In an effort to eat healthier and more locally, MBH and I recently joined (well, I joined, and MBH reluctantly went along with joining) a CSA (community supported agriculture), where you pay a fee and then pickup your predetermined vegetables & fruits each week from the farm market. After a couple of weeks, my verdict is that it’s only for the adventurous.

Our first box included turnips, beets, sweet potatoes, kiwis, collards, and oyster mushrooms, which caused MBH to proclaim “I guess I won’t eat this week,” because he dislikes nearly every single one of those foods. I didn’t know if I disliked any of them, because I’d never even tried most of them before. My challenge was to learn to make these ingredients into delicious meals that both of us enjoyed, so I searched through all of my cookbooks for unique ways to prepare them that sounded if not delicious, then at least palatable.

We’ve had some hits & misses…

HIT: Beet Keftides

MISS: Beet Ravioli

HIT: Cannellini and Kale Ragout

MISS: Napa Cabbage Kimchi

HIT: Spaghetti with Mustard Greens

MISS: Turnip Puree

… And there’s definitely been plenty of ingredients that without the signs, I would have never known what they were (parsnips, horseradish) but on the whole, having the CSA has taught me a lot and forced us out of our comfort zone… which keeps me growing as a cook!