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).

We all know that we really should buy organic as much as possible (it’s healthier for us and it supports the small scale farmer).  But there are times when one simply cannot afford to totally go organic.  Thankfully research has been done from the Environmental Working Group and below in ranking order of fruits and vegetables from worst with pesticide residue (buy organic at all costs) to the best with the least amount of residue (OK to buy non-organic). Detailed data sheet can be found here.

Rank (worst to best)

Buy Organic At All Costs

1 Peaches 
2 Apples 
3 Sweet Bell Peppers 
4 Celery 
5 Nectarines 
6 Strawberries 
7 Cherries 
8 Lettuce 
9 Grapes – Imported 
10 Pears 
11 Spinach 
12 Potatoes 

Try To Buy Organic If You Can
13 Carrots 
14 Green Beans 
15 Hot Peppers 
16 Cucumbers 
17 Raspberries 
18 Plums 
19 Oranges 
20 Grapes – Domestic 
21 Cauliflower 
22 Tangerines 
23 Mushrooms 
24 Cantaloupe 
25 Lemon 
26 Honeydew Melon 
27 Grapefruit 
28 Winter Squash 
29 Tomatoes 
30 Sweet Potatoes 
31 Watermelons 
32 Blueberries 
33 Papaya 

OK To Buy Non-Organic

34 Eggplant 
35 Broccoli 
36 Cabbage 
37 Bananas 
38 Kiwi 
39 Asparagus 
40 Sweet Peas – Frozen 
41 Mango 
42 Pineapples 
43 Sweet Corn – Frozen 
44 Avocado 
45 Onions 

Wow!  My mother sent me this listing from Local Harvest of a CSA in Harlem, New York!  Park Slope CSA in Brooklyn  is also another CSA (this one I knew of its existence). 

In NYC it is quite common for CSAs to make deliveries (community gardens are not enough). But here is the kicker.  These CSAs accept food stamps!  I have never heard of such a thing and frankly, this option should be more widely available and publicized. If our all-wise-and-ever-know-it-all government would get on the bandwagon and encourage more CSAs to do the same we just might start a wonderful chain reaction of getting more support for local farmers,  farms that want to go organic, educate the public (in all socio-economic classes) about healthier food choices, a decline in the obesity rate, decline in hypertension and diabetes…I think you get the idea…