Simple, real, whole foods! One of our family goals this season (we write a seasonal family manifesto that I'll share more about later) was to finally join a CSA - aka "Community Supported Agriculture" group. We have talked about it for so long that it felt like we were already doing it. Except we weren't. Until this spring!
We purchased a share of a local organic farm so every other week we get a huge box packed full with organic fruits and veggies! To find a CSA farm near you, search LocalHarvest.org.
Our secondary goal with joining the CSA this spring is to USE every last bit we get from them. No rotten veggies on the counter allowed! This means we've had to think about cooking in a whole new way and actually I've found that ingredient based cooking is so much easier. Thinking, "Hmmm, I have a huge bunch of kale, what can I make with this?" has been so much fun.
Except not these. My fancy schmancy organic CSA lemons? Not going to waste! I was determined to make something special so turned to my biggest inspiration in the world of food. What would Alice Waters do?
Our secondary goal with joining the CSA this spring is to USE every last bit we get from them. No rotten veggies on the counter allowed! This means we've had to think about cooking in a whole new way and actually I've found that ingredient based cooking is so much easier. Thinking, "Hmmm, I have a huge bunch of kale, what can I make with this?" has been so much fun.
The lemons did give me pause though. I never know what the heck to do with lemons besides lemonade. Living in Southern California, we wind up with grocery bags full every summer because everyone has them in their backyards. I use them for cleaning. We make lemonade. Over and over. So lemons? Totally uninspiring.
Except not these. My fancy schmancy organic CSA lemons? Not going to waste! I was determined to make something special so turned to my biggest inspiration in the world of food. What would Alice Waters do?
Lemon curd, baby! Tonight we'll be having deliciously sweet and creamy lemon curd for dessert, thanks to The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters. I adore this book. It is my all time favorite cookbook and I've used so many recipes from it. It is a great sourcebook for ingredient based cooking and her philosophy behind cooking is really inspiring. It is a "let the ingredients to the work" philosophy so all the recipes are simple.
Another good book is From Asparagus to Zucchini which super helpful if you join a CSA and get handed a bunch of veggies you are completely unfamiliar with.
I hope this spring brings you a bountiful harvest!
Another good book is From Asparagus to Zucchini which super helpful if you join a CSA and get handed a bunch of veggies you are completely unfamiliar with.
I hope this spring brings you a bountiful harvest!