Clear, Cold Bok Choy Weather & a Soup Recipe to Chase the Chill

 Happy New Year! Just like that, winter blew in with a very cool week!

 Very large agricultural covers protect all our crops from killing frost

 Sweater weather is here and we have all of our veggies snuggled under very large agricultural blankets. I heard there were snow flurries in Pierson but none on our farm. Yesterday I peeked under the covers and saw healthy crops. There could be a little tip burn on leaves that touch the frozen material. Sometimes frost damage is not obvious for a few days.  With crossed fingers we are hoping nothing took a big hit. We experience freezing temperatures every winter, so we take pains to prepare. It is extra work but it can be a difference of having 1-2 diminished  harvests as compared to nothing to cut for weeks. Easy decision there! Once in place and held down with sand bags, most of the work is done. That's what you have to do to have fresh veggies on the table this month! And that leads me to share another seasonal recipe using our winter 2018 veggie hero: Baby Bok Choy.

 A lovely steaming bowl of baby bok choy soup?  I just threw it together 

 Baby Bok Choy Soup Preparation

 Basic Ingredients:

3 large baby bok choy chopped (about 4 cups)

1/4 cup diced onion
6 cups chicken or veggie stock
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Optional:
1 1/2 cups leftover cooked pasta eg spaghetti chopped
1 cup cooked spinach chopped

Putting it together:
Place bok choy, onions and stock in a large pot. The liquid needs to cover the veggies by about an inch. Bring pot to boil uncovered then reduce heat and cook til veggies are tender about 20 minutes on medium heat. Add your optional ingredients and heat through. I love to fry my pasta up first in a little butter. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Drizzle with a little melted butter. surely some might want to add a little ginger and wouldn't just about any mushrooms just make it even better?  Find other farm recipes.