I’ve been getting a farm share from Farmer Dave for about sixteen years now. Once a week, I get a box of veggies and a box of fruits. (I used to get two of fruits until that memorable year when the watermelons went gangbusters and I ended up with ten of them….) But 22 weeks of figuring out what to do with the beets can wear down the spirit, and I was constantly feeling guilty about not using everything. (I hate beets.) So this year I decided to stop thinking of it as Nutrition and Healthy Eating and instead think of my farm share as a Hobby. So here’s how I think of it: you get points for using something. You get more points for a novel use of something. There are no deductions for not using something. So it’s only upside, no downside.
I figured I’d walk you through today’s fun-fun farmshare.
First, I cleaned out the fridge from all leftovers. This is a critical part of farm shares: admitting prior defeats. Not too bad this week – two cucumbers, a zucchini and some garlic scapes.
Used:
Apricot: I had a lot of apricots, and thought about making apricot jam. But I didn’t have QUITE enough, and apricot jam has a tendency to crystallize. So I decided to try something new and dehydrate them for dried apricots (I have some great recipes for dried apricots and also like to eat them.) We’ll see how that turns out. I’ve never done it before.
Plums: I had JUST enough plums (with the ones I saved from last week) to attempt a jam. Plum jam is one of my absolute favorites, and many of the last years weather has taken out our stone fruit so I haven’t had it. It’s definitely a mixed plum, but I’ll take it!
Have a Plan:
Garlic scapes: in a glass of water. They may end up in hummus or in pesto. But that’s a decision for another day.
Basil and thai basil: Imma gonna get me some sourdough and make some bruschetta. I also just ordered some pine nuts so I can make pesto. Maybe garlic scape and thai basil pesto.
Tomato: Going onto the bruschetta too
Kale: I probably will make soup – ribollata – with it sometime this week
Green pepper: gonna make chili tomorrow
Corn: half into the chili, half into the freezer for chili later in the year
Blueberries: blueberry zucchini cupcakes with lemon buttercream frosting
Zucchini: see above
Cucumber: to be eaten with the hummus I’ll make with the ‘scapes
Summer Squash: I often just boil it and add butter and serve it for dinner, and then I’m the only person who eats any of it. But I do like summer squash.
Peaches: I’d pretend I was going to make a peach pie, but honestly I just love eating the peaches over the sink with the juices dripping down my arms. If you can do that, you should do that.
Canteloupe: I dropped it off at my friend’s house, along with last week’s hot peppers.
Not Sure
Onions: I don’t have a very well formed plan. Generally these aren’t very urgent. I was toying with a french onion soup (except Adam can’t do cheese and that’s important). Maybe I’ll caramelize them and add them to french dip sandwiches. A few of them can go into the chili and ribolatta. But I’m not stressed about finding uses for onions.
Gem Squash: Absolutely no idea. This will likely end life in the compost bin. Let’s be honest.
Eggplant: One eggplant is the worst amount of eggplant. I pretend I might make moussaka, but if I’m making chili and ribolatta I’m NOT making moussaka too. And I’d need like two more eggplants for that.
What do you have in your life that feels like a burden but could be a game instead?
My Truant Pen 