Time to Sign Up for Your Local CSA

  It is time to sign up for your local CSA! Local farms offer a program known as CSA or Community Suppoted Agriculture. When you sign up with your local farm, you receive 20-26 weeks worth of farm fresh fruits and vegetables for an annual fee. The fees can range in price, most falling between $500-1500 per season. Sound like too much? Get together with a friend or another family and split the cost and produce each week!
   Many of the farms offer organics as well as add-on products such as artisanal breads,eggs,meat or fish. If you are lucky ,your farm may deliver right to your door, otherwise they arrange a local pick-up spot each week.
  This is a great way to ensure you and your family are eating healthy,fresh produce while supporting local farmers. The cost helps pay for seeds,fertilizer,equipment and staff. Still too expensive? Don't worry! Many local farms set up weekly farmer's markets in different towns so families are able to purchase what they need within their price range.

Whichever method works best for you and your budget, be sure to check out your neighborhood's local farmer's market. The quality,variety and taste speak for themselves. There is nothing quite like fresh food coming to you directly from a farm, picked earlier that morning and on your plate that day.

Below is a list of CSA programs available throughout Long Island. Visit their websites and see what works best for you! Enjoy the bounty!

www.rusticroots.com (delivers to your home)
www.naturalearthfarmsny.com
www.goldenearthworm.com
www.gardenofeve.com
www.sangleefarms.com
www.amberwavesfarm.com

Another option for weekly orders and pick up(pay as you order) www.ourharvest.com

Vanilla Honey Corn Muffins

One of the many things I love to buy at the local farmer's market is fresh honey. Not the little bear from the supermarket,but the real deal. It may be a bit pricey,but the taste and health benefits cannot be beat. If possible, use the best honey you can find for this recipe,it makes a difference! I love these straight from the oven ,sliced in half, with a touch of butter melting inside. Simple and delicious. Wrap and freeze any leftovers for a quick grab and go breakfast.

Ingredients:
1 c. cornmeal
1 c. all purpose flour
1/2c. sugar
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
2 eggs
1/2 stick of unsalted butter,melted and cooled
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. honey


- Mix all dry ingredients  in a mixing bowl. Add the butter, then the remaining ingredients,mixing well until everything just comes together.
-Fill muffin cups approximately 2/3 full . Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 10-12 minutes or until golden brown on top and tops spring back when touched.

Makes approximately 12-15 muffins

Spring is in the Air!

It has been another busy week in the kitchen!  I 've made many platters for parties and Holy Communions,as well as party favors for different events. I wanted to share a few of them with you!
   The Sesame Street platter above was a lot of fun to make. This one was for a special little boy's second birthday!

  I also had two Communion celebrations!

 

Of course, not a week goes by without birthdays. Here are a few cookie favors , emojis and basketballs.

 

One of my favorites from this week has to be the garden-themed cookies I made for a local fundraiser. The village I live in is starting a sustainability program to beautify the neighborhood! I found great inspiration online and decided to make my version of seed packets , as well as flowers and chickens! Love these!

 

Communions and garden-themed cookies mean spring is here,even if the weather says otherwise. It will be warming up this week,which means I will be back in the garden.I will be sharing some of my new plants with you soon,as well as some of my progress in the garden. Now I am moving on to another platter.Can't wait to share it with you next time! 

Have a sweet day!