A trip to the farm

Last week we met one of my friends at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark.  I had been there for their pumpkin patch, but I didn't know that you could visit year round.  The kids loved riding in a wagon, seeing animals and going on the pony ride and train, but most of all, they loved picking vegetables.  Underwood Farms lets you pick produce that's in season and charges you by weight.  It seemed like the big hit that day was the strawberry patch but by the time we took off across the fields, it was a ways away and we just ended up picking vegetables.  

We picked golden beets, carrots, spinach, and parsley.  I also picked up a few things at their farm stand (lemons, garlic, bell peppers) and my bill was a whopping $5!  It was a really fun day and when I served chimichurri marinated flank steak the next night to our guests, I could say that the parsley was growing in the fields the day before.  I wish there was something like this in the I.E. closer to us!  Thanks for a great idea, Shayna!

Information about Underwood Family Farms

You can buy tickets for train rides, mining for gems, a petting zoo, pony rides, a bounce house or tractor rides. 

At the end of each row, it describes the vegetables growing there.  Signs also tell you if a row isn't ready to pick yet.

Italian flat leaf parsley

I took half of the chimichurri sauce below and used it to marinate flank steak overnight.  We then grilled it and sliced it thinly against the grain.  I served the rest of the sauce on the side at the table. Chimichurri also makes a great dipping sauce for slices of baguette.

Chimichurri (makes about 1 cup)

1.5 cups firmly packed fresh flat-leaf parsley
4 garlic cloves
3 T fresh oregano leaves
3/4 c. olive oil
3 T lemon juice
1.5 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (more to taste)

Trim the parsley of any thick stems and then finely chop it.  Also finely chop the oregano and garlic (or you can put it in a food processor or mini chopper for a few pulses).  Put it in a small bowl and stir in the rest of the ingredients.  Taste and adjust seasonings.

Serve immediately or refrigerate.  If you refrigerate it, bring it back to room temperature before serving.