Dear ReFresh Family and Friends,
This week we are excited to share the news that Health Educator Maggie Kentilitisca is moving on from Three Sisters Kitchen to pursue a Masters in International Development at American University in Washington, D.C. Maggie has contributed so much to Three Sisters, including launching this newsletter. We will miss her! We wish her the best in her important work.
The tomatoes are beginning to fruit. We welcome the coming harvest. We thank the poets of the world, and especially Michelle Otero who shares a new poem this week, “Pandemic Poem,” which speaks to our present moment with her characteristic soul-affirming grace. Maintaining our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being is the focus of our Community Resources column this week. We invite you to read and relax while enjoying something cold and delicious.
Upcoming Delivery: Wednesday, August 5, 2020
Text your questions, photos, and comments to: (505) 226-3707.
Ask a Farmer
Tomato Series by Tiana Baca
How do you know when to harvest your tomatoes? This week Tiana shares with us some tips about the timing to harvest your tomatoes.
Check out this sauteed shishito peppers recipe:
Ingredients
– 2 tbsp of olive oil or any oil you have at home 
– 8 oz of shishito peppers
– Juice from half of a lime
– Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Heat oil in a medium pan.
2. Add shishito peppers to the pan and saute until the skins of the shishito peppers are blistered and browned.
3. Sprinkle some salt and pepper and drizzle lime juice on the peppers.
4. Enjoy with rice or beans, or eat it alone!
Recipe and picture source: https://www.foodnetwork.com/
Do you have a question about food and nutrition?
Send your questions to [email protected].
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. Picture by: Maggie Kentilitisca, TSK Community Health Educator.
- “I love these sweet or savory squash cakes because
they are nutritious and versatile. I like having the option of making them sweet or savory based on my appetite in the morning. You can also use whole wheat flour to make the squash cakes and use any fruits you have at home to eat with the cake.” – Lisa Chen, Community Health Program Coordinator
- “Smoothies are one of my favorite quick and easy breakfasts. I love to add in whatever extra fruit and vegetables I might have in the kitchen at the time. If you’re wondering what to do with the carrot greens you received in your refresh box, this is a great way to use them! Check out this basic smoothie recipe to start brainstorming what delicious smoothie you can make for breakfast soon.“ – Blythe Maunders, TSK Community Health Educator
“I enjoy making simple tacos filled with veggies and wrapped in either chard or Silverleaf lettuce. Add whatever ingredients you have to fill the taco then make a simple dressing to drizzle on top. This is a great way to enjoy a nutritious taco or burrito!” – Blythe Maunders, Community Health Educator
“Pandemic Poem“
by Michelle Otero
we call before. Now the floors are dusty. I forget
my Spanish. Taxes aren’t paid.
I think of all those naps I didn’t take
in pre-school. Michelle, lay your
head down. Michelle, close your eyes. I resisted
rest. Or maybe it wasn’t offered
as it should have been.
I build a shelter of husband’s uncut
hair, string loosened from mask,
sunflower petals cycled to ground,
leaves of watermelon that didn’t take.
Summer tanager alights his red body
on our adobe fence, sings look-at-choo, look-at-choo
Mother and Father test negative, order
groceries online from Walmart, tend
tomato plants. One-hundred-thirty-five
cases in Luna County. Her best friend gone.
When this is over, how much grieving
to be done? How much touch? How
many rosaries to pray? What does over mean?
“Community Highlights“
Thank you to all of you who shared your wonderful pictures for the SWOP Mask with Purpose campaign. Below are highlights from some of our winners!
“I feel proud to wear these Masks with a Purpose when I go out” –Susana Espino
“Thank you ReFresh for your focus on nutrition and health of the community. My mom and I are happy to be able to have fresh fruits and vegetables while staying at home. Thank you to EVERYONE who has made this possible.” -Dalila Rascon
“We receive these vegetables with emotion and joy and it motivates me to plant vegetables in a little garden. – Blanca Toquinto
“I take care of children in my home and the ReFresh box helps the kids come to love vegetables. We do learning activities about the benefits of eating vegetables.” – Norma Ochoa
by Blythe Maunders
As the fall approaches and the temperatures start to cool here in Albuquerque, we can look forward to spending time in the 
outdoor spaces that Albuquerque has to offer. There are an abundance of biking and walking paths that we can take advantage of to move our bodies and spend some time outdoors. Making time to exercise, in any form that you wish, can have profoundly positive impacts on your mental health and general sense of wellbeing. Check out this article to read more about the benefits of movement.
Below you will find links to several different walking and biking paths here in Albuquerque. Use these trails to get outside, reset your mind and remember what a beautiful city we live in and don’t forget to mask up when you are outside!
Click here to see a list of parks with added amenities around the Albuquerque metro area. Included with each listing is a link with directions to each park.
Find a map of the different “prescription” trails that ABQ has to offer. Just click on any of the trails marked in orange on the map and find a link to a description of the trail, including trail conditions, attractions, trail length, and how many steps you will take if you complete the trail.
Click here to learn about some important tips when using the trials in Albuquerque.
Albuquerque has over 400 miles of bike paths that are open for use by everyone. Below you will find some wonderful trails that you and your family can enjoy.
Click here to find a map of all the bike trails that Albuquerque has to offer. You can also call 505-768-2680 to have the city send you a hard copy of this map for your use.
Here you will find a similar map to the one above, but with added descriptions of each trail and its conditions. Just click on the trail that interests you to see a brief description of the path.
Click here to view an article on tips and tricks to be courteous while using outdoor spaces.
Photo by Blythe Maunders
- Carrots from Agri-Cultura Network farmers*
- Tomatoes from Growing Opportunities*
- Flour Tortillas from Sabroso Foods*
- Eggs from Thompson Farms*
- Eggs from Organic Valley**
- Pinto beans from Ness Farms*
- Shishito peppers and lettuce from Silverleaf Farms*
- Spring onion from Vida Verde*
- Salsa from NM Sabor* NM Sabor is a new local company that specializes in salsa. Their products are meant to be the best, fresh tasting, hand-made salsas. They focus on flavor as their name suggests. By using fresh ingredients and local goods such as certified Hatch Green Chile, jalapenos, and local raw honey in their products they are able to capture robust flavor and unbelievable freshness. Go to https://www.newmexicosabor.
com/retail/ to find local retailers who carry their salsa. - Lemons**
- Cantaloupe**
- Apples**
- Pears**
- Iceberg Lettuce**
* 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 boxes will always include local food items.
** These fresh fruits and vegetables are made possible by a donation from Segovia Foods, with funding from the USDA Farm to Families program. This donation allows us to increase the amount of food in your ReFresh boxes while using our resources to invest in the local food economy and support our local farmers and food producers. Please note, these donated food items may not be locally grown and they may not be grown using organic practices. ReFresh boxes may not always include these donated items.
Thank You!
– All of us at Three Sisters Kitchen