Box 5

So! Whoever stomped the rain dance that other week when it was so hot and sunny- I’m sure they had good intentions, but they might have done it a bit too well. Buckets of rain (ten thousand mighty pails!) poured over the fields these past few days, washing away any obligation to irrigate and washing in a whole assortment of interesting new insects and even toads. We may be fortunate with the timing of such weather- with a potent heat wave coming our way this weekend our plants will have all the water they need to take advantage of it.

Apropo to hot times by the way, we’re excited to announce that this week’s boxes have summer squash! The first of the real hot season crops to come in, the arrival of zucchini, patty pans, and yellow crooknecks heralds in the season of plenty (delicious plenty, we’re just at the tip of!). Won’t be too long now before you start discovering tomatoes in your boxes. But enough about the future. Whadda we got this week?

Full Share:

Broccoli or Cabbage

Beets

Summer squash (patty pan, yellow crookneck, zucchini)

Cucumber

Cilantro

Shallots

Snap or Snow Peas

Fennel

Spicy Salad Mix

Half Share:

Broccoli or Cabbage

Beets

Summer squash

Shallots

Cilantro

Snap or Snow Peas

Fennel

Spicy Salad Mix

A couple of notes about the veggies- Both the yellow crooknecks and patty pans  (the patty pans are the ones shaped like a UFO) can be used as you would zucchini- cooked or raw. All three varieties of summer squash (including the zucchini) are best stored in a dry, cool place that is not your fridge. Cucumbers, however, are best kept loose in the fridge. If you aren’t going to eat the fennel right away, it’s best to separate the bulb from the leaves, and keep them individually in bags in the fridge. Or, you can hang the greens to dry and use them later in tea or as an herb.  You will either have snow or snap peas in your box this week, how can you tell the difference?  Snow peas have a flat shell with individual pea bulges, snap are little fat guys all the way around with a smooth, uniform shell.  So whats the actual difference between snap and snow?  Snow is often used for stir frying and snap are usually eaten fresh.  Both are sweet and are great lightly cooked or fresh.   Eat the shell and all (although some people like to remove the mid rib string from snow peas for easier eating, but more timely prep). The rest, well, you should know what to do with by now. Bon appetit!

Recipe of the week: Chocolate Zucchini Bread