I’ll keep this short because there is a lot of information to get through in this blog. Some of the most common questions I get asked while working for BlueMoon Farm at Urbana’s Market at the Square include “what is the difference between kale and chard?” Or, “which kale is better for __________ ?” Or […]
Illinois Specialty Crop
Specialty Crops for the Holidays!
The holiday season is upon us! Yes, Thanksgiving is in two days and yes, Christmas decorations have been in stores for over a month already. But don’t get too fed up with the holidays just yet because the holidays are really about food, friendship, and family. Food is what brings family and friends together, to […]
Sprouts Everywhere!
With Thanksgiving upon us and the last remnants of fall clinging desperately to ever barer trees, it is time for the heralded return of fresh Brussels sprouts. Now, many people avoid Brussels sprouts like the plague. Oftentimes this stems from some traumatic childhood experience that involved frozen sprouts that had been steamed to death and […]
Summer Squash: Beyond Zucchini
One of summer’s unsung heroes is the humble squash. Their delicate skins and flesh cannot be waxed, and so they tend to have a short shelf life, and except for zucchini have all but disappeared from grocery stores. All the more reason to get thee to a farmers market! A New World of Squash There […]
Sweet Potatoes (Aren’t Yams)
When I was younger, I disliked sweet potatoes for the same reason I disliked many carrot dishes…they were too sweet. I would say “I didn’t like sweet potatoes,” and huff around a bit. What I meant was that I didn’t like them prepared with brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or any additional sweetness. I just […]
The Great Zucchini
Let’s all take a minute to thank the Italians. They, as I understand, are the ones who brought zucchini to the United States. And without zucchini, how would we know that we had arrived at midsummer’s abundance? If your neighbors didn’t leave bags of the green squash on your porch, and you weren’t trying to […]
