Paleo Fried Green Tomatoes!

Fried Green Tomatoes are one of my favorite summer treats! My garden is FULL of different heirloom tomatoes so I'm picking some early for this kickin' side dish. Try it next to a Grass fed Sirloin Steak or along side some of our Jalapeno Brats. YUM!
Ingredients:
4 large green tomatoes
1c almond flour
2 eggs
Real Salt(tm) and pepperr to taste
Coconut oil for frying (or bacon drippings if you have them!)
prep
heat oil to 350 in a heavy bottom frying pan (cast iron is best but use what you have)
While the oil is heating:
slice tomatoes about 1/4" thick
dip in beaten egg
coat with almond flour
fry for about 1min per side until coating is crispy
drain add salt and pepper to taste.
top with home made mayo or guacamole and chow down!

Matambre Recipe Rolled and stuffed Flank or Round Steak

Ever wondered what to do with Grass Fed and Finished Flank Steak Or Round Steak? Here is one of my favorites from South America.
Prep time 20 min.
total time 2hrs or all day in a slow cooker.
Ingredients:
1 1/2lb Flank or Round Steak
Juice of 1 lime
2tablespoons Purslane or fresh herb of choice.
1 teaspoon Real Salt(tm)
fresh ground black pepper to taste.
2 cloves garlic  (minced)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes(optional, I use 1 fresh Serrano Pepper)
1 cup fresh spinach leaves
1/2 cup Parmesan or Aged Goat Cheese(Optional, sheep and goat cheese are allowed on Paleo Plans)
2 carrots
1/2 green bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
1/2 cup large pitted green olives (optional)
3 Hard Boiled eggs
2 cups red wine or beef broth
PREP:
Place steak on a cutting board and butterfly. WITH THE GRAIN OF THE MEAT
squeeze lime juice over steak and sprinkle salt , pepper, red pepper flakes, herbs and minced garlic on steak. Pound until flattened and an even thickness.
lay spinach leaves over the meat leaving a 1-2"border uncovered on the long side of the meat.
Sprinkle cheese over spinach(if desired)
Peel carrots and slice into quarters lengthwise lay them on top of the spinach lengthwise in the same direction as the fibres of the meat. cut the peppers into strips and lay on top of the spinach.
Cut eggs into quarters and distribute over the spinach, add olives(optional)
carefully roll up the steak with the vegetables inside long side to long side. Secure with picks or tie with kitchen twine.
Season outside with salt and pepper.
Brown roll on all sides in a stockpot, add 2 cups red wine and or beef broth to cover the meat. Simmer gently until fork tender. Drain and cool then slice crosswise into slices and serve.
serves 4-6

First Day of Summer, how safe is YOUR WATER?

Man! Summer is here with a vengeance! It's supposed to be over 100 for the next few days so we're getting the misters up in a hurry! The poultry runs need them and some extensions need to go up for the sheep, goats and horses here at the home place. Shades went up last week and everyone seems to be handling the heat ok. If the temperature varies slowly the can adjust, but when it's 70 one day and 100+ two days later you're asking for problems. I can tell already that this season is going to be a HOT one. The BC's are already diving for the water tank by 10a.m. There really is something endearing about black and white heads sticking out of a tank while you are sweating like crazy. The cattle have plenty of shade and a nice creek to cool off in so no worries there. We're watering at night to save energy and water but the sheep pasture is already showing signs of an early dry out. More sweat hoses are the answer, I hope!
We are lucky to have deep well water here and it tested 85 out of 100 this year which is FANTASTIC when you compare it to our city water which scores 50 out of 100. Some areas have an even worse water supply  than that with things like Cryptospiridium and elevated fluoride levels. Some city water supplies even have warnings that the elderly, children and people with supressed immune systems shouldn't drink the water. YIKES! 30 years ago we never would have thought to ask about water quality. Now it is as important as what we are feeding, if not more so. If there is excessive arsenic or Fluoride in the water supply for example, the plants carry some level of it, the animals that eat the plants and drink the water are carrying some of it, and the consumer that eats the plants and the animals are getting some pretty high levels of it. Check your water supply and see how good or bad it really is. Ask your farmer where their water comes from. If it is municipal water, look up the data. If it is a well ask when it was tested and if there was an EPA rating given. Agricultural Wells have to be tested every 3 years so your farmer should know their water quality and be taking the appropriate measures to ensure that it is safe.

Challenge Prep Update

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been crazy busy. We've got the new CSA options lined out and they should be up on the site by the first of the week. Saturdays are pickup days and the fella's will be bringing selections of Certified Organic Fruits and Veggies that we don't have in the U-pick garden. I'm also getting ready for August!
The Challenge is going to be fun and a little tough. Breaking the habit of going out for coffee every morning is going to be my biggest challenge! This week I got dish soap, laundry soap, and dog food in bulk to carry me through. All you locals email me and I will ge you connected with the dog food company I use and we can save even more by buying in larger quantities. Lamb or chicken and rice formula no corn wheat or soy. I use the lamb and rice formula because BC's can have allergies.
 Remember that I'm going to be out of Country From the 25th to the 1st. J will be handling things during that time. BE GENTLE!
Lamb and Beef share pickup July 2.
I will be sending out the newsletter soon with links to some of our members sites. Recipes, Natural Healing, Gardening etc. What a great group we have and its still growing! Watch for the Summer Educational Series classes. We have some great speakers lined up and 3 can't miss workshops!
Green Feast tickets are available on The Ecology Center's website. http://www.theecologycenter.org/ Check out what Evan and his group are doing! Great stuff!
Until next time.
Meg

Wish I had Thought of That!

Thank you to whomever thought to put up signs on 79S! What a great idea! I've had several calls today and sold one of the steers that is not going to make it to the size we want for USDA Inspected Beef! What a time saver! Not to mention a great outlet for the steers that are on the smaller side. Thank you so much! It couldn't have come at a better time. We're going to follow your lead and put a banner up on the Semi Trailer so it can be seen from the 15 Freeway. Let me know whose idea it was, I have a thank you box for you! I love this kind of member support, it shows how much you value us and want to help us succeed. Pork pickup is Saturday and Serge will be here with some of his Organic Veggies. Billy is manning the smoker this weekend and I'm working on a bread person. See you then!
Meg

Preparing for the Challenge

Ok heres what I have done so far. Seventh Generation has a huge sale on TP and Paper towels so I got 2 cases of each. I also got a couple of gallons of vinegar as this makes a great cleaner! We drink a LOT of juice so while citrus is in season I got several bushels and juiced it, put it in freezer containers and froze it for use in August.(my orange juice is costing me about $4.00 a gallon vs store bought pasturized junk at $5.00 a quart). I zested all the peels as well and stored some in Olive oil and dried the rest. Each week I'm picking up some of the produce that is left at the end of the Farmers Market and dehydrating it for later use. Carrots, Beets, Onions, Garlic, Squash, even leafy greens dehydrate beautifully and can be added to recipes to boost the nutrition. Our Garden is growing well and we will be able to get all of our fresh vegetables from it and the 2 organic farms that are producing members. I'm making up some window/container gardens for members to help them get through the store free month. We're making Jerky this week just for fun and smoking hams and bacon. I'm dehydrating all of the trim for dog food too! You have to think of your pets during this time too, remember No Running to *** mart! Check out feed stores this month. Pet foods are usually less expensive and higher quality than what you can get in a store. You can even get Certified Organic grains in 50lb bags and grind your own flours! The saving on flour alone is HUGE! Oatmeal lovers-- 50lb of Certified Organic Rolled oats will run you about $15.00. Compare that to a pound of oatmeal and you'll quickly get the point.
until next time
Meg