Back in the day when we were first starting our CSA program, we experimented with different ways to communicate and keep our CSA members engaged and excited. We loved our spring CSA open house where we could catch up with our renewing families and meet our newcomers. But covid put an end to them last year and we are eagerly looking forward to resuming them in 2022. We set up our online store and created a drive through contactless pickup system last year in response to the pandemic. In the past I provided recipes that called for ingredients that were in the basket each week, I would photocopy one for everyone and we encouraged people to post their creations online. Based on the feedback over the years we decided to create this weekly blog instead. It started last year and sounds like everyone is enjoying it.
One great recipe we return to each year when Swiss Chard is in season is our Rumar Farm Spicy Sausage and Chard Pasta. If you have been with us for a while you should know it well. So easy, you just cook 12 oz. of pasta (I prefer linguine) Sauté in a large wide pan hot Italian sausages (3-4 links) castings removed with chard stems. Add your chard leaves, couple of tomatoes, 1/2 cup onions, and two large garlic cloves…everything chopped up. Cook for 4 minutes then stir in 1/2 cup cream. Portion into bowls over the pasta and top with fresh slivered basil leaves and shave fresh parmesan cheese. Serve with a large salad.
Here is what you can expect in your basket:
Tender Greens As we move into mid summer and out of the hoop house, the lettuces have a stronger more earthy flavour This mix is washed and ready to eat.
Fresh Raspberries Fresh picked daily, these sweet and tart beauties are summer-bearing which means they only ripen a few weeks in the summer and then they are gone. If you love raspberries and want more, check out our on-line store. We have “all hands on deck” picking this week and next.
Chard Being a member of the beet family, swiss chard falls somewhere between spinach and kale in ters of bitterness. It is highly nutritious with one cup providing 3 times the recommended allowance of vitamin K and almost half of vitamine A daily requirements. Can be steamed, saluted, added to soups, casseroles, frittatas and quiches.
Summer Squash Harvested young when the rind is tender and edible. They come in many shapes, sizes and colours. They can be grilled, baked or sautéed (also zoodle it). Cut up and add into a kebab or your pasta dish.
Kale Tender young leafy greens that we can never get enough of with so many ways to enjoy. Try in salads, soups, roast it or turn into kale chips the kids will love as a healthy snack.
Cucumber Sampler We are starting to pick our beautiful heirloom pickling green and white cucumbers. We wanted you to have a small taste of what to expect in future baskets. Add this to your salad or sandwich.
Fresh Oregano An herb in the mint family thats been used for thousands of years not only to add flavour to cooking but for medicinal purposes as a great antibacterial agent.
Enjoy.
