CSA Pics

Well, it’s officially August, and our CSA (community supported agriculture) is still going strong. Every other week we get our delivery of fresh, local produce and herbs from Poplar Ridge Farm, and every time like a total lunatic, I stick my head in the bag and take a giant whiff. I can’t help it – it just smells so damn good. Here is our batch from last week:

I used to hear people talk about food that came straight from the garden, and I’d be all “yeah yeah, I get it” about it – but now I really get it. There is a huge difference in taste and quality. And I totally love the smell of dirt on my just-harvested feast. I taste the difference on my plate, and feel the difference in my bank account. Instead of spending the bulk of my money in the produce aisle I now breeze through the grocery store and plan meals around what’s in my bi-weekly bag of surprises.

One of my favorite things about the CSA (a.k.a. “farm share”) is that I am getting ingredients I wouldn’t normally cook with, so my culinary horizons are broadening each week. I’m also getting better about making things in bulk, and saving for later.  Seriously – with so many tomatoes, who could resist from making a batch of fresh marinara?

big batch of basil!

Out of this last I made the following:

• Purple gnocchis with brown butter sage sauce
• Zucchini Bread
• Cucumber tuna boats
• Purple potato fries

I’m working on posting the rest of the recipes above, so stay tuned. Today, just as I have about used up this batch, it is time to pick up the next one. More photos and recipes to come. In the meantime: are you involved in a CSA? Do you have any photos or recipes to share? Let me hear it in the comments!

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