Tag: CSA

A Post for Tyson

August 12, 2013 by rachelocal

In a little while, I’ll head over to Home Grown Cafe to pick up my CSA box filled with organic, locally grown veggies. Usually CSA Day is a happy event, but this morning I received a more-than-sad email from Casey Spacht, the General Manager of my CSA, Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative. In the spirit of community and love, I wanted to share this story with you: Dear Farmers, Staff, CSA Members, and friends, I’m writing to let you all know […]

Categories: Local Farms • Tags: Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, hope, life, local

I’m In Love With A Zucchini

July 17, 2013 by rachelocal

At this very moment, as I sit at my kitchen table and type this, I am eating a giant bowl of zucchini. Sounds enticing, doesn’t it? But this is no ordinary zucchini. This zucchini is curvy, voluptuous, bright, and complex. Her name is Costata Romanesco and I am in love. It wasn’t love at first sight, though. When I took her out of my CSA box and placed her on the counter, I was confused. She looked like a cross […]

Categories: Gardening, Recipes, Summer Recipes • Tags: CSA, food, local, love, vegetarian, zucchini

We Go Together Like Garlic Scapes and Bacon

June 21, 2013 by rachelocal

Certain foods just go together. Foods like… Peanut butter and chocolate Tacos and margaritas Zinfandel and grilled steak Mashed potatoes and gravy Pizza and beer Chips and guacamole Coffee and donuts Today I present another combination: garlic scapes and bacon. This is not so much a recipe as two things combining to create magic. Speaking of two things combining to create magic, yesterday was my four-year wedding anniversary to Mr. Rache. Over the course of these years, we’ve laughed a […]

Categories: Recipes, Spring Recipes, Summer Recipes • Tags: bacon, cooking, CSA, food, life, marriage

In Which I Buy Eggs and Think of Winnie the Pooh

June 10, 2013 by rachelocal

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “What’s the first thing you say to yourself?” “What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?” “I say, I wonder what’s going to happen exciting today?” said Piglet. Pooh nodded thoughtfully. “It’s the same thing,” he said. – A. A. Milne, The House at Pooh Corner Much like Winnie the Pooh, nothing in life delights me as much as food – a new flavor, a new […]

Categories: Delaware Farms, Farmer's Markets, Recipes, Spring Recipes, Summer Recipes • Tags: A.A. Milne, breakfast, chickens, CSA, food, local, turkey eggs, vegetarian, Winnie the Pooh

Happy CSA Day! {Weeks 8 and 9}

March 29, 2013 by rachelocal

I know I JUST posted Week 7’s CSA recipe this week, but I need to catch up. After all, I picked up Week 10’s box Tuesday. I’m sad to say that means only two weeks left. On the other hand, my summer share starts in May. I’m VERY excited to see what wonderful things the Lancaster Farm Fresh farmers grow for me! Carrots–glorious, delicious carrots–were a staple of this winter’s CSA. It seems as if they’ve been replaced by their […]

Categories: Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: beets, breakfast, Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, life, local, parsnips

Happy CSA Day! {Week 7}

March 24, 2013 by rachelocal

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci When I peeked inside Week 7’s CSA box, I was delighted to see not one but two packages of lovely mushrooms – Portobellos and Baby Bellas. Last time I received mushrooms from my Lancaster Farm Fresh CSA, I turned them into a delicious soup; the time before that I made Mushroom Bolognese. This time I took a more utilitarian approach in order to enjoy their full flavor. And what could be simpler […]

Categories: Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: appetizer, Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, health, local, pizza, vegetarian

Happy CSA Day! {Weeks 5 and 6}

March 4, 2013 by rachelocal

Last week I proved my pepper prowess by tasting a variety of dried peppers given to me by the venerable Peppermeister. (If you missed it – watch the video. It’s HOT.) After recovering from what turned out to be a real challenge, I was ready for something hot and spicy once again. Cue my CSA from Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative. The shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and red onions in Week 6’s box combined with the bok choy and garlic from Week […]

Categories: Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative, local, soup, thai, vegan, vegetarian

Happy CSA Day! {Week 4}

February 20, 2013 by rachelocal

Friends of mine tell me stories of their mothers and grandmothers slaving away, over large pots, waiting for the “POP” of a Ball jar lid, the summer heat no match for the steam of a kitchen in full canning mode. I have no such stories. While I’m sure both my grandmothers canned food in their lifetime, I never learned the art. I have, however, had the pleasure of eating many canned goods provided by generous friends and friends’ grandmothers. My […]

Categories: Gardening, Recipes • Tags: Canning, Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, Food Preservation, local, Pickling, vegan, vegetarian

Happy CSA Day! {Weeks 2 and 3}

February 11, 2013 by rachelocal

Tomorrow is CSA Day! I will go to Home Grown Cafe and pick up my box of lovely, organic vegetables. It’s like Christmas every Tuesday. I’m covering CSA weeks 2 and 3 together because both boxes contained mushrooms–regular old white mushrooms, Portobello caps, and shiitake. I’ve never been a picky eater, but I know some people cannot abide mushrooms. I can kind of understand it. Mushrooms are spongy, dirty, and categorized as fungus. But these are the characteristics that make […]

Categories: Fall Recipes, Recipes, Spring Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, farmers, food, lancaster, local, mushrooms, Valentine's Day, vegetarian

Happy CSA Day! {Week One}

January 28, 2013 by rachelocal

“It’s CSA Day!” In my excitement about picking up my very first Lancaster Farm Fresh Cooperative winter CSA box, I uttered that phrase all day on Tuesday of last week. Who can blame me? A box of organic, locally grown root vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes and the most beautiful stalk of brussels sprouts I’ve ever seen awaited me at my pick up spot – Home Grown Cafe. I don’t even think nerds get this excited about Star Wars. The most […]

Categories: Farmer's Markets, Local Farms, Recipes, Winter Recipes • Tags: Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, Jerusalem artichokes, local, vegetarian, winter

One GOOD Thing About Winter

January 16, 2013 by rachelocal

This morning I woke up to a dark bedroom, hazy and gray with no light forcing its way between blinds and through curtains. Rationally, I thought it was 3 am and I still had hours of sleep ahead of me. A quick glance at my phone told me a different story; slumber was over and it was time to face the day. Looking outside, I saw a steely slate sky and the misty drizzle of cold rain. Seeing as “day” […]

Categories: Local Farms, Local Stores • Tags: Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, food, gardening, local, locavore, vegetarian, winter blues

CSA Wrap Rap

June 17, 2012 by rachelocal

Sometimes I like to freestyle… Ready? Yo, here we go I’m about to make a snack with CSA veg and I got the knack I scored asparagus, greens and scape Listen up! Curly scapes made me hesitate But thanks to google for the info I roasted them with E.V.O.O. Local mushrooms on the grill Yogurt dressing fit to kill Wrap it up tight like this rhyme Best dinner in a long time It’s hard to transition into a recipe after […]

Categories: Local Farms, Random, Recipes • Tags: CSA, food, freestylin, humor, life, local, rap, recipes, vegetarian

Two Lists for Local Eating

June 4, 2012 by rachelocal

Today’s the day; I am a locavore. As of right now, I will only eat locally sourced foods. I’m not gonna lie, I kind of feel like I’m going on a diet. I am, after all, purposely restricting my food choices. In an effort to allow my new locavore status to inspire me rather than scare me (I love Italian cheeses so much!), I decided to make two lists. The first list states the reasons I’m embarking on this All […]

Categories: Delaware Farms, Farmer's Markets • Tags: coffee, CSA, farmer's market, food, health, life, local, locavore

Local Inspiration at Harvest Market

May 14, 2012 by rachelocal

Don’t you just love it when an inspiring shopping trip ends in a lovely meal? The inspiration started with a strawberry. To learn more about Harvest Market in Hockessin, I set up an appointment with April Lea, marketing coordinator for the store. Immediately upon entering her office, April asked, “Would you like a strawberry?” Sitting on her desk was a blue container of beautiful, redder-than-red strawberries. I gladly accepted her offer. “Organic,” she said. “And red all the way through.” The […]

Categories: Delaware Farms, Local Farms, Local Stores • Tags: Amish, CSA, GMOs, Harvest Market, life, local, locavore, strawberries

Local Flavor at Home Grown Cafe

April 20, 2012 by rachelocal

When I was younger, I referred to Home Grown Cafe as “that hippie place” on Main Street. Now well into my adult years, I view Home Grown Cafe as more hipster than hippie. Home Grown does things on its own terms. It is culturally aware and upholds certain food values. Vegan options abound on the menu and local bands play often. I can’t label Home Grown as completely hipster, because the owners obviously care about the food and the restaurant environment. […]

Categories: Local Farms, Restaurant • Tags: CSA, farmer's market, food, local, locavore, restaurants, vegan