Kale!

Happy May Day! The seedlings are looking beautiful and green and ready to be transplanted into the ground. Josh has done a great job of growing this little seeds into sturdy little plants. We've also been having fun purchasing new farm equipment and supplies - including a handsome rototiller. We brought our dog to check out the farm - and she loved it. She was definitely frightened by the cows and chickens, though. I guess this little city dog is going to get a taste of the country. ;)

Only FIVE weeks until the first pick-up, which will contain all sorts of greens. I wanted to share a few ideas for your kale. Kale is a super food - it has so many nutritional benefits. And - lucky you - you'll probably find kale in your share every week of the season. :) Finding a variety of ways to use it can help keep you from getting bored of this lovely, leafy food.

Some favorite ways to prepare kale:

• hide in in a fruit smoothie
• make kale chips
• saute it with onions and add it to a lasagna or eggplant bake
• add it to a soup
• make a lemon & kale pesto
• add it to a stir fry
• kale dip

Kale Dip (serves 4)

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced

coarse salt

1 cup low fat cottage cheese

pinch red pepper flakes

1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 cups sugar snap peas

1. Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add garlic and kale and season with salt. Cook covered, stirring occasionally, until tender (3-4 min) and let cool. 

2. Transfer to a food processor. Add cottage cheese and puree until smooth. Season with pepper flakes and lemon juice. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

3. Cook peas in boiling water, until bright green and tender (1-2 min). Transfer to an ice bath, then drain and serve with the dip.

We'll continue to have lots of tips and recipes for you all season long. I truly believe that the key to having the best CSA experience is intentionally planning ways to use your vegetables. Especially if you're not accustomed to cooking, it might take a little bit of transition for you. And we understand it can be hard to find time to prepare meals. We love to cook a big batch of something and eat it for a few days. Luckily, lots of veggies do taste great raw - and roasting them in the oven is an easy way to cook them while you kick your feet up after a hard day's work. 

Have a great week!