Summer returns! Hopefully the rain doesn’t dominate the long weekend and we can squeeze some more sunshine out of summer. The thing I am most excited about this week is honey crisp apples- just for the whole shares for now. They should sweeten up more once we get a good frost, but the trees were bowing under the weight of the apples and some were beginning to fall. This is the best crop I have seen so far and anything seems like abundance after last year. There might be a couple spots on your apples but I picked the best ones for you and did a lot of taste-testing to make sure they would be enjoyed. Apples are near the top of the “dirty dozen” list, a list of the most sprayed fruits and veggies. If you see a little white residue on your apples, it is not a chemical spray- don’t be alarmed. We sprayed the apples with clay to create a physical barrier to the bugs and end up with nicer apples. We tried to get it all off but it just might need another rinse. The honey crisps are my absolute favourite type of apple because of their crispyness- a nice apple to munch as is instead of the softer ones that are ideal for baking. Hope you enjoy. There are more apples to come for you half sharers.
Also, we have some lovely spinach (our spinach crop was not going well at all before now, so I am stoked!) which I’m sure you will enjoy. See below for a recipe that uses 3 of the items below, requires no cooking, and is a crowd-pleaser!
Half Shares
field tomatoes
campari tomatoes
green or burgundy beans
green peppers
watermelon
cucumber
red leaf lettuce
spinach (woo hoo!)
green onions
carrots
Whole Shares
field tomatoes
campari tomatoes
green or burgundy beans
green peppers
watermelon
cucumber
red leaf lettuce
spinach (woo hoo!)
green onions
carrots
saladette tomatoes
eggplant
red beets
chinese cabbage
red romaine or green leaf lettuce
green kale
honey crisp apples
garlic chives
Easy Fresh Tomato Salsa
Ingredients
9 campari tomatoes
1 extra small green pepper
1 green onion
2 cloves garlic
1/8 cup fresh cilantro (parsley or basil would also work)
1 ½ tbsp. Fresh lemon or lime juice
fresh ground salt and pepper to taste
dash cayenne powder
Directions
Dice tomatoes, green pepper and green onion. Mince garlic and finely chop cilantro.
Add dash cayenne, along with freshly ground pepper and salt. Let flavours combine for at least one hour.
Serve with whole grain tortilla chips or as a topping for bruchetta.
May you savour healthy, organic foods and the company of family and friends this weekend.
If the cilantro is still sitting in your fridge without any plans of what to do with it, it’s great to jazz up a salad, in a fresh salsa, or in Thai, Mexican or Indian cuisine. I used my whole bunch for cilantro peanut noodles (recipe at www.food.com/recipe/peanut-cilantro-noodles-172604)
But onto Week 17, Thanksgiving! I love this holiday, as it always brings my families together and involves an indulgent feast of plenty. As you gather with your family, or even if you don’t, do everything in Thankfullness. Just check out the array of foods before you- we are rich like few other nations in the world. Doing loads of dishes? Be thankful for the family that created the dirty dishes, and the blessing of having so many. Take a walk outside and enjoy the vibrant colours of fall alongside the crispness of the air. I am always enamoured with the way the world is lit up before and after sunset, highlighting everything with a golden glow. Also consider, is there someone who is far from family that will be spending Thanksgiving alone? What’s one more mouth to feed, and I’m sure a new face will enliven the dinner conversation.
Now to your week 17 list:
Half Share
-fresh sage (very delish in stuffing or to season the bird itself)
-pie pumpkin
-rainbow carrots
-carrots (we doubled up this week for your large gatherings)
-romaine lettuce
-black kale (see dressing recipe below)
-leeks
-green cabbage
-celery
Note: I wanted to give everyone squash again, but I ran out of room in the box. Look for some next week.
Whole Share
-fresh sage (very delish in stuffing or to season the bird itself)
-pie pumpkin
-rainbow carrots
-carrots (we doubled up this week for your large gatherings)
-romaine lettuce
-black kale (see dressing recipe below)
-leeks
-green cabbage
-celery
-red kale (see Kale salad recipe below)
-sweet peppers
-eggplant
-oregano or green onions
-spaghetti squash
-hot peppers Dressing With Turkey Sausage, White Beans and Kale (from Fresh Juice Magazine, October 2012)
I got excited about this stuffing recipe with black kale, fresh sage, oregano and celery! Much of your box was inspired by this receipe. Perfect for Thanksgiving.
Ingredients 1 cup uncooked spelt (I’m sure wheat bulgar or quinoa could substitute if you don’t have any)
10 cups cubed day-old whole grain bread
140g thickly sliced pancetta, diced
170g extra lean turkey sausage, casings removed
2 yellow onions, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. each fresh sage and oregano
5 cups coarsely chopped black kale
1 cup sodium reduced chicken broth
1 1/2 cups diced tomatoes
1 cup sodium reduced canned navy beans
1/4 tsp. each sea salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Directions
1. In medium saucepan, bring spelt and 4 cups water to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer until tender, about 25 mins. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, on 2 baking sheets, arrange bread on single layer. Toast at 300 degrees until crisp, about 20 minutes. Transfer to large bowl.
3. Heat large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pancetta; fry, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes. Add sauage and cook, breaking up sausage, until pancetta is crisp and sauage is golden brown, about 5 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer [ancetta and sauage to paper-towel lined bowl to drain. Discard excess fat in skillet.
4. In skillet, stir together onions, celery, garlic, sage and oregano. Cook, stirring frequently, until onions are translucent, about 8 mins. Scrape over bread.
5. In skillet, stir together kale and broth. Cook, stirring frequently, until kale is just wilted, about 2 minutes. Scrape over bread mixture.
6. Stir pancetta mixture, spelt, tomatoes and beans into bread mixture. Season with salt and pepper if desired. Scrape into 13×9 inch pan, sprinkle with parmesan and cover with foil.
7. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes, uncover and bake until top is crisp and dressing is hot, about 10 to 15 minutes.
Bon appetit!
Psychedelic Kale Salad (from Fresh Juice Magazine, October 2012)
Ingredients
6 to 7 cups chopped red kale
1/3 cup chopped sugar snap peas
1/3 cup dried cherries
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 tsp. umami paste
1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted.
Directions
1. In large bowl, combine kale, peas and cherries.
2. In seperate bowl, whisk together lemon juice, oil and umami paste. Toss with kale mixture to coat.
3. Top with almonds just before serving.
This week, choose to overlook the hangups and headaches and focus on the blessings around you. I bet you won’t have to look far!
