January is National Soup Month, so celebrate with some Local Food Journey soup recipes

We have a January thaw going on today, but tonight Old Man Winter ends the party and back into the ice box we go. A traditional way to beat the chill is having a nice hot bowl of soup. January is National Soup Month, and given how cold this month can be, that makes a lot of sense.

Soup is actually rather fun to make, and fairly simple. There’s really no limit to variety when it comes to soup, there are the standards like chicken noodle, ham and bean, tomato, etc. but there are some really unique and fun soup recipes out there. In fact, over the years, here at Local Food Journey we’ve gathered quite a selection!

Continue Reading: January is National Soup Month, so celebrate with some Local Food Journey soup recipes

Tags: soup | winter | recipes |

Recipe: Roasted Parsnips with Thyme

Parsnips are a highly underrated vegetable. When roasted, they are sweet, a little earthy, and even a bit spicy.

They are also an underrated example of why local food can be better than supermarket food. If you grow parsnips in your garden or buy them this time of year from a local farmer at say a Farmers Market or via Friends and Farmers Coop’s online market, they have a distinct advantage over the supermarket ones. Why? It’s simple…cold weather exposure.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Roasted Parsnips with Thyme

Tags: parsnips | farmersmarket | recipe | thyme |

Sure celeriac’s ugly…but it’s also delicious

Never judge a book by its cover. And never judge a vegetable by its exterior.

A great example of this is celeriac. You may have seen it at the grocery store or farmers’ market. Its rough, brown, kind of hairy exterior causes a lot of people to scrunch up their face and move on.

But ignoring the celeriac based on looks means you are missing out on a delicious vegetable.

Continue Reading: Sure celeriac’s ugly…but it’s also delicious

Tags: celeriac | recipe |

Pumpkins: More than just pies and jack-o-lanterns

The pumpkin is a ubiquitous symbol during this time of year. Pumpkins, both the plastic and real kind, are everywhere, and yet at the same time are underrated. There seems to be just a few uses for pumpkins in our national psyche…jack-o-lanterns, pies, and maybe soup.

And no, I don’t count pumpkin spice products. Those are often just something with nutmeg and cinnamon in them to make them taste sort of like a pumpkin pie with zero actual pumpkin.

Continue Reading: Pumpkins: More than just pies and jack-o-lanterns

Tags: pumpkins | recipe |

Six surprising uses for fall apples

Fall is apple season, and Pennsylvania apples are fantastic. You can find fresh local apples at any farmers market this time of year, and many local orchards sell them directly to the public.

Apples really are good for us. They are a good source of vitamin C and fiber, and there is evidence they may prevent certain cancers.

Plus, they are delicious. You can eat them out of hand, or bake them into pies. But what if you go a little nuts at the farmers market and have a ton of apples that you need to use up? Then keep reading, and you will find six unusual, and fantastic, uses for apples…

Continue Reading: Six surprising uses for fall apples

Tags: apples | recipe |

Ardry Farms’ pumpkin butter recipe is a must try

Ardry Farms in Howard is well-known by farmers market fans, as well they should. They have been a farmers market presence in Central Pennsylvania for more than 80 years, selling a wide variety of local produce and wonderful baked goods.

This time of year, you can find pumpkins sold by them at North Atherton Market, Bellefonte Farmers Market, and Boalsburg Farmers Market, including varieties that are good to eat. Along with pies, you can also make other tasty things with pumpkins, including pumpkin butter. Many people rave about Trader Joe’s pumpkin butter, but Andry Farms has a recipe for it that is even better than ol’ TJ’s. And, it’s very easy to make!

Continue Reading: Ardry Farms’ pumpkin butter recipe is a must try

Tags: recipe | pumpkinbutter | ArdryFarms |

Smoking peppers for future use the easy way

Smoke flavor is a favorite of mine, something I can’t get enough of. I love barbecue, chipotle peppers, smoked salmon, you name it…if it’s smoky, I’m game.

As an avid gardener, I often become overwhelmed with a surplus of peppers, especially the hot ones since they are so prolific. At first I either gave them away until people were sick of seeing me with them, then I started to freeze the peppers. Then one day I got an idea: smoke them.

Continue Reading: Smoking peppers for future use the easy way

Tags: recipe | smoking | peppers |

A quick meal at the shore

When you prepare for a beach vacation, there are so many things to think about that often, you are not thinking about that first meal you will eat when you arrive. You just tell yourself, “we’ll just run to a restaurant or grab a pizza and take it to the house.” Yes, a restaurant with your favorite fresh crab cakes or flounder! That’s it!

But then reality hits—everyone is happy by the time you ditch the traffic and smell that sea breeze, but everyone is also ravenous! Waiting time for a meal at a restaurant will not work for little people who have been done with the day before dinner arrives. Even waiting for a pizza seems too long. What to do?

Continue Reading: A quick meal at the shore

Tags: recipes | pasta | tomatoes | basil | vacation |

Farm-style deviled eggs get a flavor boost via being local

Looking for an easy dish to bring to a July 4th picnic? Deviled eggs are a standard go-to for cookouts, and while many recipes for them are basically the same, deviled eggs leave plenty of room for variations. In my hometown of York, Pa., deviled eggs are topped with Old Bay seasoning instead of paprika. Baltimore folks take that one step further, adding crab meat to the deviled egg mixture.

Our deviled egg recipe is more about land than sea, more specifically, the farm. Local eggs that you can get from farmers markets, etc. are often better than their supermarket cousins. Not just in flavor, but in color, as the deeper yellows and oranges of farm-fresh eggs make for an attractive deviled egg visual. To give an even bigger flavor boost, a few strips of local bacon, chopped fine, is added to give it a smoky kick.

Continue Reading: Farm-style deviled eggs get a flavor boost via being local

Tags: recipe | deviledeggs | cookout | July4th |

Crustless spring quiche celebrates local early vegetables

Oh winter, you bring such comforting foods; soups, stews, hot chocolate to keep us warm! But we have waited patiently and now the springtime is here and we can start to eat like it!

Asparagus, onions, spinach. Such delicate vegetables. Soon we will start to see these spring vegetables at the farmers markets. So many people don’t know what to do with these veggies. Steam or boil them is usually the answer I hear from my cooking class students at Happy Valley Learn to Cook. But, to really get all the flavor out of these delights, feature them in a main course like this Crustless Spring Quiche. Added to ingredients you probably already have in your refrigerator, this is an easy recipe that anyone can make.

Continue Reading: Crustless spring quiche celebrates local early vegetables

Tags: recipe | spring | quiche |

Invasive weed makes a great pesto!

You’ve probably seen garlic mustard during a walk at a park or pretty much anywhere in Pennsylvania. It’s an invasive, noxious weed that features broad, round-ish deep green leaves, and eventually puts up a stalk of small white flowers. It’s a hardy plant, sometimes even growing right through winter if it’s mild enough.

The plant is believed to have been brought here in the 1800s by settlers from Europe, and it has quickly spread. If left unchecked, garlic mustard can take over an ecosystem, and greatly harm native species. Deer do not care for it, so they end up eating competing plants, allowing it to spread even more efficiently.

Most biologists encourage removal of this plant when you see it on your property, and a great way to do that is harvest it to eat it, as garlic mustard is actually edible. And one way to do that is make a spring pesto with it.

Continue Reading: Invasive weed makes a great pesto!

Tags: recipe | garlicmustard | spring | pesto |

Recipe: Casserole combines the Pennsylvania flavors of apples, sauerkraut, and kielbasa

Sauerkraut is the quintessential Pennsylvania Dutch food. In William Woy Weaver’s book As American as Shoofly Pie: The Foodlore and Fakelore of Pennsylvania Dutch Cuisine, Weaver mentions that he has uncovered literally thousands of sauerkraut recipes that are Pennsylvania-based.

While not as popular as it once was, sauerkraut is still a big part of the Pennsylvania diet, even if it’s just as part of a good luck meal at New Year’s. But sauerkraut doesn’t have to be just for special occasions, it can be part of easy-to-make winter weeknight meals.

Sauerkraut goes well with pork, of course, but especially goes well with another Pennsylvania staple, kielbasa. The Polish sausage has a nice smoky flavor that does well with sauerkraut’s sourish tastes.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Casserole combines the Pennsylvania flavors of apples, sauerkraut, and kielbasa

Tags: recipe | kilebasa | sauerkraut | apples |

Fight winter blues with some tropical comfort food: arroz con pollo

It’s cold and miserable outside, which is another way of saying “January in Central Pennsylvania.” Hearty food, aka “comfort food,” has always been something people turn to during the dark cold eves of winter.

While comfort food for many Pennsylvanians is a pot of stew or a roast chicken dinner, for some Pennsylvanians it’s food from their much warmer homeland. Pennsylvania has relatively large population of Puerto Ricans, and this includes my hometown of York. I had Puerto Rican friends growing up who introduced me to food from their sunny island, such as mofongo, tostones, and arroz con pollo, which means chicken with rice in English.

Arroz con pollo is a caldero dish, which means it is made in a large pot or dutch oven. A caldero, a kind of dutch oven, is a standard item in the Puerto Rican family kitchen.

Continue Reading: Fight winter blues with some tropical comfort food: arroz con pollo

Tags: ethnicfood | recipe | recipes | chicken | rice |

Baked apple sundaes an easy-to-make holiday crowd pleaser

Everyone loves apple pie a la mode, this recipe takes the basic concept of an apple pie and simplifies it for those who don’t want to deal with a crust.

The first step to baking apples is making sure you choose one that can hold up to baking, otherwise they’ll fall apart. The best firm baking apples include varieties such as Granny Smith, Jonagold, and McIntosh. Very important to choose the right variety if you don’t want to deal with a real mess. You can definitely still find apples from local sources like Way Fruit Farm.

Once you have the right apples, then you core them. You can use a paring knife if you have the skills, otherwise an apple corer can be had for cheap. The key is to get all or most of the core out, and not cutting the bottom to allow the melted butter/brown sugar mix to stream out the bottom during baking.

Continue Reading: Baked apple sundaes an easy-to-make holiday crowd pleaser

Tags: apples | icecream | recipes | recipe | Holiday |

Pennsylvania Dutch sand tarts are a fantastic holiday cookie

To many who live in Pennsylvania Dutch country, sand tarts are a big part of the holiday festivities. Topped with sprinkles or ground almonds, hese wafer-thin sugar cookies are crispy and delicious. I feel bad for the parts of Pennsylvania that do not have them, as they are quite the holiday treat.

Below is an old recipe for these tasty cookies that you can easily do at home. The ingredients are simple, but key to a great sand tart is rolling them thin. Otherwise, they’re not sand tarts!

Continue Reading: Pennsylvania Dutch sand tarts are a fantastic holiday cookie

Tags: cookies | recipe | holdiays | PennsylvaniaDutch | recipes |

Spiced cranberry sangria combines local shrub, wine

Editor’s Note: Linda Weaver of Mt. Nittany Vineyard and Winery offers this delicious recipe for a pleasant cocktail full of holiday flavor that features Mt. Nittany wine and cranberry shrub from Tait Farm Foods.

Continue Reading: Spiced cranberry sangria combines local shrub, wine

Tags: recipes | recipe | wine | Mt.NittanyVineyard&Winery | TaitFarm | shrub | holidays |

Three great (and easy) Thanksgiving sides recipes, part 2: Pennsylvania Dutch baked corn

Editor’s note: This week in the three days leading up to Thanksgiving, we will feature three ideas for sides that you can pull together with a minimal amount of ingredients and little stress. Today’s second recipe is Pennsylvania Dutch baked corn.

If you grew up in York, Pa., like me, then you grew up around a lot of Pennsylvania Dutch food. A lot of this stuff is not found elsewhere in the country, or even in parts of Pennsylvania away from Amish country. When I lived in Pittsburgh, I looked forward to family holiday visits because I knew there would be at least a few PA Dutch items on the table, and one of these was baked corn.

Baked corn is actually a sort of savory hot custard, and to some it may seem a bit odd (like many PA German dishes). However, it is absolutely delicious, slightly sweet, and buttery. It is made with dried corn, a culinary treat that is not found outside of our region. John Copes is the brand we used, and the cartoon Amish man on the package makes me instantly think of family Thanksgiving dinners. Dried corn’s flavor is a bit more intense than regular corn, and is best described as nutty.

Plus, it’s very easy to make. If you can mix things together in a baking pan and put it in the oven, you can make baked corn.

Continue Reading: Three great (and easy) Thanksgiving sides recipes, part 2: Pennsylvania Dutch baked corn

Tags: recipe | Thanksgiving | corn | PADutch |

Three great (and easy) Thanksgiving sides recipe, part 1: Sautéed Swiss chard

Editor’s note: This week in the three days leading up to Thanksgiving, we will feature three ideas for sides that you can pull together with a minimal amount of ingredients and little stress. Today’s first recipe is sautéed Swiss chard.

Swiss chard is a perfect Thanksgiving side dish. A truly cold-hardy vegetable, Swiss chard can be still found as a fresh vegetable, and it’s a staple of many fall gardens.

It’s also a very tasty vegetable, and in fact, is sort of two vegetables in one. The stems of the Swiss chard leaf looks a lot like celery, and you can chop them up and cook them much in the same way. The leaves are quite delicious, sort of in a sweet spot between the delicateness of spinach and the toughness of kale. The slight bitterness of chard is an absolute plus.

Continue Reading: Three great (and easy) Thanksgiving sides recipe, part 1: Sautéed Swiss chard

Tags: recipe | chard | Thanksgiving |

Pumpkin chili…yes, pumpkin chili

First things first…if you are one of those who run screaming from anything pumpkin because you’re sick and tired of the pumpkin spice world we’ve been living in the last three months, take heart. There’s no “pumpkin spice” in this recipe, just pumpkin. Because let’s be honest, most of the “pumpkin spice” products out there have no pumpkin in them.

Second, pumpkin chili sounds strange and counter intuitive, but it’s actually quite tasty. You can’t really taste “pumpkin” in this recipe, just a subtle sweetness, and a very nice thickness added to the chili.

Continue Reading: Pumpkin chili…yes, pumpkin chili

Tags: recipe | chili | pumpkin | fall |

Oven eggplant fries offer big flavor, low calories

This recipe combines two great things about September. First, one of my favorite vegetables, eggplant, are widely available at farmers markets right now. This is due to the fact that they tend to need longer growing seasons, so August-September are peak times for them.

Second, with the cooler weather starting up, it’s easier to use the oven without running up a higher air conditioning bill or heating up the house.

Eggplants can be fried, stir-fried, sauteed, baked, or grilled, but this recipe turns them into a nutritious and tasty version of fries. Breaded but baked, these are lower in fat than fried eggplant.

Continue Reading: Oven eggplant fries offer big flavor, low calories

Tags: recipe | eggplant | healthy |

Strawberry shortcake, PA Dutch style

It’s still strawberry season, but it’s on the wane. You can still find fresh, local strawberries at places like your local farmers market or favorite roadside stand.

What about pick-your-own? There are a few opportunities for pick-your-own strawberries, including the following (make sure to call ahead to confirm there are still strawberries):

Continue Reading: Strawberry shortcake, PA Dutch style

Tags: recipe | strawberries |

Celebrate National Garlic Day with a classic dish

Attention garlic lovers: This is your day. Today is National Garlic Day, a celebration that salutes that key ingredient for so many fantastic cuisines. The pungent cloves are crushed, roasted, minced, sliced, and liquefied in a wide variety of dishes, from Thai to Chinese to Italian to Mexican, and everywhere in between. To celebrate here on Local Food Journey, we’ll share some fun facts about garlic and a classic garlic dish, the famous 40-clove garlic chicken. 

Continue Reading: Celebrate National Garlic Day with a classic dish

Tags: garlic | recipe | chicken | NationalGarlicDay |

Celebrate spring and think of summer with a rhubarb mojito

A friend of mine is something of an amateur mixologist, or cocktail creator. A year ago during a visit, I introduced him to shrubs, the delightful fruit/sugar/vinegar concoction that has made something of a comeback. Originally a way to preserve harvests in Colonial times, shrubs are definitely back in Central Pennsylvania thanks to Tait Farm Foods. Tait Farm offers a variety of shrub flavors, such as lemon, ginger, raspberry, apple, and rhubarb. The main purpose of shrubs is as part of a beverage.

Now, you don’t have to drink alcohol to enjoy shrubs; in fact, they are quite nice with just tonic water or ginger ale. However, they make a great mixer for alcoholic drinks, and when my friend was visiting, we brainstormed a drink for rhubarb. It was a warm April day when he was up, so we came up with a sort of rhubarb mojito.

Continue Reading: Celebrate spring and think of summer with a rhubarb mojito

Tags: recipe | rhubarb | rum | cocktail | mint | TaitFarm |

Be authentic Irish for this St. Patrick’s Day dinner: Potato and leek soup

If you are looking to have something that’s a traditional Irish food for your St. Patrick’s Day dinner, you probably do not want to serve corned beef. Corned beef is not something many folks in Ireland eat, and at St. Patrick’s Day tables in Ireland, you will find lamb and/or bacon, but not corned beef. Instead, corned beef is more a nod towards the immigrant history of Irish-Americans.

So, you can serve corned beef as a nod to your ancestors if you have Irish blood in you, but what if you want to serve something that Irish people eat? And what if you’re vegetarian?

Well, here’s a recipe that’s based on something Irish people actually enjoy. Potato and leek soup is a traditional Irish comfort food, enjoyed with brown soda bread. Plus, it’s colored green!

Continue Reading: Be authentic Irish for this St. Patrick’s Day dinner: Potato and leek soup

Tags: recipe | potato | leek |

A summery soup for a winter evening

Growing up in York, I was exposed to a lot of Amish cuisine. My mother cooked a variety of Pennsylvania Dutch dishes, such as pot pie, pork and sauerkraut, and perhaps my favorite, chicken corn soup.

Believe it or not, chicken corn soup is considered a “summer soup.” Made to take advantage of the bounty of fresh corn in southcentral and southeast Pennsylvania, this corn was a July-August staple in my house as a kid. My mother would make it year ‘round, however, and I always looked forward to it. It’s a simple soup, with subtle flavors.

Continue Reading: A summery soup for a winter evening

Tags: recipe | chicken | corn | eggs |

Let root vegetables win you over by roasting them

Well, winter just reminded us this week who’s boss, as we had our first snow (record latest first snow) and bitter chill to go with it. Believe it or not, even in the depths of winter, you can still find local produce, especially root vegetables.

Root vegetables get sort of a bad rap, because many people have a memory of boiled canned beets being forced on them by a well-meaning mother. However, roasted root vegetables are on a different level.

Where to find local root vegetables? Indoor markets like Boalsburg, Millheim, and State College have vendors who sell root vegetables this time of year (they tend to be easy to store). Another good source is the Friends & Farmers online market, which carries a variety of root vegetables by local farmers such as Tait Farm and Jade Family Farm.

Once you acquire them, roasting them is fairly simple. Here’s a recipe that is easy to put together and really brings out the best quality of roasted root vegetables: The sweetness!

Continue Reading: Let root vegetables win you over by roasting them

Tags: wintervegetables | recipe | FriendsandFarmers | farmersmarket |

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a family friendly pineapple, lime, coconut, and mint ‘mocktail’

December 31 always brings First Night to State College, complete with ice sculptures, music and the State College Burning Man. It’s a festival for all ages throughout the day until the fireworks light up the sky at midnight. In keeping with a family-friendly aspect of the evening. I present to you a family friendly mocktail for the celebration!

Continue Reading: Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a family friendly pineapple, lime, coconut, and mint ‘mocktail’

Tags: recipe | mocktail | NewYears |

Attention: Berkey Creamery to close Dec. 23 until February, ice cream still available online

Normally you don’t think about ice cream in December, although the temperatures recently here in Happy Valley have been almost ice cream eating weather!

We are having a gang of friends and family at our home this holiday season. The BEST and easiest dessert, and one that my children, who live far away, count on each year, is Penn State Creamery Ice Cream. It is rich and creamy, deliciously filled with calories—-just right for holiday decadence. And despite the urban legand that Creamery Ice Cream is only sold on campus because it does not meet FDA standards regarding it’s fat content, the people at Berkey say that is not true. The FDA only has standards for minimum fat content in ice cream, not maximum! And while you probably should not eat it every day, for a holiday treat, it is a delight. My granddaughter, Alice, gave her approval this summer!

Continue Reading: Attention: Berkey Creamery to close Dec. 23 until February, ice cream still available online

Tags: Creamery | icecream | closure | recipe |

Holiday recipes and wine pairings

Whether you have a houseful of friends and family dining with you this holiday season or are looking for some tried and true favorites, we’ve come up with some cold-weather recipes that are easy to prepare and go well with some of our best-selling wines.

Continue Reading: Holiday recipes and wine pairings

Tags: wine | holidays | recipe | Mt.NittanyWinery |

Two Thanksgiving recipes from Tony Sapia of Gemelli Bakers

Tony Sapia, the highly skilled baker who brings us Gemelli Bakers, shares with us two things…two styles of holiday baking he’s excited about and two fantastic Thanksgiving side dish recipes, including one you can make ahead of time:

We started our stollen baking.  I learned from a good friend of mine whom is a third-generation German master baker in Cincinnati. This and panettone baking is what I look forward to every year. The two most ethnic diverse breads coming together for one community. It’s what makes me get up in the mornings. The aromas are fragrant with nostalgia and memories of living abroad learning the craft. Bringing it back to my home town of State College, PA, where I was born and now bread…..

Continue Reading: Two Thanksgiving recipes from Tony Sapia of Gemelli Bakers

Tags: recipe | turnip | Thanksgiving | Gemelli |

Recipe: Hog maw…don’t knock it ‘till you’ve tried it

Last year, on an episode of the Cooking Channel’s “My Grandmother’s Ravioli”, host, humorist, and NPR fixture Mo Rocca went to eastern Pennsylvania to discover Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. They visited local households and got real recipes, like fastnachts, stewed dried corn, and a peculiar-to-outsiders dish known as stuffed pig stomach, or hog maw.

First things first…I know the idea of stuffed pig’s stomach instantly makes some of you recoil, but trust me, it’s delicious. If you’re having a tough time with the idea of a stuffed stomach, here’s a way to look at it; think of it as a giant sausage made with a casing that’s farther away from the, um, end of the pig than regular sausage casings. One thing that’s quite funny…people who enjoy this think of it as simple, down-home fare, and are often shocked to discover people finding it exotic/weird/gross. I grew up with it, so to me, it’s a common thing.

The name of this dish varies depending on region. In my home area, York County, it’s known as hog maw. In Lancaster County, it’s known as stuffed pig stomach. It also has a few nicknames, such as “Susquehanna turkey” or “Dutch goose”, which is due to this being served during holidays. In my family, it was the centerpiece of our harvest dinner, a local southcentral PA tradition of having a family dinner in mid-late October that kicks off the family holiday dinner season.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Hog maw…don’t knock it ‘till you’ve tried it

Tags: recipe | hogmaw |

Recipe: Baked steel cut oats with almonds and blueberries

Steel cut oats have been a trendy food item for a while now, and with good reason. They have a lower glycemic index, which is good news for diabetics. They are also pretty tasty, more flavor than rolled oats and a chewy texture that many people find appealing.

They are pretty easy to make, as well. Not quite instant, but you can have a hot bowl of steel cut oats in just over a half-hour. While a bowl of steel cut oats with a little salt and brown sugar is very nice, you can do more with them. This is a pretty easy recipe that you can do much of the prep work for the night before, then pop it in the oven for an hour for a nice, hot, and delicious breakfast.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Baked steel cut oats with almonds and blueberries

Tags: recipe | steelcutoats | blueberries |

Apple salad with feta a great way to celebrate fall’s flavors

I’m from York, PA, which is most definitely part of Pennsylvania apple country. I remember as a kid getting pretty excited about this time of year, because I loved and still love apples. September was the beginning of apple season at the many orchards that dot York, Adams, and Lancaster Counties. I remember the apple cider flowing freely, both the “soft” and “hard” variety (including a variety of moonshine called “apple jack” that I discovered as a grown-up).

There were even apple-focused festivals. My family would drive to the South Mountain Fairgrounds in neighboring Adams County for the Apple Harvest Festival, which attracted thousands of people each October. For an apple lover, this was high paradise time.

Another aspect of my childhood in York was being introduced to Greek culture, via new neighbors from Greece that began showing up when I was in middle school. My Greek friends introduced me to Greek food, including a strange, crumbly cheese I had never seen before…feta.

Continue Reading: Apple salad with feta a great way to celebrate fall’s flavors

Tags: recipe | apples | salad |

Recipe: Via Sexy Crumbs blog, a great recipe for Cucumber and Onion Salad

Editor’s Note: Shannon Ritter works at the Penn State School of Theater in undergraduate admissions and recruitment, and when she’s not at work, she is a master cook and baker. Fortunately for the rest of us, she shares the creations that come out of her Boalsburg kitchen via her excellent food blog Sexy Crumbs. An example of what you will find there is this wonderful recipe for cucumber and onion salad, which is perfect for using up the last of the summer’s cucumbers, or for a real winner of a Labor Day picnic dish. The salad is based on an old family recipe. Shannon shares her version of the recipe and the story behind it below, reflecting on how food can connect us to our past:

Continue Reading: Recipe: Via Sexy Crumbs blog, a great recipe for Cucumber and Onion Salad

Tags: recipe | cucumbers | onion | summer |

Double Berry Bundt Cake a red, white, and blue July 4th treat

The berries have arrived in Happy Valley! 

We have lots of raspberries on our bushes in the backyard; the June rain has helped them grow as large as we have ever seen! The blueberries arrived from the Kiwanis Club last Tuesday, so now I have 30 pounds of blueberries to find wonderful recipes for. Yes, some of them have been eaten out of hand, as well as freezing many for winter oatmeal.

But I love to try new blueberry recipes.

This Double Berry Bundt Cake is an adaptation from a recipe I just received from smittenkitchen.com and it is SO GOOD! Easy to make and very moist. Your family and holiday guests will rave about this cake that you can eat for breakfast/brunch/dessert. It’s a red, white and blue treat.

Continue Reading: Double Berry Bundt Cake a red, white, and blue July 4th treat

Tags: bundtcake | recipe | July4th |

Strawberry season nearing end, but there’s still time!

It’s strawberry season and I could not be happier! The strawberries in my garden are ripe enough to pick everyday, despite the chipmunk that wants to eat them—he sometimes sneaks under our chicken wire fence to sample a few! The strawberries look lovely at the various farmers markets and the PA strawberries that are being sold in local grocery stores are plump and juicy!

Way Fruit Farm is a great place to take the family for strawberry picking. But with all the rain, the strawberries might have a shorter season this year, as a recent e-mail from them informed. So get there soon for the best berries.

Continue Reading: Strawberry season nearing end, but there’s still time!

Tags: recipe | strawberries | WayFruitFarm |

Recipe: Strawberry mint yogurt smoothie

There are two tasty items that are in season at the farmers markets: strawberries and mint. Finding a use for strawberries is easy: they are fantastic for fresh eating, and there are countless strawberry recipes out there. In my experience, mint is one that stumps people as to how to use it. Sure, it can used in teas and as a garnish, but what about other uses of fresh mint?

One way to use it is in beverages. This recipe for a strawberry mint yogurt smoothie is a great example of how mint can play off other flavors. In this case, it helps to enhance the strawberry flavor with something extra, and the yogurt gives it a nice creamy texture for a refreshing smoothie for those warm June days.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Strawberry mint yogurt smoothie

Tags: recipe | strawberries |

Spring veggie breakfast casserole - great for potlucks!

Memorial Day is over. The Northern and Southern guns at the Boalsburg Cemetery are silent, the homemade pies are eaten, and the carnival rides are gone out at Boalsburg’s Memorial Day celebration. But summer is coming with all its fun and wonderful garden bounties.

As spring fades into summer, be sure to make this easy breakfast casserole filled with healthy veggies from the local farmers markets before all the fresh spring vegetables are gone. Try this for your next large group gathering, family reunion, or anytime there are lots of people (or a few teenagers) to feed!

Continue Reading: Spring veggie breakfast casserole - great for potlucks!

Tags: recipe | eggs | spring | vegetables |

Lemony-garlic flavored recipe for all those CSA greens you just got

Many CSA’s across the area are ramping up production, with plenty of boxes filled with the best spring produce our area can offer. This includes spring onions, radishes, and of course, spring greens.

Greens are a fantastic dish to add to any spring meal, whether it’s a family cookout or a weeknight dinner. They are good for you, and there are lots of ways to cook them, including ways that will even make the most finicky greens-hating member of your family love eating well.

This recipe is makes a nice side dish for an evening dinner on the patio. It’s quite simple to make and combines two things that makes the flavor of greens really pop: garlic and lemon.

Continue Reading: Lemony-garlic flavored recipe for all those CSA greens you just got

Tags: recipe | greens | CSA |

Recipe: Asparagus, Garlic, and Parmesan Cheese Pizza

As spring is quickly making way for summer, there is still wonderful asparagus at the farmers markets. You may have already been using asparagus in many ways: in salads, as a side veggie (grilled is especially yummy!), or in delicious pasta dishes like Pasta Primavera.

Here is a new way I discovered to use asparagus.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Asparagus, Garlic, and Parmesan Cheese Pizza

Tags: recipe | pizza | asparagus |

DIY hipster-style artisan grilled cheese

The comic Eddie Pepitone has a bit where he is complaining about how the hipsters have taken over his beloved Brooklyn, and laments that there’s places like artisan peanut butter and jelly and artisan toasted cheese restaurants. After ranting about ridiculous the concept of artisan kid’s food is, the punchline is that they’re just so delicious.

While State College doesn’t have an artisan toasted cheese cafe (yet), you can get your hipster on at home with a local food version of grilled cheese that is definitely not kids stuff. Think of it as grilled cheese, grown up. All the ingredients can be found at local farmers markets.

Continue Reading: DIY hipster-style artisan grilled cheese

Tags: recipe | grilledcheese |

Spring farmers market frittata

Spring is here! (Sort of) While the weather has been chilly and even occasionally snowy, consistent mild weather will be here soon enough. While we are still over a month away from outdoor farmers market season, the indoor farmers markets in State College, Millheim, and Boalsburg are still operating. In fact, some signs of spring such as early season greens are starting to show up, including perhaps the ultimate spring green, spinach.

This recipe pairs spinach with other items you might find at a farmers market this time of year. Frittatas are an easy meal to make and are delicious for any meal, especially a weekend brunch. This frittata combines ham, smoked gouda, and spinach to make for a tasty and quick meal.

Continue Reading: Spring farmers market frittata

Tags: recipe | farmersmarket | eggs | cheese | spinach |

Happy Fastnacht Day! Hey, wait…what’s a fastnacht?

Today is Fat Tuesday, aka Mardi Gras. For many people who have grown up in a Pennsylvania Dutch area like myself (York), today is also known as Fastnacht Day.

Why Fastnacht Day? A fastnacht is a type of donut, made with potatoes, flour, sugar, yeast, and eggs. They are fried like a donut and while many are made today with a hole like a regular donut, a “traditional” fastnacht is hole-less and square.

The word fastnacht is German for “fast night” and the tradition of making them began as a way to get rid of lard, sugar, fat, and other stuff that are forbidden during lent. That way there were less temptations left in the pantry to lead hungry stomachs astray.

Continue Reading: Happy Fastnacht Day! Hey, wait…what’s a fastnacht?

Tags: fastnacht | PennsylvaniaDutch | recipe |

Warming greek-style pasta bake uses Boalsburg Farmers Market ingredients

Farmers market season never really ends in Central Pennsylvania, it just shifts to a different season. The Millheim Farmers Market, Boalsburg Farmers Market, and the State College Farmers Market are all open until the opening of the “regular” summer farmers market hours.

They are, of course, all indoor, so you won’t have to worry about braving snow and bitter winds. Like in the spring and summer, I find it definitely a good idea to plan out your trip and perhaps look for ingredients for a specific recipe.

This particular recipe is for a tasty Greek-style pasta bake that is quite good with some Gemelli Bakers bread on a cold night. This recipe includes ingredients from Boalsburg Farmers Market vendors.

Continue Reading: Warming greek-style pasta bake uses Boalsburg Farmers Market ingredients

Tags: recipe | farmersmarket | pasta |

Cream of cauliflower soup fights the winter chill

The weatherman says there will soon be a “January thaw.” Really?? Somehow I don’t believe it as I wake up to the temperature, yet again, in the single digits or teens. That’s when I know that I will make soup for dinner!

I have read a lot of blogs and Facebook pages about soups lately. So many look so good and I want to try them all. Maybe that is how I will make it through until spring this year. We do like soup in our house.

But for now, I will tell you of a soup that has a long history in our family. Yes, another food/family story! When my husband and I were dating we decided to spend the weekend at his childhood home for me to “meet the parents.” My future mother-in-law, a wonderful cook, served us Cream of Cauliflower Soup on a hot summer day. She said it was a new recipe that she wanted to try. Was she trying to impress me? She did not have to—-I liked her right away!

Continue Reading: Cream of cauliflower soup fights the winter chill

Tags: recipe | soup | cauliflower | winter |

Head to Boalsburg Farmers Market today for holiday recipe ingredients

For your holiday dinners, it’s always good to try to serve local food. While it’s cold and gloomy and eating local produce is a lot harder to do than when it’s sunny and summery, but the Boalsburg Farmers Market is open today from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and has some local produce options.

Melanie Rosenberger of the Boalsburg Farmers Market has shared with us two delicious side recipes to complement whatever holiday main dish you decide to make.

Continue Reading: Head to Boalsburg Farmers Market today for holiday recipe ingredients

Tags: holiday | squash | kale | recipe | apple | cabbage | BoalsburgFarmersMarket |

Two soups to help you fight the winter chill

With the weather getting cold and miserable, I have to wonder what was I thinking moving from Southern California to Pennsylvania? Of course now they are in monsoon season. I remember when I got to SoCal one of the first things the military had me do was fight brush fires. Then when winter came I was back in the same area filling sand bags to stop the mud and rain from ruining homes since there was no vegetation left from the fires to hold the soil in place.

Where was I? Oh, yeah, cold weather. After trudging through the snow and slush the last thing I feel like doing when I get home is cook. I just want to put on my jammies and settle down in my warm house and let the storms rage outside. So to do this I have become a fan of soups. In particular soups you can make in a crockpot. I put everything in the crockpot, turn it on, and when I get home the house smells wonderful and there is a warm meal waiting to heat me up. Throw in some nice crusty bread and some local butter and I am a happy little camper. I have included below two recipes for my favorite versions of both lentil and split pea soups. I hope they warm you up as much as they do me.

Continue Reading: Two soups to help you fight the winter chill

Tags: recipe | soup |

Winning (literally) apple pie recipes for Thanksgiving

After everyone finishes their seconds tomorrow at the Thanksgiving table, you always have to make some room for dessert. After all, dessert is as much a part of the Thanksgiving spread as the turkey.

Back in late October, Way Fruit Farm held their annual Apple Pie Contest. I had the honor of judging around a dozen excellent entries and it was very difficult to decide on a winner. After the contest, I thought to myself, any of those pies would be perfect at Thanksgiving. So, I figured I’d share a few examples of the wonderful pies I sampled.

The winner, Jamie Liner of Port Matilda, and a runner up, Cathy Cohan of State College, were gracious enough to offer their apple pie recipes for you to use if you decide to bake an apple pie for Thanksgiving dessert. Enjoy!

Continue Reading: Winning (literally) apple pie recipes for Thanksgiving

Tags: applepie | recipe | Thanksgiving |

Recipe: Roasted tomatillo salsa verde

Salsa verde is a delicious twist on its red cousin, regular salsa. While regular salsa gets its red color from tomatoes, the classic Mexican salsa verde gets its green color from tomatillos (“verde” means “green” in Spanish). Salsa verde gets its tangy-sweet flavor from tomatillos.

If you are not familiar with tomatillos, they are a fruit that’s in the nightshade family. While many hear “nightshade” and think “poison”, other members of the nightshade family include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and ground cherries, all things that are both tasty and good for you. Like ground cherries, tomatillos grow inside thin husks. You may have seen them at grocery stores around the Hispanic produce, but they are also sometimes offered at farmers market. They are simple to grow and do surprisingly well in our climate. Think of them as similar to growing peppers or tomatoes. They offer some pretty spectacular yields.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Roasted tomatillo salsa verde

Tags: recipe | tomatillos | salsa | Mexican |

Recipe: Swiss steak makes for a delicious “retro” meal

Way back when, Swiss steak was a great way for people to use inexpensive cuts of beef to make a great meal. This seemed to be mainly a Pennsylvania thing back in the day as when I got to California I never saw it on any menus. I got a hankering for it one day and made up a batch which I took to work with me for lunch the next day. When I was heating it up in the microwave, yes we had them even back then, my colleagues came wandering in to find out where that heavenly aroma was coming from.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Swiss steak makes for a delicious “retro” meal

Tags: recipe | beef | swisssteak |

Recipe: Roasted tomatoes offer a tasty way to say farewell to summer

By LaCreta Holland

Summer is still producing my favorite veggies, but with a nip in the air, not for much longer! I shopped at the Tuesday Farmers Market in Boalsburg this week and found very good prices on the last tomatoes of the summer. I don’t look forward to winter, so a basket of tomatoes right now really makes me smile. There are lots of ways I want to use them, now and in the future.

I like to use them fresh in pasta dishes. This angel hair pasta is mixed with grilled shrimp. Garlic and tomatoes sauteed in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil are added and a handful of julienne basil are mixed in. A very fresh tasting pasta for the end of the summer.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Roasted tomatoes offer a tasty way to say farewell to summer

Tags: recipe | pasta | tomatoes |

Recipe: Zucchini Tian makes a perfect meatless late summer meal

By LaCreta Holland

What is a “tian?”

A tian is “a dish of finely chopped vegetables cooked in olive oil and baked au gratin.”  My tian is an adaptation of a Julia Child recipe–it makes a great side dish or you can use it, as I did, as the main course for a meatless meal.

After all, with so many lovely fresh vegetables available right now, why would you need meat?

Continue Reading: Recipe: Zucchini Tian makes a perfect meatless late summer meal

Tags: recipe | zucchini |

Recipe: Zucchini Egg Bake a tasty solution to too many zucchinis

Editor’s Note: We will be getting contributions to Local Food Journey from time to time from LaCreta Holland, who runs Happy Valley Learn to Cook, a local food blog, and teaches cooking classes in State College. Her first post offers up a wonderful recipe that will help you use up all those zucchinis that are coming non-stop from your garden.

We visited friends over the 4th of July holiday and they feed us very well. For brunch one morning, we were served Zucchini Egg Bake, a moist and herb-y egg creation that we could not stop eating! I had to get the recipe.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Zucchini Egg Bake a tasty solution to too many zucchinis

Tags: zucchini | recipe | eggs |

Recipe: It’s still blueberry time! Giving blueberries a chance to shine on the grill

Blueberry season can last well into August here in Central Pennsylvania, and you can still find the little blue globes of greatness at farmers markets, farm stands, and pick-your-own farms like Mountainhome Farm in Julian. Blueberries have a lot of things going for them beyond taste, including lots of antioxidants.

Most people think of blueberries as a dessert food, but blueberries can be a star in savory recipes, such as salads and meat dishes. I have found that blueberries go well with meats such as pork and chicken. With this in mind, this recipe for grilled chicken thighs with honey blueberry sauce is a good introduction to the idea of blueberries as part of an entree.

Continue Reading: Recipe: It’s still blueberry time! Giving blueberries a chance to shine on the grill

Tags: blueberries | recipe |

Recipe: Armadillo Eggs put a deliciously spicy twist on Scottish eggs

When I was stationed in Southern California I went to my first Renaissance Fair. It was held on the fairgrounds where the US Festival back in the 80s was held in the Cajon Pass near San Bernardino CA. It was later the Blockbuster Pavilion and then something else. It was at the Renaissance Fair that I was introduced to Scottish Eggs.

I know, I know, the recipe is for Armadillo Eggs but you need a little background. This is the first time I ever had anything wrapped in sausage and fried. I mean who wouldn’t like a complete breakfast all in one item. Imagine a hard boiled egg, wrapped in sausage, rolled in bread crumbs, and deep fried or baked. So when I was visiting a friend in Texas he took me out to dinner. It was here I was introduced to Armadillo Eggs.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Armadillo Eggs put a deliciously spicy twist on Scottish eggs

Tags: recipe | sausage | spicy |

The perfect summer side: kale and pasta salad

Pasta has to be one of my true passions. I love it in all the shapes and forms it takes, from the lowly elbow macaroni to the lasagna noodle. Maybe this is because when I was small child we lived in a neighborhood that was predominantly made up of people of Italian descent. All my neighbors, including the parents of the kids I played with, introduced me to pasta at an early age. I learned all the wonderful things that you could do with pasta from the mighty lasagna to simple, yet elegant, fettuccini carbonara.

One of my favorite and fun pastas has to be the farfalle or bow tie pasta. It is firm and holds up well to cooking and has many hidden creases to hold on to the sauce. I love this pasta for different pasta salads as it holds up to being in dressing for hours without losing any of its chew and texture. Below is a recipe for kale and pasta salad that I hope you will enjoy.

Continue Reading: The perfect summer side: kale and pasta salad

Tags: recipe | summer | pasta | salad |

July 4th grill recipe combines everything good about baked potatoes and potato skins

I love baked potatoes. I love potato skins. I just don’t love the time it takes to make them when grilling. So my friends and I, while sitting around after a day of grilling, tried to come up with a recipe that would give us what we wanted without the hassle. I don’t drink and they do so as the beer flowed so did the ideas.

Continue Reading: July 4th grill recipe combines everything good about baked potatoes and potato skins

Tags: recipe | potatoes | grilling |

Recipe: Cucumber kimchi a tasty variation on traditional Korean favorite

When I was stationed in Southern California I became interested in martial arts. In my quest for a good teacher I met a man named Pu Gill Gwon. Now to look at him you would not be impressed. He was barely over 5 feet tall and maybe 110-120 lbs. soaking wet.

But there was something about him though that grabbed my attention. A calm self-assuredness that seemed to express itself in everything he did. I got to know him and the more I knew the more impressed I became. I never became a student I became something better. I became his friend.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Cucumber kimchi a tasty variation on traditional Korean favorite

Tags: recipe | Korean | cucumbers |

Recipe: BBQ ribs, a summer classic

I love BBQ. I can’t deny it. People will tell you Kansas is best, others will tell you Memphis is best, others will say Carolina is best. You know what? They are all right. Each type of BBQ has its own particular something special to offer. So don’t be afraid to try a type you haven’t before. You may be surprised. I’ve cooked over wood fire, used smokers, gas grills, charcoal grills, you name it. Now I am not going to sit here and tell you one is better than the other. We each have what we have and use what we are used to. The only thing I have to say is don’t be afraid to try something different if you have the chance.

Food should be an adventure. Trying new foods and types of cooking is like a culinary journey. Taking you to faraway lands and experiencing new cultures through their foods and cooking styles. Food is one of the few things I can think of that crosses racial and ethnic boundaries. So go, try, experiment, and enjoy.

Continue Reading: Recipe: BBQ ribs, a summer classic

Tags: recipe | summer | ribs |

Recipe: Beef stew, a great answer for our rainy days

I love to make beef stew. On a rainy, blustery day, nothing is more comforting than sitting at the table eating beef stew and watching the rain. I used to freeze it so I had some on hand just to cheer me up when it would seem to rain for days on end.

When I used to go camping in the mountains with friends I would take along a big bag of frozen stew. By the end of the day there was nothing to do but throw it into the pot and wait until it had heated.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Beef stew, a great answer for our rainy days

Tags: recipe | beefstew |

Recipe: Potato salad raises home-building memories

When I was a young man I helped a friend build him and his wife a log cabin. It wasn’t one of the sprawling cabins you see on some of these new reality shows but it had three bedrooms, indoor plumbing, and electricity. I did most of the electrical work and a lot of heavy lifting moving the peeled timbers into place. Thank goodness we had chainsaws as I don’t see how those pilgrims ever got the work done using axes and hand adzes.

His wife brought us lunch every day and then stayed around and helped where she could. I look back fondly on that house, which is still standing in the San Bernardino Mountains, and the meals she prepared. One of the dishes she made was potato salad. I never was a huge fan of it, could take it or leave it, but when I tried hers I was hooked. She said to let them steam in the pot, which stopped the potato salad from being soggy and mushy. She gave me the recipe when I left and every time I make it I think of that log cabin and my friends.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Potato salad raises home-building memories

Tags: recipe | potatosalad |

Recipe: Dandelion salad with hot bacon dressing a PA Dutch Easter staple

To many, the image above may cause anger because the dandelion is considered one of the worst lawn and garden weeds to control. However, to many of the Pennsylvania Dutch persuasion, dandelions are good to eat and are a staple at the Easter table. They are, as we all know, quite plentiful and are ready to harvest right now so you can gather enough for Easter dinner.

There are two key points to remember when harvesting dandelions. First, perhaps most importantly, make sure you are not harvesting greens from ground that has been hard hit with herbicides and other chemicals. In fact, there are cultivars of dandelions that you can grow in your garden. Second, you must harvest the greens before the flower head appears. Once that happens, they become so bitter they are inedible.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Dandelion salad with hot bacon dressing a PA Dutch Easter staple

Tags: recipe | dandelion | spring | Easter | bacon |

A perfect recipe for your first day of trout season catch

Tomorrow is practically a Central Pennsylvania holiday—first day of trout season! Our area is known across the country as a prime area for trout fishing, boasting legendary trout streams like Spruce Creek, Penn’s Creek, Bald Eagle Creek, and Black Moshannon Creek. Saturday these streams will be filled with anglers trying their luck.

There are three different species of trout to be caught in our streams, including brook, brown, and rainbow, and all are quite tasty. This recipe allows the trout’s flavor to stand more or less on its own, with assistance of two other tastes of spring, the grill and fresh local spinach.

Here is the recipe for Grilled Butterfly Trout Over Spinach (good luck tomorrow and hopefully you’ll catch something that will allow you to try this recipe!):

Continue Reading: A perfect recipe for your first day of trout season catch

Tags: trout | recipe | fish |

Taking back the reputation of fava beans

There is no doubt that Anthony Hopkins is one of the finest actors of all time. In fact, he is so good, he actually managed to ruin the reputation of one tasty vegetable—fava beans.

Even if you haven’t seen his role as the cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lector in the film The Silence of the Lambs, unless you live under a rock you’ve probably heard Hopkins’ character’s infamous quote about one of his devious meals, and how he accompanied it with fava beans and a nice Chianti. To this day, I’ve noticed that whenever you mention fava beans, that scene is mentioned.  However, fava beans are not a horror, they are a tasty vegetable that has a long history as a food, going all the way back to the Romans and Ancient Greeks.

Continue Reading: Taking back the reputation of fava beans

Tags: recipe | gardening | favabeans | recipes |

Recipe: Sausage, carrots, and potatoes an easy comfort food solution for cold winter nights

With plenty of mornings with temperatures below the zero mark and plenty of snow and ice to go with it, the winter of 2013-2014 has been a fairly harsh one compared with recent years. Such weather calls for a hearty meal, and I have the perfect solution that I brought up to Central Pennsylvania from my childhood growing up in York, Pennsylvania. And it’s easy to prepare, too, and something the whole family will enjoy.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Sausage, carrots, and potatoes an easy comfort food solution for cold winter nights

Tags: recipe | carrots | sausage | potatoes | winter |

Hogs Galore pork loin a dinner party winner

Hosting a dinner party can be a real challenge. You want to hit a home run with your guests, especially with the main course, but what if your cooking skills are limited? You don’t have to look far for a solution; in fact, it’s right up the road near Philipsburg, at one of our region’s local food gems, Hogs Galore.

Continue Reading: Hogs Galore pork loin a dinner party winner

Tags: recipe | hogsgalore | pork | pineapple |

New Year’s traditions in Pennsylvania: why pork and sauerkraut?

Many people are aware of the New Year’s tradition of eating pork and sauerkraut, including the supposed good luck and wealth it brings. This tradition is part of our Pennsylvania German heritage; the idea of sauerkraut symbolizing wealth for the new year comes from Germany. Before having the New Year’s dinner, each diner wishes the other as much wealth as there are shreds of cabbage in a pot of sauerkraut.

What about pork? Interestingly enough, the actions of a pig give us this New Year’s tradition.

Continue Reading: New Year’s traditions in Pennsylvania: why pork and sauerkraut?

Tags: recipe | NewYears | PennsylvaniaDutch | sauerkraut | pork |

Recipe: Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas cookies

I grew up in York, part of the original Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Therefore, there are several things that say Christmas to me that most others have no idea about. One is Der Belsnickel, a sort of nasty fellow who’s job it is to make sure children are good in the weeks before Christmas by, well, beating them with a stick. Think of him as Santa’s muscle.

Another, more benevolent aspect of Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas is some of the traditional cookies that families bake for the season.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas cookies

Tags: recipes | PennsylvaniaDutch | Christmascookies | cookies |

Co-owner of Way Fruit Farm shares three favorite apple recipes

Way Fruit Farm offers all sorts of things that are good to eat; from different types of fruit to a variety of local food products from places like Tait Farm Foods and Hogs Galore. But their bread and butter, what put them on the map, is of course apples.

As a big fan of Way Fruit Farm, I can tell you that I see a lot of people buying huge amounts of apples for all sorts of recipes. I met a woman there last year who was baking apple pies for recipes, planning on giving them as gifts…a total of 25 pies! Apple pies certainly are a great way to use Way’s apple bounty, but I recently had the opportunity to talk to Megan Coopey, who with her husband Jason are co-owners of Way Fruit Farm, about some other recipes for apples. Jason and Megan are two reasons to visit Way Fruit Farm, always friendly and helpful, and Megan was glad to help by giving me several fantastic recipes that would make a fantastic addition (or additions) to the Holiday table.

Continue Reading: Co-owner of Way Fruit Farm shares three favorite apple recipes

Tags: recipes | apples |

Recipe: Venison chili a great way to serve up results of this year’s hunt

When I was still a young man my father handed me his rifle and one bullet. He said “bring a deer home or don’t come home.” Now to some that might seem cruel. To me it was a challenge. By the time my father said that, I was good with a rifle, actually very good. He was actually kidding. Well, sort of kidding, we really needed the meat.

So I traipsed out into the snow to get some meat. I came home a few hours later dragging a buck behind me. I always enjoyed hunting. The time in the woods by myself, the skill in tracking the game, testing myself, pushing the limits. After I got older and served and did some other things I lost my taste for hunting but not for venison. So when I can get my hands on some I love to make it in new and interesting ways. Here I have included my recipe for venison chili, crockpot style.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Venison chili a great way to serve up results of this year’s hunt

Tags: recipe | venison | chili |

Local food sides share a rightful place next to turkey star on Thanksgiving stage

Traditionally, unless of course you are vegetarian or vegan, turkey holds top billing at the Thanksgiving table. We’ve all seen the classic “Freedom from Want” painting by Norman Rockwell, an image that quickly became the template for our truly American holiday, Thanksgiving. Grandma lowers the giant golden-brown bird onto the table, as all the relatives ooo and ahh.

But really, the sides are the co-stars of this culinary production, and rightfully so. While there is certainly nothing wrong with tradition, they don’t have to be sugary sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green bean casserole, or “cranberry sauce a la Bart” direct from a can (Simpsons reference). With local ingredients, they can have flair and pizzazz that almost steals the show from the big turkey (not your one annoying uncle, I mean the main course).

Continue Reading: Local food sides share a rightful place next to turkey star on Thanksgiving stage

Tags: Thanksgiving | recipe | squash | cabbage | sandwich |

Squash and corn soup perfect for blustery fall days

For me, fall always means changing colors, cooler temperatures, and soups. When my wife was alive we would love putting together a soup or stew, throwing it in a crockpot and heading out to enjoy the fall season. When we got back the whole house smelled of soup. We would warm up by the fire with our bowls of soup and a big slice of bread smothered in butter. To this day those are some of my fondest memories. So to me fall is soup and soup is love and comfort. Here is one of the recipes we used to make on those blustery days, squash and corn soup:

Continue Reading: Squash and corn soup perfect for blustery fall days

Tags: recipe | fall | squash | corn |

Recipe: Apple dumplings warm the autumn soul

The first time I had apple dumplings I was seven. My uncle loved camping and this was the first time he asked me to go along. Now, he was my favorite uncle (shhhhh don’t tell the others) and getting to go with him had me excited for weeks before the trip. It was fall and the weather was turning colder so he wanted to get one last camping trip in before it started to snow. My uncle taught me all kinds of things about the woods and surviving and just enjoying nature. What I didn’t know was he had a favorite uncle too. Uncle Lloyd was old school and knew more about hunting and wood lore than I ever will and I’m a survival specialist. He did things around a camp without thinking that I never would have thought of to make life easier.

So when we went to go camping my uncle always made sure to stop off and visit with Lloyd before and after a camping trip to talk over where he was going and what he had seen. So we stopped off and they visited for an hour then we headed out to go camping. After a week in the woods I was ready to go home. I had learned a lot and had a lot of fun but the rock and twigs under my bed were winning and I wanted a real bed. So on our way home we stopped off to visit Lloyd. Now, I didn’t want to stop, I just wanted to go home. I didn’t want to not get invited back so I didn’t say anything but I fidgeted a lot, as kids will. Now his wife Dot noticed this and took me out to the kitchen for a bite.

What she sat before me was this large golden brown bowl of pure delight. APPLE DUMPLING! Why had I never seen one of these wonders before or even heard of them? I took my first bite and was hooked. The golden flaky pastry, the sweet glaze, the tender juicy apple and all the spices filled my mouth. Before I knew it my bowl was empty and like Oliver Twist I held out my bowl and said, “Please may I have another?” She laughed and put another in my bowl this time with a scoop of ice cream. How is it possible it was even better? Of course my uncle learned why I had never had one before. That much sweetness and an enclosed car combined with a long trip are not good combinations. I still love them and have included a recipe for them. Enjoy.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Apple dumplings warm the autumn soul

Tags: recipe | apples | dumpling |

Recipe: Haluski brings a real old-country flavor to chilly fall Pennsylvania nights

When central and eastern Europeans emigrated to Pennsylvania in the 19th and 20th Centuries, one of the dishes they brought with them was haluski (or as some spell it, halusky). The dish is a simple one with some variations. Traditionally, haluski referred to the homemade noodles/dumplings, which were potato based much like gnocchi. However, today you can either purchase dried haluski noodles in any grocery store, or use any medium-wide egg noodle.

Growing up in York County, which is Pennsylvania Dutch country, I had very limited exposure to haluski, but when I went to Pittsburgh for college and eventually to live, I was introduced to the dish at a Polish Catholic church fish fry, which is just about the best place to have your first taste of haluski. Haluski has just a few ingredients, and the one I learned to make includes noodles, cabbage, onion, bacon, butter, salt, pepper..and that’s it. You can also make a vegetarian version by leaving out the bacon and a vegan version by using vegan-friendly noodles and olive oil instead of butter.

The flavors combine to make a fantastic dish, especially if you are a gardener like me and use a fresh-harvested garden cabbage that has been sweetened by frost. And speaking of frosty weather, this is a great cold-weather dish that’s a snap to make.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Haluski brings a real old-country flavor to chilly fall Pennsylvania nights

Tags: recipe | garden | haluski | cabbage | vegetarian | vegan |

Not sure what to do with quinoa? Here’s two great recipes

A friend introduced me to this grain and I was curious as to what kind of recipes I could come up with. He loves quinoa but how many times can you eat the same thing the same way. I sat down and came up with a few. The first is a version of rice pudding using quinoa. The second is a good vegetarian version of tacos.

Continue Reading: Not sure what to do with quinoa? Here’s two great recipes

Tags: recipe | quinoa | tacos | pudding |

Not sure what to do with quinoa? Here’s two great recipes

A friend introduced me to this grain and I was curious as to what kind of recipes I could come up with. He loves quinoa but how many times can you eat the same thing the same way. I sat down and came up with a few. The first is a version of rice pudding using quinoa. The Second is a good vegetarian version of tacos.

Continue Reading: Not sure what to do with quinoa? Here’s two great recipes

Tags: recipe | quinoa | tacos | pudding |

Wines that match well with the unique flavors of fall

Editor’s Note: The fall season brings food that features flavors and ingredients that are unique to the season, and this may raise some challenges for those who want to pair wine with these autumn dishes. Linda Weaver of Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery has some suggestions to help you make the best wine/food pairing call.

Continue Reading: Wines that match well with the unique flavors of fall

Tags: fall | autumn | recipe | wine | winepairings |

Able to take a freeze, hardy kale supplies fresh garden greens well into fall/early winter

Kale is a superstar in the fall garden. The plant is tough as nails, able to take some very cold temperatures. In fact, myself and many other gardeners have harvested kale from under the snow.

Along with its toughness, kale has many other good properties. It’s very easy to grow, can grow in part shade, and is quite tasty. It is best after a couple of good frost/freezes, which give the leaves a sweet flavor and cuts down on the bitterness.

There are many varieties of kale, and here are a few of my favorites:

Continue Reading: Able to take a freeze, hardy kale supplies fresh garden greens well into fall/early winter

Tags: recipe | garden | kale |

Fall recipe of apple cheesecake takes memory back to California high desert town

When you live in Southern California you start to miss some of the things from home. The thing I missed the most was the seasons. So-Cal had two seasons Hot and less hot. For the winter season they had some cooler days with occasional rain. So for Spring we had green. For summer it was brown. For fall more brown. Winter was brown and dreary.

Don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to shovel sunshine, so, I was happy for the most part. I did miss fall though. I love fall with its brilliant colors and cooler temperatures. It also has my favorite holiday, HALLOWEEN! Now I like the things that become available in fall for making pies such as apples, pears, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins. As you can imagine fresh apples were hard to find.

One day a friend of mine and I were talking about food, of course, when she asked me if I had ever been to Yucaipa. The blank look on my face must have told her everything she needed to know. So the next weekend she drove me over to Yucaipa, CA. Now Yucaipa has grown a lot since but back then they had apple orchards and had a fall festival celebrating apples. I was in my glory. Here was a place close by that had not only apples but seasonal leaf changes. For her help in finding this gem of the high desert I made her my Apple Cheesecake. I have included my recipe below but when ever I look at an apple my mind drifts back to that high desert city and it’s hidden treasure.

Continue Reading: Fall recipe of apple cheesecake takes memory back to California high desert town

Tags: recipes | recipe | apple | cheesecake | fall |

Recipe: Spicy Pumpkin Patties offer a unique take on a classic fall flavor

Now, you probably shouldn’t ask how these patties came to be. It’s one of those stories that you only tell the people you really know won’t judge you. Let’s just say too much time+ abundance of produce + friends + late night hunger = Spicy Pumpkin Patties

Continue Reading: Recipe: Spicy Pumpkin Patties offer a unique take on a classic fall flavor

Tags: recipe | pumpkin |

Rataouille recipe a tribute to a young girl’s cancer battle

A number of years ago a friend of mine had a daughter who was battling cancer. She was going through a very hard time with treatment and became depressed. Now this young lady absolutely loved the movie “Ratatouille.”

So one day I stopped by with a bag of ingredients and two chef’s hats. On hers I had printed “REMY” with “Little Chef” in small letters right below it like the movie. On mine I had printed “GUSTEAU.” We spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen recreating the recipe for the title “Ratatouille.” Her and her mother both still bring up that day whenever I stop by to visit. So you see, it doesn’t take a lot of money to make a difference to someone. Just some of your time and willingness to make a difference in someone’s life. Here is the recipe that we came up with:

Continue Reading: Rataouille recipe a tribute to a young girl’s cancer battle

Tags: recipe | ratatouille |

Garlic lover? Then try this garlic pot roast recipe…

With the closing of the recent Garlic Festival in Pocono I was reminded of the many festivals I attended in Gilroy in SoCal. Now I am a garlic lover, not to the extreme I like garlic ice cream, but I do love the pungent little relative to the onion. What you didn’t know that PA had their own Garlic Festival? Check them out at http://www.poconogarlic.com/. We used to load up a van and head to the Gilroy Garlic Festival every year. You could smell the festival miles before you ever got there. Being the foodie I am I headed straight to the food booths. There was always some new and unique recipe I could pick up there.

Continue Reading: Garlic lover? Then try this garlic pot roast recipe…

Tags: recipe | garlic | potroast |

Slow-roasted tomatoes are a revelation of flavor

Even this late in the season, you probably still have tomatoes in your garden, and if you’re not a gardener, probably still see good-looking tomatoes at farmers markets. If you are a serious tomato-lover, you’ve turned them into sauce, whipped up some salsa, canned them, frozen them, made some sort of pasta, made tomato salad, etc. You may think, like I did, that you’ve tried just about every use for those wonderful globes of deliciousness. But, I can recommend one way to use tomatoes that is positively amazing and yes, a revelation of flavor—slow-roasting them.

Continue Reading: Slow-roasted tomatoes are a revelation of flavor

Tags: tomato | recipe |

Pierogi memories, plus great potato and cheese pierogi recipe

When I was but a wee lad…okay, who am I kidding I was never a wee lad. How about…when I was a young child my grandmother used to make pierogi by the dozens. She would make potato and cheese, sauerkraut, ones stuffed with meat, and even dessert ones. Being the ever inquisitive child I was (okay, okay, being the pain in the neck, nosy, kid that I was) I always wanted to help.

Finally, when they thought I was old enough, they put me on filing duty. I was supposed to place one heaping spoon of filling in the middle of each pierogi shell. Well, after the initial “one spoon for the shell, one for me” method I actually managed to do about two dozen pierogi. With my ever expanding stomach and boredom, the filling wasn’t quite in the middle anymore but I was still working at it.

After another dozen, I came to realize this was more like work than play and didn’t want to do it anymore. My grandmother made me stay and finish the job. I got the lecture about not starting something unless I was willing to finish it. I still have lesson ingrained into me.

Continue Reading: Pierogi memories, plus great potato and cheese pierogi recipe

Tags: recipe | pierogi | potato | cheese |

Local Food recipes for Labor Day

Labor Day already? Seems like the start of summer was about two weeks ago. Time truly does fly, and soon the focus here on Local Food Journey will turn to autumn-y things like pumpkins, apples, winter squash, soups, etc. All the things we like to have when the weather gets frosty and footballs replaces baseballs.

But let’s not bury summer yet. There’s plenty of warm weather to go, including September. Here’s three great recipes that together make for a fantastic Labor Day grill meal.

Continue Reading: Local Food recipes for Labor Day

Tags: LaborDay | recipe | greenbeans | groundbeef | zucchini | tomatoes |

Here’s two recipes to give you something to do with all those zucchinis

When I was a young lad I was in Sicily in the city of Palermo doing the tourist thing checking out the castles. After much walking around viewing the sights my tired feet and grumbling stomach reminded me I had not had lunch. I stopped in a small ristorante and had a dish similar to the recipe below. Years later I remembered the dish and recreated it from what I remembered. This recipe comes from a lot of trial and error, mostly error, until I got it to the point it closely matched my memory of the dish.

Continue Reading: Here’s two recipes to give you something to do with all those zucchinis

Tags: recipes | zucchini |

Gazpacho, that famous summery cold soup

This is a great farmers market recipe. I got this recipe when I was working in a restaurant in Sun Valley, CA. The restaurant is long gone but this recipe carries on with me.

Continue Reading: Gazpacho, that famous summery cold soup

Tags: recipe | gazpacho | tomatoes |

Tomatoes, tomatoes, and more tomatoes: What to do with all those tomatoes

If you are a gardener, a friend of a gardener, or frequent farmers markets, chances are pretty good that soon you will be awash in tomatoes. It’s that time of the year, and it’s hard to imagine summer without fresh tomatoes. This is, at least to me, the only time to eat fresh tomatoes. Local summer tomatoes are simply the best, and supermarket tomatoes in January with their bland flavor and waxy consistency do not even come close.

Not only are tomatoes tasty right now, they are abundant. So, what to do with all those tomatoes? Here are some recipes.

Continue Reading: Tomatoes, tomatoes, and more tomatoes: What to do with all those tomatoes

Tags: recipe | tomatoes |

Corny memories

When I was a little kid our family didn’t have a lot of money and things were tight. My mom was a single mother and struggled to make ends meet like a lot of single mothers do. We lived near a farm and the farmer got to know us kids as we wandered over hill and dale exploring and just being kids. Sometimes he would give us odd jobs for which he paid us in eggs and vegetables out of his truck patch. The one thing I remember most was that he grew corn for feed. If he was out plowing and I knew he was going to be in the fields all day I would bring him some iced tea in a thermos or jug if I was heading out that way in my explorations. He started to leave a small corner of his field unplanted with field corn. He instead planted sweet corn or bread and butter corn there. He told us to pick as much as we needed. We never took advantage of his generosity but only took enough corn for a meal or two.

Continue Reading: Corny memories

Tags: recipe | corn |

More great Fourth of July recipes (including cocktails!)

This is part two of a two-part post on local food Fourth recipes that you can serve friends and family at Independence Day gatherings. You can see the other recipes in the post right below this one. As an added bonus, today we’ve added some summer cocktail recipes as well.

Continue Reading: More great Fourth of July recipes (including cocktails!)

Tags: recipe | 4thofJuly | beverages |

Fantastic Fourth recipes that will rock your holiday cookout

July 4th is a fun time, almost as much of a celebration of our American summer as it is a celebration of our American freedom. As a general rule, the gatherings of friends and family take place outside (weather permitting, of course) and take the form of the cookout/backyard barbeque. I am sure other culture do this, but the American version is unique to us. We play a variety of lawn games like horseshoes, ladder toss, etc., hang out with friends and family, and enjoy a variety of summer foods. This is the time of the year when local food really shines; and I asked a sampling of local food vendors and Local Food Journey vendors to offer some favorite Independence Day recipes that will dazzle backyard diners. In fact, I got so many I decided to do this in two parts. Today, we offer you part one.

Continue Reading: Fantastic Fourth recipes that will rock your holiday cookout

Tags: July4th | recipes |

Local Food Recipe: Porcupine meatballs

When I was growing up one of the things my mother used to make was Porcupine Meatballs. I think one of the reasons I liked them so much is they were sort of a rite of passage. We knew that when we were allowed to help make the meatballs we were on our way to being grown up.

Continue Reading: Local Food Recipe: Porcupine meatballs

Tags: recipe | meatballs | beef |

Strawberry fields producing now

It’s getting to be that time of year. You know that time when you are out hiking and you’re keeping your eyes peeled for them, or waiting patiently at your local farmers market for them to arrive. It’s that time that strawberries can be found.

Continue Reading: Strawberry fields producing now

Tags: strawberries | recipe | memories |

How to make your own scrapple

Editor’s Note: Nick Benard of Bellefonte is a new writer with Local Food Journey. Nick has a local food blog called the Culinary Pen, and is interested in home cheese making with local raw milk, curing meat from local farms, gardening, and home butchering. With this post, he talks about his love of a real Pennsylvania food, scrapple, and offers a recipe to make your own.

I love scrapple. Not just for the savory taste, but also for what it represents: a need to use up every part of an animal and stretch the meat as far as possible.  For the uninitiated, scrapple is a mixture of cereal grains cooked in broth with pork meat. The grains can vary, depending on the region. The Philadelphia region is famous for buckwheat scrapple, oats are preferred in Ohio, and rice is traditional in the Carolinas.  For me, I prefer the classic Pennsylvania Dutch use of dried corn, particularly Brisner’s Best, which is traditionally dried, roasted corn milled in Pennsylvania.

Continue Reading: How to make your own scrapple

Tags: recipe | scrapple | PennsylvaniaDutch |

Morel madness!

Editor’s Note: This story is by one of our new Local Food Journey bloggers, Jim Sechrengost, a Penn State employee who prior to entering the tech world was a chef in restaurants ranging from diners to Chinese places in Southern CA. He grew up in the Somerset/Johnstown area so he has a lot of local recipes from all types of ethnic backgrounds, and will be sharing them with us in the months to come.

When I was young I lived in Somerset County and my uncle introduced me to camping and all the wonders of nature at an early age. We used to go camping as much as his work would allow and he showed me how to live off the land hunting and gathering edible plants. When I joined the military I carried this love of the outdoors with me and every chance I got I would explore and find the new plants that were edible where ever I happened to be. This turned into a love of cooking and trying to find new ways to prepare some of these edible delights. I have cooked in almost every type of restaurant you can think of from Mom and Pop Diners to Chinese.

Continue Reading: Morel madness!

Tags: morel | mushroom | recipe |

At the Dinner Table with French Penn State Graduate Student Sandra Rosseau

Editor’s note: At the Dinner Table is a new series on Local Food Journey. The concept behind this feature is a type of conversation you might have at dinner with a friend. I am sure many of you have talked local food at dinner, while having local food on the table (how meta is that?), so this series will feature members of the local community talking about local food and the role it plays in their lives. This is the first in the series, and in this inaugural At the Dinner Table I talked to Sandra Rosseau, a PhD student at Penn State from France. She came to Penn State in 2007. Her research interests now focus on the roles that humor plays in the context of Franco-Algerian memory. In her free time, she enjoys music, photography, and as you will soon see, cooking.

Continue Reading: At the Dinner Table with French Penn State Graduate Student Sandra Rosseau

Tags: AttheDinnerTable | SandraRosseau | Frenchfood | localfood | recipe | michon |

Recipe: Spinach salad with bacon and smoked cheese

I didn’t care how many times Popeye beat Bluto after downing a can of spinach, as a kid I just plain HATED spinach. But as my culinary horizons broadened as I grew up, I quickly learned that spinach didn’t have to be a lifeless splatter of lumpy green on a plate. In fact, spinach has become my favorite salad green, and since it is a spring crop, we are in spinach season here in Central Pennsylvania.

Continue Reading: Recipe: Spinach salad with bacon and smoked cheese

Tags: recipe | spinach | cheese | bacon | HogsGalore | Gemellis | GootEssa | StarHollowFarm | GreenmoreGardens |

Hearty Chorizo, Kale and Potato Soup

It’s February. There’s nothing I can really say that’s redeeming about local eating in February in Pennsylvania except that we’re one month closer the return of good local veggies than we were in January. 

Okay, there’s one other thing I can say. It’s a good time for soup, and I love soup. Far and away my favorite soup of all time is a Portuguese chorizo, kale and potato soup. I don’t know where the recipe is from, unless “my mother” is a suitable answer. This soup is flavorful and hearty and a good way to use any potatoes you have put up from last year that are getting all wrinkly and soft. 

Continue Reading: Hearty Chorizo, Kale and Potato Soup

Tags: recipe | soup | kale | chorizo | potato |

Cranberry Walnut Salad

Tis’ the season to break out those crazy holiday recipes, and let’s be thankful for the ones that work!

Every year, cranberries are the one ingredient that I can’t seem to find a place for. I love them, but can’t bear the sight of that cylindrical slab or goopy sauce. After a myriad of berry-big failures, I’ve vowed to take a lighter, simpler approach: a salad.

Continue Reading: Cranberry Walnut Salad

Tags: recipe | winter | cranberries |

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Carving pumpkins is a great family activity, but if you’ve had experiences like mine, the large mess it leaves behind is such a hassle to clean. After all the time spent effortfully cutting and sawing, usually, the inner guts are gratefully tossed into the trashcan.

Thankfully, my mom taught me this salty little secret when I was growing up and it led us to having yearly masterpieces on the porch and in the kitchen. It’s so simple and delicious how the flavors marry to create an Autumn-style sunflower seed.

The best thing about this recipe is that it will work with plenty of other seedy seasonals – in my opinion, most tastefully with butternut squash.

Continue Reading: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Tags: recipe | fall | pumpkin |

Spicy Beef Stuffed Bell Peppers

I’ve always thought the best part of fall is its’ warm colors: green, red, orange, and yellow. Not only do these colors represent a changing of the leaves, but the crisp, vibrant flavors of fresh bell peppers.

The bell pepper’s quirky shape is a perfectly sweet substitute for the average bowl, and can hold flavors twice as savory as its own.

Try adding a festive kick to your favorite fall dishes with these Spicy Beef Stuffed Peppers.

Continue Reading: Spicy Beef Stuffed Bell Peppers

Tags: recipe | fall | peppers |

Apple Coleslaw: Tastebud Touchdown

Second quarter, 30 seconds until the half, and the only thing standing between you and the end zone is your hungry belly. What better way to continue this season than by combining seasonal ingredients in a way sure to spike your taste buds

If you love fall and football as much as I do, check out this simple recipe for a sweet and tangy apple coleslaw that everyone will love. Serve it cold or atop your favorite pulled pork recipe to land an automatic first down every time.

Continue Reading: Apple Coleslaw: Tastebud Touchdown

Tags: recipe | apples | carrots | cabbage |

Apple Recipe Contest

Apple season has arrived! How do you like to eat the early fall fruit? Share your favorite recipe by October 1st for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Mount Nittany Vineyard and Winery.

Continue reading for some of our favorite apple recipes.

Continue Reading: Apple Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | apples |

Baba Ghanoush with Sea Salt

Just three more days left to enter our eggplant recipe contest! Share your favorite recipe now for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill in State College.

Looking for inspiration? Try this recipe for Baba Ghanoush from Jenna Weber for PBS Food. It makes use of the final eggplant of the season and is delicious as a sandwich spread or an appetizer with crackers and olives. 

Continue Reading: Baba Ghanoush with Sea Salt

Tags: recipe | summer | eggplant |

Corn Fritters with Sweet Tangy Chili Soy Sauce

I rarely find the time to sit down and watch TV, but when I do, you better believe it is almost always going to be food-related.

I recently caught a re-run episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate on Food Network. This particular episode was about crunchy food and featured the Indonesian Corn Fritters served with a sweet tangy chili soy sauce from E&O Trading Co. (now known as E&O Asian Kitchen) in San Francisco. They looked and sounded pretty heavenly. Since I don’t have any plans to visit San Francisco in the near future, my next step was to re-create the dish in my own kitchen.

Continue Reading: Corn Fritters with Sweet Tangy Chili Soy Sauce

Tags: recipe | summer | corn |

Too Much Zucchini? Try Ricotta Stuffed Squash Blossoms

Tons of zucchini are a garden cliche. They are so easy to grow that’s it’s almost impossible to not have more zucchini than you need. By this time of the year, all your friends politely turn down your offer of free zucchini because everyone in their family, at work, and in their circle of friends has given them about 1,000 zucchinis.

Continue Reading: Too Much Zucchini? Try Ricotta Stuffed Squash Blossoms

Tags: recipe | summer | zucchini |

Eggplant Recipe Contest

How do you eat an eggplant? Share your favorite recipe by September 1st for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill in State College.

Submit your recipe today!

Continue Reading: Eggplant Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | eggplant |

Eggplant Caponata

Caponata is a classic dish from Italy—the eggplant soaks up the flavors of the salty and sweet ingredients and is a pleasing, flavor-filled way to eat lots of this healthful vegetable. There are additional health benefits in this recipe from the fresh, in-season garlic, the rice wine vinegar, and the cocoa powder. August is eggplant season with plenty available at the farmers markets, so stock up now! 

Continue Reading: Eggplant Caponata

Tags: recipe | summer | eggplant |

Field Notes: Late July and Recipe for Fresh Basil Pesto

Cooler temperatures and rain offered some much needed relief over the weekend. Fortunately, it was gentle and steady enough to soak in and provide moisture to farmers around the county. The plants in the field should grow like crazy given the forecast for sun and warmer temperatures this week.

As we have been saying all season, the crops are coming on early and fast this year. This week we will have an abundance of basil, carrots and cucumbers. It is a great time to make some pesto, as well as freeze some basil for the winter months.

Continue Reading: Field Notes: Late July and Recipe for Fresh Basil Pesto

Tags: recipe | summer | basil |

Blueberry Buckle

Blueberries are plentiful now at local farmers markets, as well as at our partners’ retail locations, Way Fruit Farm and Harner Farm. Here is a delicious recipe for Blueberry Buckle from Clare Traynor of Sweet Indulgence Desserts.

Continue Reading: Blueberry Buckle

Tags: recipe | summer | blueberries |

Blueberry Ice Cream

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month and July’‘s sweet berries with this easy blueberry ice cream!

Continue Reading: Blueberry Ice Cream

Tags: recipe | summer | blueberries |

Recipes from Nate Bruny of Zola New World Bistro

Last week at the Learning Kitchen event, Nate Bruny, executive sous chef at Zola New World Bistro, demonstrated how to make dishes from market fresh vegetables.

Continue reading for the following recipes: Classic French Salad; Grilled Moroccan Beets with Ginger-Lime Vinaigrette; Salmon Niçoise with Red Pepper Mustard Vinaigrette.

Continue Reading: Recipes from Nate Bruny of Zola New World Bistro

Tags: event | recipe | summer | carrots | beets | potatoes | salmon |

recipes from the last Learning Kitchen plus details about tomorrow’s event

The Boalsburg Farmers Market will host its second Learning Kitchen event tomorrow, July 10th, from 2-4pm at the Pennsylvania Military Museum.

Join Sc’eric, Master Cocktailian from Fuji Jade Garden Restaurant, for “Cocktails from the Garden,” and Paul Kendeffy, Executive Chef at Zola’s New World Bistro and The Gamble Mill Restaurant, for “Farm to Fork: Fast and Flavorful.” Find out how to use market fresh ingredients to make cocktails and sangria and learn how to incorporate less common vegetables into everyday meals.

If you missed the first Learning Kitchen event, continue reading for recipes from Mark Johnson and Grace Pilato.

Continue Reading: recipes from the last Learning Kitchen plus details about tomorrow’s event

Tags: event | recipe |

Celebrate July 4th with Summertime Favorites

Need help with your July 4th menu? Continue reading for recipe ideas.

Continue Reading: Celebrate July 4th with Summertime Favorites

Tags: recipe | summer | holiday |

Zucchini Recipe Contest Winners

Congratulations to Ashley and Ruth, winners of our June recipe contest and recipients of a bunch of organic zucchini from our friends at Jade Family Farm. Continue reading to view the winning recipes.

Continue Reading: Zucchini Recipe Contest Winners

Tags: recipecontest | zucchini |

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

A chocolate cake that’s healthy, too? You got it.

Continue Reading: Chocolate Zucchini Cake

Tags: recipe | summer | zucchini | chocolate | cake |

Summer Field Notes + Recipe for Cucumber Salad with Mint and Feta

As we roll into summer, things on the farm seem to be going pretty well. The sugar snap peas are coming on, and we will start seeing them in the share this week – they are such a treat! The farmers got the strawberry plugs planted late last week, and we will look forward to having delicious berries in the share next year. We thought we might be able to get one more year out of the old patch, but it gave up the ghost earlier in the spring.

Continue Reading: Summer Field Notes + Recipe for Cucumber Salad with Mint and Feta

Tags: fieldnotes | recipe | summer | cucumbers | onions | radishes | mint |

Corn and Zucchini Bisque

Making soup is one of my greatest pleasures. After you know the basic models and processes, you can do just about anything and use up just about anything. Plus, it is obviously about the best comfort food you can find.

Continue Reading: Corn and Zucchini Bisque

Tags: recipe | summer | zucchini | corn |

Zucchini Recipe Contest

Zucchini is in abundance during this time of year. How do you eat it? Shredded and baked into bread or muffins? Grilled with yellow squash and mushrooms? Or seasoned and fried?

Share your favorite recipe by July 1st for a chance to win a pound of organic zucchini from our friends at Jade Family Farm.

Continue Reading: Zucchini Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | zucchini |

Early June Field Notes + Recipe for Garlic Scape Pesto

Very well watered would best describe the condition in the fields. Thankfully we have most of the newly planted summer crops on raised beds, which keep the plants up and out of the saturated earth. The black plastic we use to cover the raised beds keeps the soil temperature a bit warmer, the weeds at bay, and the moisture in—all good things if you are a heat loving tomato, pepper, or eggplant.

Continue Reading: Early June Field Notes + Recipe for Garlic Scape Pesto

Tags: fieldnotes | recipe | spring | garlic |

Grilled Chicken Bread Salad with Asparagus and Fennel

There are certain recipes that have nearly cult followings online, and the Zuni Cafe Roast Chicken and Bread Salad is one of them. I’ve never had it in person, but have heard so many people rave about it that I decided to put my own spin on it.

Continue Reading: Grilled Chicken Bread Salad with Asparagus and Fennel

Tags: recipes | spring | asparagus | chicken |

Winners of the Rhubarb Recipe Contest

This month we selected three winners for our monthly recipe contest. Congratulations Ruth Nissly, Anne Trout, and Terri Lukens-Gable. You are the recipients of a pound of rhubarb from Jade Family Farm!

Continue reading to see recipes for rhubarb sorrel crisp, banana rhubarb pie, rhubarb torte, and more. And check back early next week for our June recipe contest!

Continue Reading: Winners of the Rhubarb Recipe Contest

Tags: recipe | recipecontest | spring | rhubarb |

Rhubarb Applesauce

I wanted to do something slightly more savory with my recent bunch of rhubarb, which is tough because it is very tart and needs some sugar. I settled on the idea of something “applesaucey” and it was a hit with our grilled pork. It would be great with some strawberries added in (if you like the strawberry-rhubarb combo and are willing to part with your strawberries—but I’m not there yet.)

Continue Reading: Rhubarb Applesauce

Tags: recipes | spring | rhubarb | apples | honey |

Field Notes and Mesclun Salad with Mango Chutney Dressing

Farming is hardly ever a perfect world. It is often too wet or dry, too hot or cold—but then every once in a while along comes the perfect day.

Continue Reading: Field Notes and Mesclun Salad with Mango Chutney Dressing

Tags: fieldnotes | recipe | spring | greens |

Mother’s Day Brunch

Don’t forget to spoil your mother this weekend! Here are a few recipe suggestions for an extra special Mother’s Day brunch.

Continue Reading: Mother’s Day Brunch

Tags: recipes | spring | holiday |

Rhubarb Vinaigrette

Serve this sweet and tart vinaigrette from Chef Harrison Schailey over mixed greens. Then toss with sunflower seeds or almonds and local strawberries for a satisfying spring salad. And don’t forget to share your favorite rhubarb recipe!

Continue Reading: Rhubarb Vinaigrette

Tags: recipe | spring | rhubarb |

Rhubarb Recipe Contest

Rhubarb stalks are typically boiled with fragrant spices or a squeeze of citrus, then combined with sweet fruit to make jam, or condensed into a sauce for pie filling. What is your favorite way to prepare this spring fruit? Share your recipe by Thursday, May 31st for a chance to win a pound of rhubarb from Jade Family Farm.

Continue Reading: Rhubarb Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | rhubarb |

Tequila Lime Chicken

Just in time for your Cinco de Mayo celebration: chicken marinated in a mixture of tequila, limes, garlic, jalapeno, and cilantro. Serve with scoop of guacamole and a side salad of corn, tomatoes, and black beans. And don’t forget about the sangria, or choose from a variety of margaritas at PBS Food.

¡Salud!

Continue Reading: Tequila Lime Chicken

Tags: recipe | chicken | holiday |

Field Notes and Stir-Fried Asparagus with Shiitake Mushrooms

This crazy spring just keeps on coming! Thankfully we are getting a bit of rain to settle the dust and take the dry edge off of everything.

The asparagus was starting to come on early last week, but rapidly retreated after a few cold days – so we have a just small amount for everyone. The early spring greens we planted in March are growing and this week we get to enjoy yukina savoy. Between the flea beetles and the extreme temperatures, it doesn’t look beautiful, but it still tastes good. This vegetable needs very little cooking, which makes it perfect in stir-fry, or as a late addition to Asian style soups.

Continue Reading: Field Notes and Stir-Fried Asparagus with Shiitake Mushrooms

Tags: fieldnotes | recipe | spring | asparagus | mushrooms |

Sangria for Cinco de Mayo

What better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with a pitcher of Sangria! This recipe has been adapted from Cook’s Illustrated and makes use of readily available ingredients. For the main ingredient—red wine!—I suggest a bottle of Mt. Nittany’s Rock Hill Red. It’s on sale now, two bottles for $20.

Continue Reading: Sangria for Cinco de Mayo

Tags: recipe | wine | holiday |

Winner of the Mushrooms Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Amy Grenoble of Sandy Ridge! Her recipe for vegetarian stuffed mushrooms is the winner of our April contest, and she is the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Fasta Ravioli Company.

Continue reading for all recipe submissions and stay tuned for the start of our May recipe contest.

Continue Reading: Winner of the Mushrooms Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | recipe | mushrooms |

Spring Pasta Salad with Asparagus, Spinach, and Mint

One of the best things about belonging to your local Community Supported Agriculture farm (CSA) is how quickly the season gears up — and how big your box of veggies gets. It starts small with bunches of asparagus, spinach, and rhubarb. And radishes, how I love the radishes — they are eaten the minute they get in the house.

You start to plan meals based on what needs to be used, rather than what you are in the mood for. But I find that it allows you to become much more creative in the kitchen — matching what you have with what sounds good. This dish is a perfect example.

Continue Reading: Spring Pasta Salad with Asparagus, Spinach, and Mint

Tags: recipe | spring | asparagus | spinach | mint |

April Weather and Asparagus Salsa

Mid-April felt more like July. We had full irrigation running on the crops in the fields since the beginning of the month, as we took turns waiting for the next available hose to water a greenhouse. It was dry, dry, dry!

Continue Reading: April Weather and Asparagus Salsa

Tags: farm | spring | recipe | asparagus |

Green Coconut Curry with Chick Peas

Curries fall into the category of totally flexible and easy and cheap weeknight meals. Lentils (or in this case, garbanzos) or Tofu are perfect for vegetarian options — but any kind of meat or seafood protein works equally well. Vegetables can be anything that you have on hand, provided that you have a nice amount of ginger and garlic. If you don’t have coconut milk and Thai curry paste (which take you in the Thai Curry direction), you can go the Indian Curry route and use a good quality Indian/Madras curry powder and garam masala with some broth or water. Serve it over rice if you like — or without rice and thick like a stew, or thinned out as a soup.

Continue Reading: Green Coconut Curry with Chick Peas

Tags: recipe | spring | mushrooms | spinach | potatoes |

Mushroom Recipe Contest and Shiitake Mushroom Bisque from Chef Harrison

Did you know that Pennsylvania is home to the mushroom capital of the world? (It’s in Kennett Square, near Philadelphia.) And there are plenty of foragers in the central part of our state, as well. So let’s celebrate mushrooms this month!

Tell us—do you like cremini, portobello, shiitake, chanterelles, or the very exotic truffles? Do you eat them raw or sauteed or roasted? Share your favorite recipe with the Local Food Journey by May 1st for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Fasta Ravioli Company. Find details and submit your recipe today.

Continue reading for Chef Harrison Schailey’s Shiitake Mushroom Bisque, which he serves at Harrison’s Wine Grill in State College.

Continue Reading: Mushroom Recipe Contest and Shiitake Mushroom Bisque from Chef Harrison

Tags: recipecontest | recipe | mushrooms |

Leek and Porcini Risotto

Good risotto is one of those things that is nearly impossible to get at a restaurant. Certainly, there are places that do it well. But if I order it, I am usually disappointed nine times out of ten. It just doesn’t lend itself well to advance prep and requires lots of stirring while cooking. And you would think that would make it family unfriendly — but I find it to be the exact opposite. It is a quick and simple meal (wonderful for a vegetarian night, too) that can be done in under an hour. And the actual cooking part really only takes about 30 minutes.

Continue Reading: Leek and Porcini Risotto

Tags: recipe | winter | leeks | mushrooms |

Winner of the Parsnips Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Maureen Ittig of State College and her Parsnip Cake recipe, winner of our February contest! She is the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Tait Farm Foods.

Thank you to everyone who participated. Continue reading to see Maureen’s Parsnip Cake and other recipe submissions. And stay tuned for the start of our March recipe contest. Details to come!

Continue Reading: Winner of the Parsnips Recipe Contest

Tags: recipe | recipecontest | parsnips |

Take a Jar of Summer off the Shelf

In my last post, I talked about the benefits of freezing vegetables to use in the winter. Now let’s look at another way of preserving your garden harvest—canning.

Canning for me brings back memories of my mother and grandmother, who both canned. They canned stuff like pears, green beans, tomatoes, etc. Pretty much straight up, old-fashioned canning.

Continue Reading: Take a Jar of Summer off the Shelf

Tags: gardening | recipe | eggs |

Muenster Chicken with Mushrooms

Here is a delicious winter recipe that we ate all the time growing up, and I have just updated it a bit. It’s a great casserole for a big group, kids love it, and it makes a great drop off dinner for your friend or neighbor who just had a baby.

Continue Reading: Muenster Chicken with Mushrooms

Tags: recipe | winter | mushrooms |

Pulling Summer from the Freezer when it’s Freezing Outside

During my garden harvest season, which stretches from summer through much of fall, I preserve a lot of what we get from our backyard in two ways—canning and freezing.

I like to do both because of cooking flexibility. You can do a lot of great things with canning: sauces, relishes, pickles, etc. But freezing for me tends to be about just the vegetable/fruit.

Continue Reading: Pulling Summer from the Freezer when it’s Freezing Outside

Tags: gardening | recipes | kale | winter |

Parsnips Recipe Contest

Parsnips are root vegetables, similar to carrots, and are one of the few pieces of produce available locally in Pennsylvania during the winter. They are buttery and slightly spicy and get sweet when cooked. Parsnips are commonly broiled, roasted, or cooked in soups and stews. Let us know how you prepare parsnips by sharing your favorite recipe this month. Submit your recipe for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Tait Farm Foods.

Continue reading for some of our favorite parsnips recipes.

Continue Reading: Parsnips Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | parsnips |

Roasted Potato Salad

Tomorrow is the last day to enter our potatoes recipe contest! How do you prepare Russet potatoes, sweet potatoes, fingerling potatoes, and new potatoes? Share your recipe for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry.

Looking for inspiration? Continue reading for my favorite potato salad recipe.

Continue Reading: Roasted Potato Salad

Tags: recipe | winter | potatoes |

Curried Chick Pea and Red Potato Hash

I love the challenge of taking very disparate items and somehow bringing them together into a coherent dish. Certainly some of the dishes turn out a lot better than others, but it is always a fun experiment. In this case, I had new potatoes, garlic scapes (the green flower shoot from the garlic), green onions, parsley, and lots of eggs. I settled on a “hash” sort of thing and I was not disappointed. I love putting a slight twist on a very traditional approach and it was a delicious vegetarian entree. I served it with sauteed snow peas and a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Continue Reading: Curried Chick Pea and Red Potato Hash

Tags: recipe | winter | potatoes |

Year Round Good Eating and Gratin Recipe

Our local food partners are the stars behind the scenes at Harrison’s Wine Grill – we purchase from more than 20 local businesses during the growing season. During the winter, we focus more on the year-round products, especially locally produced cheese like our Goot Essa cheddar and Three Belle goat cheese, both from Millheim, Pa. We are working to bring more Pennsylvania artisanal cheeses onto our menu this year because our menu items designed around Goot Essa Sharp Cheddar have been so popular, especially the gratin recipe featured below.

Continue Reading: Year Round Good Eating and Gratin Recipe

Tags: recipe | winter | potatoes | squash |

Potatoes Recipe Contest

Russet potatoes. Sweet potatoes. Fingerling potatoes. New potatoes. How do you eat this starchy vegetable? Share your favorite recipe this month for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry in State College. Entries must be submitted by midnight on January 31st. See contest details. And good luck!

Continue Reading: Potatoes Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | potatoes |

Winner of the Cranberries Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Dee Saylor of State College! Her recipe for Cranberry Salsa Dip with Cream Cheese is the winner of the December recipe contest and the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks.

Continue reading for Dee’s salsa recipe, along with others for cranberry cookies, cakes, and muffins.

Continue Reading: Winner of the Cranberries Recipe Contest

Tags: recipe | recipecontest | cranberries |

December Cookies: Rum Balls

‘Tis the season to indulge! Enjoy favorite holiday cookies from Local Food Journey contributors this week and next. And feel free to share your own recipes in the comment section below.

First up: Rum Balls from Kristin Camplese of Cuizoo.

Continue Reading: December Cookies: Rum Balls

Tags: recipe | cookies |

Orange Marsala Cranberry Sauce

‘Tis the season for cranberries! Share your favorite recipe this month for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks.

Continue reading to see Kristin’s recipe for Orange Marsala Cranberry Sauce.

Continue Reading: Orange Marsala Cranberry Sauce

Tags: recipe | winter | cranberries |

Winner of the Pear Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Sarah Zappe of Port Matilda for her Cream Cheese and Pear Tart! She is the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Fasta Ravioli Company.

Continue reading to see Sarah’s recipe, as well as Pamela’s Stewed Pears.

Continue Reading: Winner of the Pear Recipe Contest

Tags: recipe | fall | pears |

Turkey Croquettes

Most of us will admit that one of the best parts of Thanksgiving is the leftovers. Here is a favorite recipe for creating another delicious meal from the turkey that might be left on the platter at the end of your annual feast.

Continue Reading: Turkey Croquettes

Tags: recipe | fall | turkey |

Turkey with Marsala Gravy over Rosemary Belgian Waffles

Looking for a tasty way to use those Thanksgiving turkey leftovers? This dish takes a savory, rosemary-infused Belgian Waffle and tops it with turkey stewed in marsala-laced and butter-rich gravy.

Continue Reading: Turkey with Marsala Gravy over Rosemary Belgian Waffles

Tags: recipe | fall | turkey |

Sweet Potato and Apple Soup

This thick and creamy soup is full of some of the season’s best flavors and would make any Thanksgiving table a more festive one.

Continue Reading: Sweet Potato and Apple Soup

Tags: recipe | fall | apples | sweetpotatoes |

Apple Muffins

Honeycrisp apples are crisp and sweet and ideal for fresh eating, as well as for cooking and baking. Our friends at Way Fruit Farm harvest Honeycrisp apples each year and may still have some left this season. For hours and directions to Way Fruit Farm, visit their website. Then enjoy this recipe for Apple Muffins. They can’t be beat served warm with a glass of milk.

Continue Reading: Apple Muffins

Tags: recipe | fall | apples |

Winner of the Butternut Squash Recipe Contest

Thanks to everyone who participated in this month’s butternut squash recipe contest! Congratulations to Ashley of State College and her Butternut Squash Risotto recipe. She is the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill & Catering

Continue reading to see all of the submitted recipes. Enjoy!

Continue Reading: Winner of the Butternut Squash Recipe Contest

Tags: butternutsquash | recipe | recipecontest |

Butternut Squash and Apple Muffins with Pumpkin Seed Streusel

With two hungry children, I am always trying to find healthful snacks that the kids perceive to be treats. A piece of fruit may be healthy, but every once in a while kids (and grown-ups alike) crave something more substantial.  In our house, anything freshly baked is usually a winner.  This recipe qualifies as both delicious and healthy—with whole wheat flour, butternut squash puree, fresh apples, and not too much sugar.  It’s your choice whether you call it breakfast, a snack, or dessert.

Continue Reading: Butternut Squash and Apple Muffins with Pumpkin Seed Streusel

Tags: recipe | butternutsquash | fall |

Bon AppeTait:  Spicy Autumn Salad

I love fall on the farm. It is the season of bold flavors and stunning natural beauty. The changing leaves are slowing winding their way up Tussey Mountain, creating a tapestry of subtle color. The fields abound with beautiful fall greens and root crops, still soaking up as much sun as they can before harvest. And after months of ripening in the fields (or drowning), the winter squash have been harvested. Our attention will now turn to getting the fields into cover crops for the long winter’s rest. And all the while, I will delight in the flavor of my first butternut squash soup, as well as the site of colorful, funky pumpkins and gourds that bring fall blessings to my home.

Continue Reading: Bon AppeTait:  Spicy Autumn Salad

Tags: recipe | fall |

Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque from Harrison’s

For perfect fall flavors—the mild sweetness of butternut squash is perfectly offset with savory garlic and vegetables.  Using some local cream helps to make it rich and velvety – but minimizing cream and using vegetable stock and roasted garlic helps to keep the fats and calories down. This recipe has a lot of steps in it – and that’s what creates the complex and award-winning flavors. 

Stop in to Harrison’s for a bowl, or enjoy it from your own home.

Continue Reading: Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque from Harrison’s

Tags: recipe | fall | butternutsquash |

Winner of the Eggplant Recipe Contest

Thanks to everyone who participated in this month’s eggplant recipe contest! Congratulations to Albert of State College and his Lavash Flatbread recipe. He is the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Mount Nittany Winery in Centre Hall.

Continue reading to see all of the submitted recipes. Enjoy!

Continue Reading: Winner of the Eggplant Recipe Contest

Tags: recipe | eggplant | recipecontest |

Sweet and Sour Eggplant

It’s the final week to share your favorite eggplant recipe for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Mount Nittany Winery! Still looking for inspiration? Check out this sweet, sour, and slightly spicy recipe.

Continue Reading: Sweet and Sour Eggplant

Tags: recipe | fall | eggplant |

Change is in the Air and a Recipe for Vegetable Soup

The unusually wet and cool weather of mid-September must be a prelude to a fabulous Indian Summer coming our way. Nature has its signals in every season, and the fall is no exception. The dizzying activity of insects and migrating birds, the prolific blooming of goldenrod and asters, and the breathtaking color transformation of the native Sumac all confirm the change that is in the air. And even though the tomatoes are slowly slipping away, the abundant greens, hearty squashes, pears and more, are ready to make their debut and step in where the others are leaving off. Oh, how lucky we are!

Continue Reading: Change is in the Air and a Recipe for Vegetable Soup

Tags: recipe | fall | soup | celery | onions | garlic | carrots | potatoes | greenbeans | tomatoes | corn |

Asian-Style Ratatouille with Eggplant

Eggplant is delicious hot or cold and can be enjoyed marinated, stuffed, roasted, grilled, fried, baked in a casserole or stewed. How do you like to prepare it? Share your favorite recipe this month for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Mount Nittany Winery.

Continue reading for a recipe from Steve Spanelli of Tait Farm.

Continue Reading: Asian-Style Ratatouille with Eggplant

Tags: recipe | summer | fall | eggplant | squash | zucchini | tomatoes |

Winner of the Tomato Recipe Contest

Wow! We had a lot of submissions for this month’s tomato recipe contest. Thanks to everyone who participated! And congratulations to winner Mary Gage of State College for her Green Tomato Chutney. She is the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks in Millheim.

Continue reading to see all of the submitted recipes—from tomato cakes to tomato tarts to tomato bread pudding. Enjoy!

Continue Reading: Winner of the Tomato Recipe Contest

Tags: recipe | summer | tomatoes | recipecontest |

Cucumber-Tomato Salsa

Today is the final day to share your favorite tomato recipe! Submit it now for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks in Millheim. A winner will be randomly selected and announced by noon tomorrow. Good luck!

Continue reading for a seasonal salsa recipe from Steve Spanelli of Tait Farm.

Continue Reading: Cucumber-Tomato Salsa

Tags: recipe | summer | tomatoes | cucumbers |

Garlicky Bread Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes and Sweet Corn

Tomatoes of all shapes and colors are still in abundance at the local markets. Pick up a box and let us know how you use them! Share your recipe by August 31st for your chance to win a $25 gift Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks in Millheim.

Continue reading for one of Kristin’s favorite simple late summer recipes.

Continue Reading: Garlicky Bread Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes and Sweet Corn

Tags: recipe | summer | tomatoes | corn | bread | garlic |

Field Notes and a Recipe for Pan-Fried Green Tomatoes

The rain has brought with it cooler temperatures, and I’ve heard several people expressing their excitement for the upcoming fall. I, however, really enjoy the heat and the beauty of the middle of summer.

Continue Reading: Field Notes and a Recipe for Pan-Fried Green Tomatoes

Tags: recipe | summer | tomatoes |

Grilled Mexican Corn

Please welcome Kristin Camplese who will stop by occasionally to share recipes from her popular food blog, Cuizoo.com!

My family and I recently pledged to eat local sweet corn for the last 30 days of summer vacation. It is not a hard task given how delicious it is. And while most nights we could eat it simply slathered with butter and salt, this recipe is one of our favorites. It is really a meal in itself as it combines rich seasonings, garlicky mayonnaise, and lots of cheese. Finish with a sprinkling of cilantro and a
squeeze of lime juice, and you will be licking your fingers and buying another dozen ears for tomorrow.

Continue Reading: Grilled Mexican Corn

Tags: recipe | summer | corn |

Field Notes: Summer Garlic and a Recipe for Pepper Packets

It’s the middle of summer, and that means it’s time for garlic! From spring garlic to garlic scapes, and fresh garlic to stored bulbs… it’s one of our favorite year-round crops. And now is the time to hurry up and get it out of the ground and hang it to cure.

Continue Reading: Field Notes: Summer Garlic and a Recipe for Pepper Packets

Tags: recipe | summer | garlic | peppers | potatoes | fieldnotes |

Winner of the Sweet Corn Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Amanda Bachmann of State College and her recipe for Sweet Corn Ice Cream! She is the winner of the July contest and the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry.

Thank you to everyone who participated—continue reading to see all of the sweet corn recipe submissions!

And don’t forget to enter our August recipe contest. What’s your favorite way to prepare summer’s tasty tomatoes?

Continue Reading: Winner of the Sweet Corn Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | corn |

Grilled Corn Salsa

Stacks of sweet corn can still be found at many farmers markets. Are you picking some up for the weekend? If so, try this Grilled Corn Salsa from Steve Spanelli of Tait Farm.

Or make your own recipe and share it with the Local Food Journey for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry in State College. Entries must be submitted by midnight on Sunday, July 31st, and the winner will be randomly selected and announced by noon on Monday, August 1st. Good luck!

Continue Reading: Grilled Corn Salsa

Tags: recipe | summer | corn |

Corn Salad with Sweet Chili Lime Vinaigrette

It’s no wonder that sweet corn is right up there with tomatoes as America’s favorite vegetable. Nothing beats the flavor of fresh picked corn. Whether you eat it on the cob, or turn it into delicious salad, the time to enjoy it is now!

Try this nice, light, and refreshing salad courtesy of Cindy Tait Law. And don’t forget to share your favorite sweet corn recipe before July 31st for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry in State College!

Continue Reading: Corn Salad with Sweet Chili Lime Vinaigrette

Tags: recipe | summer | corn |

Chef Harrison’s Green Beans Gorgonzola

Eleven years ago, former Farmer Mark from Tait Farm had a bumper crop of freshly grown green beans and showed up at our back door with several large boxes of them. Chef Harrison created this recipe and officially and deliciously launched our local foods menu.

Over the years, Harrison’s Green Beans Gorgonzola has become a seasonal summer favorite. It is easy to make at home and is a great recipe for those beautiful farmers market green beans this summer. Enjoy!

Continue Reading: Chef Harrison’s Green Beans Gorgonzola

Tags: summer | recipe | greenbeans |

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

With temperatures predicted to reach record highs today and tomorrow, what better way to manage the heat than with a bowl of homemade ice cream? It is National Ice Cream Month, after all.

Continue Reading: Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Tags: recipe | summer | icecream |

Corn on the Cob with Basil-Parmesan Butter

Grilled corn on the cob is a popular item on the menus of backyard BBQs and picnics across the country. Try this version with an herb butter that makes the corn seasoned and succulent. It’s a perfect summer treat.

Continue Reading: Corn on the Cob with Basil-Parmesan Butter

Tags: recipe | summer | corn |

Field Notes: Beet Salad

Field production is running a bit behind schedule this year, but this seems to be the case for most farms in the area. The “schedule,” of course, is always just an ideal planting time, when really we fall to the mercy of the weather in the end. But better late than never is the case this summer, as we are just now harvesting our spring turnips and beets.

Continue Reading: Field Notes: Beet Salad

Tags: summer | recipe | beets | fieldnotes |

Sweet Corn Recipe Contest

Sweet corn season is here! Do you grill it in its husks or boil it on the stove top? Do you eat it on the cob or off? What’s your favorite way to prepare this popular Pennsylvania treat?

Share your favorite corn recipe with the Local Food Journey blog for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry in State College.

Recipes must be submitted by midnight on Sunday, July 31st. Entries will be featured throughout the month, and a winner will be randomly selected and announced by noon on Monday, August 1st. Enter today. Good luck!

Continue Reading: Sweet Corn Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | corn |

Winner of the Strawberries Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Nancy Cord-Baran of State College! She is the winner of our June strawberries recipe contest and the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill & Catering.

Thank you to everyone who participated—continue reading to see all of the strawberries recipe submissions. And stay tuned for the start of our July recipe contest. Details to come!

Continue Reading: Winner of the Strawberries Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | strawberries |

Final Day of the Strawberries Recipe Contest

Strawberry season has sadly come to an end. What is the best thing you made this month with summer’s first berries? Share it today for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill in State College. Today is the final day to enter the contest, so submit your recipe now!

Looking for inspiration?

Continue Reading: Final Day of the Strawberries Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | strawberries |

Simple Strawberry Cake

Strawberry season is my favorite season; though it is a short one. Throughout the month of June, I enjoy strawberries on my morning cereal and swirled into yogurt, tossed with spinach salad, on top of shortcakes and waffles, and layered with vanilla cake and cream cheese frosting. We also currently have four quarts in the freezer just begging to be thawed and consumed.

Continue Reading: Simple Strawberry Cake

Tags: recipe | spring | summer | strawberries |

Strawberry Vinaigrette

Have you submitted your favorite strawberries recipe for the June contest? Share it today for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill in State College.

Enjoy this favorite from Tait Farm Foods.

Continue Reading: Strawberry Vinaigrette

Tags: recipe | spring | summer | strawberries |

Pasta Primavera

What is better than crisp vegetables, creamy dressing, and fluffy pasta? Primavera means “the season of spring,” and this recipe uses fresh vegetables that are grown locally during this time of year. The delicate dressing and pasta really highlight the diverse tastes, textures, and colors of the seasonal vegetables.

Continue Reading: Pasta Primavera

Tags: recipe | spring | asparagus | mushrooms | broccoli | onions | carrots | peppers |

Field Notes: Strawberry-Rhubarb Dessert Bars

Tait Farm’s CSA, Community Harvest, kicked off its main season in mid-May with a bang! To see the excitement on our CSA members’ faces when they picked up their “share” of asparagus, Swiss chard, salad mix, and more was so gratifying. We work hard to produce this food, and people couldn’t wait to get home to eat it. Ideas spouted left and right for favorite green garlic recipes and grilled asparagus.

It’s a comforting bustle of people who love being a part of our CSA. Eating is something we all have to do everyday anyway, and when the ingredients are fresh, organic, and seasonal, it adds a whole other ingredient to the meal: contentment.

Continue Reading: Field Notes: Strawberry-Rhubarb Dessert Bars

Tags: recipe | spring | strawberries | rhubarb | fieldnotes |

Strawberries Recipe Contest

How do you like to eat strawberries? Tossed in a salad? Layered in a trifle? Dipped in chocolate? Or sprinkled with sugar and set on shortcakes?

Share your favorite strawberries recipe with the Local Food Journey blog for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Harrison’s Wine Grill & Catering in State College.

Continue Reading: Strawberries Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | strawberries |

Winner of the Asparagus Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Destiny Aman of Pennsylvania Furnace! She is the winner of our May asparagus recipe contest and the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Tait Farm Foods.

Thank you to everyone who participated—continue reading to see all of the asparagus recipe submissions. And stay tuned for the start of our June recipe contest. Details to come!

Continue Reading: Winner of the Asparagus Recipe Contest

Tags: recipecontest | asparagus |

Green Garlic Pesto

Green garlic is the early spring garlic that eventually turns into the normal bulbs of garlic that we all use day to day. Demand for green garlic is growing as more restaurants have added it to their menus and people have discovered its mild, but distinct, flavor. It is still primarily available at farmers markets and farm stands, but you may also spot it at gourmet markets. This pesto recipe is the perfect celebration of the arrival of green garlic. Serve it over pasta or spoon it onto grilled bread. Enjoy!

Continue Reading: Green Garlic Pesto

Tags: recipe | spring | garlic |

Asparagus and Bacon Quiche

Here’s another recipe utilizing spring asparagus from Tait Farm’s Steve Spanelli. Don’t forget to share your favorite asparagus recipe before Tuesday, May 31st for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Tait Farm Foods!

Continue Reading: Asparagus and Bacon Quiche

Tags: recipe | spring | asparagus |

Field Notes: Asparagus Season and Recipe for Vegan Hollandaise Sauce

There are two times during the asparagus season that I enjoy picking it: the first time and the last time. Don’t get me wrong; I love asparagus in every way, shape, and form on my dinner plate, but the tedious task of picking it twice a day can make a person jump for joy at the end of its season.

Continue Reading: Field Notes: Asparagus Season and Recipe for Vegan Hollandaise Sauce

Tags: farm | fieldnotes | recipe | spring | asparagus |

White Asparagus Salad with Warm Shitake Dressing

Have you tried white asparagus? It is slightly milder and more tender than green asparagus and is considered to be the more “gourmet” option of the two. The process for growing it, however, is quite easy.

Both green and white asparagus come from the same seed; white asparagus is simply deprived of sunlight. Dirt is piled on top of the plant, which eliminates chlorophyll production and prevents it from turning green.

Either white or green asparagus may be used in this salad recipe, though the white provides a nice color contrast to the arugula, mushrooms, and tomatoes.

Don’t forget to share your own asparagus recipe before Tuesday, May 31st for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Tait Farm Foods!

Continue Reading: White Asparagus Salad with Warm Shitake Dressing

Tags: recipe | spring | asparagus | tomatoes | mushrooms |

Field Notes: Cold, Wet Days

Erin McKinney is one of two full-time farmers at Tait Farm in Centre Hall who oversees the fieldwork for the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, Community Harvest. Find out from Erin what is “growing on” in the fields at Tait Farm this week.

Continue Reading: Field Notes: Cold, Wet Days

Tags: farm | fieldnotes | recipe | spring | springgreens | garlic |

Asparagus and Artichoke Dip

Now that April is upon us, it means that asparagus is coming into season! This dip is a quick and easy way to utilize this versatile vegetable.

Continue Reading: Asparagus and Artichoke Dip

Tags: recipes | spring | asparagus |

Parsnip Soup

It’s almost April, and spring foods like green peas and asparagus are just around the corner. However, until the cold weather leaves for good, keep warm with a bowl of parsnip soup. This root vegetable is closely related to the carrot with a distinct sweet and butter flavor, which is ideal for this hearty soup.

Continue Reading: Parsnip Soup

Tags: recipe | winter | parsnips |

Green Week: Pistachio Cookies

Get into the spirit of Saint Patrick’s Day with these festive cookies! Pistachio pudding provides the green coloring, but you could substitute another flavor like lemon or butterscotch.

Continue Reading: Green Week: Pistachio Cookies

Tags: recipes | cookies | holidays |

Glazed Carrots with Orange and Ginger

This isn’t the first time I’ve made this dish, and it won’t be the last.

In How to Cook Everything, Mark Bittman suggests quick glazing carrots in butter or oil with a variety of herbs for a flavorful side dish. You could use dill and lemon juice, brown sugar and walnuts, or maple syrup and pecans. But I especially like the combination of grated ginger and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Continue Reading: Glazed Carrots with Orange and Ginger

Tags: recipes | winter | carrots | oranges |

Chicken Pot Pie with Root Vegetables

Spring arrives in less than three weeks, though March can still be a bitterly cold month. Keep warm during the final days of winter with this hearty and healthy comfort food dish that takes advantage of the final root vegetables of the season.

Continue Reading: Chicken Pot Pie with Root Vegetables

Tags: recipe | winter | potatoes | parsnips | onions | carrots |

Pesto and Prosciutto Pizza

Try homemade pizza tonight in place of delivery. It will be hot out of the oven in the same amount of time a cardboard box could arrive on your doorstep—and it’s much more satisfying.

What are your favorite pizza toppings?

Continue Reading: Pesto and Prosciutto Pizza

Tags: recipes | winter | broccoli | garlic |

Ravioli Soup

There’s nothing more satisfying than a tasty soup to warm up a cold, snowy day. This flavor-packed soup will definitely do the trick, not to mention, it’s very simple to make!

Continue Reading: Ravioli Soup

Tags: recipe | winter | pasta | carrots | mushrooms | garlic |

Pork Chop Saute with Balsamic-Dried Plum Sauce

Pork is a great substitute for traditional chicken dishes that can get repetitive and boring. For this dish, garlic, shallots, and dried plums (which add a sweet zest to the sauce) compliment each other and are absorbed by the pork chops. This is a quick and easy recipe that will please all!

Continue Reading: Pork Chop Saute with Balsamic-Dried Plum Sauce

Tags: recipe | winter | plums | pork |

Pear Pizza

Pears are sweet and juicy and provide a bright note to cold weather meals. They pair nicely with pungent and creamy cheeses, caramelized onions, and walnuts — all of which have a place on this pizza.

What’s on your January pizza?

Continue Reading: Pear Pizza

Tags: recipe | winter | fall | pears |

Roasted Butternut Squash Orzo

December dinners tends to be hearty and heavy, and sometimes we need a break from weighty winter food. Enter roasted butternut squash orzo with wilted spinach and dried cranberries.

Continue Reading: Roasted Butternut Squash Orzo

Tags: recipe | fall | winter | butternutsquash | cranberries | garlic |

Moroccan Vegetable Stew

Warm up this wintry weekend with a bowl of spicy Moroccan vegetable stew. It combines seasonal root vegetables with cinnamon, cumin, and paprika and a splash of sweet coconut milk at the end. The list of ingredients may seem long, but this soup couldn’t be simpler or more satisfying.

Continue Reading: Moroccan Vegetable Stew

Tags: recipe | fall | onions | butternutsquash | potatoes | carrots | celery |

Maple and Sage Roasted Root Vegetables

Here’s a versatile, sweet, and savory recipe to make use of your favorite winter vegetables. Try it as an accompaniment to chicken in puff pastry with apple butter and Fontina cheese or mustard-baked chicken with pretzel crust.

Continue Reading: Maple and Sage Roasted Root Vegetables

Tags: recipe | fall | turnips | carrots | parsnips | potatoes | mushrooms |