Saturday, August 08, 2009

CSA Adventure, Week 13

Nothing too exciting to report this week. I've got a couple of new recipes on deck to use the Chinese cabbage we've been getting. Sliced up the tomato this morning and it was so red and fragrant and tasted great in my omelet. Still not loving the cukes :) I wish we could trade them for zucchini--I actually had to *buy* zucchini, which I've never done before, because I wanted to make zucchini bread this week.

I'm actually more excited this week about what I've been getting from the Nashville Farmers Market. I sure wish we lived closer to that--I'd forego the CSA altogether and be shopping there very frequently! Although I don't know what, if anything, there is organic--I doubt much--and it *is* nice to just lightly rinse a tomato from our CSA and not have to wonder what pesticides are on there or whether they're really coming off as I wash it.

Anyway, we were at the farmers market on Monday and got some peaches that were to DIE for...good enough that I stopped again yesterday (since I had to drive through Nashville anyway) and got about two dozen more :) I also got some fresh tomatoes for last night's bruschetta chicken (FYI, we put about three times as much topping on the chicken as that picture shows!). YUM. That meal is one of my favorites anytime, but it's fabulous with fresh, flavorful tomatoes.

This week's bounty:
  • two bunches Chinese cabbage
  • tomatoes: one small, four small Roma, two cherry, four grape
  • two regular cucumbers
  • two lemon cucumbers
  • about 1/2 pound purple beans
  • about 3/4 pound green beans
  • banana, jalapeno and cayenne peppers
  • sage
  • chives
  • oregano
  • five farm-fresh eggs
  • grass-fed sirloin tip roast

6 comments:

Shannon said...

Do you like feta? tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and feta with italian dressing is yummy. It's about the only way I like cucumbers.

Unknown said...

Mmmmm! Roast!!

zz said...

This doesn't sound like nearly enough produce for mid-August, I'm sorry. I'd guess you would've saved money at the grocery store or farmer's market.

Amy said...

Zo, to answer your question from last week...no, I haven't expressed disappointment to the farmer. I know they are aware that there has been at least one person disappointed...because the friend of mine who told me about this CSA actually dropped out at the end of June because she wasn't satisfied with how much she was getting for her money. I haven't said anything partly because I just don't know what to say or how to word it. How would you handle it?

Amy said...

oh, and as far as saving money...the farmer's market is 45 minutes away, so not super convenient/practical...and the produce is all organically grown, so better quality than what you get at the grocery store. I was/am prepared and willing to pay more for quality, locally grown, organic produce...but I'm still disappointed with the amount we're getting.

Zoanna said...

How would I handle it? You're asking ME? I would stew about it for weeks, and when I'd had enough of internalizing it w/o results, I would go to the farmer when there's no one else around (don't want to embarrass him/her) and say, "I have to tell ya, I know you're new at this, and so are we, but the amount of food we were expecting for our money just really hasn't been measured up. We've only had x number of tomatoes, cukes," etc and a lot of filler. I want to support you but I don't think we've gotten a fair end of the bargain." Now, if there was never X number of anything promised, you don't have a hard and fast case, but I would think the farmers would offer you a partial refund.

Aren't there any roadside stands aroudn where you could inquire whether they use pesticides or not? Somehow you have to show your CSA their competition as well as your sincere desire to support their efforts if they're willing to be fair w/ you.