Saturday, September 12, 2009

Saturday Night Supper

"My Goodness, we’ve become locavores!  She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed wants me to live just long enough for her to collect my pension."
Joanne's supper tonight was fantastic. Warm Butternut squash soup, accompanied with a spicy swiss chard, a nice dry Chardonnay and crusty Pasta Plus bread . 

This year we became localvores.  We joined the Gorman Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group.  We have been getting fresh, organically grown vegetables every Thursday from Dave and Lydia Liker, the farm's proprietors. 

We split a full share with our neighbors Juanita and Michael Malone.  A split share works out nicely.  There is plenty to feed two families.  Splitting a full share also gives you a chance to trade those fruits and vegetables to satisfy family tastes.

Joanne's voice almost beams every Thursday when she calls me at work to describe the week's produce.  We have loved everything but the beets.  I'm happy to give away beets, call me. 

I'm far from a tree hugger.  My kids have even accused me of wanting to "Pave The Bay".  So I did not think that 18 weeks worth of fresh vegetables that are grown a couple of miles from my home would be either worth it or fun.  But I gotta admit it has been.  It is fun to see what Dave has grown for us.  Each week has become an adventure in eating and community building.

The Liker's CSA shares sell out quickly.  Contact the Liker's to get on the CSA list for next year.

A full week's CSA share from Dave Liker's farm in August 2009.
Fresh basil pesto with tomato and mozzarella crostini.  Prosciutto wrapped around fresh melon slices.  Box-o-Chianti to make it all worthwhile.
Rick's Basil Pesto
2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano cheese
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1T of balsamic vinegar

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Ahh...I only wish I had the time, energy, and culinary skills to look at a new week's worth of veggies every week and figure out what to do w/ them! We'll stick w/ spinach, broccoli and frozen stir-fry packages for now!

Rick Wilson said...

Sue: No worries, when our kids were the ages of yours, we did too. Joanne did not have the energy to get the kids to touch a vegetable. When my daughter was 8, she would not be seen in the same room as a fresh vegetable. Today, living on her own, she has become a flax-seed eating vegetarian. Having adult children is great, once you can stop making college payments. Although they still will drink all of your wine.

Rick Wilson said...

BTW: Apologies for typing architecture instead of agriculture in the original email and posting. She-who-must-be-obeyed came upstairs after reading the original and said, "from now on, you must let me proof these things, you putz!" The correction has been made. Mea maxima culpa, which is latin for the "the putz regrets the error."

Marmalarma said...

I think you've convinced Randy and me to split a share with someone next growing season! Next time we gather, YOU are in charge of the basil pesto!

Rick Wilson said...

Heidi: Pesto it is! But Randy needs to bring a few liters of his homemade Sangria. It is the only thing that will quiet down she-who-must-be-obeyed for more than a few hours.

Jhanna said...

I split mine 3 ways and there is still plenty to go around! BTW-the first week that we got basil and I started to put everything in the food processor to make pesto..I realized that I had no cheese so I used red onion. Totally different taste but delicious all the same.