Mark your calendars for April 7. The Boyle County Farmers Market will be open for business. Watch this column throughout the growing season for a list of available items each week. We hope to see you all there.
Everything is growing and way ahead of our usual schedule. The blooms on our fruit trees have been amazing. They are full of busy bees, which prompted Barrie to get supers on the hives early as well. Honey lovers should be happy to hear that.
We had a little visitor show up at the farm last week. Someone dropped a small mixed breed dog who found his way to our door. He was hungry, thirsty and wounded. His little feet and legs were cut and scratched like he had been running through briars. He, of course, had no collar or I.D. We fed him, bathed him and hugged him. I wanted to keep him but Barrie nixed that idea so I went about finding him a new home. My co-workers also put out the word and he is now residing with a family with two little girls and large fenced-in yard.
It makes me so angry that people treat animals this way. We have a wonderful Humane Society/Animal Shelter in Danville. Unwanted animals taken there will be fed, bathed, cared for and given a chance for a new home and loving family.
I just want to remind everyone that when animals are dropped out in the country, we who reside out here can’t adopt all of them. It may be “out of sight, out of mind” for the person dropping them but it falls to us country folk to care for them, find them a home or witness their demise. Cats, kittens, puppies and small dogs often become food for the coyotes and other wild animals especially if they are house pets and don’t know how to survive on their own. I will climb down from my soap box now but felt this needed to be shared.
I am on vacation this week or I should say “staycation.” There is a huge list of chores to complete in and around the house. The weather is supposed to be pleasant so I will enjoy working outside cleaning out flowerbeds and prepping a new area to plant some herbs.
I hope to get more scented geraniums this year. They not only smell wonderful when you rub their leaves, they are delicious in various dessert recipes and jellies. If you grow scented geraniums, like rose or lemon, try lining a cake or loaf pan with leaves before pouring in the batter. The baked cake or tea bread will take on a lightly citrus or floral flavor. You can increase the flavor with an infused glaze. Steep or simmer leaves in a sugar syrup glaze then drizzle over the cake. Delicious!!
Here is a recipe that can be enjoyed for breakfast, brunch or afternoon tea.
Rose Geranium Scones
2-¼ cups all-purpose flour
7 tablespoons sugar plus more for sprinkling
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut in small pieces
1 cup loosely packed, chopped, fresh rose geranium leaves
1 5-ounce can evaporated milk
2 eggs, well beaten
Cornmeal
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Add rose geranium. Mix together milk and egg thoroughly. Reserve 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk mixture. Add remainder to flour mixture and blend until just mixed. Do not over beat.
Turn dough onto a floured surface. Form into a ball then flatten with a rolling pin to ½- inch thick. Cut into 3-inch squares. Cut each square diagonally to make 2 triangles.
Sprinkle cornmeal on a non-stick baking sheet. Place triangles on sheet, leaving an ½-inch space between them. Brush with reserved milk mixture. Sprinkle with extra sugar. Bake at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from baking sheet. Serve warm with butter or herb jelly.
Cool leftovers thoroughly and store in a plastic bag. Reheat before serving. Yields about 3 dozen.
The market will open April 7 this year. We will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays only throughout April, or until vendors sell out. After that time, our regular Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday schedule will begin.
Check this column for more announcements as that day approaches.
EBT and debit services will continue to be available. We also accept WIC vouchers but cannot accept Senior Vouchers at this time.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our market for 2012, contact Gary Taylor at (859) 332-2539.
The Boyle County Farmers Market is located at Boyle County Fairgrounds. The market manager is Gary Taylor of Knobview Farms.year, contact Gary Taylor at the phone number listed above.
