Several Things

A message from Nancy Sullivan:

Several things




We had a very generous donation of canning jars and related items to the CSA, just in time to fire up our stoves and get busy! But- you have to share the bounty later on- kind of a "pay it forward" effort.



Here's the idea: any member can take a case of a dozen jars; mix and match if you want, half pint, half quart, etc.



After you use them to can salsa, spaghetti sauce, jam, whatever, label and donate one jar back to the CSA. At the final fall celebratory dinner we will have a raffle with these donated items as the centerpiece! All proceeds will go back to the CSA, while we get to share in your culinary genius!



We'll have a box set aside for the final products at pack out each week.





Second item



Basil coming out of our ears- what to do with it? Make pesto and freeze it, of course. Many people already know this trick, but it is easy to make it and then freeze it in ice trays. When frozen, pop out the green cubes and put them in a freezer bag*. Easy to take out just one or two as needed later in the season. It seems to keep well for many months.



*Note -always use thick freezer bags, not thin sealable sandwich bags. Things definitely get less freezer burn, etc., in the heavy duty bags.



Good basic pesto recipe from "Simply Recipes" website



Ingredients



* 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed

* 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese

* 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

* 1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts

* 3 medium sized garlic cloves, minced

* Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste



* Special equipment needed: A food processor



Method



1 Combine the basil in with the pine nuts, pulse a few times in a food processor. (If you are using walnuts instead of pine nuts and they are not already chopped, pulse them a few times first, before adding the basil.) Add the garlic, pulse a few times more.



2 Slowly add the olive oil in a constant stream while the food processor is on. Stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula. Add the grated cheese and pulse again until blended. Add a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.



Makes 1 cup.





Cucumbers- One of my favorite really simple summer recipes...



peel, thinly slice one or two cukes



mix together:

3 tablespoons cider vinegar, equal amt. water

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 tablespoon salt, some freshly ground black pepper

1 small onion, sliced into thin rings

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill (if you like dill)



add cukes, marinate in fridge. Add ice cubes to the bowl before serving to keep the slices super crunchy; use slotted spoon to drain and serve.