CSA Week 3 – Crustless Broccoli Quiche, Hot Radish Salad and A Quick Way To Decorate

Even with only 4 heads of lettuce from last week, we did not finish it.  And we have more!  The high 90’s heat nearly wiped out what was left of the strawberries but we still got some.  Technically you can only pick up your PYO share on your pick-up day; the CSA was so desperate to get the strawberries harvested that there was a call on the website to come on down and get your 6 quarts even though it was not your pick up day. The call was truly answered as we only got three quarts today. 

Distribution:

• 8 heads lettuce (Bibb, Oak Leaf, Leaf) ($15.92)
• 1.5 lbs spinach ($10.48 )
• 1 bunch collards ($1.60)
• 2 bok choy ($8.25)
• 1 bunch radishes ($1.29)
• 2 heads broccoli ($7.98  )
• 3 qt strawberries ($17.97)
• 1 pt snow peas ($4.99)
• 30 sweet william flowers (share called for 100)

 

Previous Week’s Overall Total: $90.05

Total Estimate For This Week: $68.48

Grand Total Value: $158.53

What I Did/Am Doing With This Produce:

I made a Crustless Broccoli Quiche from a recipe that my mother mailed me sometime back.  Even with an added 1/4 tsp of white pepper and a tsp of chopped garlic scapes it was on the bland side.  But hubby said he liked it and thought it a good idea to create other variations of it.  Also the 45 minutes the directions called for did not thoroughly cook the quiche and required more than an hour.  Next time I ante up to 375 degrees instead of the called for 350.

I also made a Hot Radish Salad.  By doing this I washed both the radishes and their leaves thoroughly. Then I separated the leaves and put aside.  The radishes were cut into quarters and steamed for about 15 minutes.  While this was happening, I sauteed the leaves in olive oil and a little sea salt.  When the steaming was finished I combined the two and seasoned with Slap Ya Mama cajun seasoning.

Final Result:

Dessert was a shameless pre-made cookie dough, but with super fast decorations. Here’s what I did:

I set the oven as directed.  And cut into 1/2 inch slices and then into quarter sized pieces.  In a small Pyrex bowl (any small bowl will do) I had mini chocolate chips and sprinkles.

 

I simply lightly pressed the cookie quarter into one of them and placed on my cookie sheet.  

Baked in oven as directed.  Voila!  No fuss, no muss! Pretty cookies as if store bought (so to speak).

 

CSA Week 2 – Chickpea & Kale Soup

I checked out the website and all it called for was only 4 head lettuce, small batch of arugula and 3 quarts of strawberries.  Boy was I in for a surprise and ever thankful to my hubby for getting me those wellies (OK, they are Gemplers) for my birthday. The mud in the PYO fields was near shin deep in some areas

Distribution:

• 4 heads lettuce ($7.96)
• 1 bunch Kale ($2.49)
• 1 bunch Collards ($1.60)
• 1/2 lb Arugula ($7.95)
• 1.5 lbs Spinach ($8.95)
• 1 quart Snap Peas ($4.50)
• 5 quarts Chandler Strawberries ($29.95)
• 1 bunch Anise Hyssop (PYO)
• 1 bunch Catnip (PYO)
• 1 bunch Oregano (PYO) ($1.99)
• 1 sm. bunch sage (got the flowers as I grow my own) (PYO)
• 10 Sweet William Flowers (share called for 40, I don’t have a vase big enough)

 

Previous Week’s Overall Total: $24.66

Total Estimate For This Week: $65.39

Grand Total Value: $90.05

Wondering what it all looks like?

 

Average Size of Lettuce Head:

That’s a quart container BTW.

Yeah, the Chandler Strawberries Are Organic!

 

What I did/am doing with this produce:

We barely finished the strawberries from the previous week and the heavy downpour from the night before and bumpy ride back home dinged a number of berries.  2 quarts were cleaned quartered and stored in the freezer (maybe I’ll make berry xmas pudding this year).  I will be making my strawberry/feta salad again on Friday for the kids’ last day of school picnic, and will probably toss in some spinach. The collards were steam blanched and frozen. Made Chickpea and Kale soup for supper (recipe below). The leftover stems, which are normally discarded I made into a small side dish in cajun style (sans bacon or ham). Enjoyed a handful of snap peas.  Spinach will be frozen tomorrow.

Chickpea & Kale Soup

The original recipe can be found here if you prefer using real chorizo (there is a turkey variety out there, but I have not found it yet) and a food processor.  My version is altered slightly.

Ingredients: 

 

• 1 cup chopped onion (medium)
• 3 garlic cloves chopped
• 1 large or 2 small bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 3/4 potatoes cut into medium cubes with skins on
• 1/2 – 3/4lb kale, cut into this ribbons *
• 3 1/2 cups chicken broth of vegetarian equivalent
• 2 cups water
• 1 14oz can garbanzo/chick peas drained and rinsed
• 1/2 lb hot italian turkey sausage, casings removed

 

In a large soup pot (4 – 6qt.) over medium high heat, combine oil, pepper, bay leaf, onions and garlic and saute for about 6 minutes. Add broth, water, potatoes, and kale and bring to slow boil and cook until potatoes are cooked through, about 15 – 20 minutes partially covered.  While this is cooking, remove the turkey meat from the casings and make into small 1/2 – 1 inch meatballs.  When potatoes are done, reduce heat to low and gradually add the meatballs, then add the garbanzo beans. Simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes.  Remove bay leaf and serve hot with optional hot sauce, salt and pepper for individual preferences.

Serves 6

* Curly kale (which I used here) can be a bit of a hassle to make ribbons.  I found that if I take each leaf removed from the stem and tightly roll into a ball.  Then I very thinly cut into ribbons.  Not always consistent as when one would roll kale in to a ‘cigar’, but has a nice rugged homemade texture about it.  Be careful when cutting into ribbons as your fingers are very close to the blade.  Make sure you know the proper technique when cutting ‘at close range’ before attempting this!  Otherwise use a food processor or chop coarsely.

Final Result:  

Also with my goal of letting nothing go to waste and finding it’s way to my compost, I steamed  the Kale and Collard stems for about 8 minutes.  I then diced, added about 1/2 tsp red wine vinegar, a little dab of butter and a dash of cajun seasoning, Slap Ya Mama!  Very politically incorrect name for a product, but the seasoning beats Old Bay any day!