Thanksgiving Recipes from PBS Food

Thanksgiving Day can be daunting for even the most experienced cook. PBS Food is ready to help you pick out your Thanksgiving recipes, plan ahead to stay on track, and remember what Thanksgiving is really about – being grateful and spending time with family.

Continue Reading: Thanksgiving Recipes from PBS Food

Tags: holiday | turkey |

Boalsburg Farmers Market to Sponsor First Annual “Plow to Plate” Harvest Dinner

Fall in central Pennsylvania brings with it the bounty, beauty, and variety of the harvest. To celebrate the fall harvest, the Boalsburg Farmers Market is sponsoring a dinner on Wednesday, October 10th featuring the best of late summer and early fall, including eggplant, peppers, okra, butternut squash, pumpkins, kale, and apples.

Continue Reading: Boalsburg Farmers Market to Sponsor First Annual “Plow to Plate” Harvest Dinner

Tags: event |

The Great Cilantro Debate

Love it or hate it? The great cilantro debate heats up as scientists start pinpointing cilantrophobe genes. Read more on NPR’s food blog.

Continue Reading: The Great Cilantro Debate

Tags: food |

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 |

Celebrate Julia Child

Celebrate Julia Child’s 100th birthday this month! Find recipes and share your favorites. Watch early episodes of The French Chef and Baking with Julia. And read tributes from celebrity chefs.

Continue Reading: Celebrate Julia Child

Tags: event |

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 |

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 |

Summer Solstice Celebration this Saturday

You’re invited to Tait Farm this Saturday from 1-4pm for the 2012 Summer Solstice Celebration! Enjoy local food and beverage samplings while supporting the Centre County Farmland Trust.

Continue Reading: Summer Solstice Celebration this Saturday

Tags: events |

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 |

Boalsburg Farmers Market to Host Cooking Demonstrations on June 12th

The Boalsburg Farmers Market will host a “Learning Kitchen” tomorrow at 2pm featuring two prominent local chefs and ingredients from market vendors.

Mark Johnson, chef at Elk Creek Café, will demonstrate quick pickling techniques for fresh vegetables and methods for brining inexpensive cuts of meat like pork bellies.

Grace Pilato, accomplished chef and cooking instructor, will show how to make a variety of pestos and goat milk ricotta cheese with seasonal herbs.

Continue Reading: Boalsburg Farmers Market to Host Cooking Demonstrations on June 12th

Tags: event |

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 |

Fire up the Grill

What are you grilling this Memorial Day weekend? Fire up the grill and try one of these summertime recipes!

Continue Reading: Fire up the Grill

Tags: grilling |

Save the Date: Summer Solstice Celebration is June 16th

Mark your calendar for the 2012 Summer Solstice Celebration on Saturday, June 16th from 1-4pm at Tait Farm in Centre Hall. Locavores, landscape art enthusiasts, and interested community members are invited to attend the second annual event to benefit the Centre County Farmland Trust (CCFT).

Continue Reading: Save the Date: Summer Solstice Celebration is June 16th

Tags: event | summersolstice |

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 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 |

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 |

Harrison’s Seasonal Spring Menu

Snow may be falling today, but it is April, and Harrison’s Wine and Grill is serving its seasonal spring menu.

The globally-inspired menu includes a few new partners that attended the PASA conference in February—Vale Wood Farms and Clover Creek Cheese Cellar, with several more in the works. Harrison’s now has over 25 local growers and purveyors. See the full list here.

Continue Reading: Harrison’s Seasonal Spring Menu

Tags: spring | restaurant |

Pink Slime

Americans have turned up their noses at the hamburger additive officially known as Lean Finely Textured Beef, now infamously called Pink Slime. Technically it IS beef, just not what consumers generally think of as beef. A celebrity chef’s televised expose about the amonia-treated beef scraps set off consumer outcry, prompting supermarkets nationwide to stop selling the stuff. So, what’s all the fuss about?

WPSU’s Patty Satalia begins her audio report at the meat case in the State College Wegmans.

Continue Reading: Pink Slime

Tags: audio |

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 |

Winner of the Gift Certificate to Nature’s Pantry

Congratulations to Kristin of Millheim, winner of a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry! She can’t wait for the chives to come up this spring. Others are looking forward to peaches, strawberries, tomatoes, and peppers.

Thank you to all who participated in the contest. Stay tuned for details of upcoming opportunities to win gift certificates to your favorite local establishments.

Continue Reading: Winner of the Gift Certificate to Nature’s Pantry

Tags: |

Winner of the Radishes Recipe Contest

Congratulations to Jude Griswold of Mt. Jewett! She is the winner of our March radishes recipe contest and the recipient of a $25 gift certificate to Mt. Nittany Winery.

Stay tuned for the start of our April recipe contest. Details to come!

Continue Reading: Winner of the Radishes Recipe Contest

Tags: contest | radishes |

Food Safety Study

Pennsylvania supermarkets are increasingly requiring that local growers show proof of good agricultural practices. For local growers to maintain wholesale market opportunities, they will have to put forth substantial effort to comply with and verify their on-farm, food-safety practices.

Continue Reading: Food Safety Study

Tags: research |

Why are Dairy Farms in the Marcellus Shale Closing?

Is mighty Marcellus squeezing the milk industry? That’s the finding of a new Penn State study. The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier set out to find why dairy farms are folding amidst the gas boom.

Continue reading to hear Frazier’s audio story.

Continue Reading: Why are Dairy Farms in the Marcellus Shale Closing?

Tags: audio | farm |

Win a Gift Certificate to Nature’s Pantry

Spring is just around the corner, which means that asparagus, cucumbers, and peaches are not far behind. What food are you most looking forward to eating as winter draws to a close? Sweet strawberries or watermelon? Heirloom tomatoes or green beans?

Simply leave a comment below with your favorite spring or summer food, and we’ll enter you in a random drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Nature’s Pantry in State College. You may receive extra entries by following WPSU’s Local Food Journey on Facebook and Twitter. Just leave an additional comment letting us know that you’re a new follower.

Continue Reading: Win a Gift Certificate to Nature’s Pantry

Tags: contest |

Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail

During the month of March, take a trip along the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail. The tour includes ten wineries, and the cost is $20 per person or $35 per couple.

Continue Reading: Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail

Tags: events | wine |

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 |

CSA Fair in State College Today

Join the Centre County Chapter of Buy Fresh, Buy Local today from 3:30pm - 6:30pm at the Friends Meeting House in State College (611 E. Prospect Ave.). Mix and mingle with CSAs from Greenmore Gardens, Jade Family Farm, Tait Farm Foods, Healthy Harvest Farm, Village Acres, Plowshare Produce, Howards End Farm, and GroundWork Farms. Learn about price and size options, workshare programs, and product availability to find the CSA that will work best for you!

The Sustainable Kitchen will also be there with ready-to-eat food.

Continue Reading: CSA Fair in State College Today

Tags: event |

Wine and Chocolate Pairings Event at Mt. Nittany Winery

You and your Valentine are invited to Mt. Nittany Winery in Centre Hall this weekend for a wine and chocolate pairings event. Treat yourself, your sweetheart, or a group of friends to Mt. Nittany’s wines paired with local sweets from Chocolate Madness.

Event hours are Saturday, Feb. 11th from 12-5pm and Sunday, Feb. 12th from 12:30-4pm. Cost is $4.50 per person, and reservations are required. Contact the winery at (814) 466-6373, 300 Houser Road in Centre Hall.

Continue reading for a chocolate truffles recipe from the winery.

Continue Reading: Wine and Chocolate Pairings Event at Mt. Nittany Winery

Tags: holiday | events | wine | chocolate |

Rustic Italian Fare at Harrison’s

In addition to the regular local menu at Harrison’s Wine Grill in State College, the restaurant is also featuring the flavors of rustic Italy during the month of February. Beginning today, sample a salad of arugula, fresh pear, and Pecorino; veal ravioli with fresh sage brown butter; seared sea scallops with whipped potatoes; and polenta with berries. Download the full menu. 

Continue Reading: Rustic Italian Fare at Harrison’s

Tags: restaurant |

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 |

Farming for the Future

The Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture’s (PASA) 21st Annual Farming for the Future Conference begins today at the Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Each year the conference gets bigger and better. Discover successful tomato growing techniques, take back the means of beekeeping, reclaim leftover landscapes, raise healthy chickens, and more. See the full workshop agenda and follow PASA on Facebook and Twitter for updates throughout the week.

Continue Reading: Farming for the Future

Tags: |

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 |

Mark Your Calendar: Fiesta de invierno with Chef Pati Jinich

Join Chef Pati Jinich of the new PBS series Pati’s Mexican Table for WPSU’s 20th Annual Connoisseur’s Dinner on Saturday, February 18th. Experience firsthand the adventurous cuisine found across Mexico with each dish serving as a point of departure into the country’s rich history and culture.

For more details, visit http://wpsu.org/events/conndinner2012.

Continue Reading: Mark Your Calendar: Fiesta de invierno with Chef Pati Jinich

Tags: event |

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: World Peace Cookies from Dorie Greenspan

Dorie Greenspan is an accomplished food writer and cookbook author, and her World Peace cookies are all over the Internet. (Find out how they got their name here.)

They are French shortbreads with a generous amount of bittersweet chocolate and a touch of fleur de sel (French finishing sea salt) to yield a really intense flavor. Find more of Dorie’s delectable dessert recipes in her book, BAKING: From My Home to Yours.

Continue Reading: December Cookies: World Peace Cookies from Dorie Greenspan

Tags: holidays | cookies |

December Cookies: Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

The combination of pumpkin puree and oatmeal makes these cookies nice and chewy. The white chocolate chips are sweet, and the dried cherries are sour. And the spices couldn’t be more festive.

Continue Reading: December Cookies: Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

Tags: holidays | cookies |

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 |

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 |

Countdown to Thanksgiving

Less than a week to go until Thanksgiving Day—a holiday created for foodies! What do you plan to place on your table this year? Check back next week for some of our favorite recipes and ideas to take care of those turkey leftovers. Until then, take advantage of holiday specials offered by some of your favorite local shops.

Continue Reading: Countdown to Thanksgiving

Tags: holidays |

Harvest Photo Contest for Mount Nittany Winery

There’s a lot happening at Mount Nittany Winery over the next several weeks ... picking, crushing, stomping ... and their first ever Harvest Photo Contest.

Continue Reading: Harvest Photo Contest for Mount Nittany Winery

Tags: wine |

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 |

Local Chefs Compete for the Golden Basket

You can always find farmers at the Boalsburg Farmers Market. And butchers and bakers and cheese makers. But there were a few new faces to see yesterday afternoon.

Chefs who typically work their magic behind the scenes of our favorite local restaurants sharpened their knives, packed their frying pans and portable stoves, and came out to compete in a cooking competition. Contestants included: Jamsion Steffan and Gus Aranguiz from The American Ale House, Mark Johnson from Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks, Harrison Schailey from Harrison’s Wine Grill, Sean Kelly from Kelly’s, Pete Herncane from Otto’s, and Andrew Monk from The Sustainable Kitchen. Their task was to prepare two dishes using ingredients found at the market. The dishes were then judged on creativity, taste, and presentation.

Continue Reading: Local Chefs Compete for the Golden Basket

Tags: market | event |

Local Chefs Compete Today in Boalsburg

Come out to the Boalsburg Farmers Market today and get more than a basket full of peaches, tomatoes, and eggplant. See some of your favorite local chefs compete in a cooking competition!

The competition begins at 2:30pm at the Military Museum in Boalsburg. Participating chefs from The American Ale House, Elk Creek Cafe + Aleworks, Harrison’s, Kelly’s, Otto’s, and The Sustainable Kitchen will use ingredients from market vendors to create three courses. I will be joining a panel of four judges—including Patty Satalia of WPSU, State College Mayor Elizabeth Goreham, and State College’s Italian chef and cookbook author Grace Pilato—to determine the winning chef.

Continue Reading: Local Chefs Compete Today in Boalsburg

Tags: market | event |

6th Annual Central Pennsylvania Farm Tour

It’s Local Foods Week in central Pennsylvania! Celebrate the farms, markets, restaurants, and businesses that support our regional food system. Then wrap up the week with the 6th Annual Farm Tour sponsored by PASA and Buy Fresh Buy Local.

Pack your cooler, hop in your car (or on your bike), and explore our beautiful agrarian landscape this Saturday from 12:30pm-5:00pm. Continue reading for more details.

Continue Reading: 6th Annual Central Pennsylvania Farm Tour

Tags: farm | farmtour |

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 |

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 |

NPR: How Industrial Farming “Destroyed” the Tasty Tomato

If you bite into a tomato between the months of October and June, chances are that tomato came from Florida. And it tastes dramatically different than the varieties you might grow in your backyard or pick up at your local farmers market during the summer.

Freelance food writer Barry Estabrook looks at the life of today’s mass-produced tomato — and the environmental and human costs of the tomato industry — in his book Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit.

Listen to his interview with Terry Gross for Fresh Air.

Continue Reading: NPR: How Industrial Farming “Destroyed” the Tasty Tomato

Tags: farming | tomatoes |

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 |

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 |

Three Minute Gardener: How to Renovate a Strawberry Patch

After the June harvest of strawberries, patches should be renovated in preparation for the following year. Penn State Senior Extension Educator Kathy Demchak explains why these renovations are important and how to complete them.

Watch the video.

Continue Reading: Three Minute Gardener: How to Renovate a Strawberry Patch

Tags: strawberries | farming |

Welcome, Green Heron Farm!

Please welcome our newest contributor, Tony Ricci, of Green Heron Farm in southern Huntingdon County. Tony has been instrumental in bringing a year-round supply of local, organic produce to our area. He’s also the farmer who uses fryer oil to fuel his delivery truck.

Continue Reading: Welcome, Green Heron Farm!

Tags: farm |

Farmland Preservation Artists

The farmland in Centre County provides wildlife habitat, helps to replenish the groundwater supply, generates tax revenue, and feeds local residents. But as the county’s population grows, more and more farmland is being lost to development. WPSU’s Kristine Allen gives an audio report on efforts to preserve farmland—notably, one that involves a group of local artists who gathered at Tait Farm last Saturday for the first annual Summer Solstice Celebration.

Continue Reading: Farmland Preservation Artists

Tags: events | summersolstice |

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 |

Summer Solstice Celebration a Success!

Thank you to all who attended Saturday’s Summer Solstice Celebration at Tait Farm. The event was a huge success, and we were thrilled to meet so many local foodies!

We were proud to join partners from Elk Creek Cafe + Ale Works, Harrison’s Wine Grill & Catering, Otto’s Pub & Brewery, and Mount Nittany Winery in support of the Centre County Farmland Trust.

Hopefully you left the event with a greater understanding of the importance of preserving Centre County farmland for food, natural resources, and future generations. Get more information and find out how to become a member on their website.

Continue Reading: Summer Solstice Celebration a Success!

Tags: events | summersolstice |

Wet Spring Impacts Farmers

This year’s wet spring not only dampened your home gardening plans, it put farmers way behind schedule, too. Find out how this may impact yields and food prices in an audio interview with James Dunn, Penn State professor of agricultural economics.

Hear the interview conducted by WPSU’s Patty Satalia.

Continue Reading: Wet Spring Impacts Farmers

Tags: farm |

Unpaid Field Hand: Welcome!

Please welcome our newest blogger, James Eisenstein, the “Unpaid Field Hand!”

Eisenstein taught American politics, public policy, environmental politics, and agricultural policy classes at Penn State for over 35 years. He left the university to embark on a new career as an unpaid field hand at his son’s certified organic vegetable (and fruit) farm: Jade Family Farm in Juniata County.

He joins the Local Food Journey to talk about where food comes from, along with the virtues of locally grown, fresh food. Check back later this week for Eisenstein’s first post when he asks how much we really know about life on a farm. 

Continue Reading: Unpaid Field Hand: Welcome!

Tags: fieldhand |

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 |

Summer Solstice Celebration on June 18th

The cool, rainy days of early May have finally given way to warmer temperatures here in Happy Valley. And with spring sunshine has come the opening of local farmers markets and stands stocked with vibrant green stalks of asparagus, spicy arugula, and crisp, colorful rhubarb.

There are many ways to celebrate the season—with backyard burgers and local brews or a picnic in the park. But, perhaps the best way to pay tribute to the pleasures of late spring is by fostering the farms that feed us.

Continue Reading: Summer Solstice Celebration on June 18th

Tags: events | summersolstice |

“Taste of PA” at Way Fruit Farm this Saturday

Visit Way Fruit Farm on Saturday, May 14th and Saturday, May 21st from 10am - 3pm for a “Taste of PA.” The afternoon will feature free samples from local vendors like Goot Essa cheese, Wild Mountain Gourmet mustard, Galliker’s ice cream, and Hogs Galore. Way Fruit Farm will also have apples, applesauce, pie, donuts, and more.

Continue Reading: “Taste of PA” at Way Fruit Farm this Saturday

Tags: farm | event |

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 |

Asparagus Recipe Contest

Asparagus season is here! Do you prefer to blanch it, roast it, grill it, or stir-fry it? Share your favorite asparagus recipe with the Local Food Journey blog for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Tait Farm Foods in Centre Hall.

Continue Reading: Asparagus Recipe Contest

Tags: contest | asparagus |

Suzie Wong’s Egg Rolls

Chef Harrison Schailey and Kit Henshaw are the owners of Harrison’s Wine Grill & Catering in State College, which currently supports more than 20 local food businesses. One such business is Suzie Wong’s Egg Rolls.

Continue Reading: Suzie Wong’s Egg Rolls

Tags: asian | restaurant |

McIntyre’s Candies in Altoona

This Sunday, children will hunt for Easter baskets filled with milk chocolate bunnies, colorful jellybeans, peanut butter eggs, and speckled malted milk balls. Some of those treats will come from McIntyre’s Candies, a central Pennsylvania shop that still hand-makes its confections.

Earlier this week, WPSU’s Emily Wiley discovered the sweet history of this Altoona landmark. Listen to audio and see photos from the candy shop.

Continue Reading: McIntyre’s Candies in Altoona

Tags: candy | holiday | easter | chocolate |

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 |

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 |

Congratulations to Tait Farm

Last week Tait Farm’s Community Harvest won the Quality of Life Award at the CBICC Awards Gala. The award recognizes an individual or organization whose activities enhance the quality of life in Centre County. Tait Farm took home the award for its popular CSA and the relationship it fosters between the farmer and the consumer. Community Harvest provides a weekly supply of fresh, healthy, organic produce to subscribers and is committed to strengthening regional food systems.

Listen to an audio story recorded at Tait Farm last November, and view photos of the fresh produce available during that time of year.

And congratulations to Tait Farm!

Continue Reading: Congratulations to Tait Farm

Tags: farm | award |

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 |

Steven Raichlen Grills in the State College Snow

Grill master Steven Raichlen left behind sunny Miami on Saturday for cold, windy, snowy State College. But he made the trip for a very worthy cause. The star of PBS’s Primal Grill and Barbecue University hosted WPSU’s 19th annual Connoisseur’s Dinner and Auction.

Continue Reading: Steven Raichlen Grills in the State College Snow

Tags: events | grilling |

Forks Over Knives

Last week, Forks Over Knives premiered to a sold-out crowd at the State Theatre in State College. Listen to what your community had to say about the film’s claim that eating the right food can control or even reverse diseases like cancer and diabetes.

Continue Reading: Forks Over Knives

Tags: film | health | event |

The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 3)

Mary Miller of The Fork and The Road shares her final thoughts on the Pennsylvania Farm Show. If you missed the big event this year, mark your calendar for next year: January 7-14.

Continue Reading: The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 3)

Tags: events | farmshow |

The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 2)

Mary Miller of The Fork and The Road shares the second installment of her visit to the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Continue Reading: The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 2)

Tags: events | farmshow |

The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 1)

The 2011 Pennsylvania Farm Show concludes this Saturday after one full week of livestock contests, horticulture exhibits, wine tastings, country music, and culinary cook-offs. Mary Miller of The Fork and The Road reports from the annual event.

Continue Reading: The Pennsylvania Farm Show (part 1)

Tags: events | farmshow |

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 |

LIFeSTYLE Trattoria in Bedford

LIFeSTYLE is an Italian gem in Bedford County. It’s located just off Main Street, between the 1794 headquarters of George Washington and the medicinal mineral springs, now home to a luxurious spa and resort.

Continue Reading: LIFeSTYLE Trattoria in Bedford

Tags: restaurant |

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 |

Tree Tops Restaurant at Polymath Park in Acme

Polymath Park is nestled in the woods of the Laurel Highlands. Three Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired homes sit on 100 acres of tranquil forest, and down a narrow driveway barely visible behind tall trees, is Tree Tops.

Continue Reading: Tree Tops Restaurant at Polymath Park in Acme

Tags: restaurant |

Pumpkin and Gruyere Fondue

Turn the final pumpkins of the season into vessels for rich Gruyere fondue. This recipe comes form farmer and cook Steve Spanelli of Tait Farm.

Continue Reading: Pumpkin and Gruyere Fondue

Tags: recipe | fall | pumpkins |

Tait Farm in November

The days of fresh berries and sweet corn are long gone. Winter is right around the corner. So what is on the plate of a local foodie during this time of year? Emily Wiley visited Tait Farm in Centre Hall to find out.

Listen to audio and view a photo slideshow of November produce.

Continue Reading: Tait Farm in November

Tags: farm |

Cajun Cauliflower Hash

Fall vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, mustard greens, and cauliflower are here for just a few more weeks, so take advantage of them now!

Remember to thoroughly wash your market cauliflower before using it. Dissolve 1/4 cup salt in warm water and add cut cauliflower. Fill the rest of the bowl with cold water, and soak for 1/2 hour. Rinse thoroughly and several times, and then enjoy this tasty Cajun hash recipe from Tait Farm.

Continue Reading: Cajun Cauliflower Hash

Tags: recipe | fall | cauliflower |

Spiced Apple Cake

This cake is tart and moist with the sweet crunch of raw sugar baked into the top. And it’s perfectly acceptable to enjoy a slice for breakfast.

Continue Reading: Spiced Apple Cake

Tags: fall | recipe | apples |

Toast to Elton Tait

Support farmland preservation today with a toast in memory of one of its local patriarchs, Elton Tait. Visit Elk Creek Café + Aleworks in Millheim for a pint of Elton’s ESB. Fifty cents of each pint sale goes to the Centre County Farmland Trust. Cheers!

Continue Reading: Toast to Elton Tait

Tags: farm | beer |

Apple Harvest Quinoa

Have you cooked with quinoa? If not, you should. Yes, it’s packed with protein and essential amino acids, but it’s also light and fluffy and mildly nutty. It provides the perfect canvas for a variety of fall flavor combinations: honey and berries, chicken stock and leafy greens, carrots and tart apples, even vegetarian meatballs.

Continue Reading: Apple Harvest Quinoa

Tags: recipe | fall | apples | carrots | onions |

Autumn Salad

This salad recipe is easily adaptable to include your favorite fall fruits: apples, cranberries, grapes, pears, or pomegranates. Drizzle the warm, sweet dressing on top and garnish with blue cheese and pecans for a simple weeknight dinner.

Continue Reading: Autumn Salad

Tags: recipe | fall | grapes | pears | onions | lettuce |

Spaghetti Squash with Stewed Tomatoes

Squash is more than a front porch decoration placed alongside pumpkins and gourds. Acorn squash can be roasted with maple syrup and brown sugar; butternut squash can be baked with apples and Gorgonzola; and cooked spaghetti squash can be topped with stewed tomatoes and Parmesan cheese.

Continue Reading: Spaghetti Squash with Stewed Tomatoes

Tags: recipe | fall | squash |

Salmon with Tomato Chutney Sauce

Now that the local salmon fishermen (and women) have returned to central Pennsylvania from their summer fishing expeditions in Alaska, there is wild-caught, fresh-frozen salmon available at area farmers markets and natural food stores. Tait Farms offers this recipe for a simple and tasty dinner. The sauce is also excellent on meatballs, meatloaf, pork chops, and baked chicken.

Continue Reading: Salmon with Tomato Chutney Sauce

Tags: recipe | fall | fish |

Butternut Squash, Apple, Gorgonzola Gratin

Here’s a recipe to add to your autumn arsenal. It’s tart and tangy and pairs well with slow-cooked pork and sweet pumpkin ale.

Continue Reading: Butternut Squash, Apple, Gorgonzola Gratin

Tags: recipe | fall | apples | butternutsquash |

Pork and Apple Meatballs with Asian Plum Sauce

Thank you to Kim Tait from Tait Farms for sharing her recipe for pork and apple meatballs. They would make a nice addition to your tailgating table, or they can be served over noodles as a main course.

What is your favorite fall recipe? Share it here.

Continue Reading: Pork and Apple Meatballs with Asian Plum Sauce

Tags: recipe | fall | apples |

Where Young Chefs Train

The culinary arts program at Penn College in Williamsport offers a unique hands-on teaching environment for aspiring chefs. Students not only learn to slice, dice, and chop, they learn to be gracious hosts in Le Jeune Chef Restaurant. Join Emily Wiley in the kitchen and at the table for a gourmet meal prepared with local ingredients.

Listen to the audio story and view a slideshow of photos.

Continue Reading: Where Young Chefs Train

Tags: restaurant | audio |

A Local Event with Worldly Barbecue

Steven Raichlen has traveled and tasted his way along the world’s barbecue trail—from slow roasted brisket in Texas and whole roasted lamb in Argentina to ginger-turmeric prawns in Malaysia and kangaroo kebabs in Australia.

Raichlen is the foremost authority on grilling, and he’s bringing his love for live fire to WPSU’s 19th Annual Connoisseur’s Dinner on February 12, 2011. Guests will enjoy some of the world’s most authentic and flavorful recipes right off the grill while supporting their favorite public broadcasting station.

Continue Reading: A Local Event with Worldly Barbecue

Tags: grilling |

Cucumber Melon Salad

Labor Day may represent the unofficial end of summer, but farmers markets continue to carry sweet, juicy produce like melons and cucumbers through the end of the month.

Continue Reading: Cucumber Melon Salad

Tags: recipe | summer | cucumbers | melons |

Pesto Pizza

It seems like just yesterday that we planted our first garden of peppers, tomatoes, and herbs. But now, in late August, the tomato vines are browning and the basil leaves are wilting.

Before our backyard trees turn shades of auburn and gold, we celebrated the end of summer with pesto pizza.

Continue Reading: Pesto Pizza

Tags: summer | recipe | basil |

No-Knead Bread

We don’t buy grocery store cookies or cakes (with the exception of peanut butter pie from Wegmans), so why have we settled for bagged bread for so long?

Continue Reading: No-Knead Bread

Tags: recipe | bread |

Watermelon Granita

Before summer turns to fall, take advantage of late August melons with this easy granita recipe.

Continue Reading: Watermelon Granita

Tags: summer | recipe | watermelons |

Orzo with Roasted Eggplant and Cinnamon-Cumin Dressing

Since seeing Food, Inc. and reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma, I’ve become more conscious of the food I eat — especially the meat I eat.

Continue Reading: Orzo with Roasted Eggplant and Cinnamon-Cumin Dressing

Tags: summer | recipe | eggplant |

An Afternoon at Way Fruit Farm

Way Fruit Farm was one of 19 farms that participated in the5th Annual Central PA Farm Tour. Join Emily Wiley as she talks with sixth generation farmer, Brooks Way, and others who support local foods.

Listen to audio and view a slideshow of photos from an afternoon at Way Fruit Farm.

Continue Reading: An Afternoon at Way Fruit Farm

Tags: farm |

Corn Tomato Cilantro Salad

This quick and simple side dish makes use of two popular August ingredients: corn and tomatoes. Add spicy jalapeños and fragrant cilantro and serve alongside your favorite Mexican main course. 

Continue Reading: Corn Tomato Cilantro Salad

Tags: recipe | summer | corn | tomatoes | peppers | cilantro |

Farm Tour Fun

I met these three kiddos on Saturday at Way Fruit Farm in Port Matilda. They were there with dozens of other community members—of all ages—in support of our local food system.

Continue Reading: Farm Tour Fun

Tags: farm |

Central PA Local Foods Week

It’s time to celebrate the farms, markets, restaurants, and businesses that make up our local food system. Local Foods Week begins Sunday, August 1st.

Continue Reading: Central PA Local Foods Week

Tags: event |

Blueberry Peach Cobbler

Some people love summer for its long, leisurely days. I love it for its abundance of local fruit.

Continue Reading: Blueberry Peach Cobbler

Tags: recipe | summer | blueberries | peaches |

Heirloom Tomatoes

Tomatoes come in all colors, shapes, sizes, and flavors. But you may not know this if you’ve never looked beyond the supermarket display.

Continue Reading: Heirloom Tomatoes

Tags: tomatoes | basil |

Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and Almonds

Looking for a simple compliment to a summer cookout? Try chopped fresh broccoli, sweet cranberries, and crunchy toasted almonds tossed with a tangy buttermilk dressing.

Continue Reading: Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and Almonds

Tags: recipe | summer | fall | broccoli | cranberries |

Simple Saturday Morning Frittata

Don’t you love Saturday mornings? When mugs of coffee and magazines replace alarm clocks and commutes.

Continue Reading: Simple Saturday Morning Frittata

Tags: recipe | summer | breakfast | eggs | parsley | potatoes | peppers |

A Match Made in Heaven

Literature has Romeo and Juliet. History has Antony and Cleopatra. The food world has wine and cheese.

Continue Reading: A Match Made in Heaven

Tags: wine |

Slow Food on a Slow Boat

Planting and nurturing your own food can be hard work—especially from a canal boat.

Continue Reading: Slow Food on a Slow Boat

Tags: slowfood |

Slow Cooked Green Beans

Green beans are sold canned and frozen year round. But you can find cartons of fresh whole beans at your local market now through September.

Continue Reading: Slow Cooked Green Beans

Tags: recipe | summer | greenbeans | onions | tomatoes |

I Believe in Locally Grown Food

“Last night I ate a salad of radishes, field greens, and asparagus. The ingredients never sat in a grocery store. Less than two days ago they were still stuck in the ground. ”

Continue Reading: I Believe in Locally Grown Food

Tags: community |

Oriental Pork Stir Fry

Stir fry recipes are fun and easy to prepare and make good use of summer produce.

Continue Reading: Oriental Pork Stir Fry

Tags: recipe | summer | pork | peppers | garlic |

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Early this May we purchased a square raised container to plant peppers and tomatoes. We would much prefer to compost and till our own plot of land, but we live in a rental townhouse, and so our humble front porch garden will have to suffice this year.

Continue Reading: How Does Your Garden Grow?

Tags: garden | peppers |

Cow-A-Hen Farm in Mifflinburg

At Cow-A-Hen Farm in Mifflinburg, Bill Callahan believes animals were given legs for a reason.

Continue Reading: Cow-A-Hen Farm in Mifflinburg

Tags: meat | market | farm |

Strawberry Shortcake Cake

A traditional chocolate cake with fluffy white frosting is a fine dessert choice, but during the month of June, why not choose a seasonal strawberry shortcake cake?

Continue Reading: Strawberry Shortcake Cake

Tags: recipe | summer | strawberries | dessert |

Strawberry Spinach Salad

This simple summer salad combines tender spinach leaves and fresh sliced strawberries with a sweet dressing and crunchy sunflower seeds.

Continue Reading: Strawberry Spinach Salad

Tags: recipe | summer | strawberries | spinach |

Berries from Baronner’s Farm Market in Hollidaysburg

Strawberry season is a short one. Or perhaps it’s no shorter than blueberry season or blackberry season, but because the strawberry is my favorite fruit, its season just can’t be long enough.

Continue Reading: Berries from Baronner’s Farm Market in Hollidaysburg

Tags: market | strawberries |

Radishes and Cucumbers with Shallot Dressing

Root vegetables aren’t just consumed during cold weather. The radish is a root vegetable that is available in Pennsylvania during the months of May, June, July, and September. It is during these warm months that the crop is at its sweetest.

Continue Reading: Radishes and Cucumbers with Shallot Dressing

Tags: recipe | spring | radishes | cucumbers |

Orzo with Asparagus and Peas

Asparagus and peas are quintessential spring produce options in central Pennsylvania. Both are available at your local farmers market through June when corn and cucumbers will take their turns.

Continue Reading: Orzo with Asparagus and Peas

Tags: recipe | spring | asparagus | peas |

Braised Chicken with Spring Vegetables

Winters in central Pennsylvania can feel endless, especially those that bring several feet of snow. But fortunately we live in a state where temperatures and food choices change with the season.

And so we anxiously anticipate the first signs of spring: dogwood trees and flocks of robins and farmers markets.

Continue Reading: Braised Chicken with Spring Vegetables

Tags: recipe | spring | chicken | carrots | parsnips | radishes | potatoes | onions | peas | parsley | market |