Craft Beer and Food

Friday, April 15, 2011

Harvest Box & Beer Weekly Recipe Contest

Harvest Box & Beer Recipe Contest
My friend turned me on to this great, little organic farm here. The Rutiz Family Farms is located in Arroyo Grande, CA .  Not only do they have a nice selection of local organic produce, they have a weekly harvest box program that does not require a subscription, just order midweek for pick up on Friday.  If you live locally, check it out at www.rutizfarms.com.  We are fortunate to live on the central coast of California where we have a farmer’s market daily in one of the surrounding towns.  We have access to locally grown, fresh fruits and veggies 365 days a year.  In addition to what is available to purchase, I do grow my own, but we get enough frost that I won’t have any home grown veggies until summer.

As I cleaned my vegetables, Eric was putting a 5 gallon keg of Firestone Walker’s Honey Blonde Ale in to the kegerator.  Firestone is about 50 miles north of us. Across the country there is a growing trend to buy local.  

I picked up my last week and the veggies are wonderful.  As I cleaned my vegetables, Eric was putting a 5 gallon keg of Firestone Walker’s Honey Blonde Ale in to the kegerator.  Wondering what I should make with my bounty spurred idea of a Harvest Box & Beer contest.  Each week on Thursday, I will post the content of the harvest box.  Submit your recipe entries by Sunday.  The recipes must contain at least 1 ingredient from the harvest box (more points go to using more ingredients from the box) and use craft beer in the recipe or include a craft beer pairing.  All beers must be produced in the USA for now.   Simplicity is the key, we are looking for dishes anyone could prepare with little extra shopping or effort.   Dishes may include meat.   Yes, there will be prizes awarded each week.

What makes a winner – TASTE, TASTE, TASTE.

Link to enter contest: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MBSQTL5

Produce in the Harvest Box this week:
4/15/11
artichokes
broccoli
a bunch of green "spring" garlic
snap peas
a bag of salad mix
a bunch of carrots
tomatoes from the Salton Sea
a basket of "Jerry's Berries" strawberries
I look forward to seeing what you all come up with.  Good luck and Cheers!