Unboxing: A Midwest CSA in July
Here's what you might find in a CSA box this time of year: sugar snap peas, beets, cucumbers, scallions, cabbage, kale, fennel, basil, broccoli, zucchini, lettuce, sage and kohlrabi.
Specifically, that's what you might find if you live in the Midwest in summer. Even more specifically, that's what you might find if you live in Minnesota in July. We know, because that's what Farmer Mike brought to the headquarters of American Public Media on Friday.
If the farms or back yards in your area are producing similar items, there's a chance you're overwhelmed by some of it. At the very least, you might need some fresh ideas. Here, let us help you with that.
What the heck do I make with all these beets?
Use them to color gnocchi.
Make this shocking-pink hummus.
Blend them into borscht.
Pickle them and use on fish.
Where can I use the different parts of fennel?
Braise the bulbs; mix with olives and oranges.
Stick the fronds to some shrimp scampi.
How do I use kohlrabi?
Puree into a mashed potato-like consistency.
Slice it and eat raw in salad.
Aagghhh! Too much zucchini!
Start a salad with random cuts.
Start a salad with sliced ribbons.
Make some pickles.
Fill a taco.
There's so much more
For the rest of the growing season, we want to hop around the country, peek at regional CSA boxes and offer suggestions for how to use even the most obscure produce. Send us your lists! What are you struggling to use? Even better, what tricks have you invented to efficiently use everything before it goes bad?
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