What’s in the Box? Recipe Roundup #13

Our last week in Branson was a blast!  We made sure to hit up all the local attractions before we headed out west.  Branson is known for their live shows and we were lucky enough to check out a few of them including The Price is Right LIVE.

Harper could care less about winning a new car, she was all about the pretty model’s sparkly dresses :)

Branson also has a fun theme park called Silver Dollar City.  They have everything from rides, to live entertainment to crafty souvenirs.  It’s a great place to run around and enjoy yourself for the day (even when it’s 102 degrees!).

Finally, no trip to Branson would be complete without a ride on the ducks.  And I’m not talking about the ones that go “quack”.  I’m talking about the amphibious vehicles that were made famous during WWII.  This is Harper’s second time this summer riding a duck.  First as a viking during our trip to Ireland…

and now as a duckling herself…

Being a tourist is fun!

And of course we spent lots and lots of time with family.  Including, Harper’s new BFF, her Great Uncle John…

Harper and I are sure going to miss Branson, but are looking forward to another visit real soon :)

But enough about me, let’s talk veggies.

Last week we had a total of 13 link ups.  And to be frank, it’s summer produce at it’s best.  One of my favorite summer veggies is sweet corn.  And when you throw fresh kernels into a fresh batch of batter and deep fry it, the result is pure bliss.  (Speaking of deep frying, did you check out these crispy fried shallots?  The Angels are definitely singing for this one…).  Or you could toss it with some zucchini, leeks and a handful cheese and you got yourself an awesome summer pizza.  Oh, the possibilities :)  A big thanks to everyone who participated.  I just can’t get enough or your CSA goodness.

And because I am feeling extra sweet today (and in need of a sugar fix), here are some of my favorite CSA inspired desserts (in alphabetical order…).  Enjoy!

Apple Crisp

Beet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot Cookies

Lemon Bars

Sweet Zucchini Cupcakes

Your turn: What are some of your favorite ways to incorporate your CSA fruits and veggies into simple and sinful desserts?  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? #74

 

One of the things I loved most about gardening, was that seeing all the time and effort that went into planting, watering and growing my own food, helped me to appreciate my harvest so much more.  It’s no secret that I have a deep affection for my CSA box, but after last week’s visit to my CSA farm, I appreciate it so much more!    

For one, the property was just breathtaking…

 

Rows and rows of luscious fresh greens, just waiting to be picked and devoured.  

 

 

I was so grateful to be given a personal tour by the director of the CSA program.  We walked through the entire journey of the veggies from the ground, to the cooler, to the delivery truck.   

 

And it all happens in one day.  Now that’s fresh!  

Harper and I had such a blast on our tour.  Looking forward to heading out for another visit soon :)

Now let’s take a look at what type of freshness the party goers have been whipping up.  Last week there were 8 link ups.  And my oh my are there some yummy dishes to brag about.  As much as I love my produce, I also love me some bacon.  Thanks to Jess from Hesitantly Healthy, I can enjoy some Easy Baked Brussels Sprouts, Red Potato and Bacon from the comfort of my computer screen…drool!  And Tammy from Agrigirl shared a beautiful and colorful Yellow Squash Gazpacho.  Finally, I am loving the simple and clean flavors of Brian’s Avocado Toast from Lettuce Never Squash our Love.  Thanks to everyone for linking up and sharing their delicious goodies.  You continue to spoil me :)

You know who else keeps spoiling me?  My freakin awesome CSA!  Check out this week’s haul…

Raspberries AND blackberries…SCORE!  And let me tell you…they are perfectly juicy and sweet.  Simply irresistible.  But I am working my self-control like never before because I have some delicious savory dishes planned for these little gems.  Hoping to get the chance to share them with you :)

Next up are the zucchini.  A HUGE favorite of mine.  Mostly because I can’t get enough of these Turkey Burgers with Homemade Zucchini Fries.  And getting another bunch of crunchy carrots worked out well too, since the burgers aren’t complete without them.  I topped the patties with white cheddar cheese and half of an avocado.  Oh, and some of that crispy green lettuce.  Dinner tonight was heaven.

There is no produce more beautiful to me than golden beets.  They are vibrant, bright and when the dirt and residue are washed away, they almost resemble a glistening gem.  My recipe of choice for golden beets is my Roasted Beets with Walnuts and Gorgonzola because they make the dish sparkle, but this week, my husband has requested beet fritters.  So fritters it is.  And with the fritters I will be serving a perfectly grilled rib eye steak and some of those enormous artichokes, which will also be grilled.

And finally, the leeks.  I am torn with the leeks because I have so many delicious recipes to choose from.  So I guess we will have to see where my taste buds take me this week.  

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? #72

It’s been 2 weeks since we moved into our new home and we are finally feeling settled.  We spent the weekend hanging pictures, arranging furniture and exploring our new town.  The weather was beautiful so we decided to take a trip down to the local beach.  To put it simply…it was magical.

And watching my little beach bum playing in the sand, was the icing on the cake…

The weekend was also filled with lots of celebrating.  For mother’s day of course ;)  And not only did I get to sleep in until 10, I woke up to this lovely view…

Gotta love homemade pancakes with a side of crispy bacon :)

And the celebrating continues as I received my first box from my new CSA this week.  Can’t wait to share the goodies with you.

But first, let’s take a look at last week’s party.  There were a total of 6 link ups, each one filled with loads of fresh, organic and local produce.  I am thrilled to welcome Sharlea of Fresh Veggies in the Dessert back to the party.  And was even more excited about her Grilled Artichokes.  Shalama from Views from Here shared a mouthwatering Cauliflower Crust Pizza (something I have been dying to try for a while now).  And Kirsten from Farm Fresh Feasts gave us the low down on how she makes her food look sooooo good!  A big thanks to everyone who participated.  I love reading through all of your posts.

After being without a box last week, I was starting to have some serious withdrawals.  Luckily, I was able to find a new CSA pretty quickly thanks to localharvest.org.  Not only is my new CSA cheaper than my previous one (by more than $10!) but the boxes are overflowing with even more goodies!  I couldn’t be happier.  Check out what I picked up this week…

Holy nutritious goodness…right?  There was so much produce packed in that box, I had a hard time arranging it for the picture.  I am currently in fruit and veggie heaven :)  And not only did my new CSA provide me with great recipes, they also gave tips on how to properly store the items in this week’s box to maximize their shelf life.  Could it get any better?

So here’s what I plan to do with this abundant haul…

Harper dug into the peas right away.  My girl loves the green.  As soon as she saw them she grabbed a handful and started shelling them (before I could even snap a picture of the box…thank God there were more than enough to be photographed).  I have only gotten English peas once before and I can’t for the life of me remember what I made with them.  But I remember it was good.  So I will have to do some googling to figure it out :)

Once the pictures were taken, I grabbed a lemon and started zesting for this recipe.  And even though the lemon zest is a small component, it makes all the difference in the overall taste.  Delicious.  And on the side I steamed up some of the broccoli.  A household staple.

For breakfast this morning I sliced up some of the strawberries and ate them along with my oatmeal.  Best strawberries ever. No exaggeration.  They were juicy, flavorful and downright scrumptious.

I was excited to see a fresh bunch of spinach this week.  I plan on making this Chicken with Creamy Spinach and Shallots again because it is so simple but so good.

I have all the ingredients I need to make my killer kale salad (kale, lemons, avocados), but now I just need mouths to eat it.  It makes a huge portion and unfortunately Harper and Freddie aren’t kale fans.  I wish I could eat it all by myself but even my belly can’t hold it all.  I have plans to visit friends this weekend and might have to bring a kale salad along with me :)

For the beets, I think I am going to go straight for the roasting.  They are so sweet and earthy, it’s hard to resist.

Of course, the lettuce will make a great salad, topped with some sliced radishes, grated carrots, crumbled cheese and a handful of chopped nuts.  Might even throw in some grilled chicken breast if I am feeling really wild.

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? #69

This coming weekend is very big deal for my family…my little brother is getting married.  I mean, he’s not actually little anymore.  In fact, he is a big, brave, soldier, brother, but no matter how tall or strong he gets, he will always be younger (age is really all I have on him anymore…).

And what is even more exciting about this weekend, is that I get to welcome to my family, another sister, Koko.  I couldn’t be more proud of Quincy’s choice of bride.  Beautiful, intelligent and just plain fun.  I have known Koko since we were younger and I have always been a fan (which to be honest, isn’t an easy feat with me.  I tend to be VERY overprotective of my bro, but Koko won me over immediately).  So having them make their union “official” is really just the icing on the cake.

Speaking of cake, did you check out the links from last week?  How I Ate My Box linked up a beautiful Flourless Beet Cake…sounds heavenly doesn’t it?!  Oh, and Farm Fresh Feasts made a killer CSA Grilled Cheese complete with pickled turnips, radishes and carrots.  And finally, if you are looking for some salad inspiration, Clean Eats, Fast Feets hooked us up with a roundup of some of her most beautiful lettuce creations.  Thanks to everyone who linked up.  I always appreciate you sharing your delicious veggie goodness with the rest of the party.

And really, what is a party without a box full of fresh fruits and veggies…

You know you have been brainwashed by a member of your CSA for too long when you start getting excited about beets.  At the beginning of my CSA journey, I used to loathe beets.  But the truth is, I just didn’t know what to do with them.  Now, with a pretty extensive beet recipe repertoire, I can’t get enough of them.  The last few times I have gotten a bunch of fresh beets in my box, I have made this amazing Roasted Beets with Gorgonzola and Walnuts salad.  I was watching the Barefoot Contessa on TV the other day (the silver lining to having a sick baby…lots of down time), and she was whipping up a Balsamic Roasted Beet Salad that had me drooling.  But on the other hand, that Flourless Beet Cake has me intrigued as well.  Since when is there not enough beets to curb my cravings?  Official produce nerd :)

And then of course you have the asparagus, which is already gone.  We devoured it alongside homemade turkey meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner Tuesday night.  Comfort food at it’s finest.  And for dessert?  Fresh fruit.  Strawberries, kiwi and tangerines.  Sliced.  That’s it.  There really is nothing sweeter.

For the gorgeous head of lettuce I am going to draw from some of Meghan’s delicious ideas.  And to add to the fun, I am sure some of those carrots will end up in my salad somehow too.

It has been a while since I have roasted cauliflower.  It really is my favorite way to prepare it.  So simple but totally irresistible.

And finally, spring onions.  Nothing fancy I’m sure.  But Freddie will love me if I sneak them into his eggs.  Such a good wife am I :)

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? #63

Well, the busiest and shortest month of the year is officially over.  We enjoyed a trip to Disney World, I survived 4 days as a “single parent”, we celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary and our little munchkin turned 2.  Boy am I tired.  But I am also grateful that we have so much fun and exciting stuff happening in our lives.  And it doesn’t look like March is going go be a slow-moving month either.  Lots of wonderful things on the horizon including Freddie’s 31st Birthday, the launch of my CD and wedding prep for my brother.  Life is grand.

But no matter how busy it get’s around here, I always love taking a break to gawk at the fruits and veggies that are rolling through this link party.  And last week was the biggest party we have had in a while.  10 link ups!  Makes a girl like me very happy :)  And the recipes were rockin…Cheese Pizza on Butternut Squash Crust,  Roasted Carrot, Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad,  Ginger Lime Brussels Sprouts, Chocolate Beet Muffins…are you salivating yet?  Thanks ladies for linking up and sharing your goodies with the rest of the party.  Sharing is caring :)

And now on to this week’s haul…

Fresh strawberries.  They never get old.  Especially when they are plump, juicy and ready to eat in February.  Don’t mind me while I devour these while in the midst of typing this post.  I apparently lack self-control and manners.

Moving on the rest of the box, I am feeling totally inspired.  I love it when my veggies talk to me.  And today the cabbage is telling me it wants to mingle with the carrots and the onions to create a Hearty Italian Stew.  Which will be the perfect meal for my good friend who just had a baby.  Comforting and nutritious.  And for the side, I am thinking about a Roasted Beet and Gorgonzola and Walnuts.  It not only looks good, it tastes good too.

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the broccoli.  I had some leftover broccoli sitting in the fridge and when combined with this lovely bunch I was able to whip up some Chicken Divan which was a HUGE hit with the toddler and the hubby.   I am sure the leftovers will even be more delicious for lunch tomorrow.

While I was cooking dinner tonight I went through a few of the mandarins.  And I may or may not have eaten a few more for dessert.  Scrumptious!

Excited to see the lettuce and apples today because my mom was just telling me about a salad she made this week that resembled a Waldorf Salad but with added lentils.  Can’t wait to get the recipe.

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? #61

Four full days of being a “single mom” while Freddie was away on business and I am officially pooped.  Not only was I 100% responsible for my little nugget, but I was teaching 2 classes a day, preparing my Fresh Start meals, keeping the house clean and attempting to blog.  Phew!  I need a vacation.  Welcome home Da-da…can mommy take a nap?

But before I go and close my eyes, let’s take a quick look at last week’s party participants.  We had 5 delicious link ups and clearly these ladies aren’t messing around.  I mean Beet Pizza Crust, Broccoli Salad (with bacon…), and Flemish Beef Stew…we’re eating good in this neighborhood :)  Thank you for sharing your yummy goodies with the rest of the party.  Keep the good food coming!

Speaking of good food…can’t wait to get busy with this lovely produce.

Strawberries again?  Makes my Valentines Day that much more sweet.  I sliced a few up for last nights dessert and plan on incorporating them into as many meals as possible.  I LOVE strawberries :)

I also got 2 big bunches of beets!  Oh, the possibilities.  After seeing Kirsten’s Beet Pizza Crust, it makes me want to dabble in some “dirty” eating (as she so eloquently wrote in my comments…).  But let’s be real, beet pizza crust is a far better choice than plain pizza crust, right?  As far as nutritional value goes…(I’m doing my best to justify my future choices…).

Did you see what else I got two bunches of?  That’s right…kale!  Two bunches of the most beautiful Red Russian Kale you have ever seen.  I will most definitely put one of them to use with some of my meals this week and the other might just end up in soup that I plan to make for a friend.

And then of course there are those amazing sugar snap peas.  They are such a delicious treat.  Perfect timing for an upcoming date night with the hubs.  These Pork Chops andSugar Snap Peas with Mint Julep Glaze should hit the spot.

As far as my Fresh Start Challenge goes, the rest of the box will work great for my final few days of meals.  I have another fruit salad coming up where I plan on using the oranges and apples, a few salads that I can use this lettuce for and the carrots and garlic will come in handy for another batch of Tomato Basil Bisque (which means I might even get a chance to share the recipe!).

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.  I will be celebrating my 4 year wedding anniversary with my two loves…cheers!

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? #59

Produce is pretty, but family comes first.  My apologies for yet another tardy post, but Freddie, Harper and I got a chance to snag a midweek getaway and spend some quality time together and so I took full advantage.  Which means I have been busy snuggling, giggling and savoring precious moments with the people I love most.  Plus, we finalized some loose ends on the CD today :) Which we celebrated with a lovely lunch and a trip to Target (always an important stop when we are away from home since our town is without one).  So overall, my hump day was pretty darn glorious!

…As was last week’s rockin party!

We had 4 link ups from my fellow fruit and veggie lovers.  And even though I don’t know squat about the Super Bowl, whenever it happens I am fully equipped with the perfect snacks for the big game.  Thanks to Kirsten from Farm Fresh Feasts, I have CSA packed veggie dip and pizza.  And Annie from AnnieRe Unplugged hooked us up with an amazing recipe for Pumpkin Hummus.  Pass the pita chips please :)  Thanks ladies for sharing your delicious goodies with us.  Now, someone tell me, when is this important day in football?

But before tops start flying off during half-time shows, let’s keep it G rated with some good, wholesome fun…

Beets!!  And quite possibly, THE biggest beet on the face of the planet.  That orb is humongous!!!  I am pretty sure it can feed an army.  Which means all of my favorite beet recipes will be put to great use.  Beet cake, beet muffins and beet salad.  If you are in the mood for beets, come on by, because once I am done with this thing, I might be beeted out.

One piece of produce that I can never get enough of are those sweet and juicy mandarins.  And while I am known for immediately stuffing them in my face before they make it to the fruit bowl, this week I have some help with self-control.  Blood oranges to the rescue.  Remember that Citrus Crusted Tilapia with Blood Orange Salsa I made last year?  Divine!  And that is the fate of this week’s lovely bunch too :)  Plus one adorable mandarin.  And I plan on serving the fish with a side of steamed broccoli.  That is, if Harper doesn’t eat it all by herself.

It has been a while since I have received celery root in my box.  But I know just what to do with it.  Starting Feb 3rd, Freddie and I are back on a strict clean eating plan, but we might as well warm up to it by indulging in one of our favorite clean eating salads.  Plus, we have everything else we need right here.  Parsley, avocado, apple.  I love it when meal planning just happens so effortlessly :)

And finally, the veggies that always get the short end of the stick.  Lettuce and carrots.  It’s not that I don’t love them, they are just so ordinary.  But they are the most loyal, as they show up every week.  And now that I have discovered my new favorite salad dressing, salad is no longer a bore.

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? #58

So, my mom has this theory.  She believes that people tend to be most active during the time of day that they were born.  For example, if you were born in the morning, than you are a “morning person”.  If you were born in the evening, then you are most likely a night owl.  Since having my own daughter, I would have to agree with this.  Harper’s best time of day is in the morning (she was born at 10:54 am).  I was born at 10:45 pm and have always been most productive during the late hours of the night.  That is, until recently.  You see, I am totally losing my mojo!  When I first started this blog, I would write until 2 or 3 am in the morning.  Never once seemed to bother me.  Now, I can’t get past 10:30!  What kind of wimp am I turning into?

But what does this have to do with farm, fresh produce?  Well, last night, as I was uploading the pictures of my box onto the computer, I went into our room to put Harper to sleep.  Before I knew it, it was daylight and I was still in my jeans and no blog post was written.  But I must say, going to sleep at 8:30 made me feel like a total rock star when it was time to wake up this morning.  I was so refreshed and rested.  So, that’s what a proper night of sleep feels like :)  But, again, my apologies for my tardiness.  Might have to rethink my late night posts if my early bed time continues…

Moving on to bigger and better things…last week we had 8 link ups.  And I know I might be biased, but this link party has the best participants out there.  Loyal, sweet and darn good cooks!  This week they cooked up Butternut Squash Waffles, Broccoli and Caramelized Onion Pizza, Greens with Bacon and Onions, Blueberry and Banana Smoothie, Radish Chips and Grilled Swiss Cheese and Sweet Pepper Relish on Beet Bread.  Talk about good eats.  So much delicious goodness, I don’t even know where to start!  Thanks ladies for keeping this party going.  I appreciate you sharing your yummy treats week after week.

Now let’s take a look at what arrived on my doorstep yesterday…

Loving me some acorn squash!  It has been a while since this gorgeous and colorful ovoid shaped veggie graced my box and I can’t wait to get busy with it.  There are so many delicious recipes that have been shared at our weekly parties, but I think I am going to go with a simple roast and sprinkle it with some cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar and butter.  Sounds sinful :)

I am also excited about those beets.  I recently got a mandolin slicer and am dying to make some beet chips.  If all goes well, beets will no longer be safe in my household.  Ever.

Thank God for sweet and juicy mandarins.  They are my favorite snack.  I keep them in the fruit bowl in the kitchen and am known to grab a few while I am racing around the house, chasing after Harper.  Apparently, I munched on too many last week, because when Freddie went to the fruit bowl to grab a few for himself they were all gone.  Ooops!  Freddie made sure to grab a nice size stash to bring to the office this morning.  Wanted to make sure he had his fair share :)

Apples are another delicious treat!  I was happy to replenish my stock as last week’s apples went pretty quickly.  We sliced up some today with some of the carrots and enjoyed dipping them in almond butter.  Yummers!

After the success of our last round of homemade OJ, these oranges will definitely be thrown into the juicer.  It’s the perfect activity for a weekend morning while you have bacon in the oven and pancakes on the stove.

And speaking of bacon, I will definitely be sautéing that swiss chard with some bacon and those onion I got thanks to some inspiration from CSA Mom.

Finally, I have a new lease on life when it comes to salads.  This past weekend my mom and I celebrated a close friend’s 40th birthday.  And not only did they have yummy tacos and killer margaritas, but the salad was out of this world.  The secret ingredient?  Brianna’s Blush Wine Vinaigrette.  It will change your life.  Promise.

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? #55

You know your day is going to be busy when by 9:30 AM you have already cooked breakfast for three, washed a load of dishes, put a cake in the oven, addressed Christmas cards and sliced veggies for a veggie platter.  Then it was time to shower, blow dry my hair, get Harper ready and head out the door to run errands around town before music class at noon.  Phew!  And that was just part one…the rest of the day included a trip to the police station (nothing major…just a fix it ticket), another music class, more food prep and kitchen clean up, a Hanukkah party, cooking club and as always, hanging with my favorite toddler.  I am tired just thinking about it all.

But nothing gets me rejuvenated like a box full of fruits and veggies and a party full of good food.

Last week we had 8 link ups.  And it was all about no-guilt comfort food.  Tacos, pizza, cocktails, and chowder just to name a few.  Pretty sure I will be making each of these very soon.  Thanks to everyone who linked up and shared their goodies.  I love filling up my recipe files with delicious and healthy ideas :)

And let’s be honest, there is nothing more delicious and healthy then this lovely goodness right here…

She’s a beauty isn’t she?  And can you believe the size of the head of lettuce?  Took me forever to jam that thing in the crisper! Salads. For. Days…

Unfortunately it’s pretty much the only thing that is going to last around here.  The green beans were the first to go.  I whipped up a family dinner for a friend of mine (which included one of the oranges and some of the garlic) and made a batch of my famous green beans to go alongside.  They were a huge hit!

The green onions will be perfect for the spinach dip I will be making for a Christmas party this weekend.  I am also signed up to make a dessert.  Trying to decide if I should use the beets for a cake, the apples for a crisp or the pears for something special.  I love having such delicious options to choose from.

For the kale I am most definitely trying this recipe.  If this won’t warm you up and make your tummy happy I don’t know what will :)  Can’t wait to plant my face into a bowl of this ASAP!

I don’t know about you, but I love lemon water.  I go through phases of making it.  Mostly because I feel silly buying lemons at the store just to use them in water.  But if someone gives me some fresh lemons from their tree or I get some in my box I get inspired to make another batch.  So refreshing.  And it’s a great way to keep me sipping on H2O.

And finally, for the butternut squash, I will be enjoying it roasted.  Roasted and tossed with olive oil, nutmeg, salt and cinnamon.  Mmmmmm…I could eat JUST that for every meal :)

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? #50

Happy Halloween everyone!  I hope you all had a fun and safe evening.  As for us, we have been celebrating Halloween for nearly a week now.  It all started last Friday when we went to Boo at the Zoo and boy was it a blast!  Here is a pic of all of us dressed up in our costumes.

Two bakers with our adorable and delicious cupcake!  We were originally planning on a Sesame Street theme this year since Harper LOVES Elmo, but when we saw this costume at Target, we just couldn’t resist.  Plus, who knows?  This uniform might come in handy one day ;)

From cupcakes to veggies, time to get this party started!

Last week we had a total of 24 link ups!  And again, it appears to be all about the squash.  We had some Squash Tortilla Soup, Squash and Pumpkin Gnudi, Squash Enchiladas, and Squash with Pasta.  Fall is looking mighty delicious :)  Thanks to everyone who linked up.  We are sad to see some of our participants link up for the last time as their CSA season has ended.  But we hope you continue to visit and as always we love to hear your ideas on what to do with all this fresh produce!

So let’s check out this week’s tricks and treats…

A pumpkin!  A pumpkin!  For week’s now I have seen tons of folks with pumpkins in their boxes.  And to be honest, I started to harbor some pumpkin envy.  So I was excited to finally have one of my own :)  I am super grateful for all the previous pumpkin posts that have been linked up to the party because now I can learn what the heck to do with this thing!  Looking forward to seeing what fresh pumpkin is all about.

My other surprise was white beets!  I thought I had seen it all, but apparently I was wrong.  I’m most excited because white beets means less mess when I am cooking up a batch of beet fritters.  No more stains :)

One of my favorite fall dishes is Braised Pork with Orange and Fennel.  I made it the last time we got fennel, but I can’t resist making it again.  The flavors are just so delicious and since it cooks for quite a while it gives the house such a lovely aroma.  The onions will come in quite handy for this dish as well.  I normally serve it with white rice, but seeing those spuds makes me think that it would be delicious atop a bed of creamy mashed potatoes.  And as always, I plan to accompany my dinner with a trusty green salad (because butter lettuce makes the best salads!).

I am dying over this fruit!  Loving fresh strawberries this late in the season.  Harper was on those right away (in fact one of the pics I took has a half eaten strawberry in it…).  I am actually thinking about cooking up some oatmeal and slicing some on top.  Such a yummy way to start the day.  I am also stoked about the pears.  Pears always remind me of fall.  I love to snack on them as long as the skin is off.  I can’t stand the skin.  Too tough.  And finally, fuji apples.  They are my favorite variety.  In fact, when we went apple picking a few weeks ago, I might have eaten 3-4 by myself.  They are just so good!

Last but not least, tomatoes.  After weeks and weeks of tomatoes, I am starting to get a bit uninspired.  I have done my best to stay creative but I think I have hit a tomato wall.  So all ideas are welcome :)

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 enter the giveaway!  You only have a few days to get your entries in.  Remember to leave a comment on the original post letting me know that you have completed the tasks.  Your comments act as your entry into the giveaway.  Good luck!