September, 2009 - Volume 10, Issue 11



Your Fall Veg-ucation



--By Janice Thompson, NP owner
School has started and I thought it might be a good time for some “Veg-ucation.” Here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.
 
Q. What's the best way to keep basil?
A. Basil keeps best for us in a closed plastic bag kept at room temperature. Refrigeration is not recommended since the cold will quickly make the basil turn black.
 
Q. How can you pick out a ripe watermelon?
A. We try to pick all of our watermelons ripe. With our smaller melons we look at the tendril that grows nearest the stem. When the tendril dries out, it is a good sign that the melon is ripe. Thump on a picked melon and listen closely. A dull, dead sound means the melon is over-ripe. A nice, ringing tone (or rumble in larger melons) is a ripe melon. A higher tone is less ripe and a lower tone is more ripe. 

Q. How can you pick out a ripe cantaloupe?
A. Cantaloupes reach their full sweetness on the vine. As they ripen, the stem becomes loose and the cantaloupe “slips” from the vine. Our cantaloupes are picked at “full slip” and are ready to eat at that point. Waiting a few days will allow the fruit to soften, but the sugar content remains the same.

Q.  Do you have any watermelon radishes?
A.  Watermelon radishes will only grow in the fall when the days are getting shorter. The rest of the year they make seeds instead of radishes. Our watermelon radishes have been planted and will be ready to start harvesting in late October. We should have them all winter.
 
Q. Which onions are the sweetest? 
A. Our own sweet onions are available only in the summer and early fall. They do not keep well like other onions. These sweet onions are low in the sulfur compounds which make onions hot and also help them to keep well. The Walla Walla, Placer Sweet, and Stockton Red Onions are all very sweet and mild. The Torpedo onions have a little heat, but are still relatively mild. All onions turn sweet when cooked.
 
Q.  Why do you call it an “Idaho Man Muffin”?
A. Many years ago we had a regular customer who loved our Cranberry Orange Muffins. Then he moved to Idaho. When he came back to visit, he asked for his favorite muffins and we made some for him. They’ve been “Idaho Man Muffins” ever since.
 
Q. How long have you been here?
A. It will be 10 years on November 1. Look for details on our celebrations and specials starting next month!