abounding happiness;

FYI: Healthy (and helpful) Hints from a Farmer.

Cushaw pumpkins: Once picked off the vine, these bad boys can last up to 8-9 months! Not only are they hearty little (and big) things, but they taste delicious in just about anything! Stick them in soups, stir-fry, baked goods (vegan pumpkin cookies, YUM!) granola, and even burritos! Scoop the seeds out and save them for replanting or for roasting. (Helpful hint for farmers: animals won’t touch them!! Deer and raccoon repellent, but the bugs might give you an issue.)
Herbs (basil, rosemary, oregano, ect.) and Dried Items: If you haven’t discovered herbs yet, you are seriously lacking, my friend. There is nothing like a homemade basil pesto/artichoke heart/dried tomatoes pizza for lunch before a farmer’s market. Tonight I made homemade Italian bread sticks using a butter, light olive oil, rosemary (!!) and garlic season spread on sliced bread. YUM!
Pesto: Super easy and super yummy. The great thing about pesto is that you can be creative! Kale pesto, walnut pesto, cilantro + hot peppers pesto, and many more! Call me old fashioned, but I like basil pesto the best. :)
Diakon Radishes + regular ole’ Radishes: Legit, these diakon radishes can be used for A N Y T H I N G. Yummy stir-fried, in salad, roasted, in soups, in burritos and fajitas, and many more. The great thing about Diakons is that they take up the flavor they are in.
Radishes are wonderful and sometimes hot, but want to know a secret? Cube them, stick them in a casserole pan with a little bit of olive oil and sea salt, turn the oven on at 350F for 15-20 minutes, and BAM! Tiny, SWEET, little red potatoes come out. No jokes, the suckers become absolutely delish!
Beet Tops: Stick them in a salad and it will change your life.
Lavender Flower: Add them to your sugar cookies recipe and it will change your life. I know, I sell lavender cookies for gas money.
Eggplant: Make an eggplant spice cake! My buddy Theresa made eggplant spice cake (vegan of course) one time, and it was the beST THING I HAVE EVER TASTED! And FYI, I hate eggplant.

And that’s all for now, folks!
Stay healthy + happy!
-Rachel