Wednesday, June 20, 2012

June 21st Dreamfarm News

Pick-Up Date: Thursday, June 21
Sites: Research Park, Just Coffee, Baldwin, Baldwin EOW, Mt. Horeb, Orchard Ridge, Seminole, Crestwood, Hampshire, Shorewood, Mason, West Lawn, Farm
Cheese of the Week: Fresh Cheese - PLAIN
Important Notes: Just a reminder! Please return your clean jars and lids when you're done. Bonus points if you peel the Dreamfarm sticker off the lid too. Thank you!

Back in the Swing of Things
Your cheese CSA has been in action for a few weeks now, but we're just getting back to a weekly newsletter to accompany your share. As usual, the farm is a bustle of activity which keeps everyone busy. Most notably, this year the farm decided to keep the majority of the kids (baby goats) that arrived in the spring. This means more time feeding and caring for all these adorable little troublemakers who are roving the pastures and getting their small heads and horns stuck in fences (ok, just one little troublemaker). There is nothing to make you feel as special as a swarm of adolescent goats running toward you and making noise from all parts of the pasture come feed time. This year is an experiment in raising these young goats for meat, and we'll let you know how it goes now that there are almost 70 goats enjoying life on the farm!



We're again raising pigs this year. They started as six adorable young ones, a cross of a variety of heritage breeds. They are spending this season in the very lush and shady wooded pasture that the bucks lived in last year. They happily gulp their whey, left over from the cheesemaking, and root around for delicacies in the pasture. Three new calves joined the farm too, and they just moved out to the big wooded pasture with the older steers and the bucks to graze and make whatever kind of trouble they can get into. The Jacob sheep graze the large pasture with the younger goats and seem, as always, content.

And, of course, there are the milking does. This year there are 27 girls on the line, including two Nigerian Dwarf goats that joined the farm last fall. Their milk is touted as being exceptionally rich and creamy. They are much, much smaller than the other goats, and they are talkative too! They are so much smaller that Rebecca and Story (the two Nigerians) have taken to lounging in the hay manger while eating, with the other goats and sheep standing around them and eating. All the girls spend their days at pasture, and we are always so grateful for the milk they give for cheese.


That's the latest from the farm. Thanks for joining us as a CSA member this year, we're so glad to have you! If you're a Facebook kind of person, you can join our page by clicking here. We're posting semi-regular picture from the farm, updates of what you'll see at the Saturday Farmer's Market, recipes and more.

And here's one last snippet of Dreamfarm life to help you through the end of your week. There is a renegade gang of chickens who hang around the barn all day with the cats and dog, and here is a short video of their, um, pursuits! Looks like everyone here is good at sharing. Enjoy.


Monday, June 18, 2012

Recipe: Warm Potato & Goat Cheese Salad

Enough said! The perfect picnic dish for this wonderful outdoor weather.
Enjoy!

Warm Potato & Goat Cheese Salad
2 1/2 pounds cubed, peeled Yukon gold potatoes
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped, fresh flat lead parsley
1 cup Dreamfarm fresh goat cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic

Place potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until tender; drain. Combine warm potatoes, wine, salt and pepper in a large bowl; toss gently. Add onion and parsley. Combine goat cheese and remaining ingredients, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Add cheese mixture to potato mixture; toss gently to coat.