for cube steak with tomato gravy by clicking here)

Tasty and Healthy - September 6, 2012

Gosh! We are still underwater in many places on this side of Brooksville, but at least no damage - just difficulty getting into our fields. We hope this posting finds you and your family well and enjoying life.

How about a fresh tomato sandwich. Make a fresh Avocado guacamole spread (recipe below), add meat, eggs, cheese or other vegetables. Mmmmmm...

Currently we are preparing our fields to plant Autumn and Winter Crops.

Pesticide-free Okra is currently being harvested. Have you tried grilling it or roasting it yet? (Recipes on the right)

If interested in SHELLED black-eye peas or zipper peas, please phone the farm to place an order. Peas are in our standard two pound bag. $8 per bag.

Did you know...

vine ripened tomatoes turn color from bottom to top?

Did you know...

1 cup diced or sliced fresh tomatoes is full of nutrients?

• Tomato accompaniments provide interesting, nutrient-rich, flavorful boosts to meals, snacks and appetizers.

Recipes below

As always, please feel free to phone the farm for special requests or special orders. We'll do everything we can to accommodate you. If you need something from the Farmers Market in Plant City, it is best to phone by Wednesday afternoon.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services visits to our farm regularly to test our soil and plants. For more information about our farming techniques, and the testing we undergo, please click here. 

A big thanks from Gran'ma Angie for recycling your shopping bags with us. Please keep them coming!

From the Farmers Market:

Tomatoes

Eggplant

Cucumbers
Green and Red Bell Peppers
Green Jalapenos (be sure to remove the seeds!)

Sweet Cubanella Peppers
Poblano Peppers

Carrots

Sweet Potatoes

Baking Potatoes

Red Skin Potatoes
White Skin Potatoes

Yellow Squash
Zucchini Squash (very tender!)
Butternut Squash

Yellow Onions
Scallion Onions
Red Radish
Beets

Celery
Cabbage
Romaine

Head Lettuce
FLORIDA Avocados  (recipes below)
Lemons

Limes
Gala Apples
Bananas

From the Farm:

• Reservations being taken for our specialty Traditional Southern Field Peas (phone to order please)
• Pesticide-free Okra

Where we will be this week:

Friday -  Rolo will be at our Spring Hill Drive location next to the Chevron location. Be sure to phone the farm for any special orders! 

Saturday - Joann and Rolo will be at the Hernando County Farmers Market on Hwy 19 with 40 other vendors! Come browse, shop, and visit with your neighbors - it's an all 'round enjoyable time. You'll also be supporting local businesses by visiting their booths. Be sure to phone the farm for any special orders!

Saturday and everyday - Gran'ma Angie, Nana Phyllis, Joann and Rolo will be at the Produce Barn until 6PM. 

For our Calendar of Locations, and special times and dates for September, please click here, or click on the Calendar Tab at the top of this page.

Recipes for the Week:

Herbed Zucchini and Tomato Rounds

Grilled Tomatoes

Tomato sandwich with Guacamole and veggies

Guacamole Recipe

Quotes for this week:

Live life. Be brave. Believe in yourself. Be kind to others. 

Smile daily. Love as much as possible, and always 

remember, you are enough.

~ Unknown

Taking time to do nothing, often brings everything into perspective.

- Doe Zantamata

As always, thank you for your encouragement and support. Without you, we wouldn't be able to do what we love most - FARM!

Looking forward to seeing you,

10137 Preston Rd

just off Mondon Hill Road between Hwy 41 and Hwy 50.

Produce Barn is open daily until 6PM

Phone 352-799-6752

When we're busy in the field, our cells keep us available:

352-232-3381 and 352-232-0294

E-mail us Beasley_Farm@tampabay.rr.com

For our Produce Stand locations, dates, and hours please click here.

Please phone the farm to special order Southern Field Peas if you would like them brought to one of our satellite locations.

Grilled Tomatoes

Grilled Tomatoes with Sautéed Green Bell Peppers and Grilled Zucchini

Ingredients:

Fresh Tomatoes

Olive Oil

Favorite Seasonings

Favorite Fresh Herbs (optional)

Method:

• medium sized tomatoes, cut in thirds from stem to bottom

• (if small sized tomatoes, cut in half)

• drizzle with olive oil

• season with salt, pepper, garlic powder

• place on grill, flat side down, about 3-4 minutes, long enough for grill marks to show.

• turn over, sprinkle with fresh thyme and a fresh basil leaf on each tomato patty for 2 or 3 minutes until grill marks show on opposite side.

Herbal Zucchini and Tomato Rounds

Ingredients:

basil

fresh oregano

fresh thyme

garlic powder

olive oil

salt

pepper
parmesan cheese
tomato, sliced  1/4” - 1/2” thick 

and

eight ball zucchini, sliced 1/4” - 1/2” thick as desired

or

Sliced large regular Zucchini

or

Sliced Zucchini with sliced cherry tomatoes

Method:

Create a dressing by chopping fresh oregano, fresh thyme, garlic powder, fresh cracked pepper and salt, and olive oil. Mix well. 

NOTE: by adding a little apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar, this makes an excellent salad dressing or marinade.

• Slice Eight ball Zucchini and tomato as desired.

• Brush dressing on both sides of sliced zucchini.

• Partially bake in a frying pan,  a few minutes on each side, to remove moisture.

• Place on cookie sheet and top with sliced tomato.

• Put a little basil and parmesan cheese on top of the tomato.

• Bake in oven about 10 minutes at 350.

• Great side dish! 

This flavorful duo is also delicious on garlic bread, pita bread, or other crunchy crackers.