18/05/2011 by M P.

Fruit: grapefruit, avocado, oranges, rhubarb, bananas,

Vegetables: asparagus, onions, carrots, beetroot, Romano potatoes, mixed salad, chard, spring greens

In my salad days, when I was green in judgement I never understood the fuss about asparagus, but if it’s fresh and grilled with a sprinkling of lemon juice, olive oil, and salt, I begin to get it.  Ditto - mixed salad bags are generally great (outside the deepest winter season with the ‘weird tasting one’ which is a bit like playing salade roulette). I heard the tail end of a recent food programme on R4 in which someone said the age of more commercial permacultury forest garden type salad bags was upon us. I say bring it on.  It was supposedly a win-win - more viable for the producer not tied down to producing a certain quantity of a particular thing and therefore able to put things in the bag in different proportions when in season, and acceptable to the consumer whose expectations aren’t then dashed when a certain thing isn’t in it. Sounds a bit like the principle behind sausages and burgers at the naughty end of the food industry spectrum.

Posted in Asparagus, Organic Box | Print | No Comments »

18/05/2011 by M P.

Fruit: Oranges, rhubarb, kiwis and apples

Vegetables: Onions, carrots, broccoli, mushrooms, spring onions, fennel

 It’s a wrap, or at least a Fajita with the appearance of fennel in the bag. It is de rigeur for the four year to request broccoli soup should broccoli be included, and for an age when green vegetables are to children what crossed candlesticks are to Dracula, this is a request that is not refused.

Stewing the rhubarb with a nip of water and brown sugar, and serving with custard or ice cream brings back memories, and is that perfect combination of tart and tasty if got right. 

Posted in Wrap, Fennel, Broccoli, Organic Box | Print | No Comments »

18/05/2011 by M P.

Fruit: bananas, kiwis, avocado, apples, oranges

Vegetables: onions, leeks, cauliflower, chard, oriental leafy salad, courgette, carrots and potatoes

Nothing ‘outside the box’ this week with lots of adaptable, friendly veg that can be used in anything.  The avos and kiwis are particularly ripe and tasty - got to eat them when they come or the day after, and a good French dressing is all that’s needed with the oriental leafy salad to give a tangy, zingy accompaniment to pastas. Oranges are juiced and the bananas added to frozen fruits and milk and yogurt to make the kids juice or smoothies for breakfast on these hot days.   

Posted in Organic Box | Print | No Comments »

18/05/2011 by M P.

Fruit: apples, bananas, kiwis, oranges and lemons

Vegetables: potatoes, courgettes, beetroot, onions, carrots, mushrooms, lettuce, spring greens, (Hackney) salad

Borscht is a good fit for a fair few of the vegetables here; if using box ingredients were like using scrabble tiles I’d be pleased with that result - though no double word scores for using any ’different’ or awkward vegetables (Kale would definitely be the letter Z).  

The courgettes have been stockpiled (with last week’s) to make a super-sized risotto.

Posted in Organic Box | Print | No Comments »