The Veggie Mystery Box - Week 2

So. Much. Lettuce.

For once in my life, I am honestly okay with that.  Although I can't explain it, by eating local food, I am getting more joy out of meals...including my second chicken salad in a single week.

I do have a confession, however.  I occasionally slip into the convenience groove.  I will grab whatever is quickly available in the frig or pantry to snack on.  It is always said that in order to correct a problem, you must first identify it.  Consider the problem identified.  My goal is to prep things ahead of time so I can reach for zucchini chips instead of the foil bag potato chips.

Moving on to the fun part!  Last week's CSA was a fun variety that included a jar of tomatoes, zucchini, romaine lettuce, kale, gold potatoes, and asparagus.

The tomatoes are still relaxing in the pantry (I'm thinking salsa perhaps?).  The kale turned into kale chips while the one zucchinI transformed into zucchini bread.  A portion of the gold potatoes teamed up with the asparagus to become Sunday night's dinner sides.

I was quite proud of this dinner, even the roast was local and grass fed! Now the challenge is to keep bringing it close to home with all meals.

How's it growing?

Although my mini garden got off to a slow and late start, I am so very pleased to say that it is coming along quite nicely!  My beginning of the season joke was that I would be happy if we got one edible item from it.... and "TaaaDaaa!"   We did!

This past weekend we got one single (and delicious) strawberry that my husband and I cut in half to split.  This strawberry will not be the only fruit of our labor; I am sure!  It already looks as though I can start harvesting some leaf lettuce as well!

The Veggie Mystery Box - Week 1

Last week was our first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share of the season.  Although I am still bewildered my husband agreed to this purchase, this spring we bought a small share as well as the additional holiday shares in our local CSA.  The pick up site was conveniently on my way home from work and it worked out to be about $20 a week for fresh produce for the 25 week growing season.

I can not begin to explain the excitement these pick ups are giving me.  It is a weekly produce surprise package.  Each week, on Tuesday, we receive a newsletter detailing what will be in our Thursday share.  This is wonderful because it gives you time to plan out recipes for the unfamiliar veggies.

This past week we received bok choy, red and green butter head lettuce, strawberries, potatoes, chives, and rhubarb.  The lettuce and bok choy went into salads, strawberries got eaten as they sat (and quickly), potatoes are still being stored as well as some of the chives, and the rhubarb turned into lemon rhubarb muffins.

This week looks like another fun and promising veggie mystery box - I already can't wait!