We're into the third week of the CSA and I am finding that the cooking is enhanced by the sheer whimsy of whatever they decide to give you. It is strangely liberating to have no shopping, and no choice. And so far, we have not ended up with a surfeit of vegetables, or anything in the freezer - we've been able to eat everything within the week.The other night for dinner, I made a bean salad with the divine Goat's Eye beans from Rancho Gordo, and into it I tossed in some diced turnip for crunch and flavor. Alongside, we had turnip greens, sautéed with olive oil and garlic, sprinkled with kosher salt, and served at room temperature. I'm not sure that I've ever bought turnips, much less prepared them for dinner two ways. And they were good.
This week's haul:
- Komatsuna
- Turnips
- Arrowhead Cabbage
- Salad Mix
- Scallions
- Strawberries
- Zucchini (1)
- Summer Squash (2)
- Parsley
- Cilantro
W. is in the "cilantro tastes like soap" camp, so I'm not sure what's going to happen with that cilantro. The arrowhead cabbage is a thing of great beauty (see photo); I have to find something wonderful to do with it. Scallions and parsley are going into some potato cakes tonight (made with leftover mashed potatoes). I've never been a squash fan (winter or summer), but W. has been known to produce lovely zucchini before, that I've eaten with pleasure, so I'm hoping he finds a way to make magic with the squash.
And gilding the lily? I bought local blueberries and local cherries at the greenmarket today.
It's a locavore's feast time.
Oh, gosh, I didn't know there was a camp of us! That's a revelation.
ReplyDeleteI like coriander, though.
Love cilantro so much -- it's the smell of summer to me. This time of year is so nice -- summer squash means tomatoes and cucumbers and all sorts of other wonderful things are on their way!
ReplyDeleteSounds lovely. We were doing something similar but found we could not keep up. I'm hoping we can try again soon.
ReplyDeleteThat cabbage IS a thing of beauty.
Would W mind sharing his zucchini magic? Unless the raccoons get them, I can see myself ending up with a bumper crop.
ReplyDeleteWe're not doing quite so well with our CSA bounty. We've had to donate a few things to the birds/compost pile. I am proud of my summer veggie risotto, though.
ReplyDeleteWe got some cabbage this week, though it's not arrowhead. I've never done anything with cabbage before. (we're relative cooking newbies). It will be interesting.
I confess, I don't think I could cook like that. (I don't cook much to begin with.) I am astounded by the seeming ease with which you come up with ideas for meals.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are enjoying the CSA bounty. I have a recipe for a chocolate and zucchini cake that tastes like brownies, stays moist all week, and doesn't taste a hint like zucchini, that I got from a Saveur magazine years back. Let me know and I will email it.
ReplyDeleteI used to hate cilantro but now I will put it on anything. I think just force of eating it gets you used to the flavor.