It isn’t too late in some areas to join a CSA farm and get wonderfully fresh produce. This week, we receive a bounty of traditional summer crops that were so fresh, you could practically see the drops of dawn sunlight still lingering on them from being picked that morning.
Here is what we got, and what we are planning on doing with it.
Broccoli
This week, our head of broccoli was a little on the small side, so I’m guessing that we are nearing the end of the line with this crop. Still, there should be enough again for my broccoli-cheese soup that was such a hit last time.
Cauliflower
By comparison, the cauliflower head was quite large. Because of the heat, I’d like to try this fresh with just a dip as part of lunches or snacks. The remainder will be made into a simple side dish.
Cucumbers
These cucumbers are so fresh and tasty that I will serve them to my family lightly salted and plain one night, and turned into a cucumber salad (with a little fresh dill) another night.
Lettuce
The usual salads, sandwich toppings, taco toppings, etc. is what this lettuce will be used for in the next two weeks. I find that storing it with a damp paper towel, stored in a freezer bag and placed in the fridge keeps it very fresh for a long time.
Onions
Onions, I love onions and use this “herb” in a variety of dishes. These onions were big and sweet.
Red Potatoes
I could have chosen white potatoes, but I’m going to keep going with the red ones as long as I can. Cooking them on the grill turned out so nicely, that I am going to try it again, experimenting with maybe some sweet and savory flavors.
Berries
Gorgeous and ripe blackberries didn’t last long in our home. Rinsed, thrown in a bowl and topped with whipped cream made a real special treat for everyone.
Sweet Corn
MMMmmmm! There is nothing like fresh corn, especially when you honor that freshness by not overcooking it as most of use usually do. Throw it into a pot of boiling water, turn down the heat and let it sit for five minutes. That is all it needs! A little butter and salt and we were rolling our eyes at the goodness.
Tomatoes
Another versatile food, we got two different types of tomatoes this time: some large heirloom tomatoes of really enormous size and cherry tomatoes.
Mixed Herbs
Purple leaf basil, parsley, mint and more make up this haul’s catch of herbs. I love fresh herbs but I just can’t seem to use them up fast enough.