Summer CSA Season Kicks Off

Today was the first day for picking up food from the Centennial CSA program which features fresh produce, eggs, and meat from the Zahradka Farm in Baltimore County. We get a medium share of food which includes 8 different fruit/vegetable items. Todays picks included strawberries, potatoes, asparagus, zucchini, yellow swiss chard, spring onions, spinach, and romaine lettuce. In addition, we get the bread option which features products from the Breadery, the speciality food item which was a jar of fruit spread from Infused Spreads of Baltimore, and a dozen eggs. You can see a picture of the bounty from this week. I also made dinner tonight using some of the asparagus, zucchini, and spinach. Very happy to get great farm fresh ingredients!

Penne with Spring Vegetables, Chicken, and Herbs

1 1/3 cups uncooked penne
1 boneless skinless chicken breast
10 stalks of asparagus. cut into 1 inch pieces
1 zucchini squash, cut into 1 inch strips
1/2 red pepper, cut into 1 inch strips
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped spinach
1 tablespoon, fresh chopped basil
1/2 tablespoon, fresh chopped parsley
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
salt and pepper

First, cook the penne in boiling salted water for approximately 11 minutes. Drain the pasta once it is done. In your pan, add a drizzle of olive oil and lightly toast the pine nuts and set aside. In the same pan, heat 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and add the chicken and lightly season with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken until it cooked through and set aside. After the veggies have been chopped, add 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to the pan and saute the asparagus, zucchini, and red pepper until they are slightly brown. Season the veggies with salt while they are cooking. Slice the chicken breast into thin slices and add it to the veggies. Add spinach and garlic and saute another minute. While still on the stove, stir in the herbs, cooked penne, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. You are now ready to eat!

Getting Ready for CSA Season

Last year, my wife and I joined the Centennial CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program for the summer and fall. Before then, I did not know anything about CSA programs in the area, and discovered that there were several options available in Howard County. The Centennial CSA program of 2010 was a great experience for us. Each week, we got to select eight different vegetables/fruits from things that were in season. In addition, each week we got a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread and every other week, a meat. It was great to have such a good supply of fresh vegetables in the fridge to use throughout the growing season. We became a little overloaded with eggs. They were fresh and delicious. However, we tend not to eat too many eggs during the week. I really like to support local farmers and to know where my food is grown. I was raised on a farm in Kentucky and know all about the hard work it takes to raise a good quality crop.

Last year's CSA products were provided by Martin Herb Farm. This year, they have switched to another provider, the Zahradka Farm, which is located in Essex, Maryland in Baltimore County. The farm has been managed by four generations of the family and follows organic guidelines for raising its crops. I am looking forward to trying a variety of fruit and veggies, and coming up with new ways to use the products. I plan to share some ideas for recipes throughout the summer and fall. This year, I am hoping for more fresh fruit, tomatoes, and different kinds of beans or peas. I am starting to get hungry just thinking about all the possibilities.

This year's CSA is organized differently than last. There is more flexibility in what you buy and you can specify if you want to buy a small, medium, or large share. The eggs, bread, and meats are available as options and you can get these weekly or biweekly. The CSA runs weekly from the first week of June until Thanksgiving. The pickup location is at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church parking lot on Frederick Road in Ellicott City on Thursdays from 4:00-6:30. Also you will get to pick your selections there on the spot based on what they have for the day. It is still not too late to sign up. If interested, here is a link to the CSA page. Looking forward to June 2 for the first pick-up.