Fresh Fork Winter CSA–week 12

We were a bit early for our pick up today.  I took the opportunity to chat with Eric, who works at the back of the truck.  I really enjoy meeting people who are passionate about local foods.  It was a bit chilly for the pick up, but at least it wasn’t raining.

Here’s what we were expecting to receive this week:

• 1 Grassfed beef steak
• 1 pt. concord grape jelly
• 1 12oz piece Swiss cheese
• 2 lbs. spelt flour
• 3 lbs. red potatoes
• 1 lb. spinach pasta
• 1 bunch kale or mustard greens
• 1 bag mixed salad greens
• 1/4 lb. ramps

Here’s a group shot:

Grape jelly is probably my favorite flavor in the jelly/jam category.  I hope to hoard most of this for myself and use it on French toast and PP&J sandwiches.  I’m going to try and make homemade tortillas with the spelt flour.  My recipe works well with whole wheat flour, so I thought I’d try the spelt.

We’ll probably just make mashed potatoes this week.  Unless my new slicer comes in, then I might try out some microwavable potato chips.  I tossed the pasta into the freezer.  It will make for a nice quick meal when we need it this week.

I’ve never met a local, grass-fed cheese that I didn’t like.  I suspect this new Swiss will be great.  So far, Swiss is the only cheese that Sally won’t eat.  Maybe this variety will change her mind.  I think the kale will go into a casserole dish that I’m still dreaming up in my head.

The steak is frozen, so I put it in the freezer.  When we get another stretch of warm weather, we’ll grill it for dinner one night.  The winter greens aren’t my favorite, but I’m going to try to make a chopped salad out of them.  I’m not a big fan of the texture of the stems, but a chopped version in a roll up is sounding good to me.

The final item this week is ramps.  In a nutshell, ramps grow wild this time of year and are similar to a leek.  I’ll use them as an onion type of ingredient with fried potatoes or soup this week.

I bought a couple of extras this week as well.  At $5 a piece, I picked up 3 yogurts and one Krispie Treat Granola.  I can’t seem to keep the yogurt in stock at our house.  One of the Heinen’s stores near me carries it, but I like to buy it from Fresh Fork whenever possible.  These 3 containers probably won’t last until the next pick up.

I’m starting to get excited for the summer CSA.  Only 2 more months away.