Hello! Ada here.
Despite having defrosted and marinated some venison, last night I drove to our nearest restaurant and ordered chips and queso, my favorite plate, and a frozen margarita. The experience was delightful, made even more so by the fun-loving table next to us (who may or may not have sent us a tequila shot for no reason!?). I'm lucky to work from home where I can easily simmer beans all day or harvest some lettuce from the garden for a quick salad. Cooking at my house usually happens easily, without too much anguish, but then there are those nights when YOU JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE COOKING. When you can't the bothered to dirty your kitchen or chop even one onion. Nights when you want to open up a menu, a library of possibilities, and order exactly what your taste buds desire. All this to say, I hope you're finding balance this spring.
Becky's CSA shares are incredible right now. Sure, she pays me to write about her gorgeous veggies, but even if I wasn't on payroll, I'd be singing praises to her colorful and high-quality harvest. It's easy to cook delicious food when your fridge is stocked with fresh and interesting vegetables. Don't believe me? Order a CSA share. And on the nights when you can't be bothered, I'm sure there is a frozen margarita machine within a 5-mile radius of your kitchen.
Growing food, consistently and acres at a time, isn't easy. For the first time, I successfully grew some heads of green cabbage in my spring garden. My planting timing was finally right. If you have a garden at home, you know the joy that can come from growing a big, dense, and edible plant. I hope you'll join me this spring and celebrate our Central Texas farmers. Becky and her team are professional growers - coaxing long lines of carrots to emerge from the sand, and dense cabbage patches, too. The Vrdnt team is working their butt off right now all so that we, their local community, can have safe and nutritious food to eat. Not currently getting Vrdnt CSA shares? Now is the time. And if you are a Vrdnt CSA Member, please nudge a friend who may be CSA-curious. Vegetables don't get better than this, right now. Oh, and in case you missed the announcement: you can now pick up a Vrdnt CSA share at the Mueller Farmer's Market!
Zucchini
For farmers, the first zucchini of the season is like a hug from a distant friend. After a fall and winter full of dark leafy greens (no judgment on our leafy greens), tender and perfect zucchini are novel and exciting. Yes, they're a harbinger of a hot summer to come, but they're also delicious and a welcome disruptor to the barrage of leaves. These first zucchini are special. Save your zucchini bread recipe for later in the season when fatigue sets in, and for now, choose recipes that truly highlight this charming cucurbit.