Dairy time at the farm
June is National Dairy Month, an event that started in 1939 when the government wanted more people to drink milk in the summer. Apparently, there was a slowdown when the weather turned hot and people switched to iced tea and other refreshing drinks. Today, we eat plenty of ice cream and cheese to make up the difference.
As part of the celebration, Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township will hold its annual Dairy Day on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can watch milking demonstrations, help make cheese and butter, and taste freshly made ice cream.
Dairy is again the theme on June 28 when Howell Farm holds its ice cream socials. An old-fashioned engine will be used to churn gallons of ice cream in the shade of the farmhouse’s huge maple tree. There will be music from the Jugtown Mountain String Band, kids’ games, ice cream, and lunch items for sale.
Admission to the farm and parking are free. For information, see howellfarm.org.
L.E.A.D. Fair
Law Enforcement Against Drugs will again sponsor one of Mercer County’s most popular fairs. The LEAD Fest State Fair opens 5 p.m., Friday, June 27, and continues through July 6. Hours are 5-11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 3-11 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and July 4. It will be held on the Mercer County Park Festival Grounds in West Windsor.
There will be plenty of traditional fair food for sale, music, a carnival,l and fireworks. For information and tickets, see the website theleadfest.com.
Thunder transforms into Tomato Pies
The Trenton Thunder, Mercer County’s favorite baseball team, will offer a nod to the county’s favorite food when the team becomes the Trenton Tomato Pies for just one night.
The one-night transformation will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 28 at
Trenton Thunder Ballpark, where the team will suit up in special Tomato Pie uniforms to pay homage to the city’s iconic style of pizza.
For more information, see the website tomatopiesbaseball.com.
Hot dog! How many can you eat?
The recently reopened Captain Paul’s Firehouse Dogs will hold its first Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 3 at 6 p.m. at the Lawrence eatery.
Amateur hot dog eaters can show off their skills in four brackets. Winners of the Men’s and Women’s competitive brackets will receive a $50 gift card.
Proceeds will benefit Tunnels to Towers Foundation, which provides mortgage-free homes to families of fallen first responders.
Sign up for the event in the store located at 2230 Princeton Pike, Lawrence.
Blueberries are here
We get a little sad when strawberry season ends, but the quick arrival of Jersey blueberries makes it easier to accept. The lush fruit is very much in season at local grocery stores and some farms and farm markets. Enjoy the season, which lasts into August, by eating them fresh and in baked goods and sauces, and even some savory dishes. This wonderful blueberry muffin recipe comes from “The Perfect Recipe” by local cookbook author and columnist Pam Anderson:
Blueberry Muffins
Vegetable cooking spray OR paper cupcake liners
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 stick plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup minus 1 tablespoon sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups plain yogurt or sour cream
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 ½ cups fresh or 1 cup dried blueberries
1 tablespoon flour (if using fresh or frozen berries)
1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 12-cup muffin tin with vegetable cooking spray.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
3. Beat butter, sugar, and lemon zest with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in one-half of the dry ingredients. Beat in one-third of yogurt or sour cream. Beat in half of the remaining ingredients, alternating with the remaining one-third of yogurt or sour cream and repeat until fully incorporated.
4. Combine fresh or frozen berries (if using) with a tablespoon of flour. Fold blueberries into the finished batter.
5. Use a large ice cream scoop to divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake until muffins are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Set on a wire rack to cool slightly. Dip in cinnamon-sugar topping, if using (recipe follows).
Cinnamon-Sugar Topping
This sugar-cinnamon topping is optional.
½ cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, melted
Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Dip each warm muffin in melted butter, then in sugar-cinnamon mixture, and serve immediately.
