Celery Leaves

Celery leaves have an intense celery flavor that is delicious and nutritious! Sage Mountain Farm is harvesting a crop of celery today that will be included in their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share boxes this week. However farmer Phil considers it a “crop fail”. Meaning that due to the cold weather, although they have an out-of-this-world flavor, the celery stalks didn’t fully grow.

You can treat these “baby” celery and their leaves like you would any fresh herb by mincing or chopping coarsely. The same principle applies to all celery leaves. Here are just a few ideas of what you can do with them:

Toss with salad greens and a home-made vinaigrette into a delightful salad.
Enrich the flavor of stir-fries, stocks, soups, and sauces.
Use celery leaves as a fresh herb. Mince them finely or coarsely chop them to garnish any dish with bright, celery flavor.
Swap parsley for celery leaves in a classic tabbouleh with Bulgar, tomato, and cucumber.
Make a celery leaf and chickpea salad. Combine celery leaves, chopped celery, and chickpeas with shaved red onion and sherry vinaigrette.

How to Make Celery Leaf Pesto

This recipe from thekitchn.com for celery leaves knocked my socks off! ..And it’s cold outside!!! So I quickly put my socks back on and raced over to the computer to share the recipe with you! *hold onto your socks*

Prepare celery leaves into a puree for a flavorful and bright pesto with toasted nuts and Parmesan cheese. In a food processor, fitted with a standard blade, chop 2 small garlic cloves until they won’t break down any further. Add 1/2 cup walnuts or almonds, and 2 to 3 cups celery leaves; blend until finely chopped. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Blend again, streaming in 3/4 cup to 1 cup olive oil through the top feed tube until smooth. Add 1/2 cup Parmesan or Pecorino cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve as a spread over toasted Italian bread with thick slices of heirloom tomatoes, a drizzle of good olive oil, and flaked sea salt. Layer it into a hearty sandwich with avocado, thinly sliced cucumber, goat cheese, and arugula. Give thanks… and enjoy!

Nutritional Benefits

Celery leaves offer nutritional value that can boost your health. Celery leaves are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, macronutrients and have a great balance of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus that are beneficial for bone, joint and ligament health while strengthening nerve and muscle function. The vitamin E you get in celery leaves gives your cells antioxidant protection. Celery leaves contain a small amount of iodine but by pairing with foods rich in this mineral such as sea bass, perch and haddock, you can increase your iodine intake.

Tip: By juicing celery leaves you get 500% morecalcium, magnesium, vitamin c and phenolic compounds than you would from just eating the stalk.

Green & Orange Smoothie Recipe

Using farm fresh organic Sage Mountain Farm ingredients from your CSA farm share box, juice 2 Valencia oranges with 3 organic baby celery stalks with leaves, a handful of organic mixed greens, 5 small organic carrots, 1/2 of an organic green apple, topped with 2 ice cubes. Blend, give thanks.. and enjoy!

Don’t miss out on celery leaves valuable nutrition and remember to eat the leaves! We would love to hear from you. Please share with us how you prepare celery leaves.

Love your food, love your body – Love your family, love your farmer. Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program today and live for a healthier you!

We are here to provide you with the highest quality produce we can, through our CSA program and through any of our many Farmer’s Market locations throughout Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties. We hope that you explore our webpage and become as excited and passionate about local, organic food, as we are. It is our mission to promote a healthier community through our CSA program. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime by email, phone, or through the comments section of this website.

Thank you for visiting and your continued support!

This farm is a labor of love and we couldn’t do it without our community and wonderful customers! Please tell your friends about us. Referrals are the greatest compliments and we appreciate them more than we could ever convey!

Let’s make small farms in our region stronger and profitable!

Comments, suggestions and questions?
Contact me directly: amy@sagemountainfarm.com
Visit www.sagemountainfarm.com & www.sagemountainbeef.com
for more information about our farm.
Together, let’s get healthy!

Many blessings to you and yours!

Green Feel-Goodness

We hope you had a Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get your body back into shape! Have a glass of feel-goodness that will restart your system and kick start a healthy new you in a happy new year!

Reboot your digestive system, wake up that metabolism bogged down by all those holidays treats and let your body focus on other important tasks, like cellular repair & detoxification. Swap the dead, sugar-laden breakfast for a “pre-chewed” living green smoothie that will give you a wealth of bio-available nutrition! Blending breaks down of the outer cell walls of the greens and fruits, making the valuable nutrients more readily available and easier for the body to absorb. The vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other goodies get easily assimilated and utilized by the body. So you’ll get maximum benefit with faster absorption!

Get a move on your diet with a green smoothie that will curb cravings and reduce hunger, helping you stick to it, and make it easier to lose weight. Get better skin, hair and nails on the outside while you take in all those rich antioxidants and anti–inflammatory healing on the inside!

Have your lemon water, take your probiotics and get blending for a feel-good morning that gets your day moving towards a healthy life!

Ingredients

1½ cup water
1 handful of organic spinach
1 head of organic romaine lettuce
½ bunch organic beet greens
1 handful of organic broccoli leaves
4 stalks organic celery
1 organic green apple
1 organic pear
1 organic cucumber, peeled
½ organic lemon, peeled, seeded
⅓ bunch organic cilantro
⅓ bunch organic parsley

Directions

Place water, spinach, romaine, celery, beet greens, broccoli leaves, cilantro and parsley into a Vitamix blender and secure lid.
Slowly increase to highest speed and blend for 30 seconds or until smooth. Stop machine and remove lid.
Add cored and cut apple, pear, cucumber and lemon to the blender and secure lid.
Turn machine on and slowly increase to the highest speed.
Blend for 30 seconds or until desired consistency is reached.
Give thanks… and enjoy!

Local Farmers.

If you knew more about what it takes to be a Farmer, you would revere your local Farmers and their Field workers as “heroes” in the modern food revolution. Learn more by visiting www.SageMountainFarm.com

Let’s make small farms in our region stronger and profitable, coming soon new ways that you can support small farms in your community.

Take time for gratitude and appreciation. Thank your local farmer!

Comments, suggestions and questions?
Contact me directly: amy@sagemountainfarm.com
Visit www.SageMountainFarm.com &www.SageMountainBeef.com
for more information about our farm.
Together, let’s get healthy!

Many blessings to you and yours!

Hearty Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Now that it starting to feel more like winter in Southern California, it’s time to get warm & cozy in the kitchen! Break out the sweaters, extra blankets and make some home-cooked goodness to combat the chills. A pure, nurturing bowl of home-made chicken soup isn’t just a classic that Mom use to make, it’s an easy home remedy that anyone can make, although best given. Fill your home with the most amazing smell, your taste buds with rich flavor and your body with wholesome vitamins & minerals that will boost your winter immunity. Even if you’re new to the kitchen, you got this.

Home-made Chicken Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

Local Sage Mountain Farm chicken *available for order online
In this recipe, we used left-over boneless chicken that we had in the fridge. The vegetables were also chosen from what we had on hand. High-quality (farm fresh) ingredients at their peak (seasonal) quality enhance the flavor of any meal and upgrade your culinary chops!
1 winter squash (Butternut, Delicata and/or Spaghetti)
1 bunch of carrots, cleaned not peeled
1 large onion
3 celery stalks
2 medium tomatoes
1 small bag of tomatillos
1 sweet potato
A handful of baby potatoes
2½ local, organic
1 zucchini
Fresh ginger (grated, chopped or sliced)
Fresh garlic (3 cloves minced & 3-5 whole cloves)
1/3 cup long-grain brown rice
Herbs: fresh sage, rosemary, thyme & a bay leaf
Himalayan salt & black pepper

For best results, use only the freshest, most delicious and nutritious certified organic produce and livestock. Adjust ingredients according to season, availability & preference. Visit your local Farmers Market, order online or become a Sage Mountain Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share subscriber today! It is our mission to promote a healthier community and a healthier you.

Preparation:

Establish flavor:
Boil chicken in a pot of water with chopped carrots, celery, onion, tomato, tomatillos, garlic, ginger and herbs for 1 hour (or 24-48 hours with bones if making bone broth). Bone Broth Recipe coming soon! Subscribe for updates!
Build in nutrients:
Prepare remaining vegetables and apples; cut into bite size pieces & add them to your pot, while snacking on half an apple. *Munching on fresh fruits and veggies while doing your meal prep is an excellent way to lose weight, gain energy and put the spring back in your step! See our blog post on the nutritional benefits of Apples!

3. Cover. Let simmer for additional 45 mins. Add more water as needed.

4. Boost vitamin & mineral content:
Add 1/3 cup long-grain brown rice. Return cover and continue to simmer for another 15 minutes, or until rice is tender. Remove from heat.

5. Season with freshly ground Himalayan salt & black pepper. Serve with a refreshing glass of freshly squeezed lemon water.

Give thanks… and enjoy!

*Thank you Izzy for giving the gift of food with such a generous and loving spirit and for teaching me how to keep it simple!

Warm the Heart

Use the gift of soul food to combat winter chills in transforming new ways this year! A cup of pure, heart warming soup is the perfect thing to bring a friend with a cold, a family member suffering from depression, a widow, elderly neighbor or someone you know who has trouble cooking for them-self. Chicken soup really does something extra special for the soul. Make a whole pot of this soup with the gift of giving in mind.

Transporting tips: I prefer a mason jar but you can use an old thermos, reuse Chinese take out containers, Ziploc baggies or Tupperware (plastic storage containers). If using a plastic storage container, be sure to cool completely first.

If you have an inspiring story to share, please write us in the comments! Would love to hear how you give and get creative with it! ❤

Thank you for visiting our Sage Mountain Farm BLOG and your continued support!

This farm is a labor of love and we couldn’t do it without our community and wonderful customers! Please tell your friends about us. Referrals are the greatest compliments and we appreciate them more than we could ever convey!

We hope that you explore our webpage and become as excited and passionate about local, organic sustainable food, as we are.

It is our mission to promote a healthier community through our CSA program. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime by email, phone or in the comments section of this website.
Visit www.sagemountainfarm.com for more information about our farm.

Comments, suggestions and questions?
Contact me directly: amy@sagemountainfarm.com
Visit www.sagemountainfarm.com & www.sagemountainbeef.com
for more information about our farm.
Together, let’s get healthy!
Many blessings to you and yours!

Now Available Sage Mountain Livestock!

We raise and process the entire animal and have a variety of cuts available. Contact us if you’re interested in ordering Sage Mountain Chicken, Beef and Pork. Visit www.sagemountainbeef.com for more information.

Sage Mountain Beef provides a very good source of protein and vitamin B12 and a good source of selenium, zinc, iron, phosphorus and other B vitamins without the concern for pesticide, hormone and antibiotic residues.

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Come and taste the Sage Mountain farm fresh difference!

Heart Healthy Recipe

When the day is long and the work hard, preparing the comforts of home are best left simple. This heart healthy recipe calls for seasonally available farm fresh organic produce and requires not much more than this.

Ingredients include butternut squash, onions, sweet potatoes, potatoes, tomatoes, apples, fresh herbs and mixed greens. All courtesy of what was seasonally available in my Sage Mountain Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share box, available for purchase at the Sage Mountain Farm stand in Anza or at one of our local Farmers Market locations.

Begin by rinsing and chopping your veggies, fruit and herbs.
Lay flat on a rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with oil. I like to alternate between Extra Virgin Olive oil and Refined Cold-Pressed Coconut oil (for a texture and taste similar to butter).
Mix and top with a turn of freshly ground Himalayan salt and black pepper.
Bake at 350 for twenty minutes or until soft enough to sink your teeth into.
Plate with a bed of mixed greens, a colorful variety of cherry tomatoes, and dress it up with a dollop of Aris plain sheep’s milk yogurt and fresh organic mint.
Accompany with a bowl of organic strawberries & cantaloupe, a refreshing glass of lemon water and this meal will not only satisfy, it will assure the energy, health and vitality you need to do it all again tomorrow!

Give thanks…. and enjoy!

According to organicfacts.net, cardiovascular diseases make up the single greatest cause of death on the planet. Between ischaemic heart disease, strokes, and hypertension-related deaths, more than 17 million people die each year due to cardiovascular issues. For that reason, protecting their heart is one of the most important and imperative things that everyone needs to do, even at a young age. Preventing situations like unbalanced cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, plaque build-up in your arteries, and unnecessary strain on your cardiovascular system is of the utmost importance.

*Thank you Izzy for preparing this delicious meal and teaching me how to keep it simple!

Love your food, love your body – Love your family, love your farmer. Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program today and live for a healthier you!

NOW AVAILABLE

Thank you for visiting and your continued support!

Let’s make small farms in our region stronger and profitable!

Please subscribe & follow
New blog posts coming soon… Bone Broth Recipe, How to make Home-made Dog Food, The Gloriously Green Smoothie & Farm Fresh Chicken & Vegetable Soup!

Comments, suggestions and questions?
Contact me directly: amy@sagemountainfarm.com
Visit www.sagemountainfarm.com & www.sagemountainbeef.com
for more information about our farm.
Together, let’s get healthy!

Many blessings to you and yours!

Butternut Squash and Apple Bisque Soup

A savory, mouth-watering warm up that will make your skin glow!

INGREDIENTS

1½ lb. Sage Mountain Farm apples
4½ lb. butternut squash
1 large candy onion
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
¼ c. packed brown sugar
¾ tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground cardamom
tsp. salt
½ tsp. ground pepper
4 cups Sage Mountain Farm chicken bone broth
Plain Aris sheep’s milk yogurt (optional)
Fresh chives and coarsely ground pepper

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Divide apples, squash (cut sides up), and onion between two 15 1/2- by 10 1/2-inch jelly-roll pans or shallow large roasting pans; drizzle with oil. Toss onions and apples to coat with oil. In cup, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle spice mixture over ingredients in pans. Place pans on 2 oven racks; roast 1 hour or until very tender and golden, rotating pans between upper and lower racks halfway through roasting time. Cool slightly.
With spoon, scoop out flesh from squash halves and transfer to medium bowl. Discard any dark, tough bottom layers from onion quarters. Cut onion and apples into large chunks.
In blender at low speed, blend one-third of roasted vegetable mixture with 1 can broth until pureed. Pour pureed mixture into 4-quart saucepan. Repeat 2 more times with remaining vegetable mixture and broth. Add 2 cups water to pureed mixture; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors. (If not serving soup right away, spoon into large bowl; cover and refrigerate up to 2 days. Or ladle soup into freezer-safe containers and freeze up to 1 month. Thaw in refrigerator overnight; to serve, reheat over medium heat.)
To serve, ladle soup into individual soup bowls and swirl some yogurt.
Give thanks…… and enjoy!

Nutrition and Health Benefits of Butternut Squash

1. Prevents high blood pressure

A one cup serving of butternut squash contains almost 500 mg of potassium, which can help decrease your blood pressure by counteracting the effects of sodium in your diet. Keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range can help you steer clear of serious health issues like heart disease and stroke.

2. Promotes regularity

One cup of butternut squash contains almost 7 grams of fiber, which can help prevent constipation and maintain a healthy digestive tract by supporting healthy bacteria in the gut.

3. Improves eyesight

Butternut squash is literally loaded with vitamin A—one cup of squash has over 350 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA), which is uber-important for healthy eyesight. It’s a great source of zeaxanthin and lutein, two powerful antioxidants that can also protect your vision.

4. Keeps bones strong

Since it contains about 17 percent of your RDA of manganese, butternut squash can help your body maintain healthy bone structure, calcium absorption, and improve the mineral density of the spinal column. Meanwhile, vitamin C takes part in the production of collagen, which is important for building bone mass. Other minerals found in squash, such as iron, folate, and zinc, all contribute to bone health and protect against osteoporosis.

5. Protects your skin

Butternut squash also contains nearly half of your daily dose of vitamin C, which has been linked to healthier skin: A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined links between vitamin C and skin aging in 4,025 women aged 40-74, and found that higher intakes of the vitamin were linked to a lower likelihood of wrinkles and dryness.

6. Boosts immune function

While vitamin C may not cure the common cold, it may help reduce your risk of developing further complications, such as a lung infection or pneumonia. It may also help protect you from other immune system deficiencies, such as cardiovascular disease.

7. Reduces inflammation

Because of its high antioxidant content, butternut squash may have anti-inflammatory effects, helping you to reduce your risk of inflammation-related disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. For example, a study by the University of Manchester found that those who had the highest intake of the antioxidant beta-cryptoxanthin were only half as likely to develop arthritis over a seven to 15 year period, compared to those with a lower intake. Another study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention followed nearly 400,000 people for up to 16 years, and found that a higher intake of beta-cryptoxanthin also reduced the risk of lung cancer by more than 30 percent.

8. Aids in weight loss

With less than 100 calories, 26 carbohydrates, and almost no fat in a one cup serving, it goes without saying that butternut squash is the cheese to your diet’s macaroni. The fiber content alone helps increase satiety (the feeling of fullness), which can help you manage your weight. Add this nutrition-packed food to a larger portion of your meals, and your weigh scale won’t even know you’re standing on it. (Kidding. Sort of.)

Source: OrganicAuthority.com

At Sage Mountain Farm, we supply only the best nutrient rich produce grown in good healthy soil, mountain rich air using the cleanest natural volcanic spring water available to our local customers in San Diego County, Riverside and Palm Springs.

Let’s make small farms in our region stronger and profitable.

NOW AVAILABLE

Thank you for visiting the Sage Mountain Farm BLOG!
Subscribe & follow
Comments, suggestions and questions?
Contact me directly: amy@sagemountainfarm.com
Visit www.sagemountainfarm.com & www.sagemountainbeef.com
for more information about our farm.
Together, let’s get healthy!

Many blessings to you and yours!

Local Valencia Oranges

As the holidays approach, boost your immune system with local, farm fresh organic Valencia oranges from Sage Mountain Farm!

An amazing flu and cold remedy just in time for the holidays! This week in your Sage Mountain Farm CSA box you will find Valencia oranges perfect for juicing! Add on a jar of Sage Mountain Farm Honey, and mix together with fresh grated Ginger and Turmeric to super-charge your holiday go-power!

10 good reasons to eat an orange a day

Sweet and juicy to taste, orange is one of the most popular fruits in India as well as the world. Belonging to a group of citrus fruits called hesperedium, oranges have more health benefits than one. Here are the top 10 health benefits of the fruit.

1. Boosts your immunity

A single orange can meet more than 100% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C. This vital nutrient helps improve your immunity, keeping you free from diseases and infections. Here are some more immunity boosting foods.

2. Good for your skin

As we grow older, our skin along with other body parts suffers from free radical damage. This process is similar to how metals rust after exposure to air. Even though it is inevitable, oranges are packed with antioxidants and Vitamin C which slows down the process and makes you look younger than your age! Besides oranges, you can eat these fruits and vegetables for glowing skin!

3. Great for your eyes

Along with our skin, our eyes too suffers from damage as we grow older. Oranges are rich in nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and potassium which are great for your eyes. So, if you want your vision to be just as good as it is now, eat an orange every day!

4. Prevents heart disease

One of the reasons why people get heart disease is because their arteries are blocked due to unhealthy lifestyles and consumption of junk food. Oranges have flavonoids like hesperidin which reduces cholesterol and prevents your arteries from getting blocked. This, in turn protects you from heart attack and various other cardiovascular diseases. Alternatively, you could try these 8 natural cholesterol busters.

5. Helps in brain development

Folate and folic acid present in oranges promote brain development and keep the vital organ in mint condition. In fact, these nutrients also make orange a healthy fruit for pregnant woman as it prevents the baby from having neurological disorders later.

6. Prevents cancer

Having cancer can be a tough and harrowing experience for both the patient and the caregiver. Research has shown that a compound called D – limonene present in oranges can prevent various types of cancer like lung cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer, etc. Additionally, the antioxidants and Vitamin C help promote the body’s immunity which helps in fighting cancer cells. Here are some food habits to keep cancer at bay.

7. Keeps you free from stomach ulcers

Oranges are a very good source of fiber which helps keep your stomach and intestines healthy. A diet rich in fiber will ensure that you are not affected with ailments like stomach ulcers and constipation.

8. Protects your vision

Oranges also contain very good levels of vitamin A, and other flavonoid antioxidants such as alpha and beta-carotenes, beta-cryptoxanthin, zea-xanthin and lutein. These compounds are known to have antioxidant properties. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin and is essential for vision. Consumption of natural fruits rich in flavonoids helps the body to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

9. Great for diabetics

People who have diabetes are unable to absorb glucose since the beta-cells present in their pancreas either fail to produce insulin or the body’s cells are unable to respond to the insulin produced. Oranges are high in fibre and have a high glycaemic index which makes it a good food option for diabetics. Also worth mentioning is that good oranges have a sweet taste, and since diabetics aren’t allowed to eat sweets or other sugary foods, they can eat oranges to tingle their taste buds.

10. Prevents hair loss

Orange has high Vitamin C content which is required for producing collagen which, in turn, is responsible for keeping the tissues in your hair together. Nobody likes bald patches on their head, and eating oranges can ensure that you do not have to part with your lovely hair as you grow older.

Source: TheHealthSite.com

Let’s make small farms in our region stronger and profitable.

NOW AVAILABLE!

Thank you for visiting the Sage Mountain Farm BLOG!
Subscribe & follow
Comments, suggestions and questions?
Contact me directly: amy@sagemountainfarm.com
Visit www.sagemountainfarm.com & www.sagemountainbeef.com
for more information about our farm.
Together, let’s get healthy!

Many blessings to you and yours!

	Roasted Delicata Squ… on Apples!
	Heart Healthy Recipe… on The Mighty Onion Prepared with…
	Hearty Chicken and V… on The Mighty Onion Prepared with…
	Hearty Chicken and V… on Roasted Delicata Squash with Q…
	Hearty Chicken and V… on Apples!

Nutritional Benefits

Green & Orange Smoothie Recipe

Share & Inspire others to get healthy!

Ingredients

Directions

Local Farmers.

Take time for gratitude and appreciation. Thank your local farmer!

Share & Inspire others to get healthy!

Home-made Chicken Soup Recipe

Ingredients:

Preparation:

Warm the Heart

Thank you for visiting our Sage Mountain Farm BLOG and your continued support!

Now Available Sage Mountain Livestock!

Share & Inspire others to get healthy!

NOW AVAILABLE

Share & Inspire others to get healthy!

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

Nutrition and Health Benefits of Butternut Squash

1. Prevents high blood pressure

2. Promotes regularity

3. Improves eyesight

4. Keeps bones strong

5. Protects your skin

6. Boosts immune function

7. Reduces inflammation

8. Aids in weight loss

NOW AVAILABLE

Share & Inspire others to get healthy!

10 good reasons to eat an orange a day

1. Boosts your immunity

2. Good for your skin

3. Great for your eyes

4. Prevents heart disease

5. Helps in brain development

6. Prevents cancer

7. Keeps you free from stomach ulcers

8. Protects your vision

9. Great for diabetics

10. Prevents hair loss

NOW AVAILABLE!

Share & Inspire others to get healthy!