CSA pick up July 16th
Last week I posted what was in the CSA bag at the last minute. This week, I'm going to let you know what we have planned. As some of the things in the bags need to be dug out of the ground, please keep in mind that a rainy few days may change what the farmers can harvest.
Full share holders will be in for a different treat. Haskap. Also known as edible honeysuckle or honey berry, the haskap is considered a super food! I think that fresh they taste like really sour bluberries, so I prefer to put them into desserts rather than eat them out of hand. Their tart flavour is great turned into a sauce to serve over ice cream, or to use like a cranberry sauce on the side of meats.
For Haskap sauce simply
-wash and drain your haskap
-put them in a pot with sugar to taste (for your container of haskap I would add about 2/3cup of sugar, but I like things on the tart side)
-add a half cup of liquid. You can use water, orange juice, grapefruit juice, apple juice.
-Bring the whole pot to a boil, then turn down to simmer until desired thickness. About half an hour.
Full share to contain a minimum of 9 of the following items
Remember, we list items from most perishable to least perishable. Start by eating the things at the top of the list, and the things at the bottom should still be great in your fridge by the end of the week!
Microgreens, Spray free
Green leaf lettuce, Organic
Haskap, Spray Free
Green Onion, Spray Free
Zucchini or cucumber, Spray Free
Radish, Spray Free (please remember, radish greens are edible and delicious. Sautee in butter for an arugula like taste)
Green Onion, Spray free
Baby Onion Bunch, Organic
Cilantro, Organic
Black Kale, Organic
Green Kale, Organic
Beet Bunch, Organic (once again, the greens are edible! )
Bunch Carrots, Spray free (carrot tops are edible. Use the greens sparingly in soups or salads or stews for a deep rich green parsley flavour)
Cabbage, Organic
Half Share to contain a minimum of 6 of the following items
Green Leaf Lettuce OR Green Kale, Organic
Zucchini or Cucumber, Spray Free
Bunch baby Onion, Organic
Black Kale, Organic
Beet Bunch, Organic (once again, the greens are edible! )
Bunch Carrots, Spray free (carrot tops are edible. Use the greens sparingly in soups or salads or stews for a deep rich green parsley flavour)
Cabbage, Organic
With the cabbage, beet greens, onion and carrots, you can make another beautiful 'weed soup'. And with the cool weather that we currently have, a bowl of soup may be just what you need right now!
If you like the taste of carrot greens in your soups (like I do), now is the perfect time to put some up for the winter. The easiest way to do this is to wash up your carrot tops, strip the fine ferny bits from the tougher stem, place those ferny bits in a blender with enough water to make a slurry. Blend em up! Once blended pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Once frozen, pop out the green cubes, store in a freezer safe container in your freezer for winter use. This is also the best way to freeze dill, cilantro and basil for winter use.
Over the summer's CSA, if you get more dill, cilantro, basil, carrot greens etc than you can use, just use this method and get some fresh herbs put up for winter use!!!
I you've made kale salad, chips and sauteed kale, and are now just done with it, here are some other options. And remember, Kale is one of the most nutritionally dense things that you can eat. Learn to love it and your health will thank you!!!
Skillet potatoes with greens
Kale Soups, Salads, pastas
Kale salad with pecorino cheese and walnuts