CSA Week 1

Summer has arrived, which means it's time for the CSA. We've had a lot of cooler, wetter weather this year, which is good for some crops (lettuce, spinach) and not so good for others (strawberries.) We were both very excited for the season to start, as we really enjoy the fun of getting a mystery box of ingredients and then planning meals around them. It forces some variety and makes us try recipes that we pulled out just in case we ever got [insert strange produce here].

Rhubarb will be used for a lovely lentil soup. Any extra will either be frozen or turned into a relish with onions for port tenderloin, depending on how much remains.

I suspect that this season, our nemesis might be lettuce. The weather has apparently been very good to it, as we got two huge heads. We will continue to get it for several weeks, and there are very few lettuce sinks -- It's salad or nothing. We are going to try some homemade dressings this year to help take the edge off.

Despite the claim that strawberries don't like this weather, we got tons of them. Some were actually a little under ripe, but mostly they were delicious. Hopefully we keep getting these larger containers as they get on towards the height of the season.

Green garlic will get subbed for regular garlic, as is tradition in these parts.

Spinach is heading for a pasta bake, (along with some of the green garlic.)

Mint means mojitos.

Mushrooms are another item that is a bit hard to use up. We like them a lot, but we will be getting a full carton every week for several weeks. This particular batch is heading for salads and a stir fry.

Asparagus is, per usual, getting roasted.