[CSA]: Week 6
Around the Farm
Needless to say, we've been a little disappointed in the weather and thus many of the crops we have been unable to water. The string beans, potatoes, radishes, lettuce and more have been barely holding on or given up too soon...
Still y'all have been doing some amazing stuff with the bounty there is! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks so much for all those who share their ideas (and dinner) to give encouragement to everyone!
The Menu
Please Choose 6
Garlic Scapes
Mini Cabbage
Pointy, green and purple
Greens!
Dinosaur Kale
Scarlet or Green Curly Kale
Red Russian Kale
Basil
Summer Squash/Zucchini/Golden Zucchini/Patti Pans
Salad Cucumbers
Fresh Herbs!
Fresh Onions!
Small but, sweet! Use them sort of like a green onion, keep them in the fridge.
Maybe List
Beets
Broccoli
Bok choy
Recipe Ideas: Pickling Cucumbers
We always love the idea of canning to preserve a shelf-stable product but, at least when it comes to pickles, sometimes the results fall flat.
In recent years, in lieu of canning our pickling cucumbers, we have simply done refrigerator dills or bread and butter pickles, when cukes are in season. But, this means only enjoying them for a short time.
We've found we simply enjoy the texture of a fresh pickle to a canned pickle (plus we just can't seem to get the sweetness/acidity balance to a boyfriend-approved level).
I hope you take some of these recipes to heart and pickle something this week!
Resources for Pickling:
FreshPreserving.com
A site by Ball/Kerr. Ball Blue Book has long been the standard of all manner of food preservation. If you're looking into food preservation, it's a must-have.
A blog dedicated to preservation. Pretty solid entries and I do love her ideas for CSA extras.
Smitten kitchen has one of the easiest and straightforward pickle recipes out there. She also has lovely pictures and stories!
Check out Smitten Kitchen's Easiest Fridge Dill Pickles
While looking for other recipes (since I really only do the above recipe... with garlic, of course)... I stumbled on the concept of these Sweet and Spicy Grilled Pickles. So, while the texture might be compromised, the idea of smoky, sweet, spicy pickles in the middle of winter is just too tempting. I'll be trying this, this weekend!
If you live in a house divided, as I do, you'll need a good bread and butter pickle recipe. Brown Eyed Baker has a recipe similar to what I use and, some great visual instructions.
See her super simple recipe for Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles.
(She does a great zucchini pickle too!!!)