The Suburban Herbivore

Full share from April 28, 2010

Wow! This is my fifth year as a CSA member! I’m super-excited about the coming season for several reasons.

One, my feeble attempt at a vegetable garden last summer was pretty much a fail. I only had a 4X4 plot, and though it was in the sunniest part of our yard, it just wasn’t enough. I got a few tomatoes and cucumbers, and some basil, but it wasn’t a particularly productive garden. The hot peppers that I planted in pots on the back desk did pretty well, though.

The second reason I’m looking forward to my weekly shares is that we’ve had some changes in our family’s financial situation. Getting in a batch of produce each week that was paid for a long time ago is going to be a huge plus in meal planning and saving on groceries – something that I’m planning to start blogging a little more about in general.

I have to say, I wish there were more strawberries this week. As in previous years, we are splitting this share with another couple, and half a pint of strawberries is pretty much just a handful. (But they were delicious!) Here’s what we received: one big bunch spinach, one pint of strawberries, two baby bok choi, one big bunch turnips, one bunch French breakfast radishes, and two enormous heads of lettuce – one Romaine, one red-leaf.

Full share from September 9, 2009

In week 19, we received one large acorn squash, one bunch of turnips, one bunch of French breakfast radishes, one pound of cucumbers, and one pound of Japanese eggplant. I still have the turnips from last week, so I think I’ll cook up some White Bean and Root Vegetable Gratin.

Last week at this time (week 20 of 20), we got three pounds of tomatoes (!), one pint of Sungold tomatoes (!!), a pound of eggplant, and one quarter pound of basil. Though I guess it’s not really too surprising that there were tomatoes. Second plantings can bear tomatoes into October around here, and farmer’s markets still have plenty.

Full share from September 2, 2009

I haven’t been tracking how far along my CSA is, but this is week 18 of 20. And it’s officially the end of the tomatoes for the season. It’s been a pretty good crop this year, though we didn’t receive as much variety as in years past – very few Cherokee Purple and no Orange Blossom. Though, on the other hand, I did really enjoy the colorful and yummy cherry tomatoes.

This week, we got three pounds of tomatoes, one cantaloupe, one quarter-pound of basil, one and a half pounds of green beans, and nine small turnips. I’m glad to get the green beans – I know exactly what I’m going to do with them: Thai-Spiced Tofu and Green Beans.

Last year at this time (week 19 of 20), we received a half pound of basil, two and a half pounds of tomatoes, one pound of Japanese eggplant, and two small acorn squash. My photo is nowhere to be found, unfortunately.

Full share from August 26, 2009

It was a big week! We received four pounds of tomatoes, one pint of Sungold tomatoes, one pound of onions, a quarter-pound of basil, one pound of Japanese eggplant, one pound of red and yellow bell peppers, and one butternut squash.

Full share from August 27, 2008

I’m particularly happy about the squash, since I’m going to test out making my own baby food with it. Depending on how that goes, I may do a separate post on it. I’m also pleased about getting the eggplant. Getting a bunch of eggplant every week is not so good (for me), but having it come in every couple of weeks is perfect. The tomatoes should be winding down pretty soon, so I will have to think of something particularly good to do with these.

Last year, we got three pounds of Big Beef, Cherokee Purple, and Orange Blossom tomatoes, 2.5 pounds of potatoes, one pint of Sungold tomatoes, two large spaghetti squash, and one pound of yellow squash.

Since I’m writing this a number of days late, I can include a mention of what I made with some of this week’s share. The potatoes went into a delicious Peanut-Potato Curry. I used some of the tomatoes, plus bell peppers and red onion from the previous week, in making Friday Night Pizza. I need to whip up a batch of pesto – I’ve certainly got enough basil from the CSA for that.

Full share from August 19, 2009

For this week, we received two pounds of yellow squash, three pounds of white-flesh potatoes, five pounds of Big Beef tomatoes, one pint of Sungold tomatoes, and one large bunch ( 1/4 pound) of basil. Last week at this time we were at the beach, so we canceled our share.

Full share from August 12, 2009

I’ve realized that I’m spending all of my blogging time posting the CSA share descriptions and very little else. So what am I doing with all this produce? Well, I’ve simply been incorporating a lot of it into dishes that I make frequently. Sad to say, I haven’t really been trying anything new. But I figure I get a little bit of leeway now that we have a baby. I do have plans for posting some recipes in the near future. Here’s a taste: Black Beans and Rice, Hummus, Habanero Salsa, Caprese Salad, and Vegetable Lasagna. Mmmmmm….

This week, we got one large bunch of basil, one pound of red, orange, and yellow bell peppers, three pounds of Big Beef and Pink Girl tomatoes, one pint of Sungold tomatoes, one pound of yellow squash, and one pound of red and white onions.

Full share from August 13, 2008.

Sorry for the crazy photo of last year’s share! We were on the road and had to snap the picture of the produce laid out in the back of Jason’s car. What we got: three pounds of potatoes, one cantaloupe, three pounds of tomatoes, two pounds of red, orange, and yellow bell peppers, and one pint of Sungold tomatoes.

Full share from August 5, 2009

In the past, I’ve found basil to be about one of the easiest things to grow. But this year my plant is shrimpy and non-productive. I’ve gotten a few handfuls of leaves from it, and that’s it. My current theory is that the tomato plants are casting too much shade on the basil for it to thrive. I’m thinking that next year I’ll see if it does better in a container on the deck. Fortunately, there is no lack of basil from the CSA!

Full share from August 6, 2008

In this week’s share, we received one large bunch of basil, one pound of red and orange bell peppers (plus a jalapeno), two pounds of potatoes, one pound of Big Beef tomatoes, one pint of Sungold tomatoes, one pound of yellow squash, and one pound of white and red onions.

Last year: five pounds of tomatoes, two pounds of red, orange, and yellow bell peppers, one large butternut squash, and two white onions.

Full share from July 29, 2009

Things are definitely in a predictable pattern right now. I’m a little surprised, though, at the lack of squash and eggplant, as those are usually in abundance at this point. However, I’ve got no problem with having lots of tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes on hand! We got one large bunch of basil, one pound of red and yellow bell peppers, three pounds of white and yellow potatoes, three pounds of Big Beef and Pink Girl tomatoes, one pint of Sungold tomatoes, and one pint of mixed cherry tomatoes.

Last year at this time, we received two pounds of red and yellow bell peppers and serrano peppers, three pounds of Rose Gold potatoes, two acorn squash, three pounds of tomatoes, and one pint of Sungold tomatoes. Rose Golds are yellow-fleshed and pink-skinned, unlike Yukon Golds, which are yellow-fleshed and brown-skinned. But both are equally delicious!

Full share from July 22, 2009

Our CSA newsletter over the last few weeks hints that some people are getting Cherokee Purple and Striped German tomatoes. I’m sad that I’m not one of them. Hopefully my Cherokee Purples will begin to be ready fairly soon. I’m not familiar with Striped Germans, though I did try growing German Johnson tomatoes one year. It was pretty much a failure. The plant grew wonderfully, and I think I got all of one tomato from it.

Full share from July 23, 2008.

This week, we received five pounds of Big Beef and Pink Girl tomatoes, one pint of Sungold tomatoes, one pint of assorted cherry tomatoes, one cantaloupe, and three pounds Kennebec potatoes. I have to rave about the cherry tomatoes again. They are gorgeous and delicious! Kennebecs are a white-fleshed potato, and while to my mind, you can’t really go wrong with a potato, I do love the Yukon Golds.

Last year, we got: three pounds of tomatoes, two spaghetti squashes, two onions, one pound of bell peppers, one pound of Japanese eggplant, five assorted hot peppers (serranos), and two pints of Sungold tomatoes.

Half share from July 15, 2009.

We weren’t able to get a picture of the full share, so what you see is just our half. The list, though, is the entire amount. We got: five pounds of Big Beef and Pink Girl tomatoes, one pint of Sungold tomatoes, one pint of mixed cherry tomatoes, one pound of green bell peppers, one jalapeno, one pounds of onions (white and red), and one pound of Japanese eggplant. The cherry tomatoes are beautiful – I love the yellow pears.

Full share from July 16, 2008.

I think it’s a little funny that there’s one jalapeno in the box each week, as if more than that would be way too much for anyone to handle. While it’s often advised to wear gloves while cutting hot peppers, I’ve never bothered and haven’t suffered from it. Yet. But I have suffered a lot from running the hot water when there are pepper seeds and stems in the sink. If you are cooking with hot peppers, please don’t do this!

Last year’s share: five pounds of tomatoes, two pints of Sungold tomatoes, one pound of Japanese eggplant, one pound of yellow snap beans, two yellow squash, one zucchini, one cantaloupe, and two onions (one white, one red). Check out those crazy eggplant!