Week One and a Pesto Blueprint

CSA Week One is finally here! It feels great to have gotten this far into the season. One of the hardest things, for me at least, is the first couple of months. Between battling some pretty crazy spring downpours, roller coaster ride temperatures, and waiting for seeds to sprout, I feel like I've been waiting with bated breath for weeks on end. It feels genuinely miraculous, every time we see all that bare dirt out there start making the transition to green growing things! I'm looking forward to the next phase of our operation. Call me a weirdo if you want, but my favorite garden chores are pruning and weeding.

Here are just a few of the pictures of our progress so far:

Our chives are in their second year, and are blooming in profusion!

Sage is also in its second year. This picture is about a week old. They've since come into bloom, and the butterflies are in love!

A big batch of salad mix in our makeshift nursery tunnel. The day after this picture was taken, they were transplanted out into their garden bed.

Little Gem lettuce, one of favorites from last season, is back! These heads are nearly ready for harvest.

Our baby bok choi is flourishing under the shade cloth. 

Several different varieties of tomatoes, ready to go out in the garden.

Ground cherries are making a return this year!

We have nearly 300 strawberry plants in the garden this year, and so many blossoms! Juicy red strawberries, soon!

Arugula patch

Now for the good stuff! ;) This week, in your share, you'll find: Arugula, Baby Kale, Baby Bok Choi, Radish Greens, Chives and Sage.

I have two recipes to start you off for the year. This first one is a "blueprint" for pesto, which is a snap to make in the food processor, and a great way to use up a variety of different herbs and nuts, depending on your pantry and personal preference. The chart below recommends pine nuts or walnuts for your pesto, but my own personal favorite is toasted pecans. I bet it would also be pretty tasty with sunflower seeds! For a milder garlic flavor, try toasting whole peeled garlic cloves in the pan with your nuts.

This visual originally appeared in the blog Table Matters

The second recipe I've found for you is a Sage Brown Butter Sauce. This sauce is an easy and delicious way to elevate even the simplest of weeknight meals. You can cook it up in under 10 minutes, and drizzle it over grilled chicken, or steak, butternut squash, or potatoes of any kind.

We hope that you enjoy your share!