CSA Week 4

CSA Supplies Received:

broccoli
lettuce
parsley
snow peas
spring onions
collard greens

CSA Week 5

CSA Supplies Received:

broccoli
beets
green onions
peas

CSA Week 6

One difficulty in doing this CSA project are the ravenous beats (read: children) that live in my house. This week’s shipment contained more apricots, plums, and peaches than are shown here, but the little rascals got to them before I could get home from work and snap a picture.

CSA Supplies Received:

beets
cucumber
apricots
plums
peaches
yellow squash
basil

This is the final picture in the Mary Weekly set. As with Simon, the majority of Mary pictures from now on will be flagged Friends and Family only on Flickr. If you’d like to keep tabs on Mary and aren’t already a friend/family on flickr, let me know!

This weekly photo was delayed both in it’s taking (taken on Monday 6/21) and it’s posting due to sickness. Now SHE’s the one who’s sick, on her BIRTHDAY. One more picture to go, hopefully at her party on Saturday. My poor baby. Happy Birthday, sweetie.

CSA Supplies Received:

Broccoli
Lettuce
Spring Onions
Strawberries
Basil

Dish: Broccoli Penne with Pesto Sauce

Recipe as per Kate: “Ummm…there’s penne pasta, steamed veggies, vermouth, pesto, and a little parmesean cheese on top.” Okay, I guess that’ll have to do!

Pat’s Recipe Rating

3.5 stars. Very Good.

Notes

Kate used the Broccoli and basil from the CSA to create the previously described yummy pasta dish. OK, if I HAVE to be honest, the basil for the pesto was from basil we already had growing in our garden, but for the purposes of this project, it’s farm-grown basil!

CSA Supplies Received:

Swiss Chard (replaces Spinach lost due to wilting)
Spring Onions
Asparagus
Strawberries
Dill Plant

Dish: Cheese and Swiss Chard Pancakes

Using the swiss chard from the CSA, Kate adapted a “Cheese and Spinach Pancakes” recipe from The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook. It was yummy, but not fabulous. I do think spinach would have worked better in the dish than the Swiss Chard.

Pat’s Recipe Rating

3 stars. Good.

My mother loves to tell how I referred to him as “my friend Pop” when I was little. I remember him indulging my juvenile games and fantastical imaginary scenarios on many an evening or weekend when my parents were out. I remember what I now recognize as an amused smile as he enjoyed watching my active imagination. Those many hours and days that Pop sacrificed as my family’s go-to babysitter are precious to me and my siblings.

I remember the outings he would take us on, whether it was something as simple as a trip to the grocery store, or as exciting as fishing at a nearby lake. Most of all, I remember Pop’s willingness to teach: sinking a 20-foot putt (never did master that one!), hooking an eight pound bass (or, more likely an eight ounce Spot), or playing Gin Rummy were only the beginnings of what Pop would teach us.

Pop taught us more by his life than he probably ever knew. And only in writing this do I now realize how much I should have told HIM. Pop taught me about redemption and strength of will. He taught me about giving to the community. Most of all, he taught me how to earn the deep admiration of family, friends, and peers by living a life guided by a close relationship with Jesus Christ.

In these past few weeks, I have been touched by the outreach of Pop’s friends – his ‘extended family,’ if you will. The well wishing through cards and visitors was truly beautiful. I loved reading through his birthday, Easter, and get well cards (I’m fairly certain he didn’t mind) and seeing names I had never heard before. It firmly cemented in my mind the long reach of Pop’s generous spirit, and the humility with which he lived.

We’ll miss you Pop. See you in the next Life.

CSA Supplies Received:

Kale
Spring Onions
Asparagus
Strawberries

Dish: Asparagus Soup

Using the asparagus and the spring onions from this week’s haul, Kate put together the following dish.

Chef’s Note: This recipe comes from my grandmother. I’ve tried other recipes for this soup, but hers is the tastiest. However, like most things she makes, nothing is measured so it’s rather hard to try and write it down.

Olive Oil
1 small onion, diced (I used two of the spring onions, all of the white and some of the green)
1 large bunch of asparagus
Chicken broth (I probably used about 2 cups)
Small amount of light sour cream (I used about 4 oz.)
Salt, to taste
Fresh pepper, as garnish

1. Coat a medium-sized saucepan with olive oil and heat it over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté until soft and translucent.
2. Meanwhile, trim and peel the asparagus (rather than discard the woody end, which is a complete waste of food, I use a vegetable peeler to scrape of the outer layer) and place in a vegetable steamer on the stove top. Steam until it is quite tender, but still a nice, bright green.
3. Add the onions and asparagus to your blender and add some chicken broth. Blend until smooth, adding chicken broth as needed until you reach the desired texture.
4. Add the blended mixture back into your saucepan and cook on medium heat until heated through. Add the sour cream and stir until worked throughout. Season with salt as desired.
5. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh black pepper. Very tasty with pita chips.

Pat’s Recipe Rating

3.5 stars. Very Good.

Notes

Ironically, I started this as a photography project, but since Kate needed to use the produce to start dinner before I got home from work, the supplies picture is by her.

As far as a subject for this new project, I want to branch out a bit. This winter, we signed up to participate in Great Country Farms Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. For those of you unfamiliar with CSAs, we pay a fee to have fresh produce delivered weekly during the harvest season. On a weekly basis from now until October(ish), we get an assortment of produce from the farm. Our allotment includes whatever happens to be in season. For example, this week we’re going to be getting asparagus, spring onions, kale and strawberries.

In order to make things even more interesting, Kate and I are going to collaborate on this project. So for our CSA Photo Project (still trying to think of a clever name), Kate will be in charge of coming up with yummy ways to use the produce we use every week. I’ll be in charge of taking a picture of our weekly delivery, and possibly some shots of the things she makes (inspired a bit by the wonderful work from the folks at Smitten Kitchen). We hope to post at least one photo of what we’ve received, and one recipe of what we (er. . . Kate) made with it. Additional responsibilities for Kate include: reminding me to take pictures, reminding me to process the pictures, and reminding me to post to the blog. Additional responsibilities for me include: procrastinating on all of the above. I’m sure this will be a wonderful exercise in marital communication skills.

I am actually really excited about this project, and hope it will be a lot of fun. Look for the first post sometime tomorrow.