My dear Community,
October heat waves seem to be the norm now. Even though it was quite hot for us, it was a great push for the crops on the farm. Summer crops get a chance to hold on a bit longer and our winter crops get a boost. As the days get shorter and the weather inevitably gets cooler, the winter crops seem to slow to a crawl. We rely on a little extra sunshine this month to keep everything on schedule. We’re rolling right along into cooking season, in time for fennel to hit the scene. Fennel is (in my opinion) an underrated flowering plant species in the Apiaceae (carrot, celery) family with an anise flavor. It contains potassium, magnesium, and other nutrients with an antioxidant effect. It may have various health benefits, such as digestion support, it may be anti-inflammatory and promote healthy skin. Just another addition to your box of farmaceuticals. Using the CSA box as inspiration to eat “outside the box” will help you get a much-needed variety of vitamins and minerals the body needs. We also have lots of garlic, onions and herbs in our CSA store if you’d like to add a boost of flavor and nutrition to your experience.
Be good to each other.
CSA Contains:
HEIRLOOM TOMATOES
RED ONIONS
CARROTS
RED BUTTER LETTUCE
FENNEL
MOUNTAIN MAGIC TOMATOES
STRAWBERRIES
CUCUMBERS
GREEN BEANS
RED BELL PEPPERS
BIG BOX ADD: ROMAINE LETTUCE, BI COLORED SWEET CORN, FINGERLING POTATOES, BABY SPINACH, BROCCOLI
JUST the BASICS:
RED BUTTER LETTUCE
CARROTS
MOUNTAIN MAGIC TOMATOES
GREEN BEANS
CUCUMBERS
RED BELL PEPPERS
JUICE FEAST:
CARROTS x2
ROMAINE LETTUCE
GALA APPLES
LACINATO KALE
ENGLISH CUCUMBERS
ITALIAN PARSLEY
CELERY X2
BABY SPINACH
FENNEL
FRUIT EXPANSION: STRAWBERRIES + YELLOW PEACHES
LETTUCE of the WEEK: ROMAINE
MUSHROOM MIX: Shiitake + Oyster from WOLFE FARMS
Fennel and Chickpea Salad
Ingredients:
1 large fennel bulb (very thinly sliced)
1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
3 celery stalks (very thinly sliced)
½ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley (chopped)
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons good quality olive oil
Salt and pepper (to taste)
½ cup grated Parmesan
(Find the full recipe and ingredients here at Platings and Pairings)
Fennel & Kale Ragù
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil plus more as needed
1 pound mild Italian sausage
1 medium yellow onion thinly sliced
1 medium fennel bulb thinly sliced
Kosher salt
4 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 jars crushed tomatoes around 36 ounces
1 bunch lacinato kale – sliced into ribbons
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
(Find the full recipe and inspiration here at Cooking Primal Gourmet)
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Ingredients:
1 small cucumber
1 ripe tomato
1 red onion
1/3 of bell pepper any color
Bunch of fresh coriander
1 can of chickpeas 14oz or 400g drained
juice of half a lemon
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
half tsp chilly flakes
1 or 2 crushed garlic cloves
lots of dried dill
(Find the full recipe and inspiration here at Zest and the City)
15-Minute Gazpacho with Cucumber, Red Pepper and Basil
Ingredients:
2¼ pounds tomatoes, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 European cucumber, peeled and diced
1 garlic clove
1 red onion, minced and divided
4 tablespoons chopped basil, divided
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chopped cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
(Find the full recipe and inspiration here at Pure Wow)
1-Pan Garlicky Green Beans with Slivered Almonds
Ingredients:
ALMONDS
1/3 cup slivered or sliced raw almonds
1 pinch sea salt
GREEN BEANS
1 lb green beans, stems and rough ends trimmed (organic when possible)
1 Tbsp avocado oil (or other neutral oil with high smoke point)
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp dairy-free butter (or sub organic dairy butter as needed)
(Find the full recipe and inspiration here at The Minimalist Baker)