What's In Your Bag?

Week Fifteen September 6-8   

Farm Fresh Eggs or Cheese 

Sunflower Bread from Great Harvest Bread Co., Omaha, NE  

Savory from Birdsong Farms, Castana, IA

Peppers from Johnson Farms, Northbend, NE

Personal Watermelons from Johnson Farms, Northbend, NE

Eggplant from Clear Creek Organic Farms

Cucumbers from Garden Fresh Vegetables

Please note that produce is subject to change due to weather or unavoidable events.

Scott's Culinary Corner

While sitting in our La Vista lot these past fourteen Wednesday nights I have had a few non-CSA members actually approach me out of simple curiosity.  Each person stated something along the lines that they had driven past our lot on multiple Wednesday evenings and happened to observe that I was handing out bags of food to our various members.  They inquired as to whether or not they could purchase food from the truck ala a food stand along the highway.  I was quick to let them know that in order to receive a bag, they would have to enroll in our CSA program.  Of course the questions that ensued were numerous, but the one question that sticks most in my mind is the question that was most frequently asked; "Why would I belong to the CSA?" 

There are numerous responses I've given...and all are valid...from the support of local farmers and the local economy to eating healthier to the freshest produce you can possibly get.  These are all great answers...but to my mind...the most poignant answer I can give is...it is the sense of community that drives the CSA.  The sense that food is what brings us all together no matter where we are...and the best food is generally that which is locally produced.

This brings me to the one important point that I have learned throughout my travels to six of the seven continents (I really don't think I will get to Antarctica...but hey...you never know).  The point is, that even though there are language and cultural barriers, we all have to eat and food tends to bring us together no matter where we are at in this wide, wonderful world of ours. (Perhaps our friends in Congress should take note) 

I can recall several instances in which I was traveling across Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East and found myself in the homes and kitchens of people I didn't know all because I had asked them about food and showed a genuine and humble interest in their culinary expertise.  I found that you didn't really need to be a chef to cook exquisite cuisine.  I also found that you didn't need to attend five star restaurants to get excellent food (minus beets, of course).  I also came to a realization that most cultures outside the United States harbored more interest in the local cuisine and locally produced foods than we did here in the States.  I must admit that I began to wonder why, with as much as we produce, weren't we buying local and supporting the local economies in our communities like they were in the places I was visting.  It made perfect sense to support the local vendors, as some of the markets I attended with my new found friends were thriving with local foods and local food vendors.  It was also an introduction into a wide, wonderful world of new food experience for this country boy from Western Nebraska where meat and potatoes flourished on every kitchen table every night of the week.

So why CSA, they ask.  Well...my reply is this...because it is the sense of belonging to a bigger community of food and enjoying the experience of foods you might never have tried; but most of all, it is about supporting the local food producer and bringing us all together through what we eat and through our shared culinary experiences.

Bon Apetite until next week

Did You Know...

Watermelon is everyone's favorite summer fruit, or is it? Did you know that the Watermelon isn't even a fruit? Yeah, neither did I. Here are ten other interesting facts about Watermelon guaranteed to impress fellow picnic guests.

The Facts:

1. Not only does it quench your thirst, it can also quench inflammation that contributes to conditions like asthma, atherosclerosis, diabetes, colon cancer, and arthritis.
2. Over 1,200 varieties of watermelon are grown worldwide.
3. Watermelon is an ideal health food because it doesn't contain any fat or cholesterol, is high in fiber and vitamins A & C and is a good source of potassium.
4. Pink watermelon is also a source of the potent carotenoid antioxidant, lycopene. These powerful antioxidants travel through the body neutralizing free radicals.
5. Watermelon is a vegetable! It is related to cucumbers, pumpkins and squash.
6. Early explorers used watermelons as canteens.
7. Watermelon is grown in over 96 countries worldwide.
8. In China and Japan watermelon is a popular gift to bring a host.
9. In Israel and Egypt, the sweet taste of watermelon is often paired with the salty taste of feta cheese.
10. Every part of a watermelon is edible, even the seeds and rinds.

Related Recipes

Frozen Watermelon Lemonade (A kid's summertime favorite)

Ingredients:

3 cups watermelon cubes, seeds removed

1/2 cup raspberries

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

Juice of 2 lemons (about 1/2 cup)

1 1/2 cups strawberry-flavored, calorie-free carbonated water, chilled

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Saute eggplant, cumin seeds and onion in oil until the onion becomes clear and the eggplant is beginning to soften. Stir in the cooked wheat berries, tomatoes, and spice. Pour into a greased 9" X 13" baking dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired. Bake for 25 minutes, until the top is crusty. Serve with a dollop of Greek Yogurt.