CSA Share: Week 2

Week two is here!

WEI is a new CSA farm for us this year. We/I missed the order deadline for our old farm...oops. Anyway, they have a pretty big operation, and deliver to many sites throughout the Twin Cities. The best part, our drop site is really close to us, AND nearby a different "fun park" where we can explore. It makes our Sunday mornings a special treat. Sunday AM has always been my favorite time of the week.

In the box this week (clockwise from top center):

1. Kohlrabi. I've been putting matchstick slices into our salads. Kinda tastes like broccoli.
2. Garlic scapes!!!!!! These are the top of the garlic plant that is removed in order to direct more nutrients/energy into the bulb. Use it just like garlic...it's flavor is really mild and delicious.
3. Lettuce.
   
4. Green and red onions.
5. Strawberries!!!!!
6. Kale. I love to serve this sauteed with garlic as a side dish with black beans (good idea from my Brasil-travelling brother).
7. A basil plant. Our entire garden consists of this lonely basil plant.

We are "splitting" our share with my folks, which means, basically, that we get almost everything because my mom and dad are very nice to us. Thanks Mom and Dad!

This Week's Menu

It's another yummy week here at Sweet Bean's! I started my microbiology class yesterday, so I'm looking to simplify my meal prep on mondays and wednesdays (I have 5 hours of class each night).


I'm trying four new recipes this week!:

1. Moroccan-spiced brisket (in the slow cooker)
2. French onion burgers, from Rachael Ray's Just in Time
3. Cuban Black Beans (slow cooker!) from Andrea's Recipes
4. Balsamic Chicken in pesto gravy, also from JIT (this is supposedly a 15-minute meal).

Father's Day Redux.

This is what we ate:

1. Slow Cooker Moroccan Brisket with Red Onions and Apricot Couscous
   
2. Chocolate Chip Cookie-Topped Brownies from Eggs on Sunday
   

Enough said.

Economic Stimulus Check

Things we have purchased with our moola:

1. Tuition and books for my biochemistry class
2. Crock Pot
3. waterproof mattress cover for Hal's bed (that'll come in handy soon!)

What did you do with yours?

This Week's Menu

I'm pretty excited about our food this week:


I'm trying 3 new recipes, several featuring our brand new slow cooker (I thought the slow cooker would be great for when I went back to school). New recipes:

1. Rosemary Lemon-Pepper pork tenderloin from Rachael Ray.
2. Tomatillo-green chile chicken soft tacos from the lovely Lindsey.
3. Gorgonzola burgers from R.R. (I borrowed this cookbook from my mom---not a lot of figure-friendly food, as Rachael would say, but some great-looking recipes).
   

The tomato soup is an Ina Garten recipe, and can be found here. It is super-delicious, and quite easy. I'm also going to be making black beans in the slow-cooker for the first time. Fun!

Editor's note: the pork tenderloin was unbelievable! I also made the salad accompaniment that Rachael Ray suggested...perfect. I'm loving that cookbook. We bought a cool meat thermometer---definitely necessary for the cooking of the meat products. No more guessing and overcooking.

Wii Party!

The Wii party was ROCKIN' (cue music)!





We had lots of food, friends,




and fun.




The system comes with Wii sports, including boxing, tennis, baseball, golf and bowling. We also played Mario Kart (silly racing game---very fun), some quiz show Tony downloaded, and, of course, Guitar Hero (2-player mode lets you play bass AND guitar at the same time---very cool).

I've heard a rumor they're coming out with Rock Band for the Wii soon...awesome!

Weekly Menu

For the cookout and the Wii party, I'll be making this yummy (hopefully!) cherry/cornmeal upside down cake from smitten kitchen.



Rachael Ray's balsamic roast pork tenderloin recipe looks pretty simple. I'll let you know how it turns out!

P.S. It's been OK eating meat, I've even enjoyed it. I'm kind of paranoid cooking it, though, and I feel like a total beginner cook again. Lame.

Yum

Go forth and make these muffins. Thanks, Everday Food and Neat Receipts!

P.S. Click on the image to see the recipe up close and personal.

Another Good Idea

Martha's February issue reminded me of a really good idea: joining a CSA farm. CSA stands for community-supported agriculture, and joining your local CSA farm is a great way to feed your family locally-grown farm-fresh vegetables.

A CSA farm works much like a food cooperative. You purchase a share (or a half-share in some cases) for the season, and receive an abundance of fresh food every week! My parents and my own family split a share from our local CSA, August Earth, last summer. It was one of the best food experiences of my life! There is nothing like fresh-out-of-the-ground produce. Peter and Katy run a great farm, and include a newsletter with each week's pick-up, featuring member events, recipe ideas, farm news, and a list of the next week's produce.

Find your local CSA farm here. You'll be glad you did!