Pick-up and Take-out
And carrots.
And as I sat here writing about how we picked up our first CSA box this afternoon (having been away for the first few – they really weren’t this late to start) and how ecstatic the boys were over the bunches of carrots they got to choose (they begged to be allowed to eat their entire bunches for dinner – well hmm, OK) the doorbell rang and Mike came upstairs with a warm slice of thin-crust pizza spread with ricotta, topped with peaches and drizzled with honey. Does one’s property value increase when said property is right next door to that of a chef?
This afternoon it poured rain, but I had promised the boys we’d go to the wading pool. We went anyway, and had the entire place to ourselves. The boys could not believe there was not one other person in the pool – after all, they reasoned, you’re going to be wet anyway – who cares if you’re in the shower and bath at the same time?
Then we dried off (somewhat), grabbed our CSA boxes – just-picked lettuce, chard, carrots, cucumbers, garlic scapes, radishes, peas, pattypan squash and yellow zucchini, broccoli, thin-skinned white and purple potatoes, sweet and green onions (who says nothing grows in Alberta?) and when I got home and fired up a cast iron skillet with oil and garlic and a drained can of chickpeas to sizzle up with the chard, my mom brought home a couple of Croque Monsieurs from L’Epicerie – you can take them home in little paper bags unbaked, then slide them into the oven for 15 minutes yourself while tossing a salad or wilting chard into your chickpeas. It has all the warm and gooey cheesy appeal of a pizza, with far more class. Not that I’ve ever been much concerned about that, but you never know, it could be a selling point.
August 12 2010 10:00 pm | leftovers
Laurie in Burnaby on 12 Aug 2010 at 10:19 pm #
Sounds like a wonderful day!
I envy you the croque monsieurs with the wonderful vegetables.
Rebecca on 12 Aug 2010 at 10:25 pm #
Hey Julie – a question. Where is that wading pool? I’ve been looking for a nice one to take my daughter too (not that the weather is warm enough to take a one year old to the pool) and that one looks fantastic! As does your veggie box
I tried to sign up for one this year but missed the deadline. Oh well, maybe next year.
JulieVR on 12 Aug 2010 at 10:32 pm #
That’s Riley Park – right below the Jubilee Auditorium/SAIT – between 14 St and 10th St, and right across from the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays from 3-7!
ldy on 12 Aug 2010 at 11:57 pm #
I love the picture of the two little dots in the water.
indie.tea on 13 Aug 2010 at 5:21 am #
The picture with the carrots is too cute! And I am dying over that pizza with the peaches, ricotta and honey…what an utterly beautiful combination.
Erin B on 13 Aug 2010 at 7:12 am #
Hey Julie. Thanks for including the link to the CSA box info. I’ve gotten on their mailing list! We’ll definitely be participating next year. (I have a sneaking suspicion that my corn will be all show now go this year!).
I was reading on the Eagle Creek site about seed potatoes. But I can’t figure out what they are. Can you help?
Rebecca on 13 Aug 2010 at 7:28 am #
Thanks! We’ve never been to that park so we’ll have to check it out (it is supposed to be nice next week…) Love the plug for the Farmer’s Market
Erica B. on 13 Aug 2010 at 3:06 pm #
Oooh I was looking at Eagle Creek’s site earlier today. Looks fantastic!
Is there a jealous button here somewhere?
I’d love to have a chef for a neighbour – lucky girl!
Carol SB on 13 Aug 2010 at 3:38 pm #
Hey Erin B–
Seed potatoes are not “seeds”; they are plantable potatoes. Most of the ones you buy at the grocery store are stable: they will not sprout. So if you plant those particular tubers, they will not grow. Potatoes that have not been treated will, if you encourage them, sprout (from their “eyes”) and grow. You don’t need to plant a whole potato: as long as it has some “eyes” on it, you can plant a half potato. Let nature take her wonderfully astonishing course, and you’ll be able to dig up potatoes a few months later.
Potatoes grow from seeds as well: I’ve never done it, though. I understand you need a longer growing season.
And since I know you’re interested: How do you stabilize potatoes? A few things; storage in a controlled environment (specific temp/ humidity/ controlling the kind of gases like ethylene that occur naturally and encourage fruit to continue ripening) is not a bad thing. I’m not sure, though, that spraying root crops (potatoes/ onions/ etc) with a dessicant is the best way to go. I know it’s a tradeoff for longer storage, which I agree we need. And the half-life of Roundup (a food-approved dessicant) is short. I just don’t think we know enough.
I know, more than you asked, right? but I am so glad Julie shares her connections, so we can get food that`s closer to the land.
Thanks, Julie!
-CSB
JulieVR on 13 Aug 2010 at 3:45 pm #
Thank YOU Carol! I was about to answer the potato question. In fact, I’m growing potatoes in my back yard RIGHT NOW, and was planning to share the story soon.. I just discovered a great new kids’ book called Two Old Potatoes and Me that describes the potato-growing process – it’s W’s new favourite!
Katharine on 13 Aug 2010 at 4:55 pm #
Can hardly wait until a similar group in Edmonton – the Good Food Box via http://www.eatlocalfirst.com – adds my postal code to its delivery system. A somewhat different concept from CSA (love this idea), supporting local across a range a food items. M.Croque looks scrumptious…great for a cool, wet summer day. Cheers!
Ketti on 14 Aug 2010 at 8:40 am #
I follow your website from Houston, TX and I love all your recipes! Any chance of a guest post with that peach/ricotta pizza recipe?
Merry120 on 18 Aug 2010 at 8:02 pm #
I’m jealous of your carrots! I have a CSA though Thompson Small farm. It’s a really cool premise b/c they use all animal power…not tractors, etc. Unfortunately, this definitely diminishes how much they produce (though they are very prolific kale, chard & salad producers). We got a few carrots today (which were AWESOME) but not nearly as much as you. Of course I have a half share which may also be the reason for the small amount.
bridgit on 21 Aug 2010 at 5:03 am #
Your CSA haul looks delicious. And thank you. I’ve been looking for a peach something-other-than-pie recipe to make for brunch this morning. Now to attempt a remake!