This week’s WIAW post was a little bit mellow since I showcased only one day in the life of my food, and a mundane one at that.
Today’s is going to be more stimulating since I’m sharing my most recent CSA pickup, plus what I’ve been doing with all my goodies this past week. Since mine isn’t the only box in town (say it ain’t so), make sure to stop by In Her Chucks to see what everybody else is taking home.
Our sixteenth week netted us beefsteak tomatoes, red and golden onions, summer squash, Romaine lettuce, kale, a green and red bell pepper, red Carmen peppers (who is this Carmen; I must meet her), apples, and some more damned green beans. Evil, evil creatures. Last week, I prayed to the CSA gods to avoid green beans at all costs. They didn’t listen and now they are sitting in my fridge, taunting me every time I open the door. So I buried them in the back of the crisper for the time being; that’ll show ’em.
I also mentioned last week, we were drowning in peppers, so I decided to spend the past week on the pepper train. You should try it sometime; it’s a tasty ride. In the meantime, I’ll take you for a quick spin.
Our tour begins at my kitchen table on Saturday night. While I’m not literally “drowning” in peppers, this is still a helluva lot of peppers for one household with just two humans.
We’ve got bell peppers, yummy peppers, Carmen peppers, jalapeno peppers, Hungarian sweet peppers, Hungarian hot peppers (do I sound like Bubba yet?), basically a boatload of peppers. Not one to back off a challenge, I got right to work.
The first thing I did was stuff ’em, so I could show them who’s boss. Better recognize! http://www.bbqu.net/recipes/310_2.html.
Then I decided to stir fry them along with some onions and toss the whole mix on a bed of eggs. I also added them to Monday night’s dinner of…red beans and rice (didn’t miss her, some knucklehead tried to dis, ’cause his girls are on my list) Sorry, squirrel moment.
Back on the train to celebrate the real coup, which came in the form of Sunday night’s chili. I used half the onions, broke into the tomatoes, and a ridiculously crazy amount of peppers (Take that Carmen!), and apparently I channeled Rainbow Brite. If you don’t remember Ms. Brite, you have not lived and are way too young because I am certainly not too old, and I don’t have an age complex either….ok, maybe just a small one.
After all my pepper craziness, I’m no longer drowning, but I’ve still got a handful of Hungarians and Carmens (damn you, Carmen!) remaining. I’m going to try to tap that, or dice that, or chop that, but ultimately eat that, this weekend.
Surprisingly enough, I have actually eaten things without peppers this week (although not much), and tapped into some of my other CSA morsels. I minced my tomatoes and added them to some pasta smothered in garlic and olive oil, along with Kalmata olives, feta cheese and parsley. No matter how many times I eat this dish, it doesn’t get old. The flavors are so robust and in your face, it’ll make you beg for more. No seriously, I didn’t make enough and was still hungry afterwards.
The apples got eaten as is, except for the few that made their way into a ginormous batch of Apple Pie Granola,which I munched on all week long at work. Oddly enough, I didn’t make any other snacks last weekend (turns out I spent my time battling peppers and eating truffles) so the granola was my go-to snackage when I got hungry (it’s a hard-knock life).
Last, but certainly not least, I have been drinking my Kale like a good juicer should. Will someone please tell me how it’s possible that something which looks this bad can actually taste good? I’m drinking camouflage colored liquid, and I like it. My god, what has happened to me? I think I’ve lost my ever-loving mind. Guess I’ll just have to drown my sorrows with some more green stuff.
Tell me what have you been doing with your lovely produce? Have you ever had a green smoothie, and do you want my green beans? I’m not kidding; I will give you my green beans.
Beth says
I would totally take your green beans! I love them! And that is an insane amount of peppers!
Meghan says
Sold to the highest bidder.
Alaine @ My GF & DF Living says
I want all those peppers!!! The culinary possibilities oh my!
Meghan says
We got more in last Thursday’s CSA share so I have a ton again. Maybe I’ll make a frittata or a quiche…
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli says
Nooooo! Damn those green beans! I actually saw some at the store the other day and couldn’t help but think of you! Lol I like green beans, but I REALLY have to be in the mood for them…so I can only imagine your green bean anguish at the moment! :-/
And I have to say, that is one perfect pepper paradise you got there…definitely something Miss. Brite would approve of! 😉 Those stuffed ones look AMAZING! Gah, it’s been too long since I’ve had a stuffed pepper…thanks to my ADD and low level of patience when it comes to my meals, I just don’t have an hour to dedicate to baking a pepper. Come make them for me! Oh and while you’re at it, you can bring over some of that pasta! Mmmm!
Love me a good green smoothie! I picked up some kale at the market this weekend…I’m really craving some kale chips, but I might have to save at least one handful and whip me up some swamp water! 😉
Meghan says
And this is the one downside to a CSA: not being able to chose your produce, which sometimes is a total blessing because it forces you outside your comfort zone. Despite all the green beans (they are on the menu tonight), I’m still loving my CSA.
This is my first batch of stuffed peppers and they were much easier than I thought. I would be happy to make you one, or two, or three.
I have never heard the phrase swamp water in reference to the green smoothie, but that description is spot on. I love it.
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli says
Haha! That’s what I’ve called them since I made my first one…I was expecting this bright green hue, but since I threw in a handful of blueberries, it totally came out looking like sludge! Lol
And thank you, I’ll take two peppers please! 😉
Heather @ In Her Chucks says
I LOVE all of your beautiful colors. Nothing is more delicious than a stuffed pepper.
Thanks for sharing and linking up 🙂
Meghan says
Thanks Heather. The peppers were fabulous, and it was my first time stuffing one (a bell pepper that is).
Thanks for hosting the CSA linkup. I love it, and I’m so glad I’ve found other CSA folks out there, all due to you.