Westfield Area CSA

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Westfield Area CSA Blog

Swiss Chard

Featured Produce

24 Jun, 2024

Swiss Chard

Swiss chard, along with kale, mustard greens, and collard greens, is one of several leafy, green vegetables often referred to as “greens.”  It belongs to the same family as beets and spinach and shares a similar taste profile.  Chard is a tall, leafy vegetable with a thick, crunchy stalk (akin to celery but less stringy) that comes in white, red, or yellow, with wide, fan-like, ruffled leaves that are similar to spinach but chewier.  Regardless of the stalks’ color, they have similar flavors and cooking properties, although the white stalks are most tender.  Very tender leaves can be added directly to green salads. (more…)

Grilled Butter Lettuce

Recipies

24 Jun, 2024

Grilled Butter Lettuce

Here’s a recipe found on The Bitten Word food blog, originally from Fine Cooking Magazine.  This salad is just sprinkled with salt and then laid onto the grill, cut side down, until the greens have a nice char. It’s a very brief grilling, but it brings a great, summery flavor to the salad. Serves 8. (more…)

Soft-Cooked Summer Squash With Onion

Recipies

24 Jun, 2024

Soft-Cooked Summer Squash with Onion

From the Washington Post, here’s a delicious summer squash and onion dish. The variety to use here is the pale yellow crookneck squash, but yellow zucchini (or a mix of green and yellow zucchini) will also be fine. Small to medium-size squash work best.  Because they typically contain less water and fewer seeds, they will contribute more flavor and texture to the dish. Serves 4.
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Circle Brook Farm

News

17 Jun, 2024

Farm News – June 17, 2024

Hello Folks! The first day of summer is less than a week away but the first major heat wave of the season just could not wait. The spring weather treated us well and I have been saying “so far, so good” because I knew that our luck might not last. This kind of heat and humidity is hard on my crew and I, and it is also rough on the crops. It is especially hard on the greens which have been growing so beautifully until now. We received less than a quarter inch of rain last week, so the ground is drying out, and we are moving sprinklers around to keep the soil moist. Hopefully, the heat will bring some thunderstorms later in the week. (more…)

Kohlrabi

Featured Produce

17 Jun, 2024

Kohlrabi

Kohlrabi is neither a root nor a leafy vegetable but a swollen stem (a member of the cabbage family) that grows perched on top of the ground.  This versatile veggie is underutilized in the U.S. but is common in Central Europe and Asia.  Some claim it tastes a little like a turnip, others like a cabbage. Not surprising since it was bred from a combination of the German “kohl” (cabbage) and “rabi” (turnip). It is an excellent source of potassium and vitamin C and also includes some calcium and vitamin A.  The taste and texture is similar to that of a broccoli stem, accented by radish, but is much sweeter and milder. (more…)

Kohlrabi and Carrot Slaw

Recipies

17 Jun, 2024

Kohlrabi and Carrot Slaw

Found on thekitchn.com, this slaw is the perfect side dish for a summer picnic.  It can be prepared very quickly, especially if you have a mandoline or food processor handy.  The slaw is very lightly dressed, so feel free to increase the wet ingredients if you prefer a more heavily dressed slaw.  Like any slaw, feel free to substitute different ingredients – try it with Napa or green cabbage if that’s what you have.  Serves 4-6. (more…)

Stir Fry Chicken and Tatsoi

Recipies

17 Jun, 2024

Stir Fry Chicken and Tatsoi

Stir fries are a simple and tasty way to put your CSA share vegetables to good use.  This stir fry recipe uses tatsoi and peas, but you can substitute any other vegetable.  Use your imagination! (more…)

Circle Brook Farm

News

10 Jun, 2024

Farm News – June 10, 2024

Hello Folks – So, here we go! We have arrived at the first week of CSA deliveries for the season. It will be a nice first share – the weather has been uncharacteristically cooperative! So far, so good. (more…)