cauliflower | In Her Chucks

Apr 11 2013

CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #69

This coming weekend is very big deal for my family…my little brother is getting married. I mean, he’s not actually little anymore. In fact, he is a big, brave, soldier, brother, but no matter how tall or strong he gets, he will always be younger (age is really all I have on him anymore…).

And what is even more exciting about this weekend, is that I get to welcome to my family, another sister, Koko. I couldn’t be more proud of Quincy’s choice of bride. Beautiful, intelligent and just plain fun. I have known Koko since we were younger and I have always been a fan (which to be honest, isn’t an easy feat with me. I tend to be VERY overprotective of my bro, but Koko won me over immediately). So having them make their union “official” is really just the icing on the cake.

Speaking of cake, did you check out the links from last week? How I Ate My Box linked up a beautiful Flourless Beet Cake…sounds heavenly doesn’t it?! Oh, and Farm Fresh Feasts made a killer CSA Grilled Cheese complete with pickled turnips, radishes and carrots. And finally, if you are looking for some salad inspiration, Clean Eats, Fast Feets hooked us up with a roundup of some of her most beautiful lettuce creations. Thanks to everyone who linked up. I always appreciate you sharing your delicious veggie goodness with the rest of the party.

And really, what is a party without a box full of fresh fruits and veggies…

You know you have been ~~brainwashed by~~ a member of your CSA for too long when you start getting excited about beets. At the beginning of my CSA journey, I used to loathe beets. But the truth is, I just didn’t know what to do with them. Now, with a pretty extensive beet recipe repertoire, I can’t get enough of them. The last few times I have gotten a bunch of fresh beets in my box, I have made this amazing Roasted Beets with Gorgonzola and Walnuts salad. I was watching the Barefoot Contessa on TV the other day (the silver lining to having a sick baby…lots of down time), and she was whipping up a Balsamic Roasted Beet Salad that had me drooling. But on the other hand, that Flourless Beet Cake has me intrigued as well. Since when is there not enough beets to curb my cravings? Official produce nerd :)

And then of course you have the asparagus, which is already gone. We devoured it alongside homemade turkey meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner Tuesday night. Comfort food at it’s finest. And for dessert? Fresh fruit. Strawberries, kiwi and tangerines. Sliced. That’s it. There really is nothing sweeter.

For the gorgeous head of lettuce I am going to draw from some of Meghan’s delicious ideas. And to add to the fun, I am sure some of those carrots will end up in my salad somehow too.

It has been a while since I have roasted cauliflower. It really is my favorite way to prepare it. So simple but totally irresistible.

And finally, spring onions. Nothing fancy I’m sure. But Freddie will love me if I sneak them into his eggs. Such a good wife am I :)

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to use the fruits and veggies shown? Any special recipe, tips or tricks you’d like to share? Looking forward to reading your responses :)

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog. Thanks!

Tagged asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, community supported agriculture, csa, fruit, kiwi, lettuce, link party, local, onions, organic, produce, recipe, strawberries, tangerines, vegetables

Mar 13 2013

32 Comments

CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #65

This weekend, I realized that I have a love/hate relationship with Target. I love it because they always have everything I need but I also hate it because they always have everything I need.

Let me explain further.

On Sunday we took a trip to visit my Dad in LA. We stayed the night and woke up bright and early to head to Disneyland for the day. While I was in the midst of getting Harper dressed, I realized I had forgotten her socks (darn!). Luckily, there was a Target on the way to the freeway, so we decided to make a quick stop to pick up a pair. I decided to run in by myself while everyone else waited in the car.

Ten minutes later, I approached the car holding a large paper Target bag. Freddie asked me, “You need a big bag to carry one pair of socks?”. I looked down in shame. ”Well, actually, I realized I needed a few more things”. Then I proceeded to tell him this story.

Upon entering Target I had a goal in mind. Go to the children’s clothing section and pick out a pair of socks. I made it there without any distraction and successfully found a 6 pack of socks (you can never have too many socks). While I was on my way to the register, I passed by the Women’s Active Wear section. A gray hoodie caught my eye. I realized that I had forgotten my jacket at home and therefore could totally justify purchasing a $15 sweatshirt to ensure I didn’t get cold later in the evening. Once I made it up to the checkout stand, and was waiting in line, I got caught browsing the various products they had on the register display. I saw a three pack of my favorite chap stick (which I had also left at home) as well as a 3 pack of kleenex (thought it would come in handy to have in the baby bag just in case). So I threw those on the conveyor belt as well.

$30!!! And to think I just went in for ONE pair of socks.

So what does this have to do with the produce party? Nothing really…just needed to get that off my chest :)

I feel better now, thanks. Time to talk about some fruit and veggies.

Last week we had a total of 10 link ups! And these ladies are really catering to my sweet tooth. We had a sinful Caramelized Apple Cinnamon Pot de Creme and a batch of Purple Carrot Cake Cupcakes. Yummy!!! And after a seasonal break, I am beyond excited to welcome some of my most loyal participants back to the party. Shout out to AnnieRe Unplugged and My Yummy Local Life. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for all that delicious CSA produce :) Thanks to everyone who linked up to share their goodies. Your generosity is appreciated.

Now it’s my turn to share what is in my box…

Hooray for Brussels sprouts! It has been a while since I have enjoyed some of these and I can’t think of a better complement to a hearty home cooked meal than a side of roasted Brussels sprouts. I always follow this recipe because it never fails to deliver.

Next, I am going to figure out what to do with those English peas. I have never received them in my box before so this is a new one to me. Upon research of the veggie, I am sad to find out that their shells are not edible. I hate to waste them :( Although it is suggested to save them to use for veggie stock (something I have yet to try). Harper LOVES peas so I am looking forward to creating a special recipe just for her.

I already used the lemons and the garlic on dinner tonight. I finally got around to making the Apricot Pork Chops I told you about last week. So the garlic came in handy for that recipe. On the side I served sugar snap peas dressed with some fresh lemon zest and juice. It was a big hit :)

I know that soup season is winding down, but I have never had the pleasure of making a cauliflower soup before. I have been looking around at recipes and I have a strong urge to make one. I will let you know how it goes ;) And I am sure I will accompany the soup with a side salad. Because that’s how I roll…

On to the chard. After finding this recipe from Farm Fresh Feasts, I am in need of some Panade with Swiss Chard, Onion and Cheddar Sausage in my life. I have a feeling the family is going to go nuts over this. Bread, chard and sausage? Sounds like the perfect meal :)

Finally, for the fruit, I will be using it for my snacks and possibly some smoothies. I recently found a smoothie recipe for kiwis, vanilla yogurt, milk, protein powder, a banana and some chia seeds. Sounds delightful. Might need to make that for breakfast tomorrow.

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to use the fruits and veggies shown? Any special recipe, tips or tricks you’d like to share? Looking forward to reading your responses :)

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog. Thanks!

Tagged apples, Breakfast, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Chard, community supported agriculture, csa, dinner, english peas, farm share, food, fruit, garlic, kiwi, lemons, lettuce, link party, local, mandarins, organic, recipe, vegetable

Nov 08 2012

26 Comments

CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #51

I don’t know about you, but I have a never-ending list of chores and errands that seems to multiply by the minute. Every time I check something off, 5 more things appear. But I guess, that’s just life. However, today, I think I was finally able to get my head above water. I went to the bank, dropped off a package at the post office and picked up a few things at the store all in less than an hour while carting around an adorable little toddler on my hip. Might not sound like much, but if you have kids, you know what a feat this is. Kind of made me feel like super mom.

And that’s the beauty of motherhood. Finding victory in the small things and being grateful for life’s simple pleasures. Like organic fruit and veggies delivered to your door. Talk about winning. One less thing to add to my list of things to do all while reaping the benefits of fresh and local produce. Now that’s something to party about!

Last week we had a total of 24 link ups! And honestly, I am drooling over each and every one. I know I say this all the time, but the creativity that is showcased at our weekly gatherings is insane! Who knew fruits and veggies could be this versatile? I mean, ice cream, pancakes, pizza, burgers, cocktails, all inspired by CSA boxes. Makes you want one…right? Check out this site for more information and to help you find a CSA farm in your area. Trust me, you won’t regret it :)

Now if you will excuse me for a second, it’s time for me to drool over my goodies…

Guess who’s doing a happy dance over those raspberries? (*points to self and then proceeds to give self high-five*) Can you believe it? Are they not the most beautiful things you have ever seen? Talk about spoiled! I’m pretty much speechless. Can’t decide whether to make my mom’s famous Raspberry Chicken, create an incredible salad using my head of lettuce, or pop them in my mouth one by one. Doing my best to practice self-control until I can come up with a game plan.

Another item I am stoked about…apples! You would think I would be sick of apples by now, especially with the bagillion apples I took home from our apple picking a few weeks ago. But after making Freddie an awesome apple crisp, I was hoping for a few more so that I can whip up another batch. I mean, it’s only fair that I share the recipe with you too….right? Stay tuned!

I am also loving the pears right now. There is no better mid day snack. And believe it or not, I ate the skin off these ones and it wasn’t bad. Either that or I am growing up and no longer need my mom to skin my fruits and veggies anymore. I mean, I am 30 :)

And since I am 30, I do my best to incorporate veggies at every meal. Especially breakfast! And this chard is my new favorite addition to a fruit smoothie. Green has never tasted so good. Although, this green stuff is pretty yummy too. And a bunch of fresh Italian parsley is always a good excuse to get the food processor out and to get busy on some spinach dip. Plus, I am fully equipped with dipping devices thanks to my carrots and cucumbers. Snacking for the week has just been elevated to a whole new level.

Finally, the butternut squash, cauliflower and garlic are perfect for roasting! In my opinion, there is no better way to enjoy these veggies. So crunchy and sweet, I almost want to throw them in now for a late night snack. But again, I am doing my best to practice self-control ;)

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to use the fruits and veggies shown? Any special recipe, tips or tricks you’d like to share? Looking forward to reading your responses :)

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog. Thanks!

Tagged apples, butternut squash, carrots, cauliflower, Chard, community supported agriculture, csa, csa farm, cucumber, farm share, food, food box, fruit, garlic, lettuce, link party, link ups, local, organic, parsley, pears, raspberries, recipes, vegetables

Oct 04 2012

35 Comments

CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #46

Every week I get ~~a bit too~~ excited about my produce box. But this week my excitement is inflated to the umpteenth power. Why? Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words…

My amazing husband hooked it up big time for my 30th birthday and surprised me with a new juicer. The man knows the way to my heart…through produce :)

This juicer has taken my fruit and veg consumption to a whole new level. No need to worry about cooking up all my produce anymore (although I still plan on incorporating them in my daily meals). Any and all leftovers can now be thrown into the juicer and made into a delicious and vitamin packed beverage any time of the day. Yay! I am officially in veggie heaven.

Speaking of veggie heaven, last week we had a total of 34 link ups! That’s a whole lot of CSA goodness. And from the looks of the links, autumn weather is rolling in. There was a great variety of soups and stews this week. Everything from good old Chicken Soup and Chicken Chili to Sagey Butternut Squash Soup and Roasted Garlic Beet Soup. And who can forget that Eggplant and Lamb Stew? Nothing like some delicious comfort food to warm your soul and please your tummy :) Thank you to everyone who participated. I appreciate your enthusiasm about this party and your ongoing support. Hooray for veggies!

Now let’s take a look at my veggies…

The first item to catch my eye was that butternut squash. Oh, how I love butternut squash. Sure I like to fancy it up and make it the star of the show, but simply roasting it with some cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt and pepper is enough to make my taste buds sing. Mmmmm.

You know what else makes my taste buds sing? Cilantro. Is there any flavor more bright and refreshing? Unless of course you are part of the small group of people who find the taste and smell of cilantro reminiscent of soap and thus find this lovely herb to be repulsive. According to Wikipedia, the reason for this strong aversion to cilantro is “likely genetic, with some people having no response to the aromatic chemical that most find pleasant, while simultaneously being sensitive to certain [offensive fragrances]“. Interesting right? Well, either way, the possibilities for this cilantro are endless. Green rice anyone?

Speaking of bright and refreshing, that pretty much sums up my feelings for this grapefruit. I love eating my grapefruit for breakfast in the morning with a tablespoon of ground flaxseeds sprinkled on top. Talk about a breakfast of champions :) As for the rest of the fruit…it already has a nice sized dent in it. We have been snacking on the plums and apples all day. I am hoping to get some sort of apple dessert made this weekend. After all, what is fall without a warm apple treat topped with some vanilla ice cream *drool*.

Being that we were gone for most of the week, I wasn’t able to use up all of my spinach from last week’s haul. Part of me wants to throw it in the juicer (which would be amazing!) but the other part of me wants to add it to this bunch, sauté it with some onion/garlic/shallot or all of the above and call it a day. It makes such a lovely side dish.

Cauliflower makes for a pretty great side dish too. Especially when you steam it using the new rice cooker that your brother and sister-in-law gave you, and then throw it into the new ricer your Uncle Joe got for you and top it with a slab of butter and a dusting of salt and pepper for some seasoning. Why eat potatoes when you can enjoy faux-tatoes? (ps: loving all my new birthday gifts…)

And then of course there is the mother of all sides…the side salad. Guess whose mother makes the best salads around? Yep, my mom! Who also happens to be in town for a few weeks. So in an effort to eat every last leaf of this lovely head of lettuce, I am going to have to ask my mom to whip up one of her magical side salads.

Finally, it’s all about those bright red tomatoes and peppers. I have yet to make a batch of homemade tomato sauce this season and these tomatoes would be perfect for it. I am also interested in trying some sort of roasted pepper sauce. Tossing both with my new favorite obsession, quinoa pasta, topped with freshly grated parmesan. Yum!

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to use the fruits and veggies shown? Any special recipe, tips or tricks you’d like to share? Looking forward to reading your responses :)

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome! PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post. Thanks!

PS: Don’t forget to double your dose of fresh fruits and veggies by visiting this week’s Fresh Foods Link Up from Gastronomical Sovereignty

Tagged apples, butternut squash, cauliflower, cilantro, community supported agriculture, cooking, csa, food, fresh, fruit, grapefruit, juicer, lettuce, link party, local, organic, peppers, plums, produce, recipe, spinach, Tomatoes, vegetables

Sep 13 2012

49 Comments

CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #43

Before iPhones and BlackBerries were all the rage (TOTALLY want the new iPhone 5, btw), there were these cool things called Pagers. And I am not talking about the fancy dancy two-way pagers, although I had one of those too. I am referring to the Pagers that only displayed numbers. So if you wanted to send a quick message to your friend, or family member, without having them call you back from a pay phone (yet another device that is close to extinction), then you had to get creative and send cryptic notes. So what does this have to do with fruits and veggies? Well, nothing. But when I was titling the post #43, it reminded me of when I would send “143″ to my loved one’s Pager which meant “I Love You” (because there is 1 letter in “I”, 4 letters in “Love” and 3 letters in “You”). And I realized that it pretty much sums up how I feel about my weekly produce boxes, my readers and link party participants…pure love :) So “143″ everyone…let’s get this party started!

Last week we had 37 link ups. What a lovely way to celebrate the first week of September. Fall produce is starting to roll in and our beloved summer staples are phasing out. Nothing says autumn to me more than pears. I totally “143″ pears. And these awesome dishes from Whisks & Words and Fresh Veggies in the Desert have me ready for some pears. What fall fruits and veggies are you getting excited for?

Before I reveal my fruits and veggies, I wanted to say a big fat THANK YOU to all of the link party participants. This party wouldn’t be what it is without you. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share your lovely goodies with us every week. And since sharing is caring, here is a look at what came in my box this week…

Hello Fall…nice to see you :) This box has all the autumn colors…red, orange, purple. Gorgeous and vibrant. I was most excited to see those red bell peppers. With the weather changing, I have been craving some homemade Chicken Chili. It is the perfect dish for fall and is even better the next day (“143″ leftovers…). The avocados are perfect to use as an additional topping and the red leaf lettuce will make a nice side salad for an extra veggie boost.

So, I don’t mean to boast, but those grapes are pretty freaking awesome! Harper and I were chowing down on them before and after the picture was taken. Crunchy, sweet and delicious! They will make for some great snacks this week, along with the mandarins, pluots and carrots. Harper definitely has a “143″ relationship with carrots, which makes mommy very happy :)

Freddie is excited for the tomatoes. He isn’t usually a fan of tomatoes but I promised him I would make his favorite dish. Let’s hope I can snap some pics and get it up on the blog before it’s all gone. Stay tuned…

As for the cabbage, I have ambitions to try a new recipe. I have some lovely fall back ideas, but I would really like to find a recipe that becomes a staple we look forward to. I pinned a few dishes that look like winners, so I’ll let you know how it all turns out.

And finally for the cauliflower, I will probably stick to roasting it. It has become my favorite way to prepare it. Super easy and super yummy…what more can you ask for in a veggie?

Now it’s time for the giveaway reveal…I am happy to announce that Jeannie, Audrey Gonzalez, Alli Ferraro, Sarah and Genie are the lucky winners of a DeodoMom product of their choice. Please email me (inherchucks [at] gmail [dot] com) with your mailing address and your preference of a cream or rollon deodorant.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway. You are all winners! Stay tuned for another giveaway coming up at the end of the week.

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome! PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post. Thanks!

Tagged avocados, carrots, cauliflower, chili, community supported agriculture, csa, CSA box, farm share, food box, fresh, fruit, giveaway, grapes, lettuce, link party, local, mandarins, organic, pluots, produce box, recipes, red bell pepper, red cabbage, snack, Tomatoes, vegetables, winners

Aug 08 2012

26 Comments

CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #38

Happy National Zucchini Day everyone! How will you be celebrating this delicious holiday? If I wasn’t practicing Clean Eating I might indulge myself in some Turkey Burgers with Carrots and Zucchini with Zucchini Fries, finished off with some Sweet Zucchini Cupcakes. But since my choices are limited, I will stick to sautéed zucchini. Not quite as exciting, but still delicious :)

Speaking of delicious…last week rendered 57 link ups. The variety was inspiring. It proves that the possibilities for your CSA goodies are endless. Looking to make some salsa? Check out these links…Fresh Corn Salsa and Roasted Corn Salsa). Want to satisfy your sweet tooth? Try a Nectarine Pie or Lemon and Basil Cheesecake. Need some comfort food? These soups have you covered…Tomato Soup and Miso Soup. The sky is the limit with fresh, local and organic produce. Thank you to all the participants. You make my tummy smile :)

And now onto the goodies that always make my day!

Zucchini! Just what I needed to complete this fun and mouth-watering holiday :) Like I mentioned earlier, sautéed zucchini has been a great staple in this clean eating journey. Looking forward to enjoying some with my eggs in the morning. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s eats :)

The peaches will be perfect for some scheduled meals this week. As much as I am normally against cooking with my peaches ( because eating them raw is heavenly), this meal plan has some pretty awesome recipes to offer, some of which include fresh peaches. So let’s go for it and see what happens. The recipes also include carrots, so looks like we are covered there as well.

Of course, almost every dish calls for garlic. And did you happen to notice the size of that head of garlic? Quite possibly the biggest head of garlic I have ever seen! Gigantic. Guess that’s why they call is elephant garlic :) The spring onions will come in handy as well. Gotta love the aromatics.

Our clean eating dishes have also called for a ton of tomatoes. So these plump and juicy Early Girl’s will be perfect for salads (made from that lovely head of red butter lettuce) and sandwiches. Not something I would normally use tomatoes for, but I am rolling with the punches and doing my best to eat them as recommended.

Finally, the mandarins will be used for our snacks. Paired with nuts I’m sure. A nice balance of sweet and salty :)

Starting monday, we are back on our own for a week. Which means I get to share some new recipes with you that I have been dying to post. One includes this cauliflower, which will be the star of our first “non meal plan” dinner. And even though Freddie and I will be doing out best to make good choices on our week off, I made a promise to him a few months back that he might hold me to. You see, Freddie’s favorite dessert is apple pie. He asks me to make it for him on a regular basis. So I told him I would make it for him when we received our first delivery of apples in our box. Although I didn’t expect them to come so soon! Depending on where his head is after the last few weeks, the apples might just end up in a pie. In order to compromise, I will be on the search for a Clean Eating Apple Pie Recipe. I am sure there is one out there :)

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to use the fruits and veggies shown? Any special recipe, tips or tricks you’d like to share? Looking forward to reading your responses :)

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome! PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post. Thanks!

Tagged apples, carrots, cauliflower, clean eating, community supported agriculture, corn, csa, elephant garlic, farm share, food box, fruits, lemon, link party, local, mandarins, meal plan, miso, national zucchini day, organic, peaches, Pie, recipes, red butter lettuce, salsa, soup, spring onions, Tomatoes, vegetables, zucchini

Jul 11 2012

69 Comments

CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #34

No matter how busy my life gets, Wednesdays always seem to get me focused and back on track. Blame it on the fruits and veggies, but when hump day rolls around the fog seems to clear and things start to fall into place. Having a CSA box to look forward to keeps me motivated to cook and always makes for some exciting menus. And with all of the delicious recipes and ideas that have come through this link party, our family meals have been elevated to a whole new level :)

Our party continues to grow and I couldn’t be more grateful. Last week we had a total of 56 link ups! I appreciate all my loyal party goers and welcome those who are linking up for the first time. When it comes to recipes and ideas on how to use your produce, we got you covered. From breakfast, to lunch, to happy hour and beyond, there is no limit to how your CSA can feed you :) So thanks everyone for keeping the inspiration flowing and making our tummies happy!

On to this week’s goodies…

Call me crazy, but I might be just a little too excited about this head of lettuce. I usually pass over it and rarely give my lettuce the time of day. But this head of lettuce is too pretty to ignore. I wish I knew what kind it was because I plan on seeking this variety out in the future (maybe even growing a few heads in my garden). It makes me want to have a fancy dinner party and invite all of my close friends over to enjoy a crisp salad dressed with a homemade vinaigrette. Chilled salad forks included :)

And although I have been known to throw some grated carrots into my salads as well, I am still on my roasted carrot kick. I also love my cauliflower roasted. But then again, it seems as though I love ALL my veggies roasted :)

I was surprised at how fragrant my leeks were this week. It was the first aroma that hit me when I opened up my box. I was expecting onions with how strong the smell was, but I was excited to find leeks instead because I have had a taste for another homemade quiche.

With the holy trinity of summer fruit, I might be inspired to create something beautiful. I plan on keeping it simple because enjoying the fruit “as is” happens to be my favorite part of summer. The strawberries and nectarines will definitely be making an appearance in this week’s Sweets for a Saturday. Which, by the way I was featured in last week…yay Gooey Cookies ‘n Cream Bars! I will have to search through some of my plum recipes to see what pops out at me this week. And while I am on the subject, here is the plum recipe I promised you last time. I was hoping to post it on the blog, but was unable to snap a pic before dinner was demolished. I always have good intentions, but it can be hard to juggle blog life with real life…real life always wins :)

Those little cucumbers are absolutely adorable. After reading through some of your posts, it looks like most of you are pickling these kind of cucumbers. I have never embarked on a pickling journey, but you all have inspired me. I am not the biggest pickle fan myself, but I have friends who would appreciate some homemade pickles. And what about relish…could I make relish?

And finally, dino kale. At the start of my CSA journey, I would have cringed at the sight of kale. But now I jump for joy. After nearly two years into my CSA love affair I have collected some pretty awesome recipes. Not to mention all the delicious ideas you all have shared with us. Now, I can’t seem to think of a reason not to love kale!

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to use the fruits and veggies shown? Any special recipe, tips or tricks you’d like to share? Looking forward to reading your responses :)

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome! PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post. Thanks!

Tagged Breakfast, carrots, cauliflower, chicken, cocktails, csa, cucumbers, dessert, dinner, food box, fruit, kale, leeks, lettuce, link party, local, nectarines, organic, plums, produce, quiche, recipes, strawberries, sweets for a saturday, vegetables

May 16 2012

31 Comments

CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #26

As much as I love spring for all the beautiful, bountiful produce that is available, it’s hard to ignore the effect this season has on my allergies. For some reason, this past week has been pretty brutal. Runny nose, watery eyes, sneezing…constantly. It’s been a bit unpleasant to say the least. But when Wednesday comes along, and I open my box to find another round of fresh, local, and organic goodness, it tends to make up for all the temporary discomfort.

You know what else helps to take my mind off these stinkin’ allergies? Our weekly link party! And it continues to grow every week :) Last week we had 23 link ups! Make sure you check them out. They are flooded with delicious recipes, killer cocktails and smart storage tips. Thank you to everyone who has participated. You are true produce rock stars!

For those of you linking up for the first time, click here for some info on party etiquette. And welcome! We are glad to have you :)

Looks like it’s my turn…

Yes! Cherries!!! Do you know how happy this bag of cherries made me? How about happy enough to devour each and every one…immediately :) Cherries are in my top favorite fruits and I wait patiently every year for my first delivery of cherries. Glorious!

Can you believe I am also pretty psyched about that chard? Thanks to the link party, I have an arsenal of delicious recipes that all include chard. The hardest part is going to be deciding which one to try first…eeny, meeny, miny, moe! (Am I the only one who uses this method to help make decisions?)

One thing I don’t have to think about this week is my lettuce. There have been some pretty awesome salads linking up that are inspiring me to try new things. One idea I love is to throw in some roasted veggies. Those carrots will be the perfect addition. And I am sure the avocados will make an appearance as well. Maybe not in the same salad…but in one of my many versions of a salad.

Freddie is most excited about the chives. Like I continue to mention week after week, that boy has lots of love for the entire onion family! He enjoys them most when I mix them in with his morning eggs. And do you know what else will go great with those morning eggs? Some fresh squeezed citrus juice. I have been mixing it up in the kitchen lately and have gone a little hog-wild with the juicing. Last week I hand juiced all of the oranges and pixie tangerines. I even added some grapefruit juice. It made for a refreshing beverage. So I am looking forward to a new rendition this week of pixie tangerines with a splash of lemon…yum!

For the cauliflower, it has been a while since I made a batch of Cheesy Cauliflower Pancakes. Talk about delicious! I love to serve mine alongside a juicy steak. They are a great substitute for potatoes. And I might just have to experiment by adding some diced leeks. Until I began my CSA subscription, I had never cooked with leeks, but now I like to throw them into everything. The flavor is so mild but I find it can make a nice, sweet, difference.

Your turn: Any new ideas of favorite recipes you want to share? What would you do with this box of produce? Looking forward to hearing what you have in mind :)

Tagged avocados, carrots, cauliflower, Chard, cherries, chives, csa, food box, fruits, leek, lemons, lettuce, local, organic, pixie tangerines, vegetables

May 02 2012

37 Comments

CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #24

Happy May everyone! Can you believe we are nearly halfway through 2012? Crazy, huh? Time is a tricky thing. That is why I do my best to live in the moment, and enjoy where I am right now. And Wednesdays are always good to me. Nothing puts a smile on my face more than a fresh box of produce. Because in case you haven’t noticed, I am a huge nerd when it comes to fruits and veggies, and yes, my day is made by the sight of this lovely goodness.

I want to thank all of my link party participants from last week :) We had 11 bloggers join in. That’s the most we have ever had. I love how we are growing! Let’s see if we can top that for #24 :)

New to the link party? Check out the guidelines here.

Guess it’s my turn to gush…

A lovely rainbow of vitamins and nutrients. Definitely most excited about the strawberries. I have been on a recent kick of belgium waffles with homemade whipped cream topped with sliced strawberries for breakfast. Don’t mind me while I indulge. It’s a habit I picked up when I was little. My family and I used to enjoy brunch on Sundays at a local beach club and this was by far my favorite item at the buffet. And I have to say, Trader Joe’s makes a mean batch of frozen Belgium waffles. Makes it an easy treat! And while we are on the subject of breakfast, did you happen to see the size of those spring onions? Biggest I have ever seen! They smell delicious and will be the perfect addition to Freddie’s morning eggs. Wouldn’t those pixie tangerines and star ruby grapefruits make a mean fresh juice to serve alongside our breakfast of champions? Yeah, I think I just kicked it up a notch…

Mashed potatoes anyone? I feel a delicious dinner coming on using those Yukon gold potatoes and that lovely rainbow chard and possibly the stir fry mix as well. Now to figure out the protein. I am still kind of loving the whole lamb idea. I might just have to find a few more recipes to add to my repertoire.

And then there is our ever loyal lettuce. As I mentioned before, sometimes salads can get old…quick. So I am constantly thinking of new and creative ways to use my lettuce. This week…I got nothing. Although lettuce always works great for a garnish on a sandwich or burger. Not the most fancy or exciting choice, but it will do. Because just in case you didn’t know…lettuce doesn’t freeze well. And yes, I tried it. Back in college. I was an amateur and was doing my best not to waste. Just thought I would pass that bit of info along. True story.

The cauliflower? Already gone. Demolished. Loved it! My new favorite way to eat it is to roast it. And it turns out divine. Wish it could have stuck around a little longer but my belly had other plans. For dessert? I am in the mood for some beet cake. It has been too long since I reunited with my old friend. And I think it is time that my beet cake makes a comeback. Already drooling.

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to use the fruits and veggies shown? Any special recipes, tips or tricks you’d like to share? Looking forward to hearing your responses :)

Tagged beets, cauliflower, csa, food box, fruit, grapefruit, green leaf lettuce, local, organic, pixie tangerines, rainbow chard, recipes, spring onions, stir fry mix, strawberries, vegetables, yukon gold potatoes

Apr 12 2012

20 Comments

CSA Box

What’s in the Box? #21

Look who’s finally legal! ”What’s in the Box?” is officially 21 :) As well as single, and ready to mingle. And why not celebrate this wonderful occasion by inviting you all to join in on the fun. Who’s ready for a “What’s in the Box?” link party!

After starting my “What’s in the Box?” weekly post, I have found so many other bloggers out there who are just as passionate about their produce. So why not band together and create a space where we can share our weekly produce boxes with each other? That way we can easily share tips and tricks on how to use some of our rare and obscure fruit and veggie surprises as well as some of our favorite recipes.

New to link parties? A “link party” is when bloggers “link up” to a host/hostess page to share their common posts. Click the icon at the end of this post and follow the instructions to add your link. This link party will begin on Thursdays and last throughout the week. Feel free to link back to the link party as you share your weekly produce boxes.

I am looking forward to seeing what you all have to share. It is sure to take my excitement for all things fruits and veggies to a whole new level.

Now on to my box…

Looks like I will have a lot of roasting in my future. To be honest, I wasn’t always thrilled about cauliflower, but now I look forward to getting it every week. Roasting cauliflower is my new favorite thing. I just can’t get enough. And well asparagus, it’s really the only way I like to cook it. Roasting veggies give them such an awesome flavor. It’s simple and easy and oh so yummy. I can’t wait to get busy.

And with another load of navel oranges, I might just have to prepare another round of Halibut with Oranges. I know I made it last time I received oranges, but it’s just so good. Plus Harper is bonkers for fish right now. And with the roasted asparagus, it will prove to be the perfect meal.

I love getting items like onions and garlic in my box because pretty much all recipes call for at least one or the other…or both. It is just one less thing I have to pick up at the market, which makes life just a tad bit easier. This yellow onion might just have a party with that bunch of spinach, or mustard greens. I love to sauté things with onions. And so does Freddie. As long as I put onions in his food, he will pretty much eat anything. Happy hubby, happy wife!

I am still enjoying snacking on those pixie tangerines. And apparently so is Harper. I went to open on the other day and felt like I couldn’t peel it fast enough. You would think my child was starving. She was so excited for her slices of sweet and refreshing goodness. And I can’t blame her. It hits the spot each and every time :)

One thing she does not like…avocados. I think she get’s it from her dad. Freddie is not an avocado fan. But he LOVES my guacamole. So as long as the avocados end up in guacamole form, and I make it, he will eat it. Otherwise, no way. So we eat our fair share of guacamole in this house. Which works just fine for me!

And finally, strawberries and red leaf lettuce. Bet you know where I am going with this one. I think a Strawberry Salad is in order. It has been a while since I have made it. I always intend on eating it as a side, but after going back for seconds and thirds, it ends up being my entire meal…delish :)

So the “What’s in the Box” party is officially on…looking forward to having you!

Tagged asparagus, cauliflower, csa, food box, fruits, hass avocados, link party, local, mustard greens, naval oranges, organic, pixie tangerines, red leaf lettuce, spinach, strawberries, vegetables, yellow onion

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