Final Reminder

Just a reminder that our 4th Annual Cherry Pit Spit is going to be bigger and better than ever! Come join the fun tomorrow, July 31st from 3-5pm. Can't wait to see you there!

Tasty Tuesday: Apricot Leather

This may be the easiest recipe we've featured so far! I wanted to highlight a way to use the DELICIOUS apricots we now have at The Red Barn and thought this recipe from allrecipes.com sounded like a good one.

Apricot Leather a.k.a Fruit Roll Up

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 cups pitted and diced fresh Red Barn apricots
• 1/2 cup white sugar

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees F (165 degrees C), or the lowest setting you have.
2. Combine the lemon juice, apricots and sugar in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until sugar has dissolved. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth.
3. Cover an 11x17 inch pan or cookie sheet with a layer of plastic wrap. Pour the pureed fruit onto the plastic and spread evenly to within 1 inch of the edge.
4. Bake for 4 to 6 hours in the preheated oven, using a spoon or a pair of tongs to keep the door slightly ajar, or until the puree has dried and is no longer sticky. Once dry, you can cut it into strips and store in an airtight container.

Cherry Harvest Begins

Today we kick off the first official day of what we call "Cherry Season". Our main crop, the tart cherry, is now being vigorously shaken from its branches - which only means one thing - the Cherry Pit Spit is just around the corner! This years pit spitting court will be open for qualifying from 9am-4pm, on July 31st, with our main activities happening between 3-5pm. Just looking at last year's pictures gets me excited for all the fun of our even bigger and better event this year!

Last years trophy and prize table....who wouldn't want to take one of these home?!
Games and entertainment for the whole family!
Face painting was a huge hit! We will also be doing caricatures this year.
Last years Women's Round Finalists.
The 2009 Pit Spit Champions!

Can't wait to see YOU there!

Tasty Tuesday: Giveaway!

Today for Tasty Tuesday I will bring you something better than a recipe...
Here's your chance to try some of The Red Barn products for free!
Real Moms Real Views did a review of some Red Barn products, and we're sponsoring a giveaway to promote it.

If you would like a chance to win, enter the contest HERE.

Being a blog follower gives you more chances to win, so make sure to check it out!

Good luck!

Sponsors

We are excited to announce our sponsors for this year's Cherry Pit Spit! Come spit a pit July 31st from 3-5pm at The Red Barn for your chance to win a prize from these great companies, all located on Santaquin's Main Street!

• The Italian Place
• Family Tree
• Goldilocks
• Urban Bette
• Fast Trax
• A Fresh Cut
• Wagon Wheel Saloon
• And of course, The Red Barn!
  

Tasty Tuesday: Fruit Salsa

Here at The Red Barn we have some great fruit salsas that have a bit of a kick. If you are looking to make a sweet salsa, Real Mom Kitchen has the recipe for you. This can be adapted to use your favorite fruits, just use this recipe as a basic outline.

Fruit Salsa with Baked Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

• 1 kiwi, peeled and diced
• 1 Red Barn Golden Delicious apple – peeled, cored and diced
• 4 oz. Red Barn raspberries
• 8 oz. of strawberries, diced
• 1 Tablespoons white sugar
• 1/2 Tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Red Barn jam (I used strawberry)
  
• 10 small flour tortillas (the fajita size that’s about 7 inches)
• 4 Tablespoons melted butter (or butter flavored cooking spray)
• 2 cups cinnamon sugar

1. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and jam. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
2.Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3.Coat one side of each flour tortilla with melted butter (or butter flavored cooking spray). Sprinkle tortillas with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Using a pizza cutter, cut each tortilla in half and then cut each half into 4 wedges. Arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. (if using cooking spray, spray tortillas again with cooking spray).
4.Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture. Best when made and eaten the same day otherwise the fruit gives off so too much juice and it gets runny. Serves around 5-6.

Sweet Cherries

The sweet cherry harvest is now in full swing.
We are selling 2 pound bags, the more you buy, the better deal you get!

Current prices are:
1 bag (remember, each bag is 2 pounds) $4
2 bags - $7
3 bags - $9
Full case (12 bags) - $34

You won't find cherries fresher than this in any store! Pick yours up today!

Garden Girls: Maintaining a Healthy Garden

We hope that all of your gardens are in full bloom. I've heard from a few of our Garden Girls that it is about that time of the season where squash bugs and mildew are becoming a force to be reckoned with! While reading on the internet I found an organic approach to fighting the bug battle.

To make a milk spray to treat powdery mildew on fruits and vegetables or blackspot on rose: Mix one part milk with two parts of water. Pour liquid into spray bottle, and spray it on plants once a week.

To make a pepper spray to get rid of insects such as spider mites and aphids:

CAUTION: BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN MAKING AND USING PEPPER SPRAY. KEEP IT AWAY FROM YOUR FACE. IT IS HIGHLY IRRITATING, AND IT IS SIMILAR IN COMPOSITION TO THE PEPPER SPRAY USED TO SUBDUE CRIMINALS.

Place 1/2 tablespoon of liquid hand soap, 1-2 cups of jalapeno or habanero peppers, and one quart of water in a blender. Puree. Wearing gloves, strain the liquid through cheesecloth to remove solids. Pour into a spray bottle. Before spraying it on an entire plant, try it out on a small area, such as a leaf or branch first, to make sure it does not burn the plant.

Has anyone else tried an organic approach to gardening? We'd love to hear your ideas!

Pit Spit

The highly anticipated 4th Annual Cherry Pit Spit will be held at The Red Barn on July 31st from 3-5pm! We are bringing back the pie eating contest and have bigger and better prizes and games! More details to follow!

Tasty Tuesday: Blackberry Cheesecake Cups

I am loving all of the fresh fruit available at The Red Barn right now. I found another recipe from my favorite cooking website, Real Mom Kitchen. Laura does an excellent job preparing and photographing fantastic food that can be made with ingredients most of us have on hand. So without further delay, I bring you Blackberry Cheesecake Cups!


Ingredients:

• 4 graham crackers
• 1 T. butter, melted
• 8 oz. light cream cheese (Neufchatel)
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 12 oz. fresh Red Barn blackberries (reserve 4 for garnishing)
• sweetened whipped cream for garnish* see recipe below
  
• mint leaves (optional) also for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Crush the graham crackers to create crumbs. Add melted butter, stir well to combined. Spread on baking sheet. Toast in the oven 3 – 5 minutes until crumbs start to brown. Cool.
2. Process the cream cheese, sugar, cream and vanilla in a food processor until smooth. Add half the blackberries and process until just crushed.
3. Spoon a half of the graham cracker crumbs into four 1/2 cup-capacity dishes, layer on a few blackberries. Divide cheesecake mixture evenly between the dishes and top with the remaining graham cracker crumbs. Garnish with whipped cream, blackberries, and mint (if desired). Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Serves 4.

*This recipe would also be great with raspberries or blueberries, or a combination of all three berries!

Sweetened Whipped Cream

1 cup Whipping Cream
2 heaping tbsp Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Combine all ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl and beat until soft peaks form.

Fruit Frenzy!

Just in time for your Fourth of July festivities, we have a large selection of local fruits for sale. You won't find fruit fresher than this at any store since it's straight from the farm! Currently we have:

Raspberries
Sweet Cherries
Cantaloupe
Watermelon
Grapes
Blueberries
Blackberries
Apples
Oranges
Grapefruits

Don't forget we also have ice cream in to-go containers, as well as Take and Bake pies. Nothing says Happy Independence Day America like a Red Barn Apple Pie! Have a safe and enjoyable holiday - we hope to see you soon!