I am so happy that our CSA started up again! Yesterday was our first distribution of the season. We received:
1 head of green leaf lettuce
1 bunch of absolutely gorgeous scallions
a bag of sunchokes
a bunch of oregano
a quart of strawberries
Everything is organic and local – we get our vegetable shares from Green Thumb Farm out on the south fork of Long Island. Farmer Bill and the rest of the Halsey clan has been providing us with vegetables for many years now – we are starting our seventh season!
I washed and cleaned the strawberries – I expect they’ll be gone by tonight. I had them over my last ramekin of baked custard today and it was a perfect pairing. It satisfied my suspicion that this custard is an awesome base for seasonal fruit.
I am hoping to make a pesto out of the oregano, I have so much of it. I could run the dehydrator, too, but it’s awfully hot here in NYC right now, and the dehydrator blows hot air out of it. But oregano pesto intrigues me – I expect it would go great with fish, and probably good in soup. The scallions are incredible – mild but not flavorless, and with no harsh edge to them. I will most likely make carmelized green onions if I don’t eat them all in a few days.
As for the sunchokes, I’ll likely make jerusalem artichoke fritters again. I remember liking them very much.
Distribution was a joy last night, too. So many happy people, excited members new and old, and lots of beautiful kids running around (and some in strollers). We had some snacks, and some amazing lemonade made by Fresh Start, our hosts. My fellow Core members are lovely and I’m so glad to be working actively on this season again with them.
Here’s to a great CSA season! The next six months are going to be awesome.
For more photos from our first distribution for the year, you can find them in my CSA 2011 – Week 1 photoset.
