In the Box

• Walla Walla Onions
• Sweet Basil
• Tomatillos
• Hot Peppers
• Garlic
• Green Pepper
• Head Lettuce
• Zucchini & Patty Pans
• Braising Greens
• Eggplant (Farm site only)

Last week we harvested all the garlic. We pull it out of the ground, spray it to remove loose skins, bunch it and hang it to cure. The wash shed has lots of bundles of garlic hanging. It is quite lovely.

All garlic is harvested about this time of year. The flavor is very strong when it is fresh and fades as garlic is stored. I love garlic, so this is my favorite time for garlic.

Walla Walla onions are in your boxes for the first time. These are wonderfully sweet onions. You can eat them cooked or raw. The greens are also edible. The last week I have been eating a lot of dishes that start out by sautéing garlic, onions, and zucchini. Then I figure out what else is going in the dish.

Also in your boxes this week are all the ingredients for salsa verde (green salsa). Tomatillos are the round green fruits with the husks. They are distant cousins of tomatoes. And they make an excellent salsa.

Tucked into the bag of tomatillos is a little cilantro. Plus you have the garlic, onions and hot peppers. For hot peppers you have a Hungarian Wax (medium) and a Serrano (hot). Use the one that fits your heat preference. But be sure to add it a little at a time.

If you’d like to try something a little different, try roasting the tomatillos, onion, garlic, and pepper. Simply put a little oil on a cooking sheet and place the veggies on it. Roast at 200 degrees until everything is soft. Then blend together. It is a different and delicious dish.

Sweet basil is also in your boxes. Use basil in pasta, rice and chicken dishes. The best way to store basil is to give the stems a fresh cut and then put them in a cup of water. Leave the cup on the counter until you are ready to use it. Most refrigerators are too cold for basil. That is why it often turns black in the fridge. It will also turn black if it gets wet. So don’t wash it until just before you are ready to use it. In fact, I don’t usually wash it at all unless it is sandy. And until it rains, we don’t have to worry about it being sandy.

Eggplants are starting to mature. We don’t have a lot of plants however. So I will be giving eggplant to one pick up site at a time. There are 2 varieties. One is the long Asian type. The other is the traditional egg shape with purple and white stripes.

This Week’s Recipes

• Salsa Verde
• Super Stuffed Tortillas

Riley Writes

It is so dry. I need some mud puddles to splash in. And I really need to do some digging, but the ground is so hard. Mom wants to plow up some of the field, but it would be helpful if it would rain first…

We keep weeding, but there is still so much to do. My job is to go around and give everyone kisses while they are down at my level. Mostly I like to surprise them when they aren’t looking so that they squeal with surprise.

The garlic harvest was fun. But I don’t get to eat any garlic or onions. Mom says they aren’t good for dogs and cats. So I don’t get to taste the food she makes with them. It smells so good. It’s not fair!!!

Greenhouse Raising Party

We will have our fun with big metal pieces on August 4th. We will start at 2 and work until 7. Then we will have a big taco/burrito dinner. No experience is necessary. We will have jobs for all skill levels. You can also help with the food. Or if you really want, there are always weeds to pull. It is also possible to just come to the farm and play with Riley. More details will be in next week’s newsletter. Please RSVP so I can plan the food. I hope you all can make it.