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Make your own canned pumpkin!
Make your own pumpkin from pie pumpkins!
How to cook pie pumpkin:
1. Stop out at the farm store or market and pick up some pie pumpkins. 2. Cut pie pumpkin in half and clean out cavity.
3. Place flesh side down in a cake pan or cookie sheet with sides. Add a little water. 4. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 ½ hour or until pumpkin is fork tender.
5. Scrape out and mash or puree in the blender.
Have extra from your pumpkin recipe? You can freeze it for future use.
How to freeze pumpkin:
1. Cook as above.
2. Place pumpkin in a container leaving 1 inch head space. Make sure pumpkin is completely cooled before freezing
Here is our favorite pumpkin pie recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 1 c. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. ginger
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg
- ½ tsp. salt
- 2 c. cooked mashed pumpkin
- 12 oz can evaporated milk
- 1 unbaked pie shell
Directions:
Beat eggs until frothy. Add remaining filling ingredients in order; beat just until blended. Pour into pie shell. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Reduce to 350 degrees and bake 45 minutes longer or until an inserted tooth pick comes out clean.
As always, thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you soon!
– Crisp Country Acres
Time to enjoy all your fall favorites.
As we head into the fall season, it is time to enjoy all of your fall favorites!
Here is what we are currently harvesting:
Fall Squash – Butternut, Buttercup, Acorn, Sweet Dumpling, Delicata & Ambercup
Apples – Honey Crisp, Gala & Zestar
Beets
Sweet Corn
Tomatoes
Peppers
Potatoes – Red Skin, Yukon Gold, Russets, Blue, White & Butterball
Rutabaga
Turnips
Greens – Lettuce, Salad Mix, Swiss Chard, Collards, Spinach & Kale
Carrots
Onions
Celery
Parsnips
Beans
Radishes
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Pears
Come on out and enjoy the sights, smells & flavors of fall!
Here is where you can find us:
Muskegon Farmers Market
Kalamazoo Farmers Market
Trufant Market
Crisp Country Acres Farm Store – Stop by the farm store for a great variety of local goods! Breads, Milk, Cheese & Meats. Plus, lots of pumpkins & mums for all your fall decorating!
Thank you for supporting your local farmers and we look forward to seeing you soon!
– Crisp Country Acres
How to freeze zucchini for baking.
Zucchini bread is one of our favorites and we freeze lots of zucchini in the summer months so we can enjoy it all year long!
Zucchini for baking is really easy to freeze as you don’t need to blanch it.
Step 1: Wash and dry zucchini.
Step 2: Shred the zucchini.
Step 3. It’s time to freeze! Measure out he zucchini into exact amounts that you need for the recipe and place into freezer bag. Label and put in freezer until you are ready to bake.
How to blanch & freeze your veggies.
Freezing is a great way to preserve all of your summer favorites to enjoy in the summer months.
Here is how to freeze your produce:
Step 1: Wash and cut up veggies.
Step 2: Blanch Veggies, see below for how to blanch.
Step 3. Place veggies, single layer, on wax paper lined baking sheet and freeze. Transfer the veggies to a freezer bag or container. Label and place in freezer. Frozen produce can be stored for 8 – 12 months.
How to Blanch:
Step 1: Fill pan with enough water to cover the veggies & boil.
Step 2: Add produce, cover & boil for needed time. Each veggie is different!
- Corn: 4 minutes. ( Make sure corn cools down before removing kernels with a knife)
- Beans: 3 minutes.
- Zucchini: 3 minutes. (If you want to freeze zucchini for baking, you don’t need to blanch it.)
- Broccoli: 3 minutes.
- Cauliflower: 3 minutes.
- Carrots: 3 minutes.
Step 3: Once done drain and place veggies in ice water bath for the same length of time as you needed to boil.
Step 4: Drain and pat dry veggies with towel.
**Note that veggies like tomatoes, peppers & onions do not need to be blanched! Here is more information on how to freeze tomatoes & peppers/onions.
Now is the perfect time to freeze produce for next winter. Stop by one of the markets soon to pick up all of your favorites!
How to freeze peppers and onions.
Freeze peppers and onions in just 3 simple steps!
Step 1: Wash and dry peppers/onions.
Step 2: Chop up into sizes that work for you.
Step 3. Freeze!
- Option 1: Toss them into a freezer bag in exact quantities that work for your dishes. The peppers/onions will freeze together with this method and it can be hard to get them apart.
- Option 2: Or you can set them out on a baking sheet, spaced apart and then put into the freezer until they are hard. Once they are frozen you can place them in the freezer bag. This method works best if you want to be able to take out just a few each time.
How to freeze tomatoes!
Having trouble finding canning lids? With this simple freezing method you can still have tomatoes for your sauce & soups this winter!
- Wash and dry your tomatoes.
- Cut away stem and core.
- Cut tomatoes into desired size.
- Place on a baking sheet, 1 layer thick. Skin side down.
- Once frozen, place in labeled freezer bags.
- To remove the excess air use a vacuum sealer or the straw method (See below).
- Place bags in the freezer.
- When ready to use, remove tomatoes from the bag and let thaw. The skins will come right off.
- Use in soups, stews, chili or sauces.
Straw Method: Insert a straw halfway into a freezer bag and seal the rest of the bag, pushing out as much air as possible. Begin sucking the air out of the bag until the bag clings tightly around the tomatoes. Remove the straw and seal the bag closed.
Tomato season is here! Stop by the markets and pick up some regular or roma tomatoes to freeze and enjoy all winter long.
Beef & pork bundles are back!
Is your freezer looking empty? Fill it up with our locally raised meats! Check out this month’s specials:
Large Beef Bundle – $100
The beef bundle includes 8lbs of ground beef, 3lb burgers, 2lbs of stew meat, 2lb fajita strips & 1 roast. The cost is $100.00.
Large Pork Bundle – $100
The pork bundle includes 2 packs of pork chops, 4 pork steaks, 2lbs brats, 2lb ground pork, 3lb bacon, 2lb sausage links and a shoulder roast.
Small Beef Bundle – $50
This bundle includes 3lbs ground beef, 2lb burger patties, 1lb stew meat and 1 roast.
Small Pork Bundle – $50
This bundle includes 2 packs of pork chops, 1lb bacon, 1lb ground pork, 1 pack sausage links, 1 pack brats and 3 pork steaks.
Call/text Lindsey at (616) 795-2571 or email lindsey@crispcountryacres.com to order.
Grandma’s Minnesota Pickles
- 6 – 8 pickles, peeled or unpeeled and sliced
- 1 or 2 onions
- 1 green pepper sliced
Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. salt and let stand for 2 to 3 hours. Drain and rinse with cold water. Place in Jar.
Mix the following:
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 tsp. celery seed.
Bring to a boil. Pour over pickles, onion & peppers then refrigerate.
Canning & Freezing Guide
Stock up your freezer and pantry with local veggies to enjoy this winter!
Here is our canning & freezing guide to make sure you don’t miss out on any of your favorites.
Strawberry Season is HERE!
Have you heard?
Strawberry season is here!
It does not matter if you like to make jam, strawberry shortcake or just eat them right out of the quart…Michigan strawberries are the best!
Here is where you can find them:
Crisp Country Acres Farm Store: Monday – Saturday | 8am – 6pm.
Muskegon Farmers Market: Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday | 8am – 2pm.
Kalamazoo Farmers Market: Saturday | 7am – 1pm.
Trufant Market: Thursday | 7am – 12pm.
We also have beautiful tomatoes, sugar snap peas, asparagus, broccoli, onions, tons of greens & so much more ready for you!
Thank you for supporting your local farmers. We look forward to seeing you soon!