Week #8 - 2015 FFF CSA - What's in the Box!

This week our shareholders will discover three new treats in their boxes. Ground cherries, tomatillos and eggplants join their usual fare during Week #8 of our CSA veggie box share. 

These three items may or may not be familiar to you... But here is a bit about each one, just in case!

Tomatillos, otherwise known as the Mexican tomato are indeed part of the same nightshade family as tomatoes but have a very distinct taste and look. They grow within a papery husk that should be removed before eating. 

Tomatillos are delicious added to your regular tomato salsa or guacamole. They are the main ingredient in salsa verde (essentially green salsa) used in many recipes for Mexican food. Tomatillos are particularly good paired with pork. 

The best way to store tomatillos are in a brown paper bag in the refrigerator (leave husks on).

Ground cherries as you may guess from the look of them, are related to tomatillos (same papery husk) but have a very different taste. Often mistaken for gooseberries, these little gems taste both sweet and sour at the same time! They are quite indescribable! To eat, remove paper husk and pop them in your mouth. This week we've given everyone a little sample bag to try! As the season moves forward you will get more with which you could make jam or chutney... if they last that long! 

Ground cherries are called thus as you harvest them once they fall to the ground from low bushes. 

Finally, we have beautiful eggplants ready to go. Eggplants or aubergine are also a member of the nightshade family and is related to both the tomato and the potato! 

Besides being a beautiful colour, it is lovely roasted with some garlic and olive oil, and is the main ingredient in such dishes as baba ghanouj, moussaka and ratatouille! We discovered a great recipe to use up our eggplant and zucchini last year called Eggplant & Zucchini Parmesan. 

So ... What's in the Box this week?

• Lettuce (mixed greens in bag)
• Zucchini
• Peas or Beans (half shares only)
• Broccoli or Cauliflower (full shares only)
• Potatoes
• Peppers (sweet and spicy)
• Beets
• Onions
• Tomatoes
• Ground Cherries New this week!
• Tomatillos New this week!
•  Pattypan squash
• Cucumber
• Swiss Chard
• Kale
• Eggplant New this week!

Notes to our CSA Share holders: 

We pick the vegetables within 24 hours of the box being delivered. We do rinse the produce but it would be important to wash all vegetables before you eat them. Keeping the herbs (ends) in a cup of clean water will keep them fresh longer.

Please return your empty box along with all re-usable containers (pails, cups, bags etc) so that we can reuse them all over again. 

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Week #8 - 2014 FFF CSA - What's in the Box - Do you want to Salsa?

Well the rain finally came and a big sigh of relief was felt by all things green (or pale yellow!). And with more rain in the forecast it looks like we will be have some ongoing moisture to ease some of the near drought conditions and our irrigation responsibilities. 

All our CSA shareholders will enjoy a large bag of tomatoes this week, so I thought a focus on what you can do with tomatoes would be appreciated. 

Tomatoes are a fruit even though many people think of them as a veggie. They belong to the nightshade family along with potatoes, egg plants, tomatillos, and ground cherries. The tomato is a very versatile item that can be used in drinks, sauces, salsas, salad or of course simply raw and unadorned! 

My favorite thing (after simply popping them in my mouth while still in the garden!) is to make fresh salsa - no need to cook or can, this is very easy when the ingredients are in good supply. 

Simply cut/dice fresh tomatoes, add chopped garlic and onion along with lime juice and/or a little bit of apple cider vinegar. Add cumin, minced hot peppers to your taste preference and plenty of fresh cilantro and you have a wonderful refreshing explosion in your mouth. For those of you who want a recipe to follow (I admit I never do...) I've linked to one here that will give you some ideas of ratios and amounts. Enjoy!

So... What's in the Box this week?

• Swiss Chard
• Zucchini - full shares only
• Lettuce
• Cucumber
• Tomatoes
• Beets
• Broccoli
• Turnip
• Beans - full shares only
• Kale
• Hot Peppers
• Onion
• Potatoes
• Herbs - this week besides chives and oregano, I gave everyone lots of cilantro so that you can use it for your fresh salsa - if you choose.

We pick the vegetables within 24 hours of the box being delivered. We do rinse the produce but it would be prudent to wash all vegetables when you get them home. Keeping the herbs (ends) in a cup of clean water will keep them fresh longer.

Please return your empty box along with all re-usable containers (ice cream pails, plastic containers, etc) so that we can reuse them all over again. 

Follow us on Facebook or on Twitter at @FenezFollies