February 6th 2017, Veggie Box News

Box Contents

3 Baby Batavian Lettuce Heads

2 lbs Blue Heron Oranges

1 lb Cauliflower

1 lb Purple Daikon Radish

1 bu Chioggia Beets

1 bu Red Russian Kale

1 bu Red Mustard

1 Rugosa Squash

Box Notes:

This week’s Rugosa squash is a Southern Italian Heirloom, the Violina di Rugosa squash is traditionally baked to enhance the natural sweetness of the squash. This type of squash has a rough outer skin but its flesh is a sweet, dark orange.  We’ve included some extra weight on each squash (only valued them at 3 lbs) to account for any soft necks that you may opt to remove. Here are some how-to-eat tips from http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Violina_Di_Rugosa_Butternut_Squash_8691.php: As with most squash varieties, the Violina di Rugosa can be prepared several ways. It can be halved, seeds removed and roasted as is. It can be peeled and sliced along the neck into rounds which can be roasted, steamed, grilled or baked. The cooked and pureed flesh of the Violina di Rugosa butternut is ideal for desserts such as pies, puddings, and cakes. Pureed flesh can also be used to make soup or as a stuffing for ravioli and empanadas. Add roasted, cubed squash to rice or other vegetable dishes. Its flavor pairs well with apple, spinach, radicchio, sage, parsley, walnuts, pecans, butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, cream, and gorgonzola cheese. Violina di Rugosa stores well and can last uncut for several months when stored in a cool dry place.

New Pastured Pork Sausage Varieties: Bacon Sausage (smaller links, 5-6 per package), Andouille Sausage (2 big links per pacakge), and Country Sausage (smaller links, 5-6 per package) $100 for a 10 lb case. These fresh sausages (not pre-cooked) are made at Roundman’s Smokehouse with our pastured pork.

This week’s box includes navel oranges grown by our friends at Blue Heron Farm in Rumsey. We will include them in the veggie boxes for most of the winter deliveries. Their CCOF certified oranges are juicy and delicious. When squeezed, they make very refreshing orange juice.

Cases of organic oranges are available for order: $36 / 20lb case. Please place your order for oranges by the Monday before your delivery day by contacting csa@riverdogfarm.com.

Save the date: Sunday February 26, 2017 102nd Annual Capay Valley Almond Festival, an all day event featuring food and music in the small towns along the 21 mile stretch from Madison to Rumsey in the Capay Valley. Wood-fired pizza and pulled pork sandwiches featuring Riverdog Farm pastured pork will be served in Rumsey. For more information visit: capayvalleyalmondfestival.org.

Pork Bone Broth: New in 2017!!

$10 for 32 oz.

We are pleased to offer our pork bone broth made from Riverdog Farm pastured pork bones and our certified organic carrots. Roliroti in Oakland makes the broth for us in their USDA certified kitchen. They roast the bones and carrots then cook them in water and strain the liquid broth into the 32-ounce jugs. We deliver the broth frozen to your delivery site.

Whole Chickens and Pastured Pork: Bacon, Sausage, Ham, and Pork Cuts available year round.

Please contact the farm at csa@riverdogfarm.com for pricing and to place your order. The meat orders are delivered to CSA sites frozen in a strapped cooler. The farm retrieves the empty coolers from the CSA site the week after delivery. Please take your meat order out of the cooler the day of delivery or return the cooler the following week to the CSA delivery site.

Riverdog Farm hogs and chickens are certified organic animals raised on diets of certified organic corn/soy/triticale, produce culls, alfalfa, rye grass, clover, Three Twins Ice Cream overruns, and whey from Cowgirl Creamery. The meat is not labeled organic because the processing facilities are not yet certified organic. We are working with our processors to have the facilities become certified organic so that we can label the packaged meat as certified organic.