Your apricots come from Vincent Farms right here in Goleta. Each apricot has been hand picked and selected for our CSA by the Vincent family. Their usual practice on the trees is called dry farming. This is the first in 20+ years that they’ve ever had to run drip lines out for the trees to supply water. As a result the apricots are smaller than usual, but pack a ton of flavor. Enjoy!!
CSA Contains:
RED TOMATOES
APRICOTS from VINCENT FARMS
CARROTS
STRAWBERRIES
SUGAR SNAP PEAS
BROCCOLI
SUNBURST SQUASH
RED LEAF LETTUCE
CUCUMBERS
GREEN KALE
BIG BOX ADD: SALAD MIX, STRAWBERRIES, CARROTS, BLUE LAKE GREEN BEANS, BLACKBERRIES or BLUEBERRIES from RANCHO DE LA FAMILIA
Broccoli, Cheddar and Wild Rice Casserole
Ingredients: Serves 4 as a generous side
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 large onion, diced
Salt
2/3 cup uncooked wild rice blend, rinsed
1 pound broccoli
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/4 teaspoon ground mustard powder or 1/2 teaspoon smooth Dijon
Pinch of cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
2/3 cup low-sodium vegetable or chicken broth
8 ounces cheddar cheese, coarsely grated
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice to onion and cook for 1 minute, then add 1 1/3 cups water and a few pinches of salt. Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to lowest temperature and cook with the lid on for about 50 minutes (or whatever amount of time is suggested on your package of rice). If you’d like a rice cooker to do this for you, transfer onions, water and rice to the machine and set the machine.
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Peel broccoli stems and dice them into large chunks. Cut florets into 1-inch pieces. Cook in boiling, well-salted water for 2 to 3 minutes, then drain.
You can use this same pan to make the cheese sauce. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in pan over medium heat. Once melted, add the mustard powder (if using), a pinch of cayenne and garlic and let sizzle for 1 minute. Add flour and whisk until combined, cooking the butter-flour mixture for 1 to 2 minutes. Slowly drizzle in milk, whisking constantly, then broth. Bring to a simmer and cook mixture at a simmer, stirring the whole time, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in smooth Dijon mustard if you didn’t use mustard powder.
Remove pan from heat and stir in 1/3 of grated cheese until melted. Season generously with salt and pepper.
Combine cooked wild rice blend and broccoli in a 2-quart baking dish or a 9-inch oven-safe skillet. Pour cheese sauce over and gently nudge to ensure all pieces get some sauce. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Bake casserole for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce is bubbly, then run mixture under the broiler until cheese is toasty on top.
(Recipe from Smitten Kitchen)
Quinoa Stuffed Sunburst Squash
Ingredients:
2-4 patty pan squash (depending on how many you are serving)
1 cup quinoa
1 1/4 cup water or stock
3 tablespoons tomato paste
1/4 bunch of kale leaves, cleaned and de-stemmed
1 15 oz. can chickpeas
2-4 tablespoons butter (optional)
Salt
Pepper
Directions:
Heat your oven to 375. Slice the tops off the squash and scoop out some of the innards. Be sure not to poke a hole in the bottom or in the side. Season the cavity with salt and pepper. Place them in a glass baking dish. Thinly slice your kale and drain and rinse the chickpeas.
Bring the quinoa and water to a boil. Turn to medium and simmer for 10-15 minutes until tender. When it’s finished, stir in the kale, tomato paste, and chickpeas. Season with salt and pepper.
Scoop the filling into the squash. Put a tablespoon of butter into each squash (squish it into the filling). Replace the squash “lids” and cover with foil. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the squash is tender. Enjoy!
(Recipe from A Professors Kitchen)
Spiced Red Lentil, Tomato, and Kale Soup
Ingredients:
•1 tsp coconut oil (or other oil)
•2 large garlic cloves, minced
•1 sweet onion, diced
•3 celery stalks, diced
•1 bay leaf
•1 & 1/4 tsp ground cumin
•2 tsp chili powder
•1/2 tsp ground coriander
•1/4-1/2 tsp smoked sweet paprika, to taste
•1/8th tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
•14-oz can diced tomatoes
•5-6 cups vegetable broth, more if desired
•1 cup red lentils, rinsed and drained
•fine grain sea salt and pepper, to taste
•2 handfuls torn kale leaves or spinach
Directions:
1. In a large pot, sauté the onion and garlic in oil for about 5-6 minutes over medium heat. Add in the celery and sauté for a few minutes more.
2. Stir in the bay leaf and the spices (cumin, chili powder, coriander, paprika, cayenne). You can add half the spices and add more later if you prefer.
3. Stir in the can of tomatoes (including juice), broth, and lentils. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and then simmer, uncovered, for about 20-25 minutes, until lentils are tender and fluffy.
4. Stir in kale or spinach and season to taste adding more spices if you wish.
(Recipe from Oh She Glows)
Quinoa Salad with Sugar Snap Peas
(I think this would be a great salad to add broccoli or whatever vegetables you like and/or have on hand to use up.)
Ingredients:
1/2 pound sugar snap peas
1 1/2 cups quinoa, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup salted roasted pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup minced chives
Directions:
1. In a small saucepan of boiling salted water, simmer the peas until bright green and crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Drain and spread out on a large plate to cool, then pat dry. Cut the peas on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces.
2. In a small saucepan, combine the quinoa with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat until all of the water has evaporated and the quinoa is tender, about 15 minutes. Uncover and fluff the quinoa, then transfer to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature.
3. In a bowl, combine the oil and vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Add the peas to the quinoa with the pumpkin seeds, chives and dressing; stir. Season with salt and pepper and serve at room temperature or lightly chilled.
Make Ahead The salad can be refrigerated for up to 6 hours.
(Recipe from Food and Wine)
JUICE FEAST Contains:
DANDELION GREENS
CARROTS
STRAWBERRIES
ROMAINE LETTUCE
CUCUMBERS
GREEN KALE
PARSLEY/MINT
RED BEETS
RED TOMATOES
RED PEPPERS