It's been another hot week! This summer, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) says the regions northeast of Toronto and south of Ottawa have reached levels of drought only expected at this time of year once every two decades (source). A touch of rain yesterday morning and today has helped a little bit, though.
Nevertheless, your favourite vegetables are coming into season and those flavours you associate with the taste of summer are just around the 'corn'er!
We’re looking forward to the end of next week when the first corn should be ready. I spent some time yesterday walking through the rows of tomatoes, where I spotted many large tomatoes that are just about ready for picking. They’re looking good, and I was told by Farmer Forsythe that around Aug. 1 (only two weeks away!) they should be ready for harvest.
For those berry lovers that want a sweet snack or dessert, raspberries and blackcurrants are still going strong and looking tasty!
Forsythe Family Farms 2009 Inc. also has green and yellow currently being harvested. If you'd like to get out and enjoy the quiet of the countryside, Pick-Your-Own is available. You can check times and availability for PYO here: http://forsythefamilyfarms.com/pick-your-own/
Compared to dry beans, green and wax beans provide less starch and protein and more vitamin A and vitamin C. Green beans are often steamed, boiled, stir-fried, or baked in casseroles. A dish that's especially popular around Thanksgiving is a green bean casserole made with green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and French fried onions.
I looked around for some interesting ways to use beans and found these two recipes which sound delicious:
- Green Bean Salad With Basil, Balsamic, and Parmesan
- Radish and Wax Bean Salad with Crème Fraîche Dressing
Do you have any recommendations or recipes for creative ways to use beans? Let us know in the comment section below.