2014 Summer Share #9

This week is your final share of the summer and the garden is sending us out with a bang! You have your work cut out for you in the kitchen this week, but it will be well worth it. Remember to store the veggies properly and wait to wash them until right before you are ready to eat them (this preserves their quality for longer).  Thanks to all of you for a glorious summer CSA season!

Share Notes:

• Arava Melon—This is a Mediterranean melon that has some similarities to both honeydew and cantaloupe. The flesh is a pale yellow to green shade. They are very sweet and fragrant. Refrigerate.
• Rocky Ford Melon— This is a small heirloom variety from Colorado. This variety is super ripe so don’t let it sit too long. Cut into it within the next day or so. When you cut into this smaller melon, it could be anywhere from a deep green shade to bright orange. Whatever the shade, they are tasty all the way down to the rind.
• Eggplant—Large shares received Italian variety and small hares received the slender Japanese variety. Try one of the several eggplant dishes from our kitchen! Store sealed in a bag in the fridge.
• Tomatoes—Our original red slicers are back for one last round. Store at room temp.
• Cherry Tomatoes—Sungolds, of course! Savor the last of these little gems! Store at room temp.
• Cucumbers—General Lee variety. They’re still awesome, even with the heat. Store sealed in a bag in the fridge.
• Bell peppers—Lovely large colorful bells for everyone. They’re great in our Green Curry. Store sealed in a bag in the fridge.
• Basil—Genovese variety. If you haven’t tried the Pesto Potato Salad, give it a whirl. Store in a glass of water at room temp.
• Hot Peppers—Jalapenos for the large shares, and Serranos for the small shares. We’ve been eating all the stuffed peppers we can handle with bacon, cream cheese and jam. Watch out! The serranos are quite hot. Store sealed in a bag in the fridge.

We’d love to hear stories and recipes of your culinary adventures this season. Send us a note or post a comment of how you’ve used your CSA share!

Large Share

Large share (clockwise from the center): Tomatoes, Genovese basil, Sungold cherry tomatoes, General Lee cucumbers, Rocky Ford melon, Italian eggplant, Serrano peppers, assorted bell peppers, and an Arava melon.

Small Share

Small share (clockwise from center): Serrano peppers, assorted bell peppers, General Lee cucumbers, Rocky Ford melon, Sungold cherry tomatoes, Genovese basil, tomatoes, Japanese eggplant, and an Arava melon.

Jessica & Justin