Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Week 2

Week 2:
  • Radishes
  • Strawberries
  • Bok choy
  • Baby lettuce mix
  • Spicy greens mix
  • Head lettuce
  • Napa cabbage
  • Arugula

RECIPES:
Cabbage and radish slaw with peanut dressing
-radishes, Napa cabbage
Pork and bok choy stir fry
- bok choy
Goat cheese arugula pizza
- arugula (and make your own whole wheat pizza crust!)
Spicy greens with warm balsamic vinaigrette
- spicy greens mix
Meyer lemon spring salad with baby lettuce, herbs, almonds, and goat cheese
- lettuce mix
Strawberry ice cream with cocao nibs
- strawberries

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Week 1: the first and the last


Today is a very exciting day - not only is it the first pick up of the CSA season but it is also my last day of surgery! I am just not cut out for the OR. I am meant to be in the clinic talking to people all day and delivering a baby now and then. Plus, the hours were so bad these last two months I have hardly cooked (and sometimes hardly eaten) at all and I miss it so much. I am happy to get back into the kitchen and back to eating better. The other exciting thing about the end of surgery is that it marks the beginning of my fourth, and last, year of medical school. This is going to be a good season!

Week 1:
  • D'Avignon French Radishes
  • Red Choy Bok Choy
  • Mixed Baby Lettuces
  • Arugula
  • Pea Shoots
  • Garlic Scallions
  • Strawberries
RECIPES:
Spring salad with radishes and pumpkin seeds
- baby lettuce, arugula, pea shoots, radishes
Baby bok choy with sweet chili sauce and garlic
- bok choy
Strawberry arugula salad with ricotta
- strawberries, arugula

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

It's the final countdown!

One week until our first CSA pickup of the season!!!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Preparing for the new season: Part 6

Composting!

Even when you store all your food properly to prolong freshness, plan your meals to use all your food resourcefully, and minimize food waste by preserving you will still find yourself with food scraps from preparation and the occasional limp vegetable forgotten in the back of the fridge. So what better way to not waste these either by turning the trash of today into your food of tomorrow by creating some fabulous compost!

This book is a quick and easy read and is a great place to start: Worms Eat my Garbage by Mary Appelhof

I do a lazy man's version of worm composting. I made my own box out of a large Tupperware container that I drilled holes in for ventilation. Then I made some bedding for my worms, primarily out of newspaper, as outlined in "Worms eat my garbage." Then I bought some worms online (they came in the mail!) and now I just throw my food scraps in there. It has been quite low maintenance and has worked great.


This is a picture of my homemade system from when I was setting it up. That is a big ball of worms in the middle!

Of course you can get much fancier and buy vermicomposting systems online or make elaborate backyard composting systems - it is all about what works for you!

Check out some online resources about vermicomposting:
Worm composting
More worm composting


Or if you live in Columbia, MO you can attend a free composting workshop