What’s in the Box? #84

Well, I made it through my first week of work and so far, so good.  I love the people I work with, I love being able to help others and I love challenging my mind every day.  But as with all transitions, there have been some minor bumps in the road.  For starters, I miss my little pumpkin pie.  I am thrilled she loves her school and is able to spend her day at a place that makes her happy, but being away from her for 10 hours a day is tough.  Secondly, getting through the day without a nap has been hard.  After napping with Harper on a daily basis for the past 2 years and 8 months, I am struggling to keep my eyes open once 1pm rolls around.  So I have been relying on a large glass of iced green tea to get me through.  And finally, I am going to have to find a way to complete my weekly blog post without falling asleep in the midst of it.  Staying up past 9pm is no longer an option (hence my tardiness this week).  But I am sure, in time, I will find another routine.  I always do :)

As for the party, last week, we had a total of 12 link ups.  And per usual, these ladies are getting down and dirty in the kitchen.   Roasted squash, Cheddar Apple Onion Bacon Pizza and Burrito Bowls…so much delicious goodness all in one place.  Thanks to everyone who shared and linked up.  I appreciate your support and loyalty :)

And now for my goodies this week…

Please excuse the dark picture.  With my new work schedule and the lack of daylight in the evenings, it’s gonna be hard to get a nice image up here.  But I guess a dark picture is better than no picture at this point.

This week’s box was so delicious it was pretty much gone before the weekend arrived.  Here’s what I whipped up with my fruits and veggies this week…

Oranges:  One of my favorite ways to use my oranges is this delicious fish dish.  But I have yet to find a fish market in our new town.  So I opted for this recipe instead and it was a real hit!

Green Beans:  I bought some ground pork on sale this week and in the midst of looking for recipes for that, came upon this link which calls for green beans too.  Love it when dinner comes together so effortlessly.

Apples:  Fuji apples are my favorite, especially this time of year.  I have found ways to enjoy these apples for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.  They are so delicious!

Tomatoes:  After last week’s tomato dilemma (I ended up going with the Chopped Caprese), I was excited to get another chance to enjoy the Chicken with Tomato Herb Pan Sauce.  It was scrumptious to the last bite :)

Kale:  To accompany my Chicken with Tomatoes dish, I whipped up a household staple, Koko’s Kale and Farro Salad.  It is so easy, but so delicious!

Lettuce:  Now that I am taking my lunch to work everyday, having a fresh head of lettuce is helpful when I need a last-minute option.

Carrots:  Between Harper and I, we have been devouring carrots this week as a side to our lunch and dinner or as a healthy snack option.

Spaghetti Squash:  This is the only item that is left over.  I usually like to simply roast it and serve it as a side dish, but this week I was determined to try something different.  So I found this recipe which looks like it will be a meal the whole family can enjoy.

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to incorporate your CSA fruits and veggies into simple and delicious meals? Looking forward to drooling over your ideas.

 

 

 

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog. Thanks!

What’s in the Box? #83

In just a few short days, I will no longer have the honor of calling myself a stay-at-home-mom.  After nearly 3 years of spending every waking moment with my little munchkin, I am hanging up my sweatpants in exchange for more professional attire.  And as excited as I am to get back in the work force, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a tad bit emotional about the transition.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end and I am beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to hang with Ms. Harper during her most formative years.  Now, it’s time for her to spread her wings and fly.  And to be honest, girlfriend is having no trouble with that at all.  In fact, she loves her preschool so much she never wants to leave.  And that makes me smile :)

So, to celebrate this new chapter in our lives, let’s pop the bubbly and break out the veggies, shall we?

Last week we had a total of 10 link ups.  And I am love watching the transition from summer fruit to autumn goodies.  Meghan seems to be enjoying the last of her summer tomatoes in every single form you can imagine while Angie is pumping up the volume on a fall favorite…apples.  And Sharlea, is having way too much fun with bacon.  A girl after my own heart :)

Thanks to everyone for sharing and linking up!  Each week gets better and better.

And now for some fruit and veggie goodness straight from the “OC”…

What would a box from Orange County be without any oranges?  And these oranges are the best!  Juicy, sweet and delicious.  I am thinking about going for a batch of Seedy Orange Zest Muffins this week for Harper’s school.  Nothing like homemade goodies to show appreciation to the hardworking teachers :)

I’m thrilled to have another haul of potatoes.  I usually don’t like to bake potatoes, but after experimenting with this recipe (if you can really call it that), they turned out perfectly!  Can’t wait to serve them alongside our steak dinner tomorrow night.

For the bell peppers, I am jumping straight into fall with a pot of Turkey Pumpkin Chili.  They are not the star of the recipe by any means, but they add great texture and flavor to the dish.

Despite the warmer temps lately (highs of 91 is hardly considered autumn weather), I am forcing the seasons with another soup recipe that I plan on making with the chard.  This recipe is one of my favorites, but I recently came across a new one I am looking forward to trying.  And as I always say, you can’t have soup without a salad.  So I will be creating a hearty and delicious green salad to be served alongside.

The apples couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.  I bought some chicken legs on sale this week and was looking to make this recipe for dinner over the weekend.  For the few apples that are leftover, I plan on indulging in some of Angie’s recipes.

Now that Harper will be in school everyday, the carrots will be going fast, as they are a favorite addition to her lunchbox.  Packed with a heart-shaped almond butter sandwich and star-cut apple slices, my little muffin is eating good in the neighborhood.

And finally, a pint of plump and vibrant tomatoes.  I am currently debating a Chopped Caprese Salad or Chicken with Tomato Herb Pan Sauce.  They are both so scrumptious, it’s hard to decide which one to choose.  Just not enough tomatoes to go around (unlike some other people I know…)

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to incorporate your CSA fruits and veggies into simple and delicious meals? Looking forward to drooling over your ideas.

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog. Thanks!

What’s in the Box? #82

It’s officially Fall and I couldn’t be more excited.  Where as summer is my favorite time for fresh fruit, the colder months welcome the harvest of the most delicious veggies.  I love the abundance of leafy greens and sweet winter squash and do my best to celebrate their seasonal goodness by incorporating them into as many meals as I can (for the record, I’ve served butternut squash 4 different ways in the last week…that’s how happy I am that it’s fall!).

And my affection for autumn goes beyond the produce.  Now that I’m a mom, I actually look forward to Halloween again.  I love seeing Harper dressed up in her costume (which we purchased yesterday) and finding spooky activities for us to do as a family that give her the opportunity to wear it over and over again (got to get our money’s worth!)

Finally, I love fall because it’s my birthday on Sunday!  I can’t believe I am going to be 31 already.  Seems like just yesterday I was celebrating the big 3-0.  My how time flies :)

So in honor of fall, and in honor of my birthday this weekend, let’s party it up with some fruits and veggies!

Last week we had 8 link ups and it week was a great reminder of why I continue to host this link party.  For one, it’s nice to know I’m not the only person who gets overly excited about local and organic produce.  But more than that, your new and creative ideas on how to make use of it all never ceases to amaze me.  It’s no secret that I am a kale lover through and through.  And even with all the ways I have prepared it, I have never thought about putting it into fried rice.  Nothing short of genius Kirsten :)  Next, broccoli is a weekly staple in our house.  And although I often scramble it in my eggs, I love Sam’s idea of turning it into breakfast tacos.  Finally, I am sure we can all attest to the importance of onions in our lives, but did you ever know an onion could create such beautiful and delicious masterpieces?  Angie of The Novice Gardener has a gift of making ordinary things extraordinary.

Thanks to everyone for linking up and sharing their goodies.  Keep ’em coming :)

And now for my first haul of fall…

Before I go any further, I have to bring attention to my tomatoes.  Do you notice the sad face on the top tomato?  He’s bummed that his season has come to an end.  So I have decided to make the best out of my last crop of tomatoes, and whip up a Tomato and Corn Pie.  Yum!  And on the side, a lovely green salad, with grated carrots, nuts and dried fruit.

I picked up some boneless pork ribs on sale yesterday. I have never cooked with them before, but was able to find a recipe I am really excited about.  When I was planning out the meal, I thought a side of green beans would compliment the dish nicely and lucky me, I got some fresh ones in my box this week…score!

I roasted up the potatoes tonight for dinner and they were delish.  I tossed them with minced garlic and melted butter and baked them with some chicken for an hour and the result was scrumptious.

Speaking of scrumptious…nothing makes me happier than a huge bunch of kale.  I am officially in heaven.  And I plan on making Kirsten’s fried rice with it for lunch tomorrow.  I have no doubt it will be perfect :)

And for an afternoon snack?  I’m looking forward to having some of that melon with a bowl of cottage cheese.  The perfect balance of savory and sweet.

Finally, fresh oranges.  Is there anything better?  I’m hoping we can hold out on them until Sunday, so I can enjoy a glass or two of orange juice with my breakfast in bed.

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to incorporate your CSA fruits and veggies into simple and delicious meals? Looking forward to drooling over your ideas.

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog. Thanks!

What’s in the Box? #81

In the journey of life, there is never a dull moment.  And this week was no exception.  Once Harper was situated in her new school, I decided to apply for a few jobs.  As much as I loved my music business back in Santa Barbara, the “OC” is a different place.  It’s bigger, busier and requires lots of driving to get to-and-fro.  Although I strongly believe my business would thrive in my new town, the thought of putting in another two years of work to build it up seemed a bit daunting.  And to be honest, I have been itching to get back to social work for a while, so now seemed like the perfect transition.  Well, after only a few days, I landed an awesome gig working as an early intervention specialist with a local agency.  I am excited about getting back into the work force and am looking forward to the challenges ahead.

So, to celebrate, let’s get on with our weekly produce party…shall we?

Last week we had 11 link ups.  And the dishes in the roundup really hit all over the spectrum.  We had everything from fancy Fig and Caramelized Onion Tarts to Homemade Gourmet Dog Food.  Yes, even our four-legged friends are loving the bounty.  Thanks to everyone for linking up!  You inspire me to greater CSA heights :)

And now, time for my haul of the week…

Lemon basil…where have you been all my life?  The aroma is delightful and the taste is major.  I am head over heels in love.  I can’t wait to whip up a dish with this later on this week.

I am also still excited about more grapes.  Not only because they are my snack of choice these days, but because this recipe is beyond delicious!  Knowing that I had more grapes coming today, I had to find something to do with the remaining grapes from last week’s share.  So I went to one of my go-to recipe sites and found my new favorite meal.  It’s truly magical :)

If my memory serves me correctly, I don’t think I have ever received broccolini in my box before.  It used to be one of my favorite veggies, but I kind of forgot about it.  So it was nice to reintroduce it to our weekly routine.  I will definitely be on the lookout for more broccolini on my next trip to the market.

I love seeing squash in my box because it means that fall is around the corner.  And although I am not a fan of the cooler temperatures, I do enjoy the hearty comfort food that the season brings.  I jumped the gun and picked up some butternut squash at the store last week and gave this recipe a try.  It was a huge hit!  My first time dealing with a whole raw chicken, which was slighty “eew-ey”, but the result was well worth it.

For the eggplant this week I am going with this Eggplant Bolognese from Martha Stewart.  Nothing satisfies me more than sneaking veggies into delicious dishes so that my family members will scarf it down without knowing how healthy it really is :)  Oh, and the onions will be perfect for this recipe as well.

Our Friday nights around here have gotten a bit nuts.  Health nuts that is.  Our new tradition is eating big, hearty salads on Friday nights.  And it has been fun finding new ways to spruce up the meal.  So that head of lettuce and those tomatoes will be a nice blank canvas for some crazy salad concoctions.

It’s the best time of the year for apples.  And green apples always remind me of Apple Crisp (one of Freddie’s favorites).  So I might just have to indulge him this week :)

And finally, the sweet peppers.  I am running out of ideas for these little guys.  I can’t seem to find enough inspiration and would love your input.

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to incorporate your CSA fruits into simple and delicious meals? Looking forward to drooling over your ideas.

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog. Thanks!

What’s in the Box? #80

I think it’s safe to say, we are officially “OC” residents.  We have a library card (and have visited 3 times already!), spent an entire morning in line at the DMV in an attempt to get a new driver’s license (lost mine during our travels this summer) and Harper is enrolled in preschool.  Phew…it’s been quite a week, but everything is starting to fall into place.

Here is my little muffin on her first day at her new school… (in her chucks of course!)

(for the record, little miss came up with this pose all on her own.  I merely asked her to stand by the tree…)

And all the while, we have been enjoying our delicious and nutritious treats from our new CSA.  I have also been enjoying perusing over your CSA eats from last week.  We had 10 link ups and apparently it was all about the green.  Green beans, pesto, and green tomato bacon jam.  The perfect veggie color :)

Thanks to everyone who linked up and shared their awesome ideas with us.  Keep ’em coming!

As for me, this is what I will be working with this week…

And before we go any further, I have to mention the 3 garlic cloves that I forgot to place in the box before the picture.  Didn’t realize it until all the produce was put away…darn.

I am most excited about the figs!  I have never received figs in my box before, nor have I ever even tried one.  Not sure why, I have just never come across them before.  Looking forward to whipping up a savory dish with them that the whole family will enjoy.  Which means the garlic will come in handy for that recipe as well.  And Freddie and Harper can’t wait for a side of my famous mashed potatoes.

Next, 3 cheers for Thai basil!  It has been a while since I have gotten some in my box and I am looking forward to cooking with it.  It has such a lovely aroma and the flavor bursts in your mouth.

The taco salad last week was a big hit so I plan on duplicating that again.  I will chop up some of the tomatoes to throw on top in addition to some of those sweet peppers.

I am happy to see another bundle of grapes.  Our last batch went pretty quickly so I am hoping to experiment some more with recipes this week.

For the carrots, I have a great chicken recipe that calls for roasted carrots.  It’s a recipe I have been dying to share with you, so hopefully this will stand as a reminder for me to post it ASAP.

Speaking of roasting…love me some roasted cauliflower.  I roasted some last week for Harper to throw in with her broccoli and she LOVED it!

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to incorporate your CSA fruits into simple and delicious meals? Looking forward to drooling over your ideas.

Linking up for the first time? Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS: Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog. Thanks!

What’s in the Box? #79

We made it through our first week in the “OC” and are finally beginning to feel settled in our new place.  We have enjoyed trips to the park, dips in the pool and lovely walks in the neighborhood.  I wish I had photos to share of all our adventures but my iPhone screen went grey last week and this time, I don’t think she’s coming back.  So for now we will all just have to use our imagination until a) she gets fixed or b) someone surprises me with the new iPhone for my birthday ;)…I’m hoping for the latter.

In the meantime, let’s just stay focused on the veggies.

Last week we had a total of 8 link ups and apparently it’s all about the party food.  Pizza, salsa, and tacos, all inspired by fresh and seasonal CSA bounty.  Gotta love the difference a box full of fruit and veggies can make in your life :)  Thanks to everyone for linking up and sharing their goodies with the rest of the group.  Keep ’em coming!

Now on to my first box from my new CSA…

I am officially in grape heaven.  I am drowning in them…but that makes me SO happy :)  Harper and I snacked on a few on the way home from picking up our box and they tasted absolutely perfect!  I will be enjoying these for the rest of the week.

I also have more broccoli than I think my fridge can hold.  4 heads!  But with the way my family eats broccoli around here, that might last a few nights.

I am super excited to see an eggplant.  It has been a while since I have gotten one in my box and this is the first time I have ever received a white one.  There have been so many delicious eggplant recipes posted lately that I am dying to try but the hubs requested this meal, which I had completely forgotten about.  Looking forward to a delicious and clean dinner tomorrow night.

To celebrate the end of the work week, I have decided to make a taco salad for dinner Friday night.  So that lettuce, tomatoes and peppers will be perfect.

I got a ton of fresh herbs that I am excited to cook with this week.  Chives and a fragrant bundle of herbs de Provence will be the perfect complement to some delicious meals.

I am thrilled to have fresh plums and pluots in my box this week.  I am doing my best to stay away from sugar at the moment so no pluot crumbles this time around.  But besides snacking on them I am thinking about some savory dishes where I could put them to use.  Or of course, I could always make Kirsten’s muffins…yum!

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to incorporate your CSA fruits into simple and delicious meals?  Looking forward to drooling over your ideas.  

Linking up for the first time?  Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS:  Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog.  Thanks!

Kale Salad

This summer I fell in love…with kale.

Since subscribing to my CSA 3 years ago, I have been slowly warming up to this leafy green vegetable.  But over the last few months, my affection for kale has reached a whole new level.  Whether I am munching on kale chips, drinking kale juice, or dipping some sliced cucumbers in kale pesto, I just can’t get enough.  But this salad is definitely my go-to recipe.  And I have been going to it A LOT this summer.

What makes this recipe so good is the bright and complex flavors.  There is something about the mixture of sesame seed oil and soy sauce that sends me over the edge.  Add a few squeezes of fresh citrus and minced garlic and the dressing is nothing short of a party in your mouth.  And then of course, who doesn’t love the extra texture of toasted sesame seeds and perfectly ripe avocado perched on top of these leaves of glory.  Do you catch my drift?  It really is a healthy slice of heaven ;)

Ingredients

1/2 cup fresh orange juice

3 tbsp fresh lemon juice

2 tsp soy sauce

1 clove garlic, minced and smashed into a paste (or use a garlic press)

4 tbsp toasted sesame oil

3 avocados, peeled, pitted and chopped

2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

1 bunch kale, stemmed and chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Place kale into a large serving bowl.  Add remaining ingredients (except for the avocado) and toss to coat.  Gently fold avocados into the salad and season with salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe makes a good portion of salad.  If you are anything like me, you might be able to scarf it all down in one sitting.  But if you find yourself with left overs, the good news is that it keeps well in the fridge overnight.  So feel free to enjoy it the next day for lunch.  However, if you plan on sharing it with friends for a bbq or potluck, you might want to double the recipe because I can promise you the salad will be gone within minutes.

I have to admit, I feel terrible that it took me so long to befriend kale.  But now that we are clearly BFFs I have no doubt we will be making up for lost time.

What’s in the Box? Recipe Roundup #14

After over 2 months of vacation, Harper and I are finally back to reality.  It feels nice to unpack our bags, hang up our clothes and put our toiletries back in the medicine cabinet.  But lots has happened since we first left for Ireland back in June.  While we were gone, Freddie got another new job.  Which means yet another move for us (which, if you’re still keeping track is 12 moves in 8 years…with 3 of those moves happening in the last 8 months).  As much as we had hoped they would, things just didn’t work out for us in San Louis Obispo.  But as they say, when one door closes, another one opens, and Freddie’s new opportunity is even better than his last.  So while Harper and I were visiting friends and family all over the globe, Freddie was busy packing up our new home up north and moving us south to good ol’ Orange County.

Luckily, I am no stranger to this area.  I have aunts, uncles and cousins who live in Orange County and so I guess you can say I have grown up coming to visit here.  It’s just so much bigger than what we have become accustomed to after living in Santa Barbara for the past 3 years.  But there is nothing better than being close to family, so we are very grateful for that.

And of course, I couldn’t approve of the move until I found a CSA.  And my new one sounds awesome!  I just didn’t submit my subscription in time to get a box this week, so next Tuesday I will be picking up a box and can’t wait to share it with you all.

But in the meantime, let’s check out the links from last week.  I am loving the rooty, tooty, fresh and fruity flavors that are coming our way…Pizza with Raspberries, Pasta with Peaches, and Quinoa with Cranberries (and pineapple mint!).  Get’s me more excited than it should.  But, as we all know, I have a weakness for fruit.  Which is why I have decided to share my favorite summer fruit recipes this week.

Enjoy!

Raspberry Chicken

Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Cake

Lime Pistachio Squares

Lemon Iced Tea

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to incorporate your CSA fruits into simple and delicious meals?  Looking forward to drooling over your ideas.  

Linking up for the first time?  Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS:  Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog.  Thanks!

What’s in the Box? #78

My apologies for the tardiness of this post but Harper and I have been busy this week soaking up all that Santa Barbara has to offer before we head home.  We are blessed to be able to visit such a beautiful place, but the best part of Santa Barbara is our wonderful friends.  Here is a peek at what we have been up to this week:

Play dates at the park…

Pool time fun…

Picking produce with friends…

Stopping to smell the flowers…

Boat rides in the harbor…

and taking in beautiful sunsets…

We are definitely going to miss this place, but are looking forward to being back home with Daddy :)

Now, without further ado, lets get “produce wasted!” (my own little spin on a popular movie line…name it!)

Our party last week was rockin! 19 link ups?!  The most we have had in a while.  Makes a veggie-obsessed, mommy blogger like me very happy :)  And you know what else makes me very happy?  Zucchini.  Especially when it’s hidden inside a chocolate waffle (Thanks Kirsten for taking my love of zucchini to the next level) or shredded into a savory loaf of bread.  It truly is the essence of summer.

And like the groundhog in February, a zucchini in my box this week means that summer will be around for at least a few more weeks (Full Disclosure:  I’m no meteorologist, it’s only a theory.  Just go with it.)

Not only did I get a pair of zucchinis, check out what else came in my box…

A rainbow of delicious colors.  And I’m loving nature’s candy again.  A bunch of red, crunchy grapes.  They make my world go round.  And no, I didn’t share.

But I was willing to share some of my other goodies.  I sliced up the apples for a picnic at the park.  Steamed the broccoli for my little veggie lover as a side to her lunch (she practically ate the whole head herself).  And the basil along with a few leaves of kale got thrown into the food processor for a batch of pesto.  Delish!

The oranges have inspired me to make a batch of muffins which will help to balance out the bowls of salad I will be eating thanks to the size of that head of lettuce.

I like my spaghetti squash simply roasted and tossed with some butter and parmesan cheese.  Although the fresh tomatoes would be a great addition to the squash in the form of homemade sauce.  In fact, I’m hungry just thinking about it.

Cheers to a fabulous weekend!  I hope it’s filled with as much fun and food as you can handle :)

Your turn:  What are some of your favorite ways to use the fruits and veggies shown?  Any special recipe, tips or tricks you’d like to share?  Looking forward to reading your responses :) 

Linking up for the first time?  Click here for more info…and Welcome!

PS:  Don’t forget to tell your readers about the party by linking back to this post and grabbing the official “What’s in the Box?” button at the bottom of my blog.  Thanks!

What’s in the Box? #77

We are coming up on our last week in Santa Barbara.  And although Harper and I have enjoyed hanging with our friends and soaking in the beautiful summer weather, we are looking forward to going home and having our family back together.  But before we head out, I have made sure that we experience our favorite CSA a few more times.  The quality and variety of their produce helps to ease the pain of being homesick (I guess it’s no longer a secret what my drug of choice is…).  As does a rockin’ produce party :)

Last week we had a total of 12 links which yielded a whole lots of produce…especially tomatoes :)  I was most intrigued by Kirsten’s Kale Hummus this week.  I have been really into kale pesto this summer but kale hummus…mind blown!  I can’t get enough of the beauty that is Salted Plates Peach Caprese Salad.  Simply gorgeous.  And finally, I’m excited to try Eats Writes Shoots Vegetarian Tacos with Grilled Zucchini.  Yum!  Thanks to everyone for linking up.  I truly can’t get enough of your ingenious ways to eat your veggies.

And now on to how I plan to eat my veggies…

It’s boxes like this that make me miss my old CSA :(  I mean, there is so much delicious and summery goodness, it’s hard to know where to start.  But since this item is new to me this week, I have to highlight it first…

Have you ever seen something so adorable?!  They are mouse watermelon cucumbers and they are my new favorite treat!  Kind of a cross between a grape and a cucumber, that looks like a watermelon but is slightly slimy and sour in the middle.  But they keep me coming back for more :)  I have been popping these suckers in my mouth ever since I opened up my box.  They are crunchy and delicious and as soon as we start up another garden, these little gems will be front and center.  Love!

And then there are those red flame grapes.  Or as I like to refer to them, “nature’s candy”.  These grapes are so sweet and crunchy, they have been serving as my post meal treat.

I am also loving the assortment of pluots this week.  During the days of pluot abundance, I would have made my famous crumble. But these days, it has been a while since I have had the chance to sink my teeth in to one of these.  Now, I am savoring each and every bite :)  The Flavor Gold ones are by far my favorite!

I am excited about the melon.  I am assuming it is a cantaloupe but haven’t cut it open yet.  It is still a bit green so I am going to try to let it ripen up a bit.  But I am looking forward to scooping out the seeds and filling it with cottage cheese or plain yogurt.  A healthy and hearty mid day snack.

Speaking of snacks, Harper and I have been snacking on those monstrous carrots the last few days.  If there are any left I have the perfect dinner dish to make with them and am looking forward to sharing it with you.

I have been craving big, protein filled breakfasts lately and adding fresh spinach and tomatoes to a morning scramble is a great way to kick off the day.  Or, they might make into a quiche, in which case, a salad on the side would help to create the perfect lunch or dinner.

Your turn:  What are some of your favorite ways to use the fruits and veggies shown?  Any special recipe, tips or tricks you’d like to share?  Looking forward to reading your responses :) 

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