This sweet, tangy, spicy stew is great winter comfort food, made with lots of preserved and long-keeping ingredients. Our ancestors probably ate more meat in the winter, when it could be preserved by the cold, and fresh vegetables were limited. Local lamb is often available at winter farmers' markets; lamb neck bones are one of the cheapest and most flavorful cuts, perfect for stew.

The secret ingredient in the rich, fruity sauce is... prunes! Preserved lemons and harissa (a North African chile paste) add kick at the end. If you can't find preserved lemons, you can just use fresh lemon juice and zest, but they are worth seeking out at Spanish or Middle Eastern specialty stores. Or, you can easily make them at home... recipes for both harissa and preserved lemons are on my blog, www.veggieobsession.com. Parsley is such an underrated herb; a big handful of parsley adds a really nice flavor and a fresh note to rich stews like this.

Financial Success and Business Sustainability for Small Market Farms

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Next week the Albuquerque Growers Market Alliance, the Mid-Region Council of Governments, and NMSU Bernalillo County Extension Service, will host the course "Financial Success and Business Sustainability for Small Market Farms." This free course will focus on the nuts and bolts of developing a business plan for a small market farm. The course begins with a discussion of possible business models for your farm, and then gives direction on where and how to file the appropriate paperwork to register the business, once you’ve decided how it will be structured. Over the course of the series, extension agent Garlisch covers developing good bookkeeping practices, tax forms for agriculture, market research and marketing, financial and human resource planning, exit strategies, and more. By the end of the course, if you do your homework, you should have a working business plan to approach possible funding sources, property owners, or investors to help you start or expand your farm. This course is great for new farmers or established farmers looking to revise or update their business plan. The course will happen over three days, with two hours of class each day.

When: January 25, 26, and 27 from 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Who: Small market farmers
Where: Bernalillo County Extension Offices (1510 Menaul Ext BLVD NW)
How Much: Free (Participants must register for the course. Class size limited to 15)

Register here!

This course is part of the ongoing workshop and training series, Growing Local. For a full list of offerings visit Abqmarkets.org.