CSA 2026 - Week #1 (A)
Welcome to the first week of CSA! This week's pick-up is for all weekly and bi-weekly A members. There are 5 items in this week's share -- all beautiful and voluminous, so the boxes are full, but this is not typical of the variety you can expect. It's been a cold spring and last week's hot weather wasn't enough to push a lot of our crops over the finish line to have them ready for this first box. On a typical week we distribute between 8-11 items, and that will be the case coming very soon. Remember that the value of the shares will fluctuate from week to week, but even out in the end. I like to think that these "lighter" early season boxes are a good way to ease into CSA cooking.
Here's to a wonderful season of sharing the harvests!
Maggie & Matt
What's in season this week?
Japanese Salad Turnips
These are meant to be eaten raw. They are crunchy and juicy! No need to peel, just wash, slice and sprinkle with flaky salt. Delicious. The tops can be cooked like spinach. One of my favorite greens!
Storage: Separate the roots from the greens before storing in an airtight bag in the fridge
Red Radishes
You can tell what the weather was like on the farm when you bite into a radish. Spicy? Hot weather. Mild? Cool. These ones are spicy! Perfect if you love that, but if you want to mellow them out, just cook them. I'm sharing a delicious roasted radish recipe below.
Storage: Separate the roots from the greens before storing in an airtight bag in the fridge
Baby or Bunched Spinach
We're known for our amazing flavored spinach. It's all about the perfectly balanced soil! No metallic taste, just sweetness! It will cook in just a few minutes, it's so tender.
Storage: Store in an air-tight container in the fridge
Red Russian Kale
Someone told me recently that kale has fallen out of fashion. Is that a thing? Kale is a powerhouse of nutrition and it's one of the most versatile veggies. As a family we eat 6 bunches a week. Saute it with garlic as an easy side dish (great as a side with eggs for breakfast), throw it in a beautiful Tuscan kale soup, make a kale frittata or quiche, pasta with sausage and kale. Just make sure to remove the tough center rib.
Storage: Store in an air-tight container in the fridge
Boston or Romaine Lettuce
Sweet early season lettuce. Do not dress with a heavy dressing! These lettuces deserve just the perfect light vinaigrette. My go-to recipe is below.
Storage: Store in an air-tight container in the fridge
WILTED VEG?
The summer heat can wilt your greens fast if left out to dehydrate. You can revive almost any wilted green by dunking it in a large bowl of ice cold water. Let it sit for up to 20 minutes, shake off and store in the fridge.
HOW TO STORE YOUR VEG
Leafy greens need to be stored in an air-tight bag or container -- something to keep in the moisture. Plastic produce bags like these work well. I aim for a plastic-free kitchen and love my Vejibags. They're an investment, but last a lifetime.
CSA Kitchen Notes...
A NOTE ON COOKING YOUR CSA
If you're not a big cook, you may initially feel overwhelmed by the quantity of produce in your share. Remember that a single box is sized to feed 1-2 people for the week if you eat the USDA recommended serving of vegetables each day. (The majority of the population misses this mark by a long shot.) Each week in the newsletter I'll share my favorite farmhouse recipes, and ideas to incorporate more fresh produce in your daily diet.
APPETIZER PLATTERS
Every evening I put together a few treats to snack on while dinner is being made. Our kitchen is the gathering spot at the end of a long day, and I can guess that yours is probably too. Tonight I put out a small bowl of kalamata olives, a bowl of dry roasted pepitas, and sliced salad turnips topped with flakey salt. They were gone in about 5 minutes. Remember that not every vegetable needs to be made into a meal. Sometimes simple is best.
THE MIGHTY SALAD SPINNER
If there is one kitchen item that every CSA member needs to have, it's a salad spinner. I personally own 3 of them and use them constantly. If you remove the inner basket, you can wash your greens in the bowl. It's also a great place to soak wilted greens to bring them back to life. After washing, you'll spin dry your greens, and you can even store your washed greens in the spinner in the fridge. I often wash my salad or cooking greens in the morning so they're ready to go when I get home and start dinner.
This is the one I have. Here's an inexpensive version with good reviews. Go get one. Or two.
Recipes from our Farmhouse Kitchen
Spinach with Butter & Parmesan
Buttery Roasted Radishes
Pan-fried Turnips Tops with Garlic & Lemon