We got our first CSA share last Wednesday. There's turnips, beets, spring onions, chard, two kinds of kale, lettuce, cilantro and basil. Reading it, that doesn't sound like much, but it filled more than half of a large sized ice chest. I had to rearrange the contents of the fridge to get it to fit!
We already had peaches, apricots, Brussels sprouts, beets, carrots, purple cabbage and a variety of greens from a U-pick farm we visited a few weeks ago. My son has been eating the apricots now that they're in the fruit drawer instead of the paper bag they came in, on a higher shelf in the fridge. He'll also eat the peaches if I'll keep some in the house (we have a 2nd fridge outside to hold milk and eggs).
In addition to all of that we're members of a produce rescue program that provides up to 60 pounds of produce weekly. There's tomatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers, grapefruit, peppers (hot and sweet), and melons.
Then my wonderful husband brought home baskets of strawberries and blackberries from a produce market in the Big City. He's going to make pies for a gathering we're going to this week. Don't forget the mulberry tree that's going crazy with fruit. Or the food co-op where I buy frozen berries once a month, along with a supply of onions and potatoes, celery and oranges when the price is good. I even bought a coconut last month. Hubby has also made friends with the clerk at Circle K who gives him bags of overripe bananas every week.
If you have ideas for using it up, please share! I've got a pot of this simmering in the slow cooker right now.
I also made kale chips, a turnip green frittata, marinated tomato salad and have a perpetual garden salad bowl in the fridge.
Stephanie at Keeper of the Home is hosting an Eat From the Pantry challenge. I think I need to join!
What a wonderful problem to have! The stuff I have not been canning I have been dehydrating.I even dehydrated some yellow squash to try in casseroles this winter.The dehydrated peppers and tomatoes are a great addition to crock pot meals!
ReplyDeleteMelodie-I dehydrated tomatoes last season and then never used them. I planned on having them for aioli, but just never got to it. I like the idea of dehydrated veggies to go in soups in the winter, so I think I'll try that. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI agree - a wonderful problem! I have a couple questions - what size CSA box do you subscribe to (been wondering exactly how much comes in a box) and do you have any tips for locating a local produce rescue organization? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGood questions! My CSA only has one option. We buy a share and we get 1/50th of the amount harvested that week. The amount and options will vary with each CSA though. We found our produce rescue program thru a friend whose mom heard about it on the news. I wasn't looking for one and didn't even know they existed. Unless you live in a region where a lot of produce is grown, there likely won't be a rescue program. Maybe an online search?
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