CSA - September 29 - SCVWD

What's in the Box?
Tomatoes, Melons, Zukes, Delicata Squash, Potatoes, Tomatillos, Strawberries, Peppers, Eggplant, and Rosemary. A few of you received eggs.

This weeks special gift: Salsa Verde

Melon Thieves
Once again this year, the melon patch has been struck by thieves. They took all second picking of the Rare Grover Delaney Watermelons. So, this picture is all you're going to get. It took 100 days to grow these melons. I hope that some of you have kindly saved me seed. Since I can't buy this seed, I can't replace it. Wouldn't it be a shame if this melon became extinct because of greed. Since my brother owns the farm, he won't let me put up a fence. Leo will not let me have a handgun. For some reason he thinks that angry farm women, missing melons and guns are a dangerous mix. Next year, I'm getting a goose. Nothing sets up a good racket like a goose disturbed in the middle of the night...

Farming is a stressful occupation. First there's the weather and then the pests. I have all the usual problems, gophers in the beans, beetles in the cucumbers,
diabolical dibrotica in everything they can chew, an infestation of squash bugs threatening the meager pumpkin harvest, and look to your right, some creature has taken it into their mind to show up at night and browse the sweet potatoes. And now I have the 2 legged pests back again. End of Rant. Segue the recipes.


Spaghetti Squash with Chili
1 Spaghetti Squash
1 lb ground beef or soy burger
1 onion chopped
1 garlic minced
1 Ancho & 1 Anaheim or a couple of bell peppers if you're filling puny
5-10 chopped tomatoes
1 can of pinto beans or 2 cups of already cooked homemade beans
2 t. chili powder
salt, pepper & Oregano to taste
Pepper or Regular Jack Cheese grated

To Microwave (shudder) a spaghetti squash, slice it in half (CAREFUL - the skin is tough), put the cut side down in a baking dish and add 1/4 c water. Cover and nuke for 15 minutes, Let stand another 5 minutes and without scalding yourself, remove and strand into a bowl. Keep warm while making the chili.

In a little oil, saute the onion and garlic, add the beef and brown. (If using soy burger, do not add the very end and they heat through till hot).

Flame the chilis over your gas burner and remove the skin. Chop and add to burger mixture. Chop tomatoes and add to burger mixture. Add the beans, chili powder, salt and pepper and simmer until it looks yummy, about 10 minutes if you're really hungry, or 20 if you can stand to wait. Plate up the Spaghetti Squash, spoon chili over top, garnish with cheese.

Salsa Verde Casserole
2 cups leftover cooked pasta
1 jar Salsa Verde
1 sack of cherry tomatoes/halved
1 onion chopped
1 garlic chopped
2-3 bell peppers chopped
rosemary
1 t. chili powder
1 t. cumin
salt & pepper
1 cup of Mozzarella
1 cup of Pepper Jack cheese or regular Jack cheese
2 cups left over chicken (if desired) or shrimp.

Saute the onion, garlic and bell peppers, add the cherry tomatoes and spices and meat. Set aside. Spray the bottom of a LOAF pan with non-stick spray and put a little of the meat mixture in the bottom (about 1/4). Layer pasta and Mozzarella cheese. Repeat until the loaf pan is almost full. Pour the salsa over the top of the whole mess and top with Pepper Jack. Bake 350 degrees, 20 minutes. I have added leftover corn, hard boiled eggs, ricotta, olives and it's all good.

Have a nice week. Remember, next week begins October and we go to every other week. There will be box next week, except there will be no melons. Those of you sharing a box, will both get one next week! Hey, so don't forget to return your boxes!