At the beginning of the month, Eli and I ventured South to our CSA, Big Woods Farm, for their annual Midsummer Farm Festival. We had a wonderful time, visiting with our farmers and their family, as well as some of the other families that are members of the farm (even one other member family from the Twin Cities!).
As everyone gathered, we chatted and introduced ourselves, then began shucking corn for the potluck dinner. The corn from Big Woods is so delicious, even fresh-picked and raw. We found that out our first year at this festival, when David brought us out for a farm tour and had us eat ears of corn right in the fields. I had never known that you could eat corn raw! But it was amazing: so sweet and cool and crisp. Quite a fun new experience!
This corn, however, was destined to be cooked for dinner. And there was plenty of it!
David also cooked up some hot dogs over an open fire, and there was an amazing spread of dishes to choose from for the rest of our meal. From salads to coleslaws, lasagnas to New Orleans-style dirty rice.
It was so wonderful to see how many of the dishes were made with ingredients grown right where we were gathered, and by people who cared so deeply for the land and for local food.
And did I mention there were tons of freshly-picked cherry tomatoes?
And then there were desserts…
We brought my curried zucchini bread, there was a delightful fruit crisp and some tasty cookies. And there were s’more fixings for later.
But frankly, I was so full after eating my dinner that I didn’t have much room for dessert.
Sounds yummy and makes me want to join a CSA! What is New Orleans-style dirty rice?
Thanks, Tracy! It was all very yummy! And the CSA is wonderful, but we do get a *ton* of veggies. More than we know what to do with sometimes!
The cook who made the New Orleans-style rice described it as made with beef and traditional New Orleans seasoning (like the seasoning they use for gumbo). I don’t do that kind of cooking myself, and since I don’t eat beef I didn’t try it. But other people there said it was good.
It’s so nice that the CSA treats you like family. The corn looked sooo yummy.
Leora,
Such beautiful photographs. They make me nostalgic for summer already.
Laurie: Thank you so much! This summer was definitely worth being nostalgic for. Just wait ’til you see the pictures from the harvest festival!