Welcome to your 7th ReFresh newsletter of the season! As April comes close to an end, we’re wrapping up the month with fresh ideas, updates, and inspiration you need to finish strong. This newsletter is full of tips, tasty recipes, and community happenings to get you prepared for your next chapter. Let’s make the most of these final days of April!
In this newsletter, you will find:
– Information about Tarragon and its health benefits in the “Featured Bag Item” section.
– Information about growing tomatoes in the “Gardening” section.
– A few simple recipes that you can make with the fresh ingredients in your ReFresh bag!
– Information in the “Community Resource” section about the Youth Agricultural Cooperative’s fundraiser, the Plant Medicine: An Altar art exhibit, and the South Valley’s Preschool Story Time.
We hope you enjoy this newsletter and thank you for your participation as we work together to build a healthy local food system.
Next ReFresh distribution: 05/14/25 & 05/15/25
Text your questions, photos, and comments to: (505) 226-3707.
Featured Bag Item
What is Tarragon, and what are its health benefits?
Tarragon is a leafy green herb that has a slightly bittersweet flavor. There are three variations of tarragon: Russian tarragon, Mexican Tarragon, and French tarragon. Very popular in French cooking, it is used to add freshness and brighten up dishes!
Nutrition and Health Benefits:
Tarragon is rich in vitamin A and C, important for supporting immune health and vision.
It provides minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium, helping to regulate blood pressure and support healthy muscles.
Tarragon contains antioxidants that help keep your cells healthy and protect your body from damage.
It has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which may support a healthy immune response and reduce inflammation.
Tarragon also aids digestion and helps stimulate appetite, making it helpful for those recovering from illness or experiencing poor appetite.
Fun Facts:
Tarragon has been used historically in traditional medicine for toothaches and digestion. It is sometimes called the King of Herbs in French cuisine because of how often it’s used in classic dishes!
Storage Tips:
Fresh: Wrap in a damp paper towel and store inside a sealed bag or container in the fridge for up to 5-7 days.
To Dry: Hang small bunches upside down in a dry, dark, and well ventilated area for 1-2 weeks.
Dried Herbs: Store in an airtight container away from heat and light, use within 6 months for best flavor.
Ways to Cook with Tarragon:
Add fresh tarragon to salad dressings or vinaigrettes for a herby flavor. Stir into creamy sauces, especially those served with chicken or fish. Mix into omelets, scrambled, or quiches!
Disclaimer: The information shared by Three Sisters Kitchen (TSK) is for general informational purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a doctor or other health care provider.
Fresh, zesty, and packed with flavor, this Pico de Gallo isn’t just delicious, it’s full of health benefits too! Green onions and shallots are rich in antioxidants and help support heart health.
This cake is a nice balance of sweet and herbal! Rosemary has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce swelling, supporting joints and overall health. It’s a good treat! There are dessert recipes similar to this recipe that use thyme and oregano as well.
Crisp and full of flavor, this simple stir-fry is packed with powerful nutrients! Pea sprouts are rich in vitamins A, C, and K, helping to boost your immune system and keep bones strong. Garlic brings heart-healthy benefits.
For the full recipe, including step-by-step instructions, check out:
Celebrate the Youth Agricultural Cooperative’s very first fundraiser! Enjoy delicious food, exciting games with prizes, and a silent auction full of great finds. Bring your friends and family to support them!
A moving exhibit that explores a deep connection to plant medicine and herbal remedies passed down through generations of women in artist Alexandra Bower’s family. This show is a tribute to healing, loss, and finding comfort in nature.
Library staff are ready to lead a lively story time filled with stories, songs, and activities designed to spark early literacy skills in young children. Perfect for kids ages 3-5, this fun session will help build a love of reading while encouraging creativity and learning.
Three Sisters Kitchen Camine Con Gusto Class (in Spanish)
¡Manténgase activo o comience su primer plan de caminata con uno de los Programas de Salud Comunitaria de Three Sisters Kitchen! El 29 de abril, comenzaremos una nueva cohorte en español para Camina con Facilidad. Es un programa GRATUITO de 6 semanas con consejos para caminar cómodamente, incluso con artritis. Si desea tomar la clase en inglés o español, envíe un mensaje de texto al 505-226-3707 con su nombre y correo electrónico. Nos comunicaremos con usted para informarle la fecha de la próxima clase de inglés en julio. Las clases son en línea de lunes a viernes de 5:30 p. m. a 6:30 p. m. y el grupo decide cuándo y dónde caminar juntos una vez por semana.
Walk With Ease Keep moving or start your first walking plan with one of the Community Health Programs at Three Sisters Kitchen! We will be starting a new Spanish cohort for Walk With Ease April 29th. It’s a FREE 6-week program with tips on how to walk comfortably, even with arthritis. Whether you would like to take the class in English or Spanish, text 505-226-3707 with your name and email address. The classes are online on Mondays 5:30-6:30 pm and the group decides when and where to walk together once a week.
This Week’s ReFresh Bag
This week, your Refresh bag will include many of the following delicious fresh and staple items:
*NM grown / NM made We raise money to purchase these foods from local farmers and food producers as a concrete way to invest in our local food system and get delicious, fresh, local food to our ReFresh families. Keep an eye out for these local farms and food businesses when you do your food shopping. ReFresh bags will always include local food items.
Special thanks to all of the farmers and food producers working so hard to feed our communities; to the staff, volunteers, donors, and ReFresh families who make the program work, and to our partners at MoGro who pack these beautiful ReFresh bags each week for us, and who do so much important work connecting communities to healthy food throughout New Mexico. There would be no ReFresh program without all of you – we love our partners
Keep moving or start your first walking plan with one of the Community Health Programs at Three Sisters Kitchen! We will be starting a new Spanish cohort for Walk With Ease April 29th. It’s a FREE 6-week program with tips on how to walk comfortably, even with arthritis. Whether you would like to take the class in English or Spanish, text 505-226-3707 with your name and email address. The classes are online on Mondays 5:30-6:30 pm and the group decides when and where to walk together once a week.