 From Chef Lesley Stiles: Roasted Butternut Squash and Orange Soup 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cubed 1 yellow onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped Zest from 1 large orange 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup white wine 4 cups stock 1 cup half and half 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar Sea salt and pepper Heat oven to 425°. Toss squash, onion and garlic with olive oil roast for 20 minutes until caramelized. Remove from oven and place into a large soup pot. Add the white wine and turn heat to high. Reduce by half and add the stock and orange zest. Bring back to a boil and cook for 20 minutes. Add the half and half and puree with a stick blender. Season with salt and pepper. Serves 4. Printer-friendly version More recipes |
| From the Director, Jessie
Neu: SAVE OUR KIDS, SAVE P.E. Experts say 50% of American kids will be over weight by 2010. Health and exercise advocate Richard Simmons is asking for our help! He is on a crusade to bring P.E. back into American schools. On his website, there is a push to the finish line to write to Chairman George Miller and Senator Ted Kennedy to include P.E. in the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act as a multiple measure. He has been very successful in helping to pass bills in Washington. The current bill is: The Fit Kids Act HR 3257. Sustaining Walnut Creek: Going Green Together - Community Conversations & Eco-Fair Lesher Center for the Arts Date: Saturday - 10/20/07 Program: 9:00 a.m. - noon Eco-Fair: 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Join residents and businesses from across the community to learn more about ways we can protect and improve our local environment. KGO-TV anchor Dan Ashley will emcee the program. Featured speaker is Bay Area Backroads host Doug McConnell, whose presentation will include examples of how residents and businesses can be "greener" at home and in the workplace. For more information call the Chamber of Commerce or the City of Walnut Creek at (925) 256-3556. The Agriculture Department is working very hard to contain "Medfly" infestations in the San Jose area. The Department is asking people to keep the fruit grown in San Jose backyards to stay in that county. Please spread the word to help keep Medfly out of Contra Costa County. LITA (Love is the Answer) of Contra Costa, a non-profit organization will be at the Orinda market for the next few weeks selling Mata Ortiz pottery to raise funds. The organization provides gifts to the elderly during the Holidays. A Celebration of the Contra Costa County's Bounty! On Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007 there was a symbolic produce delivery reenactment in Martinez. This event was made possible through the collaboration of the National Park Service at the John Muir House, the Martinez Historical Society, CCC Farmers' Market, and the John Muir Festival Center who requested the ship the Alma, which was docked at the Martinez Marina. The John Muir National historic site had special agriculture-focused tours of the house and grounds by National Park Service Staff. The Master Gardeners had displays of California Native Plants used in landscaping by California Native Plant Society. The John Muir House was the start of horse-drawn procession from the House to the Farmers' Market to the Alma.  Michael Muir (John Muir's great - great - grandson) who operates Access Adventures brought his horse-drawn carriage that provides access to nature for people with mobility challenges. The destination of the horse-drawn procession was to facilitate the delivery of produce from the Muir House and Farmers' Market to the Alma. The Alma is a historic sailing vessel typical of those used to move produce around the Bay Area and was open for tours. The historic sailing ship the Alma is based out of San Francisco. Lesley Stiles will be representing Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Market at Orchard Nursery for their harvest festival this Sunday, Oct 21 from 1 to 3 pm. She will be serving persimmons for tasting. 
John Muir Health and Contra Costa Certified Farmers' Markets are joining in their mission to form a partnership to serve the Walnut Creek Community at the new location on North Locust St. on Sundays! We are so excited! As a part of the mission of JMH in serving our community, it is important to promote the consumption of locally grown food and products. 2007 Farm Bill is in the US Senate. Contact your Representatives. Take action now. Jessie Neu can be reached at gm@cccfm.org |
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There are only two markets left people! This is no time to make other
plans on your Sunday mornings and afternoons besides local, fresh shopping.
The word on the street is this will be Alhambra
Valley Pears' last
week, so don't miss out on their luscious fruits. Also this week
Cottage Kitchen's delectable jams and jellies will be part of
the market line up. As for our final market on the 28th, bring the
whole family down for some good times with our favorite clown Twee-Twee.
In these next two markets if I happen to stop you with a clipboard
and pen in my hand don't worry - I'm not issuing tickets
for supporting California farmers - I'll be doing a survey to
find out what's working at the market and what you think needs
improvement, after all, this is your market! If I don't get a
chance to see you in the hustle bustle of shopping, I'd just
like to say thank you to all of you dedicated shoppers, it has been
a beautiful season and a taste of the bounty to come next spring! 
Do
you have your pumpkins for Halloween yet?
Come on down and get them from a wide variety of vendors
and if you need a BIG one talk to the farmers and they
will bring you one the following week. On Sunday
the 28th we are going to have a pumpkin
carving contest also known
as the Walnut Creek Pumpkin Massacre. Here
is the criteria: you must be one of the first 12 to sign
up, you must be over 12 and under 18 years old, you will
provide your own carving tools (no chainsaws please)
and I'll supply the pumpkins. Be creative,
have fun. The carnage will begin promptly at 10
am and judging starts at 11 am. Winner announced
at noon! Oh the humanity...
Cooling temperatures dictate how we are eating lately.
Still in the crossover, I am liking the culinary
weather tyrant. Fresh cut corn sauteed with little cubes
of butternut
squash and peppers using olive oil and kosher salt
is sublime and worthy of adoration. This may be the last week for
corn but peppers are hanging in there as well as green beans.
Look hard at the farmers' market and you may be rewarded with late
Romano beans. Braise them with chopped fresh garlic in stock with
a shot of some very good olive oil to turn them into butter. Warning:
these beans are not the al dente type and will disappoint with rare
arrogance. 
A quick glance around the market and I see several growers
bringing bags and bins of fresh-harvest nuts. California leads the
nation in the production of walnuts, almonds and pistachios and
I'm ready to take home my share for snacks and baked goodies.
Look for your favorites at J & J Farms, McKeown Farm,
Rose Lane Farm, Hamlow Ranch and Barbagelata
Farms. 
Both the hard outer shell and bitter inner skin of the chestnut need to be removed before eating. To prevent bursting while cooking,
cut an "x" in the flat side of the shell with the tip
of a sharp knife. Place nuts in a saucepan of boiling water and
simmer for 20 to 25 minutes until tender when pierced with a knife
through the "x". Drain and cool slightly before peeling
off the shell and inner skin.Website: www.cccfm.org
© Copyright CCCFM 2007.