Greetings CSA Members,

This week I have plans to fill this CSA Memo with recipes and not stories. However, I was given a great quotation with which I will leave you as food for thought. I hope you have a lovely and warm week. I know that our crew is delighted to have fingers that actually function as they bag the vegetables for you!

Take good care - Justine

World Food Day - Organic Is the Answer to Food Security

"Organic agriculture puts the needs of rural people and the sustainable use of natural resources at the centre of the farming system. Locally adapted technologies create employment opportunities and income. Low external inputs minimize risk of indebtedness and intoxication of the environment. It increases harvests through practices that favor the optimization of biological processes and local resources over expensive, toxic and climate damaging agro-chemicals...in response to a frequently asked question: Yes, the world can be fed by the worldwide adoption of Organic agriculture. The slightly lower yields of Organic agriculture in favorable, temperate zones are compensated with approximately 10-20% higher yields in difficult environments such as arid areas."

-International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements World Food Day, October 12, 2009

This week in your share, you will most likely receive: Lettuce, Shallots, Butternut Squash, Braising Greens, Bunched Turnips or Potatoes, A Bag of Beets, Carrots, and Radish, Sage, and Sweet Potatoes..


Baked Butternut Squash Fluff

Cut squash in half longways and scoop out seeds (you can roast these w/ salt, pepper and cayenne). Roast in the oven until soft, let cool slightly and scoop out the meat into a bowl. Add one or two eggs (depending on how much egg you like), some milk (not too much), a touch of ground/grated ginger, cinnamon and honey (2 T). Mix with a hand mixer to "fluff", spread in a small (no bigger than 9x13) baking dish and top with walnuts and a touch of brown sugar (for a nice crunch). Bake until nuts begin to brown. You can also add grated coconut to the topping - yum.

Radish Butter
1 bunch radishes
1/4 softened butter
Salt, to taste
Grate radishes and stir into softened butter.

This is delicious spread on bread and eaten as is, or be adventurous with other toppings.

Baby White Turnip Salad With Toasted Pecans And Bacon

4 small white turnips with their greens attached
1/4 c. pecan halves or pieces
3 oz. bacon
2-4 scallions, sliced on the bias
Salt and pepper, to taste
1-2 Tbsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1-2 Tbsp. olive oil

1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Remove the greens from the turnips. Tear the leaves with your hands into medium to large pieces and set aside.
3. Slice turnips as thin as possible (use a mandoline if you have one). Put into a bowl of iced water.
4. Toast the pecans in the oven just until they start to brown. Remove from the oven and set aside.
5. In a non-stick pan, sauté the bacon until crunchy on the outside. Remove from the pan and set aside, reserving the fat.
6. Prepare a simple vinaigrette: combine vinegar with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Slowly drizzle in about 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil. Set aside.
7. Heat the bacon fat in the same pan. Once hot, add the scallions and sauté until tender. Add greens to the pan, season with salt and just a splash of balsamic vinegar and cook until they are wilted.
8. Remove the sliced turnips from the iced water bath; dry them with a kitchen towel and toss with the vinaigrette.
9. Arrange the turnip slices and their greens in a mound and sprinkle bacon and pecans on top.

Sweet Potatoes, Apples, and Braising Greens

3-4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut lengthwise into quarters, then cut crosswise into 1/8-inch slices
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus 3 tablespoons melted
1 tablespoon fine sea salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
3 medium baking apples, such as Northern Spy or Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and cut into quarters
6 cups loosely packed braising greens, stems removed and torn into 2-inch strips
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh parsley leaves, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 400°F.

On foil-lined baking sheet, toss potato slices with 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Bake until cooked through and slightly caramelized, about 20 minutes. Keep warm.

In heavy medium skillet over moderate heat, melt 3 tablespoons butter. Add apples and sauté until tender and golden brown, about 15 minutes. Keep warm.

In heavy large pot over moderate heat, combine remaining 2 tablespoons butter and 3 tablespoons water. Add greens and sauté, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 5 minutes. Lower heat to moderately low and add sweet potatoes and apples. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until warmed through, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in parsley, remaining 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Serve hot.

Carrot Cake with Maple-Cream Cheese Icing

(Bon Appétit | September 1999)

Cake

2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups canola oil
4 large eggs
3 cups grated peeled carrots
1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons minced peeled ginger

Icing

10 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
12 walnut halves (for garnish) – Arrange walnut halves around the top edge of the cake.

For cake:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper. Butter and flour paper; tap out excess flour. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in medium bowl to blend. Whisk sugar and oil in large bowl until well blended. Whisk in eggs 1 at a time. Add flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in carrots, walnuts and ginger. Divide batter between prepared pans.

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 15 minutes. Turn out onto racks. Peel off waxed paper; cool cakes completely.

For icing:

Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat at low speed until well blended. Beat in maple syrup. Chill until just firm enough to spread, 30 minutes.

Butternut Squash with Shallots and Sage

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 shallots, halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices (3/4 cup)
1 (1 3/4-lb) butternut squash, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and
cut into 1/2-inch cubes (4 cups)
1/2 cup chicken broth or water
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook shallots and squash, stirring, until shallots are softened, about 5 minutes.

Add broth, brown sugar, sage, and salt, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until squash is tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar, pepper, and salt to taste.