The Veggies are Here, The Veggies are Here!!!

I'm so excited! The CSA I'm hosting here in Northbrook is finally underway! Northbrook is a new location for this farm, so we have a slightly shortened season which allowed them to get their logistics down. Last night we got our first delivery!

So, what did it include? Potatoes, Kale, Beets, Baby Leeks, Turnips, Flat Leaf Parsley, Broccoli, Rainbow Chard, Basil, Baby Onion, & Oregano were all tucked neatly in my bag. 

Here are some pictures and ideas of what I plan to do with them. Thought this would be helpful for anyone shopping at farmers markets or buying seasonal produce as these are all in season now. And, if you're local and interested in this CSA, there's still time, just let me know!

Potatoes

I love red potatoes! As a side dish they are awesome boiled then just tossed with garlic, olive oil, salt and some chopped parsley. Kids will love the teeny tiny ones!

Kale

How about some kale chips? To make the, wash and dry the kale and chop into 1-2 inch pieces. Toss with olive oil and salt. Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until the kale is crispy. Yum! Kids love these too!

Beets

I think this week I'll simply boil the beets (about 20 min), peel and slice. Once cool I'll top them with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar than sprinkle with goat cheese... Makes an awesome side salad!

Baby Leeks and Onions

So this is one of my very favorite breakfast recipes using leeks. Sunday morning strata, mmm mmm good!

Turnips

I have to admit, turnips don't often make my weekly grocery list. After a quick google search, I think this recipe  for beer braised turnips sounds good. I'll probably substitute the butter for olive oil to make it a bit more healthy. 

 Broccoli

So many options for broccoli! Maybe this week I'll try it steamed and tossed with pasta? To do, sauté cooked broccoli with olive oil and garlic. Add a little white wine and/or lemon juice. Toss with whole wheat pasta and top with parmesan. 

Rainbow Chard

These delicious and VERY nutritious greens are great steamed and tossed with oil, lemon, salt and parmesan. Annie loves them and will often ask for more!

Fresh Herbs

Basil, Parsley and Oregano- so many uses! You can use fresh herbs in all recipes in place of dried. Try 1 Tbs of chopped fresh for each tsp dried. 

I love my CSA! Getting such a fun variety of veggies each week is like a mini adventure- its fun deciding what to do with them all!

The ABCs of CSAs

Spring is almost here and that means we will once again be able to get organic fresh produce directly from some of our local farms! I'm sure most of you are familiar with farmer's markets, but have you heard of CSAs?


CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and is a fun way to get a variety of very fresh fruits and vegetables (and sometimes meat and dairy) from your local farmer. Essentially you buy a "share" of the farm and each week you get a box full of the produce that was just picked. It's a great way to support a local farm and also introduce your family to a larger variety of fruits and vegetables. 


At our home, each week is like an adventure when we unpack our box and explore the variety of fruits and vegetables we have for the week. Annie loves to pick the first thing we eat! It's fun to get kids excited by showing them the variety of colors in the box and encouraging them to try the new veggies they have not seen before. Some farms also offer tours... this is an awesome way to teach kids where their food comes from. What kid doesn't like to visit a farm?


If you're thinking about joining a CSA, many of the farms have local drop off locations near large cities. Here in Chicago, farms have drop off locations all over the city and suburbs. For those of you near me, I'm actually participating as a produce drop off site for Grass is Greener Gardens out of Monroe, Wisconsin. I can send you more info if you're interested. The Local Beet also has a full list of local farms offering CSAs. 


Most CSAs start deliveries in June, but now is a great time to sign up and reserve your spot! 


I know in our family, we are looking forward to spring and new adventures in organic local produce!