Saturday, November 22, 2008

Edible Box of Organic Goodies

My senses overwhelm me every time I pick up my CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box of goodies. My mind quickly wanders through my internal cookbook and begins calculating delicious treats for the week ahead. This week might have some unusual vegetables for some; thus, I thought I'd give you some ideas on ways to make these delectable greens work for you.

Click the picture for greater detail

Mizuna has almost a citrus flavor; so, I generally roughly chop it and toss it with either lemon or lime juice (whatever I have handy), olive oil, French Feta (different from Greek) or Goat Cheese, and cracked pepper. My taste buds are already craving this!

Dandelion Greens is similar to spinach; thus, you can do a flash saute or add it to a soup or in place of spinach or tradition greens.

Broccoli Greens, yes, the entire plant is edible and delicious. Broccoli greens taste similar to cabbage. They make a great addition to a lasagna, spaghetti sauce, or braised in chicken broth.

Beets are also completely edible. To keep them fresh avoid cutting off the leaves. Beets are fabulous roasted or boiled and then tossed in a salad with fennel and fresh herbs for a fabulous salad. Beet greens are also similar to greens or spinach and pair well with a citrus sauce or orange segments, fresh garlic, and crumbled goat cheese. Try it~you may surprise yourself and your family!

Although the remaining vegetables are familiar I will share what I plan to create with them:
Zucchini Muffins with orange zest and cranberries
Grilled potatoes with lemon zest
Caprese salad (tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella)
Fall salad (apples, peppers, lettuce, orange segments, cheddar cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil)
Carrots are my dog's, Jake & Hilly, favorite treats; so, the bulk of those gorgeous carrots are for them. It's a great dose of fiber and carotenes for them, too!

Feel free to post me a comment or email me if you would enjoy a specific recipe for any of the above treats or if you need more inspiration in your kitchen. For more great ideas check out some of my favorite web-based recipe boxes:
http://www.epicurious.com/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/
http://www.allrecipes.com/



2 comments:

Courtney said...

Hey Wendy do you know of any sort of home delivery companies here you reccomend for vegs, fruits or meats. I am just trying to simplify my life. :)

Edible Nutrition said...

Absolutely! There are 2 that I would suggest in the Virginia Beach vicinity: Mattawoman Creek Farms and New Earth Farm. Your growing season is a little more limited than San Diego, but it's great to know that this is starting to become a trend across the US. Let me know if you need any further assistance!