Grasshoppers Pickup Number 21

This week's basket contained:

• 2 hydroponic tomatoes
• 1 small head Bibb lettuce
• 3 sweet potatoes
• 1 bunch sage
• 1 bunch kale
• 1 jar pumpkin butter

The tomatoes and lettuce will go into a salad mix I'll make this weekend. The sweet potatoes--I'm not sure. Probably baked or cooked as oven fries, but I think I'll use the largest one to make a sweet potato pie.

The fresh sage could be problematic. Most recipes I've seen that call for fresh sage use only 1 or 2 tablespoons. I did find a recipe for a spread that included cream cheese and lots of fresh sage. It also called for frozen lemonade (yuck!), so I'll have to modify it a bit. With the remaining sage, I might try a recipe for sage mashed potatoes that also calls for onion and plain yogurt.

I'll cook the kale with pork and a diced turnip. I have to make cornbread to go with!

I'm not a big fan of things like pumpkin butter. Having said that, I'll take it to work along with a package of English muffins (we have a toaster). I get pretty hungry in the late afternoon so this will make a very welcome snack.

Grasshoppers Pickup Number 20

This week's basket contained:

• 5 hydroponic tomatoes
• 1 small head red-leaf lettuce
• 1 large bunch basil
• 1 small bag baby carrots
• 1 jar mild salsa
• 3 rib eye steaks

The produce content of this week's basket was a little skinny compared to previous baskets. That's okay. This is the first year that Grasshopper's is doing winter produce. And getting 5 nice tomatoes pretty much makes up for any volume shortcomings.

The tomatoes, lettuce, and carrots will go into a salad. I'll be adding Romaine lettuce, radishes, a cucumber, and fresh mushrooms.

I'll use the basil in a spinach-and-basil pesto.

Having a jar of locally-made salsa puts me in the mind of making some Mexican food. Next weekend perhaps.

The rib eye steaks go into the freezer. I seriously have to make an effort to make meals that use more meat. In that spirit I plan on using a CSA chicken to make a curry this Saturday. I'm also planning on using some CSA bratwurst for a few simple dinners.

FOOD: It's what's for dinner.

Wheat Berry-Brown Rice Pilaf

This is an experimental dish that I plan on making tonight as an accompaniment to roast brisket. The wheat berries are from my CSA, Grasshopper Distributions.

Ingredients

• 5 c. water or chicken broth
• 1 c.wheat berries
• 1 c. brown rice
• 3 t. butter
• 1/2 green pepper, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1/8 t. salt
• Pepper to taste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 t. thyme
• 2 t. dried parsley
• 8 oz. can mushroom stems and pieces

Procedure

1. Bring water to a boil in a medium sauce pan.
   
2. Add wheat berries, reduce heat to a slow simmer, cover and cook for 1 hour.
   
3. Add brown rice and cook for 30 minutes.
   
4. During this time, melt butter in a skillet. Saute vegetables until translucent.
   
5. Add vegetables, herbs, spices, and mushrooms to rice and wheat berries. Cover and cook an additional 30 minutes or until grains are tender.
   

Dill Dip

I made this as a dip for Buffalo Wings, but it would work well with crackers or chips.

Ingredients

• 1 c. mayonnaise
• 1 c. sour cream
• 4 T. minced sweet onion
• 1/2 t. salt
• 3 T. fresh dill weed, chopped, or 1 T. dried dill weed

Procedure

1. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2. Transfer to a sealable container and refrigerate 4+ hours to allow flavors to blend.

Sweet Onions With Cheese

I made this last night and spooned some over cornbread that I had on-hand. This was a great main course, but minus the cornbread it would serve well as a side dish.

Ingredients

• 2 sweet onions (softball-sized)
• 1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
• 3 T. butter
• 3 T. flour
• 1-1/2 c. milk
• 1 T. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 t. salt
• Black pepper to taste

Procedure

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
2. Peel and coarsely dice onions.
3. Slightly pre-cook onions in a microwave at high for 4 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, melt butter over medium-low heat in a sauce pan.
5. When butter has melted, add flour and whisk to mix thoroughly.
6. Continue to heat, whisking frequently, until the roux is slightly browned.
7. Add milk, a little at a time, whisking and heating until thickened in between additions.
8. After all the milk has been added, remove the sauce pan from the burner. Add salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
9. Arrange onions and cheese in layers in a greased 2 qt. casserole dish.
10. Pour the sauce over the onions and bake for 50 minutes.

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Yield: 4 servings

Grasshoppers Pickup Number 19

This week's basket contained:

• 4 chicken wings
• 4 bratwurst
• 2 turnips
• 5 hydroponic tomatoes
• 1 bag of baby carrots
• Salad greens
• 3/4 lb. wheat berries

Chicken wings give me the chance to make a really fun dish. I'm thinking hot Indian spices and chips on the side. We'll see. The bratwurst will go in buns... duh.

These are real baby carrots--not massive carrots carved up to look like skinless baby carrots. I'm considering cooking diced turnips and baby carrots with butter and a little sugar as a side dish. (I have a variety of meats in my freezer that I need to use.)

The tomatoes would be good sliced and augmented with a little mayonnaise and freshly cracked black pepper.

The salad greens will be mixed in with store-bought veggies to make a bag of salad.

But, um, wheat berries? I thought this was brown rice until I read the Grasshoppers newsletter that declared it to be wheat berries. Nothing to say but "research is required".

Valentine's Day Locavore

I just have to share these Valentine's Day specials from my CSA, Grasshopper Distributions. This is like so fucking cool.

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 Grasshoppers now has Locavore Meals designed for a Romantic Evening for Two.

The Locavore Italian (Ravioli) Meal for $45.00 comes complete with:

1 Blue Dog Baguette

1 10oz. JD Country Butter

1 bottle Rattlesnake Farms Garlic Salt

1 head Bibb Lettuce

1 lb. Tomatoes

1 bottle Basilicata Salad Dressing

1 4oz. log Plain Capriole Goat Cheese

1 pk. Lotsa Pasta Butternut Squash Ravioli

Plus, 1 Solid Chocolate Love Puzzle from Stellar Sweets

The Locavore Italian (Pesto) Meal for $47.50 comes complete with:

1 Blue Dog Baguette

1 10oz. JD Country Butter

1 bottle Rattlesnake Farms Garlic Salt

1 head Bibb Lettuce

1 lb. Tomatoes

1 bottle Basilicata Salad Dressing

1 4oz. log Plain Capriole Goat Cheese

1 pk. Lotsa Pasta Ziti

1 pt. Basil Pesto

Plus, 1 Solid Chocolate Love Puzzle from Stellar Sweets