Monday, March 22, 2010

Preparing for the new season: Part 2

Check out seasonal cookbooks!


I used to just cook by thinking about whatever I wanted to eat, find a recipe and then go buy the ingredients at the grocery store. Joining the CSA reversed this process for me - the ingredients came to me and then I had to figure out what to do with them! This was initially challenging but I think in the end has actually simplified the process of meal planning for me. Good, seasonal cookbooks have been a great help in this department. Below are some of my favorite seasonal cookbooks that I own and a few that I have been wanting to check out.

The Farm to Table Cookbook by Ivy Manning

EatingWell in Season

Now this one isn't a cookbook organized by season but it is my favorite cookbook of all time:

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Preparing for the new season: part 1

Time to clean up!


In about 2 months the vegetables will start rolling in! Last year was my first year as a member of a CSA and I learned a lot along the way. Now, with a tiny bit more knowledge under my belt, I'm going to be more prepared this year to enjoy my share to its fullest. So in order to pass the time, I'm going to spend the next two months learning more and getting prepared. Step one, though, is going to be cleaning out the kitchen for a fresh start.

Here are some resources for getting cleaned up:

Clean it out!

Make your own cleaning products

Organize your pantry

Organize your fridge

Building a natural foods pantry

One of the many benefits of a deep clean: I discovered some left over pesto, sun-dried tomatoes, and strawberries buried deep in my freezer. I will enjoy eating those but I really can't wait for the fresh stuff!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Only 16 Days!


Only 16 days until the Columbia Farmer's Market opens!
http://www.columbiafarmersmarket.org/
Opening Day is Saturday, March 20, 2010. There should be scallions, broccoli, lettuces, cauliflower, and herbs, and of course all of the year-round products that are usually available. The seasons always seem to change at just the right time and this is good because I am very tired of winter weather and winter foods and am ready for some spring!

Unfortunately, there are still two more months until the CSA shares start rolling in . . . but the time will fly by, especially for me since I will be on my surgery rotation until then. The CSA should just be getting started when I'm finished with surgery so that will be a nice treat at the end of two hard months. Don't forget to find and sign up for your own CSA:
http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

Here are some recipes to pass the time while we are waiting for Spring and the good food to start!
Lamb Ragu
Roasted vegetables
Roasted broccoli with saffron lime butter
Feta sun-dried tomato turkey sliders
Garlic soup
Maple apple walnut muffins