Persephone Farm

Sustainably Grown Vegetables & Flowers – Indianola, Washington

summer squash

Intern Update: Squash, Farmers and Flowers!

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Yellow and green summer squash
Summer squash ready for our CSA subscribers

Summer squash means it must be summer, right? We were warned about “Juneuary” but “Januly” is a whole different story. Luckily today seems to be warming back up – this sun is definitely a sight for sore eyes. This week we welcomed some new and old faces to the farm! Previous years’ interns stopped by to help out around the farm, and two new interns have been added to the mix (welcome Kris and Gracie). Be sure to say hello if you see them!

If you stopped by the Bainbridge Island Farmers market on Saturday (or saw our Facebook page), you already know we set a new Persephone Farm record of sweet pea bunches – 63! Those and all the other flowers bursting into bloom have been keeping us plenty busy, and us interns are getting to learn more about the flowers and how to harvest them. The most exciting part to me, though, is getting to use them in bouquets! Our intern bouquet making school, taught by Rebecca, is always a highlight of our Wednesdays and Fridays, and we hope you all are loving the beautiful flowers! Here are some pictures of our flowers we harvested this morning, and some of the bouquets we’ve made so far

-Intern Taylor
(Persephone’s note – Brian and Brooklyn are our other awesome 2016 Interns.)

CSA subscriber bouquets at Persephone Farm in Indianola , WA
CSA subscriber bouquets waiting for pickup
Freshly harvested flowers ready for bouquet making lesson
Freshly harvested flowers ready for our bouquet making lesson

Arugula, Zucchini and Fennel Salad

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Source: La Tartine Gourmande (Check out the lovely photos of this elegant salad)

1 bulb fennel
1 medium-sized zucchini
1 cup fresh arugula
1 Tablespoon fresh dill
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
3 Tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper
1 Tablespoon pine nuts
1/4 cup fresh feta, crumbled

Instructions:

  • Wash the fennel and the zucchini.
  • Remove the hard part of the fennel (the core).
  • Slice both vegetables paper thin (use a good knife or a mandoline).
  • Chop the dill.
  • Toast the pine nuts (in a frying pan, with no oil, for about 3 to 4 mns, or until golden.)
  • Place the vegetables in a bowl.
  • Mix together the lemon juice and oil.
  • Toss with the vegetables and season with salt and pepper.
  • Cover with a plastic film, and place in the fridge for 1 hour.
  • Wash the arugula and dry it.

First Presentation:

  • Take individual serving plates.
  • Take a ring mold and use long strips of zucchini to line the inside of the mold.
  • Mix together the fennel, zucchini and the arugula.
  • Divide the greens between the plates, by placing them in the middle of the mold.
  • Remove the mold carefully.
  • Decorate with crumbled feta, pine nuts and more dill.

Second presentation:
Much simpler as you will toss all of the ingredients together and divide them between plates.

Zucchine a Fiammifero (Matchstick Zucchini Salad)

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Source: Carol Field Italy in Small Bites

8 small fresh zucchini, or 1-2 large ones
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons finely minced fresh rosemary
1 1/2 tablespoons finely minced fresh sage leaves
1 tablespoon lemon juice or red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

  1. Bring a deep pot of water to a boil. Set the zucchini in a steamer basket, place it over the pot, cover, and steam for a very few minutes, so that the zucchini are cooked but still slightly crisp and al dente. Remove, and allow to cool.
  2. Warm the 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small sauté pan over very low heat, and add the garlic; let it sweat so that the flavor of garlic infuses the oil. Add the minced rosemary and sage and let them wilt in the oil for a minute or two.
  3. Cut the cooled zucchini into strips the size of kitchen matches, and place them in a salad bowl. Whisk together the lemon juice or vinegar, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt, pepper, and the garlic-infused oil with the herbs. Toss carefully with the zucchini because it is very fragile. Serve at room temperature.

Zucchini Salad with Red Onion

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Simple and delicious!

Source: Martha Stewart

1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1/2 small red onion, very thinly sliced
4 small zucchini (about 1 1/2 pounds total)

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar and oil; season with salt and pepper. Stir in onion, and let stand 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, using a vegetable peeler, slice zucchini into paper-thin ribbons, avoiding seeds. Add to bowl with dressing, season with salt and pepper; toss to combine.

Zucchini “Spaghetti” with Creamy Lemon-Chive Dressing

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Source: Patricia Wells, Vegetable Harvest

1 pound small zucchini, rinsed, dried, and trimmed at both ends
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 cup Creamy Lemon-Chive Dressing
Fleur de sel

Instructions:

  1. Using the julienne blade of a mandoline, slice zucchini into long, thin strips. Transfer zucchini to a colander set over a mixing bowl. Toss zucchini with salt. Let stand 15 minutes at room temperature.
  2. Gently squeeze zucchini to extract excess water. Transfer to a bowl and toss with just enough dressing to evenly coat the zucchini. Season with fleur de sel and serve.
Creamy Lemon-Chive Dressing

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Fine sea salt
1 cup light cream
1/3 cup freshly minced chives

Instructions:

In a small jar, combine lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover and shake until salt is dissolved. Add cream and chives; shake to blend. Season with salt. Store, covered and refrigerated, up to 1 week.  Shake to blend before using.