I was very happy with this delivery, because it contains plenty of greens and several repeat items we're very fond of. The baby spinach in a bag is heavenly, the clementines are incredibly sweet, and the sci fi cauliflower, properly known as Romanesco cauliflower, was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Add in those mushrooms, plus some other favorites like butternut squash, chard, and kale, and I'm a very happy camper.We've been receiving this delivery of fresh, local, organic produce for almost nine months and it's still working for us. I've begun to realize that it is a bit of a commitment to plan meals around, and to make sure none of it goes to waste, but for my husband and me it's worth it. We're eating more vegetables, and healthier meals in general. And it all tastes so much better.
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. The basic idea is that by joining a CSA you're supporting the local farmers and eating local produce, which is fresher, healthier, tastier, and better for the environment. CSA brings the Farmer's Market to you.
This week we got, clockwise from the back: baby greens, bok choy, rainbow chard, Romanesco cauliflower, mustard greens or kale (not sure), celery root, butternut squash, broccoli, Bloomsdale spinach, mixed mushrooms, cilantro, clementines, radishes, sage and lavender bundle, and vanilla almonds.
Tonight we'll have mushroom risotto and a baby green salad, and I've got plans for just about everything except the bok choy. I let some go to waste a few weeks back, so I'd better look up a recipe so I'll be sure to use it. Let me know if you have any favorites.
Click here if you want to learn more about CSA and find one in your area, and here to check out our CSA in Los Angeles, Auntie Em's.
Do you shop at a Farmer's Market? I feel so lucky to be receiving such a lovely variety of fresh produce in the middle of winter. It's one of the perks of living in Southern California. But don't envy me too much: a trip to the doctor takes three hours out of the day because of the drive and the traffic.
Please leave your tips, advice, and questions in the Comments section, plus preparation ideas for anything you see in the photo.
7 comments:
I have a Meatless Monday question: When you are talking about Meatless Monday do you mean Meatless for dinner or meatless for the entire day?
Thanks!
YUM!!!! It looks wonderful - the sage and lavender bundle makes me miss my garden.
Ah, taking three hours for a doctor's visit knocks the envy right out of me. Would be nice to have fresh clementines right now, though! Our farmer's market is pretty sad right now (meat, eggs, honey, some potatoes and limited greens) and the local supermarkets are even sadder, even though they're stocked with produce. (The other day I could literally see the pesticides on some lettuce. Grossed me out!)
Emily, Bob, and Etta- That's a good question- the site says "give up meat one day a week" - so it's all meals on Monday. I guess I just focus on dinners because we so rarely eat meat at any other meal. Breakfast is yogurt, fruit, cereal, toast, maybe eggs, and lunch is veggie burgers or sandwiches, maybe a tuna sandwich once in awhile. So as long as I focus on a meatless dinner on mondays, we're covered. I guess we're pretty close to vegetarian even though I'd never call us that, we just don't eat much meat. Maybe two meals a week, fish once or twice and chicken or turkey once.
Melonie- Oh, they're so lovely. I put some of the sage in the mushroom risotto and it was perfect.
Cate- Wow, that IS really gross. I hope you can find a better option!
I've been lurking on your blog for a while now. I am so impressed by your commitment! Bok Choy is great in stirfrys. Chop it up and stirfry it with your other vegi's, you won't really notice it is even in there.
Rockzann- That's a great idea. I'm going to try it. I've decided instead of worrying too much about using everything up I'll make a stir fry or soup before things start going bad. So that will work out well- thanks!
Thanks for commenting- although I don't have any trouble with "lurking" - isn't it funny how we're coming up with a whole new vocabulary?
I just love the csa posts. It always makes me want to find a good csa and start using them. The closest though to me is over an hour away and I have to pick up.
So for now I am using my local farmers markets but its been pretty sad lately.
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