CSA Newsletter – Week 1

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Greetings from Your Farmers

Welcome to our 20th CSA season, everyone! This year also happens to be our 30th year growing vegetables in the Willamette Valley, and it is an honor to continue providing quality produce to our community. Your contribution as a CSA member provided a much needed kick start to our off-season allowing us to do things such as purchase seed and prep ground. As many of you may know, it’s been a particularly rough winter and spring for farming with all the rain we’ve had, so we appreciate your support that much more. The next 21 weeks of vegetables is our way of saying thank you.

This year we have a new system for CSA where rather than having one coordinator who does everything, we have a small crew of people devoted to bringing you your box. Marina, who has been a part of our farming family her whole life, will be managing box packing and produce selection. Will, who you’ve all been communicating with already, is new to the farm this year and is the official CSA Coordinator. And I am the Farmers’ Market Coordinator and self-proclaimed Vegecator, ready to spread the love of vegetables with you all through this newsletter. I invite you all to view your CSA box not just as a box full of fresh, organic produce at a discounted rate, but also as an educational opportunity to learn about where your food comes from and easy ways to enjoy it. It’s going to be a journey through the seasons!

The CSA Newsletter is a way for me to share a little bit about the contents of each box, let you in on what’s going on at the farm, and share ideas about ways to prepare your weekly supply of veggies in a feasibly delicious way. We would also love to hear from you! Share your favorite recipes or preparation methods, pictures, or questions. If you are social media savvy, you can find us on Facebook and Instagram at @gatheringtogetherfarm and hashtag your pictures and comments with #gtfcsa so that we can find you! I will be sure to share tips, and recipes in future newsletters.

Thanks again for all your support. It’s going to be a delicious year!

– Laura Bennett
markets@gatheringtogetherfarm.com

Table of Box Contents

• 1 bunch Basil ($3.00)
• Fresh Garlic ($1.50) – Enjoy the savory wonder of garlic without having to peel it! It’s a game changer, folks.
• 5 lbs New Potatoes ($5.25) – This week’s variety is Harvest Moon, a rich, yellow-fleshed potato with purple skin. Store in a cool, dry place & don’t scrub until you’re ready to eat them.
• Kohlrabi ($1.50) – Remove skin with a knife or peeler. You can add thin slices or grated kohlrabi to salads, or cut spears to dip into hummus. Kohlrabi is also a great addition to coleslaws.
• Black Kale ($3.00) – Remove stems, slice leaves thinly and sauté with garlic and onion. Top with fried eggs for a quick, delicious, and hearty breakfast.
• 1 Sweet Onion ($1.50) – The high sugar content in these onions makes them perfect for caramelizing.
• 2 Cucumbers ($3.00) – Eat fresh like an apple or slice into salads for a nice, sweet crunch.
• 1 bunch Pearl Onion ($2.50) – These are delicious roasted or grilled and eaten whole.
• 2 heads Lettuce ($4.00)
• 1 pint Strawberries ($4.00)

Box value at the farmers’ market: $29.25

Recipes

 Roasted Potatoes & Pearl Onions

Our Eclipse pearl onions are incredibly sweet! Your CSA Coordinator Will loves them so much that he’s even been eating them raw at lunch lately. If you’re not quite that hardcore (he might be the only one) then one of the best ways to maximize their sweetness is to roast them. Mixed up with purple potatoes they will be both beautiful and delicious. There’s nothing quite like that first bite of warm, creamy, sweet onion, mixed with crispy, savory potatoes.

Ingredients

• 1.5 pounds new potatoes
• 1 bunch pearl onions, peeled
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients. Spread the mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until the potatoes and onions are golden brown and cooked through, about 40 minutes. Serve immediately or cool and store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, reheating the next day in a preheated 400 degrees F oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

Adapted from http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/potatoes-and-onions-recipe-1916966

Spring Couscous Salad

Ingredients

• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
• 1 cup uncooked couscous
• 1 head lettuce, sliced thinly
• 1 medium cucumber, halved and sliced
• 1 kohlrabi, peeled and grated
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh basil
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepperDirections

1. In a small saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Stir in couscous. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand for 5-10 minutes or until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside to cool slightly.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cucumber, kohlrabi, cheese, onion and basil. Stir in couscous.
3. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, lemon juice and seasonings. Pour over couscous mixture; toss to coat. Add more of anything to taste. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until chilled.

Adapted from http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/summer-garden-couscous-salad

My Favorite Breakfast

 Ingredients

• ¼ Sweet Onion, chopped
• 1 head Fresh Garlic, minced
• 1 bu. Black Kale, thinly sliced
• 2 eggs
• Salt & cooking oil of choice
• Your hot sauce of choice

Directions

Chop everything up, heat up some oil in a frying pan, and start onions on their own first. After a couple minutes, add in the garlic, and after another couple minutes add in the kale. Toss around for a minute or so to wilt the kale sufficiently, sprinkle with salt and plate.

In the same pan, fry up a couple eggs however you like them. When done, place on top of your garlic & greens sauté and finish with a drizzle of hot sauce. This is such an easy breakfast to make you guys!

Adapted from: my mind…