Fennel is a common herb with a flavor similar to anise, but the kind we grow has a swollen bulb-like stem that is used as a vegetable.… Read more “Fennel”
Category: CSA: Food Notes
Beets
Beets have been maligned for years but are experiencing a recent renaissance as people have discovered there are lots of ways to prepare fresh beets. Memories… Read more “Beets”
Fresh Garlic
You can’t get garlic any fresher than this! Fresh garlic may be used just like cured garlic. You’ll find that the wrappers around the garlic have not… Read more “Fresh Garlic”
Dill
Dill Fresh dill is a wonderful addition to many dishes. It is frequently paired with lemon and used in cream or yogurt based sauces. Often it is… Read more “Dill”
Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is a large green leafed vegetable with a swollen round stem. The leaves and stem are both used. The leaves can be used in place of… Read more “Kohlrabi”
Sugar Snap and Snow Peas
Snap and snow peas are types of peas that are eaten whole, pod and all, when the peas are still immature. We recommend stringing them prior to… Read more “Sugar Snap and Snow Peas”
Arugula
What a flavorful salad green! Arugula has a peppery taste and is often used in salads as the main green or mixed with lettuce to balance the… Read more “Arugula”
Hakurei Turnips
These small white turnips are so crisp and have a sweetness to them that they can be enjoyed raw and are often called salad turnips. There is… Read more “Hakurei Turnips”
Bok Choi
Bok Choi (or Bok Choy or Pac Choy) is also known as Chinese Cabbage and is in fact related to cabbage as it is a member of the brassica family. It is normally white stemmed with green leaves, and we usually harvest it when it is full grown. Like most greens, it grows well in the cooler months of spring and fall. You may notice the flowering stem of the bok choi beginning to form. This is fine as the stems are tender and the flowers edible. Bok Choi can be eaten raw or cooked. Stir fries and soups are the most common use of this nutrient dense vegetable, but you can also grill it or blanch the leaves and use them as wrappers. Full size Bok Choi can be used in place of baby Bok Choi in any recipe. Use both the stem and leaves. To store, wrap Bok Choi in plastic (zip lock or grocery bag work) and wash only prior to using.
Garlic Scapes
The green pencil thin curly stem like vegetable is the flowering head of garlic, called a garlic scape. We harvest the scape for two reasons. First, by cutting off the flower of the garlic plant we are forcing it to spend its energy making nice big garlic bulbs instead of flowers. Second, they taste great! When cooked they are like the texture of a green bean, but have a mild garlicky taste. You can mince the scapes and use in place of garlic or treat them like any other vegetable, cutting into green bean size peices and adding to quiches, soups, sautés, etc. and cooking until tender. You can also have them raw — garlic scape pesto is one of our favorite spring dishes.
Grilled Garlic Scapes