CSA Week One

News from the field:

Welcome to the 2007 CSA season!!

These are “the green weeks”, particularly this year, meaning that you will be seeing green in your basket for a couple of weeks. Although the spring has been warm and wet, the late winter got us off to a late start. It is hard to remember now, but we got 8 inches of snow on April 24th!

We usually have our peas and potatoes planted by that date, so we were slow getting things into the field this year. Luckily, we built two unheated hoophouse last fall, which means that we have head lettuce and some other goodies for you this week.

The baskets will brighten up in a few weeks when our greenhouse tomatoes start, and when stuff from the field starts coming along. But until then, enjoy the fresh green veggies!

In the Basket:

Lettuce - Everyone gets two heads including red romaine, which is an especially tender romaine. Caesar salad anyone?

Radishes - Some bright color for your basket and some spice for your palate. Crunch.

Salad turnips - When you grab a bunch of these, your first thought may be, “What the . . .?” These are an Asian variety of turnip grown specifically for raw eating, like a radish. We like them sliced up in salad or eaten in chunks dipped in dressing. The greens are good – and good for you – gently cooked then seasoned with sesame oil and tamari.

Cucumbers - An early treat from the greenhouse!

Chard - One of the more versatile cooking greens, equally great in Italian frittatas and Middle Eastern cumin and lemony lentil or chickpea soups or casseroles. Also good for stuffing or wrapping around salmon filets.

Baby bok choy - A mild and tender Asian green for stir fry or steaming. We like to slice it in half lengthwise and braise it in a little broth with ginger then drizzle with soy sauce.

Napa cabbage - We like doing this as a cole slaw. Because it is ruffled, it comes out “fluffier” than regular cole slaw. Also, because it is so tender, you should add the dressing only just before serving. Check out Chris’s soup recipe on the back!!