September 25 CSA

We welcome a new member to the family!  Aaron's sister Jeanine had a baby girl this week named Cana Joy.
 Fall has officially arrived.  The crickets are singing during the day.  A few of our cows have had late calves and its really nice to see the little ones in their red fur coats navigating the pastures in between the purple iron weed and thistle flowers.  We will plant next years' strawberries tomorrow and then begin the sweet potato harvest.  We are busily working to stay ahead of the newest flush of weeds after Saturdays' rain. 

Addiebelle testing the beets for sweetness.

small boxes this week:  1 lb. patty pan squash, 1/2 lb. yellow wax beans, 1/2 lb. spinach, 1 head of romaine, 1 daikon radish, 1 head of garlic, 1 red onion, 1 lb. potatoes.
regular boxes this week:  1 lb. patty pan squash, 1 lb. yellow wax beans, 1 lb. spinach, 1 head romaine, 1 daikon radish, 2 heads of garlic, 2 red onions, 1 lb. potatoes, 1 bunch of beets, 1 head of curly endive, 2 bok choy.

In the small boxes the beans and spinach are in a bag together.  In the regular boxes the endive and bok choy are together.  Daikon radish is a strong flavored radish.  I like to shred it and toss it with rice vinegar and salt and let it pickle for an hour or so and eat it as a side or add it to cabbage and or carrot slaw.  There is a Chinese proverb that says: "Eating pungent radish and drinking hot tea, let the starved doctors beg on their knees."  They do have anti-oxidants in them and are low in calories.

I made a good soup this weekend of:

4 patty pan squash, cut in chunks
3 potatoes, cut in chunks
3 stalks of celery
2 onions, quartered
salt and pepper and a pinch of mace or nutmeg
fresh thyme sprig
1. combine all ingredients in a pot and cover with water or stock
2. bring to a boil and let simmer until everything is soft enough to puree
3. let cool a little and puree; adding a little cream if you like
4. return to the pot and re-heat
5. serve as is or add some sour cream and cayenne powder to each bowl

This is probably the last summer squash of the year and definately the last beans.  Everyone will get carrots  and bok choy next week.