Week #23, Final EOW/green delivery

We are in the home stretch!

This is the final delivery for our EOW/green members.  Thank you so much for joining our farm this season.  We will be in touch again this fall with a year-end survey.  Watch in winter for our 2023 CSA announcement. Please do not unsubscribe from our emails once your deliveries are over – that will block all future emails from us including next year’s invitation.
– This week October 27/28 = final delivery for our EOW/ green members.
– Next week November 3/4 = final delivery for Weekly, EOW/purple and Sampler/moon members.
– For those who registered, our Extension Share will be delivered November 10/11.
– For those who registered, our Storage Share will be delivered November 17/18.

If you are not certain whether you registered for the Extension or Storage shares, go to your online CSA account and view the orders you placed:
Log in / Dashboard/ View Order History/ Click on each 2022 invoice. 
You are looking for “Name: 2022 Extension Share” or “Name: 2022 Storage Share”.
Or send me an email and I will look for you!
Beth

Badger on the farm!

Until this year, we thought of badgers as elusive.  We see distinctive tracks and claw scratches a few times each year.  I was lucky to see a badger in person twice in the last 20 years.  This year, a badger has lived on or near our farm all season.  It announced itself with fresh tunneling everywhere.  Most holes are from when it hunts ground squirrels.  The tunnels and dirt piles are enormous.  We are happy for the badger to eat all the ground squirrels but we are wary of the holes.  It’s a miracle no one has turned an ankle.  I’ve flagged as many holes as I can find but we miss some.  If you came to the gleaning u-pick, you’ll remember my warning about these holes.

Despite the frequent digging, we’ve only seen the badger two times this summer.  As the crew hurried to the pickup trucks before a storm hit, they saw a badger running across the adjacent field.  Presumably it was hurrying for cover too.  Raul saw it from the tractor another time.  We’re pretty sure it’s living amidst trees at the edge of the farm, although in summer badgers rotate among many burrows.  They’ll settle into one burrow in winter or when they birth young.

I set up a trail camera and was lucky to capture fabulous daytime footage during August and September.  My favorite bit is when they accidentally fall in a hole.  View below or on YouTube at youtu.be/ksQacRJLKt0 

Indian Summer

This week’s colorful vegetables are brought to you by the recent warm spell.  Cauliflower and purple broccoli growth was excruciatingly slow until the burst of warmth. Without it, they might have been ready in November.

Veggie List & Veggie Notes
Week #23, Oct 27/28, 2022
– Weekly shares
– EOW/ green (final delivery for this group)

Red cabbage
Sweet potatoes, 2 – 2.5 lb
Brussels sprouts, 1 lb
Poblano chiles (NOT VERY HOT), 2 or 3
(Poblanos and Brussels sprouts are in one bag.)
Butternut squash, 1 medium
Carrots, 2 lb
Purple and red Korean radish, ~1.5 lb
(Carrots and daikon are in one bag.)
Green or suntan peppers, mixed types
Yellow or red onion
Garlic
By site: purple broccoli OR white cauliflower OR green cauliflower OR Koji greens

Next week’s box will probably contain Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, celeriac, parsnips, leeks, fennel and more.

‘Orleans’ sweet potatoes – Store your sweet potatoes at room temperature.  They suffer chilling injury below 50 F.
Here are a few things we’ve learned about sweet potatoes:
– For best flavor, cook your sweet potatoes so they brown and caramelize.  We have a simple, favorite way to roast sweet potatoes.  We used to prepare sweet potato fries in the oven.  Now we just quarter the potatoes, rub with olive oil, dust with salt and place cut-side-down on a cookie sheet.  Roast in a 450 F oven without turning until soft.  The flavors will caramelize (like sweet potato fries) but preparation is simpler and the cooking time less exacting.  Slender sweet potato fries go from undercooked to overcooked in the blink of an eye.  Larger slices are less exacting, and therefore are easier.  Small sweet potatoes can be cut just in half.  Jumbos will need to be chopped into pieces.  Otherwise, they take a long time to cook.
– This first batch of sweet potatoes will need slightly longer cooking than ones from the supermarket, perhaps because they contain higher moisture so soon after harvest.
– Sweet potatoes are good at any size. We have cooked everything from tiny to jumbo and consistently find that all sizes taste good.

Poblano chilies – These are not very hot anymore, maybe because of the cool weather.  We’re not sure.

Korean radishes – These are a favorite vegetable among our farm crew.  Crunchy Korean radishes are sweeter and milder than Japanese daikon radishes and come in a more manageable size.  They contain lots of water, which makes them easy to pickle or ferment.  You’ll receive about 1.5 lb radish this week.  Storage: Refrigerate.
Uses:  Maangchi rules for radish ideas! Head to her website for dozens of radish recipes.  She has the best website for Korean recipes.  Her Radish Kimchi recipe is close to foolproof and easy to scale.  I am eager to make a batch with the purple and pink radishes.  I hope it will be pretty.
More uses: Deb has a good recipe below for “Quick pickled carrots and daikon”.  That’s the pickled slaw served on bahn mi sandwiches.

Peppers – Each these soon.  They are perishable after being exposed to cold nights, even when protected with row cover.

Purple broccoli – Handle, cook and use like green broccoli.  Storage:  Refrigerate.

RECIPES by DEB

Photo by debslunch

Chicken and sweet potato traybake

I’ve used chicken thighs in this traybake, but you could sub 2 pounds of assorted cut up chicken, or boneless breasts or thighs, or other protein, like tofu or salmon. I peeled the sweet potatoes but leaving the skin on will result in crisper wedges.
Takes about one hour
Serves 4-6

1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus a little extra for oiling the baking tray
Grated zest of one orange, orange quartered after zesting
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
a few grates of nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, about 2 to 2 1/4 pounds
2 pounds of sweet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into 2-3 3-inch wedges, peeling optional
1 medium onion, any color, peeled and cut lengthwise into slices – 1 generous cup slices
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature

1. Heat the oven to 425° and lightly oil a large baking sheet. Combine the honey, 2 tablespoons olive oil, paprika, cinnamon, orange zest, and few pinches of salt in a small bowl or spouted measuring cup. Place the sweet potatoes and chicken on the oiled baking sheet and toss with your hands until well-coated. Place the chicken in the center and get everything into a single layer. Sprinkle on a bit more salt, and grind some pepper over the top. Cut the orange into quarters, removing any visible seeds, and place one quarter in each of the 4 corners of your tray.
2. Place in the oven and bake for 45-50 minutes until the chicken is browned and the sweet potatoes are done.
3. Remove the tray from the oven and transfer the chicken and vegetables to a platter. Juice the orange into the pan juices – you might need to hold onto the them with paper towel – and discard (or compost). Whisk the butter into the pan juices. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as needed. Drizzle the pan juices over the chicken and vegetables and serve.

 

Photo by debslunch

Harissa-roasted carrot salad

Happy Halloween! Our first two recipes this week are very orange – I promise more colors further down. This preparation of roasted carrots can be served over greens – I’ve used spinach here – or as a salad all on it’s own. If you don’t serve it on a bed of greens, a sprinkling of fresh herbs on top, especially cilantro, parsley, or mint would be tasty. Harissa, a spice paste, is available in jars in most grocery stores, or if you’d like to try making your own, here’s a recipe from Minimalist Baker. And other orange vegetables such as squash or sweet potatoes would work equally well in place of the carrots.
Takes about 30 minutes
Serves 5-6

2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
1 medium onion, peeled cut into slice pole to pole, 3/4 to 1 cup
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
2 tablespoons harissa paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon sugar or a drizzle of honey

Optional, for serving:
5-6 cups salad greens or spinach leaves
3 ounces feta or goat cheese, crumbled
a few tablespoons dried cranberries or raisons
toasted pecans or pistachios
Handful of cilantro, parsley, or mint leaves

1. Heat oven to 400°. Place the carrots and onions on a baking pan, and drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the harissa paste. Sprinkle on the cumin, a few good pinches of salt and a few grinds of pepper, and toss well, arranging in a single layer.
2. Roast for 10-15 minutes, then check and toss the vegetables to ensure even browning. Roast another 10 minutes or so until carrots are soft, but not mush. Increase the heat to 450° for the last few minutes of baking if things seem to need to be browner.
3. While the carrots are baking make the lime vinaigrette: in a small bowl, whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, lime juice, Dijon mustard, and sugar or honey. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. When the carrots are done remove from the oven and cool to only slightly warm or at room temperature. To serve, arrange the carrots on top of greens in individual serving bowls or on a platter (or omit the greens), drizzle with the lime vinaigrette, and add your choice the optional toppings.

.
.

Photo by Traci

Quick pickled carrots and daikon

From Kitchen Girl
Carrot and daikon slaw is probably most often used as a condiment on Banh Mi sandwiches; see below for a recipe using the slaw in fish tacos.
.
.

Photo by Stephanie

Fish tacos with quick pickled carrots and daikon

From i am a food blog
This fish taco recipe from i am a food blog calls for pickled daikon & carrot, but doesn’t provide a method – see the Kitchen Girl recipe for that. It also calls for small amounts of fresh herbs and chopped tomatoes – Use what you’ve got – and some thinly sliced bell or Poblano peppers from this week’s box would certainly be tasty in the tacos!
.
.

Photo by Maxwell Cozzi

Simple Southern Mustard Greens With Bacon

From The Spruce Eats
For those with Koji greens in the box, try this typical – and delicious! – combination of greens and bacon.
.
.
Photo by Tieghan

Easiest Coconut Cauliflower Adobo

From Half-Baked Harvest
For those with cauliflower in their box, or just happen to have some, maybe from a prior week! Here’s a spicy and warning way to cook up your cauliflower, where the cauliflower stands in for chicken in adobo.
.
.

Photo by Food Network

German-Style Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage Soup

By Rachel Ray for Food Network
The soup takes a bit of time to prepare but can be done ahead, and flavor actually improves after cooking and reheating. Rachel Ray suggests serving with grilled cheese sandwiches for a complete meal.
.
.

Photo by BBC Food

Hearty wholewheat pasta with Brussels sprouts, cheese and potato

From Nigella Lawson for BBC Food
If you have some white or yellow potatoes, go ahead and double carb-load; otherwise the dish will be just as tasty with pasta, Brussels sprouts and cheese.
.
.

Fajita Vegetables

From Cooking Made Healthy
Fry up a mess of peppers and onions to make these fajita vegetables, that can of course be used in fajitas, or as a side dish, or as part of rice or grain bowl.

Week #22, Check your schedule

Our main CSA season ends in two weeks but this week (Oct 20/21) is the final delivery for our Sampler/ sun group.

Look at the calendar above to determine your last delivery.  If you are not sure of your color assignment, log into your CSA account and view your scheduled deliveries in your calendar.

Veggie List & Veggie Notes
Week #22, October 10/11, 2022
– Weekly shares
– EOW/ purple
– Sampler/ sun

Cauliflower (green or white)
(If your cauliflower is small, you’ll get a bag of green beans too.)
Yellow potatoes, 3.25 lb
Butternut winter squash
Bok choy
Carrots, 2 lb
Peppers, suntans, ~1.5 lb
Onions, yellow or red
Scallions
Garlic

Next week’s box will probably contain Brussels sprouts, cabbage, leeks, sweet potatoes, carrots and more.

Yellow potatoes – These organic potatoes were grown by Brad and Brian Igl of Igl Farms near Antigo.  This variety is either “Floridan” or “Montana”, two new varieties they tried this year.  We cooked a batch tonight and they are tasty with a smooth creamy texture.  Quite nice.

RECIPES by DEB

Photo by debslunch

Winter squash and coconut greens galette

This galette combines greens cooked with garlic and coconut milk with roasted winter squash, and (optional) cheese. It’s impressive enough to be the vegetarian – or vegan – offering at your Thanksgiving, but easy enough for a weeknight, especially if you divide up the steps. You can roast the squash a few days before, make the crust, then simply assemble right before baking. You could even put the whole thing together and cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake.
Takes about 2 hours including baking
Serves 6-8

Crust:
2 cups flour – proportions can vary; I used 1 1/2 cups unbleached white and 1/2 cup whole wheat
2 teaspoons sugar
a few pinches of salt (if you use unsalted butter)
9 tablespoons dairy or vegan butter
2 tablespoons vegetable shortening
7-8 tablespoons cold water

Filling:
1 Butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into slices
1-2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 bunch of greens, leaves only – I used Komatsuna greens from an earlier box, but this week’s Bok Choy will work (save the stems for a stir fry) or collards or any sturdy greens; you’ll need about 3 cups of raw greens
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large or 2 smaller cloves of garlic, minced or out through a press
1/2 a 14-oz. can of coconut milk
Salt & freshly ground pepper
Optional (to make it vegan) 1 1/2 to 2 cups grated cheese, your choice – I used Gouda, but any good melting cheese will work
Milk or water for brushing the crust when crimping

1. Make the crust: measure the flour, salt and sugar into the bowl of your stand mixer (my favorite method), your food processor, or a mixing bowl. Slice the butter and shortening over the top and combine with the flour mixture, using the paddle attachment of the mixer, by pulsing the processor, or using a pastry blender, 2 knives or your fingers, until you have a crumbly mixture with no butter lumps bigger than currants. With the mixer or processor running, or while stirring with fork, drizzle in the water by tablespoons, until the mixture just starts to come together in clumps. Stop before you have one big ball. Turn the crust out onto a floured surface and knead lightly to bring it together. Gather it into a ball, flatten into a disk, wrap (in plastic, wax paper, one of your reusable snack/sandwich bags), and chill for about 30 minutes, and up to 2 days.
2. Roast the squash: heat the oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oil, then arrange the squash pieces on top and drizzle a little more oil over the top. Toss to make sure everything is coated, then roast for about 15-20 minutes until the squash gives when poked with a fork. Cool. If you are baking the galette now, you can leave the oven on.
3. Cook the greens: heat a large pot of water, and when it’s boiling, add the greens and cook a few minutes until wilted. Drain the greens in a colander and run cold water over them to cool. When the greens are cooled enough to handle, squeeze out as much water as you can by taking handfuls and wringing them out as you would a sponge. Place the squeezed greens on a cutting board and chop. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil – you can use the same pot you boiled the greens in – and add the greens. Season with salt & pepper and toss to coat with oil. Add the garlic and continue to cook a few minutes until the garlic doesn’t smell raw. Add the coconut milk. If your coconut milk has separated into a large solid lump with liquid underneath, you might want to transfer the contents of the can into a bowl or spouted measuring cup to stir it back together. Otherwise try to get equal arts to coconut solids and liquid into the pot – the solids should melt pretty quickly over the heat. Stir to combine, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until the thickened. When you run a spoon across the bottom of the pan you won’t see liquid under the greens. Cool.
4. Assemble: Line a large baking sheet with parchment – I used a 14-inch deep pizza pan; a cookie sheet will work, too. On a floured surface, roll out the crust to a rouhgly 16-inch irregular square. Trim the crust to a 14-inch circle (you can put the trimmings on another baking sheet, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, and bake for a treat). Fold the crust in half and place it on your baking sheet, and unfold. If using cheese, spread about 3/4 of it on the bottom of the crust, then top with the squash, then greens and sprinkle with the last of the cheese. Brush the edges with milk or water, and fold in, crimping every few inches.
5. Bake at 375° for about 25 minutes until well browned. Serve warm or room temperature.

.
.

Photo by debslunch

Pepperonta and Goat Cheese Crostini

We had a pepperonata recipe a few weeks back; since it’s still pepper season, due to our Tipi farmers’ hard work protecting the pepper field, here’s my favorite. This is based on Deborah Madison, who calls it bell pepper and onion confit. Pepperonata freezes well, and in addition to using it for crostini, you can make it into an omelette, use it for pizza topping, or add it to a sausage sandwich or pasta. Try serving the pepperonta crostini as part of a larger charcuterie board with cheese, salami, olives, this dip from last week, and assorted dippers.
Makes about 2 cups of pepperonata
The pepperonata takes only a few minutes to chop, and needs 30-45 minutes to cook.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 smallish onion sliced pole to pole (about a cup of slices)
1 pound bell peppers (approximately), cored and sliced into about 3-inch strips
2 tablespoons tomato paste, dissolved in one cup water
a few sprigs of fresh herbs, such as rosemary or thyme; or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 – 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Salt & freshly ground pepper

For crostini: 1 baguette
olive oil
One 4-ounce log of soft goat cheese, softened.

1. Peperonata: Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet with a lid. Add the onions and a few pinches of salt, cook over medium high heat for a few minutes, then add the peppers. Stir and continue to cook until the peppers and onions have started to soften. Add the tomato paste-water mixture, and herbs. Bring to a boil, then cover and turn down the heat and cook gently for 30-45 minutes stirring occasionally, until the peppers are nice and soft. Add water by tablespoons if it starts getting dried out or sticking.
2. Add the brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of the balsamic vinegar. Taste – dunking in some bread for this is recommended – and adjust seasoning, adding more salt, pepper, or vinegar as needed.
3. Crostini: Heat the oven to 400°. Slice the baguette into about 1 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet and brush with oil. Flip the slices and brush again. Bake for about 10 minutes per side until nicely toasted.
4. To assemble crostini, spread a generous layer of goat cheese on a crostini, and top with pepperonata, and eat as soon as possible.

.
.

Deb Lindsey for the Washington Post

Mashed Potatoes With Bok Choy and Crispy Onions

From The Washington Post
The typical green combined with mashed potatoes is cabbage – think Colcannon – but this more unusual pairing uses Bok Choy. If you don’t want to purchase canned crispy onions for the topping, you can sub bread crumbs or fry up some regular onions or shallots.
.
.
Photo by Keiko Oikawa

Butternut and Chick Pea Soup with Bulgur Wheat

From Nigella Lawson
Nigella calls this Middle Eastern minestrone, and it’s a thick, warming, soup for one of our cooler nights. I appreciate that Nigella’s recipes always include a handy slider at the top right to convert from metric to US measurements. The one unusual ingredient is preserved lemon; if you don’t have any Nigella suggests grating in some lemon zest and adding a bit of lemon juice.
.
.

By Jenny White

Cauliflower Cheese

From BBC Food
In the US we might call Mac & Cheese the ultimate comfort food – in the UK it’s cauliflower cheese.
.
.

Photography by Alex Lau

Barbecue Carrots with Yogurt and Pecans

From Bon Appetit
This recipe is very similar to the barbecue carrots served at The Publican in Chicago, a restaurant known for meats, but also serves tasty vegetable dishes and salads. It calls for parboiling the carrots, then coating then with a spicy rub, and grilling, but the carrots can easily be prepared in the oven. And like some of the commenters, I also recommend cutting back on the salt in the rub, and/or omitting the celery salt.
.
.

By i am a food blog

A Really Easy Healthy Orange Cauliflower Recipe

From i am a food blog
i am a food blog describes this as basically vegan orange chicken. The cauliflower florets are oven fried with a cornstarch coating to get them crisp. If you don’t have a fresh orange to juice for the sauce, bottled or frozen orange juice can sub in; you only need 1/4 cup. A garnish of thinly sliced scallions from this week’s box would be lovely.
.
.
By Kelli Foster

Potatoes O’Brien

From The Kitchn
This version of a traditional and delicious preparation of potatoes and peppers also adds scallions. Why is it O’Brien? According to the Kitchn, the exact origins of the dish, created in the early 1900s, aren’t totally clear — some say it originated at a restaurant in Boston, while others claim it was New York; Wikipedia simply says “the origin of the dish is disputed”.

Week #21; Gleaning recap

The gleaning fields stretched across the entire farm.  

The weather was perfect for our annual gleaning party!   It was warm enough and sunny and pretty darn windy but that’s typical fall weather.  There was a hard freeze the night before, so the tomatoes and peppers were damaged but it was still worth looking through the field for good ones.  Thank you for working with the reservation system we set up.  There were just three of us staffing the u-pick so it was a huge help to spread out your arrivals.  We had entry slots for all who wanted them.  Let’s share highlights and photos.

Our list of gleaning crops changes every year.  Here is this year’s list and our observations, followed by photos.

Pumpkins – This was one of our best pumpkin growing seasons so they are solid and should last well.  FYI the row of small pumpkins was actually a pie pumpkin called Mystic Plus so you might try cooking that one.  Or use it as an ornamental – they are very pretty.

Bell peppers (Limit = 3 per household) – The peppers were frozen the night before but it seems everyone found a few good ones.  Those are easy to cook after they’ve been frozen.

Carrots (Limit = 6 per household) – Carrots are not a true gleaning crop as we could harvest all of them, but we include them so kids have the fun of digging up a few carrots.  

Chilies; jalapenos and poblanos (Limit = 5 and 2 per household, respectively) – We peeled back row cover from our chile field to offer a few for gleaning.  This field is precious and we’ll keep it protected as long as we can.  Which will not be much longer!

Kale & collards – We plant two kale/collard fields each season, harvesting the first one until midsummer then switching to the fresh second planting.  By now, the first field has recovered, meaning both early and late plantings are productive right now.  That’s how we have lots of kale and collards to glean each year.  You can barely tell where members gleaned!

Romano beans – This field was an adventure.  It was very wet and muddy from overnight irrigation to protect the adjacent pepper field.  It was worth the stop to pick a few handfuls of beans, or more if you were patient.  You may have noticed a mysterious nearby field covered in white row cover.  That field contained the green beans that we picked for you this week.

Sweet potatoes (Limit = dig 1 hill per household).  We designate this the 2022 Most Mysterious Gleaning Crop.  We set digging forks in the field and told people to choose one sweet potato hill, then dig until they found the tubers.  The sweet potatoes were deep and not every hill was productive so people had to hunt for a while.

Tomatoes, plum & slicing – These were frost damaged but you could find good ones if you hunted near the ground.  We cancelled gleaning cherry tomatoes – those are exposed on a trellis and frosted badly.

Winter squash; acorns, butternuts, etc – This field was a treasure hunt, with a good ones mixed in among the ones we discarded.

The pumpkin field was everyone’s favorite field to visit!  

Gleaning poblano or jalapeños from the corner of the field that we offered.  
We covered the field with white row cover to protect the plants from frost.  The cover does not want to stay in place on a windy day!

Gleaning carrots.

There were tomatoes to find … just not these ones.

An adorable family

Lost and found
Get in touch if any of these belong to you and we’ll send them to your pickup site.  We think the hat was left here at one of the strawberry u-picks.

Veggie List & Veggie Notes
Week #21, October 13/14, 2022
– Weekly shares
– EOW/ green

Brussels sprouts, ~1 lb
Green beans, ~ 3/4 lb
Beets, ~2 lb
Winter squash by site; Acorn squash OR ‘Nutterbutter’ butternut
Collard greens, 1 small bunch
Mixed peppers, mostly suntans
Red or yellow onion
Scallions, 1 bunch
Most sites get broccoli
One site gets cauliflower

Next week’s box will probably contain winter squash, carrots, bok choy, suntan peppers, scallions and more.

Brussels sprouts – If you are a new CSA member, please approach Brussels sprouts with an open mind.  Many of us grew up eating awful, overcooked Brussels sprouts.  These Brussels sprouts are completely different. 
Here is our method to cook Brussels sprouts: Wash the sprouts and trim the cut ends. Cut an X in the stem end of large sprouts.  Cut a single slit in small or medium sprouts.  This does two things. It helps the Brussels sprouts cook evenly, plus it allows them to soak up any marinade or dressing.  Place sprouts in a pot with one inch of water in the bottom and steam until tender, 7 to 10 minutes.  If the sprouts are uneven in size, then set aside the smallest ones and add to the pot after the larger ones have cooked for a few minutes.  Don’t overcook them!  You can also oven-roast Brussels sprouts.  
Here are a few dressing ideas for cooked sprouts:  
– Sherry vinegar/olive oil/Dijon mustard/garlic/white wine/salt and pepper.  This is our favorite, especially when you combine the Brussels sprouts with slivered peppers and thinly sliced onions.  Delicious warm, cold, or at room temperature.
– Balsamic vinegar/olive oil/garlic/salt and pepper
– Lemon juice and zest/melted brown butter/poppy seeds/white wine/garlic/salt

Beets – Storage:  Cover and refrigerate.  Beet roots will store for months.  Wash well to remove leaf fragments.  For all the cooking methods below, wash and scrub the beets but do not peel.  The skins slip off easily once the beets are cooked and cooled.
Cooking beet roots on the stovetop:  Slice or quarter, cover with water in a pot, and simmer until tender.  This will take from 25 to 45 minutes depending on how large the beet pieces are.  Drain.
Roasting beets in oven:  Wash beets, but do not peel.  On a sheet of aluminum foil, put beets (halved or quartered if large), salt, pepper and a few sprinklings of water.  Seal the foil packet, and roast at 400 oF until tender, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.  Slip off skins once cool.
Microwave:  Slice beets in half and place in a large microwave-proof bowl.  Add ¾ inch water and cover with a plate.  Microwave on high until tender, about 9-20 minutes, depending on your microwave’s power.  Drain and slip off skins.
Uses:  Use cooked beets in cold salads, or dress simply with vinaigrette, onions, salt and pepper.  Beets are also good tossed with sour cream, minced onion, fresh herbs and walnuts.

Peppers – We are heading toward the end of pepper season but will hold on as long as we can.  This week’s peppers came from fields protected with irrigation.  Now it’s time to strip the field of any useable peppers.  Most of what you receive will be ‘suntan’ peppers; half green and half colored.  Types are mixed, whether bells, fryers or snack peppers.

‘Tis the season for “suntan” peppers.

RECIPES by PHOEBE

Broccoli, Bell Pepper & Bean Burritos

Creamy beans, crisp-tender veggies, and tangy cheddar cheese create a satisfying filling for these vegetarian burritos. My biggest tip for this recipe is to chop the broccoli finely so that it cooks through on the stove. No broccoli in your box this week? Cauliflower or an extra pepper would work well in its place.

Serves 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes

2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 medium onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
3 cups pinto beans, drained and rinsed (2 14-ounce cans)
1 cup vegetable broth
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and diced
1 medium head broccoli, stems and florets, diced
4 large flour tortillas, warmed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the avocado oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add half the onion and ½ teaspoon sea salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add the beans, broth, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and several grinds of pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the beans are thick and creamy, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of the lime juice.
2. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining diced onion, the bell pepper, and ½ teaspoon sea salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the broccoli and cook, stirring occasionally, until the broccoli is crisp-tender and bright green and the onion and peppers are beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon lime juice.
3. Assemble each burrito in a tortilla with a scoop of the beans, a scoop of the veggies, and some of the cheddar cheese. Tuck and roll the burrito closed and repeat with the remaining tortillas and burrito fillings.

.
.

Sesame Chicken & Green Bean Stir Fry

Green beans add color and crunch to this nutty, savory chicken stir fry. Serve it over rice for a quick and easy meal.

Serves 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

2½ tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, grated
1½ teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon sea salt
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon avocado oil
8 ounces green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 teaspoons sesame seeds
Cooked rice, for serving

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the tamari, rice vinegar, water, honey, sesame oil, fresh ginger, and garlic until well combined. Add the cornstarch and whisk to combine.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, ground ginger, and salt. Add the chicken and toss until well coated.
3. Heat the avocado oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the green beans and toss to coat in the oil. Cook without stirring until the beans start to brown on one side, about 3 minutes. Stir, then remove from the pan and set aside.
4. Add the chicken to the pan and cook without stirring until golden brown on one side, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the second side, another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the green beans to the pan and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the sauce. Cook, stirring, until the sauce is thick and glossy and the chicken is cooked through, about 2 more minutes.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the sesame seeds. Season to taste and serve with rice.

.
.

Photo by Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

From Love & Lemons
You only need 7 ingredients to make this refreshing fall salad! The recipe calls for chopped chives, but if you don’t have them on hand, feel free to skip them, or substitute an equal amount of thinly sliced scallion tops.
.
.

Photo by Minimalist Baker

Simple Roasted Beet Relish

From Minimalist Baker
This zesty beet relish is seasoned with earthy cumin and lots of lime. Spoon it over any salad, grain bowl, burger, sandwich, or taco for a burst of bright flavor!
.
.

Photo by The Modern Proper

Kung Pao Tofu

From The Modern Proper
Grab a couple peppers and the scallions from this week’s box, and you’ll be well on your way to making this punchy vegan stir fry!
.
.

Photo by Heidi Swanson

Bryant Terry’s Amazing Green Rice

From 101 Cookbooks
This recipe, from Bryant Terry’s cookbook Vegetable Kingdom, calls for spinach and kale, but it would work just as nicely with collards. I recommend using 1 1/2 cups of collards instead of the combined 2 cups of spinach and kale so that the collards’ flavor doesn’t overwhelm the rice. Serve it as a comforting side dish, or check out Heidi’s suggestions for turning it into a meal.
.
.

Photo by Laura Wright

Black Bean Dip with Roasted Squash, Garlic, Pumpkin Seeds & Chipotles

From The First Mess
Sweet roasted squash plays off smoky, spicy chipotles in this creamy vegan bean dip. Serve it with tortilla chips or crackers, or slather it onto sandwiches or toast.
.
.

Photo by Andrea Bemis

Collard Greens Summer Slaw with Soy-Sesame Dressing

From Dishing Up The Dirt
This simple sesame slaw would be a great fresh side dish for any fall meal. To use the produce from your box this week, substitute an extra beet for the kohlrabi and carrots, and skip the basil. The slaw will still be delicious!

Silly us, summer is not over.

Last week, we thought frost would end all of our summer crops.  Instead, we have two pounds tomatoes for you this week and hope to have green beans next week!  The frost was light and the tomatoes survived.  We hustled to protect the beans with row cover.  However, that will truly end the summer crops, with peppers the exception.  We’ve gone to great lengths to protect the pepper fields because they are so valuable.  Hopefully, we’ll have peppers for you for a few more weeks.  Eat these tomatoes promptly – they don’t keep well after cold weather.

Top, ‘Jester squash. Bottom left, ‘Carnival’. Bottom right, ‘Starry Night’.

Veggie List & Veggie Notes
Week #20, October 6/7, 2022
– Weekly shares
– EOW/ purple
– Sampler/ moon

Green cabbage
Tomatoes, ~2 lb mixed slicing & plum
‘Jester’ winter squash
Plus a second squash (Carnival or Starry Night or a second Jester)
Komatsuna greens, 1 bunch
Peppers, mixed frying & bell, mixed colors
Poblano chilies (in bag with tomatoes), 3
Yellow onion
By site; Broccoli OR cauliflower

Next week’s box will probably contain napa cabbage, winter squash, peppers, beets, broccoli OR cauliflower and more.

Komatsuna greens (dark green bundle) – This is the same mustard-type green that we delivered last week.  I hope you enjoyed that batch – these are just as good.

Winter squash – Everyone receives two winter squash this week, one Jester plus either Starry Night, Carnival or a second Jester.    Store at room temperature and eat within two weeks.  The Jesters are amazing this year but are not intended for storage.  Eat within two weeks.  Keep an eye on your squash and cook promptly if you see signs of deterioration.  

Poblano chiles (triangular, shiny; green or brown; MILDLY HOT, packed in the bag of tomatoes) –  Poblanos are the creme de la creme of chiles.  They have lots of great flavor in combination with manageable heat.  Roast and add to soup or casseroles.  To reduce heat, remove the seeds and midveins.  

Poblano chiles will be dark green or chocolate-colored, occasionally with red streaking or a red tip.  These are the only hot peppers in this week’s box.  All other peppers are sweet.

RECIPES by DEB

Photo by debslunch

Vegetable & [optional] Meat Pot Pie with Yogurt Biscuits

You can make this potpie vegetarian, or add meat – you’ll need 1/2 pound ground meat – beef, turkey, your favorite! The yogurt biscuits make a fluffy and crunchy topping. You can use any combination of root and other vegetables – this version has cabbage and peppers from this week’s box, plus carrots and potatoes from prior weeks. Sub in broccoli and/or cauliflower if you like! Mushrooms are suggested to replace the meat, but are optional.

Take about 1 1/2 hours including baking
Serves 6-8

Filling:
1 tablespoon oil or butter
1/2 pound group meat or mushrooms (optional)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup chopped onions
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 to 2 cups chopped cabbage, or broccoli or cauliflower
3/4 cup chopped bell pepper
2 1/2 to 3 cups root vegetables – carrots, potatoes, turnips, parsnips – peeled and chopped into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed (optional)
2 1/2 to 3 cups liquid – suggested 2 cups veggie or chicken or beef broth, and 1/2 cup whole milk or half & half
1/4 cup flour
1 veggie or meat bouillon cube (optional)

Biscuits:
2 cups unbleached flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 stick, 8 tablespoons, cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons plain yogurt, cold from the fridge

1. Make the filling: Melt the butter or add the oil to a large, deep pot and brown the meat or mushrooms, if using. Add the onions and season with salt & pepper. If you’re not using meat or mushrooms, add the oil or butter to the pot and add the onions. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the cabbage or broccoli or cauliflower, and the peppers and continue to cook until all are softened. Add the Worcestershire sauce.
2. Place the chopped root vegetables in a 2 quart saucepan, and cover with broth, probably 2 cups. Bring to a boil, and simmer, uncovered, until the veggies are fork tender, about 10-15 minutes. Dip the veggies out of the saucepan with a slotted spoon or skimmer, and add them to the large pot with the meat and sauteed vegetables. Keep the remaining broth at a low boil.
3. Make a slurry with the flour and about 1/3 cup broth and pour it into the saucepan, whisking until thickened. Add the milk or half & half, and continue to whisk.
4. When the sauce is thick, add it to the large pot and add the peas. Taste for seasoning and add the bouillon cube if it seems bland. Add more broth or half & half if it’s too thick. Turn down the heat and keep the filling warm while you prepare the biscuits.
5. Heat the oven to 375°. Measure the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the butter bits, and cut into the flour until there are no piece larger than a pea left. Dump in the yogurt and mix with a spatula until there isn’t any dry flour remaining.
6. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead it briefly until it come together. Pat the dough out into a rough square that’s about 1 inch thick. Fold it into thirds like a letter, and the pat or roll out into a square again. Repeat the folding and rolling 2 more times, finally rolling the dough out to be about 1 inch thick. Transfer the filling into a 2 quart baking dish or really large pie plate. Cut as many 3 inch biscuits as you can – I got 10 – and arrange them on top of the filling. Place the pot pie n the oven and bake for about 30 minutes until the biscuits are brown and the filling is bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes – or until it stops bubbling furiously – before serving.
    
   
   Photo by debslunch

   Pappardelle with squash, roasted peppers, and goat cheese

   Feel free to use other pasta shapes and other cheeses – the salty sharpness of blue cheese is great with the sweet squash. You can also use other nuts instead of the (expensive!) pinenuts. Sunflower seeds, walnuts, or pecans would all be tasty here.
   Takes 25 minutes
   Serves 4

   2 tablespoons olive oil
   1 tablespoon unsalted butter
   1 cup sliced onion, any variety, or shallots
   1/4 cup dry white wine or vermouth
   3 cups peeled and cubed winter squash
   12 ounces pappardelle or other pasta
   about 1/2 cup pasta cooking water
   1 teaspoon smoked paprika
   1 large bell pepper, roasted and cut into strips (see below for instructions)
   salt and freshly group black pepper
   5 ounces crumbled goat cheese (about 1 cup)
   1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted

   1. Melt the butter and oil together in a skillet that will be large enough for the pasta, with a lid. Add the onions, a pinch of salt, and toss until they’re coated with oil. Cook over medium heat until the onions are starting to brown. Add the wine and boil for a few minutes until there’s no raw alcohol smell. Add the squash cubes, mix, cover, and lower the heat and cook until the squash is tender but not falling apart, about 15 minutes. Add a few tablespoons of water if it starts sticking.
   2. Boil the pasta in a generous amount of salted water while the squash is cooking. Before you drain the pasta, dip out 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
   3. When the squash is tender, add the paprika and the roasted peppers. Mix well, and add the pasta. Mix again, and add the cheese. Add a little pasta water if it seems too dry. Cover the pan to melt the cheese slightly, give it a final toss, and then top with the pine nuts and serve.

    
   How to roast peppers: There are lots of ways to roast peppers, from doing them on a grill to roasting them individually on a fork over a gas flame. The main thing is to get the skin charred so it can be peeled off. I find this oven method the easiest, and you can use this method for the poblanos in this week’s box as well. Heat your broiler, and position a rack so that the peppers are close to the heat element but not touching. Arrange the peppers on a baking sheet. You can cover the baking sheet with foil for easier clean up – parchment paper will burn under the broiler so it’s not recommended. Broil the peppers, turning them until all sides are charred, and transferring them to a bowl as they get done. Cover the bowl with a plate or lid, and let the peppers steam and cool off for at least 15 minutes. Lay a pepper on a cutting board – I like to do this with the board on the edge of the sink, tilted so the hot juices run off – and cut the base of the pepper in half with a small knife. Open the pepper, cut one half away from the stem, and use your knife to scrape off the charred skins. Sometimes you can pull of the skin with your fingers. Flip the half over and remove the seeds and veins. Repeat with the other half and for the rest of your peppers.
    
   

   
   Photo by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

   Super-Simple Tangy Buttermilk Coleslaw

   From Serious Eats
   Coleslaw is probably our favorite winter salad, and this is a tasty version. When I tried this recipe I reduced the onion by about half. If you don’t have buttermilk, thin yogurt or sour cream with a little milk to get to the correct volume (3/4 cup). And chop some of the bell peppers and add to the slaw for color!
    
   
   By Rita Maas

   Mexican Poblano, Spinach, and Black Bean “Lasagne” with Goat Cheese

   From Epicurious
   This recipe has A LOT of steps, but the results are worth it. You can make the tomato sauce with the tomatoes from our box and roast the peppers the day before. We didn’t get 12 poblanos in the box this week, but I don’t think I’ve ever used that many to make this “lasagna”, and you can supplement with the bell peppers. Sub in Komatsuna greens for the spinach – and I always leave out the raisins!
    
   
   Photo by Heidi Swanson

   Garlicky Greens Recipe

   From 101 Cookbooks
   Here’s a quick way to prepare our Komatsuna greens, from Heidi Swanson at 101 Cookbooks. Heidi suggests serving these greens with roasted sweet potatoes, which to me means serving the greens with roasted squash from this week’s box would also go well.
    
   
   Photo by Mike Hultquist

   Rajas Poblanas Con Crema – Roasted Poblano Strips in Cream Sauce

   From Chili Pepper Madness
   Rajas means strips, and Rick Bayless, who has an empire of Southwest restaurants in Chicago (and buys produce from Wisconsin!) calls this way of preparing poblano and onion strips “Essential Rajas”. I think they are essentially delicious. The rajas can be eaten folded into tortillas, or used as quesadilla filling, and this recipe also suggests eating the creamy mixture over rice.
    
   
   Photo by Annabelle Breakey, Styling by George Dolese

   Savoy Cabbage Gratin

   By Kate Washington, from My Recipes
   Here’s a frankly rich way to prepare cabbage; as the recipe says think mac&cheese with the cabbage standing in for the mac. The recipe call for Savoy, but green cabbage will work just fine.
    
   

   Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut and Ginger

   From Alternative Dish
   Here’s vegan version of squash soup that’s creamy without dairy cream. Any of our squashes this week will substitute for the butternut in the title.

Week #19, Goodbye to summer

Chelsea throws winter squash to Carrot.  Our little team of four people (including John) harvested about 15,000 lb of winter squash over the past month.  We’re in good shape now! 

Carrot piles the squash in rows.  We returned with a wagon and a larger team to pick up the squash and move them into the warm, dry greenhouse to cure.  Kudos to the second team who hefted all of that squash three times on its journey into the greenhouse.  Squash is heavy.

Frost is likely at our farm tonight.  This is early and we are sad to say goodbye to tomatoes, basil and Romano beans.  If temperatures are not too low, we might have a handful of tomatoes next week.  The plants have remained healthy and the foliage might protect the tomatoes.  We’ll see.  I asked our crew to pick a minimum of two pounds tomatoes this week and they brought in four pounds per CSA box!  Maggie led the charge on that effort.  A few later varieties are at their peak and she really wants you to have them.

There’s a scramble before any frost, regardless of when it arrives.  We will protect three pepper fields and one chile field tonight.  We have enough peppers out there for another three or four more CSA deliveries, and are not willing to let them go.  Two fields are covered with floating row cover (white fabric in the photo below) to trap heat from the ground.  Steve set irrigation pipe in the other two fields.  He’ll irrigate tonight to keep the plants from freezing (as ice forms on the plants, it releases enough heat to maintain a steady 32 degrees).  Wish us luck!  Wish your peppers luck!  

I think we need a new end-of-summer ritual that doesn’t involve running around the farm protecting crops.  Something calmer, more contemplative, something that doesn’t require getting up in the middle of the night to start the irrigation.

We did not scramble to bring in winter squash.  All are safe in our barn or greenhouse.  We harvested steadily over the last three weeks as each variety matured.  Winter squash harvest is exacting.  We look for subtle signs that the fruits are mature, for best flavor.  Each variety is a bit different.  Delay harvest too long and they will rot, especially in wet or dewy weather.  I trained a new squash team this year and they did great!  This year’s harvests are beautiful.  We should have squash or sweet potatoes steadily for the remaining CSA boxes.

Fortunately, we have many frost-resistant crops.  Here’s a list of what you can look forward to before the end of the season.  Broccoli, cauliflower, Romanesco, cabbage, choys and other greens, Brussels sprouts,carrots, beets, winter radishes, celeriac, parsnips, leeks, onions, garlic, scallions, fennel, potatoes, winter squash, sweet potatoes, parsley, cilantro, poblano chiles, and peppers of course.

Mmm, I love fall cooking.
Thanks for reading.
Beth

Raul, Ken and Carrot secure floating row cover over pepper plants to protect them from frost tonight.

Veggie List & Veggie Notes
Week #19, Sept 29/30, 2022
– Weekly shares
– EOW/ green

Romano beans, 1.4 lb
Broccoli, 1 medium head
Komatsuna greens, 1 bunch
‘Jester’ squash, 1
‘Carnival’ squash, 1
Tomatoes, plum & slicing, ~4 lb
Cayenne chile (HOT), in bag with tomatoes
Mixed bell & frying peppers (sweet), ~1.5 lb
Oranos or snack peppers (sweet), a few
Yellow or red onion
Basil, 1 medium bunch

Next week’s box will probably contain cabbage, broccoli, peppers, winter squash and more.

Romano beans (final for the season) – Romano beans are more robust and meaty than green beans. They are excellent raw but really shine when gently braised for a long time, especially with tomatoes.
Storage: Refrigerate.

Broccoli – The fall broccoli and cauliflower plantings look great.  Here is the first harvest.
Storage: Cover and refrigerate.

Komatsuna – We are enchanted with this Asian green, the same one that we sent in spring.  Grown in fall, it is taller and the stems more fibrous.  The leaves are delicious and can be used in any recipe that calls for mustard greens.  Taste one of the stems raw and, if too fibrous, discard the stems.

Oranos or snack peppers (sweet) – Everyone gets a handful of snack peppers, either Oranos (orange, loose in your box) or mixed color snack peppers (in small paper bag).  All are sweet and wonderful for snacking, loaded with flavor but sparse seeds.

Winter squash – You’ll receive one portion of Jester squash this week, and one ‘Carnival’ squash.  Both are acorn types, although ‘Jester’ has some delicata parentage.  In my opinion, the skins are not edible.  In Steve’s opinion, Jester skins are edible.
Storage:  Store at room temperature for up to two weeks.  Keep an eye on your squash.  If flaws develop, then cook soon.

Basil (final for the season) – The basil has some bronzing and speckling after a few cold nights.  Use it soon – it won’t store as long as our previous basil.  We really wanted you to have it before it’s lost to frost tonight.  If it’s more than you need, chop and freeze it.

Top, ‘Jester’ winter squash
Bottom, ‘Carnival’ winter squash

FYI, your HOT cayenne pepper is in the bag of tomatoes this week.

RECIPES by PHOEBE

Photo by Phoebe Moore

Creamy Miso Acorn Squash Pasta

Blended roasted acorn squash gives this comforting pasta its delicious creamy texture. It also lends the sauce a subtle sweetness, which balances the intense umami flavor of the roasted onions, garlic, and white miso paste. To make this recipe quick and easy to prepare, feel free to roast the vegetables up to 2 days in advance.

Serves 3 to 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes

1 medium acorn squash, halved lengthwise and seeds scooped out
½ onion, cut into wedges
3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
12 ounces medium shell pasta
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
2 tablespoons white miso paste
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Drizzle the cut sides of the squash halves with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on the baking sheet. Add the onion wedges to the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Wrap the garlic cloves in a piece of foil with a drizzle of olive oil and add them to the baking sheet. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the squash is tender when pierced with a fork and the onions are soft and lightly browned.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and prepare the pasta according to the package instructions, cooking until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the hot, starchy pasta cooking water before draining. Drain and set aside.

Scoop 1½ cups of the roasted squash flesh out of the skin and transfer it to a blender (save any remaining flesh for another use). Add the roasted onion, peeled garlic, olive oil, miso paste, rice vinegar, and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Pour in ½ cup of the reserved pasta water and blend until smooth, adding more pasta water as needed to create a smooth and creamy sauce.

Return the pasta to the pot and pour in the sauce. Stir to coat. If the sauce is too thick, loosen it with another splash of pasta water. Season to taste and serve.

.
.

Photo by Phoebe Moore

Zingy Lentil and Green Bean Salad

The flavors in this bright and briny salad only improve after a day or two in the fridge, so it’s a great recipe to make ahead for lunches or quick meals throughout the week.

Serves 4
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes

1 cup dry green or French green lentils, rinsed
4 ounces green beans or Romano beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, grated
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon honey
1 large tomato, cored and chopped
½ cup pitted and torn mixed olives
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
¼ cup diced onion
Freshly ground black pepper

Place the lentils in a medium saucepan and add water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until tender but not mushy, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and rinse under cool water.

Meanwhile, blanch the green beans. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil and set a bowl of ice water nearby. Drop the beans into the boiling water and blanch for 3 to 6 minutes (closer to 3 if you’re using regular green beans and closer to 6 if you’re using Romanos), until tender but still bright green. Transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking process. Allow to chill for at least 1 minute, then drain and transfer to a kitchen towel to dry.

In a large bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, mustard, oregano, salt, honey, and several grinds of pepper. Add the lentils and stir to coat, then stir in the green beans, tomato, olives, feta, and onion. Season to taste and serve.
.
.

Photo by The Modern Proper

Coconut Curry Soup with Chicken, Chickpeas, and Hearty Greens

From The Modern Proper
Use your komatsuna greens and peppers in this richly flavored curry soup! This recipe calls for canned diced tomatoes, but since there are so many fresh tomatoes in the box this week, I recommend using them instead. Substitute a heaping 1½ cups chopped fresh tomatoes for the canned ones.
.
.

Photo by Laura Wright

Braised Romano Beans with Spicy Cherry Tomato Sauce & Lemony Ground Walnuts

From The First Mess
This recipe is a spiced-up riff on one of the most classic Romano bean preparations, Romanos braised with tomatoes. It calls for cherry tomatoes, but you could easily substitute a pound of the fresh tomatoes from this week’s box. Grate or chop them before adding them to the sauce. Substitute ⅓ cup diced onion for the shallot, and use 1 teaspoon dried thyme if you don’t have fresh on hand.
.
.

Photo by Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews

Maple Roasted Acorn Squash

From Love & Lemons
When I want to serve acorn squash as a simple side dish, this recipe is my favorite way to prepare it. Maple syrup brings out the squash’s natural sweetness, and herbs like sage or rosemary add earthy autumn flavor. Dried herbs work perfectly here if you don’t have fresh on hand.
.
.

Photo by Andrea Bemis

Pork & Ricotta Meatballs with Roasted Garden Tomato Sauce

From Dishing Up The Dirt
This recipe features a simple roasted tomato sauce, which would be a great use for the tomatoes in your box this week. Simmer these tender ricotta meatballs in it, and then top them off with Parmesan and fresh basil for a comforting fall meal.
.
.

Photo by Erin Alderson

Tahini Noodle Bowl with Collards

From Naturally Ella
This recipe calls for collards, but it would work just as nicely with this week’s komatsuna, though the komatsuna will cook a bit more quickly. To complete the dish, you’ll toss the greens with noodles, peppers, and a creamy, lemony tahini sauce.
.
.

Photo by Jeanine Donofrio and Phoebe Moore

Broccoli Pesto

From Love & Lemons
This nut-free broccoli lemon pesto is bright and aromatic, and it comes together in right around 5 minutes. Toss it with pasta for a flavorful weeknight meal.