October 2017 Archives

Happy Healthy Halloween Treats

Justin Kouri
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Charred Long Beans

Recipe & Photo by Justin Kouri

These long beans look like witch's fingers. But if you can't get your hangs on long beans, green beans work just as well. Have a fun and healthy Halloween!

Ingredients

1 pound long beans, trimmed & halved

5 cloves garlic, smashed

2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons grape seed oil

½ cup yogurt

2 tablespoons sirracha

1 teaspoon ginger, peeled & grated

1 lime, juiced

Procedure

  1. Preheat oven to 500F.

  2. In a large mixing bowl, combine long beans, garlic, soy sauce and grape seed oil.

  3. Toss to evenly coat. Transfer to a parchment paper lined sheet tray.

  4. Roast for 15-20, or until bean become darken and shrivel.

  5. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

  6. Meanwhile, combine yogurt, sirracha, ginger and lime juice in a small mixing bowl.

  7. Gently stir the ingredients.

  8. Serve along side the long beans. Enjoy!

Kale Chips

Justin Kouri
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Kale Chips

Photo & Recipe by Justin Kouri

Yields: About 4 cups

Ingredients

1 bunch kale, destemmed and torn into 1-2" pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 lemon, zested

Procedure

  1. Preheat oven to 350F.

  2. Place kale in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to evenly coat.

  3. Transfer kale to a parchment paper lined sheet tray.

  4. Season kale with salt and pepper.

  5. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

  6. Remove kale chips from the oven. Zest lemon over kale chips immediately.

  7. Enjoy!

John Niscavits is October's Volunteer of the Month

Volunteer Ambassador
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John N.jpgCongratulations to John Niscavits, our October volunteer of the month. Hope Farms has benefited greatly from John's dedication to farm work assisting with production and post-hurricane restoration. With a personal interest in organic gardening and achieving partial self sustainment by supplementing with home grown produce, John sought out a hands-on experience in urban agriculture. "Recipe For Success' investment into Hope Farms has given me opportunities to enrich my understanding of growing food organically, as well as how to grow more efficiently," he says, adding that he and a fellow friend and neighbor would like to introduce these methods into their Hobby District community. John laughs about his ambitions and comments that his growing enthusiasm for urban farming evokes the desire to till up his front yard and plant rows of corn, joking, "Maybe one day we can write that into our deed restrictions."

When casting aside visions of corn rows, John works as a full-time nurse in neurotrauma intensive care and serves at Neartown Church, playing music and leading Bible studies. He also plays and records music with a close friend and Houston area producer and often collaborates with his wife, a songwriter as well. His family enjoys being outdoors, hiking, camping, and fishing in their free time.

John continues to volunteer at Hope Farms because of the relationships he's built with the Recipe for Success staff, apprentices, and fellow volunteers. Through meaningful conversations and gratifying work, John always learns something new, "whether it's about farming, gardening, or life in general." One of his favorite memories while volunteering was created when he and an intern built the greenhouse doors. It wasn't the construction of the doors that excited John, but the knowledge that he was contributing to a structure that would house all of the farm's seedlings and understanding these seedlings would eventually turn into an abundant harvest.

Chief Agricultural Officer, Justin Myers, along with the rest of the Recipe for Success team, is grateful for John's contribution to the farm through the scorching summer months to our first fall planting. Justin adds, "John's kind nature, authenticity, and positive energy has been a welcome and valuable presence to the farm's growth and success." Thank you, John, for your support of Hope Farms!

Lunchbox Side

Justin Kouri
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Pool Side Veggie Dip

Recipe & Photo by Justin Kouri

Yield: 2 cups

Ingredient

2 cups summer greens (spinach, tetragonia and/or amaranth)

2 lemons, juiced

1 clove garlic

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

Procedure

  1. Combine greens, lemon juice, garlic, salt and red pepper flakes in a food processor.

  2. Pulse until greens are finely chopped, about 30 seconds. Be sure to periodically scrape down the sides.

  3. Add cream cheese to the processor with the greens and continue to pulse for another minute.

  4. Transfer to a bowl and serve with crudity, pita bread or tortilla chips. Enjoy!

*Note: Can be made ahead and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Order Your Farm Share

Recipe for Success
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Farm Shares 2017-18.jpgWe are excited to now offer farm share deliveries inside the loop for a nominal weekly charge. And to announce our new Farm-to-Office promotion which means free delivery to any location for 6 or more subscribers. So, get your colleagues or neighbors together and order up!