Fresh Fork CSA–week 5

CSA No Responses »
Jun 302011
 

Today was the 5th pick up for the Fresh Fork CSA.  We were expecting the following items.

Small CSA:

  • 1 bunch beets with tops
  • 1 bunch carrots with tops
  • 1 head cabbage
  • 2 ct zucchini
  • 2 ct squash
  • 1-2 cucumbers depending on size
  • 1 quart yogurt
  • 1 head bibb lettuce
  • Approx 1.5 lbs tomatoes
  • Approx 2 lbs sweet black cherries
  • 1 lb grassfed ground beef

Here is what we received:

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So, it looks like the black raspberries were an unexpected bonus this week.  Everything looks fabulous.  We’ll be feasting well for the holiday weekend.

In addition to the above, I had placed an order for extras via the Fresh Fork website.  It worked well.  I ordered maple syrup, oats, 2 wheat flour, chorizo sausage, whole wheat linguini and 2 bunches of spinach.  It was just under $30.  I probably wouldn’t order the flour again since I didn’t realize they were one pound packages.  The oats are just to try in a granola recipe.  The spinach was the most delicious spinach that I ever had last week and I have the perfect recipe for it (along with the pasta), and we weren’t expecting any this week.   We also really enjoyed the chorizo two weeks ago and I was glad that it was in stock this week.

 

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Between two CSA pick ups and the field night this week, our fridge is well stocked with veggies.  I’ve put together a simple lists of dishes to prepare this weekend in hopes to use many of the items up.

Menu Planning for CSA items this week:

  • Camembert / brie herbed cheese over spinach and linguini
  • Kolhrabi/radish au gratin
  • Salad with quinoa, beans, chorizo, etc.
  • Harvard beets
  • Summer squash fritters or baked squash fries
  • Carrots
  • Cole slaw (with apples, onion, cabbage, etc.)
  • Salads (with cucumber, radishes, red pepper)
  • Stuffed cousa squash (with quinoa or rice and ground beef, onion, etc.)
  • Beet greens
  • Foil pack glazed carrots

It will be a weekend full of cooking and eating local!

Geauga Family Farms CSA–week 3

CSA 2 Responses »
Jun 282011
 

Today was the third pick up for Geauga Family Farms CSA.  Since it was also the first farm field night, my husband picked up our share for us and I took the kids to the farm.  I’ll have more on the farm visit tomorrow!

We had received our newsletter and knew we would be getting items like lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green onions, zucchini, yellow squash, kohlrabi, carrots, radishes, peas, kale and pickling cucumbers.  Our actual items received vary depending on mother nature, which size share and which pick up day – so we always have an element of surprise.

Here’s what we received:

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Let’s take a closer look.

3 tomatoes, 1 container of strawberries

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2 small bunches of green onions (pictured together), container of cherry tomatoes

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2 heads of romaine lettuce, 1 head of red leaf lettuce

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2 yellow squash, 2 zucchini

 

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2 kohlrabi, small bunch of carrots

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bunch of radishes

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Here’s our plan of attack:

We’ll have more salads with the lettuce.  I’ll probably make squash fritters again with the onions and squash, since everyone liked them this week.  I just pickled some radishes, so I think these will go in salads and in our kohlrabi au gratin dish.  The carrots and cherry tomatoes will get eaten (with our without salads).  The strawberries will either get eaten at breakfast in the morning, or may make their way into a strawberry rhubarb dish.  I’m almost hesitant to say this is a pretty easy week.

Update on last week:

I ended up making kale pesto with the kale.  Most of the other items were used as planned.  I did freeze a few tomatoes, some garlic scapes and some onions for future use.

Recipe: Summer Squash (like zucchini) Fritters

CSA, Recipe 2 Responses »
Jun 262011
 

I made this recipe today and served them with potato salad and chicken bratwursts.  It was a super easy and surprising light dish.  Since we’ll be getting lots of squash this summer, I think this dish will get made often.  I also plan to experiment with different  seasonings as we go.

Recipe: Summer Squash Fritters

Summary: As usual, all measurements are approximate.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium or 2 small summer squash (like zucchini)
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1/4 t black pepper
  • 1/4 t Penzeys Ozark seasoning
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 green onion, chopped
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • approximately 1/4 cup olive oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Peel and great squash.
  2. Sprinkle with salt and let sit for 5 minutes.
  3. Drain and/or squeeze out as much juice as possible.
  4. In a mixing bowl, lightly beat egg.
  5. Add squash, pepper, seasoning, green onion, and flour.
  6. Mix well.
  7. Heat 2 T of oil in a nonstick skillet on medium heat.
  8. Drop 2 T of batter at a time into skillet until the skillet is full (approx. 6 fritters).
  9. Gently flatten with a spatula.
  10. Cook 3-5 min on each side until golden in color.
  11. Drain on plate lined with paper towel.
  12. Continue until batter is used, adding more oil as necessary.

Quick notes

Ozark seasoning contains salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, sage, paprika, mustard, ancho, celery, cayenne, dill weed, dill seed, caraway, allspice, ginger, cardamom, bay leaf, mace, cassia, savory, cloves. Feel free to season to your taste. Serve with yogurt, sour cream, honey mustard or other sauces.

Preparation time: 15 minute(s)

Cooking time: 15 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 3

 

 

 

Fresh Fork CSA–week 4

CSA No Responses »
Jun 232011
 

Today was the 4th pick up for the Fresh Fork CSA.  We were expecting the following items.

Small CSA:

  • 1 package chicken bratwursts (1.25 lb)
  • 1 bunch garlic scapes
  • Approx 1.5 lb tomatoes
  • 1 quart strawberries
  • 1 bunch green onions
  • 1 bunch spinach
  • 1 head leaf lettuce
  • 2 ct zucchini or yellow squash
  • 4 oz tub fresh chevre goat cheese

Here is what we received.

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So, our cheese was different, but it should be tasty.  And we ended up with one of each for the squash.  I could tell that strawberry season was ending as they aren’t in the best shape.  It’s another yummy week.

Also, we bought 2 bags of the corn chips that were included a couple of weeks ago.  I have taco salad on the menu and these are delicious.  They were $3 each – $6.

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We did pretty good with last week’s items.  I haven’t really thought about the new batch.

Fresh Fork CSA–week 3

CSA 2 Responses »
Jun 162011
 

Today was our third pick up for the Fresh Fork CSA.  We were expecting the following items.

Small CSA:

  • 1 lb grassfed ground beef
  • 1 qt organic strawberries
  • Approx 1.5 lbs slicing tomatoes
  • 1 head leaf lettuce
  • 1 bag (16 oz) corn chips
  • 1 bunch green onions
  • 1 bunch cilantro
  • 1-2 zucchini
  • 1 bunch field grown spinach (braising greens)
  • 1 half gallon milk

Here is what we received.

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Update on last week:  We didn’t blanch any radishes, so we need to use them up.  We haven’t used our eggs or spelt berries yet.  The sausage ended up in a quinoa salad dish.  I’ll be posting that recipe this weekend.  I think everything else was enjoyed.

Here’s our plan of attack for this week:

The strawberries were made into jam this evening.  The milk we’ll enjoy with our cereals.  The spinach is going into a Camembert cheese pasta dish.  Most of the other items will be part of a Mexican themed dinner and I’ll freeze the left over cilantro if needed.  A few of my cubes from last week were used as part of the liquid for quinoa and it was delicious.  I haven’t decided about the zucchini yet.

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