CSA weeks 20 and 21

You know your loved when you get a question like this from more than one person.

"Hi BAbe,  Too busy to update your blog?   Or not enough time in your day now that we are not there to help with the domestic tasks. -- Mom "

I will admit I did miss last weeks post but, on the upside, I'm early for this weeks!

Week 20 from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze, (shown above) contained as per Lisa and Steve's weekly email:  "This weeks share will include, radish, Brussel sprouts, leeks, parsnip, Spanish onion, and potatoes. Our parsnip are as usual, a little goofy looking. We just dig them and wash them. We don't trim them. If you don’t like the tentacles, just run the peeler over them quick to remove."

Now that my parents are back in Florida, there were way too many Brussel Sprouts for just myself.  My Husband hates them so I brought in two zippy sandwich bags into work; AGAIN excessive excitement amongst co-workers!  You would think people had never seen veggies before!

Week 21 was a really bad photo week....this is the best that I have, darn you rainy fall morning!!  Provided was cabbage, carrots, beets, squash, last of the red sweet pepper, and a small bunch of spinach.

I made "Spinach Brownies" and the peppers were used in Fajitas.  Squashes roasted and Beets will be on Saturday with Roast Lamb from the freezer.

I was so craving crappy food tonight.  I knew there was a box in my pantry, and all day at work I thought about eating was "Kraft Dinner".  Let's be honest, it's so easy to eat a whole box by yourself in a sitting but Holy F I had no clue that would equal 840 calories!!!!!  WHAT!

Instead I chopped up a red pepper, a squash from week 21, radishes from week 20 (hating myself for forgetting the parsnips) and put them in the oven to roast giving me exactly just enough time to put up this post.  See, a massive amount of bad calories saved and a delicious, nutritious meal waiting to fill my belly while I watch the last 3 innings of the World Series...see you next week.

Week 19 and a Quilt Show Visit

Week 19 from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze included; brussel sprouts, sweet corn an all white variety called Avalon-last of the season, radishes, purple carrots, spaghetti squash, and garlic.

The purple carrots were really interesting, when peeled they were a dark beet purple but still orange in the middle.  I ate them raw with some dip, tasted like carrots but somehow not just as sweet.  Co-workers were really interested in them and I got a lot of "what are you eating" questions.

Sunday my Mom and I visited the Rouge Valley Quilters Guild 2011 Quilt Show and Sale which was held at the Ajax Community Centre.

This was personally my favourite quilt of the show.  I loved that it was made entirely from stash scraps and I thought the circle top-stitching was a perfect choice to compliment the pattern.  See photo below for further information.

Now that our house has sold and I don't have to keep it 100% perfect at all times I've had some free time to work on this quilt below that my Husband has claimed as "His".

The pattern is called "A Sparkling Sampler" from McCall's Patchwork and Quilting.  I started it Christmas Day last year and am hoping to have it done by this Christmas this year.

CSA Week 18 and Thanksgiving Farm Visit

Since it was such a beautiful weekend we took advantage of the beautiful weather and visited Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze on Thanksgiving Day!

But first, the good stuff from CSA week 18 which included: freshly dug sweet potatoes, red potatoes, acorn squash both green and white, white spanish onion, carrots, and swiss chard.

I've moved the picture taking to my front porch. With the changing of the seasons the good sunlight is dwindling in the back yard. Look how brilliant that Swiss Chard looks only goes to prove that veggies make your insides/outside look amazing!

It was such a beautiful drive up to the farm. The warm weather and the fall colours were on full display. One of the great perks of having the CSA share is that admittance to the farm and maze are included. The girls were so warm and welcoming as soon as we proudly told them we were members.

There is tons of fun for everyone both young and old. They have lots of things to see and do around the farm, such as mini mazes for both kids and adults, hay rides around the farm, u-pick patches, corn boxes (like sand boxes), an echo tube, as well as lots of animals.

A visit through the country store provided more of their own home grown fruits and vegetables, home made jam, hormone and antibiotic free Angus grade beef, goat, pork, chicken, wild game.

We purchased frozen Mild Italian Sausages, another one of the amazing squashes from last week, a basket of edamame and POPCORN kernels which I can't wait to try out this "Thursday-Jersday" with popcorn and margaritas!

I'm so glad we made the trip out to the farm; it did nothing but add to the great experience our CSA share has brought to our family this year.

CSA Week 17

I'm loving all the veggies that have been arriving in my share from Cooper's CSA Farm & Maze.  Week 17 contained white corn, fingerling potatoes, tomatoes, beets, garlic, and an ambercup or buttercup squash and sweet peppers.

Now I don't know if this was a buttercup or an ambercup squash; but what I do know is that it was FANTASTIC!  Dry flesh and so sweet, mashed and enjoyed with butter, salt, pepper, smidge of brown sugar and a tiny pinch of cinnamon.

At the disgust of my mother I'm including this picture!!  The fingerling potatoes were of such varied shapes....I'll let you guess what I thought this one looked like.  Each week I roll my eyes with pleasure, these however were so good, now I understand why they are so expensive to buy at the store.

Week 17 was also fantastic in that I finally received a comment from someone other than my Mom or friend Steph.  "Mick" is a runner, like a "real marathon runner"!! and asked about the reason for the move and some pictures.

The move is something that I would have never anticipated.  I love the Village of Brooklin and will miss it dearly.  The condo that we purchased for my parents has been delayed again.  After having my parents live with us for the last two summers it's just not fair to them, or us, to continue to live with no firm date of completion in sight.

As a family, we decided to move closer to the city.  The biggest benefits are way shorter commute times to work for my husband and myself, and two distinctly separated living areas for all of us.

I don't have a lot of photo's but this will be my new kitchen!  I love to cook and generally hang out in the kitchen with my lap top that I plan to set up in that little nook.

I've finally been back at quilting and sadly had to run on the treadmill--boo hiss--due to the crappy weather this morning.  Off to watch Amazing Race........