Dave and I just bought into a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) program today at Grant Family Farms just north of Fort Collins. I've been wanting to do this since I lived in DC, but could never justify the purchase when I was living by myself. Imagine my delight when I found some local, family-owned sustainable farms that offer shares for singles, couples or families and covering everything from mushrooms to flowers and guinea fowl to artisan bread. Even more, Colorado has an extra long growing season so I will get a goodie box once a week until mid-December!They let you buy a work share for $90 off the share price if you pledge to do a minimum of eighteen hours of manual labor on the farm. I jumped at this opportunity... besides, it will make up for the fact that I can't have a garden in this apartment complex and I'll learn lots of new things.
Every Wednesday I go to a home a few miles from our apartment to pick up my box of just-picked veggies and a half-dozen eggs. I will probably need some suggestions on what to do with a lot of these ingredients, but I'm so ready for a challenge in the kitchen. Here's what this weeks shares look like:
Single Share: Lettuce, kale, cabbage, garlic, broccoli, beets, summer squash
Couple Share: Chard, green onions, lettuce, kale, cabbage, garlic, broccoli, beets, summer squash
Family Share: Chard, cilantro, parsley, green onions, lettuce, kale, cabbage, garlic, broccoli, beets, summer squash
Single Fruit Share: 1 bag of peaches
Double Fruit Share: 2 bags of peaches
Bread Share: Multi-grain seed bread
Mouco Cheese Share (one round/share): Truffello
Haystack Goat Cheese Share (one log/share): Applewood smoked
Windsor Dairy Cheese (one block/share): McIntyre Jack
Mushroom Shares: Either oyster or shiitake
dehydrate the kale, it's yummy as "chips". but of course, having a dehydrator is helpful. Otherwise, some good recipes on some blogs, I think Orangette or Smitten Kitchen. Jeni and I had some at the beginning of the season...used it in some sweet potatoes and something else. You'll find stuff, I just know it! It's also good just wilted with some garlic and salt/pepper.
ReplyDeleteMaple Chipotle Kale Chips
ReplyDelete2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
A good sprinkling of salt
A pinch of chipotle
1 bunch of kale (about 6 cups, uncompressed), stems removed and torn into bite size pieces
Whisk the olive oil, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, salt, and chipotle together and taste. You will probably need more salt than you anticipate. Massage the kale until lightly coated all over. Spread in a single layer on baking sheets Bake at 250 for 20-30 minutes, or until very crispy. Cool and enjoy.