We have been having a beautiful start to September on the farm with warm, sunny days, cool nights and some all-day rains in between. This weather helps that fall crops that are still maturing, so that they will be ready for Thanksgiving! On the topic of beautiful, our celery is BIG and beautiful! Be sure to try some in your share - once we get our first frost the celery will be done. Locally grown celery that hasn't been blanched has a lovely rich celery flavour that makes epic soups and stews. I also freeze many of the leaves from the top of the bunches and then throw a handful in the pot when I am making stock or soup all winter long.
Also, we have some pints of delicious crab apples from our trees. These crab apples are quite tasty and perfect for fresh eating. With their small size they are great for putting in kids' lunch boxes! Or, you can use to make crab apple jelly. Since these ones are so sweet, you will probably need to reduce the sugar :)
Finally, there is also a surplus of slicing tomatoes! Grab a few extra for throwing in the freezer. I simply core, slice in half, and freeze in ziploc bags. During the winter I throw a bag's worth of tomatoes into the pot with some italian seasoning, onion, garlic, red wine vinegar, maple syrup, 1 can of tomato paste, and salt. Let it simmer for 30 minutes uncovered, blend and you have a quick, flavourful pasta sauce (perfect over spaghetti squash). We have more spaghetti squash this week and then some other varieties will be available the following week.
