Week two of Hollow Pumpkin's C.S.A. distribution went well. We are getting our rhythm down and our members are coming with smiling faces. I finally was able to meet some of the members who are new and could not make our opening gathering. All I can say is - we have a great membership this year. I have to admit I say that every year because it seems to be true each year we do the C.S.A.This week we included: a mix of summer squash, some beautiful beets, romaine lettuce, green onions, basil and dill as well as a small portion of snap peas.
Some members wanted to know what the yellow "Flying saucer" looking Squash was. Well, it is called Patty Pan squash and it is a summer squash and can be cooked just like Zucchini or the yellow summer squash. Steve and I are grillers. We love to marinate the squash and grill it outside over a fire. The patty pans are exceptional grilled on the
open fire. The patty pan is
my favorite of the summer squash. If you did not get a patty pan mixed in with your bag, do not worry. Summer squash season has just begun and you will see the patty pans a few more times. Everyone will get a chance to try them if you have not already done so.
When the basil arrives can pesto be too far? There are so many ways to make pesto. I was told that pesto really means garlic....in other words as long as garlic is in it the sky is the limit. For vegans, tofu is used instead of Parmesan cheese. Here, on Hollow Pumpkin Farm we like to use a mixture of Asiago and Parmesan. We use cashews instead of walnuts and as a substitute for the way too expensive pine nut. Some folks put sun dried tomatoes into it.... What ever your heart desires pesto is always soooooo good. I will put up a pesto recipe on the recipe page very soon, so stay tuned.
A very important note to all of our members: The Neighborhood Co-op Grocery has graciously allowed us to use their cooler. Some of our members have a special arrangement with Hollow Pumpkin C.S.A. to pick their produce up on a non-distribution day because of work conflicts etc.... We want to remind those folks who have that arrangement with us to PLEASE ask a produce clerk to get your share bag for you. DO NOT walk into the cooler yourself. It is a privilege to be able to use the cooler and the clerks may not know who you are. It is an understandable policy for any retail establishment to not allow customers to enter their storage areas etc.... for obvious reasons. Please exercise common courtesy.
What's ahead? Very soon we will have cucumbers, garlic, onions, cilantro, parsley and potatoes which we are waiting for them to size a little more.
We are watching our broccoli very closely. Once again, Steve planted the
broccoli, which likes cooler weather, for the spring. However, due to all the early rain and lack of sun, the broccoli grew way too slow. Now it looks promising.....but, we are in for hot, hot weather which the broccoli does not like. We will keep you tuned into the broccoli saga.
The peppers are growing and the tomatoes are setting. Steve did plant corn again this year. Our Members who were with us last
year may remember that our corn tasseled but did not make ears. All we could assume about that was it was too hot and dry,
for that had never happened to farmer Steve before. So we hope for better luck this season.
The beets are so pretty this year. They are also so very tasty. You can roast them, boil them, make a cold summer soup (borscht) out of them. I hope our members will try one if not both of the recipes we have printed. There is a non-vegetarian recipe on the recipe page of the blog.
Steve will be at the Co-op for the third distribution Wednesday June 22th. I am on the road again. The newsletters will go out either Sunday or Monday prior to distribution. The newsletter for the distribution on Wednesday June 29th will go out on the morning of distribution. We hope our members are enjoying their shares. As usual, Steve and I always welcome questions, suggestions and constructive comments so please feel free to contact us if the mood should strike.
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