Market Basket Week One

I signed up for the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Market Basket Program from Pike Place Market again this year. I shared a basket with my friend Audrey last year, and although she decided not to sign up again this year, I signed up and got a smaller basket, called a Metro Basket (a new option this year). Last year, it was a challenge to use up all of the produce we got, so I'm hoping to do better this year. I also signed up for their Flower Share program, so I get a bunch of fresh flowers along with my fruits and veggies every week. If you've ever been to Pike Place Market and seen the beautiful flowers you can get there, you know what I am talking about. I always joke that hotel rooms in Seattle probably have more giant bouquets of fresh flowers in them than anywhere else in the world, because people can't resist bringing them back to their rooms from the Market, and at 5-10 bucks a pop for an armful of flowers, can you blame them?

So this week's basket is the first. This week's haul includes:

Asparagus - I'll roast that in the oven this very evening with sea salt and olive oil.

Mint - a GIANT bunch. I bruised a few of the leaves and aded them to a pitcher of steeping tea to make mint iced tea, but there is still a ton of mint. I think mojitos might be in order.

Red Chard - the number one candidate for not getting used. I'll try to wilt it and saute with garlic, olive oil and squeeze some lemon in it.

Oregano - not sure what to do with it. It's a large bunch. I guess I could dry it and use it but that seems kind of contrary to the point.

White onions - I could use them at some point I'm sure, even if I chop them and freeze them. I'm not a big onion fan, but I do use them when I make my own version of fried rice, with brown rice and egg beaters.

Snow Peas - they are steaming RIGHT now. I'm going to toss them with sesame oil and sesame seeds and serve them cold tonight, and probably have for lunch tomorrow.

Radishes - If I cut them into quarters and put them in a container in the fridge ready to eat, Ryan or I might actually eat them. The CSA provided a recipe for radish saute. I'm not sure I've ever eaten cooked radishes.

Rhubarb - i love rhubarb pie, but I don't have time to make one. I'm going to search for a recipe for something like a rhubarb bread or maybe a crisp of some sort.

Salad mix - always useful.

Strawberries - maybe tonight after dinner. Or, maybe I can combine them with the rhubarb for something. But it seems a shame to cook them when they are so fresh and delicious.

Compared to the larger basket last year, the quantities seem much more manageable.

Comments

[Heather]

I know this is a redicously old post. But I was wondering if you still use the market basket.

One of my clients graciously invited me at the end of the summer to go with her to to an organic pick your own farm in Farmingdale. They have everything you could possibly imagine Fruit, Veggies, honey and flowers. Sign up is in spring, and you have to donate 10 hours a year to the farm. Im just trying to decide weather it's worth it. I think its much different than you market basket, a cool idea still.