Wow! Time is flying. Fall is surely here! Orange pumpkins are everywhere, including at the farm.
I need to apologize, apparently, I have lost last week's blog post. I had a couple of people point out that they hadn't seen any recent updates. Wellllllllll, I am still a rookie at some of these things and make mistakes. I am just not sure what happened to them. I have a couple of great recipes shared by members that I had on there, along with the plan for the end of the season.
This week, look for more root crops in your boxes...potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, rutabaga, parsnips... along with some goodies like a pumpkin, one last watermelon, and a few other items that I will find out about when I get to the farm.
We hope to have the details for the end of the season hammered out today. This is week 18!!!! Our sprouting little CSA has grown quite well this season, we hoped to get at least 15 weeks, but it looks like we may really see a full 20 week season! This is the number that it seems most CSAs in the Upper Midwest shoot for, but with our unpredictable weather, it isn't always a reality. We are all thankful for the great season, even with it's ups and downs!
Hope to update later today!
Stacy
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
weekly update September 14th
The season is getting a bit cooler, but there boxes are still filling up fast! This past couple of deliveries have left the boxes "too" full! Please, look for crates of extra items if you have a drop point...there are often items that we set to the side for you to pick out for yourself because we just can't possibly put them in the boxes.
Speaking of boxes....we have had a large number of them that are not getting returned the past few weeks. Please do your best to return them. If you are not able to do so, please consider leaving the box and bringing bags/boxes/baskets to transport your produce home from the drop points. Also, at the drop points, it has been asked that you please fold down your boxes and stack them neatly to save space and make the delivery areas safer for those walking in those areas.
Many plants are slowing down and dying for the season and the rain has kept the gardens quite muddy and messy. Cleaning produce has been a lot of work these past few deliveries. The days seem so short until the we reach the end of the season, but we are already starting (very simple, early) talks of next season and missing all of those abundant greens from the first several rounds of deliveries. They seem so distant on these cool mornings!
I haven't had time to rustle up some new recipes for this week, they will be my task to complete by Friday.
Expected contents of the boxes:
potatoes
delicata squash
spaghetti squash
gourds (not edible, but fun for decoration!)
brussels sprouts
2 kinds of kale
2 kinds of carrots (PURPLE will be one of them!)
beets
lima beans
dill
parsley
sugar baby watermelon (PLEASE take one from the crates, they won't fit in the boxes!)
swiss chard
bell peppers
yummy mix peppers
onion
and hopefully, a bit more spinach...[note here: this was the mystery item in the box last week that I was unsure of for those who contacted me.]
Stacy
Speaking of boxes....we have had a large number of them that are not getting returned the past few weeks. Please do your best to return them. If you are not able to do so, please consider leaving the box and bringing bags/boxes/baskets to transport your produce home from the drop points. Also, at the drop points, it has been asked that you please fold down your boxes and stack them neatly to save space and make the delivery areas safer for those walking in those areas.
Many plants are slowing down and dying for the season and the rain has kept the gardens quite muddy and messy. Cleaning produce has been a lot of work these past few deliveries. The days seem so short until the we reach the end of the season, but we are already starting (very simple, early) talks of next season and missing all of those abundant greens from the first several rounds of deliveries. They seem so distant on these cool mornings!
I haven't had time to rustle up some new recipes for this week, they will be my task to complete by Friday.
Expected contents of the boxes:
potatoes
delicata squash
spaghetti squash
gourds (not edible, but fun for decoration!)
brussels sprouts
2 kinds of kale
2 kinds of carrots (PURPLE will be one of them!)
beets
lima beans
dill
parsley
sugar baby watermelon (PLEASE take one from the crates, they won't fit in the boxes!)
swiss chard
bell peppers
yummy mix peppers
onion
and hopefully, a bit more spinach...[note here: this was the mystery item in the box last week that I was unsure of for those who contacted me.]
Stacy
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
ok, what are those crazy things?
For most people, there are 3 different squash in your box this week.
Carnival- this one is the round-ish one with speckles that is somewhat shaped like a pumpkin. An interesting tidbit from one of our seed catalogs notes that "hot weather promotes more green tones and less yellow/orange". The one I have sitting here with me tells me that it was probably a hot summer!
Delicata- this one is the striped, oblong one
It is excellent for stuffing and baking. It has a very sweet flavor.
Uchiki Kuri (yep, that one is a mouthful!)- also known as a "Red Kuri" is somewhat pumpkin-looking.
Here is a bit of info you can read on the Wikipedia page about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_kuri_squash
All three of these squash are great for long term storage if they can be kept in a cool, dark place, away from any pests. Winter squash tend to be high in beta carotene.
I found a great website (University of Illinois Extension) that has some more great info to help navigate some of our squash questions.
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/wsquash.cfm
One of my favorite websites for squash identification is found here:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/squash.htm
And after a bit of research, I let the Yellow Crookneck Squash slip through last week without notice. It is still a summer squash, with more of a winter squash flavor and texture.
Don't ever feel shy about asking questions! Some of these veggies are new to many of us, so it helps to learn from others. I learned a few of these last year, but am learning along with you.
I am not sure how many others will find this interesting, but I learned last year that most winter squashes can be used the same as pumpkin for pies, baking, cooking. Many have either a better color or stronger flavor that make them even a bit more appealing than a regular old pumpkin. SO, if you aren't brave enough to try a fancy new recipe, you have an option to "hide" it in your old favorites.
A favorite recipe from the farm, with some variation:
Delicata squash is cut in half, to make a "boat".
Scoop out the seeds. Place in a cake pan or on a baking sheet.
Add your favorite meat, a bit of ground beef or roast work well, top with cheese and bake until done!
You can add a bit of tomato sauce or cream sauce if you like for even more flavor.
Serve while warm.
EDITING NOTE: On Thursday, there were some shortages, and Turk's Turbin squash were substituted for some of the kuri squash. All of this rain has caused a bit of difficulty in the gardens, and there just weren't enough that were ripe and in good condition to give to everyone.
Carnival- this one is the round-ish one with speckles that is somewhat shaped like a pumpkin. An interesting tidbit from one of our seed catalogs notes that "hot weather promotes more green tones and less yellow/orange". The one I have sitting here with me tells me that it was probably a hot summer!
Delicata- this one is the striped, oblong one
It is excellent for stuffing and baking. It has a very sweet flavor.
Uchiki Kuri (yep, that one is a mouthful!)- also known as a "Red Kuri" is somewhat pumpkin-looking.
Here is a bit of info you can read on the Wikipedia page about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_kuri_squash
All three of these squash are great for long term storage if they can be kept in a cool, dark place, away from any pests. Winter squash tend to be high in beta carotene.
I found a great website (University of Illinois Extension) that has some more great info to help navigate some of our squash questions.
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/wsquash.cfm
One of my favorite websites for squash identification is found here:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/squash.htm
And after a bit of research, I let the Yellow Crookneck Squash slip through last week without notice. It is still a summer squash, with more of a winter squash flavor and texture.
Don't ever feel shy about asking questions! Some of these veggies are new to many of us, so it helps to learn from others. I learned a few of these last year, but am learning along with you.
I am not sure how many others will find this interesting, but I learned last year that most winter squashes can be used the same as pumpkin for pies, baking, cooking. Many have either a better color or stronger flavor that make them even a bit more appealing than a regular old pumpkin. SO, if you aren't brave enough to try a fancy new recipe, you have an option to "hide" it in your old favorites.
A favorite recipe from the farm, with some variation:
Delicata squash is cut in half, to make a "boat".
Scoop out the seeds. Place in a cake pan or on a baking sheet.
Add your favorite meat, a bit of ground beef or roast work well, top with cheese and bake until done!
You can add a bit of tomato sauce or cream sauce if you like for even more flavor.
Serve while warm.
EDITING NOTE: On Thursday, there were some shortages, and Turk's Turbin squash were substituted for some of the kuri squash. All of this rain has caused a bit of difficulty in the gardens, and there just weren't enough that were ripe and in good condition to give to everyone.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
what's in the box?
Well, there are a few unique items in there. I will get to the list tomorrow to help you with some recipe ideas. I am sorry I had some oddities slip by me last week. I am working on getting details of those things as well.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Weekly update: September 7/9 deliveries...
Wowzers! Where has the summer gone?!?! This is week 15 of the deliveries already! Some have asked when the last box will be coming, because according to our brochures, we stated a minimum of 15 weeks. Well, that was our goal to have no less than that. We are shooting for a full 20. That makes this week plus 5 more deliveries if the weather holds out. Should the weather take a drastic turn for the worse (cold!), the crops will drop off, and the boxes will become more empty again, but there will still be items in them such as potatoes, carrots, beets, cabbage, etc. that can handle the cold that will be available for the boxes if they continue to be hardy and free of other damage.
Things have settled down at the farm, but with school starting, it will be interesting to see how we do on our timing, especially on Tuesdays. As always, I intend to get the boxes to their destination within the times scheduled, but it is not a precise measurement. We have learned a lot this year, and timing is one of the hardest things to pin down. There are just so many variables, it is amazing we can keep a schedule at all sometimes.
Contents of the box are once again a bit of a mystery to me. With the holiday weekend, I haven't been to the farm and we haven't had time for a letter to reach me. I expect that it will be many of the same items you have seen the past few weeks, without much variation.
I haven't had any new recipes shared with me this week, so I will have to do some digging of my own. I hope you all found great ways to use the eggplants that you had last week! I know some of you tried them in new recipes.
See you all soon!
Stacy
Things have settled down at the farm, but with school starting, it will be interesting to see how we do on our timing, especially on Tuesdays. As always, I intend to get the boxes to their destination within the times scheduled, but it is not a precise measurement. We have learned a lot this year, and timing is one of the hardest things to pin down. There are just so many variables, it is amazing we can keep a schedule at all sometimes.
Contents of the box are once again a bit of a mystery to me. With the holiday weekend, I haven't been to the farm and we haven't had time for a letter to reach me. I expect that it will be many of the same items you have seen the past few weeks, without much variation.
I haven't had any new recipes shared with me this week, so I will have to do some digging of my own. I hope you all found great ways to use the eggplants that you had last week! I know some of you tried them in new recipes.
See you all soon!
Stacy
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