pool is open, summer is here

the temperatures have certainly indicated summer for some time, but we'll mark the "official" start to summer with the long awaited opening of our community pool.  chopsticks is already sunscreened up and ready to go... ojp is staring up at me with those puppy dog eyes that just scream "dad, can i go too?!"  

time for some much needed vitamin d with a light meal to follow.

the menu (24may10):

• summer lasagna

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

a ball, annihilation, a racquet.... and a chicken

i sense the start of a really bad joke forming... or just a lot of things to do with squash.  well, minus the chicken, he just made an appearance to bulk up the meal a bit.

the menu (24may10):

• 
  
  pan-seared parmesan chicken
• 
  
  lemon-basil-thyme dressing
• 
  
  sauted spinach topped with parmesan
• 
  
  "italian style" summer squash

the misadventure of mr. turnip

the "big white things" in the box this week prompted enough questions to warrant an email to everyone introducing us to mr. turnip.  it's a pleasure to meet you, mr. turnip.  i can't say i'm all that familiar with you.

and, so, mr. turnip sat for a while gazing at me awkwardly every time i walked into the kitchen.  sorry buddy, i'm still not sure what to do with you.  

i could have (and looking back on it, should have) gone with the lightly spicy turnip fries recipe that we were sent.  heard on good authority that these turned out very well.  instead, decided to get fancy... let's spruce mr. turnip up with some spring onions and truffle oil...  

unfortunately, mr. turnip didn't quite make it out of the oven...  i'll spare you the gory details and just say, burning things does not make them taste better.  i think the concept would have worked if i would have paid attention.  so, here's to hoping mr. turnip decides to drop by again in the future... 

week 5: i've been fired

donald trump may have made it famous, but chopsticks can certainly hand over the words with a certain gusto.  turns out, i'm not that good at the photo taking... or at least not up to chopsticks' standards (looks like she's earned herself a new job!)

keeping with the surprise boxes as they are giving us some great variety and introducing us (or challenging us depending on how you look at it) to some new things.

clockwise from top left: snow peas, new potatoes, broccoli, turnips, spring onions, lots of space showing the box, cucumber, blueberries, maple butter (add on), summer squash

week 4 roundup

i truly get a kick out of the word "roundup."  like i should be donning a cowboy hat and wrangling something...

instead here's a quick recap of the remainders of this past week's box:

• strawberries were used to make some smoothies.  still need to perfect the recipe a bit, but the new, finally upgraded blender is amazing!

• sweet potato is still waiting its little turn to be transformed into something yummy... keep you posted
• sadly, the collards died.  just didn't find a place for them this week.  we'll do better next time.

a story about pickles

imagine that you're craving a pickle...  you are excited knowing you had just bought some the other day.  you open the fridge, wade through the mess in there and find the jar.  you open it... wait.... what is this?!  a pickle with a bite out of it?!

chopsticks!!!!

true story... needless to say, i didn't get my pickle that day...

but i do have a cucumber this week.  i'm not going to venture into the world of pickling, but, with the heat today and, given that it was a friday, i'm want something summery, light and refreshing.

the menu (14may10):

• cumin and chili crusted halibut with green gazpacho (served with some toasted bread)