Week 1 2012

WEEK 1

The 2012 CSA Season has begun!

The delivery for the week of Monday, May 7 and Thursday, May 10

In order to help you figure out what is what in this week’s delivery I will list the veggies by in groups according to their bags.

Bag 1

Best in a Salad

Romaine Lettuce (2 types)

Bibb Lettuce

Arugula

Bag 2

Beets and Beet Greens

Cilantro

Oregano

Mint

Spinach (Monday only due to the heat)

Bag 3

These are best cooked

Yellow veined Chard

Green Mustard

Purple Mustard

This week you will feel like Spring as you dive into the greens and salad in your weekly box!  I recommend getting some tasty nuts and delicious cheese to put into your salad bowl and have it for dinner tonight.  If I was shopping right now I will pick up a bag of sliced almonds (from the Co-Op in bulk), a block of double cream Gouda and a loaf of really yummy bread (maybe head over to Cristaudos).  Toast the almonds with a little coarse sea salt.  Thinly slice the bread and toast with some Gouda.  Wash up your lettuce, make your dressing (recipe below) and toss with the almonds.  I may throw in a glass of Pinot Noir and cheers to the start of a great growing season.

As you look through your box you will find a rather large bag of greens.  Some people get a little intimidated you so many greens and are not sure what to do with them.  The greens will keep coming throughout the season, so experiment with them.  You will find they are fabulous with a little tamari (or soy sauce) steamed in a Wok, cooked in quiche, added to a stir fry, eaten raw with lemon juice and many other way.  If you search the Internet for how to cook greens, you will be amazed to see what people are doing with these extraordinary healthy little garden delights.  I will give you some recipes over the coarse of the season, but try new things on your own and I’m quite certain you will be pleasantly surprised that you do so like greens; here, there and just about anywhere, Sam I am.  Sorry, I spend a large chunk of my day reading Dr. Seuss.

On a personal note, we did have a wonderful addition to our family.

Finnean Joseph Kaszubski entered the world weighing just over 9 pounds on March 10^th under the light of a full moon and a blanket of stars, with Venus and Jupiter shining bright, so I’m told I was a little busy.  Big sister, Evaline, is very proud and loving having a baby to dote over.

Salad Dressing

Mix in a food processor (this is key for well mixed great tasting dressing) 

You are making this to taste, not by exact measurement so the quantities are approximations.  Be brave and try new flavors in your dressing.  Once you get going you will never go back to buying store bought dressings again.

Basis Dressing

½ cup Nice Tasting Olive Oil (or your choice of oil)

1/2 cup Vinegar (a blend of rice vinegar and balsamic, or cider, wine or sherry vinegar)

1-2 t sugar (to taste)

salt and pepper to taste

Store in the fridge for about a week in a jar.

Garden Variation

Start with you 1 cup basic dressing

1 cup arugula

2 garlic scapes

*2 sprigs of oregano

·      You can use any herbs you like and mix it up for variety

This makes a wonderfully thick fabulous tasting dressing

Dijon Dressing

Start with ½ cup of the basic dressing the bottom of a salad bowl, add generous tablespoons of Dijon Mustard, a dash of tarragon (fresh is better if you have it, it’s not in the box)

Honey Mustard

Add to the Dijon Dressing, brown sugar or honey to taste.  Also a tablespoon of mayonnaise makes it creamy

Monday Pick Up at Amy and Grant’s house

5pm-6pm

607 S. Glenview, Carbondale

Craig and Phil

Andrew and Meagan

Gary and Karen

Melissa

Tracy and Eric

Kathy and Joe

J.P. and Amanda

Dorcy

Amy and Grant

Kim and Brian

John and Laurie

Thursday Pick Up at Lewis School

4pm-5pm

801 S. Lewis Lane, Carbondale

Carmen and Nick

Dawn and Jeff

Brenda and Todd

Mike

Karen and Robb

Kathy Ward

Amanda and Ryan

Rachel and Nick

Tonya Collins