Fresh and Local Produce August 3rd - 9th!

All-Blue & Fingerling Potatoes from Keewaydin Organics/Viola – All-blue potatoes are best for frying & roasting because of their waxy texture & beautiful color (boiling leaches a lot of their color out – not so pretty).  Fingerlings are divine roasted, boiled or steamed – they have rich flavor & hold their shape yet have a nice flaky texture.  Always store potatoes in a dark, cool place, preferably in a cloth or paper bag rather than plastic.  If you store them in the fridge, bring them slowly up to room temperature before cooking.

Anaheim, Jalepeno & Green Bell Peppers from Scenic Valley Farms/Readstown – Anaheims have a little bit of heat & a whole lot of flavor.  Great for roasting: place whole peppers on a hot grill, broiler, or open flame on stove until skin is blackened.  Place in a bowl & cover with plastic wrap for about 10 minutes to loosen the skins.  Remove skins under running water, cut out stem & seeds, & eat or freeze.  Delicious added to eggs, cream cheese, dips, salsa, sauces, etc.  Jalapenos have a bit more heat than anaheims, but be forewarned the heat can vary tremendously from pepper to pepper. Best to wear gloves when working with them, just in case.  Great for spicing up fresh salsa, dressings, stir-fries, curries, fajitas.  Green bells have no heat to them, making them easy to add nice color & pepper flavor to pizzas, nachos, stir-fries, eggs, pasta, etc.  All peppers can be stored on the counter for a couple days or the fridge for a couple more.  They can be chopped up & frozen raw or roasted.

Shiitake Mushrooms from Scenic Valley/Viroqua – Yum!  Fresh local shiitakes are just so much nicer than ones coming from across the country.  Their rich, slightly smoky flavor & meaty texture can enhance anything you add them to, from soups to stir-fries, sauces to pizza.   The have been used in traditional Asian medicine for thousands of years, and are high in B vitamins, minerals, & lots of antioxidant compounds.  They are used as an immune system & cardiovascular system booster.  Store in a paper bag or plastic in the fridge.  You can also dry them for later rehydration & use.