Jumpin' June!
June is here to kick off Gleaning Season and the Summer time the right way!
June begins Country Cooking Month
This is a month that symbolizes more time with family on vacations, visiting relatives and friends and savoring some good old fashion time in the kitchen on making recipes we love! Here are some lists of recipes that will bring back the flavors and memories of the days you watched your family cook incredible meals together!
It also kicks off Dairy month!
Dairy is an important part of many people’s diets in everything from cheese, butter and milk to the occasional heavy whipped cream and ice cream. This month started as a way to distribute extra milk during the warmer months of summer but has continued to this day as a reminder of the many benefits of dairy in the diet! There is a growing number of folks who find that they are allergic to some if not all dairy products but alternative dairy products have given back the ability to experience dairy again!
Please do note that as you observe this month and know that dairy can offer a variety of benefits, the dairy industry is also precariously situated in terms of sustainability. Sustainably, dairy farms use an enormous amount of feed, water and space per gallon of milk which yields an enormous impact on the environment (they have committed to reducing their footprint 25% so there’s hope!).
Alternative milks may seem like the answer but popular alternatives such as Almond, Oat, Soy and Cashew have their own drawbacks and sustainability issues including water use (Almond: 371 gallons/L, Oat: 48 gallons/L, Soy: 28 gallons/L, Rice 270 gallons/L, and Cow’s Milk 628 gallons/L), Carbon emissions and Land use not to mention the heavy use of pesticides in milk alternatives which may be leeching into final products (this is still being studied). We’re not trying to convince you to not enjoy your favorite dairy alternatives, but make sure you’re being sustainable and considering all the options, pros and cons before you make choices with your diet and food consumption!
June celebrates Fresh Fruits and Veggies month!
You know we are all about that here at the gleaning project and as we jump into this month we ask you to take time to appreciate farm fresh produce and visit a local farmers market to explore the ways that fresh produce can change not only your recipes and flavors but also your health and lifestyle!
Nutrition Source Veggies and Fruits
National Fruits and Veggies Month Celebration American Heart Association
Finally June is Pride month!
We support everyone of any background and would like to extend warm Gleaning Project wishes to all those folks who have come out as part of the LGBTQIAP*+ spectrum and to those who may not have had the courage or are not in the position to currently live as their authentic selves! You are seen and loved and we hope that you are able to one day live a life free of worry or the need to “come out”!
If you’d like to learn more about the community, get educational resources, become an Ally or donate to LGBTQIAP*+ orgs please check out the links below!:
June 3rd is World Cider Day
Cider, a beloved beverage that can be enjoyed hot or cold, mulled with additional spices or combined with a variety of wines and other alcohols. What a wonderful way to start the summer with fresh cold cider ! Give the recipes below a try in order to enjoy this delicious holiday all summer long (and into the rest of the year, too!)
June 4th is Cheese Day!
Cheese is ancient and oh so delicious! Cheese is thought to predate recorded history! The most popular cheese worldwide is mozzarella but cheese dishes can be sweet, savory, deep fried, melted and chilled! Did you know 4% of all cheese made each year is stolen and the reason cheese is often dyed orange is because in the 17th century it helped people believe that cheese was higher quality! How about that 1/2 the cheese eaten in the world each year is Gouda or that JUST France has 1000 types of cheese! There are so many things you can learn about cheese but we think the best way to experience it is through eating! Give it a shot and try a different type of cheese today than you may normally or create a new recipe with cheese to savor!
June 5th is Veggie Burger Day!
Summer is not summer without gatherings with delicious foods! Why not try a new way to enjoy burgers this year? Meat-free burgers have been on the rise and have become increasingly easy to get: Impossible Burgers can be found at almost every store and black bean and veggie burgers are appearing more and more frequently on menus everywhere! Give them a shot either with premade ones if you’re worried you may not be able to make one yourself or homemade if you’re more adventurous! You won’t be sorry!
June 6th is Applesauce Cake day!
Applesauce is something we’ve all enjoyed as a side to other things or perhaps as a snack but did you know you could use it in cake? It creates a delicious, moist cake that may just be one of the best you’ve ever had.
June 9th is Strawberry Rhubarb Day!
June 10th is Herbs and Spices Day!
We all use the words herbs and spices, but do we know what the difference is? Well, this day is meant to help educate you on not only that but also how to use them to make some of the most flavorful and delicious meals!
Herbs are defined as the green, leafy part of the plant. Think Basil, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Parsley and Oregano.
Spices are defined as coming from the root, stem, seed, fruit, flower or bark of the tree or plant. Examples include cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, star anise, and turmeric.
There are so many but that means that the same dish can have millions of different variations and flavors depending on what you happen to have in your herbs and spice cabinet!
But with this many choices, have you ever found yourself wondering, what am I supposed to use on this dish? Never fear! We assembled a group of links to perhaps help you with suggestions to get you started but don’t let their suggestions get in the way of experimenting!
When and How to Add Spices and Herbs to Food
Spice Advice’s website can not only guide you on how and when, but they also have a quick reference spice chart, a testing for freshness and storage page, how to avoid certain herbs and spices in restricted diets and a spice encyclopedia!Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Herbs and Spices
Foodal offers a guide that helps understand more of the global marketplace of spices and has separated them into 84 different selections with 3 groups to help direct you based on what you’re looking for.A Beginner’s Guide to Fresh Herbs and Spices from The Chopping Blog
This blog teaches you to how you can classify herbs, spices and what their characteristics are. In addition to that, there are explanations of how to pick them out and how to utilize them!22 Different Spices and Herbs and How To Use Them
Cooking with spices and herbs can help lessen your need to use salt but it can enhance flavor and add a new level of depth. Make sure you try out this page to maybe explore some spices that you’ve seen and aren’t too sure how to use.
Apples
Arugala
Asparagus
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard
Cherries
Chili Peppers
Chives
Cilantro
Collard Greens
Fava Beans
Garlic Scape
Green Onions
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lamb’s Quarters
Lettuce
Mint
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Onions
Oregano
Parsley
Pea Shoots
Peas
Purslane
Radishes
Rapini
Rhubarb
Rosemary
Sage
Shallots
Snap Peas
Snow Peas
Sprouts
Strawberries
Summer Squash
Tarragon
Thyme
Tomatoes
Watercress