Showing posts with label CSA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CSA. Show all posts

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Drive-by veggie shots

Since I am so far behind on so many updates around here, I decided this approach was better than no approach. (Plus maybe I will feel a little bit caught up so as to get back to semi-regular posting without feeling like am forgetting stuff.)
So here are (very) fast updates for our veggies for the last three weeks. (Really? That far behind?)
July 24
Green Top Carrots
Salad Mix
Braising Greens
Greenhouse Cucumbers
Sungold Cherry Tomatoes and Round Red Tomatoes
Peppermint
Swiss Chard
 

The fruit share was a box of Pluots. (Which were very, very yummy, just in case you are wondering if you should get any.)


 

July 31
Fresh Shallots
Salad mix
Basil
Round Red Tomatoes
Green Kale
Broccoli
Beets
Sungold Cherry Tomatoes
 

August 7
Carrots
Dill
Beets
Broccoli
Red Russian Kale
Round Red Tomatoes
Sungold Cherry Tomatoes
Arugula

 

The fruit share this week was some more Pluots plus red and black grapes.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Not so Random pictures

of something I have finished lately. Number 9 of 12, hanging out on the rosemary bush in DTY's back yard.
 

These are for me, made from the Hacho yarn gifted by Gaylen. The extra cool thing is that as of noonish tomorrow, she will no longer be a "pretend friend living in my computer" as I am taking Amtrak up to see her, JB, and her pack for an overnight! I am very excited to get to meet her in person! We are planning on hitting a yarn store or two for some funny reason, and I believe I get to see an apron in action (as well as kiss all the dogs on the nose for Chan).

Hubband reported in that Friday's CSA was wonderful (salad mix, fennel, escarole, beets, rainbow chard and a bunch of sweet cherries); though perhaps more than he could eat all by himself in a week, so he shared with some friends, but has promised to put cherries in the freezer for me.
On the gardening front, he harvested the two cucumbers we had that were getting big, but says there are plenty more coming on for when I get home. I think he should have a couple of peas ready soon and he had started harvesting chilies before I left (I know those will continue until frost sets in). Apparently hen he was watering the flower bags yesterday (which involves taking them down off the post and putting them in a bucket of water) he discovered a frog that had decided that was a good place to hang out. The big question is "How did it get up there?" He did inform me that by the time he got back with the camera, the frog had left. Sad that, but maybe it will be back for a second chance.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

A little of this, and a bit of that.

Last Friday's CSA included escarole, salad mix, sugar snap peas, fennel, arugula, purple scallions. It was also our first week of fruit; I knew we were getting blueberries, but I have to admit to being surprised that it was a full twelve pints of them! DTY sounded very jealous of all the blueberries and I am sure she wishes there was a way I could bring some to her next week when I go out to visit her, but I just can't see how they would survive the trip stuffed in my suitcase. I promised to get her some at the store instead and I think she'll manage with that solution. So far blueberries have been consumed all by themselves, in mixed greens salad, on homemade granola, on Cheerios, and in pie. If there are any left in a day or so they will probably end up in the freezer.
My first foray with fennel last week was to slice it thickly, coat lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with balsamic vinegar, and then roast on a cookie sheet until tender. (I could have done it on the grill, but decided to forgo the lighting of charcoal for just that.) I had been a bit unsure about it, since it tastes kind of like anise/licorice, but it was totally transformed with cooking! This week we sliced it thinly and sautéd it until tender, then tossed in the head of escarole that had been separated into leaves with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar for a wilted salad. That was also very yum, and Hubband and I both enjoyed the opportunity to try some new food stuffs we have never had before. The arugula has also proven to be tasty, despite my original concerns about the "peppery" taste. (Well, that and the fact that my oldest brother said he didn't particularly care for it. I worry if there is a green leafy food that he doesn't like; it might be dangerous. He has been accused of being part to mostly rabbit by several people.)
 

In the knitting department, I have finished a market bag, which holds a lot of groceries. (I have a five pound bag of flour, a quart of half and half, a pint of cream, and several other things in there, as well as room left over for more stuff if I wanted.) I have also made significant progress on the second Dr. Who Scarf I wave been plugging away at, and another pair of socks about half way done. I hope to have the scarf done before I leave for Portland on Tuesday, but if it isn't, it will be staying home. I will be taking the socks if they aren't done, as well as several other pairs to work on. I am sure there will be a couple of balls of yarn for dishcloths in my bag as well, just in case.
 


I have been doing some more sewing and have finally gotten something made for Hubband. He gets to have my first two zippers on the new machine! This one is the bigger one of the two, at about 7" high and 5" wide;
 


and this one is about 5" high by 4" wide. I was happy with the way they came out and hoped they would be useful to him. He is thrilled with them and that they can clip onto his bag or wherever else he wants. (The clip isn't really visible in the picture, but it is on the loop.)

Friday, June 19, 2009

Want to see what was in my mailbox today?

A while back I showed you the first apron in a series of aprons I have been making. That (pink and green) one was for a "Vintage Apron Swap" where the idea was to make (or buy) an apron from "vintage linens and/or pattern." The one I made was from an old tablecloth and some napkins that I had found at a consignment shop. Well, something happened to either the person that was making mine, or the package after it was mailed (which and what is unknown to me). All I know is that one day I had a message from the hostess that I had been assigned an "Apron Angel" and my package would be coming soon. Well, soon has turned into today, and I had a wonderful apron and matching hot pad from Solidia today. It is really wonderful and I love it! (Chan, you might want to look away. Why? Well, because it is, well, that color you don't like very well. It is an awesome apron though!)

She also sent a couple of recipes and one of them is for some cookies that remind her of ones her grandmother used to make, even though the recipe for those were lost when she passed away. I know how much I value family recipes and how hard it would be if a favorite was lost. I am so glad she was able to find this and then shared it with me.
 

I used it right away to unpack this week's CSA. This week we have Curly Endive, Arugula, fennel, French Breakfast Radishes, (the last week of) asparagus, and peppermint. It's a good thing they include some recipes every week; I have never had fennel before, either for cooking or to eat. I don't know if Hubband has, but unfortunately he will be missing out this week. I am sure there will be a chance to make it up to him latter.
I did make some Mint Water last night from some of last week's spearmint and will make some tonight from the peppermint to see if I notice a big difference. It is pretty yummy and refreshing, almost as good as ice tea! (Though I may well use mint water to make some ice tea for Sunday.)
Mint Water
2 quarts (filtered) water
about 20 clean mint leaves, chopped or torn coarsely
Combine water and mint in container and refrigerate overnight. Strain mint leaves and store water in fridge.