week 18: add on week

we were really hoping for the spicy sweet dill pickles to be an add on this week after having demolished the entire jar last week.  and, of course, we were getting some more salsa as that mysteriously disappeared last week too (look at you, ojp!).


but, wait, what's this?!  shiitake mushrooms?!  yes, please.


to supplement out add-ons we went with box "b" this week.

clockwise from top left: tomatoes, shiitake mushrooms (add on), butternut squash, cherry tomatoes, lee's produce fresh salsa (add on), sprite melon, peaches, red potatoes, bell pepper

week 14: a new week... thankfully...

just wasn't the best of weeks last week.   there certainly weren't any culinary masterpieces created.  we did, however, use the majority of the box last week (tomato here, sweet potato fry there).  


this week, there's a renewed energy in the house as we attempt to use  (and blog) our produce.  this week, we went with box "c" (seems to be our favorite so far).  

clockwise from top left: striped/korean melons, sprite melon, cherry tomatoes, assorted tomatoes, carolina crisp peanut bar, peaches, personal watermelon, butternut squash, red potatoes

week 12: mmmmm... po-ta-toes....

we're obsessed.  the mention of potatoes in the box pretty much assured that what box we were choosing.  labeled as containing "cucumbers and a canary melon" we chose box "c" this week.


we were also slightly intrigued by the canary melon.  we'll be sure to follow up on that one this week.

clockwise from top left: personal watermelon, cucumbers, canary melon, squash, corn, tomatoes, blueberries, green and red bell pepper, potatoes

(and, yes, a bit behind this week.  we'll do our best to catch up :) )

week 8: chopsticks starts singing... american idol next?

"movin' to the country gonna eat a lot of peaches
i'm movin' to the country i'm gonna eat me a lot of peaches..."


think we have our next star... comedian, photographer, singer


standard box "a" this week.  but it was well worth it with quite a few good surprises and the first sight of corn.  no doubt one of the best parts of summer.

clockwise from top left: peaches, kirby cucumbers, squash (different varieties), corn, zucchini, ginny o's cheese straws (sample), blueberries, red skinned potatoes, tomatoes

a "promise" update

promises, promises... they're made to be broken, right?!  

• blueberries:  most are still frozen for later use.  chopsticks enjoyed a few in a smoothie, however
• spring onions:  used some for the herbed summer squash and potato torte, but not all of them.  really need to come up with some other uses for these things if they continue to come in our boxes
• strawberry cider:  this keeps.  so we're keeping it
• zucchini:  first attempt at some zucchini fries.  we'll definitely be revisiting these in some fashion.  lots of potential
• squash:  see spring onions
• cucumbers:  still waiting to be used
• tomato:  chopsticks has grabbed the cavender's and devoured another tomato
• potatoes:  more "chips" for chopsticks.  these were a big hit with the neighbors
• beans:  poor beans.  i really thought i was going to saute these up in a bit of butter and just keep them simple to make sure i ate them.  they are still lounging in the fridge and not sure i'm going to get to them this week.  you've beat me again, mr. bean.

must have been the seasoning

spring onions.... squash... potatoes... this stuff just keeps coming in and really needed some inspiration, especially for the squash and onions.  so did a bit googling (yes, i think i can use that) and ran across this recipe for herbed summer squash and potato torte over at smitten kitchen

i added a bit of  cayenne pepper to the suggested seasonings, but could have used more overall seasoning... and a bit more time in the oven to completely settle... valiant first effort though.

week 7: attempting not to let a thing die this week

wait... it's monday already?!!  long weekend threw us off so we forgot to put in our weekly box order.  the saving grace was the auto-order feature the produce box has in place that automatically sends the weekly "box a" box if you forget.  while it marks the end of a surprise box run, at least we know exactly what we are getting this week.


and a promise... so the first few weeks have been a little hit and miss as we've attempted to use everything in the box and come up with some new ideas along the way.  in the process, we (chopsticks is yelling "we?!") have not used a few things and watched a few more die.  this week, we're (yes, chopsticks, we) committed to using everything in the box.

clockwise from top left: pole beans, blueberries, tomato, spring onion, cottle farms strawberry cider, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, red skinned potatoes

week 6: excited about beets

first sign of beets in this week's box and i'm excited.  chopsticks on the other hand?  not so much.  however, she can relish in her new job as household photographer.

another surprise box, you say?  well, i'll be, it is.

clockwise from top left: beets, texas "sweet" onion, zucchini, summer squash, tomato, cucumber, red skinned potatoes, blueberries, snow peas

week 4: holy giant sweet potato, chopsticks

chopsticks calls...  she's got the box....  what's in the box?!!  "it's definitely chocolate butter... and a sweet potato as big as your head,"

she's spot on for the potato.  i mean, look a the thing!  i'll have to give her a pass on the chocolate butter since she did her official "taste test" with a sinus infection.  was actually maple butter  (i'm thinking pancakes).

why ruin a good thing.  another surprise box this week with an addition of some cheese

clockwise from top left:  collard greens, spring onion, cucumber, the bread shop three seed bread (sample), red potatoes, nancy foss' maple butter (sample), strawberries, zucchini, tomatoes, squash, chapel hill creamery raw milk cheese (add-on), sweet potato

a whole new wrap

chopsticks has got the rap blaring in the other room (her new music of choice and certainly one i can't complain about) while i'm attempting another lettuce wrap with this week's bibb lettuce.  i just can't, however, bring myself to venture into the world of chicken wraps after the last experiment.   even the faux-pf chang recipes out there can't even come remotely close to persuading me.

so, i'm thinking shrimp.  perfect day outside to skewer some shrimp and throw them on the grill.  trip to the grocery also produced some lobster tails, an addition my now rapping chopsticks surely won't mind.

the menu (09may10): 

• grilled lobster tails
• citrus sesame marinated shrimp wraps
• pineapple basil salsa
• able to use one of the texas "sweet" onions here
• roasted red potato "chips"

i got 99 problems...  but this meal definitely wasn't one...

this message has been mother approved:  happy mother's day everyone!!

week 3: spoon takes an awful photo, gets scolded

again with the surprise?!  well, why ruin a good thing, right?

clockwise from top left:  strawberries, texas "sweet" onions, english/garden peas (in pods, under the onions), cucumbers, red potatoes (under the cucumber), great harvest cinnamon bread sampler, radishes (hidden below the massive onions... sense a theme?), another cucumber, bibb lettuce

and, i promise, better pictures from here on out.  i have learned my lesson, promise....