SPELT!!! What is it? What do you do with it?

SPELT!!!

What is Spelt?

Spelt, also known as dinkel wheat, or hulled wheat, is a species of wheat cultivated since approximately 5000 BC. Spelt was an important staple in parts of Europe from the Bronze Age to medieval times; it now survives as a relict crop in Central Europe and northern Spain and has found a new market as a health food. Ancient grains like spelt are claimed to be more nutritious and healthier than modern grains, and over the years 2004 to 2014, spelt gained widespread popularity as a wheat substitute for making artisan breads, pasta and cereals.

• Those who enjoy spelt bread and pasta say it tastes better than wheat and describe it as nutty, wholesome, and more filling.
• Spelt boasts a higher protein and mineral content, but lower in gluten content than modern wheat.
• Spelt also contains significant levels of iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, selenium, niacin, thiamin, vitamin B6, and folic acid.

What is “Sprouted” Spelt?

Sprouted flour is made from sprouted grains, including not just red and white wheat, but spelt, amaranth, Kamut, einkorn, sorghum, rye, corn, and more. As its name implies, a sprouted grain is a grain that’s been allowed to sprout and begin to germinate as it would if left to its own devices in nature. A tiny awakening happens in each one.

Your taste buds will instantly detect more complex flavors in bread, cookies, or crackers made using sprouted flours since sprouting allows a portion of the starch in the grain to break down into simple sugars. These sugars act like a spotlight, highlighting the individual characteristics of each grain.

Flavor is one thing, but sprouted flours also reportedly pack an impressive nutritional punch. The dormant vitamins and minerals in grains are activated and brought to life during the sprouting process. By some estimates, sprouting increases vitamin C and carotene content, creates B vitamins, and bumps up the amount of trace minerals present.

Sprouting also breaks down the grains’ natural protective barrier, making them easier to digest.

What do you do with Spelt or Sprouted Spelt?

I am so glad that you asked… We at the farm have been experimenting and searching the web for ways of incorporating this ancient grain into our diets. We can definitely attest to it’s nutty flavor and hearty texture.

We have included several recipes under our ‘Recipe’ tab for you to try:

• Bread Machine Honey Sprouted Spelt Bread
• Homemade Spelt Hamburger Buns (using the bread machine)
• Spelt Muffins
• Spelt Whole Wheat Pasta

We are also hoping to get the recipe from Mrs. Golden for her fried chicken using spelt flour. (Smelled delicious when we visited a few weeks ago.)

Where can I get Spelt Flour?

You are so fortunate to have access to the most amazing CERTIFIED ORGANIC Spelt and Sprouted Spelt Flour (as well as Buckwheat and Sprouted Buckwheat Flour) through Golden Farms here on our online farm market.

Certified organic whole grain flours ARE more expensive that conventional, highly processed/refined white flour, but they are definitely more nutritious and flavorful and worth their weight in gold.

Disclaimer: Spelt contains gluten, and is not a good option for people with gluten intolerance or a wheat allergy.

GreenSpace Microgreens

We were notified by Dan at GreenSpace that their items will be off the market for a few weeks as they are going out of town. They will re-post their items when they return.

Green"er" Acres Farm

Discounted pricing on tomatoes and peppers as the summer produce winds down. And don’t forget the fresh basil to go with the tomatoes.

Rispoli’s Produce

Amazing farm fresh brown eggs! And the return of produce: red, white and blue potatoes, eggplant, green peppers, and onions.

Heritage Hills Farm

Pork and Chicken!! And don’t forget a full line of amazing dressings/marinades from Village Eatinghouse.

DAIRY ?!

Don’t forget we carry a full line of dairy products thanks to our partners at Clover Creek Cheese Cellar and Vale Wood Farms. Items include: Skim, 1%, 2%, and Whole Milk, Flavored Milk, Raw Milk, Buttermilk, Cream, Half & Half, Cottage Cheese, Yogurt, Butter, 12 varieties of Artisan Cheese and more.

Sweet Corn and Pumpkins

Thanks to Weyant Vegetable Farm, we still have sweet corn in half dozen, dozen and full boxes for those who want to can/freeze for winter.

They also have large and jumbo jack-o-lantern pumpkins. Great for decorating but the flesh is also good for baking.

Stock Your Freezer Beef Sale

Clover Creek Cheese Cellar has brought back their amazing Stock Your Freezer Sale on their own Grass-fed Ground Beef.

• 10 pound Ground Beef for only $62.15, SUPPLIES LIMITED!!

Got A Sweet Tooth??

Don’t forget we still carry scrumptious baked goods from Bake Shop Bakes: Apple Dumplings and Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Brownies.

And Let Us FINALLY Come Clean!!

Clean body that is… We continue to carry Goat’s Milk Soap from Cherry Hill Farm. Additional new items will be added soon.

Fall is Coming

Fall is Coming

The seasons are changing. This weekend was the last weekend of summer and fall is here. Some of our summer produce s slowing down or stopping, other crops are now at their prime.

Back at the market this week, from Weyant Vegetable Farm, we have sweet corn again, and they have also added large and jumbo jack-o-lantern pumpkins. Great for decorating,but also great for making pies, muffins, cookies, etc.

Although Green"er" Acres Farm’s tomatoes are about done for the season, they have added grapes and Kiefer pears. These pears are an old heritage breed, bred for storage. They are hard and a bit gritty, but make excellent pear butter and can up wonderfully.

We still also have other amazing products such as, microgreens, eggs, dairy, baked goods, meats and produce.

Downtown Night Market

Downtown Night Market

Friday, September 15, 4-9pm

We will be participating in the Downtown Night Market Friday from 4-9pm. We will be joined by several of our grower/producers from the Altoona Station Farmers Market (formerly the Juniata Farmers Market.) Lots of farm products and the opportunity for those who have not heard about our online market to receive valuable information.

There will also be over 60other vendors lining 11th Avenue between 14th and 15th street and Heritage Plaza. Lots of craft & food vendors.

Plus entertainment by Zach Wade & The Good Grief AND Mama Corn bluegrass band!!!

Some Changes to Current Inventory

Changes to Current Inventory

Corn, Half Bushels of Canning Tomatoes and Pickling Cucumbers Currently Out of Stock

• Weyant Vegetable Farm regretfully announces about a two week shortage of sweet corn. They have corn planned through October; however, the next variety is lagging behind by a few weeks due to the unseasonable weather patterns. We will announce when corn is available again.

• Green"er" Acres Farm is also noticing changes with tomato production due to the weather patterns. They still have tomatoes available for ordering; however, not in the canning quantities.

• Rispoli’s Produce also announced there is a temporary shortage in pickling cucumbers, but will have more in a few weeks.

• Heritage Hills Farm is currently sold out of chicken breasts and thighs, but still has wings, half and whole chicken.

Change in Name and Size of Product

• Appalachia Malting has changed their name to Golden Farms Milling. Same great company and product, just a new name. They have also changed from 3 pound bags to 5 pound bags. There is a corresponding change in price, but the great news is that it is actually cheaper per pound than previously.
  Baking season is soon upon us, so why not try a more healthy, organic product for your baking needs.

Summer is Almost Over -- Get your summer veggies now

Summer is Almost Over — Get your summer veggies now!!

New This Week:
From Green"er" Acres Farm: Red Noodle Beans, Fresh Celery, Ghost Peppers, Yellow Sweet Peppers, Jumbo Red Sweet Peppers and Small Zephyr Summer Squash. And don’t forget the rainbow of colors in tomatoes and peppers, fresh lettuce, candy onions, Swiss chard and kale.
Heritage Hills granola is back, in limited quantities. And don’t forget their amazing meats.

And as always:
Rispoli’s Produce has tomatoes, onions, pickling cucumbers, Delicata squash, eggplant, mild hot peppers and farm fresh brown eggs.

Weyant Vegetable Farm has their delicious sweet corn.

Bake Shop Bakes has their amazing apple dumplings and chocolate chunk peanut butter brownies.

Clover Creek Cheese Cellar has their full line of artisan cheeses and raw milk.

Vale Wood Farms has a full line of dairy products that includes butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, cream and more.

GreenSpace Microgreens has their delicate young microgreens.

Appalachia Malting has their organic buckwheat and spelt flours.

New Items This Week -- Kohlrabi, Delicata and Spaghettit Squash

New Items This Week — Kohlrabi, Delicata and Spaghettit Squash

Rispoli’s Produce

New this week from Rispoli’s Produce:

• Delicata Squash – a lovely oblong striped squash with a flavor similar to butternut squash, but with a richer flavor and creamier texture
• Spaghetti Squash – an all-time favorite and low carb substitute for regular spaghetti noodles
• Quart boxes of pickling cucumbers are back
• Quart boxes of Roma tomatoes, one of the best tomatoes for making tomato paste and sauce
• Celebrity tomatoes, an American favorite for flavor
  And don’t forget about their Farm-Fresh Brown Eggs, Eggplants, Candy Onions, Mild Hot Banana Peppers, and Red/White/Blue Potatoes.

Green"er" Acres Farm

New this week from Green"er" Acres Farm:

• Red Chili Peppers – like ’em red and hot, try our 5 pack of red chili peppers
• Half Bushel Boxes of Canning Tomatoes
• Kohlrabi – Crisp, white globe with the flavor of cabbage
• Last week to get our tart Garden Huckleberries – although not for fresh eating, they make an awesome jam or pie
  And don’t forget about our Garlic and Elephant Garlic, Mexican Sour Gherkins (Cucamelons), Yellow Wax Beans, Lettuce, Kale, Swiss Chard, Blackberries, Cherry Tomatoes, Red Tomatoes, and Heirloom Tomatoes, Sweet and Hot Peppers, White/Red/Yellow Candy Onions, Honey, and Fresh & Dried Herbs

GreenSpace Microgreens

Just added last week, GreenSpace’s current listings include Black Oil Sunflower Shoots, Pea Shoots, Wheatgrass, and Microgreen Salad

Heritage Hills Farm

As always, cherry smoked salt, dressings, chicken parts, halves and whole, pork products and lard, homemade deodorant and ‘Skeeter Beater’

Appalachia Malting

Don’t forget we carry both regular and sprouted certified organic buckwheat flour and spelt flour from Appalachia Malting. A healthy, hearty alternative to all purpose flour.

Bake Shop Bakes

As always we carry Bake Shop Bakes’ apple dumplings and chocolate chunk peanut butter brownies.

Clover Creek Cheese Cellar

Artisan Cheese and Raw Milk

Cherry Hill Farm

Goat’s Milk Soap

Vale Wood Farms

Full line of dairy products

Weyant Vegetable Farm

Sweet corn in half dozen, dozen and boxes of 4 dozen

New Vendor Notice

NEW VENDOR—GreenSpace!!

Quick announcement… We just spoke with Dan at GreenSpace, and they have signed on as our newest vendor. Dan produces amazing microgreens and salads and will be adding their items in the next few days. And they are Certified Organic. Microgreens are a nutritious, nutrient dense food. Perfect for snacking or adding to a salad.
Dan plans on having items listed yet for this weeks ordering. It may take a little time to get them entered, so please check back before Tuesday to see what he has available.
Welcome aboard Dan!

New Meat Items & Cherry Tomatoes By Variety

NEW THIS WEEK

New Meat Items

New this week, from Heritage Hills Farm, we have chicken wings in dozen and half dozen, chicken breasts, thighs and legs, as well as rack of ribs and ham ends. And for the adventurous… chicken carcasses, excellent for bone broth, chicken broth or soup base.

Cherry Tomatoes By Variety

We have been selling the cherry tomatoes exclusively in mixed boxes so that everyone could try the different varieties out.

We still sell them that way, but are now also selling them by the individual varieties, so you can pick your favorite.

Next Verse, Same as the First

Next Verse, Same as the First

Much of the same items as last week. Lots of tomatoes and sweet corn. Blackberries, potatoes, sweet and hot peppers, sweet onions, garlic, eggs, dressings, a full line of dairy and cheese, meats and much more.

A Rainbow of Colored Tomatoes!!

Nothing Says Summer Like Vine-Ripened Tomatoes

Tomatoes In A Rainbow of Colors

Here at Green"er" Acres Farm, tomatoes are our specialty. We save much of our own seed to breed the best of the best in our tomatoes. We have many heirloom varieties and a few old standards.

Choose from Reds (Big Beef, Red Brandywine and the brick red Paul Robeson), Oranges (Dad’s Sunset), Yellows (Yellow Beefsteak or Yellow Brandywine), Greens for fried green tomatoes, and Purples/Browns (Cherokee Purple, Black Krim and Pink Berkley Tie Dye).

We also have a Great White Tomato for those who like their tomatoes sweeter and with less acid.

And then there is the tomato that is a rainbow all in itself; the Ananas Noire (Black Pineapple). It is green with streaks of red and yellow not only on the skin but all the way through. It’s flavor is complex, both sweet and smoky. One of our all-time favorites.

And did I mention paste tomatoes? Paste tomatoes are some of the best choices if you are making your own homemade sauces. We have a large, beefy one named Opalka and a striking large red one with gold stripes named Striped Roman. We also have a new variety that we received as a ‘Trial Paste’ variety that we grew out this year. It developed into a beautiful ruffled tomato that almost resembles a short, squat red mini-pumpkin.

And finally are our cherry tomatoes in all colors of the rainbow. We currently sell them as a mix so that you can try all the different varieties. As they begin to produce more heavily, we will offer the individual varieties separately as well.

Tomato Salad!!

So now that you have your tomatoes, why don’t you grab some candy onions and chop them both up and mix them. Now simply add a flavorful Italian dressing for a simple salad. We carry the “Best Dressing Ever”, from Village Eatinghouse (distributed by Heritage Hills Farm) in many varieties of Italian dressing, everything from ‘Bright & Tangy’, to ‘Sweet & Sour’ to ‘Bold & Sassy’ to ‘Sultry & Smoky’.
Summer at it’s finest!

And Let’s Not Forget The Other Summertime Favorite — SWEET CORN

Picked fresh the morning of delivery, we offer sweet corn from Weyant Vegetable Farm. Some of the BEST sweet corn out there. Quantities are unlimited. Available in half dozen and full dozens for your evening meal or by the box (4 dozen) for freezing or canning.