O Lord that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness. William Shakespeare | It's Kind of Boring I asked Jeannie what has been happening around the farm these days.
She thoughtfully replied, "Not much. Winterizing has been put off for a bit because the weather is so nice – no frost, no snow. "The kids are picking apples. They are very nice this year – big, crisp, and juicy. | "Martin and James have been working on the beef cow shelter. James has packed soil on the backside of the building and Martin screwed planks to the posts James put in the ground for the permanent corral fence. | "It rained too much over the weekend to be able to harvest the potatoes and carrots. But, the ground will dry quickly, and the guys will be back at it. | "All the broiler chickens and turkeys have been processed. "So, it's kind of boring right now." No problem, Jeannie. Boring is good. I'll take that over hastily harvesting EVERYTHING before it snows like it has some years. Working in the cold dark night to gather the garden; building a temporary wall around the turkeys on pasture to protect them from the early blast of winter; herding sheep, and cows and calves through wind-whipped wet snow to the shelter of the corrals…boring is better. | It's that time of year when people get the sniffles, sore throats, and coughs. Now we have an awesome new Harvest Haven product to alleviate the discomforts that come with a cold. Our bodies need the housecleaning these ailments are serving, but the job can be less painful with a little help from our new friends. Harvest Haven Hacking Helpers are tasty little lozenges made from our raw honey, organic cane sugar, eucalyptus, peppermint, and menthol crystals.
They are the best! | This was the summer for squash – hot. And with a nice long fall, it has matured nicely. We have a few different varieties for you to choose from. We like all of them and rotate them through our menus. With its sweet, yellow-orange flesh, and slightly nutty flavor, Acorn squash makes for a delicious meal packed with nutrients. This versatile squash is an excellent addition to sweet and savory dishes and can be baked or roasted in the oven, or simply steamed. Buttercup squash is a variety of winter squash with a dark green exterior, a paler green cap at the blossom end, and rich creamy orange flesh. This sweet squash is best steamed to bring out its sweetness and moisture so it's not dry. To serve, top the halves with butter and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon, drizzle with maple syrup, or season with salt and pepper. The cavities of the baked squash may also be stuffed. To use the flesh in soups, muffins, or pies, or to serve as a puree on its own, simply scoop out of the rind using a spoon. Pureed baked buttercup squash can be used as a substitute for mashed sweet potato or pumpkin in many recipes. The Butternut squash has a sweet, nutty flavor, tan-yellow skin, and orange flesh with a compartment of seeds in the blossom end. It can be roasted crisp or pureed smooth and is delicious at every stage in between. Its versatility adds warmth and comfort to any fall dish from pastas to soups to salads to stuffings. Delicata squash, an heirloom variety from 1894, is one of the tastiest. Its creamy flesh is smooth and sweet, baked or steamed. The thin skin is also edible. Its smaller size is great for single servings. Mashed Potato squash is a variety of acorn squash that has bright white skin and white flesh that is low in sugar. When cooked and fluffed, it takes on the appearance of mashed potatoes. It's very nice! Another flavorful substitute for pumpkin is the Red Kuri. It has creamy yellow flesh, with a smooth texture and a rich, sweet flavor. It works well in casseroles, soups, and curries, and is a great substitute for acorn squash, too. We have plenty of Spaghetti squash this year. It looks similar to other squashes, has tough yellow skin, and solid yellow flesh when raw. The similarities end when it's cooked. The flesh falls in ribbons or strands that look like, you guessed it, spaghetti, which can be used in place of pasta. Then there's our Mystery squash. Most years there's some cross-pollinating of the different varieties, but you can tell what the original variety was. Not the ones we have now. What's your guess? | We're sold out of our Harvest Haven Pasture Raised Whole Turkeys. We're sorry for the inconvenience this may cause you. However, we can offer some alternatives to a whole turkey. For a super elegant dinner, prepare a Crown Lamb Roast with Sage Stuffing. Delicious! Or get one of our big pasture-raised roasting chickens that are tender and flavorful. If you want turkey, we have turkey white or dark meat cutlets that are easy to prepare and have exceptional flavor. See how to prepare them in The Recipe Box below. Our Turkey Stock makes excellent gravy along with the pan drippings. You don't need to do without something from Harvest Haven for that special dinner. | We have lots of pasture-raised lamb this year, but only ONE date left for you to get an order. We're taking orders for whole or half lamb, cut and wrapped, or just the cuts you like. Whole lamb, cut and wrapped, is about $600 depending on the size. Half a lamb will be approximately $300. There is a $10 fee if we must freeze your lamb for longer than one week. We need your order by Monday, October 9th. The only date left when lamb will be available for orders is Friday, October 13. Order here. | Harvest Haven Pastured Turkey Cutlets, White or Dark – These tenderized pieces of turkey breast or thigh make a tender and flavourful schnitzel served with a wedge of lemon, cranberry sauce, or creamy gravy. Harvest Haven Pastured Eggs – They're back! And everyone is thankful. We all love these golden gifts from our happy hens. Harvest Haven Delicata Squash – An heirloom variety from 1894, it is one of the tastiest. The creamy flesh is smooth and sweet, baked, steamed, or roasted. The thin skin is also edible. Its smaller size is great for single servings. Bioitalia Organic Olive Oil, 750 mL – This delicate oil is made from the best selection of organic olive varieties in southern Italy. Their origin is guaranteed by a system that follows the product from the field to the table. Organic Dried Sweetened Cranberries, 200 g – A sweet treat with a tad of tartness. They are a bright garnish on salads or chicken dishes, and a refreshing alternative to raisins in your muffin recipes. Camino Organic White Chocolate Chips, 225 g – Bring goodness and a dose of creativity to your desserts and snacks with Camino White Baking Chips. Made without dairy and free of 14 allergens, they are the ideal alternative. These baking chips are made with quality cocoa butter for that melt-in-the-mouth enjoyment! Whether for cooking or snacking, their creamy sweetness is simply irresistible. | Please note, all ingredients in our recipes are organic. | Turkey Cutlets with Parmesan Crust 4 Harvest Haven turkey breast cutlets
2 large Harvest Haven egg whites
1/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
2 tbsp Parmesan cheese
Salt and fresh pepper
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp olive oil
Lemon wedges for serving Season cutlets with salt and pepper. Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a medium bowl. In another bowl beat egg whites. Dip turkey cutlets in egg whites, then breadcrumb mixture, shaking off excess. Heat a large nonstick frying pan on medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil. When butter melts, add the cutlets and cook about 6 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through. Serve with lemon wedges. | Roasted Delicata Squash 1 Harvest Haven delicata squash
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp freshly cracked black pepper Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Cut the ends off the delicata squash, then slice it open length-wise.
Use a spoon to scrape out the seeds, then slice the squash into 1/2-inch wide slices. Place the sliced squash on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, then sprinkle the salt, garlic powder, and pepper over top. Toss the squash until it is fully coated in oil and spices. Make sure it is spread out over the baking sheet in an even layer. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and roast for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, flip the squash pieces over. Roast for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until browned to your liking. Taste the squash and adjust the salt or pepper to your liking. Serve warm. | Aunt Marilyn's Granola Bars 2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cups butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 Harvest Haven eggs
1/4 cup Harvest Haven honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup shredded coconut
3/4 cup toasted pecans, chopped
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup Camino Organic White Chocolate Chips
1/3 cup sesame seeds Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda.
Cream butter and sugar well. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then honey and vanilla. Stir in dry ingredients until well-blended. Mix in remaining ingredients. Spread mixture in buttered 9 x 13" pan. Bake at 350° F until browned, about 25 minutes. It will look too soft, but sets as it cools. Cool and cut into bars. | Thankfulness With Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend, I thought it would be interesting to share with you what the folks at Harvest Haven are thankful for. It was an opportunity for them to write out what they often express verbally. Let's start with Martin and his family. Martin: I'm thankful that the Lord is in full control. And I'm thankful that He cares to teach me this with all the ups and downs of being here in this special place. I'm thankful for everyone helping me, not just with chores and projects, but also for the care, instruction, friendship, and encouragement. Jeannie: I'm thankful for the Truth and for the Lord's direction. I'm thankful for the community of people He has provided. I can't say it better than the Harvest Haven Vision that Victor wrote in 1997, a year and a half after buying the farm. Marseilles: There are so many things I am thankful for! The first three things I can list off the top of my head are for one, my ducks. I'm so grateful that I can have my two little quackers on the farm! The second thing is the fact that I have the opportunity to learn so many things about caring for animals. The third thing is the farm itself, and the Path of Truth. Like Konstantijn said once, we're more fortunate than we realize. Mathijs: I am thankful for the opportunity to work in the fields and play music with the people here. I am also thankful for living on the farm. Konstantijn: I am thankful for everyone with us, on the farm and outside. I am thankful for every bit of the way I've been raised. I am thankful for work and a purpose in life, while also being given the time to do what I love and be with people I love. And most importantly, I'm thankful for the Lord being with me and all of us. We can be happy with any circumstance if He is with us. Besides the Van Poptas, whom you've met in the store, there are several people working behind the scenes, on and off the farm. Igor: I am thankful that I can help and be helped by the HH community instead of being a slave to the corporate world and the world systems. Ronnie: I'm most thankful that the Lord is here and has been merciful to me. Without the Lord, frankly, it wouldn't matter to me all the interesting things we do each day because I wouldn't be free to enjoy them. I've been in such a place before. That being said, I AM thankful for the variety of our work and room for creativity as I get underwhelmed pretty easily. I'm thankful for meaningful and interesting conversations we have with each other, the ministry bringing the Truth to the world, and the understanding the Lord gives us in so many things big and small. Great food, rest as needed, and everyone looking out for one another. It's super special. I appreciate everyone here who is part of making all these things happen. Dan: I'm thankful for everyone and everything that happens with us. It all turns out well, thanks to The Lord! Jennifer: I am thankful for those at Harvest Haven who have been given to blaze the trail and shine a light for myself and others. I am thankful for the encouragement and support to press forward into new territory. I am thankful for the Lord's provision, a family, a home, and hope in Him. James: I'm thankful for everyone here at the farm working together which also includes you, Victor and Marilyn. I'm also thankful for the continuing improvements happening here. Victor: James, I agree and am thankful for the same things. I'm thankful the Lord has given us the privileges and hope we all share in Him. May the Lord not allow us to take it all for granted. Where else does one find such provision in so many ways, in every way? Marilyn: I'm thankful for what the Lord is doing with everyone here, and for those He has brought into our lives through Harvest Haven. He has blessed us richly. | | |
