My Dear Community,
Happy MLK Jr. Day! “Our lives end the day we become silent about the things that matter.” This is one of many beautiful quotes by which to remember Martin Luther King Jr. today, and every day. I think it also resonates with me in the movement for organic food grown with the soil in mind. Choosing organic is a proactive stance, a vocalization against harmful pesticides and detrimental farming practices. In this movement, our voices and choices call for an active, purposeful life lived in harmony with our convictions.
I had to step back and laugh at myself a little. Last week I was confident that our egg production would increase. Our newest flock just started laying and we were on a roll. Then the chickens must have checked the weather report because they came to a sudden halt about a week ago. I’m definitely a little TOO used to the California sunshine because I always neglect to think about January where the temperatures start to dip into freezing. For as long as I’ve been doing this my mind always wants to skip right back into spring after the holidays. I’ve loaded up the chicken coops with hay for warmth and we’ll revisit this when they feel like laying again.
Last week we were slated to put brussels sprouts into the boxes. It’s reasonable to look out at 6000 plants and think there would be plenty. But after walking the field and picking what was available, it was very apparent that they aren’t ready yet. You wouldn’t know it by looking at the plant, but when you bend over to harvest it feltsmushy – no bulk yet inside. Everything slows down with the temperatures lowering. This will be the first CSA box in a while with no lettuce. I’m getting creative and am already thinking about different kinds of salads to make with cabbage, kale and other things that are available to try something new. Take a peek below at our recipes for inspiration.
Be good to each other.
CSA Contains:
CARROTS
NAPPA CABBAGE
BROCCOLI
RED ONIONS
SATSUMA TANGERINES
BABY SPINACH from SUNRISE ORGANICS
LACINATO KALE
HEIRLOOM TOMATOES
ARUGULA
SPAGHETTI SQUASH
BIG ADD: ROMAINE LETTUCE, CARROTS, MOUNTAIN MAGIC TOMATOES, RED BEETS, SATSUMA TANGERINES
JUST the BASICS:
SATSUMA TANGERINES
CARROTS
BABY SPINACH
NAPPA CABBAGE
HEIRLOOM TOMATOES
BROCCOLI
JUICE FEAST:
CARROTS x2
ROMAINE LETTUCE
FUJI LADY APPLES
CELERY
FENNEL
BABY SPINACH
LACINATO KALE
CILANTRO
SATSUMA TANGERINES
FRUIT EXPANSION: FUJI LADY APPLES + SATSUMA TANGERINES
LETTUCE of the WEEK: ROMAINE
MUSHROOM MIX: SHIITAKE + OYSTERS from WOLFE FARMS
Napa Cabbage Salad with Asian Dressing
Ingredients:
1 head napa cabbage small to medium size, halved and sliced thinly
2 medium navel oranges
1 medium carrot cut into matchsticks or grated
1 red bell pepper sliced thinly and cut into bite-sized pieces (consider broccoli instead)
2 green onions sliced thinly on the bias (consider red onion)
1/2 cup cilantro chopped
1/2 cup sliced almonds
ASIAN DRESSING:
4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons neutral flavored oil such as vegetable or algae oil
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice squeezed from remaining orange after segmenting
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1.5 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce use wheat free tamari or coconut aminos for gluten free, paleo or Low FODMAP diets
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon sea salt or to taste
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste
(Find the full recipe and inspiration here at Flavor the Moments)
Spaghettie Squash Pad Thai with Chicken
Ingredients:
2 medjool dates pitted and softened, if necessary, by soaking in very hot water for 5 minutes*
1/4 cup smooth almond butter a drippy almond butter works best
2 Tbsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp lime juice
3 Tbsp coconut aminos
2 tsp fish sauce
1 Tbsp sesame oil
1/2 inch fresh ginger peeled and chopped, or 1 tsp ground ginger
3 cloves garlic peeled and chopped, or 1 tsp garlic powder
Large pinch red pepper flakes
pad thai:
1 med-large spaghetti squash
1 Tbsp avocado oil
1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
Sea salt and pepper for the chicken
1/2 medium onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
2 eggs whisked
1 cup shredded purple cabbage (sub nappa)
1 cup shredded carrots
1 red bell pepper thinly sliced (sub broccoli)
1/2 cup chopped cashews for garnish
1 bunch scallions sliced, for garnish
More red pepper flakes for garnish
(Find the full recipe and inspiration here at Paleo Running Momma)
Napa Cabbage Salad with Parmesan and Pistachios
Ingredients:
1 28- oz. Napa cabbage ; tough outer leaves removed, halved, leaves torn into 3″–4″ pieces
1 1/2 tsp. flaky sea salt ; plus more
1/2 upcoarsely chopped raw pistachios
1 tsp. plus 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil ; plus more for drizzling
1/2 sp.freshly ground black pepper ; plus more
1 sprig thyme
1/2 sp.finely grated orange zest
1/2 sp.sugar
2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
2 tsp. honey preferably wildflower
1 cup parsley leaves with tender stems
1 Tbsp. thinly sliced chives
3 oz. Parmesan shaved ; plus more for serving
(Find the full recipe and inspiration here at Big Oven)
Creamy Spinach Chicken
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons cashews**
1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced, or chicken tenders*
Celtic sea salt and black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme, divided
3 tablespoons olive oil or ghee, divided
1 1/2 cup chicken bone broth**
1/2 medium onion diced
4 cloves garlic minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast optional, for cheesy flavor
6 cups packed baby spinach,
Celtic sea salt and black pepper to taste
(Find the full recipe and inspiration here at Eat Well Enjoy Life)