People & Planet CSA - May 31, 2012

Edible Lupins & Sunflowers

What's in the box

Early Tropea Rosa Onions, very early Garlic from Poland,  Scotland Leeks,  Butter Lettuce,  Nutribud Broccoli & Calabrese Broccoli,  Violetto Cauliflower, Snow and Snap Peas,  Paris Carrots, Mara des Bois Strawberries, Rhubarb (finally!)  and flowers.

And this week's special gift:  Strawberry Jam (I made it last night, but dated it June so that you didn't throw it out prematurely!)

What to do with Rhubarb
Combine the spring rhubarb with sugar and water to make a pretty pink sugar syrup. After that the possibilities are endless.

Violetto Cauliflower

Rhubarb Syrup

Makes 2 cups

4 cups chopped rhubarb

1 cup water 

1 cup sugar

Combine and bring to a simmer in a medium pot over medium heat. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, strain through a fine mesh sieve, and cool before using.

*Add a knob of ginger or a third of a vanilla bean to ramp up the flavour.

Rhubarb Iced Tea

Makes 4-5 cups

2 cups rhubarb syrup

2-3 cups brewed, cooled iced tea

Combine the syrup and the tea. Add more or less tea depending on how sweet you like your iced tea. Fill a glass with ice and serve.  Naturally this also makes a great cocktail for a late Saturday BBQ.

Garlic!

Violetto Cauliflower

We had it last night for dinner, lightly steamed with butter and found it to be sweet and nutty!

Leeks

The sudden hot weather, yes it's 93 here today has brought the leeks on very very suddenly.  I picked so many it looks like we're going to have dried leeks again this year.  I know several of you have been waiting for them, but I love them so fresh that I'm a bit disappointed.

Harvesting Garlic

The garlic harvest continues and it looks like we will have some nice storage garlic.  I'll make sure that I give out all the early garlic first the stuff I don't think will keep.  I'm even working on a spice blend of dried garlic, chilis and onions, carrots and parsnips that I think will go great in soup.

On the farm

We have completed planting the peppers and eggplant, most of the early squashes and lots of beans.  The weather is now ready to plant melons, so we'll continue on with that over the weekend.  We've cleaned out 4 more beds by harvesting early potatoes which you should see in the first boxes of June.  Unfortunately this heat is making the lettuce bolt, so I'll have to begin again.  Leo's got a great shady bed almost ready for me by the asparagus (which is now 6' tall! and ferny).

We are not ready to go every week yet,  I'm waiting for a few more things!  See you June 14!

Have a great week.