My very dog-eared copy of The Classic Italian Cookbook by Marcella Hazan has the following inscription: “Many happy hours in the kitchen, with love, Mom, Christmas 1986.” I was 21 years old when my …
Sweet and Spicy Raw Kale Slaw
INGREDIENTS 1 bunch kale, well washed, thick stems removed 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 apple, cored and halved lengthwise 1 pear, cored and halved lengthwise Peanut Dressing 3 …
Chicken with Apples, Potatoes & Escarole
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop INGREDIENTS 3/4 lb potatoes, cut in to 1 inch cubes 4 boneless chicken breasts with skin (I also use pork chops in this recipe) Salt and pepper to …
Caramelized Pears and Onions
Recipe adapted from marthastewart.com INGREDIENTS 2 pears (ripe but still firm), cored and quartered 2 red onions, each cut into 6 wedges 1 tablespoon olive oil Salt and pepper to …
Raw Carrot Onion Salad
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop INGREDIENTS 3 carrots, grated 1/2 small onion, diced 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest, grated (optional) 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice …
A Look Back At August On Riverdog Farm
Image by Riverdog Farm, Guinda CA Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop 8/27/13 The first sign of the changing seasons in our region is cooler nighttime temperatures. Last week we had nighttime …
Russeting on Apples & Pears
Q: Why do some of my apples have brown patches on the top? Are they still good to eat? What about the spots on pears? A: It is known as russeting. Russeting is a brownish, corky or netlike texture …
Eggplant and Leek Stir-Fry
Recipe adapted from SparkRecipes INGREDIENTS 2 medium eggplants, peeled, and cut into cubes 1 cup onion, roughly chopped 1 large leek, white and pale green parts only, rinsed well and …
Apple Farmers Benefit from Grav Box
Every September, when apple season is just hitting its zenith in most of the country, the harvest is already fading in Sonoma County, CA. This area of California is where the Gravenstein Apple reigns …
Tales of Tomato Season
As I drive around the valley, everywhere I look, tomato plants are quickly growing larger. Watching them grow is torture because tomatoes have been on my mind since they went out of season early last …
50 Ways to Use Tomatoes
When the Tomato Harvest is Too Much, Get Creative When every garden in town is exploding with tomatoes, and even the Topsy Turvy tomato grower on your patio is producing Sweet 100s faster than you …
Roasted Poblano Peppers
INGREDIENTS 2–3 poblano peppers (see Cook’s note) 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 1–2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil ¼ cup fresh cheese (queso fresco or crumbled feta) ¼ cup parsley, …
Ten Tasty Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About the Peach
Peaches have been on my mind lately. They are my favorite fruit, and they grow bountifully and beautifully in the Capay Valley. Many of our farms here cultivate more than one variety, and I feel …
Crunchy Gold Apple Pear
Love the satisfying crunch of an apple and the sweet juicy flesh of a pear? Then you’re going to fall head over heels for the unique Crunchy Gold apple-pear from California’s family-run Kingsburg …
A Look Back At July On Riverdog Farn
Courtesy of Capay Valley Farm Shop July 29, 2013 As crazy as it sounds, this week we’ll be transplanting the final round of watermelons (August 1st melon planting?!). This round was part of a larger …
The FruitGuys featured in the New York Times
The FruitGuys Gravenstein Apple Box was featured in the New York Times Dining & Wine Section on August 8, 2013. Gravensteins: They Make a Dessert That Much Sweeter …
Red Currant Salad
Recipe by Rebecca Dienner for The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS ½ cup currants, de-stemmed 2–3 cups cooked grains of choice (brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, etc.) 4 cups kale, roughly chopped into …
Roasted Tomatillo Salsa
Recipe by Rebecca Dienner for The FuitGuys INGREDIENTS 1 ½ cups whole tomatillos (about 6 medium-sized tomatillos), husked and washed well 1–3 hot peppers, depending on heat preference (such …
Fresh Tomato Penne
Recipe by Rebecca Dienner for The FruitGuys INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups tomatoes, diced (regular, roma, or cherry) 2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano, minced 1 …
Save The Gravenstein
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” —Martin Luther (1483–1546, a German monk and church reformer) In a world awash with Red Delicious …
